The news of Madam Lin and Mei Li's suspension spread like wildfire. Within hours, headlines flooded every media outlet.
"Lin Enterprises Scandal: Betrayal From Within!"
"Mei Xing Exposes Corruption at the Heart of Lin Empire."
For the first time, Mei Xing's name wasn't tied to controversy—but to courage. Investors returned with newfound confidence, and the company's stocks began to stabilize. The storm, it seemed, had passed.
But Mei Xing knew better. Zhang Wei wasn't the kind of man to retreat after a single blow. His pride wouldn't let him. He was wounded now—and wounded enemies were often the most dangerous.
True to her instincts, he struck again.
Three days later, a fire broke out in one of Lin Enterprises' storage facilities. The fire department claimed it was an electrical fault, but Mei Xing's gut told her otherwise. Especially when a confidential archive of files—documents from the early years of the company—was conveniently destroyed in the blaze.
She stood at the charred site, ash settling on her coat as she stared at the ruins. Zhao Chen joined her, hands in his pockets, jaw clenched.
"This wasn't an accident," he said. "This was a warning."
"And a distraction," Mei Xing murmured. "He's trying to bury something in those files."
"Or buy time," Zhao Chen added. "He's not done yet."
Back at the office, Kai confirmed their fears. Zhang Wei's digital footprint was active again. Money was being funneled into new offshore accounts. Someone had been trying to erase Zhang Wei's connections—covering tracks that led to older partnerships.
"There's something in the past he doesn't want anyone to find," Kai said. "Something that ties him to Lin Enterprises even deeper than we thought."
Mei Xing's mind reeled. What if Zhang Wei had been involved long before his partnership? What if he had roots in the company that even her father didn't know about?
She made a decision—one that would take her deeper into the shadows of her family's legacy.
"I want to go through every paper record that wasn't in that fire," she said. "Old shareholder records, partnership contracts—everything."
Zhao Chen gave her a look. "You really think this goes back that far?"
"I do," she said firmly. "And if I'm right… it might change everything we think we know about this company."
That night, in the oldest storage vault of the Lin estate, Mei Xing and Zhao Chen began digging through boxes of forgotten records. Dust clung to every surface, the air thick with silence and secrets.
Hours passed before she found something—an old ledger with fading ink, listing names and shares from decades ago.
One name stood out.
Zhang Wei's father.
Not only had Zhang Wei been connected to Lin Enterprises—his father had once been a major stakeholder. A bitter fallout had driven him out, and Mr. Lin had buried the details under sealed legal agreements.
Now it all made sense.
Zhang Wei wasn't just seeking revenge.
He was trying to reclaim a legacy he believed was stolen.
And Mei Xing was the only thing standing in his way.