Chapter 20: The Enemy Within
Lightning split the sky outside the harbor.
The windows of Room 701 flashed white for a moment, then darkness returned.
Inside the room, no one moved.
Shen Yichen stared at his sister.
"You're lying."
His voice was low.
Cold.
Shen Linyu tilted her head slightly.
"Am I?"
Xinyue could feel the tension between them like a stretched wire.
Twelve years of silence.
Twelve years of unanswered questions.
Now everything was exploding at once.
Yichen stepped closer.
"Grandfather would never sell you."
Linyu's eyes hardened.
"That's what you believe."
"That's what I know."
Linyu laughed softly.
"That's what they told you."
Yichen stopped walking.
"Explain."
She folded her arms.
"Twelve years ago… the Shen family faced a financial crisis."
"That's not true."
"It is."
"No."
"You were too young to know the truth."
Xinyue looked between them.
"Wait… what crisis?"
Linyu turned to her.
"The Shen Group almost collapsed."
Assistant Zhao frowned.
"That information doesn't exist in any public record."
"Of course not," Linyu replied.
"It was hidden."
She looked back at Yichen.
"Grandfather borrowed money from dangerous people."
Yichen's eyes narrowed.
"From who?"
Linyu smiled bitterly.
"A group called The Night Council."
The name hung in the air.
Xinyue whispered,
"That sounds… terrifying."
Zhao nodded slowly.
"I've heard rumors."
"Rumors?"
"A secret organization controlling underground financial networks."
Yichen crossed his arms.
"So you're saying Grandfather owed them money."
"Yes."
"And he paid the debt by selling you."
Linyu's voice became quiet.
"Yes."
Silence fell across the room.
Rain hit the windows harder.
Xinyue looked at Yichen.
His face had gone completely expressionless.
"Where did they take you?" he asked.
"Far away."
"Where exactly?"
"An island training facility."
"Training?"
Linyu laughed again.
"They turn children into weapons."
Xinyue felt sick.
"That's horrible…"
Linyu shrugged slightly.
"You get used to it."
Yichen clenched his fists.
"Why didn't you escape earlier?"
"I tried."
"Then why now?"
Her smile returned.
"Because the timing is perfect."
"Perfect for what?"
"For revenge."
A Dangerous Truth
Assistant Zhao stepped forward carefully.
"If what you're saying is true…"
"…why let you come back now?"
Linyu looked at him.
"Because I'm useful."
"Useful how?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, she walked to the minibar and poured herself a glass of water.
Her movements were calm.
Controlled.
Almost too controlled.
Xinyue noticed something strange.
"You're not acting like someone who was just reunited with family."
Linyu looked amused.
"And how should I act?"
"Happy."
"Why?"
"Because you're home."
Linyu's smile faded slightly.
"Home?"
She repeated the word like it meant nothing.
"This place stopped being my home twelve years ago."
Yichen suddenly spoke.
"You still came back."
"Yes."
"Why?"
She met his gaze.
"To take everything from the Shen family."
The words hit like ice.
Xinyue stepped forward.
"But the will…"
"What about it?"
"It gives you control of the company."
Linyu nodded.
"I know."
"You already knew?"
"Of course."
Yichen frowned.
"How?"
Linyu leaned against the table.
"Because someone told me."
"Who?"
She smiled again.
"That's the interesting part."
Yichen's voice became sharper.
"Stop playing games."
Linyu sighed.
"Fine."
She placed her glass down slowly.
Then she said a name.
A name that made the room freeze.
"Han Zhengliang."
Assistant Zhao gasped.
"The vice chairman?!"
Yichen's eyes darkened.
"You're working with him."
Linyu shook her head.
"No."
"Then why tell you about the will?"
"Because he wanted me to return."
Xinyue felt confused.
"Why would he help you?"
Linyu's voice turned colder.
"Because he hates the Shen family even more than I do."
Yichen's jaw tightened.
"So this is his revenge plan."
"Part of it."
"Part?"
"Yes."
She stepped closer.
"Han Zhengliang wants Shen Group destroyed."
"And you're helping him."
"Not exactly."
"Then what?"
"I'm using him."
The room fell silent again.
Zhao whispered,
"This situation is insane."
Linyu chuckled.
"You have no idea."
Another Player Appears
Just then—
the door behind them opened slowly.
Everyone turned.
A tall man walked inside.
Elegant suit.
Silver hair.
Calm expression.
Xinyue blinked.
"Who is that?"
But Yichen's face changed instantly.
"Han Zhengliang."
The old vice chairman smiled politely.
"Good evening."
Linyu didn't look surprised at all.
"You're late."
Han nodded.
"I had to avoid attention."
Zhao stepped forward angrily.
"You shouldn't be here!"
Han ignored him.
Instead, he looked at Yichen.
"Congratulations on finding your sister."
Yichen's voice turned icy.
"You planned this."
"Partially."
"Why bring her back?"
Han folded his hands behind his back.
"Because the Shen empire needs to fall."
"And you think she can do that?"
Han looked at Linyu.
"She already started."
Xinyue's heart raced.
"What do you mean?"
Han smiled slightly.
"The poison."
The room froze again.
"You poisoned Grandfather?" Zhao asked.
Han shook his head.
"No."
He pointed at Linyu.
"She did."
Xinyue gasped.
"WHAT?!"
Yichen's eyes snapped toward his sister.
"Is that true?"
Linyu didn't deny it.
"Yes."
The word felt like a knife.
"Why?" Yichen demanded.
Her expression remained calm.
"Because he deserves it."
"You're trying to kill him!"
"I'm giving him the same slow death he gave me."
"That's insane!"
"Maybe."
Lightning flashed again.
For a moment, her eyes looked completely cold.
"You didn't see what they did to me."
Yichen took a step forward.
"But poisoning him won't fix anything!"
"No."
"It will just destroy everything."
"That's the point."
The room felt suffocating.
Xinyue whispered,
"This is going too far…"
Han watched the scene with satisfaction.
"Family drama is always fascinating."
Yichen turned toward him.
"You're enjoying this."
"Of course."
"Why?"
Han's smile widened.
"Because while you're fighting each other…"
"…I'll take control of Shen Group."
Zhao cursed under his breath.
"So that's the real plan."
Han nodded.
"Exactly."
But before he could say anything else—
Linyu suddenly laughed.
Han frowned.
"What's funny?"
She looked directly at him.
"You think you're the mastermind."
"I am."
"No."
Her smile turned dangerous.
"You're just another pawn."
Han's expression darkened.
"What did you say?"
Linyu leaned closer.
"Did you really think I came back just for revenge?"
The room went silent.
Yichen frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Linyu looked at him.
Then she spoke slowly.
"There's someone else behind all of this."
Han scoffed.
"Ridiculous."
But Linyu's eyes gleamed.
"The real enemy…"
"…is someone you both trust."
Xinyue felt her stomach drop.
"Who?"
Linyu turned her head slowly.
And looked directly at—
Assistant Zhao.
The room exploded with shock.
Zhao froze.
"Miss Shen… what are you saying?"
Linyu's smile grew wider.
"Twelve years ago…"
"…you were there too."
Yichen stared at his assistant.
"Zhao."
The man who had worked beside him for years.
The man he trusted more than anyone.
"Tell me she's lying."
Zhao didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
he slowly removed his glasses.
And smiled.
A completely different smile.
Cold.
Calculating.
"Miss Shen," he said quietly.
"…you're smarter than I expected."
Xinyue felt her heart stop.
Because suddenly—
the real enemy had finally appeared.