Enemies In The Shadows

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Zi Yan had made her choice.

She would fight back against Xu Ming's schemes.

But she knew that power alone wasn't enough.

She needed a plan.

And she needed to strike first.

Lu Yichen sat behind his desk, watching her with interest.

"You're serious about this," he said.

Zi Yan's eyes were cold. "I don't have a choice."

Lu Yichen smirked. "That's where you're wrong. You always have a choice. You could have run away."

Zi Yan's expression didn't change. "Running away has never been my style."

Lu Yichen chuckled. "Good answer."

He leaned forward, tapping his fingers against the desk.

"Xu Ming is powerful, but he's not untouchable. If we want to crush him, we need to hit him where it hurts."

Zi Yan narrowed her eyes. "And where is that?"

Lu Yichen's smile turned sharp.

"His reputation."

The next morning, the news exploded.

"Xu Ming's dark secrets exposed! Corruption, bribery, and illegal dealings—what is the truth?"

"Entertainment mogul Xu Ming under investigation—his empire at risk!"

Zi Yan scrolled through the headlines, her lips curling into a smirk.

Lu Yichen's methods were fast and ruthless.

Within hours, Xu Ming had gone from a powerful backer to a scandal-ridden businessman.

She put her phone down, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

Xu Ming had tried to destroy her.

Now, it was his turn to suffer.

But the battle wasn't over yet.

A few hours later, Zi Yan received an unexpected invitation.

A text message appeared on her phone.

[Unknown Number]: Miss Zi, I believe we should talk. Dinner at the Imperial Club, 8 PM. - Xu Ming.

Zi Yan's eyes darkened.

He wasn't giving up.

She hesitated for only a second before typing a reply.

[Zi Yan]: See you there.

She had started this war.

She would finish it.

That evening, she arrived at the Imperial Club.

The place was luxurious, filled with powerful businessmen and celebrities.

The hostess led her to a private room at the back.

Xu Ming was already waiting inside.

He smiled as she walked in. "Miss Zi, I appreciate your courage."

Zi Yan sat across from him, her posture calm. "No need for fake pleasantries. What do you want?"

Xu Ming chuckled. "Straight to the point. I like that."

His expression turned serious. "I underestimated you. I didn't think you had the backing to fight me."

Zi Yan didn't respond. She simply waited.

Xu Ming poured himself a glass of wine. "But we don't have to be enemies, Miss Zi. I'm offering you a deal."

Zi Yan raised an eyebrow. "A deal?"

Xu Ming nodded. "Withdraw from The Phoenix Rises. Publicly. Say you were never interested in the role. In return, I'll make sure you get another project—something even bigger."

Zi Yan's lips curled into a smirk.

"So after trying to destroy me, now you want to buy me off?"

Xu Ming's expression didn't change. "Smart people know when to accept a good offer."

Zi Yan leaned forward, her eyes sharp.

"I don't need your offers. And I don't need your approval. The Phoenix Rises is mine, and I'm not giving it up."

Xu Ming sighed. "You're making a mistake."

Zi Yan's voice was cold. "The only mistake I made was underestimating how desperate you are."

Xu Ming's face darkened. "You really think Lu Yichen can protect you forever?"

Zi Yan's smirk didn't fade. "I don't need anyone to protect me. If you try anything else, I'll end you."

Xu Ming's jaw clenched, but then he laughed.

"Fine. Let's see how long you can last."

Zi Yan stood up. "We'll see."

Then, without another word, she left.

She had made her stand.

Zi Yan left the Imperial Club with her head held high.

She had rejected Xu Ming's deal.

She had chosen to fight.

But she knew that this was only the beginning.

Xu Ming wouldn't take defeat lightly.

He would strike back.

And she had to be ready.

The next morning, news spread across the entertainment industry.

"Zi Yan rejects Xu Ming's offer—war between them intensifies!"

"The Phoenix Rises female lead refuses to back down—what happens next?"

Zi Yan scrolled through the articles with a cold expression.

She wasn't afraid.

