The morning sun barely touched the sky when Zi Ning arrived at her office. Her sharp heels echoed through the marble hallway as Liu Mei followed closely behind, holding a tablet with the latest updates.
"Chairwoman Zi, after last night's press conference, our shares have stabilized," Liu Mei reported. "But the Qin Group is already moving to counterattack. They're spreading rumors that our evidence is fabricated."
Zi Ning's lips curled into a cold smile. "Let them struggle. Lies won't save them."
She settled into her leather chair, her fingers tapping lightly against the polished desk. Her gaze was calm, but the storm in her heart was just beginning. Wang Sheng thought he could play dirty. He had no idea who he was dealing with.
Liu Mei hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Also, Zhao Wei sent the encrypted files this morning. Our tech team is already decrypting them. We should have the full contents within the hour."
Zi Ning's eyes gleamed with sharpness. "Good. I want every detail. No matter how small, we will use it to crush Wang Sheng."
At that moment, her phone buzzed. It was Lu Yichen.
"Are you still at the office?" His voice was warm, but there was an underlying concern.
"Yes," she replied, leaning back slightly. "I have no time to relax. Wang Sheng is already making his next move."
"I expected that," Lu Yichen said. "But be careful. A cornered wolf is the most dangerous."
Zi Ning smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I'm not the prey. I'm the hunter."
In the Qin Group headquarters, the atmosphere was tense. Qin Wei slammed his fist on the conference table, his face dark with rage.
"That woman humiliated us in front of the entire industry!" he roared. "Our stock is falling, and our partners are getting nervous!"
Wang Sheng, sitting calmly at the other end of the table, adjusted his cufflinks without a trace of emotion.
"She's smart," he admitted coldly. "But she's not invincible."
Qin Wei's hands shook with anger. "What do you suggest, Mr. Wang? We can't just sit here while she tears us apart!"
A sinister smile crept across Wang Sheng's face. "We attack from where it hurts most. Zi Corporation's strength comes from its international deals. What happens if those deals suddenly fall apart?"
"You mean sabotage?" Qin Wei's voice dropped to a whisper.
Wang Sheng leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous. "I have friends in high places. A few calls, a few well-placed rumors… and her partners will doubt her. By the time she realizes what's happening, it will be too late."
Qin Wei nodded slowly, a cruel smile forming. "Let's see how strong she really is when everything around her crumbles."
By mid-afternoon, Zi Ning's team had finished decrypting Zhao Wei's files. Liu Mei entered her office with a flash drive, her expression grim.
"You need to see this," she said, plugging the drive into Zi Ning's computer.
A series of documents filled the screen—offshore bank accounts, evidence of corporate espionage, and, most importantly, records of Wang Sheng bribing high-ranking officials.
Zi Ning's eyes narrowed. This was more than she had hoped for. If these documents were made public, not even Wang Sheng's connections could protect him.
"This is enough to destroy him," Liu Mei said quietly.
Zi Ning nodded slowly. "Yes. But we must be careful. If we release everything now, he'll have time to cover his tracks. We need to strike when he least expects it."
Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was an unknown number.
She hesitated before answering. "Who is this?"
A rough voice came through the line. "If you want more dirt on Wang Sheng, meet me tonight. The old dockyard. Nine o'clock. Come alone."
The line went dead.
Liu Mei's face darkened with worry. "It's a trap. You can't go alone."
Zi Ning's expression didn't change. "Of course, it's a trap. But sometimes, you need to walk into the lion's den to pull out its teeth."
Night fell quickly. At precisely nine o'clock, Zi Ning arrived at the old dockyard. She wore a sleek black coat, her figure elegant yet dangerous. Hidden beneath her coat was a small recording device—if anyone tried anything, she would have proof.
The air was cold and heavy with the scent of saltwater. Dim streetlights flickered as she walked toward the meeting point.
A shadow emerged from behind a stack of shipping containers. The man was tall and thin, his face partially hidden beneath a hood.
"You're braver than I thought," he said, his voice rough and filled with tension.
"I'm not here to play games," Zi Ning said coldly. "What do you have?"
The man tossed a brown envelope onto the ground between them. "This is proof that Wang Sheng is planning something bigger. He's working with an international syndicate—The Black Serpent. Once they get involved, even you won't survive."
Zi Ning's heart tightened, though her face remained calm. She had heard whispers of The Black Serpent—a ruthless criminal organization that operated worldwide. If Wang Sheng had partnered with them, the stakes were far higher than she had imagined.
Before she could speak, the sound of footsteps echoed behind her.
"I knew you'd come, Zi Ning," a cold voice said.
She turned sharply. Wang Yin stepped out of the shadows, her lips curled in a vicious smile.
"I should thank you," Wang Yin sneered. "Your press conference made my father even more determined to destroy you."
Zi Ning didn't flinch. "If you're here to threaten me, you're wasting your time."
Wang Yin laughed softly. "No. I'm here to warn you. Give up now, Zi Ning. Walk away while you still can. If you keep pushing, you won't just lose your company—you'll lose everything."
Zi Ning's eyes burned with cold fire. "I'm not afraid of you. And I will never back down."
Wang Yin's smile faded, replaced by something darker. "Then you leave me no choice."
Without another word, she turned and disappeared into the night.
Zi Ning exhaled slowly, her fists clenched. She had seen the truth in Wang Yin's eyes—this was no longer just a business battle. It was personal.
When she returned to the Lu family mansion, Lu Yichen was waiting for her in the study.
"You're late," he said softly, concern etched in his face.
"I had a meeting," she replied, placing the brown envelope on the table.
Lu Yichen opened it, his expression hardening as he scanned the contents. "The Black Serpent…"
He looked up at her, his jaw tight. "Zi Ning, this is dangerous. If Wang Sheng is working with them, you can't fight this battle alone."
Zi Ning's voice was steady. "I'm not alone. I have you."
For a long moment, Lu Yichen said nothing. Then he crossed the room, pulling her into his arms.
"No matter how dark it gets, I'll be by your side," he promised.
Zi Ning closed her eyes briefly, allowing herself to rest in his warmth.