The morning news carried a new storm.
Screens across the trading floor flashed with headlines: *Rumors of Hostile Takeover in Yen Group.*
Li Na stood behind Yen Rui in his office as he scrolled through reports, each article more venomous than the last. Han Rui Sheng's name threaded through them all, never directly implicated but always hovering like smoke after fire.
"It's begun," Yen Rui said quietly, his tone so calm it sent chills through her.
"What has?" she asked, though part of her already knew.
"The takeover. Han Rui Sheng is buying influence in board seats, shareholder votes, small cracks in the foundation. And when he has enough, he'll force me out." His jaw tightened. "This is what he's been waiting for."
Li Na's pulse quickened. "And the leak, the rumors about our marriage"
"Were just the first shots," Yen Rui finished. He pushed the reports aside, his eyes finally lifting to hers. "Now he wants war."
By noon, the boardroom was in chaos. Half the directors demanded reassurance; the other half whispered of alternatives, their loyalties already wavering. Han Rui Sheng's representatives were everywhere looking smooth, persuasive, promising stability if Yen Rui was removed.
Li Na sat quietly at the side of the room, but her presence drew eyes, whispers, and occasional glares.
At one point, Han Rui Sheng himself entered, all charm and sharp smiles. "Director Yen," he said, inclining his head, "I'm only here to offer options. If your… personal circumstances are affecting leadership, perhaps it's time for a different hand at the helm."
Yen Rui didn't rise, didn't flinch. "The day I need your hand at the helm, Han, is the day this company no longer deserves to exist."
The words rippled through the room like a blade cutting through water.
But later, in the quiet of Yen Rui's office, Li Na saw the toll it took. He stood by the window, staring out at the city, his reflection fractured in the glass. For all his control, for all his steel, the cracks were there subtle but real.
"You can't fight this alone," she said softly.
He didn't turn. "I don't trust anyone else to fight it with me."
"Then trust me," she replied, stepping closer. "I've survived betrayal, humiliation, and fire. I'm still here. Let me stand with you."
Finally, he turned, and for a moment his eyes softened with just a flicker, but enough.
The hostile signals were everywhere with rumors, numbers, threats dressed in smiles. But as the storm gathered, Li Na felt something shift.
The war wasn't just his anymore. It was theirs.