By the time the clock struck midnight, Zi Ning was already outside Phoenix Lounge. The neon lights reflected in her eyes, but her heart was calm.
She stepped inside, her heels clicking against the marble floor. The air was thick with expensive perfume and soft music. Wealthy elites lounged around in private booths, sipping wine and discussing business deals.
A waiter approached her. "Miss Zi Ning?"
She nodded.
"This way, please."
She followed him past the main lounge and into a secluded VIP room. The door closed behind her with a quiet thud.
A man sat on the leather couch, his face shadowed by the dim lighting.
"Miss Zi Ning," he said, his voice familiar.
She narrowed her eyes. "Guo Jiancheng."
The man leaned forward, revealing his sharp, calculating features. His expensive suit was impeccable, his posture relaxed. He looked at her as if he had already won.
"I was wondering if you'd come," he said.
Zi Ning crossed her arms. "You went through all this trouble just to meet me?"
Guo Jiancheng smirked. "I wanted to see how desperate you are."
She let out a short laugh. "If you think this video will break me, you don't know me at all."
His smile didn't fade. "You're strong, I'll give you that. But strength means nothing when the entire country turns against you."
He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. A second later, the video played again. The fabricated footage of her in the hotel.
"Imagine this being released tomorrow morning," Guo Jiancheng mused. "Imagine the headlines. 'Zi Ning's True Face Exposed.' 'Actress Caught Seducing CEO's Son for Fame.'"
He paused, watching her reaction.
Zi Ning met his gaze without fear. "You've already decided to release it. Why are we still talking?"
Guo Jiancheng chuckled. "Because I'm giving you a choice. If you leave the entertainment industry and disappear quietly, this video will never see the light of day."
Zi Ning's lips curled into a cold smile. "That's your offer? Step aside and let you win?"
Guo Jiancheng's expression remained unreadable. "Take the smart choice, Miss Zi Ning. A scandal like this doesn't just ruin careers—it ruins lives."
She leaned forward, resting her hands on the table between them. "You think I'm afraid?"
His eyes flickered with amusement. "Aren't you?"
Zi Ning let out a slow breath. "I used to be. But not anymore."
She stood up, her posture confident. "You're underestimating me, Guo Jiancheng. That's your mistake."
He smirked. "We'll see about that."
Without another word, she turned and walked out of the room.
The moment she stepped outside, she dialed Lu Yichen's number.
He picked up instantly. "Where are you?"
"Phoenix Lounge," she said. "Guo Jiancheng just threatened me."
Silence. Then, his voice turned ice-cold. "I'm coming."
Less than thirty minutes later, Zi Ning sat in Lu Yichen's private office.
His dark eyes burned with fury. "He dared to threaten you?"
She nodded. "He wants me to disappear. He's planning to release the video if I don't."
Lu Yichen's jaw tightened. "Then we destroy the video before he can use it."
She frowned. "You think that's possible?"
A cold smirk touched his lips. "Everything has a weakness."
He turned to Chen Rui, who was standing nearby. "Find out where the original footage is stored. Hack into their servers if necessary."
Chen Rui nodded and left the room immediately.
Zi Ning exhaled. "I won't let them ruin me, but we need to be smart about this. Guo Jiancheng is powerful."
Lu Yichen's gaze softened slightly. "So am I."
For the first time that night, her tense shoulders relaxed.
Zi Ning sat in Lu Yichen's private office, her mind running through everything that had happened. The fabricated video, Guo Jiancheng's threats, and now the impending scandal that could ruin her career.
But she wasn't the same helpless girl she once was. If they thought she would back down, they were wrong.
Lu Yichen sat across from her, his dark eyes unreadable. His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, a sign that he was deep in thought. "Guo Jiancheng is playing dirty," he said, his voice low. "But if he thinks he can control you with a fake scandal, he's underestimating us."
Zi Ning nodded. "He gave me a choice—disappear from the entertainment industry or let the video be released. It's clear they want me gone."
A cold smirk appeared on Lu Yichen's lips. "Then we'll make sure that choice doesn't exist."
At that moment, Chen Rui walked in. "I found something," he said, placing a laptop on the desk. "The video is stored on a private server belonging to Guo Corporation. But it's not just the edited version. They still have the original footage."
