The lobby outside Lin Shengxia's office was humming with anxious energy. Word of Lin Shengxia's return—and of Gu Zekai's abrupt appearance—had traveled quickly through the building. Every department was on edge, awaiting the next ripple in the company's stormy waters.
Inside her office, Lin Shengxia sat perfectly straight, her coffee replaced by hot water still steaming faintly. She stared at the newly signed contract dissolving her partnership with Gu Corporation, her fingers tracing the edge of the paper.
A soft knock broke her reverie.
"President Lin, the board would like to meet with you," Secretary Chen announced, his tone respectful yet guarded.
"Tell them to arrange it for this afternoon," Shengxia replied. "And cancel my lunch appointment."
Chen hesitated, glancing at the folder in his hands. "Also, the finance department sent last month's report. There are some large transfers from the accounts handled by Vice President Fu."
Shengxia's eyes grew cold. "I'll deal with it. Dismissed."
Alone again, she let herself lean back, closing her eyes for a brief moment. Her mind whirled with calculations. Gu Zekai's move was swift and ruthless, but the loose ends in Fu Wanyi's accounts hinted at even bigger schemes hidden beneath the surface.
That afternoon, in the boardroom, tension filled the air as directors filtered in. Some eyes lingered with pity, others with suspicion. It was no secret that recent scandals—rumors of elopement, power struggles, the public slap—had left the Lin family on the edge of a precipice.
"President Lin," one of the directors began cautiously, "now that the strategic partnership is dissolved, what's your next step?"
Shengxia looked over the room, her gaze clear and direct. "Our next step is simple. We clean house. We focus on our own core business, maintain stability—" she paused, "—and audit all subsidiary accounts immediately. Any signs of misconduct will be dealt with openly."
A murmur of surprise swept through the room. Such decisive action had been missing for too long.
"President Lin, are you certain?" another asked, clearly nervous about what the audit might uncover.
"If this company falls to internal rot," she said flatly, "then it deserves to fall."
After the meeting, Xiao Ke approached, her hands wringing nervously. "President Lin, should I prepare the legal files for the audit?"
Shengxia offered her the faintest nod. Xiao Ke's loyalty was a rare comfort.
"Also…" Xiao Ke started, then faltered. "President Gu's secretary asked if you'd reconsider… personal matters apart."
Shengxia's lips parted, but she only shook her head. "If regrets come, they're his to carry. For me, the path only goes forward."
As dusk settled and workers began to leave, Lin Shengxia gazed out the window. The city was a blur of passing cars and fading light.
Today, she had lost an important alliance—and perhaps a piece of her heart—but reclaimed her dignity and the reins of her own fate.
But in the shadows behind the boardroom glass, she caught a fleeting reflection—a reminder that even when the storm outside quiets, the real battles are sometimes fought in silence.