The Battle for the Throne II

Reporters bombarded Yi Chen with questions, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of demand. The camera flashes were blinding, but Yi Chen remained calm, his face a picture of serene composure. His cold gaze swept across the crowd, and his voice rang out—clear and firm.

"I'll answer your questions at the appropriate time," he said, his words controlled, as if he were already above it all. He turned, walking towards Chairman Yi and his assistant, leaving behind the swarm of reporters, his back straight and unyielding.

Meanwhile, across the city, the headline blared on every news outlet:

BREAKING NEWS: "THE NEXT CHAIRMAN OF YI GROUP ANNOUNCED! FOUNDER YI DAO MING VOTES AGAINST HIS OWN GRANDSON, YI TAI SUN, AND CHOOSES HIS ILLEGITIMATE GRANDSON, YI CHEN. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE YI FAMILY? STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES."

The large TV screen in the lavishly decorated living room of hotel echoed the news anchor's emphatic voice. Lei Xian sat on the plush sofa, a steaming cup of tea resting delicately in her hand as she stared at the screen. Her lips curled into a slow, malicious smile.

"Checkmate..." she murmured, almost to herself, savoring the sweet taste of victory. "Brother, I didn't even have to lift a finger, and already your life is falling apart. All your plans, all your schemes... nothing but dust in the wind."

Her smile deepened, a victorious glint in her eyes. "Whether it's you, Tai Sun, or Yi Chen, at the end of the day, the Yi Group belongs to me. It was always meant to be."

Her eyes glinted with malicious amusement as she whispered to herself, "No matter who holds the title, I'll be the one pulling the strings."

The phone on the side table buzzed, interrupting her musings. She picked it up, glancing at the screen before answering.

"Hello," she said, her tone cool and composed.

"It's me, Qin Lianyi," the voice on the other end said, hesitant but urgent.

"What is it?" Lei Xian's voice turned sharp, the smile vanishing from her face.

"I need to speak with you about the experiment," Qin Lianyi replied. "You should come to the lab immediately."

Lei Xian's eyes narrowed. "If you're calling to tell me that the girl is dead, you'd better start preparing your will, Qin Lianyi," she said coldly. "You know very well what will happen to you if anything happens to her."

"She's alive," Qin Lianyi assured her quickly. "But there are… developments you need to see for yourself."

Lei Xian's lips curved into a thin smile. "Good," she said. "I'll be there shortly."

*****

At the Yi Group headquarters, on the topmost executive floor, chaos erupted in Yi Tai Sun's office. The opulent room, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and grand mahogany desk, was in shambles.

Glass shattered against the wall as Tai Sun hurled a crystal tumbler with all his strength. His secretary cowered by the door, trembling as he watched his boss descend into a fit of rage.

"Boss… boss, please calm down," the secretary stammered, inching closer.

Tai Sun's eyes blazed with fury, his chest heaving with the weight of his anger. "Calm down?" he hissed, his voice barely contained. "How can I calm down when that old fogey, my own grandfather, chose that bastard over me?"

In a fit of rage, he swept everything off his desk—papers, pens, anything in reach—sending them scattering across the floor. With a growl of frustration, he grabbed a heavy metal paperweight and threw it across the room.

CRACK! filled the space as the aquarium's glass shattered, water spilling out in torrents as frightened fish flopped helplessly on the wet carpet. Tai Sun's chest heaved as he screamed in frustration.

"AHHHHH!" Tai Sun's scream echoed through the office. "That old man picked that illegitimate son over me! That… that prostitute's child! And he had the audacity to smirk at me?!" His eyes gleamed with a dangerous fury. "He thinks he's won? No. I, Yi Tai Sun, I was born for this I will NEVER accept defeat. I'll take back what is mine—even if I have to kill that old man or that bastard to do it!"

****

A sleek, black car pulled up in front of Lei Xian's villa. A man stepped out, opening the door for her. She exited gracefully, her heels clicking on the marble steps as she entered the brightly lit house. The villa seemed more alive than before, with lights on and servants bustling about.

"Young Miss," Xu Jinhua, a loyal servant who had served Lei Xian for years, greeted her with a slight bow.

Lei Xian nodded curtly. "Keep an eye on everyone," she ordered. "Especially the new staff. Report anything suspicious to me immediately."

"Understood, Young Miss," Xu Jinhua replied, her tone unwavering.

Lei Xian made her way to the library. Pushing aside a row of books, she pressed a hidden button. A section of the wall slid open, revealing a staircase leading to an underground lab. She descended the steps, her heels echoing in the sterile, well-lit space below.

The lab was bustling with activity. Doctors and researchers were gathered around a central bed, their faces tense. On the bed lay Xin Yi, unconscious, with drips attached to her frail arms. Lei Xian approached, her sharp gaze scanning the room.

"What's the update?" she demanded.

Qin Lianyi turned to her, his face taut. "We've tested her cells against cancer cells. Her cells effectively neutralize them," he said, his voice steady but tinged with unease.

Lei Xian's lips curved into a delighted smile, her eyes sparkling with triumph. "I knew it. This girl is a walking miracle—a human weapon, the perfect medicine.

Qin Lianyi hesitated before speaking again. "Do you ever feel any remorse?" she asked quietly. "You killed her mother in front of her. You've turned her into a test subject for your own gain. This is not just unethical; it's inhumane.How can you live with yourself?

Lei Xian's eyes narrowed dangerously, and she stepped closer to her, her voice low and mocking. "Don't lecture me about ethics, Lianyi. This girl is a genetically engineered human. She has no family,no parents, no past. She's not even human in the traditional sense. She's my creation, a masterpiece designed to surpass ordinary humans. Her existence is mine to command." She was made for a purpose—my purpose."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable as Lei Xian turned her gaze back to Xin Yi.

 "She was never meant to be a person. She's just the next step in my evolution. And no one—no one—will stop me.""