Zi Ning's fingers tightened around the folder as she met Lu Yichen's gaze. His deep eyes were unreadable, filled with something she couldn't quite place—was it concern, or was it just his usual indifference?
She took a slow breath, her heartbeat steadying. "You have all of this… and you're just giving it to me?"
Lu Yichen leaned back against his desk, crossing his arms. "No," he said flatly. "I'm not giving it to you. I'm making you an offer."
Her eyes narrowed. "An offer?"
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze never wavering. "You want revenge. I want the Wang family to pay for their mistakes. Our goals align."
Zi Ning let out a cold laugh. "So, this isn't about helping me. You just want to use me to take them down."
Lu Yichen didn't deny it. "You can think of it however you like. But with my resources and your determination, we can destroy them completely."
She studied him carefully. Lu Yichen was powerful—far more powerful than the Wang family. If he wanted, he could have crushed them himself. So why involve her?
"Why me?" she asked quietly.
Lu Yichen's gaze darkened. "Because this isn't just about them ruining your career. They're digging into your past."
Her breath hitched.
He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "You really don't remember, do you?"
Zi Ning swallowed. "Remember what?"
For a moment, something flickered in his expression—something almost like hesitation. But it disappeared as quickly as it came.
"You'll find out soon enough," he said. "But right now, you need to decide. Do you want my help or not?"
Zi Ning clenched her jaw. Every instinct told her not to trust him completely. Lu Yichen was dangerous—calculating. But he was also right. If she wanted to fight back, she needed a strong ally.
She looked down at the folder again. The Wang family had declared war first. Now, it was her turn.
She met Lu Yichen's gaze. "I accept."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Good."
That night, news of the scandal continued to spread. Social media exploded with speculation, rumors, and accusations.
Some supported Zi Ning, saying the accusations were ridiculous. Others believed the articles, calling her a liar, a manipulator.
At the Wang family estate, Wang Yingying sat in front of a large screen, watching the news. A satisfied smile played on her lips.
Next to her, Wang Hao poured himself a glass of wine. "She hasn't responded yet," he mused. "Maybe she really is scared this time."
Wang Yingying scoffed. "Of course she is. She knows she can't win."
She reached for her phone, dialing a number. "Keep pushing the articles. Leak more photos. Make sure she has nowhere to hide."
As she ended the call, she leaned back, confidence in her every movement. "By the time we're done, she'll be begging for mercy."
But she didn't know that Zi Ning was already planning her next move.
Early the next morning, a new headline took over the internet.
"LEAKED DOCUMENTS EXPOSE WANG FAMILY'S SECRET DEALINGS!"
Within hours, chaos erupted.
Screenshots of transactions, emails, and voice recordings were released to the public—documents proving that the Wang family had paid multiple news outlets to spread fake scandals.
The evidence was overwhelming.
Online forums and news platforms were flooded with reactions.
"Wait, so everything about Zi Ning was fake?!"
"The Wang family was behind it all?! Disgusting!"
"They thought they could ruin her, but she just turned the tables!"
Wang Yingying's phone rang non-stop. Furious calls from business partners, reporters demanding statements.
She grabbed her phone and called Wang Hao. "What the hell is going on?!"
Wang Hao's voice was tight with anger. "Someone leaked everything. This wasn't just a small retaliation—this was planned."
Wang Yingying slammed her hand on the table. "Who could have done this?!"
Her question was answered a moment later.
A new article appeared online.
"LU YICHEN TAKES ACTION: CEO EXPOSES WANG FAMILY'S ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY RISING STAR ZI NING!"
Her face turned pale.
Lu Yichen.
The moment his name appeared, the public turned completely against the Wang family.
People knew Lu Yichen's reputation. He wasn't someone who acted without reason. If he was standing behind Zi Ning, then there was no doubt—everything the Wang family did was true.
Reporters gathered outside the Wang estate. Stock prices of their businesses started to drop.
For the first time in years, the Wang family was facing real consequences.
Wang Yingying clenched her fists. "That bitch!"
Her nails dug into her palms, but she forced herself to calm down. This wasn't over. Zi Ning had struck back hard, but the game wasn't finished yet.
She wouldn't let a nobody like Zi Ning take everything from her.
If Lu Yichen wanted to interfere, then fine.
She would make him regret it.
Zi Ning sat in her apartment, watching the chaos unfold.
Her phone buzzed.
Lu Yichen: "This is only the beginning. Be prepared."
She smirked, her fingers hovering over the screen before typing back.
Zi Ning: "I was born ready."
She wasn't the weak girl they thought she was.
And she wouldn't stop until the Wang family paid for everything.
Wang Yingying paced back and forth in her room, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. The news had spread too fast. The Wang family's reputation was crumbling by the second. Every major news outlet was talking about the leaked documents, and the public was furious.
Her phone rang again. She glanced at the screen—her father.
She hesitated before answering. "Dad—"
"Useless!" Wang Zhiguo's furious voice roared through the phone. "How did this happen? How could you let a nobody like Zi Ning turn the situation around?"
Wang Yingying gritted her teeth. "It wasn't just her. Lu Yichen is involved."
There was silence on the other end, then a sharp exhale. "Lu Yichen…" Wang Zhiguo's voice lowered. "That man is not someone we can afford to offend."
Wang Yingying clenched her fists. "So what? Are we just supposed to sit back and let him destroy us?"
"You idiot!" Wang Zhiguo snapped. "Do you think this is just about you? If Lu Yichen is protecting her, then that means she is more important than we thought."
Wang Yingying froze.
"What do you mean?"
Wang Zhiguo's voice was cold. "I had my doubts before, but now I'm sure. She's not an ordinary woman. There's something about her past we don't know."
Wang Yingying's heartbeat quickened. "Then we need to find out."
There was a pause. Then, her father said, "I already have people looking into it. If Zi Ning has a hidden identity, we will use it against her."
A slow smirk formed on Wang Yingying's lips. "Then let's see how long she can keep fighting."
Zi Ning sat in the Lu Group's office, facing Lu Yichen.
She had expected him to look satisfied with their victory, but his face was as unreadable as ever.
"You did well," he finally said. "But this isn't over."
Zi Ning leaned back in her chair. "I know."
She had been prepared for the Wang family's counterattack. If they thought she would back down just because they were desperate, they were wrong.
Lu Yichen's fingers tapped lightly against the desk. "They will try to dig into your past."
Zi Ning's expression didn't change, but inside, her heart clenched.
Her past…
There were still pieces she couldn't remember. But she knew one thing—if the Wang family found out who she really was, things would get even more dangerous.
She met Lu Yichen's gaze. "Then we make sure they don't find anything."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Good."
He pushed a folder toward her. "This is everything we have on their next moves. They are trying to buy back the media, to control the narrative again."
Zi Ning flipped through the pages. "They won't succeed."
Lu Yichen nodded. "Not if we move faster."
He stood up, his gaze sharp. "I will handle the business side. You focus on your image. The public needs to see you rise, not just fight."
Zi Ning understood immediately. It wasn't enough to defend herself—she needed to take the spotlight for something positive.
She exhaled. "Then it's time for my comeback."