The CEO’s Little Moon

Lin Xuan stared at the variety show invitation on her phone, lost in thought. Her manager’s tone was almost trembling with excitement: “Xuan Xuan, this is the shortcut every newcomer dreams of! If you can appear on Family Daily Life, your popularity will skyrocket overnight!” But Lin Xuan hesitated. The truth was, the Lin family had no real “family” to appear on a show. Her only family was her brother, Lin Yi. Lin Yi—head of the Lin Group, the kind of man people rarely dared to look straight in the eyes. Calm, cold, decisive. A man whose very presence carried weight. If he appeared in front of the cameras… For her, it would be the most legitimate way to show him off. But for him, wouldn’t it be a burden? Lin Xuan bit her lip. A spark of secret joy still bubbled in her chest. If she could appear with her brother on screen, people would be jealous of her, wouldn’t they? They would envy her endlessly. She could already picture the scrolling live comments: [Oh my god, what kind of luck does this girl have, to have a brother like that?!] [The CP vibe is insane! I know I shouldn’t ship siblings, but I can’t help it, their chemistry is too strong!] The corners of her lips curved up before she realized. Then she quickly reined herself back in. —No, she couldn’t indulge too much. Her brother was her only support. If she crossed that invisible line, if even the smallest crack formed, she would lose everything. As his sister, she could depend on him, act spoiled, and stay close. As a lover, she might be rejected—and lose even the bond she had. “It’s safer to remain his sister.” That’s what she told herself. But her little selfish wish still stirred restlessly. The sound of the door unlocking snapped her out of her thoughts. Lin Yi was home from work. She quickly straightened, her eyes darting to the door. “Brother!” She ran over, hugging his arm, tilting her face up and resting her cheek against his shoulder—just like when she was a child. Lin Yi lowered his gaze. The harshness in his brows softened instantly at the sight of her sparkling eyes. His voice dropped, quiet and warm: “Were you waiting for me to come home?” Lin Xuan nodded, then handed him her phone. “Brother, there’s a show… would you be willing to join me? They might ask us to play some games together.” She hadn’t expected much. He was too busy, too prominent to appear on a variety show. But when he answered— “Yes.” Her breath caught. Lin Yi’s eyes lingered on her face, his voice low and steady: “But are you willing to let me appear on a show? Aren’t you afraid someone might try to steal your brother?” Her eyes widened, stunned. “Really?!” She broke into a dazzling smile, her voice bubbling with joy. “Of course I’m willing! My brother is so amazing—I want to show you off to the whole world!” Lin Yi only reached out, gently ruffling her hair. His lips curved faintly. “Let them envy. It won’t change anything.” —She was his sister. Lin Xuan grinned, content, and handed him the electronic contract. “It’s so long. Brother, can you check it for me?” He skimmed it with his usual calm precision, then said, “No problem. You can sign.” She didn’t hesitate at all, signing her name the moment he finished. She always trusted him, always leaned on him. As soon as it was done, she nestled against him, her voice playful: “Then I’ll go for the ‘princess of a rich family, spoiled little sister, pampered treasure’ persona on the show. What do you think?” Lin Yi glanced at her. “That’s not a persona.” She blinked. “Huh?” “That’s simply the truth.” His tone was flat, but unshakably certain. Her heart skipped. She never knew whether he truly only saw her as his sister… or if something deeper lay beneath his composure. The next second, he closed the contract as if nothing had happened. —He was always like this. His care never crossed the line. Her heart ached with faint disappointment, though she didn’t show it. He was her anchor. Even if only as her brother, she would still be grateful. … That night. In her bedroom, soft light spilled across the bed. Lin Xuan scrolled her phone, seeing the program’s official announcement: [The Lin family’s daughter? First time appearing publicly?] [Her brother’s going too? Oh my god, just imagining it is thrilling!] She couldn’t stop smiling. Yes—she wanted the world to see. Her brother belonged to her. What she didn’t know was that, in the study, Lin Yi was on the phone. “The contract is signed. The program flow will follow the plan I gave you. Arrange the cameras accordingly.” His voice was cool, precise. His gaze sharp, leaving no room for question. He tapped his finger on the desk lightly, then murmured under his breath: “The stage she wants—I’ll prepare it for her. She thinks it’s her free choice. But the truth is, she’ll always be under my wings.” His eyes glimmered with something dark, a restrained fire. She would never know—the opportunity she believed she seized was one he had handed her from the very beginning. He wouldn’t force her. He wouldn’t push her across the line. But the moment she tried to step out, he would already have shifted the walls farther out, ten steps ahead, ensuring she never truly left his world. She was his sister. And the one person he would never, ever let go.