The rain from the previous night hadn't left. Instead, it had grown heavier, as if the sky itself sensed the tension rising in Tianxu City.
In a private underground boardroom, Chen Yu sat at the head of a sleek obsidian table. Digital screens flickered to life around him—each one displaying surveillance feeds, stock fluctuations, and a detailed map of the city's eastern district.
iyun stood beside him, arms crossed, her expression serious.
"We've been hit," she said.
Chen Yu's eyes didn't blink. "Where?"
"Donghai Port," iyun replied. "One of our logistics partners was bought out overnight by a shell company traced back to the Win Family."
Chen leaned back slowly, fingers steepled.
"They're testing ."
"No," iyun said. "They're provoking you."
He stood, the soft hum of the system activating in the back of his mind. A faint glint flashed behind his eyes.
[Experience Target Acquired: Strategic Retaliation (Advanced)]
Just like that, the data began to move faster. His mind absorbed the logistics routes, legal contracts, city transport maps—and within seconds, a clear counter-plan had ford.
"Redirect our cargo through South Wharf," he said. "Use the Seong Group as a temporary front. Infiltrate Win's new partner and crash their distribution network from inside."
iyun blinked. "You just thought of that now?"
Chen smiled faintly. "No. I learned it just now."
TIANXU UNIVERSITY – EVENING
Zhao Lingyun stood on the library steps, clutching her phone. The ssage she received earlier still lingered in her thoughts.
[Unknown Sender]:Your friend Chen Yu is walking toward a storm. If you want to help him, co to the Black Pagoda building. Alone.
At first, she thought it was a prank. But sothing about it felt real. Dangerous. And her heart—against her better judgnt—had started to worry about him.
She tapped a quick ssage.
[Zhao Lingyun → Chen Yu]:Hey... are you okay? I heard sothing weird today. Can we et tonight?
But there was no reply.
She looked up at the sky. It was still raining.
CHEN YU'S VILLA – LATER THAT NIGHT
The fire crackled softly. Ruxue dried her hair near the fireplace while iyun typed rapidly on her laptop.
Chen Yu walked in, his coat damp from the rain.
iyun looked up. "Everything set?"
He nodded. "In twelve hours, they'll lose 40% of their distribution capacity."
Ruxue frowned. "Why do they even care about our port?"
Chen glanced at her, voice calm. "They don't care about the port. They care about disrupting my expansion."
He poured himself a glass of water and sipped it slowly.
"They're secretive. Ruthless. But they made one mistake."
"What?" Ruxue asked softly.
"They gave a reason to fight."
Just then, his phone vibrated. He picked it up. It was Lingyun.
[Zhao Lingyun → Chen Yu]:Still no reply. I'm heading there myself. If I die, it's your fault.
Chen frowned. His instincts kicked in.
"iyun," he said sharply, "contact Shield Security. Have them track Zhao Lingyun's phone and dispatch a team to Black Pagoda Building."
iyun raised a brow. "She's involved now?"
"She might be bait. Or maybe a warning."
"And you?" she asked.
Chen's expression turned cold. He grabbed his coat again.
"I'll go there myself."
BLACK PAGODA BUILDING – ABANDONED PARKING GARAGE
Zhao Lingyun stepped into the echoing silence of the underground lot. Her footsteps clicked against the cent.
"I shouldn't be here," she muttered to herself.
Suddenly, a light flickered on. A man in a black suit stood across from her, partially hidden in shadow.
"You really ca," he said, voice smooth.
"Who are you?" Lingyun asked, her voice firr than she felt.
"Soone who's interested in Chen Yu," the man replied. "He's making waves. But waves drown people too, you know?"
Lingyun's fists clenched. "You dragged out here to threaten him?"
"No," the man said. "To warn you. He's not who you think he is."
"I don't care!" she snapped. "He saved once. And he's doing more for this city than anyone else."
The man stepped forward. "Then tell him to stop. Or next ti, it won't be a warning."
Suddenly, headlights flared behind them.
An LMW SUV roared into the garage, tires screeching.
The door opened. Chen Yu stepped out.
His eyes t the man's.
No words were exchanged.
The man lted into the shadows.
Zhao ran to him. "Yu! Why didn't you answer?! I—"
But Chen grabbed her wrist, inspecting it. "Did he touch you?"
"No," she whispered, heart pounding.
He let go, his voice softer now. "You should've waited. You could've been hurt."
"You weren't answering!" she shouted, eyes wet. "I thought... I thought sothing happened to you."
A mont of silence passed.
Chen Yu reached up and brushed her wet bangs from her face.
"I'm not so easy to kill," he said quietly.
Then, almost instinctively, she stepped forward and hugged him.
And for a mont, he didn't pull away.
BACK AT THE VILLA – MIDNIGHT
The thunder had faded. iyun handed Chen a hot towel when he returned with Zhao in tow.
"She's safe," he said. "But this changes things."
"Win Family?" iyun asked.
Chen nodded. "They've started playing dirty."
"And us?"
Chen looked at both won.
"We're not just playing anymore."
He sat down, fingers tapping the armrest.
"We're going to win."
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