As soon as she got to her car, she immediately brought out her phone and dialed her assistant's number. The sky above was dull and overcast, a thin layer of grey clouds stretching endlessly, mirroring the heaviness that lingered in her chest.
"Sister Lin, how did it go? What did your father tell you? How is your mother doing? Did they threaten you again?" As soon as the line connected, an excited voice rang from the other side of the phone.
An Mei Lin winced slightly as she tried to process the stream of words from her ever-energetic assistant.
"Linlin, what did I say about asking too many questions at a time?" she asked calmly.
An awkward silence followed from the other end of the phone.
"Sister Lin, you know how anxious I get whenever you have to deal with your family. Anyways, how did it go? Are there any issues?" Wang Linlin asked again, making An Mei Lin roll her eyes.
She didn't notice it, but her expression gradually softened, a small smile slowly forming on her rosy cheeks.
"I'll brief you on the details of my visit when I have time. For now, I need you to gather as much information as you can on someone named Mu Chen."
The name rolled off her tongue effortlessly, almost as if it carried a strange sense of familiarity. Earlier, in her father's study, she had been too focused on controlling her emotions to notice it.
'Do I know this person? Why didn't my father provide at least a picture or something?'
"Sister Lin… Sister Lin…" Her thoughts were abruptly cut off by Wang Linlin calling out to her.
"I'm here," An Mei Lin exhaled softly, shaking her head slightly to clear her thoughts. She hadn't even realized when Wang Linlin had started speaking again.
"Sister Lin, why do you suddenly need information on this person? There are too many mysteries surrounding him. You'll need a full intelligence team to uncover anything substantial," Wang Linlin reported, her tone turning unexpectedly serious, the earlier cheerfulness fading into something more focused and professional.
An Mei Lin paused for a moment, her brows knitting slightly as she processed her words.
'An intelligence team? Who exactly is this man?'
Before she could ask anything, Wang Linlin continued, "Mu Chen is the mysterious heir of the Mu Empire. Rumor has it that he already has the entire empire under his control. There's barely any information about him, not even his face or age, yet he's still the most sought-after man online."
Mu Empire…
Although An Mei Lin's line of business didn't require direct contact with powerful conglomerates, she had heard more than enough about them.
The Mu Empire was not just a business entity, it was a global force. From luxury real estate to high-end technology, international finance, and even underground networks that no one dared to speak of openly, their influence stretched far beyond what the public could see. They dominated both the legal and grey sides of the business world, holding an almost untouchable position in the international market.
Their power didn't stop at business.
They had deep-rooted connections in politics, quietly influencing decisions from the shadows. In simple terms, crossing the Mu family was no different from signing your own death sentence.
The An family…Was nowhere near that level.
So why would her father assign her something like this?
Of course, aligning with the Mu family would bring unimaginable benefits. With their backing, the An Corporation could rise even higher, securing power and influence beyond its current reach.
But it was dangerous, extremely dangerous.
No wonder he didn't want his precious daughter, An Feifei, anywhere near it.
An Mei Lin let out a quiet sigh, her grip on the steering wheel tightening slightly as she continued driving along the moderately busy street.
"Linlin, get the intelligence team involved. I want everything you can find on Mu Chen. No matter how small it is, report it to me."
"Alright, Sister Lin," Wang Linlin replied softly.
An Mei Lin could tell her assistant still had countless questions, but for once, she held herself back.
After a brief goodbye, An Mei Lin ended the call and drove into the parking lot of a supermarket.
Before stepping out of the car, she unlocked her phone and checked her messages. Just as she expected, a cryptic message sat at the top of her screen.
[Room 452, 4 to 5 p.m.]
A dark shadow passed through her eyes as she read it.
Her gaze shifted to the time displayed at the top of her screen.
2:59 p.m.
"Great," she muttered under her breath. "One hour left."
She let out a quiet breath before stepping out of the car and walking into the supermarket.
The automatic doors slid open, and a rush of cool air greeted her, along with the faint hum of conversations and the distant clatter of carts.
She needed to get a few basic things for her mother before heading over.
And according to the message… she only had one hour.
A heavy feeling settled in her chest as her thoughts drifted back to the past.
There was a time when she could spend an entire day with her mother. Laughing. Talking. Existing freely without restrictions.
Before everything changed. Before her father took even that away from her.
Her steps slowed slightly as she moved through the aisles.
She didn't deserve this.
Her mother didn't deserve this.