---
Mr. Ou's eyes were sharp and probing.
The soft ticking of the clock on the office wall filled the quiet space as he stared at Mo Yuwei with a subtle crease between his brows.
Finally, he set his cup aside with a quiet clink, his fingers steepling together.
"Pardon me?" he asked, as if he didn't hear correctly.
"I said… I want to investigate a death," Mo Yuwei repeated, voice steady but solemn. Her hands were clasped on the desk before her, her knuckles pale.
Mr. Ou leaned back slowly, studying her.
"Forgive me, Mrs. Chen… but are you in the right field of work?"
Mo Yuwei nodded calmly. "I know it's unusual. But I've done my homework. You're the best. I need someone who can dig deep and stay silent."
Mr. Ou chuckled lightly, an amused sound that didn't reach his eyes. "When Mr. Chen recommended I meet with you, he didn't mention you wanted to open Pandora's box."
Mo Yuwei nodded, her fingers folded neatly on the desk, but her gaze was intense.
"I'm looking into the death of an actress. Yan Qingsi. Her death was ruled an accident... but I don't believe it. I want you to investigate the CEO of Starlight Media, Fang Zemin."
Mr. Ou's brow twitched. "And you want me to dig up dirt on Fang Zemin?"
"Not just dirt. I want the truth."
He let out a breath, slow and measured. "Mrs. Chen… forgive me, but you're the CEO of a cosmetics company. A woman married to one of the most influential men in Shangjing. You've got everything. Why take risks like this?"
Her lips curved into something close to a smile, but her eyes stayed serious. "Because sometimes, when no one else can stand up for what's right… someone has to."
Mr. Ou then tilted his head. "I'm a private investigator. I do background checks, corporate leaks, missing people. Investigating a suspicious death, especially one tangled in entertainment industry politics… that's another level."
"I know," she cut in softly. "But you're the best. And I believe in justice. Even for someone who doesn't have a voice anymore."
There was silence.
Then Mr. Ou slowly picked up his notebook. "Tell me everything you know."
Mo Yuwei nodded, retrieving a printed file from her drawer. "She was staying at a hotel in Henglong Street during a production."
His gaze sharpened. "Where did she die?"
"At the hotel," She slid the file across the table. "This is all the information I've compiled."
Mr. Ou accepted the notepad, flipping through the pages. "And you believe… someone murdered her?"
"I believe she didn't die naturally," Mo Yuwei said. "I believe there's more to it. And I want the truth."
There was a heavy pause before Mr. Ou pocketed the notepad and stood. "I'll look into it. You'll hear from me soon."
"Thank you," she said sincerely, rising to escort him out.
"I'll need a few days though."
Mo Yuwei nodded. "Take all the time you need."
Mr. Ou put on his sunglasses again hiding his unreadable eyes.
At the door, he adjusted his collar. "If this gets dangerous… are you prepared to go all the way?"
Mo Yuwei smiled faintly, though her eyes were cold. "I've already stepped in. I might as well drown."
---
In the quiet hospital ward, Old Master Su remained unconscious, his face pale under the glow of the machines.
The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound.
Su Meilin stared at her grandfather's pale face, unmoving on the hospital bed. The soft beep of the monitor echoed in the sterile silence.
Su Zhenghao entered with Li Yan, his face drawn with exhaustion. "Still unconscious?" he asked.
She nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "Mm."
Li Yan moved to her daughter's side immediately, cupping her face. "You stayed all night? Look at your eyes, Meilin—completely sunken. Go home and rest."
Su Zhenghao's voice was firm. "We'll watch over him. You'll only wear yourself down. Take a proper nap. The doctors said he's stable for now."
With reluctance, Meilin stood up and gathered her coat. "Alright… call me if anything changes."
Her father nodded as her mother watched her leave.
"Is it me," Li Yan murmured beside him, "or does she look thinner?"
Su Zhenghao didn't answer immediately. His eyes lingered on his unconscious father. "She's working too hard. Her company, her ambitions… maybe she's burning out."
As she reached the door, Su Meilin turned once more, her eyes on the fragile man who had once ruled over the Su family with an iron fist.
Her fingers curled at her sides, something unreadable flashing in her eyes, before walking out.
---
Inside the black car, Su Meilin curled up on the leather seat.
Her driver adjusted the mirror, watching her with silent concern.
She suddenly stirred, unlocked her phone— She frowned.
Eight missed calls. All from Lu Anran.
She dialed back.
"CEO Su," The call connected instantly. You finally called!"
"What's wrong?" she asked, rubbing her temples.
"GlowVine just released Xu Jiaqi's commercial ad! The response is explosive—thousands of shares, reposts, comments. They're calling it the comeback of the century!"
Su Meilin's face darkened. "What did Mo Yuwei think I am… a joke?"
Her hand clenched around the phone.
So fast?
She had underestimated them.
"Tell the entire product team—emergency meeting in thirty minutes. I want every single data report, sample prototype, and social media comparison from the last 24 hours."
"Yes, CEO!"
She hang up and then slammed her hand on the armrest. "Turn the car around. Back to the company."
The driver flinched."Yes, Miss."
She turned and stared out the tinted window, nails digging into her palm, rage simmering beneath her skin.
She wasn't going to let Mo Yuwei outshine her.
Let her enjoy her short-lived success.
GlowVine may be gaining momentum… but she had Elva Allure.
Rosebell Entertainment might be a newborn company, but she had the capital, that popular Yiren and the backing—Liang Yexuan.
She'd crush GlowVine, and Mo Yuwei's reign would end.
She would be the socialite everyone talked about. The perfect heiress. The wife of Liang Yexuan.
Not Mo Yuwei.
---
The desert winds howled outside.
Within the dark opulent chamber, twenty guards stood like shadows against the walls. At the center, seated on a raised platform, was a man in a deep maroon robe.
His skin was bronze, but his eyes—cold steel—were sharper than a blade.
Before the man, kneeling with her head bowed low, was a stunning woman. Her hands trembled but she didn't cry. Her pride wouldn't allow it.
"Laetania," the man's voice was as sharp as a blade, "are you stupid, or are you suicidal?"
She swallowed.
"You provoked Obsidian Fangs."
She dared not lift her head. "I… I didn't know. I only wanted to use Su Meilin to gain leverage."
"Leverage?" He stood slowly, his shadow engulfing her. "Eric and William… are monsters. From the dark roots of Ndarila. Born killers. Did you want to see Crimson Circle annihilated for your stupidity?"
She trembled harder. "I… I didn't know who they really were. I swear. I thought they were just— "
"You thought wrong."
He circled her like a predator. "We lost men because of your stupidity! You think they won't retaliate next time?!"
"Father—"
"And if they had retaliated with full force, you wouldn't be kneeling—you'd be in pieces."
"I'm sorry, Father… I'll fix it."
His footsteps stopped behind her. "Fix it? You failed once. You might again. We need someone who can deal with Liang Yexuan. Someone smarter."
"No!" she cried out suddenly, lifting her head. Her eyes glistened. "Please… give me another chance. I'll do it. I'll bring him down."
He looked at her for a long time.
"If you fail again, Laetania…" he said softly, "don't come back alive."
Tears welled in her eyes. She bowed once more. "I promise."
He signaled with two fingers. Two men stepped forward, grabbing her arms.
As they dragged her out, her heels scraped against the marble floor—but she didn't resist. Her thoughts burned with desperation.
Liang Yexuan… it's either you or me now.
Once she was gone, the man turned to the others.
"Double the surveillance on Liang Yexuan. Move the extraction plan up by three months."
---