He needed to find an opportunity when Lu Tianyu or his key assistant might be off guard.
He recalled the scattered information he had heard before. Starry Night Entertainment held a high-profile charity gala, "Starry Night," every year, inviting celebrities, partners, and media. It was an important occasion for the company to showcase its strength and image, and also a time for internal relaxation and networking. As usual, Lu Tianyu would personally attend and give a speech, and most of the senior executives and core personnel would also be present.
In such an event, with so many people and distractions, it might be the only opportunity.
And according to his remaining memories, this year's "Starry Night" seemed to be... tomorrow night!
Time was suffocatingly tight.
He needed a plan, an identity to infiltrate the company's core area, and... a little bit of luck.
He looked at his old phone, its battery dead. He needed to contact Su Yuqing, at least to let her know his decision and plan. If... if he failed, this information might still be a clue for her to continue her investigation.
He found the charger, his fingers trembling as he plugged the phone in. The screen lit up, indicating charging had begun. He waited anxiously, watching the battery percentage slowly climb.
Five percent…ten percent…
He used this time to quickly process all the information he knew about the company headquarters layout, blind spots in the surveillance system, and the banquet's procedures. Every detail could determine success or failure.
The battery finally reached a level where he could barely turn on the phone. He immediately turned it on; the screen flickered, and the system slowly started up.
He opened the text messages, found Su Yuqing's number, and began composing his second, and possibly final, message.
"Reporter Su, I can't wait any longer. Tomorrow night at 'Starry Night,' I will attempt to obtain crucial evidence. If successful, I will try to contact you. If unsuccessful…please continue."
Concise yet clear, outlining the timeline, the action, and the entrustment.
He took a deep breath and pressed send.
A notification popped up indicating the message had been successfully sent. He immediately removed the phone's back cover, pulled out the SIM card, snapped it in half, and flushed it down the toilet. Then he restored the phone to factory settings, erasing all data.
Having done all this, he collapsed to the floor, his back soaked with cold sweat.
The moth had already fluttered its wings, drawn to the raging flames.
Tomorrow night, a night of starlight.
Either tear a bloody gash in the darkness and welcome the dawn.
Or, burn completely under the dazzling starlight, becoming another silent, vanished soul in this vast arena of fame and fortune.
The "Night of Starlight" charity gala, like the entertainment empire's grandest annual coronation ceremony, unfolded in the banquet hall of the city's most luxurious hotel. Red carpets were laid out, spotlights flashed wildly as if they were free, and the air was filled with the glittering scents of fine clothes and the clinking of glasses. Socialites, A-list celebrities, business tycoons, and media elites were all present, the air thick with an atmosphere of extravagance, vanity, and power.
Lin Chen, a once-promising but now infamous newcomer under Xingyao Entertainment, was not qualified to attend such an event. However, he used an extremely risky excuse, conveying to Mr. Wang through Amy, that he had decided to "repent" and was willing to publicly apologize to the company and President Lu on this high-profile occasion, and sign the previous debt confirmation letter to demonstrate his "sincerity" and determination to "turn back."
This excuse successfully secured him a ticket to the event. Mr. Wang's reply, transmitted through Amy, carried a hint of condescending approval and an implicit warning: "President Lu is giving you this chance. Remember, this is your last chance."