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After sending a message to Zhu Yun, Ye Ling glanced at the news online before returning to his room. He held Ning Ruoxi and drifted into a contented sleep.

But just as Ye Ling fell asleep, a furious storm was brewing online. All sorts of articles about Bauhinia Energy and the Dugan Consortium were springing up like mushrooms.

’Bauhinia Energy in Secret Collusion with Dugan Consortium, Suspected of Leaking National New Energy Secrets!’

’Bauhinia Energy’s Recent Stock Volatility Linked to Foreign Influence from the Dugan Consortium.’

’The True Backers of Bauhinia Energy: The Jiang Family, One of the Capital’s Eight Great Families!’

These articles first appeared on major online publications and were then reposted everywhere. Within a few short hours, they had blanketed every major media website.

Even though it was nearly dawn, web traffic was still high. After all, plenty of people were legendary night owls, the kind who were one sleepless night away from achieving immortality!

Netizens were utterly shocked by the sudden exposé and began sharing it frantically. At the same time, the public outcry against Bauhinia Energy grew louder.

What’s the most sensitive topic these days?

Without a doubt, it’s news of corporations undermining national security.

The next day.

Ye Ling woke up around eight.

After a good night’s sleep, he felt completely refreshed and clear-headed, all his exhaustion washed away.

Ye Ling glanced at Ning Ruoxi, who was still fast asleep, and went to the bathroom to wash up. The moment he finished and unlocked his phone, a message notification popped up.

’Zhu Yun: Chairman Ye, the task is complete!’

Ye Ling’s eyes narrowed at the message. He immediately opened Weibo.

Sure enough, Weibo was flooded with news about Bauhinia Energy and the Dugan Consortium. It was overwhelming; you could barely scroll without seeing another post about it.

...

「Meanwhile.」

「The Capital. The Jiang Family Estate.」

The online news had brewed overnight into a terrifying storm, and the members of the Jiang Family, caught in its eye, were shaken and panicked.

Ever since the Jiang Family had become one of the capital’s Eight Great Families, everything had been smooth sailing. Whatever they did, they did with ease. This had led them to become careless in how they handled their affairs.

Take the transaction data between Bauhinia Energy and Shenzhou Company, for instance. Had the Jiang Family taken even basic precautions, it would have been impossible for Zhu Yun to get her hands on all of it so easily.

The Jiang Family was far too confident—arrogant, even.

It wasn’t that they believed the information couldn’t be discovered. Rather, they believed that even if it was, no one would dare make a move against them. They thought they were untouchable.

Too bad for them, times had changed. It was 2020, after all.

Even an entity as powerful as the Penguin Empire had to respect the power of online public opinion, so what chance did a family ranked last among the capital’s Eight Great Families have?

To put it nicely, they were a titan with a deep heritage. To put it bluntly, they were a giant on its last legs.

The Jiang Family was in a state of utter chaos. The online firestorm had thrown the ancient family into a complete panic.

「Deep within the Jiang Family compound, in a study.」

"What in the world is going on?"

A white-haired old man who looked to be in his sixties or seventies slammed his cane down hard.

No fewer than twenty men and women stood before him, all with their heads bowed and grave expressions on their faces.

Ye Ling would have recognized one of them: Jiang Feiyun himself.

Jiang Feiyun looked nervous as well; he knew this situation had truly spiraled out of control.

Though the white-haired old man before them was dressed plainly, his identity was enough to shake the entire social circle of the capital.

The Jiang Family owed its current status entirely to his influence.

"Dad, someone must be targeting our Jiang Family!"

A man in a suit spoke up from the crowd.

This man was Jiang Tingjun, Jiang Feiyun’s father.

"Of course I know someone is targeting our family."

Jiang Zheng shot a look at his eldest son and snorted. "Who exactly did you offend?"

In fact, Jiang Zheng had already been alerted two days ago by the Bauhinia Energy scandal. If he hadn’t personally intervened, Bauhinia Energy’s stock price would have continued to plummet.

He had thought the crisis was about to blow over, but to his surprise, the fire didn’t die down. Instead, it had spread and was now consuming the Jiang Family itself.

’Who did we offend...’

Jiang Tingjun was stunned for a moment. Then, as if remembering something, he looked at his own son and fell into deep thought.

’Thinking back on recent events, didn’t it all start after my son got beaten up?’

’That’s right!’

’It all started then.’

’First, Net Entertainment Group, then the Bauhinia Energy subsidy fraud scandal, and now this collusion with a foreign power...’

"The Jiang Family... I’m afraid our glorious days have finally come to an end."

Before Jiang Tingjun could say anything more, Jiang Zheng sighed, slowly sat down, picked up the cup of chrysanthemum tea on the table, took a light sip, and closed his eyes.

Watching the old man before them, the hearts of the many Jiang Family members felt heavy.

As the patriarch who had built the Jiang Family from the ground up, Jiang Zheng had always projected an image of sharp decisiveness. When had they ever seen him look so defeated?

’This feeling...’

’The old blade has grown dull.’

’A hero at the end of his road.’

Phrase after phrase surfaced in their minds, making the atmosphere feel even more suffocating.

"Dad, I think there’s still hope," Jiang Tingjun said. "There’s a lot of information online, but if we handle it properly, maybe we can still save the situation!"

"It’s useless. It’s too late. Far too late. The government must have heard the news by now."

Jiang Zheng slowly opened his eyes and let out a long sigh.

’There was one more thing he left unsaid,’ he thought. ’Even if the government didn’t make a move, would others stay their hand?’

’The Jiang Family is a pie that many people have wanted a slice of for a long time!’

’Consider this: what happens when the Eight Great Families of the capital become the Seven Great Families?’

’With one family gone, there’s more of the pie to go around. Who wouldn’t want that?’

...

「Chu City.」

In an office at Yun International, a young man sat at a desk, looking over a report. A faint smile touched his lips. "It looks like I really underestimated this Ye Ling."

This was none other than Yun Tianlan.

Yun Tianlan now carried himself with a new sense of composure, a maturity he hadn’t possessed before.

The change was subtle, but had Ye Ling been there, he would have certainly noticed it.

"Young Master Yun, the Ye Ling you speak of is..."

A woman in professional office attire stood beside him and couldn’t help but ask.