The air was thick with tension as Zi Ning stood in the middle of the abandoned factory. The cold wind seeped through the broken windows, and the dim light flickered weakly above. The place smelled of rust and dust, as if no one had stepped foot inside for years.
Around her, masked men dressed in black formed a tight circle. Their faces were hidden, their eyes cold and ruthless. They weren't here to talk.
The leader, a tall man with a scar running down his left cheek, took a step closer. His voice was low and filled with menace.
"You were foolish to come alone."
Zi Ning smirked, her eyes sharp and fearless. "Who said I came alone?"
The leader frowned, sensing something was wrong.
Before he could react, a loud gunshot rang out.
Bang!
A bullet struck the metal beams above, sending sparks flying. The masked men stiffened, their hands moving toward their weapons. The air filled with the sound of shuffling feet, the tension rising to the breaking point.
Zi Ning didn't waste a second. In the split moment of distraction, she moved. Her body was like a shadow—fast and precise. She kicked the nearest man in the stomach, sending him flying backward. Before he could even hit the ground, she spun and swung her arm, knocking another man's head into a rusted pillar.
A third attacker lunged at her, pulling out a knife. But Zi Ning was faster. She ducked, grabbed a metal pipe from the ground, and struck his wrist with full force.
Crack!
The man howled in pain, dropping the knife. Zi Ning didn't stop. She twisted her body and swung the pipe again, this time hitting his knee. He collapsed instantly, clutching his leg in agony.
Outside, the roaring sound of engines filled the night.
Lu Yichen's men had arrived.
The factory doors burst open, and a group of armed men rushed in, their guns aimed at the attackers. The masked men panicked. They had expected an easy ambush, not a full-blown counterattack.
"Retreat!" the leader shouted.
But it was too late.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunfire exploded through the air. Bullets struck the walls, sending dust and debris flying everywhere. The attackers scrambled, trying to escape.
Zi Ning dodged as a man lunged at her, trying to grab her from behind. She twisted her body and elbowed him in the ribs. The man grunted in pain but didn't let go.
His grip tightened.
Zi Ning struggled, but he was strong. He lifted her off the ground, trying to slam her against the wall. Just as she was about to counter, a gunshot rang out.
Bang!
A bullet pierced the man's shoulder.
He screamed and let go, stumbling backward.
Zi Ning landed on her feet and turned. Lu Yichen stood at the entrance, his gun still aimed, his face cold and dangerous.
"Didn't I tell you not to take risks?" he said, walking toward her.
Zi Ning smiled despite the situation. "And miss all the fun?"
Lu Yichen sighed, shaking his head. "We'll talk about this later."
He fired another shot, hitting an attacker in the leg. The masked men, realizing they were losing, threw down smoke canisters. A thick, choking fog filled the factory.
By the time it cleared, they were gone.
Lu Yichen's men secured the area, making sure no threats remained. One of the attackers had been captured, and his hands were tied behind his back.
Lu Yichen turned to Zi Ning, his sharp eyes scanning her for injuries. "Are you hurt?"
Zi Ning shook her head. "I'm fine."
His jaw tightened. "You took a huge risk."
She exhaled, wiping dust from her clothes. "I had to come. They said they knew about my past."
Lu Yichen's expression darkened. "And look where it got you. They were clearly trying to trap you."
Zi Ning bit her lip. "But what if they were telling the truth?"
Lu Yichen looked at her, his eyes softening slightly. "If your real family is still looking for you, we'll find them the right way. Not by walking into traps."
She nodded slowly. "You're right."
Lu Yichen sighed. "Let's go. We need to figure out who these men were."
The next day, Zi Ning sat in Lu Yichen's office, going through the surveillance footage from the factory. His men had managed to capture one of the attackers, and they were interrogating him.
"He hasn't said much," Lu Yichen said. "But we'll get answers soon."
Zi Ning leaned back. "Someone powerful is behind this."
Lu Yichen nodded. "And I have a feeling we already know who."
Zi Ning's expression turned cold. "Wang Yin."
Lu Yichen smirked. "She's getting desperate."
Before they could continue, Lu Yichen's assistant entered. "Sir, we found something."
He placed a folder on the table. Lu Yichen flipped it open. Inside were documents—old reports, pictures, and information about Zi Ning's past.
Zi Ning's heart pounded as she recognized a photo. It was an old picture of herself as a child.
"Where did you get this?" she asked.
The assistant hesitated. "It was leaked to the media. But we stopped it before it spread too far."
Zi Ning's eyes narrowed. "Someone wanted the world to know my past."
Lu Yichen closed the folder. "And we need to find out why."
Meanwhile, Wang Yin sat in her office, sipping wine.
Her plan had failed, but she wasn't done. If she couldn't eliminate Zi Ning quietly, then she would do it another way.
She picked up her phone and dialed a number.
"It's time for Plan B," she said.
A voice on the other end chuckled. "Consider it done."
Wang Yin smirked. "Zi Ning won't see this coming."
She ended the call and leaned back, a victorious glint in her eyes.
This time, she would make sure Zi Ning never got back up.