Zi Ning's eyes sharpened. "The original?"
Chen Rui nodded. "Yes. The untouched video from the hotel's security cameras. If we can get our hands on it, we can prove that the scandal was fabricated."
Lu Yichen leaned back in his chair. "How tight is their security?"
"Very tight," Chen Rui admitted. "But not impossible to break into."
Zi Ning took a deep breath. "Then we need to act fast. If Guo Jiancheng plans to release the video soon, we have to expose the truth first."
Lu Yichen's gaze darkened. "I'll handle it."
Zi Ning hesitated for a moment before looking at him seriously. "I don't want you to take all the risks alone. This is my battle too."
A flicker of admiration crossed his eyes. "I know. But trust me. We'll make them regret ever targeting you."
The next day, news of the scandal spread like wildfire.
Multiple entertainment blogs hinted at an upcoming "shocking reveal" involving Zi Ning. Paparazzi swarmed outside her apartment, eager to catch her reaction. Social media was already buzzing with speculation.
"Did Zi Ning really seduce Guo Bao?"
"Can't believe she's another actress willing to sell herself for fame."
"Waiting for the proof. If it's true, her career is over."
Zi Ning clenched her fists as she scrolled through the comments. The media was ruthless, feeding off any hint of gossip.
Just then, her phone rang. It was her manager, Fang Min.
"Zi Ning! What's happening? The rumors are everywhere!" Fang Min's voice was panicked. "The sponsors are asking questions. Some even want to reconsider their contracts."
Zi Ning took a deep breath. "It's fake, Fang Min. Someone is trying to ruin me."
"I believe you," Fang Min said quickly. "But we need to get ahead of this before the video is released."
"I know," Zi Ning said firmly. "We're working on it."
After hanging up, she turned to Lu Yichen. "We need to move faster. The longer we wait, the worse this gets."
Lu Yichen's phone buzzed, and he checked the message. A cold smile appeared on his lips. "It's already taken care of."
Zi Ning raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Chen Rui got into Guo Corporation's servers. We have the original footage."
Zi Ning's eyes widened. "Already?"
Lu Yichen nodded. "And there's more. Guo Jiancheng wasn't just targeting you—he's been involved in multiple scandals, covering up crimes for years. This is bigger than just your video."
Zi Ning's heart pounded. "So we can not only clear my name but also bring him down completely?"
Lu Yichen's smile was cold. "Exactly."
That evening, Zi Ning held a press conference.
Reporters filled the room, their cameras flashing as she took her seat at the front. The tension in the air was thick—everyone was waiting to see how she would respond to the scandal.
She took a deep breath and spoke clearly.
"Recently, there have been rumors about me involving an inappropriate relationship with Guo Bao. I want to make one thing clear—these allegations are completely false. The video being circulated has been edited to frame me."
The reporters murmured, but she continued.
"I have the original footage from the hotel's security cameras, which proves that I was set up. This video will be released to the public immediately after this press conference."
A large screen behind her lit up, showing the untouched video. It was clear—Zi Ning was never involved with Guo Bao. Instead, it showed Wang Yin sneaking into his room that night, followed by Guo Bao himself looking nervous and guilty.
Gasps filled the room.
A reporter quickly asked, "Miss Zi Ning, are you saying this was a deliberate attempt to ruin your career?"
Zi Ning met his gaze firmly. "Yes. And I will not stay silent about it."
Lu Yichen, standing beside her, spoke next. "Furthermore, we have uncovered evidence of Guo Jiancheng's criminal activities. This information has already been handed over to the authorities."
Chaos erupted among the reporters as they scrambled to process the shocking turn of events.
Zi Ning let out a slow breath. She had fought back—and won.
The fallout was immediate.
Guo Jiancheng's name trended online, not for exposing Zi Ning, but for his own downfall. The truth spread like wildfire, and public opinion quickly turned against him.
Zi Ning's name was cleared. Instead of being a scandalous actress, she was now seen as a victim of a vicious scheme. Fans rallied behind her, praising her courage for fighting back.
She sat in her apartment, finally allowing herself to relax.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Lu Yichen.
"You did well today. Rest. I'll handle the rest."
A small smile touched her lips. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly safe.