CHAPTER 62 — The First Strike Lands
Roulan exited the parking garage with her heartbeat still pounding furiously against her ribs. The humid evening air did nothing to cool the rage boiling under her skin. Her hands trembled slightly on the steering wheel as she started the engine, but not from fear.
From anticipation.
The kind that came when you knew you were about to set something catastrophic in motion.
She drove out of the building smoothly, her expression transitioning from fury into a calm, chilling focus. Her phone lay on the passenger seat, the call with Yuhan replaying itself over and over again.
Seduction.
Drugging.
Manipulation.
Evidence.
Every word slid into her mind like pieces of a dark puzzle finally snapping into place.
This time, she wasn't merely jealous.
She wasn't simply angry.
This time, she wanted Shi Yunxi ruined.
Beyond forgiveness.
Beyond redemption.
Beyond repair.
Roulan parked outside an upscale café where many of the city's young wives and business socialites tended to gather—the perfect breeding ground for scandal. When she stepped inside, the hostess bowed politely, and Roulan returned the gesture with her usual graceful smile.
None of them knew the monster hidden beneath that beauty.
She chose a strategic seat by the window and ordered herself a rose tea. As she waited, she opened her phone and began texting a few people—women who thrived on gossip, influencers who would sell their souls for attention, and bloggers who never verified their sources.
A delicate web forming.
When her tea arrived, she lifted it slowly and took a leisurely sip. Anyone looking at her would think she was simply enjoying a quiet evening. But beneath the table, her thumb danced across her screen with razor precision.
Have I told you what I heard about Shi Yunxi?
Something huge is brewing.
The Mu family's young master wasn't with her willingly that night…
She didn't say the lie outright.
She didn't need to.
Seed planting was an art.
And Roulan was a master.
Within minutes, the responses came flooding in.
What? What happened?
Tell me! I knew something was off with her!
Is that how she became close to Lingchen?
No wonder she disappeared for three years…
Roulan smiled coldly into her cup.
Perfect.
She leaned back, calmly crossing her legs as she continued typing.
Don't spread it widely yet. But I heard she drugged him that night. Pregnant afterward. Twins—
She paused.
Triple dots appeared on nearly every chat window.
Hungry.
Desperate.
Waiting.
This was the beauty of scandal—people wanted to believe the worst. It made them feel cleaner.
Another message buzzed.
If this gets out, she will be done for.
Roulan's smile widened a fraction.
Exactly.
She locked her phone and finished her tea before sliding out of her seat with practiced elegance. As she left the café, conversations were already beginning—quiet, excited, vicious.
By the time she stepped into her car, she could almost feel the rumor sprouting wings.
Across the city, Qin Yuhan leaned back in his office chair, spinning a silver pen between his fingers. His expression remained unreadable, but the calculating glint in his eyes sharpened.
He had already made several calls.
A small-time paparazzo who owed him a favor.
A woman whose "acting skills" were flexible enough for the right paycheck.
A tech specialist who could manipulate images without leaving a trace.
Everything was already transitioning from intention to execution.
If Roulan planted seeds, he created storms.
A soft knock sounded on his door.
"Enter."
His assistant stepped inside quickly. "President Qin, the person you requested is waiting in the private lounge."
"Good," he replied. "Bring her in."
The assistant nodded and retreated.
Moments later, a nervous young woman in overly glamorous makeup entered. She was pretty in an artificial way—perfect for scandal.
"You want me to… pretend to be her?" she asked timidly.
"No," Yuhan said slowly, standing up and adjusting his suit cuffs.
"I want you to be photographed near Lingchen's private suite. I want you to look like someone who could drug a man."
Her eyes widened. "You want me to make it look like—"
"You don't need to know the full story," he interrupted sharply. "You just need to act."
He tossed a thick envelope onto the table.
Her eyes practically sparkled as she reached for it with trembling hands.
"You will be paid the other half after the photos are released," he added coolly.
She nodded quickly. "I—I can do it."
"Good. The photographer will contact you in an hour. Don't be recognized. Don't be stupid."
She scurried out.
The moment the door closed, Yuhan smirked and leaned back against his desk.
"Shi Yunxi…" he murmured.
"You should've stayed overseas."
Meanwhile, at the Mu Corporation…
Shi Yunxi did not know a storm was already forming around her name.
She was in her office going through design layouts, trying to distract herself from the emotional chaos of the day—the confrontation, the DNA results, the guilt of hiding the truth for three years.
A gentle knock sounded.
Her assistant stepped in with a tablet in hand.
"Director Shi, there are some… strange posts starting to circulate online."
Yunxi's pen paused.
"Strange?"
The assistant nodded anxiously. "They're very vague for now, but they seem to be about you."
Shi Yunxi frowned. "Show me."
The assistant hesitated before turning the screen toward her.
At first glance, the posts were subtle.
Some women will do anything to climb into a wealthy man's bed…
Not every pregnancy is a blessing. Some are traps.
Business heirs should be careful who they drink with…
Some actresses in the past were not as innocent as they looked.
No names.
No photos.
But the timing—
The tone—
The insinuations—
Shi Yunxi's heart tightened.
This wasn't random.
Someone was preparing something.
Her breath stilled.
Who?
Her throat dried.
Why?
But deep inside… she already knew.
And a cold chill crawled down her spine.
"Monitor everything," she said quietly. "Every rumor. Every account. Every keyword."
"Yes, Director Shi."
When her assistant left, Shi Yunxi stared at her screen, her pulse loud in her ears.
A storm had begun.
And she was standing directly beneath it.