The morning sun streamed through the large windows of Lu Yichen's penthouse, casting a warm glow over the sleek furniture. Zi Ning sat at the dining table, stirring her cup of coffee absentmindedly. She hadn't slept well the night before. The weight of everything that had happened still pressed down on her.
She glanced at her phone again. The news was still filled with headlines about Guo Bao's death, and the entertainment industry was buzzing with speculation. Some articles portrayed her as the victim, while others painted her as a ruthless woman who had played a part in his downfall.
Lu Yichen walked in, dressed in his usual tailored suit. He set his phone on the table and sat down across from her.
"You need to stop reading those articles," he said firmly.
Zi Ning sighed. "I know, but I can't help it. Everyone is talking about me. About us."
Lu Yichen's expression was calm, but his sharp eyes held a dangerous glint. "Let them talk. They have no power over you."
She hesitated. "But what if this affects my career?"
Lu Yichen leaned back in his chair. "Do you still want to stay in the entertainment industry?"
Zi Ning blinked. The question caught her off guard. Acting had been her dream since she was a child, but after everything she had been through, she wasn't sure if she could continue.
"I don't know," she admitted.
Lu Yichen studied her for a moment. "You don't have to decide now. Take some time to think about what you really want."
Zi Ning nodded. Maybe he was right. Maybe she needed to step back and figure out what she truly wanted for her future.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
One of Lu Yichen's assistants entered, carrying a folder. "Sir, this is the latest report on the media coverage. Most of the negative articles are being pushed by Wang Yin's people."
Zi Ning's fingers tightened around her coffee cup. "Wang Yin…"
Lu Yichen's expression turned cold. "She's not done yet."
Zi Ning had almost forgotten about Wang Yin in the chaos of Guo Bao's death, but it made sense. With Guo Bao gone, Wang Yin would be looking for someone else to blame.
"What should we do?" she asked.
Lu Yichen smirked. "We'll handle her soon enough."
Later that day, Zi Ning decided to step out for fresh air. She had been locked inside for too long, and she needed a break from the suffocating news.
She put on a hat and sunglasses, hoping to stay unnoticed, and walked through a quiet part of the city. The streets were lined with small cafés and boutiques, and for a moment, she felt like a normal person again.
But her peace didn't last long.
A group of reporters spotted her, their cameras flashing as they rushed toward her.
"Miss Zi Ning! Do you have anything to say about Guo Bao's death?"
"Are you really innocent, or did Lu Yichen cover up the truth for you?"
"Rumors say you were planning to leave the entertainment industry. Is that true?"
Zi Ning clenched her jaw and tried to push past them, but they blocked her path.
Just as she was about to speak, a familiar voice cut through the crowd.
"Back off!"
A tall figure stepped forward—Xu Jia, her manager.
Xu Jia grabbed Zi Ning's arm and pulled her away from the reporters. "No comments. Move!" she snapped at them before dragging Zi Ning into a black car parked nearby.
The door slammed shut, and the noise outside faded as the car drove off.
Zi Ning let out a breath. "Thanks, Xu Jia. That was a mess."
Xu Jia crossed her arms. "What were you thinking, going out alone? You know the media is hunting you right now!"
"I just needed some air," Zi Ning muttered.
Xu Jia sighed, her expression softening. "I get it, but you have to be careful. The industry is watching you, and so is Wang Yin. She's already working to ruin your reputation."
Zi Ning frowned. "I figured. Lu Yichen said the same thing."
Xu Jia nodded. "He's right. You need to fight back, Zi Ning. If you let Wang Yin control the narrative, she'll destroy your career before you even decide what to do next."
Zi Ning fell silent. She had been so focused on escaping the chaos that she hadn't thought about fighting back.
Maybe it was time to change that.
That evening, Zi Ning sat with Lu Yichen in his study.
"I want to fight back," she said firmly.
Lu Yichen looked up from his laptop, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I was waiting for you to say that."
Zi Ning took a deep breath. "What's the plan?"
Lu Yichen leaned forward, his eyes dark and serious. "First, we expose Wang Yin's dirty secrets. She's been involved in too many scandals to count, but she's always managed to cover them up. If we bring those to light, she won't have time to attack you."
Zi Ning nodded. "And then?"
Lu Yichen's smirk widened. "Then we make sure she never stands up again."
Zi Ning sat across from Lu Yichen, her hands resting on the smooth wooden table in his study. The air was thick with tension, but unlike before, she no longer felt lost. This time, she was ready to fight back.
Lu Yichen slid a folder across the table. "This contains everything we have on Wang Yin. Read through it."
