The city buzzed with the aftermath of the Guo family's downfall. Newspapers and news channels filled their reports with shocking revelations, and social media was flooded with discussions. For years, the Guo family had been untouchable. Now, their empire was collapsing before the public's eyes.
Inside a private lounge at a high-end restaurant, Zi Ning, Jiang Yue, Zhou Wei, and Lu Yichen sat around a sleek black table. The atmosphere was tense, filled with unspoken thoughts.
Zhou Wei was the first to speak. "I thought we were done with Guo Jiancheng, but it looks like he still has a few tricks left."
Jiang Yue leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. "I knew he wouldn't accept defeat quietly, but hiring people from the underground? That's a whole new level of desperate."
Zi Ning's fingers tapped against her glass. "It's expected. He's someone who has lived in power his whole life. Losing everything overnight would make any man desperate."
Lu Yichen remained silent for a moment before finally speaking. "He's not just desperate. He's dangerous now. A man with nothing to lose is unpredictable."
Zi Ning's expression was calm, but her eyes were sharp. "Let him come. If he wants to play dirty, we'll be ready."
Lu Yichen exhaled quietly. He admired her fearlessness, but he also knew that Guo Jiancheng wasn't someone who should be underestimated.
Zhou Wei crossed his arms. "So, what do we do? Wait for him to make a move?"
Lu Yichen shook his head. "No. If we wait, we'll be on the defensive. We need to stay ahead of him."
Jiang Yue's eyes lit up. "You have a plan?"
Lu Yichen leaned back. "Guo Jiancheng still has a few people in the business world who haven't abandoned him. If we cut off those last connections, he'll be completely cornered."
Zi Ning nodded. "And what about his underground dealings?"
Lu Yichen's gaze darkened. "I'll handle that."
The room went silent. Jiang Yue exchanged a glance with Zhou Wei.
Jiang Yue hesitated before speaking. "Are you sure? This isn't the business world. It's…"
Lu Yichen's expression remained unreadable. "I know what I'm doing."
Zi Ning studied him for a moment before speaking. "Alright. Just don't do anything reckless."
Lu Yichen smirked. "That's my line."
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit office on the outskirts of the city, Guo Jiancheng sat behind a desk, his face twisted in frustration. The once-mighty businessman now looked like a man who had aged overnight. His hair was slightly disheveled, and his expensive suit seemed to hang loosely on his shoulders.
Across from him sat a man dressed in black, his features hidden in the shadows. He exuded a dangerous aura, the kind that made ordinary people uneasy.
Guo Jiancheng clenched his fists. "I don't care what it takes. I want Zi Ning ruined. I want her to disappear from this world."
The man in black tilted his head slightly. "That's a dangerous request, Mr. Guo. If you're asking for something like that, the price won't be cheap."
Guo Jiancheng's jaw tightened. "Money is not a problem."
The man in black chuckled. "Good. Then we have a deal."
As the man stood up to leave, Guo Bao stormed into the room. His face was red with anger. "Father! Are you seriously doing this?"
Guo Jiancheng's eyes flashed. "You have a better idea?"
Guo Bao gritted his teeth. "We still have connections in the industry. We can still fight back using legal means."
Guo Jiancheng slammed his hand against the desk. "Legal means? Do you think those cowards will still support us after what happened? We have no allies left in the business world!"
Guo Bao fell silent. He knew his father was right. After the scandal broke, their so-called allies had abandoned them one by one. Investors withdrew their support, business partners refused to answer their calls, and even old friends turned their backs on them.
Guo Jiancheng's voice was cold. "If we can't win with power, we'll win with fear."
Guo Bao hesitated. He hated Zi Ning, but this… this felt like crossing a line.
The man in black smirked as he walked toward the door. "Don't worry, Mr. Guo. Consider it done."
As the door closed behind him, Guo Bao clenched his fists. A strange sense of unease settled in his chest.
For the first time, he wondered if they had gone too far.
Late that night, Zi Ning sat by the window in her apartment, staring at the city lights. The glow of the streetlights reflected in her eyes, but her mind was elsewhere.
Jiang Yue walked in, carrying two cups of tea. "I know that look. What's on your mind?"
Zi Ning accepted the tea, her fingers wrapping around the warm cup. "Guo Jiancheng."
Jiang Yue sighed. "I knew it. You think he's going to do something reckless, don't you?"
Zi Ning nodded. "I can feel it. He's too proud to just accept defeat."
Jiang Yue sipped her tea. "Well, whatever he's planning, we'll handle it. We've already brought him down this far. He's just struggling to survive."
Zi Ning smiled faintly. "You make it sound so easy."
Jiang Yue grinned. "That's because I have faith in us."
Zi Ning appreciated her friend's confidence, but deep down, she knew the battle wasn't over.
And she had a feeling the worst was yet to come.
At that same moment, Lu Yichen stood in a dark alley, his expression cold. Across from him stood a group of men, their eyes wary. They weren't ordinary businessmen. They were people from the underground world, the kind of men who thrived in shadows.
Their leader, a scar-faced man, smirked. "So, what brings the great Lu Yichen to a place like this?"
Lu Yichen's voice was calm, but there was an underlying danger in his tone. "I'm here about Guo Jiancheng."
The scar-faced man chuckled. "Ah, I see. You want to know who he's dealing with, don't you?"
Lu Yichen didn't respond.
The scar-faced man tilted his head. "I'll be honest with you. Guo Jiancheng is desperate. He's reaching out to some very dangerous people."
Lu Yichen's eyes darkened. "Who?"
The scar-faced man hesitated before finally speaking. "A group that doesn't care about money or power. They only care about results. If Guo Jiancheng has hired them, then your little actress friend is in serious danger."
Lu Yichen's jaw tightened.
The scar-faced man smirked. "Of course, if you want information… it's going to cost you."
Lu Yichen pulled out a black card and tossed it toward him. "This should be enough."
The scar-faced man caught the card and grinned. "Pleasure doing business."
Lu Yichen turned to leave, his mind racing.
Zi Ning was in danger.
And he needed to stop it before it was too late.