Zi Ning sat in the dimly lit study, her fingers resting on the edge of the old photograph. The image of a little girl with bright eyes stared back at her. It was her—years ago, before everything changed. Before she was separated from her true family.
Lu Yichen leaned against the desk, watching her closely. "This was leaked on purpose," he said. "Someone wanted this to be public."
Zi Ning exhaled slowly. "If this got out, the media would go crazy. Everyone would start digging into my past."
Lu Yichen's gaze darkened. "That's exactly what they want. Someone is trying to use your past against you."
Zi Ning knew who. Wang Yin. That woman was desperate to ruin her. But this time, Wang Yin wasn't just targeting her career—she was targeting her identity.
"How much damage has been done?" Zi Ning asked.
Lu Yichen's assistant, Chen Wei, stepped forward. "We stopped the leak before it spread too far. But some people still got a hold of it. If we don't act fast, this could spiral out of control."
Zi Ning clenched her fists. "Then we stop it now."
Lu Yichen nodded. "I've already assigned people to track down the source. We'll find out exactly who's behind this."
Zi Ning's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen. A message from an unknown number.
"The past can't stay buried forever. Do you really want to know the truth?"
A chill ran down her spine. She quickly typed a reply.
"Who are you?"
No response.
Lu Yichen frowned when he saw her expression. "What's wrong?"
Zi Ning handed him the phone. He read the message, his eyes turning cold. "This is a trap."
"Maybe," Zi Ning said. "But what if it's real? What if someone out there actually knows the truth about my past?"
Lu Yichen hesitated. He didn't want her to walk into another dangerous situation, but he also knew she wouldn't let this go.
"Then we do this my way," he said firmly. "No going alone. No taking risks."
Zi Ning nodded. "Agreed."
That evening, they traced the source of the message to an old bookstore in the city. It was a quiet place, tucked between two tall buildings, barely noticeable. The wooden sign above the entrance was faded, and the lights inside were dim.
Zi Ning and Lu Yichen stepped inside. The scent of aged paper filled the air, and rows of bookshelves stretched into the shadows. An old man sat behind the counter, flipping through a dusty book. He glanced up as they approached.
"Looking for something?" he asked.
Zi Ning placed her phone on the counter. "I received a message. It led me here."
The old man's eyes flickered with recognition. He reached under the counter and pulled out an envelope. "This was left for you."
Zi Ning took it cautiously. The envelope was unmarked, sealed with a single piece of tape. She glanced at Lu Yichen before opening it.
Inside was a single piece of paper with a handwritten message.
"The truth is hidden in the past. Seek the one who remembers."
Zi Ning frowned. "What does this mean?"
The old man sighed. "I don't know. A stranger came in and asked me to hold onto it. They paid well."
Lu Yichen's jaw tightened. "What did they look like?"
The old man shook his head. "They wore a hood. I never saw their face."
Frustration burned in Zi Ning's chest. Another mystery. Another clue that led nowhere.
Lu Yichen took the paper and examined it. "This is someone playing games with you."
"Or someone trying to help," Zi Ning said.
Lu Yichen wasn't convinced. "Either way, we're not taking any chances."
As they left the bookstore, Zi Ning's mind raced. Who was trying to lead her to the truth? And why now?
One thing was certain—her past was no longer just a secret. It was a weapon. And someone was ready to use it against her.
Meanwhile, Wang Yin sat in her office, watching the news. She smirked as reports of Zi Ning's past started surfacing. The leak hadn't gone completely public yet, but whispers were spreading.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in," she said.
A man in a black suit entered. His presence was cold and sharp, like a blade hidden beneath silk.
"It's done," he said.
Wang Yin's smirk widened. "Good. And the next step?"
The man placed a file on the table. "This will completely destroy her. Once this goes out, there will be no coming back."
Wang Yin opened the file and scanned its contents. Her smile deepened.
Zi Ning thought she had survived everything. But she had no idea what was coming next.
Zi Ning sat in the backseat of Lu Yichen's car, staring out of the window. The city lights flickered past in a blur, but her mind was elsewhere. The cryptic message, the envelope from the bookstore—everything pointed to a hidden truth about her past. But who was behind this? And why now?
Lu Yichen sat beside her, his expression unreadable. His fingers tapped lightly against his knee, a sign that he was deep in thought. Finally, he spoke.
"We need to be prepared," he said. "Whoever sent that message isn't just trying to help you. They're playing a game."
Zi Ning nodded. "I know. But I can't ignore it. If there's even a chance that I can find out the truth…"
Lu Yichen's jaw tightened. "I won't let you walk into danger alone."
Zi Ning turned to him, meeting his gaze. "I'm not asking you to."
A short silence fell between them before Lu Yichen finally sighed. "I've already told my people to dig into this. We'll find out who's behind it."
Zi Ning appreciated his concern, but deep down, she knew this was something she had to face herself.
The next morning, Zi Ning woke up to a storm. Rain pounded against the windows of her apartment, and the sky was dark with heavy clouds. It felt like an omen.
Her phone buzzed. A message from her manager, Xu Jie.
**"Something happened.