The night air around Zhao Group headquarters had grown quiet, but the top floor was still alive with light. Inside the chairman's office, Lina Zhao stood near the window, looking down at the city. The financial district glowed beneath her feet, countless lights from buildings and passing cars stretching into the distance like a sea of stars. Most people in the city were ending their day, seeking rest and comfort, but Lina's battle had only begun.
Behind her, the office door opened softly. Director Chen stepped inside, carrying several folders pressed tightly against his chest. His usually tense face looked more controlled than it had earlier in the day, but his eyes still carried traces of worry.
"Miss Zhao," Director Chen said as he walked toward the desk, "the overseas suppliers have confirmed tomorrow's meeting."
Lina turned slightly from the window, the city lights reflecting in her dark eyes. "Which ones?" she asked calmly.
Director Chen placed the folders on the desk and opened the first one. "Golden Axis Manufacturing, Orion Industrial Supply, and NovaTech Logistics," he replied. "All three agreed to negotiate immediately."
Lina walked back toward the desk and glanced down at the documents. "That was fast," she said quietly.
Director Chen adjusted his glasses, watching her carefully. "Yes… faster than expected," he admitted. He hesitated for a moment before speaking again, his hands clasping together nervously. "Miss Zhao, may I ask something?"
Lina closed the folder and looked at him. "Go ahead."
"It feels like you anticipated Han Corporation's attack," Director Chen said cautiously.
Lina's expression remained calm, but her eyes sharpened slightly. "Why do you say that?"
"You cancelled your engagement with Victor Han yesterday," Director Chen explained, shifting his weight uneasily. "And today his suppliers suddenly withdrew their contracts. Yet within hours, Zhao Group already has replacement suppliers." He gestured toward the documents on the desk. "That kind of preparation isn't something that happens overnight."
Lina leaned lightly against the desk, her posture relaxed but her presence commanding. "In business, the worst mistake is assuming your opponent will play fair."
Director Chen frowned. "So you believe Victor planned this from the beginning?"
"Yes," Lina answered.
Director Chen inhaled slowly. "Then the engagement…"
"Was a strategy," Lina finished calmly.
Director Chen's eyes widened. "He intended to weaken Zhao Group from the inside?"
Lina didn't answer immediately. Instead, she walked back toward the window, her heels tapping softly against the floor. Outside, the city lights flickered beneath the dark sky. "In my opinion, Victor Han never planned to marry me," she said slowly. "He planned to destroy us."
The room fell silent. Director Chen swallowed hard. For years, everyone believed the engagement between Zhao Group and Han Corporation would strengthen both companies. But now, if Lina was right, then Victor Han had been planning Zhao Group's downfall from the very beginning.
"Miss Zhao," Director Chen said carefully, "if Han Corporation continues this pressure, we may face additional problems."
"What kind of problems?" Lina asked without turning around.
Director Chen flipped open another folder. "Several investors have started requesting emergency meetings. They're worried about Zhao Group's stability."
Lina nodded slowly. "That's expected."
"Expected?" Director Chen blinked.
"Yes. Fear spreads faster than facts. Victor is using panic as a weapon." Lina turned back toward him.
Director Chen sighed. "What should we do?"
Lina walked back to the desk and picked up one of the contracts. "Nothing."
Director Chen froze. "Nothing?" he repeated.
"Yes. Let the investors panic."
Director Chen looked stunned. "But if they withdraw their capital—"
"They won't," Lina interrupted calmly.
Director Chen stared at her. "How can you be so certain?"
Lina smiled faintly. "Because they're greedy. And greedy people don't abandon profit easily." She tapped the contract on the desk. "Once tomorrow's supplier deals become public, Zhao Group's stock will stabilize."
Director Chen's expression slowly shifted from confusion to realization. He saw now that Lina had allowed the panic to spread intentionally. When the market realized Zhao Group had already secured new suppliers, confidence would return immediately. Miss Zhao had planned several steps ahead.
"Miss Zhao," Director Chen said respectfully, "I'll prepare everything for tomorrow's negotiations."
"Good," Lina replied.
Director Chen gathered the remaining documents. Before leaving, he paused. "You should rest too," he said gently.
Lina nodded. "Good night, Director Chen."
