CHEN YU'S VILLA - MORNING
NEXT MORNING – CHEN YU'S BEDROOM
The soft rays of morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the spacious room.
Chen Yu slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Bai Ruxue resting peacefully against his left shoulder, her hair tousled, lips slightly parted in sleep. On his right, Lei Meiyun lay curled up beside him, her hand still lightly holding onto his.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Last night… was definitely something.
He gently slipped his arms out from under both girls, careful not to wake them. Sitting at the edge of the bed, he ran a hand through his hair and let out a quiet breath.
"But it's not the time to fool around," he muttered under his breath, his gaze sharpening. "The EVENT is coming… and I still have a long way to go."
He stood up, his toned frame casting a shadow across the bed. Grabbing a fresh shirt from the wardrobe, he dressed quickly and stepped out onto the balcony.
The city skyline stretched out before him, bustling and unaware of the storm quietly brewing beneath the surface.
System, show me the updated stats and mission progress.
He had no time to waste. Power, influence, knowledge—he needed more of everything.
The night may have been filled with warmth and temptation, but Chen Yu was back on track. The world wouldn't wait for him. And he wouldn't stop until he stood at the top.
TITAN CORPORATION – EXECUTIVE FLOOR
The atmosphere inside the topmost office of Titan Corporation was silent and cold, much like the man who ruled it.
Qin Yuze, the CEO of Titan Corp, sat in his high-backed leather chair, one hand lightly tapping the edge of his desk while reviewing documents. His sharp eyes flickered from line to line until—
Knock knock.
The large double doors opened, and his assistant stepped in, looking unusually tense.
"Sir," the assistant said, voice low and urgent. "We've found something."
Qin Yuze didn't look up. "Speak."
"It's about the investor who funded the five collapsing companies. His name is Chen Yu."
The CEO finally paused, his eyes slowly lifting from the papers.
"Chen Yu?" he repeated, as if tasting the name.
"Yes," the assistant nodded. "On paper, he's just a common orphan. No family backing, no political connections, no wealthy history. But… he somehow invested ¥2.5 billion in one day without attracting any official notice or media buzz."
Qin Yuze leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing. "And where did this money come from?"
"That's the strange part," the assistant admitted, swallowing. "All financial records seem clean—too clean. It's like someone deliberately built a perfect cover story. We suspect the information is either fabricated… or someone powerful is protecting him."
A brief silence filled the room as Qin Yuze considered the implications.
The assistant continued carefully, "There's a possibility he's a hidden heir of some reclusive power… or part of something bigger. Should we dig deeper?"
Qin Yuze stood, walking to the window, his gaze falling over the vast skyline of Tianxu City.
"Chen Yu…" he murmured. "To make moves like that at his age… either he's incredibly lucky… or dangerously clever."
He turned to the assistant, eyes sharp and commanding.
"Keep watching him. No direct moves yet. If he's truly some secret heir, poking the wrong tree could get us all killed. But if he's acting alone—"
His lips curled into a thin smile.
"—then we crush him before he becomes a threat."
Qin Yuze's expression was unreadable as he returned to his seat, fingers steepled beneath his chin.
"Chen Yu," he repeated, the name rolling in his mind like a puzzle piece that didn't fit. "No background… yet moves like a veteran. If he's not careful—"
Bzzz… bzzz…
His private phone vibrated. Only a few had access to this number—high-level officials, top-tier allies… and those above even him.
He glanced at the screen.
"Unknown Number."
A flicker of doubt crossed his face, but he answered, voice composed. "Qin Yuze."
A brief silence.
Then came a voice—low, cold, and unmistakably authoritative.
"Mr. Qin. You're poking where you shouldn't."
Qin Yuze's eyes narrowed slightly. "Who is this?"
"Someone from the Chen Family."
In that instant, Qin Yuze's heart skipped a beat.
The Chen Family.
The most mysterious and powerful family in China. A name whispered only in elite circles. Untouchable. Unseen.
And now—they were calling him.
The voice continued, slow and measured. "You're investigating a boy named Chen Yu, correct?"
"…Yes," Qin replied, the words suddenly heavy.
"Stop."
One word. Enough to send chills down his spine.
"He's not someone you should interfere with. For your sake. For your company's sake. And for Tianxu City's peace."
The call ended.
Just like that.
Qin Yuze sat frozen in his chair, the cold sweat on his back slowly soaking through his tailored shirt. His assistant watched him, eyes wide with concern.
"Sir? What happened?"
Qin Yuze exhaled slowly, staring at the black phone screen.
"Forget Chen Yu," he muttered, voice shaky for the first time. "Erase all files. Stop all surveillance."
"But sir—"
"I said forget him!" he snapped, slamming his hand on the desk. Then, more quietly, "He's not someone we can touch."
Qin Yuze stood and walked to the window again. But this time… his gaze wasn't confident.
It was cautious.
Fearful.
Because now he knew—
Chen Yu wasn't just a name. He was a warning.
Qin Yuze stood by the window, his mind racing.
He clenched his jaw, then sighed.
"If I can't go against him…" he murmured, eyes narrowing.
"…then I'll make him my ally."
A dangerous smile crept onto his face.
"Chen Yu… let's see if we can be friends."