Unearthing the Threat

The cryptic messages were beginning to weigh on Jiang Yuyan's mind. Though she had stayed composed, she knew she couldn't afford to ignore the looming threat. The past she had worked so hard to bury was now clawing its way back, and she had to act before it disrupted her carefully constructed life.

Her resolve hardened. She would find out who was behind the messages and end their games before they could cause any real damage.

Reaching Out for Help

Yuyan decided to confide in the system.

"System, these messages… I can't ignore them any longer. How do I trace the sender?"

[Tip: Enlist professional help for complex investigations. The system can assist with preliminary analysis, but external resources will be more effective for deeper inquiries.]

Yuyan thought for a moment before contacting Xu Wen, who had become one of her most trusted allies.

"Xu Wen, I need your help with something personal," Yuyan said, her tone unusually serious.

Xu Wen looked at her curiously. "Of course. What's going on?"

Yuyan hesitated but then showed him the messages. "Someone is trying to intimidate me. I need to find out who it is."

Xu Wen's expression darkened as he read the messages. "This isn't just a prank. Whoever this is seems to know you well. I'll ask a friend of mine who works in cybersecurity to trace the source."

"Thank you," Yuyan said sincerely. "I owe you one."

Pressure Mounts at Work

While Xu Wen worked on tracing the messages, Yuyan continued to navigate the challenges at the Lu Group. Zhou Ling remained a persistent thorn in her side, finding subtle ways to question Yuyan's authority and competence.

At a strategy meeting for the European expansion, Zhou Ling raised her hand.

"While Miss Jiang's feasibility study was thorough, I believe there are some overlooked risks in the regulatory environment," Zhou said, her tone dripping with feigned politeness.

Yuyan smiled faintly. "I appreciate your input, Miss Zhou. However, I've already addressed those risks in Section 4 of the report. If you'd like, I can explain further after the meeting."

The subtle dig—implying Zhou Ling hadn't read the report thoroughly—earned Yuyan a few amused glances from other attendees. Zhou Ling's expression soured, but she said nothing more.

[Skill Progress: Conflict Resolution has advanced by 10%.]

A Breakthrough in the Investigation

A week later, Xu Wen approached Yuyan with an update.

"My friend managed to trace the messages. They're coming from a disposable phone registered under a fake name, but the activity logs show the phone was frequently near an old apartment building in the city's west district."

Yuyan's eyes narrowed. She knew the area—it wasn't far from where she had lived years ago, during one of the most difficult periods of her life.

"Do you think it's someone from my past?" she asked.

"It's possible," Xu Wen replied. "But we'll need more information to be sure."

Yuyan nodded. "I'll take it from here. Thanks, Xu Wen."

Returning to the West District

That evening, Yuyan went to the west district alone. The area had changed little since she had last been there—narrow streets lined with aging apartment buildings and small shops. Memories she had tried to suppress resurfaced, but she pushed them aside and focused on her goal.

She stood outside the building Xu Wen had mentioned, observing the comings and goings of its residents. She didn't recognize anyone immediately, but something about the place felt eerily familiar.

As she turned to leave, a voice called out to her.

"Yuyan? Is that you?"

She froze. The voice was male, rough but tinged with disbelief. Turning around, she saw a man in his late thirties, dressed in a worn jacket and jeans.

"Do I know you?" she asked cautiously.

"It's me—Li Jian. We used to…" He hesitated, then lowered his voice. "We used to live in the same building. You probably don't remember me, but I remember you."

Yuyan's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized him. Li Jian's face triggered a flicker of recognition—he had been one of her neighbors back in her darkest days. Though she didn't know him well, she recalled his tendency to observe others' lives a little too closely.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her tone guarded.

Li Jian scratched the back of his neck, looking slightly uneasy. "I still live here. But I heard things about you. Someone's been asking questions about you, Yuyan. It's been a topic of gossip around here for weeks."

Yuyan's heart sank. "Who's been asking?"

"A woman," Li Jian said after a pause. "Dressed fancy, like she doesn't belong in this neighborhood. She came around a few times, showing your old picture and asking about where you went. I think she was trying to dig up dirt on you."

Yuyan's mind raced. A woman? Could it be Zhou Ling? Or was it someone else?

"Did you hear her name?" Yuyan pressed.

