Monday – 7:30 AM, Li Residence – Master Bedroom
Zhenyu sat by the window, the early morning sun casting a soft golden hue on his face. His expression was inscrutable as he watched Yinyin move around the room, preparing for the day. The silence between them had grown heavier, filled with unspoken tension. Her eyes flickered to him now and then, but she hadn't spoken much since their conversation in the kitchen yesterday. Something had shifted in her, and Zhenyu could feel it.
She wasn't as naive as she once was. But that didn't matter.
Not yet.
"Yinyin," he said quietly, his voice smooth, betraying no hint of the storm brewing beneath. "Is something troubling you?"
She paused mid-motion, glancing over her shoulder at him, her face guarded. She didn't answer immediately, but the weight of her silence spoke volumes.
"I'm fine," she replied, her voice slightly colder than usual. She returned her attention to gathering her things for the day. "I'll leave in an hour."
Zhenyu's gaze followed her, calculating, analyzing every shift in her demeanor. The coldness between them was more than just the space he had created in her mind; it was a warning.
He wasn't going to allow her to drift too far. Not yet.
10:00 AM – Shen Group Headquarters – Executive Floor
Ruohan sat at his desk, staring at the pile of reports in front of him. But his thoughts weren't on the numbers. His mind was occupied with the conversation he'd had with Yinyin yesterday. He had expected her to be furious, to push back against his warning. But she hadn't. She'd listened. That meant something.
And now, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to change.
He ran a hand through his hair, glancing at his phone again, almost expecting another cryptic message from Meilin. But there was nothing. It was strange—he hadn't expected her to remain silent after showing him the evidence about Zhenyu. If anything, it should have made her more curious, more desperate to uncover the full truth.
Just then, the door to his office opened, and Shen Jinhai walked in, his expression hard as stone.
"Ruohan, we need to talk," Jinhai said, his tone businesslike, though there was an edge to it.
Ruohan straightened, nodding. "Of course, sir."
Shen Jinhai sat down across from him, leaning forward with an intensity that Ruohan had learned to recognize. It was the look of someone who had already made up his mind about something—someone who had already decided how to handle a situation.
"I'm getting concerned," Jinhai began, his voice low. "About Zhenyu."
Ruohan's heart skipped a beat, but he masked his reaction. "What about him?"
Jinhai's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking to the documents on Ruohan's desk. "His recent moves have been too calculated. Too careful. I don't like it. His influence is growing, and I'm not sure if we can control it anymore."
Ruohan's mind raced. Zhenyu was already controlling everything. But how far had that control stretched? What had Jinhai seen that he hadn't?
"Have you found anything suspicious?" Ruohan asked cautiously, knowing this conversation was teetering on the edge of something dangerous.
Jinhai's lips curled into a thin smile, though there was no warmth in it. "I don't need to find anything. I know exactly what's happening. Zhenyu's manipulating everything around him. Even us."
Ruohan stayed silent, waiting for Jinhai to continue.
"You need to be careful, Ruohan," Jinhai warned. "Zhenyu doesn't care about anyone but himself. You've been too trusting. If you keep following him blindly, you'll find yourself replaced."
Ruohan felt a chill run through him at Jinhai's words. He'd never questioned his loyalty to the Shen family, but now, with everything coming to light, doubt began to creep in. Was Zhenyu truly the person he thought he was? Or had he been blind all this time?
"I won't be replaced," Ruohan replied with forced confidence. "But what should I do?"
Jinhai leaned back, his hands clasped together. "You need to get ahead of him. Now is the time to act before it's too late. If we're going to take back control, we need to move quickly. Get information. Follow the money trail. And most importantly, get to Yinyin."
Ruohan's pulse quickened at the mention of Yinyin. "What do you mean by that?"
"I know you care about her," Jinhai said, his gaze intense. "But you need to understand that she's a pawn in his game. She has been since the day they married. If you want to break this, you need to find a way to make her see the truth."
12:30 PM – Li Residence – Study
Zhenyu sat behind his desk, scrolling through a series of encrypted financial reports. He knew Ruohan was suspicious, but the more dangerous enemy was Jinhai. That man had always been sharp, calculating, and Zhenyu could see that he was starting to put the pieces together.
Zhenyu had expected this moment for years. The moment when the façade would crack and everyone would begin questioning his true intentions.
He smiled to himself, leaning back in his chair. This was the game he'd been preparing for.
His phone buzzed. It was a message from Meilin:
"I found something big. It's worse than we thought. I'll meet you tonight."
Zhenyu's smile widened as he read the message, the thrill of the game surging through his veins. So, the pieces were falling into place.
2:30 PM – Shen Group Headquarters – Underground Garage
Yinyin walked through the underground garage, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of uncertainty. After her conversation with Ruohan, she had asked herself questions she had never dared to before. Was Zhenyu hiding something from her? Something deeper and more dangerous?
She had tried to push the thought away. She didn't want to believe it. But Ruohan's words lingered, gnawing at her.
Just as she reached her car, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned quickly, her heart skipping a beat.
It was Ruohan.
"Yinyin," he said quietly, taking a step closer. "We need to talk."
She hesitated, then nodded, her voice trembling slightly. "Alright."
5:00 PM – Li Residence – Living Room
Zhenyu watched from the shadows as Yinyin walked in, her expression distant. His eyes flickered with cold calculation. She had gone to see Ruohan. He had known she would.
The question now was how far she was willing to go.
As Yinyin passed him without acknowledging his presence, Zhenyu felt the familiar rush of possessiveness tighten his chest.
He would make sure she didn't stray too far.