Chapter 16: The Boardroom War
The Shen Group headquarters towered above the city like a silent ruler.
Inside the building, tension filled every hallway.
Employees whispered to each other.
Phones buzzed nonstop.
Everyone had seen the news.
Everyone had seen the video.
And everyone was waiting for one thing.
The emergency board meeting.
Morning — 9:12 AM
The black car stopped in front of the building.
Assistant Zhao stepped out first and quickly opened the back door.
Shen Yichen walked out.
Cold.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Behind him, Chen Xinyue followed.
The moment she stepped out, cameras exploded.
"Miss Chen! Is the accident video real?!"
"Did you force President Shen into a marriage contract?!"
"Are you responsible for the scandal at Shen Group?!"
Microphones pushed toward her face.
Flashes of light blinded her.
Luo Mei tried to block the reporters.
"Move back!"
But they kept shouting.
"Answer the question!"
"Did you trap him for money?!"
Xinyue felt her chest tighten.
For a second… she almost stepped back.
Then Shen Yichen suddenly grabbed her hand.
The reporters froze.
Cameras zoomed in.
He spoke calmly.
"Enough."
His voice wasn't loud.
But it carried power.
Instantly the noise lowered.
Yichen looked straight at the cameras.
"If you want answers," he said slowly,
"come to the boardroom in thirty minutes."
Gasps spread through the crowd.
"The truth will be explained there."
Then he pulled Xinyue toward the entrance.
The doors closed behind them.
Inside the Lobby
Xinyue exhaled slowly.
"That was terrifying."
Yichen didn't let go of her hand yet.
"You handled it well."
She looked up at him.
"Did you really just invite the media into a board meeting?"
"Yes."
"That's insane."
"Exactly."
She stared at him.
Then she suddenly laughed.
"You really don't care about the rules, do you?"
Yichen's lips curved slightly.
"Rules only matter when they help you win."
Assistant Zhao hurried toward them.
"Sir… the board members are already inside."
"Good."
"But they're furious."
"Even better."
Zhao hesitated.
"Sir… there's one more problem."
Yichen's eyes narrowed.
"Say it."
"Vice Chairman Han is leading the vote."
Xinyue frowned.
"Who?"
Zhao lowered his voice.
"He's your grandfather's oldest ally."
Yichen's expression darkened slightly.
"I see."
Then he turned toward the elevator.
"Let's begin."
9:30 AM — The Boardroom
The doors opened.
Twenty people sat around the long table.
Powerful executives.
Major shareholders.
Old businessmen who controlled billions.
And at the head of the table sat a thin elderly man.
Han Zhengliang.
His sharp eyes lifted slowly.
"Ah… President Shen."
His voice sounded polite.
But his smile wasn't.
"You're late."
Yichen walked inside calmly.
"Not really."
Then he pulled a chair and sat down.
Xinyue remained standing behind him.
Immediately whispers spread around the room.
"That's her."
"The girl from the video."
"She looks innocent."
"Don't be fooled."
Han Zhengliang tapped the table gently.
"Shall we begin?"
The room went silent.
He folded his hands.
"President Shen, the board has received troubling information."
"Go on."
"Your secret marriage contract."
Several directors nodded.
"Additionally," Han continued, "a video showing your wife pushing you into a traffic accident."
Xinyue clenched her fists.
The large screen turned on.
The video played.
The edited clip again.
The car.
The push.
The crash.
When it ended, murmurs filled the room.
Han looked at Yichen calmly.
"Care to explain?"
Yichen leaned back in his chair.
"Yes."
Everyone leaned forward.
But his next words shocked them.
"The video is fake."
The room erupted.
"Fake?!"
"Impossible!"
"We all saw it!"
Han raised a hand.
Silence returned.
He stared at Yichen.
"Do you have proof?"
Yichen nodded once.
"Assistant Zhao."
Zhao stepped forward and connected his laptop to the screen.
A new video appeared.
The original footage.
Clear.
Unedited.
In this version—
Chen Xinyue was pushing Shen Yichen away from the car.
Saving him.
Gasps spread across the room.
One director whispered,
"She saved him…"
Han's expression stiffened.
But he quickly recovered.
"Even if that's true," he said calmly,
"your marriage contract still damages the company's reputation."
Another director slammed the table.
"Yes!"
"You used company power for a private relationship!"
"We demand your resignation!"