Zi Ning opened the folder, her eyes scanning the documents inside. Bank transactions, hidden deals, photos of her meeting with shady businessmen—evidence of corruption, manipulation, and scandal.
"How did you get all this?" she asked.
Lu Yichen smirked. "I've had people watching her for a while. She made too many enemies in this industry. It was only a matter of time before someone handed me the right information."
Zi Ning clenched her fists. Wang Yin had done so many terrible things, yet she had always managed to stay in power. But now, the tables were turning.
"What do we do with this?" she asked.
Lu Yichen leaned back in his chair. "We release it at the right time. If we act too soon, she'll have a chance to cover it up. But if we wait for her to make another move, she'll expose herself even more. Then, we strike."
Zi Ning nodded. "I understand."
Lu Yichen studied her for a moment. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"
Zi Ning met his gaze. "I've been running for too long. It's time I take back my life."
Lu Yichen's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Good."
The next day, Zi Ning met with Xu Jia at a quiet café. They sat in a corner, away from prying eyes, their voices low but firm.
"Wang Yin has already started spreading more rumors about you," Xu Jia said, pulling out her phone. She showed Zi Ning a few online posts.
[Zi Ning's dark past exposed! Is she really innocent?]
[New evidence suggests Zi Ning was involved in Guo Bao's downfall!]
[Sources say Lu Yichen is protecting Zi Ning—but why?]
Zi Ning felt a surge of anger. "She's desperate."
Xu Jia nodded. "She knows you're a threat, so she's trying to destroy your reputation before you can fight back."
Zi Ning took a deep breath. "Then let's make sure she fails."
Xu Jia smirked. "That's what I wanted to hear."
Zi Ning tapped her fingers on the table. "What do we need to do?"
Xu Jia leaned forward. "First, we need to rebuild your public image. Right now, people are uncertain about you. We need to show them the truth before Wang Yin's lies take root."
Zi Ning frowned. "But how? The media is already biased against me."
Xu Jia's eyes glinted. "We control the narrative. We release an exclusive interview—not a boring statement, but something powerful. You tell your story, expose the lies, and remind everyone who you really are."
Zi Ning hesitated. She had always been private about her struggles. But if she wanted to fight back, she couldn't stay silent anymore.
"Alright," she said. "Let's do it."
That evening, Lu Yichen arranged for a private meeting with one of the country's top journalists.
"You'll have full control over the interview," he assured Zi Ning. "If they try to twist your words, we pull the plug."
Zi Ning nodded. She had spent the afternoon preparing, thinking about what she wanted to say. Now, she was ready.
The journalist, a sharp-eyed woman named Li Qing, sat across from her in a sleek studio. Cameras were set up, but the atmosphere was calm.
"Zi Ning, thank you for agreeing to this interview," Li Qing said with a polite smile.
"Thank you for having me," Zi Ning replied, her voice steady.
The interview began with light questions—her career, her past projects. Then, it moved to the main topic.
"There have been many rumors about you lately," Li Qing said carefully. "What would you like to say about them?"
Zi Ning met her gaze. "The rumors are false. I had nothing to do with Guo Bao's death. I was manipulated, betrayed, and used by people I trusted. But I will not stay silent while lies are being spread about me."
Li Qing's expression remained neutral, but interest flickered in her eyes. "Some say Lu Yichen has been protecting you. What is your relationship with him?"
Zi Ning hesitated for only a second before replying, "Lu Yichen has helped me during one of the most difficult times of my life. I respect him and trust him. But my fight is my own. I will clear my name, with or without his help."
Li Qing nodded. "And what about Wang Yin? There are rumors that she has been working against you."
Zi Ning's lips curled into a cold smile. "Wang Yin has done many things to harm me. But the truth always comes out in the end. I won't let her destroy me."
The interview continued, and Zi Ning answered every question with honesty and strength. When it ended, she felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted.
Lu Yichen was waiting for her outside the studio.
"You did well," he said.
Zi Ning exhaled. "Let's see how the public reacts."
By the next morning, the interview was trending online.
[Zi Ning speaks out—The truth behind the rumors!]
[Zi Ning fights back—Wang Yin exposed?]
Public opinion began to shift. People started questioning the media's attacks on her. Some even defended her, saying she had been treated unfairly.
Meanwhile, Wang Yin was furious.
She paced inside her office, her phone clutched in her hand. "That little—" She stopped herself, taking a deep breath. "She thinks she can fight me?"
A call came in. One of her business partners.
"We need to talk," the man said. "Your name is being dragged through the mud. This isn't good for us."
Wang Yin's grip tightened. "It's just a small setback. I'll handle it."
But for the first time, doubt crept into her mind. Zi Ning wasn't the weak girl she used to be.