## Chapter Ten
The silence that followed the end of the call was heavier than any noise. Lin Feng stared at the dark phone screen, his grandfather Lin Chen's harsh voice still echoing in his ears like an icy reverberation. One week. Just seven days to give up everything, to return to the gilded cage that had nearly killed him, or face "consequences he wouldn't like." How ironic. Were there consequences worse than the death he had just escaped?
A wave of cold anger surged through his chest, anger directed not only at his grandfather but at this twisted fate that had placed him in this body, in this family, at the heart of this conspiracy. But the anger quickly subsided, replaced by a sharp sense of pressure and urgency. It was no longer just about uncovering the truth and seeking revenge; it had become a race against time to survive and preserve the fragile independence he had just begun to build.
He rose from his seat and began pacing slowly around the safe apartment. The soundproof walls and encrypted systems were meant to provide sanctuary, but now they felt like the walls of a luxurious prison, isolating him from the outside world while the noose tightened from within and without. He looked out the window at the glittering city lights, a vibrant world oblivious to the silent battle being waged by the ostensibly outcast heir of the Lin Group.
"One week..." he muttered under his breath. Time was precious, and every wasted minute brought him closer to the precipice. He could no longer hesitate or merely react. He had to attack, create chaos, find a chink in his enemies' defenses before they crushed him.
He returned to his desk and sat down, his eyes gleaming with cold determination. He picked up the encrypted communication device again. First, Zhao Fu.
"Zhao Fu, how is the leak progressing?" Lin Feng asked directly, without preamble.
Zhao Fu's calm, professional voice came through as usual: "The information has been successfully planted, sir. We used a completely indirect intermediary to ensure it cannot be traced back to us. The journalist Liu Ming received it. We cannot confirm if he will pursue it yet; it requires time."
"We don't have much time," Lin Feng replied with slight sharpness. "Continue monitoring the situation closely. I want to know immediately if he starts moving. Another, more urgent task: I want a detailed report on Grandfather Lin Chen's current financial situation and his most loyal network of connections inside and outside the Group. Focus on any potential weaknesses, any troubled investments, any old enemies who might be willing to cooperate. Also, I want close surveillance of any unusual moves by the family towards me or my remaining assets. Be extremely careful."
Zhao Fu paused for a moment, aware of the gravity of the last request. "Understood, sir. I will begin immediately, but gathering this information discreetly will take some time and require additional resources."
"Do what's necessary," Lin Feng said and ended the call. He knew he was asking a lot, but he was in a desperate situation. Next step, Mei Lin.
He contacted her through the same encrypted channel. "Mei Lin, any news? Time is pressing."
Mei Lin's voice came back slightly fragmented, a sign of her intense focus or perhaps the difficulty of the task. "Tian Long's firewalls are incredibly strong, Lin Feng. Layers upon layers, and the information is fragmented and protected by complex encryption. I managed to bypass some external defenses, detected some suspicious financial activities related to Phoenix, unexplained cash flows towards offshore accounts, but nothing concrete linking it directly to Chu Fan or fraud yet. I need a real breach, a weak point in the internal system, and that requires time and high risk."
Lin Feng felt a slight disappointment but understood the difficulty. "Is there anything I can provide to help you? Information, a name, anything?"
"Maybe... the information from Jiang Yu you mentioned, are you sure of its accuracy? If there are indeed involved employees like Li Wei and Zhang Hao, accessing their accounts or communications could be the starting point I need. But that's also risky; it might alert them."
"I understand," Lin Feng said, his mind working quickly. "I'll think about it. Continue your attempts cautiously, Mei Lin. Your safety comes first."
He ended the call feeling frustration mounting. The investigations were slow, and his grandfather was tightening the screws. Jiang Yu's information was still a gamble. Should he trust it and ask Mei Lin to focus on it, risking revealing his hand early? Or wait for stronger evidence that might never come?
As he was lost in thought, the doorbell rang unexpectedly. Not the regular apartment bell, but the secure internal communication system. Lin Feng froze for a moment. He wasn't expecting anyone, especially through this system. Zhao Fu and Mei Lin only contacted him via encrypted channels. Who could it be?
He hesitated before pressing the voice response button. "Who is it?"
A young man's voice came through, vaguely familiar but completely unexpected. "Feng? It's Lin Hao. Can I come in? I heard you were here."
Lin Hao. His cousin. The youngest son of his second uncle, someone always in the background, considered less ambitious and intelligent than his siblings, and often ignored or mocked by the original Lin Feng. Why would he come here now? Was he sent by the grandfather?
