The hum of the Celeste headquarters was like a symphony of order—heels clicking on polished floors, whispers of deadlines, flashes of designer sketches displayed on luminous screens. It was a world Liyana had built from sheer determination, elegance, and brilliance.
But even in a kingdom forged by steel, the smallest fracture could be fatal.
Qin Xieren knew this well.
She stood beside the assistant PR lead, a polite smile fixed on her face as she reviewed the press brief for the upcoming "Celeste Femme" campaign.
"Could you send me the draft report from the branding division too?" she asked sweetly. "I want to make sure the messaging stays… consistent."
The assistant nodded, unaware of the wolf in silk beside her.
Once alone, Qin stepped into her temporary office—granted as a "consultant" for Celeste's luxury campaign collaboration with international partners. She locked the door, powered up her laptop, and pulled up the internal strategy decks. One by one, she made subtle edits:
1. Moved a number in the quarterly forecast slightly lower.
2. Changed a wording in the market review to make the brand appear stagnant.
3. Forwarded a draft of an internal email to an "anonymous contact" under Shixing's instructions.
Everything she did was quiet. Meticulous. Just enough to raise concerns in the right eyes—particularly among Celeste's global partners and investors.
Then came the real blow.
She drafted an anonymous tip, carefully worded, laced with precision and plausible suspicion.
"Sources suggest Celeste's meteoric rise may be hiding internal ethical violations. Rumors of falsified growth data and management misconduct may soon surface. A whistleblower may be involved. No comment yet from Celeste CEO Liyana Xu."
She sent it to a financial gossip site known for sensational corporate stories—The Industry Pulse—a site Gao Shixing discreetly funded through one of his media arms.
Elsewhere – LuTech Headquarters
Damien scanned the article on his tablet, jaw tight, the glow of the screen lighting the tension in his face.
Aiden Zheng leaned against the table across from him, brow furrowed. "You've seen it too?"
"Yeah." Damien's voice was low, unreadable.
Aiden exhaled. "It's gaining traction. Celeste's name is trending… not in a good way."
Damien tossed the tablet down and stood, pacing. "This is no coincidence. First those tweaks in the quarterly report… now this."
"You think it's an inside job?"
"I know it is."
Damien picked up his phone, dialing a direct number. "Get me Liyana. Now."
At Celeste – Liyana's Office
Mira stepped in with worry shadowing her features. "Liyana, you need to see this."
Liyana looked up from her desk as Mira handed her the tablet. Her eyes scanned the article, expression unreadable for a moment.
Then she smiled.
Not soft. Not nervous.
It was the kind of smile she wore when she knew someone thought they had won.
"How clever," she murmured.
"Should I prepare a press statement?" Mira asked.
"No. Not yet. Let them stir. We'll respond when they start choking on their own lies."
There was steel in her voice.
But Mira hesitated. "Do you think it's someone… from inside?"
"I'm sure of it," Liyana replied. "But let them think I'm panicking."
She rose, picked up her phone, and called Damien.
He answered in one ring. "It's starting."
"I know."
"Want me to handle it?"
She paused, then said softly, "No. Not yet. This is my battlefield."
Damien's voice lowered. "You're not alone in this."
A silence passed between them, warm but loaded.
"I know," she whispered. "And that's why I won't lose."
Later That Night – Qin's Apartment
Qin opened her laptop and refreshed The Industry Pulse. The article had over 80,000 views. Comments buzzed with speculation, half-truths, and conspiracy theories. Just as planned.
She smiled.
Then her phone pinged.
Gao Shixing: "Good work. Step two begins tomorrow. Let's see how well Liyana Xu really handles pressure."
Qin typed back with a glint in her eye:
"I'm ready."