5:00 PM — Shen Pharmaceuticals, Private Meeting Room
The room was dimly lit, the heavy curtains drawn to block out the world outside. Yinyin sat across from Qiulan, her eyes intense with a quiet fury. The weight of the conversation she was about to initiate settled on her shoulders, and she couldn't ignore the rising sense of urgency inside her. Everything she had worked for, everything she believed in, was crumbling at the seams.
She didn't waste time. "I need the truth," Yinyin said, her voice steady but carrying an undeniable edge. "You know something about Zhenyu. Something I don't."
Qiulan's expression was unreadable, but Yinyin could see the subtle shift in her eyes. A flicker of guilt, perhaps? Or was it fear?
"I don't know what you mean," Qiulan replied coolly, though her voice trembled slightly at the edges.
Yinyin leaned forward, her gaze unwavering. "Don't lie to me, Qiulan. I know you've been working with him on something. Something... dangerous. I've seen the documents. The hidden accounts. The secret companies. And I know you've been involved in all of it. I just need you to tell me what you know."
The silence between them stretched, the air thick with tension. Qiulan shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her fingers tapping against the surface of the table in a nervous rhythm.
"I... I don't know what you're talking about," Qiulan repeated, but the hesitation in her voice betrayed her.
Yinyin's eyes narrowed. "Don't make me go further. I have enough to take down Zhenyu, but you're the missing piece. If you're really loyal to me, to Shen Pharmaceuticals, you'll tell me what's going on. Now."
Qiulan sighed, her gaze dropping to the table. "It's not that simple, Yinyin. You don't know how deep this runs. Zhenyu... he's not just playing a game. He's playing a war. A war that has nothing to do with business or money. It's personal. It's about power."
Yinyin's pulse quickened. "What do you mean?"
Qiulan hesitated for a moment longer before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. "Zhenyu is obsessed. With you. With his family. With control. But the truth is... he's hiding something from you. Something that could ruin everything. If you push him, you might not like what you find."
Yinyin swallowed, her heart pounding in her chest. She'd always known Zhenyu was ruthless, manipulative, but this — this was different. What was it that Qiulan was too afraid to say outright?
5:30 PM — Li Family Mansion, Zhenyu's Study
Zhenyu paced in his study, a storm raging inside him. His empire was on the verge of war — both external and internal. Feng Yun was making moves against him, and now Yinyin was starting to question him, digging into things he had worked hard to keep hidden.
His thoughts flickered back to the conversation with Qiulan earlier that day. He had known she was becoming a liability. She had always been loyal, yes, but loyalty only lasted as long as the truth remained buried. And now, it seemed that everything was on the edge of being exposed.
The ringing of his phone broke his thoughts. He glanced at the screen — Qiulan. His grip tightened around the phone as he answered.
"Zhenyu," Qiulan's voice came through the line, tense and shaky. "Yinyin... she's starting to put the pieces together. She knows about the accounts. She knows about the companies."
Zhenyu's pulse quickened, but he masked it with a cold calm. "What did you tell her?"
"I... I didn't tell her anything," Qiulan replied, panic creeping into her voice. "But she's not going to stop. She's already digging deeper."
Zhenyu's jaw clenched. He could feel the walls closing in on him, the pressure mounting. But he couldn't afford to show any weakness, not now. "Keep her busy. Don't let her get too close. If she starts asking the wrong questions, you know what to do."
There was a brief pause before Qiulan spoke again. "Zhenyu, she's not as naive as you think. She's... she's already figured out a lot more than you realize. If she confronts you, there's nothing I can do."
Zhenyu's expression darkened. "I'll deal with it. Just make sure she doesn't get in my way."
6:00 PM — Shen Pharmaceuticals, CEO's Office
Back at Shen Pharmaceuticals, Yinyin sat alone in her office, the file still open on her desk. She couldn't stop thinking about the conversation with Qiulan. The fear in her assistant's voice had been palpable, but there had been something else there, too — an admission. Qiulan knew more than she was letting on.
As the clock ticked away, Yinyin realized there was no more time for hesitation. If she was going to confront Zhenyu, it had to be now.
She stood, grabbing her coat and heading toward the door. She didn't care that it was getting late, that she hadn't prepared her notes. She didn't care that Zhenyu would likely try to charm his way out of this. This was about her future — about the truth.
6:30 PM — Li Family Mansion, Zhenyu's Office
The mansion was eerily quiet as Zhenyu prepared himself for the confrontation. He had known it would come to this. Yinyin had always been perceptive, and now that she had started to piece everything together, she was coming for answers.
He could already feel her anger, her distrust. It would be a fight, but Zhenyu was never one to back down from a battle. Not when the stakes were so high.
He walked toward the study door, just as Yinyin entered the mansion. She moved with purpose, her steps resolute as she made her way toward him. The air between them seemed to crackle with electricity, both of them knowing that once they crossed this line, there would be no turning back.
"I need answers, Zhenyu," Yinyin said, her voice sharp but controlled. "I know you're hiding something from me. And I want to know the truth — now."
Zhenyu met her gaze, his lips curling into a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "You want the truth?" he asked softly, almost mockingly. "Then let's talk about what you think you know."