Chapter 35: Cousin's Escalating Schemes
The first light of dawn spilled through the glass walls of Liang Yue Enterprises' executive suite, but the serenity of the room was deceptive. Across the city, social media buzzed with speculation, and within the walls of elite gatherings, whispers were already flying. The screen in front of Liang Yue displayed the offending headline:
"Liang Yue's Recent Ventures Questioned—Ethical Allegations Surface."
Liang Yue leaned back in her chair, fingers steepled, eyes glinting with calm amusement. The words that had caused panic in others were nothing more than background noise to her. Every detail, every move that had led here, had already been anticipated.
Mei Lan approached, tablet in hand, her brow furrowed. "Miss Liang... it's Yulan. She's behind this. She's spun a story questioning your marital alliance with Huo Tianrui, suggesting your investments are unethical. Some junior investors are hesitating, and the media... it's spreading faster than expected."
Liang Yue's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Expected," she said quietly, voice smooth as silk over steel. "Desperation always has a familiar scent. Yulan believes scandal is her weapon. She forgets that perception is only dangerous when unchallenged. And we are prepared."
Mei Lan hesitated. "Do we... respond publicly? Issue a statement?"
Liang Yue shook her head slowly. "Statements are for those who panic. Facts, evidence, timing—they speak louder than words. We observe, we document, and we act when the time is perfect. Let her expend her energy first."
By mid-morning, whispers had rippled through elite circles. Invitations to private brunches and investor meetings had shifted subtly. Liang Yue's phone vibrated endlessly, messages of speculation, panic, and indirect pleas for clarity. Each ping was another chess piece moved into place, yet none had touched the board she had prepared.
Across town, Yulan sat with two journalists in a chic, sunlit cafe. Her tone was honeyed, her smile rehearsed. "Liang Yue may be clever, yes, but can anyone truly trust a woman who gains wealth and power so rapidly? There are questions about the influence of her marriage... questions about ethics."
The journalists nodded, jotting down notes. "Intriguing," one murmured.
Yulan leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Subtlety is key. People doubt without realizing they're being influenced. It's an art."
What she did not see, just across the street, was Liang Yue—incognito, observing every gesture, every inflection, every slight tremor in Yulan's hand. A faint, satisfied smirk ghosted across Liang Yue's lips. The game was already unfolding exactly as she had foreseen.
By early afternoon, Liang Yue convened a meeting with her closest allies—investors, legal advisors, and Mei Lan. The tension was tangible, but her calm authority made the room itself bend to her presence.
"Yulan believes whispers equal power," Liang Yue began, her voice smooth but carrying weight. "She assumes insinuation can destabilize influence. She is wrong. Influence is measured in results, foresight, and clarity. Let us analyze her strategy."
Mr. Chen, a senior investor, frowned. "But the headlines—they're reaching the junior investors. Some are already nervous. How do we reassure them without giving more attention to the story?"
Liang Yue's gaze pierced him, unwavering. "Facts are stronger than fear. Each investment has documentation, independent audits, and proven returns. Transparency neutralizes rumors. Let Yulan expend herself in panic. Our timing will be decisive, and our control absolute."
The legal advisor spoke cautiously. "Would you like a public clarification?"
She shook her head. "Statements are theatrics. Evidence is absolute. Prepare the reports, projections, and confirmations. Let truth speak louder than accusation."
By late afternoon, the fabricated scandal had spread. Social media threads debated her ethics, forums buzzed, and even financial blogs questioned her integrity. Yet Liang Yue's focus was unshaken. Mei Lan checked a tablet, whispering, "Miss Liang... it's escalating. Some are even questioning Tianrui's role in your investments. Panic is spreading."
Liang Yue allowed herself a faint smile. "Perfect. Panic is the fastest way to self-destruction. Let it grow; every frantic move will become evidence of her own instability."
She drafted a short, precise message to her investors:
"All investments are independently audited and fully compliant. Transparency and results confirm the integrity of Liang Yue Enterprises. Reports attached for review."
