Chapter 14

Chapter 14

“Xu Nianhe, I heard you were coming too.” Lu Jingchuan’s contemptuous, dismissive remark cut through my heart like a blade, ruthlessly stripping away the relaxed facade I had maintained at this negotiation table. The gazes of several partners shifted toward me as if they were watching a farce, but I was determined to strike back in this performance.

“Of course. I am the key figure in this negotiation,” I forced a smile, though an undercurrent of fury burned through my veins.

The air in the meeting room was heavy, like a bomb waiting to be detonated. Lu Jingchuan looked brimming with confidence as he continued discussing the details of the project collaboration. I knew I had to break this game today.

“Sorry, President Lu, hold on a moment.” Just as he was losing interest, I slammed the documents in my hand onto the table. The sound was like a clap of thunder, deafening in the small space. Silence immediately fell over the room as every eye turned to me.

“I have some information to share-information that will change the very foundation of our negotiations,” I said, my voice clear and powerful. Lu Jingchuan’s expression shifted rapidly through several shades; he clearly hadn’t expected me to give him such a show of strength.

“What evidence do you have?” a director beside him asked coldly, his eyes flickering with disdain. The corners of my mouth curled up as an irrepressible sense of gratification surged within me.

“I have it right here,” I replied with a cold smile. I pushed a stack of evidence toward them one by one. As the documents were revealed, it was as if dark clouds were gathering overhead, causing the people opposite me to freeze.

“These are the forged loan contracts you made,” I stated forcefully, staring directly at Lu Jingchuan. “And these are the falsified bank statements. You tried to use debt to deceive and defraud us.”

Tension permeated the air. My heart hammered like a drum, beating in time with the moment. I could feel Cheng Xubai silently supporting me from behind, our tacit understanding flowing through his presence at my back.

“This…” Lu Jingchuan clearly realized the gravity of the situation. His face turned pale then flushed with anger, yet he still maintained a semblance of calm, trying to hide his inner turmoil.

“Furthermore, this surveillance footage is direct evidence of you and Lin Qingyue conspiring to tamper with my emails.” I continued to press my advantage, laying out the evidence concerning my reputation on the table. “I can easily prove that this was all a trap designed by you.”

Whispers broke out around us. Clearly, everyone was intensely interested in this unexpected reversal. Lu Jingchuan’s face had gradually lost its usual composure; this was exactly the change I wanted to see.

“If you have grievances, you can go through legal channels. We can discuss this, but you shouldn’t have…” Lu Jingchuan seemed to want to salvage a shred of dignity, but his voice sounded weak and hollow.

I let out a cold laugh. “I am no longer that girl who can be manipulated at will. I came here today to make you pay the price for your actions.”

At that moment, my phone vibrated again. I glanced down, and Cheng Xubai’s message lit up the screen: “Are you ready? Today is the turning point.” His silent support gave me even more confidence.

In this moment, my confidence was like a flood breaking through a dam, and the male-dominated atmosphere before me instantly collapsed. The battle between law and profit had begun, and I would fight without fear.

“It’s over, isn’t it? Stop your useless struggling,” Lu Jingchuan snapped, losing all his grace. His tone was filled with threats.

“I’m not struggling, Lu Jingchuan. I’m fighting back.” I narrowed my eyes, determined to tear through his hypocritical mask with my calm exterior. “Today, I must let you know that the price of betraying me is heavy.”

“The more you act like this, the more complicated things will become. You might even hurt the things you rely on,” Lu Jingchuan said, thinking I feared him. His tone betrayed a hint of anger and resentment.

“Please let go. I don’t intend to let myself become a victim again.” My words were passionate, firm, and powerful. My ordeal was not the sorrow of a weakling, but the catalyst for me to retake control of my destiny.

Watching these former enemies try to shift focus using internal strife, I knew their chain of tricks had begun to lose its edge before me. Gradually, I seized firm control of the negotiation’s focus. Lu Jingchuan’s threats were not enough to make me back down; instead, they ignited an even stronger fighting spirit.

Finally, a decisive voice rang out in the meeting room. I took the contract and confidently handed it to the professional legal advisor present. With every passing second, I felt my self-worth growing. The burden of the past lightened behind me until Lu Jingchuan was left utterly powerless.

After the meeting ended, the Lu Family’s position was extremely fragile. Every partner was re-evaluating their stance. After the hectic negotiation, I returned to my office and let out a long breath, my heart churning with the remnants of my earlier anger and excitement.

“Well done.” Cheng Xubai appeared behind me at just the right moment, his eyes reflecting relief and pride. “We won this battle today.”

“It’s just one small step,” I replied with a smile, knowing in my heart that the true war had only just begun.

However, just as I was soaking in the joy of victory, my phone rang again. It was a number I hadn’t saved. My heart tightened as I felt a sense of unknown threat. When I answered, a cold, low voice came from the other end: “You think it’s over? This is only the beginning.”

“Who are you?” My heart sank, and the phone felt hot in my hand.

“You’ll find out,” the voice chuckled coldly before hanging up. My chest tightened. Where would this newly defined path lead me? Perhaps there were even greater crises waiting for me ahead.