3:00 PM — Li Family Mansion, Underground Garage
The atmosphere in the underground garage had become oppressive, the tension between Zhenyu and Feng Yun thickening with every passing moment. The two men, once rivals in the shadows, now stood face to face, the game of power between them escalating.
Feng Yun took a step closer, his eyes locking onto Zhenyu's with a cold, calculating gaze. "You still don't get it, do you, Zhenyu?" Feng Yun's voice was dripping with contempt. "The empire you've built is nothing more than a house of cards. It's only a matter of time before it all comes crashing down."
Zhenyu's expression didn't change, but beneath his calm exterior, his mind was racing. The insinuation about his empire, about his father's legacy, had struck a nerve. His entire life had been centered around maintaining control, about building something that would outlast his father's death. But now, Feng Yun was threatening that very foundation.
"If you think you can threaten me, Feng Yun, you're wrong," Zhenyu said, his voice low and steady. "You're playing a dangerous game."
Feng Yun's lips curved into a thin smile. "Dangerous? No. Just inevitable."
Zhenyu narrowed his eyes. "What do you want? You've made your move. But what's your endgame?"
Feng Yun shrugged, his gaze never leaving Zhenyu's. "I want to make sure you understand that nothing lasts forever. Not your power, not your wealth, and certainly not your little empire." He paused, his voice turning colder. "And as for your family... they'll be the first to fall when it all comes down."
Zhenyu's jaw tightened, his fist clenching at his side. His thoughts flickered back to Meiyun, to his sister, Qingmei, and even to Yinyin. Family had always been his greatest source of strength, and yet here was a man who threatened to tear it all apart.
"I've kept you in the shadows long enough, Feng Yun," Zhenyu said, his voice now colder than before. "If you want a war, you'll get one. But understand this — I'll destroy everything you've built in the process."
The two men locked eyes, neither one willing to back down. The game had only just begun.
3:30 PM — Shen Pharmaceuticals, CEO's Office
Back at Shen Pharmaceuticals, the atmosphere was just as tense, though for very different reasons. Yinyin sat at her desk, the same file open in front of her. The documents were damning. The connections, the hidden accounts — everything she had suspected was slowly starting to become clear. Zhenyu had been lying to her.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she debated her next move. Should she confront him directly? Or should she continue gathering information until she had enough to force him to tell the truth?
Yinyin's gaze wandered to the photograph of the two of them on her desk — a picture from their wedding day. Zhenyu had always been charming, always playing the perfect husband. But now, as the walls began to crumble around her, she wasn't sure if she even knew the man standing beside her in that photo.
As if on cue, her phone buzzed.
It was a message from Qiulan.
"Yinyin, I need to talk to you. There's something you should know about Zhenyu's recent dealings. It's not what you think."
The message sent a cold shiver down her spine. Qiulan, her assistant, the woman who had always been so loyal, was now offering to reveal secrets about Zhenyu.
Yinyin hesitated. Was Qiulan truly loyal to her? Or was she another part of Zhenyu's web?
Yinyin couldn't ignore the feeling that something darker was at play — something that even Qiulan might be unknowingly involved in.
4:00 PM — Li Family Mansion, Garden
Zhao Qiulan stood at the edge of the garden, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and conflict. She had never been one to question her loyalty to the Li family. From the moment she'd started working for them, she had committed herself fully to their cause, to Zhenyu's cause. But now... now she was starting to wonder if her loyalty was misplaced.
She had seen the way Zhenyu controlled everything — including his family. The power he held, the manipulation behind his every move, it was all so precise, so calculated. But was it worth it?
Yinyin had grown suspicious, and the tension between her and Zhenyu was becoming palpable. Qiulan had been observing everything carefully, trying to stay neutral, but now, she couldn't ignore the fact that the stakes were higher than ever.
If Zhenyu's empire were to fall, what would that mean for her? What would that mean for the Li family?
She had always thought of Zhenyu as a kind of untouchable figure. But now, with the events unfolding so quickly, Qiulan realized that even the most powerful men have their breaking points.
Her phone buzzed. It was a message from Yinyin.
"We need to talk. Meet me at the usual spot."
Qiulan's heart skipped a beat. She knew this conversation would be different. And she knew that whatever was about to unfold, her loyalties would be tested.
4:30 PM — Li Family Mansion, Zhenyu's Office
Zhenyu sat alone in his office, his thoughts churning. The confrontation with Feng Yun had rattled him more than he was willing to admit. His empire was under threat, and the cracks were starting to show. But it wasn't just the external threats that troubled him.
Yinyin was starting to ask questions — dangerous questions. And there was the issue with Qiulan, who seemed to be getting too close to Yinyin, whispering doubts in her ear.
He couldn't afford to have his carefully constructed world unraveling. Not now. Not when everything he had worked for was on the verge of being destroyed.
He picked up his phone and dialed Qiulan's number. There was no time for hesitation anymore. He needed to secure his position, and if that meant silencing certain people, so be it.
The phone rang twice before Qiulan answered.
"Qiulan, we need to meet," Zhenyu said, his voice low and filled with an unsettling calm. "I need to make sure everything is under control."