Within the hour, junior investors began replying with confirmations and gratitude. Social media threads shifted as credible voices reinforced her competence. Yulan's whispers, once a threat, now dissolved into irrelevance.
That evening, at a private gala, the elite gathered amidst crystal chandeliers and gilded columns. Yulan arrived, poised and rehearsed, but Liang Yue's keen eyes tracked her every step.
"Liang Yue, darling," Yulan purred, approaching with calculated sweetness. "What a day, huh? The headlines... must be exhausting."
Liang Yue's lips curved into a controlled smile. "Indeed. But efficiency, foresight, and clarity alleviate exhaustion. Exaggerated stories are easily mitigated when facts are indisputable."
Yulan leaned in, lowering her voice, trying to pierce Liang Yue's composure. "You know, power can blind judgment. A touch of humility never hurts."
Liang Yue's eyes sharpened, steel threading through the calm. "Humility is a virtue when earned. Presumption, when unearned, is... visible."
Guests nearby shifted subtly, sensing the silent sting. Yulan's carefully rehearsed charm faltered. The whisper of doubt she had hoped to plant now hovered uselessly, suffocated by Liang Yue's composure.
From the edge of the ballroom, Huo Tianrui observed silently. His presence alone prevented further interference. His eyes tracked every microexpression: Yulan's panic, Liang Yue's control, and the rising awe of the crowd.
Later, in a quieter corner of the gala, Liang Yue allowed herself a faint smile. "Desperation always reveals itself," she murmured. "Every attempt she makes only highlights her incompetence."
Mei Lan, impressed and slightly breathless, whispered, "Miss Liang... how do you anticipate her moves so perfectly?"
"Observation, pattern recognition, and experience," Liang Yue replied. "She acts on impulse; we act on certainty. She may think herself cunning, but I have foreknowledge. Every misstep is cataloged and used to reinforce our position."
A notification chimed—another investor confirming expanded commitments. Her sphere of influence was growing exponentially; her mastery over the narrative was undeniable.
As night fell, Liang Yue returned to the office. The city stretched below like a sea of lights, unaware of the quiet storm of strategy and power at its heart. Tianrui met her, expression unreadable.
"She is relentless," he said, voice low. "Even now, she seeks to undermine you."
Liang Yue allowed herself a slight lean back, eyes meeting his. "Relentless without foresight is self-defeating. Every move she makes is documented, every attempt noted. Her panic will expose itself fully. We need only wait for the proper moment to act."
He studied her, respect and admiration threading through his cold expression. "Few can maintain such control under pressure. You turn every attack into a testament to your power."
Her faint smile was a whisper of triumph. "Yes. And every whisper she spreads only amplifies our influence when countered with clarity, patience, and results."
The city below pulsed with life, oblivious that within its heart, two forces—Liang Yue and Huo Tianrui—had just neutralized a scheme meant to destabilize. Yulan's desperation had become proof of Liang Yue's unrivaled mastery. Every action, every attempt at sabotage, had only cemented the perception of invincibility.
By midnight, confirmation messages flooded in: investors reaffirming their loyalty, influential allies praising her foresight, and media outlets correcting misinformation with indisputable evidence.
Liang Yue sat back, calm, composed, untouchable. Her power was no longer whispered about—it was witnessed, undeniable, and irreversible. Yulan's schemes had failed spectacularly, and the world would soon realize that Liang Yue's intellect, strategy, and unassailable composure were forces no one could challenge.
Huo Tianrui's presence by her side was quiet, understated, but the message was clear: they were aligned, a partnership of power, foresight, and inevitability. Yulan's escalating schemes had done exactly what Liang Yue had intended—they showcased her brilliance, her control, and the certainty of her influence.
And in that calm, golden glow, Liang Yue allowed herself a rare, private thought: in the game of power, some players never learn that the most dangerous moves are invisible until it is too late.