CHAPTER 35:THE STORM SHE SUMMONED

Mei Xing stood before the press, the storm Mei Li had ignited now swirling in full force around her name, her business, and her legacy. But unlike before, she didn't flinch under scrutiny. She wasn't the same fragile girl who once lived in someone else's shadow—she was a woman forged in fire, and now, she was ready to strike back.

"Let them keep watching," she told Kai and Zhao Chen as they prepared a press conference. "I'm not here to play defense anymore. It's time to expose everything."

Kai nodded. "We've gathered the files. Every illegal deal Mei Li struck under your name, every forged signature, every falsified document. She was using your influence to cover her own crimes."

"And now we reveal it all," Zhao added.

Mei Xing took to the podium that evening in front of a sea of cameras and flashing lights. Dressed in a crisp white suit—a color symbolizing truth and defiance—she spoke with the calmness of a woman who had nothing to hide and everything to protect.

"I've been accused of corruption, theft, and manipulation," she began. "But I stand here with my head high because I know the truth—and so will you."

She presented documents, audio recordings, and internal investigation results linking Mei Li to the fraudulent activities. Screens behind her flashed with undeniable evidence—video footage, transaction logs, and messages between Mei Li and her accomplices.

The audience watched in stunned silence.

"This isn't just about me," Mei Xing continued. "It's about a system that let someone so heartless steal not just my child, but my name and reputation."

By the end of the conference, the narrative had shifted completely. The media now called Mei Xing's speech "a masterclass in reclaiming truth." Online, #JusticeForMeiXing trended globally. Support poured in from every corner of the country.

But while Mei Xing's storm cleared her skies, it uprooted everything Mei Li had built.

Back in her apartment, Mei Li hurled a vase against the wall as the news channels turned against her.

"They've all abandoned me!" she screamed. "Even my sponsors are cutting ties!"

Ru Feng looked pale. "They're tracking every step now. You're going to be arrested soon if we don't move."

"I won't be humiliated like this," Mei Li hissed, pacing. "If I'm going down, I'm taking Mei Xing with me."

And just like that, the storm Mei Li had summoned was spiraling out of her control. With the law closing in and her reputation in ruins, she had only one weapon left—desperation.

Meanwhile, Mei Xing sat beside Jin Hao and his little sister that night, finally able to breathe.

"You were brave today, Mama," Jin Hao said, hugging her.

She smiled softly and kissed his forehead. "I had to be. For you. For all of us."

But in the back of her mind, she knew Mei Li wasn't done yet.

And the final battle was just on the horizon.