The city glittered under the night sky, but inside Zi Corporation, the atmosphere remained tense. Although Zi Ning's counterattack had struck Zhang Qiang hard, she knew the battle was far from over. A man like him—power-hungry and vengeful—would never retreat quietly.
Zi Ning sat at her desk, scanning the latest reports. The press conference had turned public opinion in her favor. Shareholders who had started to waver after the fake accusations now returned to support her. But beneath the surface, she could feel it—Zhang Qiang was planning something bigger.
A knock at the door broke her thoughts.
"Come in," she said coldly.
Liu Mei stepped inside, holding a tablet. Her face looked serious. "Chairwoman Zi, there's something you should see."
Zi Ning motioned for her to continue.
Liu Mei placed the tablet in front of her, playing a video. It was a hidden camera recording—a meeting between Zhang Qiang and several high-level officials. Their conversation was clear. They were planning to block Zi Corporation's next major project—a multi-billion yuan investment into renewable energy.
"He's using his connections to stop us," Liu Mei said, her voice tense. "If they succeed, the project will be delayed for years."
Zi Ning's fingers tapped against the desk. "He wants to choke us financially. If the project stalls, our competitors will take advantage."
Liu Mei nodded. "And worse—if the officials side with him, it could damage our reputation permanently."
A cold smile crept across Zi Ning's lips. "Zhang Qiang really doesn't learn. If he wants to play dirty, I'll bury him again."
"What's our next step?" Liu Mei asked.
Zi Ning leaned back in her chair, her eyes sharp. "Prepare a full audit of the project. I want every detail airtight. Then—" She paused, thinking. "—reach out to the media again. This time, we'll expose Zhang Qiang's manipulation of government officials."
Liu Mei hesitated. "Won't that offend those in power?"
Zi Ning's voice turned icy. "I'm not afraid of them. If they want to stand with a snake like Zhang Qiang, they can fall with him."
Liu Mei smiled slightly, admiration shining in her eyes. "I'll take care of it immediately."
As she turned to leave, Zi Ning added, "And one more thing—put more security on all our projects. If Zhang Qiang can't attack us publicly, he'll try something in the shadows."
"Yes, Chairwoman," Liu Mei said firmly before disappearing through the door.
Late that night, Zi Ning returned to the Lu family mansion. The lights were dim, casting soft shadows along the marble floors. Despite the battle raging outside, this place felt like her sanctuary.
As she stepped into the living room, she found Lu Yichen sitting on the couch, reviewing documents. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his muscular forearms. The sight brought a sense of comfort she rarely allowed herself to feel.
"You're working late," she said softly, walking toward him.
Without looking up, he answered, "So are you."
Zi Ning smiled faintly and sank down beside him. "Zhang Qiang is making his next move. He's trying to block our renewable energy project."
Lu Yichen's eyes darkened. "He's playing with fire."
"I know," she said, leaning back. "But I'm not worried. I've already started the counterattack."
A low chuckle escaped his lips. "I should have known. You never lose."
She turned her head to meet his gaze. "With you by my side, why would I?"
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The warmth between them was undeniable. Lu Yichen reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "If you need me to step in—"
"I can handle it," she interrupted, though her tone was softer now. "But knowing you're there makes everything easier."
His fingers tightened gently around her hand. "Always."
The next morning, the war escalated.
By 8 a.m., headlines screamed with fresh scandals. Reports surfaced claiming Zi Corporation's renewable energy project was unsafe, based on fabricated environmental studies. It was clear Zhang Qiang had paid for these lies.
Zi Ning arrived at the office to find her team already working at full speed. Liu Mei met her at the elevator, her expression grim. "Chairwoman Zi, the reports are spreading fast. Zhang Qiang's influence is stronger than we thought."
Zi Ning remained calm. "Have we finished the internal audit?"
"Yes," Liu Mei said, handing her a thick file. "Every part of the project is clean. We found no irregularities."
Zi Ning nodded. "Good. Call for a media briefing in two hours. We'll release the audit and expose Zhang Qiang's fake studies."
Liu Mei hesitated. "Chairwoman, Zhang Qiang has friends in the government. If we push too hard—"
"I'm not scared," Zi Ning said coldly. "If they want a war, I'll give them one."
By noon, Zi Ning stood before the press again. Cameras flashed as reporters leaned forward, eager for her response.
Her voice was calm but powerful. "The lies about our project are baseless. Here is the official audit, conducted by independent experts." She held up the thick document. "Every part of our work meets the highest safety standards."
A reporter raised his hand. "Chairwoman Zi, are you accusing Zhang Qiang of spreading these lies?"
Zi Ning's smile was razor-sharp. "I'm not accusing him—I'm proving it."
Behind her, a massive screen flickered to life. Recorded conversations played, exposing Zhang Qiang's meetings with corrupt officials. Gasps filled the room as the truth unfolded.
"I will not allow anyone to destroy our work," Zi Ning declared. "Zi Corporation stands for integrity—and we will not back down."
The conference ended with reporters scrambling to break the story.
By evening, the tables had turned again. Public support for Zi Ning surged, while Zhang Qiang's name was dragged through the mud. Government officials distanced themselves from him, afraid of being exposed.
Inside the Lu mansion, Zi Ning sat on the balcony, watching the city lights. Victory tasted sweet—but she knew Zhang Qiang wasn't finished.
Lu Yichen joined her, carrying two glasses of wine. He handed her one and took a seat beside her. "You crushed him today," he said with quiet admiration.
Zi Ning sipped her wine, her expression unreadable. "He'll try again. People like Zhang Qiang don't know when to quit."
His hand found hers, warm and steady. "Let him try. With you leading Zi Corporation, he's already lost."
She turned to face him, a rare softness in her gaze. "And with you beside me, I'll never lose."