The Tycoon's Muse: Canvas of hearts

"You know," he said after a while, "when you said you were going out to commit a crime, I half expected you to be robbing a bank or something." Meilin snorted. "Please. I have more finesse than that. Besides, why steal money when you can steal someone's peace of mind?" A chuckle escaped Meilin's lips despite herself. "You're waltzing into a hurricane, Jingshen." She was talking about being in a relationship with her. "Then be my eye of the storm," he challenged, swinging open his car door with theatrical flair. "Shall we embrace the tempest?" Meilin arched an eyebrow. "Who would believe the ice-cold CEO of Zhao Corporation could melt so thoroughly?" "Well!" Laughter danced in his voice. "What's a man to do when his wife decides to play runaway bride? I'd turn myself inside out if it meant keeping you in my orbit." A blush painted Meilin's cheeks crimson, her fierce facade cracking to reveal a softer core. "Wife, huh?" she murmured, biting back a smile. When struggling artist Jiang Meilin attends a charity gala as a waitress, the last thing she expects is to catch the eye of Zhao Jingshen, the cold and enigmatic CEO of one of the city's most powerful corporations. Unbeknownst to Meilin, Jingshen has been searching for the artist behind a captivating painting that has haunted his thoughts. Shocked to discover that Jiang Meilin is the creator, Zhao Jingshen is instantly smitten but decides to keep his feelings hidden, opting instead to woo her subtly. To win her over, Zhao Jingshen commissions Jiang Meilin to create seven unique paintings for his company’s next charity event. In a surprising twist, they agree to spend a week on the streets, seeking inspiration from the raw, unfiltered life around them. As they navigate this urban adventure, an undeniable connection sparks between them. However, looming in the background is Lian Fei, Zhao Jingshen’s fiancée, whose hostility towards Meilin adds a layer of tension and danger. But Meilin is not just a simple artist. Beneath her humble facade lies a mysterious identity and a life that she’s keen to keep hidden for now. Rosie Blackwood was the feared and revered heiress of a powerful mafia family in Continent F. But after the tragic death of her best friend, Jiang Meilin, Rosie’s world shattered. Rosie found solace in her friend’s diary, discovering a dream that Jiang Meilin never lived to achieve, becoming an established artist in Xia City and winning the prestigious Golden Brush Award. In a desperate bid to honor her friend and absolve her guilt, Rosie made a drastic decision. She would become Jiang Meilin. Disguised with a specialized mask and armed with her own hidden talents as an artist, Rosie left behind her identity, wealth, and family, slipping away to Xia City. Her mission was clear: live as Jiang Meilin, achieve the dream her friend couldn’t, and then return to her life as Rosie Blackwood. She soon discovers that her presence ignites a fire within Zhao Jingshen that he never expected, and soon, he was willing to burn the world to keep her safe. As Meilin and Jingshen’s connection deepens, Rosie begins to heal, finding herself torn between the life she’s created and the one she left behind. With her heart and her true identity at stake, Rosie must decide: will she return to the shadows as Rosie Blackwood, or can she bring Zhao Jingshen into the light of her real world? In this thrilling tale of love, deception, and redemption, one question remains—can love transcend the masks we wear?