The sun hung high in the sky as Zi Ning stepped out of the Zi estate. The cold air brushed against her skin, but the chill inside her heart was far colder. Zi Hong's words echoed in her mind—"Trust no one."
She had always known the Zi family wasn't simple, but hearing it directly from Zi Hong made everything feel more real. There were people who wanted her gone—people who would do anything to protect their power. And at the center of it all was Zi Yue, the woman who had been enjoying the wealth and status that should have been hers.
As the sleek black car pulled away from the estate, Zi Ning leaned back against the leather seat, her thoughts racing. She couldn't afford to be naïve. If she wanted to survive in this world, she had to be stronger and smarter than her enemies.
Her phone buzzed in her bag. She pulled it out and saw a message from Lu Yichen.
"Are you okay? Call me when you're done."
A warmth spread through her chest. No matter how cold the world around her became, Lu Yichen's presence always made her feel safe. Without hesitation, she called him.
The phone barely rang twice before he answered. "Zi Ning," his deep voice filled her ears, easing the tension in her heart. "What did Zi Hong want?"
"She warned me," Zi Ning said quietly. "She told me that my return threatens others in the family. Especially her sister, Zi Yue."
Lu Yichen's voice turned cold. "Zi Yue…" he repeated. "I've heard of her. Ambitious, ruthless, and willing to destroy anyone who stands in her way. She won't let you take what she believes is hers without a fight."
Zi Ning clenched her fists. "I'm not afraid of her."
A low chuckle escaped him. "Good. You shouldn't be. But that doesn't mean you can let your guard down. People like Zi Yue don't fight fair. She'll try to hurt you in ways you can't predict."
"I know," Zi Ning admitted. "But I won't let her win. This is my life, my identity. No one will take it away from me again."
"I'll be by your side," Lu Yichen promised. "No matter what happens."
His words wrapped around her heart like a shield, protecting her from the icy fear creeping at the edges of her thoughts. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Come to my office," he said after a pause. "I want to see you."
Zi Ning smiled softly. "I'm on my way."
Half an hour later, Zi Ning stepped out of the elevator onto the top floor of the Lu Group building. The entire floor was quiet, polished to perfection, and every detail spoke of power and authority.
The receptionist bowed slightly as she approached. "Miss Zi, Mr. Lu is waiting for you inside."
Zi Ning nodded, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor as she walked toward the heavy double doors. She pushed them open and found Lu Yichen standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, his hands in his pockets.
His sharp features softened when he saw her, and he crossed the room in a few strides. Without a word, he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest.
"You're tense," he murmured, brushing his fingers through her hair.
"It's hard not to be," she admitted, leaning into his warmth. "I feel like everything is changing too fast."
Lu Yichen lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Let it change. You're not the same woman they used to bully. You're stronger now, and you have me."
His confidence filled the empty spaces inside her. For years, she had faced everything alone. But now, with him by her side, the weight didn't feel so heavy.
"What do you know about Zi Yue?" she asked softly.
Lu Yichen's expression darkened. "She's dangerous. After the accident that separated you from the Zi family, she stepped in and became Zi Hong's right hand. She handles most of the family's external business, including their international trade. But make no mistake—she's been waiting for the day she could take full control."
"And now I'm in her way," Zi Ning muttered.
"You are," he confirmed. "But that also means you hold the power to destroy her plans. That's why you need to strike first."
Zi Ning's heart pounded harder. "Strike first?"
Lu Yichen nodded, his eyes gleaming with cold calculation. "If you wait for her to make the first move, you'll always be on the defensive. But if you attack first—if you expose her weaknesses—she won't have a chance to hurt you."
A spark ignited inside her chest. For too long, she had been the one others pushed around. Not anymore.
"I won't let her destroy me," she said, her voice steady. "Whatever game she wants to play, I'll win."
A slow smile curved Lu Yichen's lips. "That's the woman I love."
That evening, Zi Ning sat in her apartment, reviewing everything she knew about the Zi family. If she wanted to protect herself, she needed to understand the enemy.
She pulled out her laptop and began searching for information about Zi Yue. Public records showed that Zi Yue had joined the family business fifteen years ago. She was known as a business genius, capable of turning struggling projects into gold mines. But behind her polished image was a trail of people who had mysteriously disappeared or lost everything after crossing her.
Zi Ning's fingers tightened on the keyboard. This woman wasn't just ambitious—she was ruthless.
A notification flashed across her screen. An anonymous email had arrived with the subject line: "Know Your Enemy."
Her heart raced as she clicked on it. Inside was a single attachment. She opened the file and froze.
It was a collection of documents—financial records, hidden transactions, and evidence suggesting that Zi Yue had been secretly embezzling millions from the Zi family's overseas accounts.
Whoever sent this wanted her to see Zi Yue's darkest secrets.
A cold smile tugged at her lips. Zi Yue had power, but even the strongest opponent had weaknesses. And now, she had found one.
Her phone buzzed again—another message from Lu Yichen.
"Did you find anything?"
She typed back quickly. "Yes. And I know how to strike first."
If Zi Yue wanted a battle, she would give her one.