Xinyue's heart raced.
This was worse than she expected.
But then—
Shen Yichen suddenly stood up.
The room went silent again.
"You want me to resign?"
His voice remained calm.
Han nodded.
"For the stability of Shen Group."
Yichen slowly walked around the table.
His footsteps echoed across the room.
Then he stopped beside Han Zhengliang.
"Vice Chairman Han."
"Yes?"
"You're very eager to remove me."
Han smiled politely.
"I'm only protecting the company."
Yichen leaned slightly closer.
"Really?"
The smile on Han's face twitched.
Then Yichen turned toward the screen again.
"Assistant Zhao."
A new document appeared.
Financial records.
Large numbers.
Secret transfers.
The directors frowned.
"What is this?"
Zhao spoke clearly.
"Evidence of illegal fund transfers from Shen Group."
The room exploded again.
"What?!"
"Impossible!"
"Who authorized this?!"
Zhao pointed to one name on the screen.
Han Zhengliang.
All eyes turned to the old man.
His face finally changed.
"This is ridiculous!"
Yichen spoke softly.
"Is it?"
Han slammed the table.
"You're fabricating evidence!"
"Am I?"
Yichen tapped the screen again.
More files appeared.
Secret accounts.
Hidden companies.
Millions of dollars moved quietly.
Director after director looked shocked.
One whispered,
"He's been stealing from the company…"
Han's voice rose.
"You're lying!"
But Yichen looked completely calm.
"Should we call the police?"
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Han's hands began to tremble.
Xinyue watched everything, stunned.
She suddenly understood something.
This meeting…
This scandal…
Yichen had expected it.
He had prepared for it.
This was a trap.
Han slowly sat back down.
"You planned this."
Yichen didn't deny it.
"You leaked the marriage contract," Han said.
"Correct."
Gasps filled the room.
"You created the scandal!"
"Yes."
"Why?!"
Yichen's eyes turned cold.
"To see who would move first."
He looked around the table.
"And you did."
The directors whispered among themselves.
Some looked angry.
Others looked terrified.
Han finally laughed bitterly.
"You're ruthless, Shen Yichen."
"Thank you."
"But don't celebrate yet."
Yichen raised an eyebrow.
Han's smile returned.
"You think I'm the only one against you?"
The room grew tense.
"Remove me," Han continued, "and you'll create enemies far more dangerous than me."
Yichen's voice remained calm.
"I already have."
Han stood slowly.
"You have no idea who you're fighting."
Yichen met his gaze.
"Try me."
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Then Han suddenly sighed.
"…Fine."
He looked at the directors.
"I withdraw the vote."
Shock spread across the room.
"You're surrendering?"
Han smiled strangely.
"This battle… yes."
Then he looked at Shen Yichen one last time.
"But the war has just begun."
He turned and walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he stopped beside Chen Xinyue.
His eyes studied her carefully.
"You're the weakness he didn't expect."
Xinyue didn't move.
Han chuckled softly.
"Take care of yourself, young lady."
Then he left.
The door closed.
Silence filled the boardroom.
Finally one director spoke.
"…President Shen."
"Yes?"
"Congratulations."
Another nodded.
"You remain CEO."
But Yichen didn't celebrate.
Instead, he looked at Xinyue.
For the first time today—
his expression softened slightly.
"We're leaving."
Outside the Boardroom
The hallway was empty.
Xinyue finally exhaled.
"That was insane."
Yichen looked at her.
"Are you scared?"
She thought for a moment.
"…A little."
Then she smiled.
"But it's also exciting."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You're unusual."
She laughed softly.
"You married me."
He paused.
Then he said something unexpected.
"…Maybe that wasn't a mistake."
Xinyue blinked.
But before she could respond—
Assistant Zhao suddenly ran toward them again.
"Sir!"
Yichen frowned.
"What now?"
Zhao looked pale.
"There's been another attack."
"Where?"
"Your grandfather."
The words froze the air.
"He collapsed ten minutes ago."
Xinyue's heart dropped.
"What?!"
Zhao continued urgently.
"They suspect poisoning."
Shen Yichen's eyes turned cold again.
"Where is he?"
"Shen Family Hospital."
Yichen immediately turned toward the elevator.
"This isn't over," he said quietly.
And somewhere in the shadows of the city—
a hidden figure watched the news and whispered:
"Phase two begins."