Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Lin Zhixia sat in her darkened living room, her heart churning with a mixture of desire for the truth and sheer terror. The information on the USB drive was like a Pandora’s box being pried open, stripping away the simplicity of her former life and revealing a conspiracy she had never anticipated. She decided she would no longer remain silent, nor would she continue to be a pawn moved at someone else’s whim.

The documents scattered across the table mirrored her own frantic thoughts. She forced herself to reorganize them, determined not to let the information consume her. Every file pointed toward her mother’s dealings with the outside world; every piece of information revealed just how insignificant she was in this power game. The obscure business operations and the lightning-fast shifts between profit and loss all seemed to whisper of the dark undercurrents surging within the family.

“I must find the whole truth,” she resolved. Her fingertips danced across the keyboard as she opened a file regarding the history of her father’s company. Each entry was more chilling than the last, until her eyes locked onto a single name: He Xingchuan.

Her thoughts drifted back to that engagement party. The cold, detached way he had observed from the sidelines-an observation she had caught by pure chance-now felt like a fated omen meant to unravel everything. She began to re-examine him. A composed investor, he had clearly been keeping an eye on her for some time. His name appeared frequently in projects involving company acquisitions and restructurings, and his connection to the Zhou Family reminded her of a series of subtle intersections.

“What exactly is hidden between He Xingchuan and the Zhou Family’s debts?” Lin Zhixia murmured. Deep down, she sensed his role in this game was far more than what appeared on the surface.

She began searching for He Xingchuan’s background. Information trickled out like a parched stream. He Xingchuan was a self-made man who had clawed his way up through the business world to become a preeminent venture capitalist, yet his true background remained a mystery. Everyone knew his stakes and his advantages, but no one paid attention to his true objective.

As Lin Zhixia continued reading, she suddenly pulled up an old file regarding Gu Lan’s mother. It contained a concise record of a project Gu Lan’s mother had participated in during the company’s early days. Hidden behind that project was a certain connection to Lin Zhixia’s father from years ago. Lin Zhixia felt a sudden jolt; the truth seemed to rise quietly in her mind, gradually taking shape.

“Could Gu Lan’s goal also be for…” She didn’t dare follow that train of thought, but she inadvertently discovered an even greater secret: Gu Lan’s mother and her father had crossed paths multiple times. It seemed that at some specific point in time, Gu Lan’s mother had already begun pushing Gu Lan toward the Lin Family.

“You actually treated me like a pawn, hoping to use me to control my father’s shares.” A boundless rage surged within Lin Zhixia. She wanted nothing more than to find Gu Lan immediately and lay the whole truth bare before her. Yet, the thought of the person she once called a friend brought a sharp pang of heartache.

Ring. Her phone suddenly chimed, interrupting her thoughts. The caller ID displayed He Xingchuan’s name. Her heart sank, but unwilling to miss any opportunity, she decisively answered the call.

“Miss Lin, how have you been lately?” He Xingchuan’s voice was like a cold night breeze, carrying a hint of soft, sinister charm.

“I’m handling a few things. Mr. He, how did you become the intermediary for the Zhou Family’s financial issues?” she asked directly, cutting straight to the point.

There was a brief silence on the other end before his voice turned steady. “You don’t want to ask about anything else? Do you want to hear the truth?”
Lin Zhixia felt her heart tighten. She could sense a deeper mystery hidden within He Xingchuan’s voice, as if every word he spoke was a sharp blade cutting through her defenses.

“We’re in the same boat. The more you know, the better our chances of turning the tables together,” he continued, his words striking a chord within her. “I can provide you with more information, but you need to give me something in return. All I’m asking for is your trust.”

Lin Zhixia hesitated for a moment, choosing silence until He Xingchuan spoke again. “The deal between your mother and the Zhou Family is far more complex than you think. She wasn’t just after your father’s shares. Another woman-Gu Lan’s mother-is the key to everything.”

In an instant, the doubts in her heart were ignited like tinder, suddenly illuminating all the murky corners of her mind. The hidden connection between Gu Lan and her mother, along with everything she had witnessed, surged into her mind like a rising tide.

“What do you want me to do?” Lin Zhixia asked, her tone carrying a hint of decisiveness.

“Help you uncover the whole truth, and even give you the choice of how to deal with Gu Lan and the Zhou Family’s schemes. What you can do isn’t just for yourself, but for everyone caught up in this,” He Xingchuan’s voice was low and steady, reflecting a personality that seemed to possess an unshakable conviction.

“I need more information. Are you ready to share it?” She no longer hesitated, a newfound drive rising within her.

“Of course,” He Xingchuan replied, as if he had already laid the groundwork for this moment. In his calm voice, she heard the echoes of her future and a new beginning-but it also meant she would have to face the truths and shadows that had once terrified her.

Suspense swelled quietly in her heart as Lin Zhixia imagined how all these threads would intertwine. She was determined to no longer be a pawn; instead, she would pave her own path and take control of her destiny.

Minutes later, Lin Zhixia ended the call. A fierce fire burned in her heart, its flames battering against her soul. She knew the real struggle had only just begun. This web of conspiracy and reality had become her stage.

“I will find all the answers,” she whispered. Clutching the documents tightly, she gave a firm nod, as if making a solemn vow to herself.

However, just as she was about to dig deeper into the files, a notification on her computer screen made her heart skip a beat. Before she could click on it, her phone rang again. This time, it was an unknown number.

“Who is it?” Anxious and on edge, she cautiously answered the call, only to be struck by a harsh, cold tone.

“Lin Zhixia, you’d better stop your little investigation,” the voice was low and chilling, a blatant threat aimed straight at her heart. “Otherwise, you will lose everything you hold dear.”

The call disconnected. Lin Zhixia felt a cold shiver run down her spine, her lips trembling slightly. The words “lose everything” reverberated in her mind like a thunderclap.

She was no longer that simple, naive girl; she had stepped into a world of power plays and cold calculations.

“I will never back down,” she muttered, clenching her fists, determined to face the coming storm.