The Bai family estate had always been a symbol of old money,tall columns, imported marble floors, manicured gardens trimmed to perfection. The kind of place that screamed legacy, even when its foundations were hollow.
But today, the air felt wrong.
Servants moved like shadows, heads lowered, whispers trailing behind every step. The fountain out front had stopped running. Flowers once regularly changed were now wilting in the summer heat.
Inside the grand hall, Chairman Bai paced like a trapped animal, phone clutched in hand, a cold sweat breaking across his brow.
"The Shanghai contracts,gone. Just like that. No explanation. The logistics partner cut ties overnight."
His wife, Madam Bai, sat frozen on the cream settee, a hand pressed tightly to her temple. "The bank called. Three of our accounts were flagged. Frozen under 'legal scrutiny.' What does that even mean?"
"They're coming for us," he hissed. "Li Zeyan."
She gasped. "Because of that stupid banquet?"
"No," he spat. "Because of our daughter."
They both turned as the doors slammed open.
Bai Mingzhu stood there, hair disheveled, her phone in her hand, her expression stunned.
"Why is everyone pulling out?" she demanded. "My modeling contract was canceled. My manager blocked me. Even my driver—!"
"You little fool!" her father shouted, marching toward her, eyes blazing. "What did you do?!"
"I didn't do anything!" she yelled, stepping back. "I was just trying to help us! To get close to Li Zeyan—"
"You drugged his wife."
The words fell like thunder.
Mingzhu froze.
Her mother's voice came next, quieter,but sharper. "Do you know how insane that sounds? Do you realize the man you crossed doesn't blink before destroying companies? Families?"
"I wasn't the one who served the drink!" she said, voice trembling now. "I just… made a suggestion. I didn't think—"
"That's right," her father sneered. "You didn't think. You've ruined everything. Our reputation. Our alliances. Our future!"
Mingzhu looked between them, desperation clawing into her voice. "I was just trying to make myself useful. Everyone said I was just pretty. That I had no value. I wanted to prove I could be something!"
"Congratulations," Madam Bai said coldly, standing now. "You're something, all right."
"A liability."
Chairman Bai stepped back, wiping his face with shaking hands.
"We're going to be audited," he muttered. "There's talk that Shen Holdings is backing out of the partnership. Even the real estate project in Hong Kong,they're reviewing our licensing. And you—"
He pointed at Mingzhu, finger trembling with rage.
"—are the reason why everything we built for decades is collapsing in a week."
She shook her head, voice cracking. "So what, you'll just blame everything on me now? I was just a pawn in your plans. I've always been your pretty little chess piece. The girl you dressed up and showed off. But now that the game went wrong, I'm suddenly the villain?"
"Because you are," her mother snapped.
And for the first time in her life, Bai Mingzhu had no one shielding her.
The silence that followed was colder than any punishment.
She backed away slowly.
But no one followed.
No one said her name.
Just the echo of her father's voice, as he sank into his chair, staring blankly ahead.
"We crossed the wrong man…"