Li Jian shook his head. "She didn't say, but she looked like trouble. You'd better watch your back, Yuyan."

Yuyan nodded, though her mind was far from at ease. "Thanks for the warning."

Confronting the Past

Back at her apartment, Yuyan reviewed everything she had learned so far. Someone—most likely the mysterious woman—was trying to dig into her past. The cryptic messages and the investigation in the west district were undoubtedly connected.

The system chimed in.

[Tip: Consolidate your resources. Protect yourself by controlling the narrative. Consider leveraging your growing influence to outmaneuver external threats.]

Yuyan took a deep breath. She had spent years building her new identity and burying her old one. Now, it seemed her past was no longer content to stay buried.

She made a decision. She would no longer react to these attacks passively. If someone wanted to uncover her secrets, she would make sure they regretted it.

A New Challenge at Work

The following morning, Yuyan returned to the Lu Group determined to stay focused. Lu Zhen had called for an emergency strategy meeting to address unexpected resistance from European regulators regarding their expansion plans.

"Several key regulators have raised concerns about foreign companies entering their markets," Lu Zhen explained. "If we don't address these concerns, our expansion could be delayed indefinitely."

Yuyan reviewed the reports and suggested a bold strategy. "We should collaborate with local firms to establish a foothold in the market. By forming partnerships, we can demonstrate our commitment to mutual growth and address their concerns about foreign dominance."

Zhou Ling immediately interjected. "That approach could dilute our brand and make us dependent on local partners. I'm not sure it's worth the risk."

Yuyan countered smoothly. "The risk is minimal compared to the potential benefits. A partnership would allow us to navigate the regulatory environment more efficiently and establish trust with local stakeholders. Once we're firmly established, we can renegotiate terms to assert greater control."

Lu Zhen listened intently before nodding. "Miss Jiang's proposal is well-reasoned. Begin drafting a list of potential partners in key regions. We'll discuss this further in the next meeting."

Zhou Ling's expression was stormy, but she said nothing more.

Unraveling the Mystery

Later that week, Xu Wen brought Yuyan another update. His cybersecurity contact had managed to narrow down the location of the messages to a specific building. It was an upscale office complex in the city center—a stark contrast to the west district's shabby apartments.

Yuyan felt a surge of determination. This was no longer just about protecting her secrets. Someone was deliberately trying to ruin her, and she needed to take the fight to them.

She decided to visit the building personally. If her mysterious enemy thought they could act from the shadows, she would show them the light.

A Face-Off with the Enemy

As Yuyan entered the lobby of the sleek office building, she felt an odd sense of anticipation. She approached the receptionist and introduced herself, asking if anyone had recently rented a space in the building under the name "Jiang Yuyan."

The receptionist frowned. "Let me check."

After a moment, she replied, "We do have a recent booking under that name. It's on the 12th floor."

Yuyan's breath caught. Whoever was behind this had been bold enough to use her name.

When she reached the 12th floor, she found a small office with its blinds drawn. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open—and froze.

Sitting at the desk was none other than Zhou Ling.

Zhou looked up, startled, before quickly masking her expression. "Miss Jiang. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Yuyan's eyes narrowed. "I should be asking you that. Care to explain why you've been using my name to rent this office?"

Zhou leaned back in her chair, a smirk playing on her lips. "You're quite the investigator, aren't you? But don't flatter yourself, Jiang Yuyan. I'm simply doing what's necessary to protect this company. You may have impressed Lu Zhen, but I don't trust you. And I'll do whatever it takes to uncover the truth about you."

Yuyan's hands clenched into fists. "You're crossing a line, Zhou Ling. If you think you can intimidate me, you're mistaken."

Zhou stood, her smirk turning into a cold smile. "We'll see, won't we?"

A Declaration of War

Yuyan left the office fuming but resolute. Zhou Ling had declared war, and Yuyan wasn't one to back down.

That night, the system chimed in again.

[Host has uncovered the source of external interference. New Task Assigned: Neutralize Zhou Ling's attempts to sabotage your career. Reward: Leadership Skill Boost (Level 3) and ¥200,000. Deadline: Three months.]

Yuyan smirked to herself. Zhou Ling thought she had the upper hand, but she had underestimated her opponent.

"Let the games begin," Yuyan murmured.