Start All Over

The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the Lu family estate in a blanket of silence.

Inside the study, the lights burned brightly.

Lu Chenyuan hung up the phone, his fingers tapping lightly on the polished mahogany desk, producing a rhythmic knock-knock sound.

The air still carried traces of the shock and determination left behind by Lu Qianqian when she had stormed out earlier.

Lu Chenyuan’s gaze was deep, like an unfathomable abyss.

The stone that Lu Qianqian had unwittingly thrown into the water had not only stirred ripples around herself but had also accelerated the entire chess game, pushing it into its next phase ahead of schedule.

A soft knock sounded at the door, and Lin Yuan entered, his expression solemn.

"President Lu, Zhang Qi has been notified. He’s on his way."

"Good." Lu Chenyuan nodded and stood, walking over to the floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside lay the meticulously landscaped gardens of the estate, bathed in the glow of night lights, exuding a serene yet detached beauty.

"Lin Yuan," Lu Chenyuan suddenly asked, "how long have you been with me?"

Lin Yuan paused briefly before answering, "Since your second year of grad school, when I was a senior intern. Nearly five years now."

"Five years…" Lu Chenyuan murmured, his voice tinged with something complex. "Time flies. Have you ever thought about pursuing something truly your own?"

Lin Yuan’s heart jolted. "President Lu, I—"

Lu Chenyuan turned and raised a hand to stop him, his gaze both gentle and piercing.

"I’m not dismissing you. What I mean is, Lu Corporation is too small—and too murky—for someone like you."

"I’m planning to establish a new tech company, focused on new energy and artificial intelligence. That’s where my real ambitions lie."

"And I want you to take the helm there for me."

Lin Yuan froze, his mind reeling.

He had known Lu Chenyuan was quietly laying the groundwork for something, but he never imagined the man had the audacity to break away from Lu Corporation entirely and start anew.

This wasn’t just a business venture—it was a bold, earth-shaking ambition.

"I… accept!" Lin Yuan answered without hesitation, fire igniting in his eyes.

He was not a man content with mediocrity. Serving under Lu Chenyuan was one thing, but the chance to carve out his own path? That was an opportunity he couldn’t refuse.

"Good." Lu Chenyuan smiled. "But first, we need to wrap up the matter at hand. Zhang Qi will be your ideal successor."

Half an hour later, a tall, sharp-jawed young man was ushered into the study by the butler.

His steps were steady, his gaze alert. Though dressed in casual attire, the quiet competence and composure radiating from him were impossible to ignore.

This was Zhang Qi—the lawyer who had narrowly escaped death, pulled back from the brink by Lu Chenyuan.

"President Lu." Zhang Qi bowed slightly, his voice thick with genuine gratitude and respect.

His life had been saved by Lu Chenyuan and Dr. Lu Chenxiao.

Over the past weeks, Lu Chenyuan had not only provided him with the best rehabilitation but had also revealed the truth behind his car accident.

When Zhang Qi learned that the crash had been orchestrated by Sheng Tian Real Estate to silence his legal activism, fury and despair at the cruelty of the world had nearly consumed him.

But Lu Chenyuan’s words had cut through the darkness:

"Rather than be swallowed by the abyss, become the sword that pierces it."

From that moment, Zhang Qi had resolved to follow this enigmatic man.

He would wield his legal expertise like a blade, cutting down the corporate dragons who treated human lives as disposable.

"Sit." Lu Chenyuan gestured to the sofa. "Qianqian briefed me earlier. What have you uncovered?"

At the mention of business, Zhang Qi’s focus sharpened.

He pulled a thick stack of documents from his briefcase and spread them across the coffee table with methodical precision.

"President Lu, based on my covert investigations and evidence collected from previous cases, I’ve pieced together a nearly complete picture of Sheng Tian Real Estate’s operations."

His finger tapped one of the files, his voice steady and firm.

"Sheng Tian’s employment contracts, construction safety protocols, and material standards are all severely compromised."

"Master Zhang’s accident was no coincidence. I’ve secured testimony from multiple anonymous whistleblowers confirming that Sheng Tian cuts corners on multiple projects, violating laws and regulations. They’re trading workers’ lives for profit."

A suppressed fury simmered in his tone.

"Finally—the most critical issue—is their financial and tax records. But their firewall is impenetrable, maintained by a top-tier security team. I tried reaching out to former contacts, but infiltration is impossible. This is their weak spot—and our biggest hurdle."

Lu Chenyuan listened without reaction, as if everything aligned with his expectations.

"You’re right," he said slowly. "The evidence we have now could bury Sheng Tian in lawsuits and public outrage, but it’s not enough for a killing blow."

Zhang Qi nodded grimly. "Exactly. At best, this would cost them a fortune in fines and a few mid-level scapegoats. But the real masterminds would slip away untouched—maybe even use the chaos to rebrand."

"So we need a key." Lu Chenyuan’s eyes locked onto Zhang Qi.

"A key to their core database. Specifically, I need records of their ‘Project Incident Contingency Fund.’"

"Project Incident Contingency Fund?" Zhang Qi repeated, his legal training instantly decoding the euphemism.

This wasn’t a legitimate reserve—it was a slush fund for bribes, hush money, and dirty payoffs. Every illegal transaction would be logged there.

Obtaining that ledger wouldn’t just complete their case—it would be a nuclear bomb capable of annihilating Sheng Tian and its backers in one blast.

"But President Lu, their servers are a fortress…" Zhang Qi frowned.

"Even the strongest fortresses have cracks." A faint, knowing smile curved Lu Chenyuan’s lips.

"There are always those rare talents who can slip past any defense—without leaving a trace."

"Lin Yuan, have Su Yang give it a try."