The night was quiet, but the storm had only just begun.
Zi Ning sat by the window of her apartment, looking out at the city lights. The press conference was over, and her name was cleared, but she knew this wasn't the end. Guo Jiancheng was a powerful man, and he wouldn't go down without a fight.
Her phone buzzed. It was a message from Fang Min.
"Good news. Your endorsements are safe. In fact, some brands are reaching out, saying they admire your courage. You turned this scandal into an opportunity."
Zi Ning smiled slightly. At least some good had come from this mess. But she wasn't satisfied yet.
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. When she opened it, Lu Yichen stood there, his usual calm expression in place.
"Can I come in?" he asked.
She stepped aside, letting him enter. He moved to the living room, sitting on the couch as if he had done it a hundred times before.
"You handled today well," he said, watching her closely. "But Guo Jiancheng won't give up so easily."
Zi Ning sat across from him. "I know. That's why I want to strike first."
Lu Yichen raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you have in mind?"
She took a deep breath. "I want to expose everything about Wang Yin and Guo Bao's relationship. They plotted against me together, but the public still sees Wang Yin as an innocent bystander. If we reveal her involvement, she'll go down with them."
Lu Yichen's eyes darkened with approval. "Good. Wang Yin has been hiding behind Guo Bao for too long. If she falls, Guo Bao loses his strongest ally."
Zi Ning nodded. "I also want to make sure Guo Jiancheng has no chance of making a comeback. The evidence we gave to the authorities is strong, but we need to keep the pressure on."
Lu Yichen smirked. "You're learning fast."
She met his gaze. "I have no choice. If I don't fight back, they'll keep trying to destroy me."
His expression softened slightly. "You're not alone in this."
She felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words. For years, she had fought her battles alone. But now, she had an ally she could trust.
The next morning, the entertainment industry was still in chaos.
The news about Guo Jiancheng's crimes spread quickly, and the police had already started an investigation. Stockholders of Guo Corporation were panicking, and rumors circulated that the company might suffer heavy losses.
But the biggest shock came when an anonymous source leaked a series of private messages between Wang Yin and Guo Bao.
In the messages, Wang Yin admitted to working with Guo Bao to frame Zi Ning. She even laughed about how easy it was to manipulate the media.
The public was outraged.
"So Wang Yin was behind this too?"
"I knew she was fake! She always acted innocent, but she's just as bad as Guo Bao!"
"Zi Ning was right to fight back. Wang Yin and Guo Bao deserve everything coming to them!"
Wang Yin's fans tried to defend her, but the evidence was too strong. The entertainment industry turned against her overnight.
Meanwhile, Guo Bao was nowhere to be seen. His social media accounts were silent, and sources said he had gone into hiding.
Zi Ning watched the news unfold from her dressing room. She was back at work, filming a new commercial. The scandal hadn't destroyed her career. Instead, it had made her even more famous.
As she adjusted her makeup, her phone rang. It was an unknown number.
She hesitated before answering. "Hello?"
A familiar voice sneered on the other end. "Enjoying your victory, Zi Ning?"
Her grip on the phone tightened. "Guo Bao."
"You think you've won?" he hissed. "This isn't over. My father might be in trouble, but I still have connections. You'll regret this."
Zi Ning's heart pounded, but she forced herself to stay calm. "You're the one who should be scared, Guo Bao. The truth is out. No one will believe your lies anymore."
Guo Bao laughed coldly. "We'll see about that." Then the line went dead.
Zi Ning lowered the phone, a chill running down her spine.
Guo Bao wasn't finished yet. And she needed to be ready for whatever came next.
Later that evening, she met Lu Yichen for dinner at a private restaurant.
He could tell something was wrong the moment she walked in. "What happened?"
She sat down, sighing. "Guo Bao called me."
His expression darkened instantly. "What did he say?"
"That this isn't over," she said, looking him in the eyes. "I don't know what he's planning, but he's not backing down."
Lu Yichen leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping against the table. "Then we make sure he never gets the chance to strike back."
Zi Ning frowned. "You have a plan?"
He nodded. "Guo Bao still has people protecting him. But if we take away his last supporters, he'll have no power left. His uncle, Guo Xun, is the only one helping him now. We need to make sure Guo Xun distances himself from him."
Zi Ning thought for a moment. "How do we do that?"
Lu Yichen smirked. "By making Guo Bao too toxic to be associated with. Once his uncle sees that helping him will destroy his own reputation, he'll abandon him."
Zi Ning understood immediately. "So we push out more evidence?"
"Exactly," Lu Yichen said. "There's still more dirt on Guo Bao. If we release everything, he won't have a single ally left."
She nodded. "Then let's do it."
Lu Yichen studied her for a moment before speaking. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"
Zi Ning met his gaze without hesitation. "I've come this far. I won't stop now."
A slow smile spread across his lips. "Good."
That night, they sent everything to the media—more proof of Guo Bao's past scandals, his illegal dealings, and even evidence of his involvement in manipulating the entertainment industry.
By the next morning, Guo Bao's name was completely ruined.
News headlines were brutal.
"Guo Bao: From Heir to Criminal!"
"More Evidence Against Guo Bao Surfaces—Industry Leaders Cut Ties!"
"Guo Xun Officially Announces He Will No Longer Support His Nephew!"
As expected, Guo Xun immediately distanced himself from Guo Bao, publicly stating that he had no involvement in his nephew's actions.
And just like that, Guo Bao was completely isolated.
Zi Ning sat in her apartment, reading the headlines. For the first time in weeks, she felt like she could breathe.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Lu Yichen.
"It's over. He has no way back."
She stared at the message for a long time before replying.
"Thank you."
A simple message, but she knew he understood.
She wasn't the weak girl who let others step on her anymore. She had fought back and won.
And from now on, no one would dare try to destroy her again.