Mei Xing couldn't stop staring at the name on the screen.
Zhang Wei.
Years ago, he had been one of Lin Enterprises' most ambitious partners. Charismatic, sharp, and ruthless in his dealings. But after a failed investment that almost cost the company millions, Mr. Lin had cut ties with him. Rumors had circulated—embezzlement, fraud, insider trading—but no charges ever stuck. Zhang Wei had disappeared from the business scene… or so they thought.
"He's back," Zhao Chen said grimly. "And it looks like he's working through the shadows."
"But why now?" Mei Xing asked. "And why target me?"
Zhao Chen clicked through more documents on his laptop. "Zhang Wei always held a grudge against your father. If he's working with Madam Lin and Mei Li, it's possible he's using them to dismantle the company from within."
"And Mei Li is too desperate for power to see she's just a pawn," Mei Xing muttered.
Zhao Chen nodded. "Exactly. But we need concrete evidence to expose Zhang Wei's involvement. If we try too soon, they'll bury everything."
Mei Xing leaned back, her mind racing. "We need someone on the inside—someone close enough to Zhang Wei to know his next move."
As if fate was listening, her phone buzzed with a message from an old friend: Anya, a former Lin Enterprises employee who had once been close to Zhang Wei before she resigned under mysterious circumstances.
"I've seen the news. Be careful, Mei Xing. It's bigger than you think. If you want to talk, I'm in town."
Mei Xing's eyes widened. "Anya. She knows something."
"Reach out to her," Zhao Chen urged. "But be cautious. If she's reaching out now, she might be in danger too."
That evening, Mei Xing met Anya at a quiet restaurant tucked away from the city's chaos. She looked older, wearier, but her eyes still held the same intelligence and warmth.
"I knew you'd come," Anya said softly. "And I'm sorry I stayed away this long."
"You don't need to apologize," Mei Xing replied. "But I need to know—what do you know about Zhang Wei?"
Anya hesitated, glancing around before leaning in. "He never left. He's been working behind the scenes, acquiring shell companies and buying stock under proxy names. He's been planning to take over Lin Enterprises for years—and now, he's using Mei Li and Madam Lin to do it from the inside."
Mei Xing felt a chill settle in her bones.
"He's not just trying to ruin your reputation," Anya continued. "He wants to destroy the Lin legacy—piece by piece."
"And my family," Mei Xing whispered.
Anya nodded. "But he underestimates you. Just like the others did."
Mei Xing's eyes hardened. "Then it's time to remind him—blood or not, I'm still part of this family. And I'm not going down quietly."
The war had shifted.
It was no longer just about rivalry or revenge.
Now, it was survival.