048 : The Reporter Who Knew Too Much.

Liang Fei stared at Lin Tian, skeptical but intrigued.

"Prove it?" he echoed.

Lin Tian nodded. "I have documents that link Zhou Minghai to your original investigation. Financial records, police reports he tried to bury." He leaned back. "The story you tried to tell years ago? I can finish it."

Liang Fei frowned. "If you already have evidence, why do you need me?"

Lin Tian smirked. "Because evidence is just paper. People believe a story when the man who lived it tells it himself."

Liang Fei went silent.

Lin Tian could see it—the battle inside him. The man who had given up, and the journalist who still wanted justice.

Then, after a long pause, Liang Fei let out a slow breath.

"If I do this," he said quietly, "we don't stop halfway. No running, no hiding. We go all the way, even if it means war."

Lin Tian's smirk widened. "War is what I do best."

Liang Fei studied him for a moment longer, then gave a small, tired chuckle.

"Alright, kid," he muttered. "Let's burn this bastard down."

The next step was to force Zhou Minghai into a corner.

Lin Tian knew how powerful men operated. Zhou Minghai had survived this long because he controlled information. He controlled the news, the police, even politicians.

But now?

Lin Tian was going to make sure that the story got out before he could bury it again.

He sent a single message to Zhang Rui.

Lin Tian: It's time. Leak the files.

Within minutes, the first anonymous uploads appeared online.

Leaked Documents Suggest Corporate Corruption Linked to Missing Journalist

Was a Scandal Covered Up Years Ago? Anonymous Sources Say 'Yes'

The information wasn't explosive—yet. It was just enough to cause rumors. Just enough to get people talking.

And just enough to make Zhou Minghai panic.

Now, all Lin Tian had to do was wait.

Lin Tian didn't have to wait long.

Just an hour after the leaks started spreading, his phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: We need to talk. Now.

Lin Tian smirked. Perfect.

He responded immediately.

Lin Tian: Then come find me.

Within thirty minutes, a black car pulled up outside the internet café.

The door opened, and Lin Tian didn't even have to guess who it was.

Zhou Jianhong.

Lin Tian stepped into the car, calm as ever.

Zhou Jianhong exhaled sharply. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Lin Tian smirked. "Cleaning up the mess you made five years ago."

Zhou Jianhong's eyes darkened. "You don't understand how deep this goes."

Lin Tian leaned back. "And you don't understand that I don't care."

Zhou Jianhong clenched his jaw. "This isn't just about Zhou Minghai. There are people—powerful people—who don't want this story coming out."

Lin Tian chuckled. "Then they should have done a better job covering their tracks."

Zhou Jianhong took a deep breath, struggling to keep his composure. "This is your last warning. Stop now, and we forget you ever existed. But if you keep pushing…"

He didn't finish the sentence.

He didn't need to.

Lin Tian already knew the answer.

And he had never been afraid of threats.

He smiled slightly. "I'll see you at the finish line."

Then, without another word, he stepped out of the car and walked away.

That night, Liang Fei sat in front of a camera. The live stream was ready, the platform secured. There would be no stopping it once it started.

Lin Tian stood behind the camera, arms crossed.

"You ready?" he asked.

Liang Fei took a deep breath, then nodded. "Yeah. Let's do this."

Lin Tian pressed record.

Liang Fei looked directly into the camera.

"My name is Liang Fei. Five years ago, I tried to tell a story—one that powerful men didn't want you to hear. A story about Zhou Minghai. About how he made his wife disappear. About how he ruined my life to keep it hidden."

He exhaled, his hands steady.

"But today, that story comes out."

Lin Tian's smirk widened.

"Checkmate, Zhou Minghai."

The moment Liang Fei's live stream started, the world began to shift.

Viewers poured in. Comments flooded the chat. People were listening.

"Five years ago, I uncovered evidence that Zhou Minghai orchestrated the disappearance of his wife."

"Five years ago, I tried to expose the truth."

"Five years ago, I was silenced."

"But today, that ends."

Liang Fei's voice was steady, but his eyes burned with something stronger than anger—conviction.

Lin Tian stood behind the camera, arms crossed, watching as the chat exploded.

[Is this real?!]

[Did Zhou Minghai really do this?]

[If this is true, he needs to be arrested!]

The world was waking up.

The truth was out.

And Zhou Minghai?

For the first time—he had lost control.

Within minutes, the response came.

First, the news outlets—Zhou Minghai's controlled media—began denouncing Liang Fei's claims.

[Disgraced journalist attempts baseless attack against respected businessman.]

[No evidence supports Liang Fei's allegations, sources say.]

Then came the legal threats.

A new email arrived in Lin Tian's inbox.

From: Zhou Corporation Legal Team

Subject: Immediate Cease and Desist

"Remove all content immediately or face legal consequences."

Lin Tian chuckled, closing the email.

Pathetic.

Zhou Minghai was trying every tactic—media suppression, legal intimidation—but it was too late.

The truth was already out.

And the next move?

Was Lin Tian's.

Zhang Rui called him. The second Lin Tian answered, he could hear the excitement in his voice.

"Dude! You have no idea what's happening!" Zhang Rui sounded like he was on the verge of laughing. "The story's blowing up! The government's getting involved, and people are already digging deeper into Zhou Minghai's past!"

Lin Tian smirked. "Good. What about Su Yun?"

Zhang Rui hesitated. "She… doesn't know yet."

Lin Tian exhaled.

That wouldn't last long.

She would find out soon.

And when she did, her entire life would change.

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