Chapter 43: Public Sabotage
The morning air over the financial district was crisp, carrying a faint tang of rain and the distant hum of traffic. From her private suite on the thirty-third floor of a sleek glass tower, Liang Yue could see Xu Liwei's office building across the street. His company, once a titan of the city's investment scene, now stood precariously on the edge of public scrutiny. And she, calm and untouchable, had positioned herself perfectly to watch—and manipulate—every unfolding move.
Liang Yue sipped her jasmine tea slowly, unbothered by the steady stream of photographers outside her window or the faint buzz of gossip floating up from the street below. In the world of power, appearances were everything—and she had mastered the art of controlling them.
Her tablet pinged softly. A notification: the first of her planted articles had gone live. The headline read: "Xu Liwei's Leadership Under Question: Investors Wary Amid Recent Missteps." A minor media outlet, strategically chosen for its credibility with key investors, had done exactly what she intended. Subtle doubt, no overt attack, just a seed planted.
She leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly, a faint, predatory smile curling her lips. Perfect. Just as expected.
By mid-morning, the ripple effect began. In the bustling lobby of Xu Liwei's company, whispers had already started. Executives shifted nervously, adjusting ties and skirts as they peeked at their phones.
"Have you seen this article?" a senior analyst murmured, voice tight. "It's... subtle, but it's raising questions. Investors are calling, wanting reassurance."
Xu Liwei, standing at the head of the marble staircase, felt the edges of his carefully maintained confidence fray. He had known Liang Yue was smart. He had even respected her in the past—but this... this was something else. Her influence had been subtle, almost invisible, and now it was everywhere.
He motioned to his assistant, voice low but sharp. "Track the sources. Identify who's behind this leak. I want answers."
The assistant swallowed nervously. "Yes, sir. But... it's very difficult. The pattern is intricate. Whoever orchestrated this... they're precise, calculating."
Xu Liwei's jaw tightened. He knew exactly who she meant. And he hated it.
Across town, Liang Yue attended a luncheon with several mid-level investors she had cultivated over the past weeks. The table was set with gold-rimmed china, delicate floral arrangements, and crystal glasses reflecting the afternoon sun streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows. But her attention was elsewhere: she was watching, listening, observing every expression and every subtle shift in tone.
"Miss Liang," began a young investor, voice hesitant, "do you think it's wise to continue investing in Xu Liwei's ventures? There's... uncertainty. Some of us are concerned."
Liang Yue tilted her head slightly, letting her gaze sweep the table before settling on him. "Concern is healthy," she said softly, voice almost melodic but carrying a razor-sharp edge beneath. "Those who ignore warning signs are often the first to regret it. Prudence does not mean hesitation—it means understanding the landscape fully before making a decision."
Her words were subtle, but deliberate. The investor scribbled notes, nodding slowly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. The seed has been planted, she thought.
"And yet," she continued, leaning slightly forward, her eyes catching the afternoon light, "those who act too hastily out of fear often make mistakes far costlier than patience would have demanded. It's all a matter of observation, strategy... and knowing who is truly in control."
A faint murmur ran around the table. Everyone present could feel the weight of her insight, the certainty of her judgment. Liang Yue's calm confidence was intoxicating, almost magnetic. She was elegance and authority wrapped into one, the kind of presence that left others questioning their own competence.
Meanwhile, Xu Liwei's quarterly presentation loomed. His executives, already nervous from the circulating whispers, began gathering in the glass-walled boardroom. He stood at the head of the table, the city skyline stretching behind him, a symbol of the empire he was determined to maintain.
"Our next quarter is critical," Xu Liwei said, voice steady but with a hint of strain he could not entirely mask. "We need to show growth, resilience. We must restore investor confidence immediately."
One analyst cleared his throat, eyes flicking nervously toward the projections on the screen. "Sir... some reports are circulating questioning your decision-making on the new acquisitions. There's concern over liquidity and strategic direction."
Xu Liwei's lips pressed into a thin line. "Handle it. All of it."
But inside, he knew the damage was already done. Investors had seen Liang Yue's subtle manipulations in action. Media had amplified the doubts. And the carefully constructed image of strength he had relied on for years was fraying under her invisible hand.
That evening, Liang Yue hosted a private gathering in her own penthouse office. The room overlooked the twinkling city lights, the skyline reflecting in polished glass surfaces, casting fragmented reflections of power and ambition. A small group of investors leaned in as she discussed upcoming market trends, her words precise, measured, and filled with foresight.
"Miss Liang," one senior investor began, voice respectful, "you've positioned yourself very clearly against Xu Liwei's recent strategies. It seems calculated... and effective. How do you anticipate his next move?"
Liang Yue smiled faintly, letting the question linger in the air. "Predictable," she said simply. "Weakness often masquerades as strength. When you know someone's patterns, their history, and their triggers, the outcome becomes almost inevitable."
Her words were a quiet hammer striking the psyche of the room. Each investor nodded, making mental notes, considering adjustments to their portfolios. Rumors of Xu Liwei's instability would spread further now, fed by her orchestrated insights.
Back at Xu Liwei's company, he could feel the walls closing in. Calls from nervous investors streamed in, each one punctuated by uncertainty and veiled accusations. Every public appearance, every report, every subtly leaked article was a reminder that Liang Yue was always three steps ahead.
He gritted his teeth, his voice cold as he summoned his inner circle. "We need countermeasures. Contain the narrative, or we lose control entirely. And find her—find Liang Yue. I need to know every move she makes."
Even as he spoke, he understood the futility. She was untouchable in ways that were invisible, like a shadow slipping between the cracks of light. Every plan he made, every strategy he implemented, had been anticipated before he even conceived it.
The next morning, Liang Yue walked into the trading floor of her own offices, eyes bright and alert, hair perfectly in place, posture impeccable. Her assistant approached nervously. "Miss Liang, the latest media analysis... Xu Liwei's stock is dropping after your appearances. Rumors of incompetence are now being discussed even in elite circles."
Liang Yue allowed herself a faint smile. "Good. Continue monitoring. Make sure each whisper aligns with the next phase of our strategy. Precision is key. Public perception is everything—control it, and you control the game."
Her assistant hesitated, impressed and a little intimidated. "You're... ruthless, Miss Liang."
She didn't answer immediately. She only allowed her gaze to sweep across the room, settling finally on the skyline outside. "I am not ruthless," she said softly. "I am precise. And precision wins where strength alone often fails."
By evening, the media frenzy had reached a fever pitch. Influential outlets were questioning Xu Liwei's leadership in subtle but unmistakable ways. Analysts debated his competence on live broadcasts. Social media commentators dissected every minor hesitation, every flawed decision. Investors began withdrawing quietly, fearing the loss before it happened.
Liang Yue observed all of this from the penthouse, a faint sense of satisfaction tinged with anticipation. She had set the dominoes. She had watched them topple with grace.
Her phone vibrated—a secure message from Huo Tianrui:
"Well played. Are you ready for the next stage?"
Liang Yue typed back:
"Always. Let him realize he is outmaneuvered before he even knows he's in danger."
Outside, the city lights glittered like a battlefield, and in that glittering war of influence, strategy, and perception, Liang Yue stood unshakable. Xu Liwei's comeback attempt had failed before it began. And she, reborn and untouchable, had cemented another step toward her empire.