The Legend of Cinderella's Counterattack

"We won." Lawrence Lu hugged me in his arms, his voice a little tired, but more relieved.

I leaned against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, a feeling of having survived a catastrophe welling up inside me. Yes, we've weathered the storm, and finally, the rainbow has arrived. The president of Xingyao Group has been brought to justice, and the media outlets that maliciously slandered us have publicly apologized. Everything seems to be back on track.

Yet, a lingering unease lingered within me. While the storm had passed, its impact was far from over. Having fought side by side in this battle, Lu Yuxuan and I seemed even closer than before. But had the suspicions and doubts we once held truly vanished? Where would our future lead us?

I gently pushed Lawrence Lu away and gave him a smile: "Yes, we won. Next, we should think about how to regroup."

Lawrence Lu also smiled, his eyes gleaming with confidence: "I already have some ideas. This time, we have to do it to the best of our ability! We want everyone to know that Lin Luoluo's design is unique!"

In the days that followed, we plunged into intense yet measured work. Under Lu Yuxuan's leadership, the company gradually recovered, and all operations were back on track. I, on the other hand, threw myself fully into the new design project. I wanted to create even better work, to prove my ability and to live up to all those who supported me.

"Lolo, what do you think of this one? The inspiration for my newly designed evening dress comes from..." My best friend came to me excitedly with the design draft, and talked incessantly about her creativity.

I listened carefully and offered suggestions from time to time. My bestie's designs were always full of vitality and imagination, which brought me a lot of inspiration.

"Oh, there's one more thing." My bestie suddenly lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "I heard that an internationally renowned designer is coming to China to develop his career. He seems very interested in your work and wants to collaborate with you!"

My heart skipped a beat. An internationally renowned designer? Who could it be?

My bestie's words were like a pebble, stirring up a thousand waves in my calm heart. An internationally renowned designer? Who could it be? Curiosity entwined me like a vine, making me eager to know the answer.

"Who is it? Tell me quickly!" I grabbed my best friend's arm and asked anxiously.

My best friend smiled mysteriously, leaned close to my ear, and whispered, "I heard it was Sophie Chen! The Sophie Chen who has won countless international awards and whose works are collected by major museums!"

"Sophie Chen?!" I exclaimed. This name is a household name in the fashion world! Collaborating with her would be… I couldn't even imagine it!

"How's it going? Are you excited?" My best friend looked at me with a smirk on her face. "I've already made an appointment with her to have dinner together tomorrow. You can come too!"

The next day, I arrived at the restaurant I had agreed to meet with a nervous heart. As soon as I entered, I saw an elegant woman sitting by the window. The sunlight shone through the glass on her, as if she were gilded with a layer of gold.

"You are Lin Luoluo, right?" The woman stood up and extended her hand towards me with a faint smile on her face. "I'm Sophie Chen, nice to meet you."

Looking closely, Sophie Chen is even younger and more beautiful than I imagined, and she exudes a confident and charming temperament in her every move.

We spent the next few days talking about fashion and design. Sophie Chen praised my work and expressed her desire to collaborate with me.

"Your designs are very thoughtful and inspiring," said Sophie Chen. "I have always believed that fashion is not just about clothes, but also an attitude, a way of expressing oneself. Your designs allow me to see this attitude and expression."

Sophie Chen's recognition was a great encouragement to me. We quickly reached a cooperation agreement and decided to jointly create a brand that would perfectly blend Eastern elements with Western fashion and showcase its unique charm.

When the news spread, the entire fashion industry was shocked, and everyone was looking forward to what surprises this collaboration would bring.

In the following days, Sophie Chen joined our team. Her arrival injected new energy and inspiration into our team. We discussed design concepts, selected fabrics, and modified patterns together... Every day was filled with passion and challenges.

Lu Yuxuan also gave us the greatest support. He not only provided sufficient funds and resources, but also often came to the studio to cheer us up.

"I believe in you and you will definitely be able to create your own miracle." Lawrence Lu looked at Sophie Chen and me, his eyes full of trust and expectation.

Thanks to everyone's joint efforts, the new design project progressed smoothly. Our work shone brightly at major fashion weeks, winning numerous accolades. Lin Luoluo and Lu Yuxuan's brand once again became a focal point in the fashion world.

Lu Yuxuan and I stood side by side in the center of the stage, receiving applause and cheers from all sides. At this moment, I felt extremely happy and satisfied. I knew that this was just the beginning, and there were infinite possibilities waiting for us to explore in the future.

Sophie Chen's arrival was like a shot in the arm for us, and the new brand's launch was an unprecedented success. Under the spotlight, Lu Yuxuan and I stood side by side, receiving the applause and congratulations from all sides. At that moment, I felt like I was at the top of the world, and he was always by my side, never leaving me.