"Good night, Miss Zhao."
The office door closed behind him, and silence returned to the room. Lina stood alone again, the quiet hum of the building surrounding her. Her phone suddenly vibrated on the desk. She frowned slightly and walked over to look at the screen.
*Unknown number.*
Lina hesitated before answering. "Hello?"
A deep, calm voice responded from the other end. "Good evening, Miss Zhao."
Lina's eyes narrowed slightly. "Who is this?"
The man chuckled softly. "Adrian Lu."
Lina's grip tightened slightly around the phone. Adrian Lu. Chairman of Lu Corporation. One of the most powerful businessmen in the country.
"Chairman Lu," Lina said calmly. "To what do I owe this call?"
"I wanted to congratulate you," Adrian Lu said.
"Congratulate me?" Lina repeated.
"For surviving Victor Han's first attack."
Lina walked slowly toward the window again, looking out at the dark skyline. "You seem very well informed," she said.
"I try to be," Adrian replied calmly.
Lina looked down at the glowing city below. "Why are you interested in Zhao Group's affairs?"
"I'm not," Adrian said.
Lina frowned slightly. "Then?"
"I'm interested in you."
Lina's expression grew colder. "That's an unusual thing to say."
"Is it?" Adrian asked.
"Yes."
Adrian chuckled again, the sound low and intriguing. "You cancelled your engagement with Victor Han one day before he began attacking Zhao Group. And then you secured three international suppliers within hours. That level of preparation suggests something interesting."
"What exactly?" Lina asked.
"That you knew what was coming."
Lina's eyes darkened. "You're making assumptions."
"Perhaps," Adrian admitted. There was a brief pause on the line. "Miss Zhao, would you like some advice?"
"I'm listening."
"Victor Han will not stop here. He's already preparing his next move."
Lina's gaze sharpened. "What move?"
Adrian's voice became quieter. "He plans to attack Zhao Group's logistics network tomorrow morning."
Lina froze. That hadn't happened in her previous life. In her memories, the logistics attack had come weeks later, not immediately.
"How do you know this?" Lina asked.
"Information," Adrian replied simply.
Lina fell silent. If Zhao Group's logistics routes were cut, the new supplier contracts would become useless. Victor was escalating the war much faster than she had anticipated.
"Why are you telling me this?" Lina asked.
Adrian's answer came slowly. "Because I'm curious to see what you'll do."
"And if I fail?"
"You won't," Adrian said confidently.
Lina frowned slightly. "You sound certain."
"I am."
Lina leaned against the balcony railing, the cool night air brushing against her face. "Why?"
Adrian's voice softened slightly. "Because people who look at the future the way you do rarely lose."
Lina's heart skipped once. Did he suspect something? Did he know about her rebirth? Before she could ask anything else, the call ended.
Lina lowered the phone slowly. Victor's next move… logistics sabotage. That had not happened in her previous life. Which meant something had changed. Something in the timeline had shifted. Lina's eyes slowly hardened.
"Victor Han…" she whispered. If he wanted to escalate the war, then she would respond in kind.
***
Far away, inside Han Corporation's penthouse office, Victor Han stood by the window with a glass of wine in his hand. The city lights reflected in the dark liquid. His assistant stood nervously behind him.
"Sir," the assistant said quietly, "Zhao Group secured new suppliers."
Victor smiled faintly. "Yes," he said calmly. "I expected that."
The assistant blinked. "You… expected it?"
Victor turned slowly. "Of course." He set the wine glass down on the table. "Because that wasn't my real attack."
The assistant frowned. "Then what is?"
"Tomorrow morning," Victor said softly, "Zhao Group's logistics network will collapse."
The assistant nodded. "That will destroy their supply chain."
Victor shook his head slowly. "No. It will do something much better."
The assistant looked confused. "What?"
Victor leaned closer to the window, his voice dropping to a whisper. "It will expose the traitor inside Zhao Group."
The assistant's eyes widened. "Traitor?"
Victor smiled coldly. "Yes." He tapped the report on his desk. "Because someone inside Zhao Group warned Lina Zhao about my first attack. Someone gave her the time to secure those suppliers."
Victor's gaze darkened, filled with predatory intent. "And tomorrow… we will find out who it is."