Zi Ning stared at the message on her phone, her fingers tightening around the sleek device.
"You think you've won? This is only the beginning."
A threat—cold and direct. But instead of fear, a surge of anger burned through her veins. Whoever was behind the Qin Group's moves clearly thought she was easy to intimidate.
They were wrong.
She leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowing as she reread the message. The sender was anonymous, but Zi Ning knew it wasn't some empty bluff. Someone powerful was moving behind the scenes—someone who wanted to see her fall.
A knock on the door broke her thoughts. Liu Mei stepped inside, a stack of documents in hand.
"Chairwoman Zi, we just received these reports," she said, placing the files on the desk. "The Qin Group's partnership with the Lin Consortium is still unstable. But there's more."
Zi Ning lifted an eyebrow. "Go on."
Liu Mei hesitated for a moment. "It seems the Qin Group is targeting our overseas assets. They're using third-party companies to pressure our suppliers and distributors in Europe and Southeast Asia."
Zi Ning's jaw tightened. This wasn't a simple business rivalry—it was a full-scale attack.
"They want to cut off our supply chain," she murmured. "If they succeed, it'll slow down our global talent project before it even begins."
Liu Mei nodded grimly. "We've already seen delays in some regions. If this continues…"
"They'll choke us from the outside in," Zi Ning finished coldly.
For a moment, the office was silent. Then, Zi Ning stood up, her eyes sharp with determination.
"Contact our legal team. I want every contract with our suppliers reviewed. If anyone dares break their agreement, I'll make sure they pay the price."
"Yes, Chairwoman."
"And one more thing," Zi Ning added, her voice icy. "Find out who these third-party companies are. I want names."
Liu Mei nodded and quickly left the office.
Zi Ning exhaled slowly, trying to calm the storm in her heart. Whoever was behind this wasn't just bold—they were careful. Hiding their hand while pushing others forward.
But no one could hide from her forever.
That evening, Zi Ning returned to the Lu family mansion. The moment she stepped inside, the warmth of the place wrapped around her, but her heart remained heavy.
In the living room, Lu Yichen was waiting. He was dressed casually, but there was nothing relaxed about the way his eyes darkened when he saw her tense expression.
"Rough day?" he asked softly.
Zi Ning sighed, slipping off her heels. "The Qin Group is pressing harder. They're attacking our overseas operations now."
Lu Yichen's jawline tightened. "They're playing dirty."
"They won't stop until they destroy everything I've built," Zi Ning said quietly. "And there's someone helping them from the shadows."
Lu Yichen reached out, pulling her into his arms. "They won't succeed," he said firmly. "Not while I'm here."
His words, so simple and steady, warmed the cold edges of her heart. For the first time that day, she allowed herself to relax—just a little—against his chest.
For a few moments, they stood there in silence. Then, Lu Yichen pulled back slightly, his expression serious.
"I made some calls," he said. "I found something interesting about the Qin Group's sudden rise."
Zi Ning looked up, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"There's a foreign investment firm backing them—Dragon Holdings. It's registered overseas, but the real power comes from within the country."
"Dragon Holdings?" Zi Ning repeated, the name unfamiliar. "Who's behind it?"
Lu Yichen's lips curved into a cold smile. "That's the interesting part. On paper, it's controlled by a network of shell companies. But I found a connection to someone you know—Wang Yin's father."
Zi Ning's breath caught. Wang Yin again.
"That woman doesn't know when to stop," she said bitterly.
"She's not working alone," Lu Yichen said. "Her father's influence runs deeper than most people realize. If they're pulling the strings behind the Qin Group, this won't stop until one of you falls."
Zi Ning's heart pounded with cold fury. Wang Yin had already tried to ruin her reputation—now she wanted to destroy Zi Corporation as well?
"She thinks I'm still the same woman who let her walk all over me," Zi Ning said, her voice low and dangerous. "It's time I showed her otherwise."
Lu Yichen's smile widened slightly. "What are you planning?"
Zi Ning stepped back, her mind already racing ahead. "If they want to play dirty, I'll play smarter. But first, I need to expose their hidden hand. Once the world knows Wang Yin's father is behind this, the Qin Group's reputation will shatter."
Lu Yichen's eyes gleamed with approval. "I can help with that."
She met his gaze and felt a surge of warmth. With him by her side, she didn't need to fight this battle alone.
The next day, Zi Ning moved swiftly. Under her orders, the legal team began locking down supplier contracts while Liu Mei dug deeper into the Qin Group's secret alliances.
Meanwhile, Lu Yichen activated his own network of contacts. Within hours, he had uncovered detailed records linking Dragon Holdings directly to Wang Yin's father, Wang Sheng.
By afternoon, Zi Ning held the evidence in her hands—a thick file that could destroy the Qin Group's carefully crafted façade.
Liu Mei entered her office, excitement flashing in her eyes. "Chairwoman Zi, the information is verified. Once this goes public, the Qin Group's reputation will suffer irreparable damage."
Zi Ning's lips curled into a cold smile. "Good. Schedule a press conference for tomorrow. It's time we returned the favor."
That evening, Zi Ning stood on the balcony of the Lu family mansion, the city lights glittering below. The wind brushed against her face, but her heart burned with quiet fury.
Lu Yichen joined her, his warm presence a comforting weight. "Are you ready?"
She nodded slowly. "Let them come. I'm done playing defense."
He smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "That's what I love about you. No matter how much they push, you push back harder."
Zi Ning turned to face him, her eyes fierce. "I'm not just fighting for myself. This is for everyone who thought I would break. I won't let them win."
Lu Yichen leaned in, his voice low. "And you won't have to fight alone. I'm with you, always."
For the first time in days, a real smile touched her lips. With him by her side, there was nothing she couldn't face.
Tomorrow, the world would see the truth.
And the ones hiding in the shadows—would have nowhere left to run.