Zi Ning stood by the window of her apartment, gazing at the night sky. The city lights shimmered, but her mind was elsewhere.
The press conference had been a success.
Shen Ming was finished. His reputation was in ruins, and he was being investigated. But she knew this wasn't over.
Someone had orchestrated this scandal from the shadows.
And she would find them.
Her phone buzzed.
Lu Yichen.
She answered.
"You exposed Shen Ming, but he wasn't the one who started all this," Lu Yichen said, his voice calm yet sharp.
Zi Ning's eyes darkened. "I know."
"I had my people investigate further," he continued. "We found something interesting. Shen Ming was only a pawn. The person truly behind this… is someone much more powerful."
Zi Ning's grip tightened. "Who?"
Lu Yichen paused.
"I'll send you the details. But be careful, Zi Ning. This enemy is not someone you can take lightly."
She smirked. "I never take my enemies lightly."
The call ended, and a message popped up on her phone. A name.
Zi Ning's expression turned cold.
Wang Xue.
Wang Xue. A name she hadn't heard in years.
She was the daughter of the powerful Wang family, known for their vast business empire. Cold, ruthless, and cunning, Wang Xue had never liked her.
Back when Zi Ning first entered the entertainment industry, she had unintentionally offended Wang Xue by rejecting a business deal.
Since then, Wang Xue had been looking for an opportunity to crush her.
Zi Ning clenched her fists.
Now, she finally had proof that Wang Xue was behind this scandal.
And she wouldn't let her get away with it.
The next morning, Zi Ning walked into Moonlight Café, a high-end restaurant known for its privacy.
She had sent Wang Xue a message, asking for a meeting.
If Wang Xue had truly planned this, she would show up.
And she did.
Dressed in an elegant white dress, Wang Xue walked in with a cold smile.
"Zi Ning," she greeted, sitting across from her. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Zi Ning leaned back, studying her. "You can drop the act. I know you were behind the scandal."
Wang Xue chuckled. "Oh? And what makes you think that?"
Zi Ning slid her phone across the table, showing her the evidence.
Emails. Call logs. Bank transfers.
Everything pointed to Wang Xue.
For the first time, Wang Xue's smile faltered.
But she quickly recovered.
"So what if I did?" she said, taking a sip of her tea. "You embarrassed me years ago. Did you think I would just forget?"
Zi Ning's eyes turned sharp. "I don't care about your grudge. You tried to destroy my career, and now you will face the consequences."
Wang Xue laughed softly. "You think you can fight me? You have no idea who you're dealing with."
Zi Ning smirked. "Neither do you."
She stood up. "Enjoy your tea, Wang Xue. You'll need it."
Then, she walked away, leaving Wang Xue staring after her.
That night, Zi Ning met Lu Yichen at his private club.
"You shouldn't have confronted Wang Xue directly," he said, pouring her a glass of wine. "She's dangerous."
Zi Ning took a sip. "So am I."
Lu Yichen smirked. "True. But she has more resources than Shen Ming. She won't be taken down easily."
"I don't need her to be easy," Zi Ning said. "I just need her to make a mistake."
Lu Yichen studied her for a moment, then chuckled.
"You really are fearless," he said. "I like that."
Zi Ning rolled her eyes. "Flirting won't help."
"I wasn't flirting," he said, leaning closer. "I was admiring."
Zi Ning's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly recovered.
"We have more important things to focus on," she said.
Lu Yichen smiled. "Of course."
But his gaze never left her.
And for the first time, Zi Ning felt that maybe… just maybe… she wasn't fighting this battle alone.
The next morning, the headlines were filled with new rumors.
#ZiNingUnstable
#ZiNingThreatensBusinessElite
#WangXueSpeaksOut
Wang Xue had wasted no time.
She had gone to the media, portraying herself as the victim.
"I was just trying to help her," she told the reporters, pretending to be sad. "But she misunderstood me and lashed out. I don't want any conflict, but I fear for my safety."
Zi Ning sneered.
So this was her game?
Play the victim and turn the public against her?
She underestimated her.
Zi Ning picked up her phone and made a call.
"Release the recordings."
Moments later, a new post went viral.
It was an audio recording.
Wang Xue's own voice, admitting to planning the scandal.
The internet exploded.
#WangXueExposed
#JusticeForZiNing
#WhoIsTheRealVillain?
The tide had turned.
Again.
And this time, Wang Xue had no way out.
That evening, Zi Ning received a message from Lu Yichen.
"Wang Xue is leaving the country tonight. Should we stop her?"
Zi Ning's eyes turned cold.
Wang Xue thought she could escape?
Not a chance.
She picked up her coat and headed out.
It was time to end this.