She had already lost everything once.

Now, she was fighting to rebuild herself.

She wouldn't back down.

Meanwhile, in an office far away, Xu Ming was seething.

His assistant stood nervously in front of him.

"Sir, should we continue with the next plan?"

Xu Ming's eyes were dark.

"Of course," he said.

"If she won't accept my offer, then I'll destroy her completely."

He picked up his phone and made a call.

"It's time to use him."

That afternoon, Zi Yan's phone rang.

She picked it up without looking.

"Hello?"

A deep voice chuckled.

"It's been a long time, Zi Yan."

Zi Yan froze.

Her grip on the phone tightened.

She knew that voice.

A voice from her past.

A voice she never wanted to hear again.

She clenched her jaw. "What do you want, Lin Hao?"

The man on the other end laughed softly.

"Is that how you greet an old friend?"

Zi Yan's stomach twisted.

Lin Hao was not her friend.

He was her ex-boyfriend.

And the biggest mistake of her life.

Three years ago, she had been young and naive.

Lin Hao had been charming, sweet, and caring.

Or so she had thought.

But behind his gentle smiles, he had been using her.

Stealing from her.

Lying to her.

And when she had found out?

He had betrayed her without hesitation.

Selling her secrets.

Leaving her to take the fall for his mistakes.

She had barely escaped that disaster.

And now, he was back.

Lin Hao's voice was smooth. "I heard you've been doing well. Rising in the industry again. I'm happy for you."

Zi Yan's tone was sharp. "Cut the nonsense. What do you really want?"

Lin Hao sighed. "Still so cold. Fine, I'll get to the point."

He paused, then said slowly, "I want to meet."

Zi Yan laughed bitterly. "Not happening."

Lin Hao chuckled. "You haven't even heard my offer yet."

Zi Yan's fingers curled into a fist.

"I don't need to. I know what kind of person you are."

Lin Hao's voice dropped lower. "That's too bad. Because I have something you want."

Zi Yan's heart skipped a beat.

She hated that he could still make her nervous.

She forced herself to stay calm. "And what is that?"

Lin Hao's smile was almost audible through the phone.

"Meet me, and I'll tell you."

Zi Yan's lips pressed into a thin line.

She didn't trust him.

Not for a second.

But she also knew one thing.

If Lin Hao was involved, then this was serious.

And she needed to find out what game he was playing.

That night, Zi Yan arrived at a small rooftop bar.

The place was quiet. Private.

Lin Hao was already waiting for her.

He smiled when he saw her. "You look even more beautiful than before."

Zi Yan ignored his words. "Talk."

Lin Hao sighed dramatically. "So cold. But fine."

He leaned forward. "I came to warn you."

Zi Yan raised an eyebrow. "Warn me?"

Lin Hao smirked. "Xu Ming is planning something big. And you're at the center of it."

Zi Yan crossed her arms. "Tell me something I don't know."

Lin Hao chuckled. "You don't know how he plans to do it."

Zi Yan's eyes narrowed. "Then explain."

Lin Hao took a sip of his drink. "Xu Ming has dug up something from your past. Something that could ruin you."

Zi Yan stiffened.

Her past.

There were things in her past that she had buried.

Things she didn't want the world to know.

Lin Hao watched her reaction carefully. "Getting nervous?"

Zi Yan's voice was steady. "No."

But inside, her mind was racing.

Xu Ming had power.

And if he had found something…

Lin Hao smirked. "You're not even going to ask me what it is?"

Zi Yan's expression was cold. "I don't need to. If he thinks he can destroy me with my past, he's wrong."

Lin Hao tilted his head. "That's confidence."

Zi Yan stood up. "If that's all you had to say, I'm leaving."

Lin Hao sighed. "Still stubborn, huh?"

Then he smiled. "Fine. Just remember—when the time comes, don't say I didn't warn you."

Zi Yan didn't reply.

She turned and walked away.

But as she left, her hands clenched into fists.

Because she knew.

This wasn't over.

And whatever was coming next…

She had to be ready