The Trap is Set

Zi Yan walked back to her apartment, gripping the photo tightly.

Her mind raced.

Who was the man in the alley?

Why was he helping her?

And most importantly--who was behind this conspiracy?

She needed answers.

And she needed them fast.

Zi Yan didn't trust easily.

But right now, she had two choices,

she either ignore the warning and wait for her enemies to strike or set a trap and make them reveal themselves.

She chose the second option.

If someone wanted her gone, she had to drag them into the light.

But first--she needed to prepare.

She took out her phone and dialed Lu

Yichen.

The call connected instantly.

"You're calling me again?" His voice held amusement. "You must really like me."

"Stop joking," Zi Yan said coldly. " need your help."

Lu Yichen's tone turned serious. "Tell me."

She hesitated for a second, then told him everything--the message, the chase, the strange man in the alley.

When she finished, there was silence.

Then, Lu Yichen spoke.

"Someone wants you dead." he said simply.

Zi Yan's fingers tightened around the phone.

"I already know that" she snapped. "The question is-who?"

Lu Yichen sighed. "I'll look into it. In the meantime, don't do anything reckless."

Zi Yan smirked.

"Too late."

She hung up before he could argue.

Zi Yan spent the next day making preparations.

First, she called a news reporter she trusted

She leaked a fake rumor--that she was meeting a powerful investor for a new film deal.

If her enemies were watching, they would take the bait.

Next, she rented a private room at an exclusive hotel.

She made sure to book it under a different name.

She wanted her enemies to believe she was vulnerable.

Then, she called Shadow, the hacker.

"I need surveillance in my hotel room," she said. "Can you do it?"

Shadow chuckled. "Spying on someone?"

Zi Yan's voice was ice-cold.

"No. I'm hunting someone."

That evening, Zi Yan dressed carefully.

She chose a red silk dress-elegant, expensive, eye-catching.

She wanted to stand out.

If her enemies were watching, they wouldn't resist making a move.

As she entered the hotel, she felt it immediately-eyes on her.

The feeling made her skin crawl.

But she didn't react.

She walked to the front desk and smiled.

"Room 2308," she said, handing over a take ID.

The receptionist gave her the key.

Zi Yan walked toward the elevator, her heels clicking softly against the floor.

She could feel someone following her.

The trap was working.

Zi Yan entered the hotel room and locked the door.

The room was spacious--modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows.

She set down her purse and pretended to relax.

But her heart was pounding.

She moved casually, but her eyes kept flicking to the hidden camera Shadow had set up.

She was being watched.

Now, she just had to wait.

Minutes passed.

Then, an hour.

Nothing.

Had she been wrong?

Then-

A faint click came from the door.

Zi Yan's breath hitched.

Someone was picking the lock.

Her grip tightened on the small knife she had hidden under her dress.

She moved to the side of the room, out of view.

The door opened slowly.

A figure slipped inside.

A man.

Dressed in black, wearing a mask.

His movements were silent.

He pulled something from his pocket-

A small vial.

Zi Yan's stomach twisted.

Poison?

Or some kind of drug?

Either way, it meant one thing-

They didn't want her dead immediately.

They wanted to take her away.

Zi Yan's blood ran cold.

But she didn't panic.

She was ready.

As the man stepped toward the bed, Zi Yan moved.

Fast.

She grabbed the bedside lamp and smashed it against his head.

The man stumbled, cursing.

Zi Yan didn't give him time to recover.

She slammed her knee into his stomach.

The man grunted, dropping the vial.

It shattered on the floor, releasing a faint, sickly-sweet smell.

Zi Yan didn't inhale.

She grabbed the man's arm and twisted it, forcing him to the ground.

"Who sent you?" she demanded.

The man struggled. "Go to hell!"

Zi Yan pressed her knee into his back, keeping him down.

"You first." she said coldly.

Then-

A loud bang echoed in the room.

The door burst open.

Zi Yan's heart stopped.

More attackers?

But then-

She saw Lu Yichen.

He stood in the doorway, gun in hand, his eyes cold and sharp.

Behind him, two bodyguards entered.

Lu Yichen looked at the scene-Zi Yan holding down the intruder-then smirked.

"Not bad," he said. "But next time, wait for me."

Zi Yan rolled her eyes. "I had it under control."

Lu Yichen walked over and grabbed the masked man by the collar.

"Who sent you?" he asked.

The man spat. " won't talk."

Lu Yichen's expression darkened.

He turned to one of his bodyguards.

"Take him." His voice was calm, but deadly.

"Make him talk."

The bodyguard nodded and dragged the man away.

Zi Yan watched silently.

She knew what was coming.

That man would spill everything.

And when he did-

She would finally know who was behind all of this.