The night after receiving the threatening message, Su Nian couldn't shake the sense of dread gnawing at her. As much as she wanted to be strong, to face whatever was coming with confidence, a fear deep in her gut told her that things were about to get much worse before they could get better.
When Lu Cheng arrived at her apartment the next morning, he was determined. His usual calm demeanor had been replaced by a palpable sense of urgency. He didn't waste any time with pleasantries.
"We need to take action, NianNian," he said, his voice firm. "Lu Wei's moves are getting bolder. We can't let him control the narrative anymore. If we want to stop this, we need to make a move first."
Su Nian nodded, her thoughts racing. The threat from the anonymous message weighed heavily on her mind. She knew that she had to take control of her own future, and if that meant confronting her past head-on, then she would. She wouldn't let anyone—least of all Lu Wei—dictate her fate.
"What do you propose?" she asked, her voice steady despite the anxiety coiling in her chest.
Lu Cheng paced around the living room for a moment before turning to her with a resolute expression. "We go on the offensive. First, we need to find out exactly what Lu Wei is planning. And second, we need to put pressure on his lies. We've been too passive so far, NianNian. If we sit back and let him dictate the terms, we'll lose everything."
Su Nian agreed. She knew they had to play this game smart, and they couldn't afford to waste time. But there was still something that tugged at her heart, a lingering doubt that they hadn't yet uncovered the full extent of Lu Wei's manipulations.
"How do we start?" she asked.
"First, we gather intel," Lu Cheng said. "I have people I trust who can dig into Lu Wei's activities. We'll start with the rumors he's spreading. We need to find the source, and we need to know what he's trying to hide."
Su Nian looked at him, a flash of gratitude crossing her features. "I'm with you, Cheng. Let's do this."
As the days passed, Lu Cheng mobilized his resources. He brought in a few trusted members from his security team and even a private investigator to track Lu Wei's movements. They had to be discreet, but with every passing hour, the truth behind Lu Wei's treachery became clearer.
One evening, Su Nian sat with Lu Cheng in the penthouse, the soft glow of the chandelier casting long shadows on the walls as they reviewed the findings.
"Lu Wei has been working with one of my competitors," Lu Cheng explained, his tone cold. "He's been secretly funneling information to them about my family's financial strategies, and he's been orchestrating the rumors about you to weaken my position in the company."
Su Nian felt a jolt of anger surge through her. "He's using me to destroy you? Just to get ahead?"
Lu Cheng nodded, his expression tight. "It's worse than that. He's been spreading lies about our relationship—about you being some sort of opportunist. He's trying to convince my family that you're only with me for my money and status."
Her chest tightened, but she refused to let it show. "That's a lie. I've never wanted any of that. I love you, Cheng. I would never use you for anything."
"I know," he replied, his voice softer now. He reached out and gently touched her hand, his fingers warm against her cold skin. "But we need to prove it. We need to show everyone that this relationship is real, that it's not built on lies."
Su Nian looked up at him, determination shining in her eyes. "How do we do that?"
Lu Cheng stood, his gaze intense. "We expose him. We take everything he's done and lay it out for everyone to see. If he's been playing this game behind the scenes, we pull the curtain back and make him face the truth. But we need to be careful. One wrong move, and it could backfire."
She nodded, her resolve hardening. "Then let's make sure it doesn't backfire. Let's do it right."
The next few days were spent gathering information, meeting with Lu Cheng's closest allies, and preparing a strategy to confront Lu Wei. It wasn't just about the rumors anymore—it was about exposing the true depth of his betrayal. Every step they took was calculated, every move designed to put them one step ahead of him.
But as they worked tirelessly, the tension between Su Nian and Lu Cheng only seemed to grow. They shared fleeting moments of intimacy—tender glances, soft kisses in the quiet corners of the penthouse—but even these moments were charged with the weight of their situation.
One night, as they reviewed more evidence, the air between them thickened. Lu Cheng stood close to her, his body nearly touching hers as he showed her a series of emails that Lu Wei had sent to his competitor, secretly leaking sensitive information about the Lu family's future business ventures.
"We have to expose this," Lu Cheng said, his voice low and intense. "We can't let him get away with this."
Su Nian felt the electricity between them as she stood next to him, the proximity causing her pulse to quicken. There was so much passion between them, so much unspoken desire, but the tension of their circumstances left little room for release.
"Then let's expose him," she replied, her voice just as low. She turned her head to face him, her eyes locking with his. The intensity in his gaze made her heart race, and without thinking, she reached up, brushing her fingers against his cheek.
Lu Cheng's breath hitched. "NianNian…" His voice was filled with longing, his hands moving to cup her face as he leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that was filled with desperation, a mixture of love and frustration.
The kiss deepened, their bodies pressing together, the heat between them undeniable. As their lips parted for a breath, Su Nian felt her heart beat in her throat, her body trembling with the need to be close to him.
But just as she thought they might take things further, Lu Cheng pulled back, his expression conflicted. "We can't get distracted, NianNian. Not now. There's too much at stake."
Su Nian's heart ached, but she understood. As much as they wanted to lose themselves in each other, their fight for love was far from over. And the danger they were facing was only beginning to take shape.
The following day, Lu Cheng received a call that confirmed his worst fears. Lu Wei had made a move, one that could potentially destroy everything they had worked for.
"Lu Cheng," his trusted ally said on the other end of the line, "we've uncovered something. It's bigger than we thought. Lu Wei has been bribing officials to dig into your business dealings. He's been trying to find a way to have you removed from the family company. He's making a power play—and he's using you and NianNian as leverage."
Su Nian felt the air leave her lungs as she listened to the conversation. This wasn't just about rumors or petty family feuds anymore. It was about their future—about everything they had built together.
Lu Cheng's voice was cold, his anger barely contained. "I'll deal with him. This ends now."
Su Nian placed a hand on his arm, her gaze unwavering. "We'll deal with this together, Cheng. I won't let you face this alone."
He turned to her, his eyes softening. "I know, NianNian. I'm grateful for that more than you know."