The morning sun filtered gently through the windows of Xiao Mei's small apartment, but she barely noticed the warmth it offered. Her eyes were heavy, ringed with fatigue from the night before. The anonymous call still echoed in her ears — a voice cloaked in threat and secrecy. Her heart had not stopped racing since.
She sat at the edge of her bed, rubbing her temple and muttering, "I can't back down now. I've come too far."
After a quick shower and a modest breakfast, she dressed in her usual neat but simple outfit and headed to the office. As she entered the lobby of Zeyan Media, everything appeared normal. The receptionist greeted her with a smile, and people passed her by with their usual morning routines. But something in the air felt... off. Like someone was watching her. She brushed the feeling aside and proceeded to her workspace.
Not long after, Mrs. Tang appeared quietly by her side, her usual warm smile replaced with a more serious expression. Without a word, she slipped a small folded note into Xiao Mei's hand and walked away.
Xiao Mei unfolded the note with a shaky hand. In neat handwriting, the message read: "Some truths are meant to stay hidden."
Her heart dropped. Her mind raced with questions. Who sent it? Was it a warning, or a threat? She looked around the office. Everything looked normal, but her instincts told her otherwise.
Later, in the editorial meeting, Xiao Mei was asked to present her initial concept for the first article. Her voice was steady, her posture composed, and she spoke with clarity. She proposed beginning the series with an honest and balanced portrayal of Lu Zeyan — his professional successes, leadership style, and glimpses of the man behind the CEO title. The team nodded, impressed by her confidence. No one could see the storm that raged inside her.
What disturbed her more than the note was the absence of Lu Zeyan. He had not shown up that day. It was unusual — almost unheard of. Everyone seemed puzzled, but no one asked too many questions. Xiao Mei's suspicion grew stronger. What was he hiding?
During her lunch break, she decided to follow up on a lead. She had previously found the contact of a former journalist who had once worked at Zeyan Media. They agreed to meet at a small cafe across town.
When she arrived, the man was already there — in his late thirties, tired eyes, and a wariness in his demeanor. Xiao Mei introduced herself and asked him why he left the company and what he knew about Lu Zeyan.
The man hesitated, glancing around the cafe as if afraid of being overheard. "Listen," he said, voice low and careful, "I won't say much. Just know that there are things buried deep in that company. Things that shouldn't be uncovered. If you want to save yourself, don't dig too deep."
Before Xiao Mei could ask more, he stood up and left, disappearing into the street.
She sat in silence for a moment, her tea untouched. The warning chilled her to the bone.
Returning to the office, she found her desk drawer slightly ajar. She never left it that way. She pulled it open — some of her notes were missing, rearranged. Her computer, too, seemed off. She opened her files. One of the digital folders had been accessed — but she hadn't opened it that day. Her breath caught in her throat. Someone had broken into her workstation.
Thankfully, she had made a backup of everything on an external drive she kept at home. Still, the message was clear: someone wanted her to stop. This wasn't just a warning — it was a threat.
That night, Xiao Mei sat on the balcony of her apartment, a soft breeze playing with her hair. Her laptop sat open beside her, filled with documents, photos, and fragments of truth she had been piecing together.
She stared into the night sky. The city lights blinked like stars, but tonight they felt more like eyes. Watching. Waiting.
She whispered to herself, "If I stop now, I'll be safe. But then this story, this truth... will never be known."
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, trembling. She opened a new document and began typing: "Chapter One: The Man Behind the Empire."
The decision was made. No matter the risks, she would write the truth. Even if it cost her everything.