After the press conference, we celebrated in the revolving restaurant on the top floor of the hotel. The bright lights illuminated Lawrence Lu’s deep eyes. He raised his wine glass and looked at me tenderly, “Lolo, you did it, you created a miracle.”

I clinked my glasses gently and smiled sweetly, "All of this is inseparable from your support."

He put down his glass, held my hand, and said seriously and firmly, "Silly girl, we are husband and wife. Your dream is also my dream. I will always support you."

Outside the window, the city's nightscape shimmers with color, and my heart is filled with happiness. We've been through so much together these days, from initial doubts and trials to today's mutual trust and support. Our feelings have unknowingly warmed and deepened.

However, just when I thought everything would be fine, a sudden anonymous email broke the tranquility.

That morning, I opened my computer to check my emails as usual, when suddenly an email with no subject line or signature came into view. I hesitated for a moment and then clicked on it.

There was no text in the email, only a few photos. The girl in the photos was young and immature, wearing tattered clothes, with messy hair and a timid and uneasy look on her face. She was standing in a dilapidated yard with a low adobe house in the background.

My breath hitched, and an inexplicable sense of familiarity washed over me. This face… this face… it was clearly me! But when were these photos taken? Why didn't I have any recollection of them?

Hands trembling, I continued to flip through the photos. Each one became clearer and clearer, and each one more startling. In one photo, a girl held a certificate that read, "First Prize in the Provincial Mathematical Olympiad." I remembered this certificate; I had won it in junior high school and had treasured it forever. But how did it end up in this photo?

My mind was a tangle, filled with speculation and questions. Who had sent these photos? What did he or she want? Was there some secret hidden in my past?

At this moment, the door was gently pushed open, and Lawrence Lu walked in. Seeing my pale face, he hurriedly put down the documents in his hand and asked with concern: "Lolo, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"

I snapped back to reality, hurriedly closed the email, and shook my head with forced composure. "I'm fine. I just saw some surprising news. I'm fine now."

He seemed to notice something was wrong with me, walked over to me, and gently put his arm around my shoulders. "If there's anything, you can tell me and we'll face it together."

I looked up and gazed into his deep eyes, my heart filled with conflict and struggle. Should I tell him about the email? Will these photos become an unbridgeable gap between us? Lawrence Lu's eyes were so sincere that I almost wanted to tell him everything. But when the words came to my lips, they turned into: "I'm fine, I just suddenly remembered some things from the past."

"What happened in the past?" He stroked my hair gently. "What is it that is bothering you so much? Can you tell me?"

I shook my head and forced a smile. "Nothing. These are all old things. Not worth mentioning."

I didn't dare tell him, I was afraid that knowing my past would change his opinion of me. I was even more afraid that those photos would become a thorn between us that would never be removed.

That night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep, my mind full of those photos. The me in the photos was completely different from the me now. Back then, I was so destitute and helpless.

I grew up in a family that favored boys over girls. My parents favored my younger brother, leaving me feeling like a superfluous child. After graduating from junior high school, I dropped out and worked to support my younger brother's education. Later, my mother remarried, and my stepfather treated me poorly. My stepmother and stepsisters constantly made things difficult for me.

To escape that home, I worked tirelessly, striving to earn money. Later, I met someone who changed my life. He brought me to City A, gave me a job, and funded my education. I cherished this hard-earned opportunity and vowed to rise above it all and never again live a life of dependence.

But just when I thought I could finally say goodbye to the past, those photos haunted me like ghosts.

The next morning, I called my best friend and asked her out. I told her about the email and showed her the photos.

"How could this happen?" After seeing the photos, my best friend was also shocked. "Who sent you these photos? What does he (she) want to do?"

"I don't know either." I shook my head, frowning. "The only people I can think of are my stepmother and stepsister. Apart from them, I can't think of anyone else who would hate me so much."

"Your stepmother and stepsister?" The best friend thought for a moment and said, "It's not impossible. They've always disliked you. They might really do something like this."

"But how did they get these photos?" I was puzzled. "I have always kept these photos and never shown them to anyone else."

"Could it be your stepfather?" the bestie speculated, "Maybe he took secret photos of you before and gave them to your stepmother."

I thought about it carefully and felt that my bestie's guess made sense. I remember when I was little, my stepfather would often peek at me while I was bathing and even touch me. But I was young and ignorant at the time, so I didn't dare tell anyone.

"If they really did it, they're so vicious!" my best friend said indignantly, "What are you going to do?"

I took a deep breath, a cold light flashed in my eyes: "I will never let them go!"

A plan gradually formed in my mind. I would make them pay for what they had done!