In a high-end apartment.

Lin Mengxi had already resigned from her job at the Shanshuijian sales office.

For her, as long as her plan proceeded smoothly, it would be a turning point in her life, a chance to rewrite her destiny. She would no longer need to dream of marrying into wealth.

Whether it was due to her biological clock or something else, Lin Mengxi, who usually resisted staying up late, woke up early despite chatting with Pang Jun until four or five in the morning.

As she lay in bed, pondering her next move to lure Pang Jun into her trap, the WeChat notification chimed.

Seeing it was from Pang Jun, a satisfied smirk crept across her lips.

She whispered playfully, "Idiot."

But she didn't reply right away. Instead, she got up to wash and freshen up.

Despite their lively chats on WeChat, in her eyes, Pang Jun was nothing more than a pawn—a tool to achieve her goals, retaliate against Ye Chen, and secure her rise to the top.

Though Pang Jun's status and potential made him a reasonable choice, he was still a follower of Ye Chen.

That fact alone meant Lin Mengxi would never truly consider him. Not because she didn't want to, but because she feared Ye Chen's interference, which could derail everything and leave her with nothing.

Moreover, the dirt on Ye Chen that she had handed over to Ding Chengjun could backfire if exposed. If that happened, she risked losing everything.

Lin Mengxi and Ding Chengjun's partnership was one of mutual exploitation. If she got involved with Pang Jun, Ding Chengjun would undoubtedly use their shady dealings to blackmail her.

So from the start, Pang Jun was nothing but a tool to her—and could only ever be a tool.

After freshening up, she casually replied:

[Just woke up... 😊]

In the Deputy General Manager's Office at Yiren Ruxue.

Pang Jun, who had been distracted all morning, eagerly opened his phone the moment it buzzed.

Seeing Lin Mengxi's message, he immediately perked up.

Huangpu District.

At the construction site of Yiren Ruxue's 200-acre production park.

Unaware that his trusted assistant had fallen into Lin Mengxi's trap, Ye Chen walked the site in a hard hat alongside Zhang Xingguo.

Though only a few days had passed, the project was progressing rapidly.

"Uncle Zhang, at this pace, will the timeline hold up?" Ye Chen asked with a smile.

"Six to eight months, no problem!" Zhang Xingguo replied confidently. "I've already brought in several trusted colleagues from the industry. With more hands on deck and everything going according to plan, we'll stay on schedule. Don't worry—eight months at most, and we'll deliver!"

"That's great. I'll arrange the 70 million project funds for you," Ye Chen nodded.

"Ah, Ye, there's no rush for the money. I can cover it for now," Zhang Xingguo replied.

"Uncle Zhang, there's no need to be polite. I know your situation. Funds aren't exactly easy to come by right now. Just give me your account later, and I'll transfer the budget in one go. We can settle any differences afterward," Ye Chen insisted.

Zhang Xingguo hesitated but ultimately agreed.

"Well, alright. But no need to transfer the full 70 million at once—installments are fine," he said awkwardly.

"I can manage 70 million at once. Let's not complicate things," Ye Chen smiled.

"Since you insist, thank you, Ye. Really, thank you," Zhang Xingguo replied with a mix of gratitude and embarrassment.

Ye Chen didn't respond further. He simply smiled, shaking his head as he overlooked the bustling 200-acre site from a higher vantage point.

"Ye, can I ask you something?" Zhang Xingguo hesitated.

"Sure."

"The online rumors... how do you plan to handle them? Have you thought about the potential impact?" Zhang asked.

"I anticipated this kind of backlash from the start—just didn't expect it so soon. But as I told Yinuo, it's better early than after we've grown larger. This way, it's manageable," Ye Chen replied, his tone more serious than usual.

He knew Zhang Xingguo might be relaying questions from the old Party Secretary.

"As for the impact, it'll only dent my personal reputation for a while. It won't affect Yiren Ruxue unless a competitor produces a flawless product. I have to accept responsibility for my past mistakes—it's only fair," Ye Chen added.

Hearing this, Zhang Xingguo's respect for Ye Chen deepened.

"You're remarkably open-minded. Most people wouldn't handle this so calmly," he said.

"What choice do I have? If I messed up, I need to own it. What bothers me most is how much I let Yinuo down. She suffered through those years," Ye Chen said quietly.

Suddenly shifting gears, Ye Chen asked, "Uncle Zhang, has the old Party Secretary mentioned anything about me?"

"The old man's known about your past longer than I have," Zhang laughed. "But when the rumors surfaced, he said two things: 'A prodigal son who repents is worth his weight in gold,' and 'If Ye can't handle this storm, I misjudged him.'"

Ye Chen chuckled.

"Ye, this smear campaign seems orchestrated. I could pull some strings and look into it," Zhang Xingguo suggested.

"There's no need," Ye Chen shook his head. "The rise of Wuxia Cream has shaken the industry. This was bound to happen. No need to waste effort investigating."

"But the detailed leaks—your competitors couldn't have dug that deep," Zhang argued.

"I have my suspicions, but it's not worth pursuing. Let it be," Ye Chen replied calmly.

Realizing Ye Chen's resolve, Zhang Xingguo relented.

"Alright then."

Just as their conversation ended, Ye Chen's phone buzzed.

A call from an unknown number.

But the string of six eights at the end caught his attention immediately.