1:05 PM — Li Family Mansion, Underground Garage
The garage was eerily silent, save for the sharp, rhythmic sound of Zhenyu's steady breathing. He stood frozen, his hands at his sides, eyes locked on the figure that had emerged from the shadows.
Feng Yun. The man who had been haunting the periphery of Zhenyu's empire for years, making subtle moves, playing the long game. But now, the time for whispers and manipulation was over.
Feng Yun stepped closer, his presence unsettling. He wasn't tall, but his eyes held a cold intensity that made him seem taller than he was. His tailored suit, dark and imposing, was a perfect match for the menacing aura he exuded.
"You think you control everything," Feng Yun said, his voice low and almost contemplative. "But in the end, Zhenyu, you'll learn that no one controls the game. The game controls you."
Zhenyu's lips curled into a tight smile. His calm demeanor belied the fury bubbling beneath the surface.
"You've been watching me for years, haven't you?" Zhenyu's voice was laced with a quiet menace. "Waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And now you've decided that today is the day?"
Feng Yun's eyes glinted. "The moment to strike? I didn't strike first. You did. You've been tearing apart everything I've worked for, piece by piece, for the past five years. But now... the tables are turning. Your empire isn't as solid as you think."
Zhenyu's hand slid into his coat pocket, fingers brushing against the cold metal of his phone. Feng Yun was right — the cracks in his empire were beginning to show. The mysterious hacking attempt at Shen Pharmaceuticals. The leaked information about shadow companies. And now, Feng Yun himself, stepping out from the shadows like a ghost that had come to haunt him.
"I'm not worried about your little games," Zhenyu said. "But I'll make one thing clear, Feng Yun... you've underestimated me. That's your mistake."
Feng Yun raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what are you going to do about it? Threaten me? You can't control everything, Zhenyu. Not anymore."
Before Zhenyu could respond, the garage doors slammed shut with a deafening sound. The air suddenly felt thicker, colder. The tension in the room escalated.
"Looks like we're locked in," Zhenyu said, his expression hardening. "I guess we'll have to settle this one way or another."
Feng Yun didn't flinch. He knew Zhenyu would not back down easily. But this confrontation was necessary — it was the only way to force Zhenyu into a corner, to make him face the truth.
2:00 PM — Shen Pharmaceuticals, CEO's Office
Meanwhile, Yinyin was back in her office, the weight of the growing tension pressing down on her. She had never imagined her life would come to this — a place where her marriage was built on lies, and the company she worked for was plagued by betrayal.
The security breach earlier had rattled her, but it wasn't just the technical threat that worried her. It was the feeling that Zhenyu had been playing a much larger game all along. That he had been hiding his true intentions from her.
She had always known Zhenyu was ambitious, calculating, and ruthless in business. But the shadow companies, the accounts linked to her name, and the mysterious players like Feng Yun were starting to make her question everything.
Yinyin opened the file again, the same one that had been haunting her for days. It was filled with documents that were almost too clean — too perfect. There was a sense of finality in these transactions, as if someone was setting her up to fall.
Her mind kept returning to the question she had asked Qiulan earlier: Do you think loyalty can be bought?
Yinyin stared at the screen, her finger hovering over the keyboard. She could contact Zhenyu and confront him directly. But would that solve anything? Would he even tell her the truth?
As the seconds passed, the thought of confronting Zhenyu seemed more and more like a calculated risk. She couldn't continue to live in this cloud of ignorance, but how much was she willing to sacrifice to uncover the truth?
2:30 PM — Li Family Mansion, Zhenyu's Study
Back at the mansion, Zhenyu and Feng Yun were still locked in the underground garage, their words growing sharper with every passing moment. Neither was willing to give an inch. The confrontation between them was inevitable, and there was no way to avoid it.
Feng Yun took a slow step forward, narrowing the gap between them. His expression was a mix of amusement and challenge.
"I've always wondered," Feng Yun said, his voice like a snake's whisper, "what drives you, Zhenyu? What makes you willing to sacrifice everything, including your own family, just to win?"
Zhenyu's gaze flickered for a split second, a moment of weakness. But it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared. "My family has always been my greatest asset," he said coolly. "But you're right. I'll do anything to win. And I'll do whatever it takes to keep my empire intact."
Feng Yun smirked. "I know what you're capable of, Zhenyu. But your empire is built on a foundation of lies. And no matter how high you build, it will eventually crumble."
The words stung, but Zhenyu stood his ground, refusing to show any vulnerability.
3:00 PM — Li Family Mansion, Garden
In the peaceful garden, Zhao Qiulan stood silently, her eyes trained on the view of the city. Her thoughts were far from serene, however. She had overheard parts of the conversation between Zhenyu and Feng Yun earlier, and she knew things were getting worse.
Zhao Qiulan was loyal to the Li family, but her loyalty wasn't just to Zhenyu. It was to the empire itself. The question was, could she still stand by Zhenyu, or was it time to make her own move?
She knew there were those who wanted to bring the Li family down, and Feng Yun was just the beginning. Shen Yinyin, despite being Zhenyu's wife, was beginning to question everything — and that could change the entire balance of power.
Zhao Qiulan had always played the role of a silent observer, but it was becoming clear that her loyalty would soon be tested.