Zi Ning's days grew quieter after Wang Sheng's downfall, but the silence felt unnatural—like the city was holding its breath. She knew better than to believe her troubles were over. In the business world, there were always enemies lurking in the shadows.
Early one morning, Zi Ning arrived at the Zi Corporation headquarters. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting soft golden light across the city skyline. She stepped out of her car, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor as she entered the building.
"Good morning, President Zi." Her assistant, Xu Wei, greeted her with a warm smile.
Zi Ning nodded. "Any updates?"
Xu Wei followed her into the private elevator, holding a tablet. "The Qin Group's remaining branches are in chaos. Without Wang Sheng, the board is fighting for control. Several of their key partners have already approached us, hoping to switch alliances."
Zi Ning's lips curled into a faint smile. "Good. Let them come to us. But I want full background checks on every partner before we sign anything. No loose ends."
"Yes, President Zi." Xu Wei hesitated before adding, "There's one more thing. We received an invitation this morning—from the Lu Group."
Zi Ning's steps slowed. "Lu Group?"
"Yes. They're hosting a private gala next week. The invitation was personally sent by Lu Yichen."
Zi Ning's heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name, but she kept her face calm. "Send my RSVP. I'll attend."
Xu Wei gave a quick nod as the elevator doors slid open. Zi Ning walked toward her office, her thoughts lingering on Lu Yichen.
Since Wang Sheng's fall, he had stayed by her side quietly but steadily. His presence was a source of strength, even if she didn't want to admit it. But what was his true goal? A man like Lu Yichen didn't do anything without a reason.
As she sat behind her desk, her phone buzzed with a message. It was from Lu Yichen.
"Busy?"
A small smile tugged at her lips. She typed back quickly.
"Always. Why?"
His reply came almost immediately.
"Lunch. I'll pick you up at noon."
Zi Ning shook her head but didn't refuse.
At exactly noon, a sleek black sports car pulled up outside the Zi Corporation. Lu Yichen leaned against the driver's side, looking effortlessly handsome in a tailored suit.
When Zi Ning stepped outside, his gaze softened. "Punctual as always," he said, opening the door for her.
"I'm a businesswoman. Time is money," she teased, sliding into the passenger seat.
He chuckled quietly as he started the engine. "Then I'll make this worth your time."
They drove to a private restaurant on the outskirts of the city. The place was quiet and elegant—clearly reserved for people who valued their privacy.
Inside, a private booth awaited them. The staff moved smoothly, bringing out dishes without a word.
As they ate, Lu Yichen leaned back and studied her. "You've been working too hard."
Zi Ning raised an eyebrow. "Is that your way of saying I look tired?"
"No." His voice was low and serious. "It's my way of saying I'm worried about you."
Her chopsticks paused mid-air. "Why?"
He met her gaze without hesitation. "Because you think too much and trust too little."
His words struck a nerve. For years, she had survived by being cautious. Trusting the wrong person had nearly destroyed her once—she couldn't afford to make the same mistake.
"I can't afford to be careless, Lu Yichen," she said softly.
"I'm not asking you to be careless," he said, his voice gentler now. "I'm asking you to let me share the burden."
Her heart twisted at his words. For so long, she had fought her battles alone. Letting someone else in felt dangerous—but with Lu Yichen, it also felt… safe.
"I'll try," she finally said.
His smile was slow and genuine. "That's all I ask."
Later that afternoon, back at her office, Zi Ning felt a strange unease settle in her chest. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
As if on cue, Xu Wei rushed into her office. "President Zi, we have a problem."
Zi Ning's eyes narrowed. "What happened?"
Xu Wei handed her a tablet. "This article just went live. It's spreading fast."
Zi Ning's blood ran cold as she read the headline:
"Zi Corporation's Dark Secrets—Did Zi Ning Destroy Wang Sheng for Personal Revenge?"
The article was filled with lies—twisting the truth and making it seem like Zi Ning had planned Wang Sheng's downfall for her own benefit. It even hinted that she had used underhanded means to destroy the Qin Group.
Her fists clenched as she scrolled through the article. This wasn't just a random attack—someone had planned this carefully.
"Who leaked this?" she demanded.
"We're still investigating," Xu Wei said. "But it looks like the source is anonymous."
Zi Ning's jaw tightened. "Contact our PR team. I want a full statement ready within the hour. And find out who's behind this. I want names."
"Yes, President Zi!" Xu Wei rushed out of the office.
Alone, Zi Ning leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. She had known there would be backlash after Wang Sheng's fall—but this attack felt personal.
A chill ran down her spine. Someone wanted to destroy her—and they weren't going to stop.
Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a call from Lu Yichen.
"I saw the article," he said as soon as she answered.
"I'm handling it," she replied firmly.
"I know you are," he said, his voice steady. "But you're not handling it alone. I'll look into the source. Whoever is behind this won't stay hidden for long."
His words brought her a small measure of comfort, but the tension in her chest didn't ease.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Always," he answered without hesitation.
As the call ended, Zi Ning knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning. Someone was coming for her, and she had no choice but to fight back.
Across the city, in a dimly lit office, the woman who had ordered the article leaned back in her chair, a cruel smile on her lips.
"Let's see how long you can hold on, Zi Ning," she murmured.
Her companion chuckled softly. "This is just the first move. She won't see the next one coming."
The woman's eyes gleamed with malice. "Good. I want her broken—completely."
And with that, the next stage of their plan was already in motion.