Before the Storm

Lu Mingshi’s face flushed crimson as he screamed hysterically at his secretary and the gathered executives:

"Investigate! Find out which bastard is spreading these rumors! And the PR department—are you all dead? Issue a statement immediately! Deny everything! Sue them—take every damn media outlet spouting nonsense to court!"

His response was the same old arrogant "might makes right" logic he always relied on.

Yet, this feeble denial, in the face of detailed exposés and a panicked market, seemed utterly laughable.

Far from calming the storm, it was interpreted as "guilt" and "a desperate cover-up," only accelerating the stock’s plunge.

Lu Mingshi stared at the glaring red numbers on the screen, his heart twisting in his chest.

He had fought so hard to claim this position, barely warming the seat before disaster struck.

Why? Everything should have been smooth sailing. How had it come to this?

Barging into the boardroom, he faced the ashen-faced elders and directors, his voice a brittle roar:

"What are you all gawking at? This is just some underhanded scheme to short our stock! Panicking now? Hold steady! Anyone who dares sell shares at this time is declaring war on me, Lu Mingshi, and the entire Lu Corporation!"

But no one paid his bluster any heed.

When real money was at stake, familial loyalty and the chairman’s authority meant nothing.

The infighting erupted in full force.

"Mingshi! What the hell is going on with your brother? The rumors are everywhere—give us a straight answer!"

"Exactly! Since you took over as chairman, Lu Corporation has been in chaos! First, Lu Chenyuan walked out with his team, now this scandal! Are you even capable?"

"The stock’s lost half its value! Our investments aren’t charity! Lu Mingshi, you will answer for this!"

Cornered, Lu Mingshi lashed out:

"How is this my fault? Blame my worthless brother for not keeping his pants on! Blame his wife for airing dirty laundry! Go take it up with them if you’re so brave!"

Lu Corporation descended into utter bedlam.

......

At the Western Hills ancestral estate, Lu Chengsi hurled a blue-and-white porcelain teacup to the floor, shattering it.

"Disgrace! You’re all a disgrace!"

He pointed a trembling finger at Lu Mingye, who knelt before him, face drained of color.

"I told you to keep it quiet! How did you fail so miserably?!"

"Father... I... I didn’t... I never said a word..." Lu Mingye’s weak protest was barely audible.

"You didn’t? Then did the rumors fall from the sky?" Lu Chengsi struck his back with a cane.

"A century of our family’s reputation—destroyed by your incompetence!"

After punishing Lu Mingye, he dialed Lu Mingshi, unleashing his fury the moment the call connected:

"Lu Mingshi! What kind of CEO are you? A crisis hits, and all you do is issue a useless statement? Look at the state of the company! Do you even care about the stock price?"

Already seething, Lu Mingshi snapped back:

"Father! This isn’t on me! Eldest Brother caused this mess! I’m drowning here, and instead of support, you berate me? If you’re so capable, why not summon Lu Chenyuan to clean it up?"

"You—!"

Lu Chengsi nearly collapsed, vision darkening with rage.

Hanging up, he slumped into his chair, breathing heavily.

It was over.

The family’s unity was shattered. The house was crumbling.

The second son was arrogant and inept; the eldest, a reckless fool; the third and fourth only watched and fanned the flames.

Not one among them could salvage this disaster.

No—there was one.

The thought rose unbidden in his mind.

Lu Chenyuan.

Only his exiled grandson had the skill and ruthlessness to quell this storm.

But...

The humiliation of begging him back after everything—after his own silence, after Lu Mingshi’s betrayal—

Lu Chengsi’s heart churned with shame, regret, and defiance.

He had never bowed to anyone in his life.

......

At Yuanlong Technologies’ top-floor office, sunlight streamed through spotless windows. The quiet hum of the air conditioning was the only sound.

A world apart from Lu Corporation’s chaos.

Lu Chenyuan calmly reviewed a report on the future development of the "Integrated Sciences" program—a document he intended to deliver personally to Professor Chen Jingzhi.

Zhang Qi entered, barely containing his excitement.

"President Lu, everything is proceeding as predicted."

He handed over a tablet displaying Lu Corporation’s nosediving stock chart and media deep-dives into the scandal.

"The divorce leak triggered market panic. Lu Mingshi’s blunders worsened the infighting. Their market cap has dropped 40% since your departure, and the decline continues."

Lu Chenyuan’s gaze skimmed the data, unmoved, as if reviewing a stranger’s financials.

"Second Uncle’s competence barely suffices in peacetime. Facing a crisis, he might as well douse a fire with gasoline," he remarked mildly.

"Then... when do we detonate the ‘Shengtian Real Estate’ bomb?" Zhang Qi asked, eager to see Lu Mingshi and Li Xiujian’s reactions when their secret ledgers went public.

"Not yet." Lu Chenyuan turned to the floor-to-ceiling windows, surveying the city he meant to conquer.

"A downpour alone won’t break a dam. But what if, after the rain, comes an earthquake?"

His voice was quiet, deliberate.

"Grandfather’s resolve will crack soon. He’ll come to me. But I don’t want a salvage operation. I want Lu Corporation broken, abandoned by all, ripe for my terms."

"As for Shengtian—that’s the final straw. It will explode when the Lu family is most desperate, shattering their last delusions."

He spoke to Zhang Qi, yet also to himself.

His goal was never destruction.

It was rebirth—by cutting out every trace of rot, no matter how painful, until the family emerged unshackled from its bloody power struggles.

Outside, storm clouds gathered. The tempest was just beginning.