Lin Feng felt suspicion rise, but curiosity was stronger. Perhaps this was an unexpected opportunity. "Wait a moment."
He activated the external surveillance cameras. He saw Lin Hao standing alone in front of the door, looking slightly nervous, glancing around as if afraid of being seen. There were no signs of companions or an ambush.
Lin Feng made his decision. "The door is open."
Moments later, Lin Hao entered the apartment, his eyes widening slightly as he took in the simple, functional space, so different from any residence Lin family members were accustomed to. He was a young man in his early twenties, wearing expensive but slightly mismatched clothes, as if uncomfortable in them.
"Feng," Lin Hao said in a low voice, avoiding direct eye contact with Lin Feng. "I heard... I heard what happened. The incident, then... then you leaving the hospital like that. Everyone is worried."
"Worried?" Lin Feng raised an eyebrow with a slight sarcasm he couldn't suppress. "Or curious?"
Lin Hao stammered slightly. "No... I mean, yes, there's curiosity, but... I'm really worried. You seem... different."
"Change is sometimes good, Hao," Lin Feng said calmly, watching his cousin's reaction closely. "What really brings you here? Did Grandfather send you?"
Lin Hao shook his head quickly, fear evident in his eyes. "No! No, never! Grandfather doesn't know I'm here. If he found out... I don't know what he'd do. I came on my own. I just wanted... wanted to see how you were doing. And... and to warn you."
"Warn me?" Lin Feng's interest piqued. "Warn me about what?"
Lin Hao took a step closer, lowering his voice even more. "Grandfather is furious, Feng. More than you can imagine. He's talking about freezing everything, cutting you off completely. And my father... my father agrees with him. They say you're a disgrace, that you're acting crazy. And there's... there's Chu Fan too."
"Chu Fan? What about him?" Lin Feng asked, feeling a chill run down his spine.
"He's been very close to Grandfather lately. Giving him advice, talking about the 'need to control the situation'. I heard my father talking about Chu Fan offering to 'help' bring you to your senses. I don't know what that means, Feng, but it doesn't sound good. Chu Fan... he's scary."
Lin Feng fell silent, processing the information. If Chu Fan was getting this close to his grandfather, the situation was more dangerous than he thought. It was no longer just a conspiracy to seize his position, but perhaps an attempt to control the entire family through the angry and emotionally vulnerable grandfather.
He looked at Lin Hao, who still looked scared but strangely sincere. Why would Lin Hao risk telling Lin Feng all this? Was it just stupidity? Genuine sympathy? Or a more complex game?
"Why are you telling me this, Hao?" Lin Feng asked quietly.
Lin Hao looked down at the floor. "I don't know. Maybe because... because you always ignored me, but you weren't truly cruel like the others. And maybe because I hate Chu Fan. He acts like he already owns the place. And I... I'm scared of what might happen."
The answer sounded surprisingly genuine. Perhaps Lin Hao was just a small pawn in the adults' game, but a pawn who saw and heard things. And he could be useful.
"I appreciate you coming, Hao," Lin Feng said, deciding to take a small risk. "I'm not crazy. There are things happening behind the scenes, dangerous things. And I'm trying to uncover them. If you really want to help, keep your eyes and ears open. Any information, however small it seems, about Grandfather's plans or Chu Fan's movements, could be crucial."
Lin Hao's eyes widened. "Do... do you mean the incident wasn't an accident?"
"I didn't say that," Lin Feng replied cautiously. "But things aren't always as they seem. Be careful, Hao. And don't tell anyone you were here."
Lin Hao nodded quickly, looking determined and scared at the same time. "I won't. I'll be careful. Take care of yourself, Feng."
Lin Hao left as quickly as he came, leaving Lin Feng alone again with his thoughts. Lin Hao's visit was unexpected, but it provided vital information: Chu Fan was closing in on the family's center of power. This meant time was running out even faster than he thought. He could no longer wait for the slow results of the investigations.
He looked at the communication device again. He had to make a decision about Jiang Yu's information now. The risk was high, but staying passive meant certain defeat. He made his decision.
He contacted Mei Lin again. "Mei Lin, focus on Li Wei and Zhang Hao. Look for any vulnerability in their communications or accounts. I'll take the risk."
A short silence from the other end, then a firm reply. "Understood. I'll start immediately."
Lin Feng hung up, feeling a mixture of anxiety and determination. He had rolled the dice. Now, all he could do was prepare for the coming storm.