Rebirth of the Scumbag and the Retribution of the White Lotus

Li Ting sat in her office, her desk piled with documents and materials, but her gaze was unfocused. Outside, the sun was shining brightly, the afternoon light streaming through the window, illuminating her with a touch of warmth. Yet, her eyes remained fixed on the window. Beneath her seemingly calm exterior, countless undercurrents lurked.

While the Zhao Shufang situation had recently calmed down, Li Ting knew it was only a brief respite. She didn't expect the turmoil to end. The forces manipulating Zhao Shufang had yet to surface, and all her efforts seemed insignificant. In this business world rife with intrigue and scheming, any slightest disturbance could be the prelude to the next storm.

"Ms. Li, how is the progress of Zhao Shufang's case?" Manager Wang's voice came from outside the door.

"It's going smoothly," Li Ting said calmly. "The police have launched a full investigation, and Zhao Shufang's crimes will gradually come to light."

Manager Wang walked in, holding a new document. "This is the latest report on Zhao Shufang's funding and her collaborations with several external forces."

Li Ting took the document and flipped through it. Her brow furrowed slightly, the contents surprising her. Zhao Shufang wasn't alone; she was actually connected to several different business leaders, including some with whom she had previously collaborated, and even some with the backing of politicians.

"This is simply a huge network." Li Ting put down the file and curled the corners of her mouth into a cold smile. "It seems that there is more behind Zhao Shufang than just herself."

Manager Wang nodded, his eyes filled with worry. “If these forces unite, you must be careful, Miss Li.”

Li Ting nodded. She had been prepared. Zhao Shufang's failure was only temporary. She had to quickly investigate all the dark forces behind it to ensure her own safety.

Just as Li Ting was about to continue with her work, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and saw it was an unfamiliar number, which made her heart flutter. She pressed the answer button and said softly, "Hello, Li Ting."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, and then a familiar voice came: "It's me, Lin Hao."

Li Ting's heart suddenly sank, and she lost her usual composure. Lin Hao, the man who once occupied an important position in her life, did his appearance now mean something bad was about to happen?

"Why are you making this call?" Li Ting suppressed her inner uneasiness and spoke in a cold voice.

"I know you must be very busy right now, but I have something I must tell you." Lin Hao's voice was a little heavy. "I know you may not be willing to listen to me now, but please hear me out."

Li Ting was silent for a moment. Although she had a love-hate relationship with Lin Hao, at this moment, she decided to listen to his explanation. "Okay, go ahead."

There was silence for a few seconds on the other end of the line, and then Lin Hao's voice was low and solemn: "Behind Zhao Shufang, there are not only some business forces, but also some dark forces that you can't imagine. What's worse is that these forces are also involved with me."

Li Ting's heart skipped a beat. She had originally thought that Zhao Shufang and her conspiracy were just a power struggle in the mall, but she hadn't expected that there was a more complex dark force hidden behind it, and even Lin Hao was involved.

"What do you mean?" Li Ting asked through gritted teeth, feeling a mixture of anxiety and anger in her heart.

Lin Hao's voice deepened. "You know, I used to have many business partners, and Zhao Shufang was just one of them. But I never imagined that she had such a powerful force behind her. And I, too, bear some responsibility."

Li Ting did not rush to interrupt him. She had begun to realize that things were more complicated than she had imagined.

"Lin Hao, what do you want to say?" Li Ting finally asked coldly.

"I know you've always held a grudge against me, but please believe me, I truly want to help you." Lin Hao took a deep breath. "Over the years, I've been constantly searching for opportunities to break free from the control of these forces, but I've never been successful. I know you now have sufficient evidence, but those behind Zhao Shufang won't let you off so easily. I hope you can trust me, and I will do my best to help you."

Li Ting fell silent. Although she had always wanted revenge, she didn't immediately respond to Lin Hao's appearance. After all, this man had once been an important part of her life. Although he had betrayed her before, every word he said now made her wary.

"How can you help me?" Li Ting finally asked.

"I can provide you with some intelligence about the forces behind Zhao Shufang and help you understand how they operate." Lin Hao's voice was low, "But I ask you to give me a chance to start over."

Li Ting didn't respond immediately. She needed time to think about this. Lin Hao had been one of the people she trusted most, but he had betrayed her. What was his purpose in offering help now?

"I'll consider it." Li Ting finally said, her tone calm and indifferent, "But you must know that I won't trust anyone easily."

After hanging up the phone, Li Ting sat in a chair, deep in thought. Lin Hao's appearance made her feel a greater sense of crisis. Zhao Shufang was not only backed by the power of the business community, but also involved political forces. All of this was closely related to her own past experiences and choices.

She had mixed feelings, but she also clearly realized that she needed a more careful plan and stronger determination next.

A few days later, Li Ting received intelligence from Lin Hao. This intelligence detailed the key figures behind Zhao Shufang's influence and their connections in business and politics. Li Ting carefully reviewed the documents, and a clearer picture gradually emerged. She knew this wasn't just a power struggle in the business world, but a dark game spanning multiple fields.

"These people are far more powerful than I imagined," Li Ting whispered to herself, her gaze sharpening. She realized that her goal wasn't just revenge, but also to break free from the shackles of these conspiracies and completely rid herself of those invisible dark forces.

And Lin Hao, though he was her former lover, now filled her with wariness. Was this man trying to help her, or did he have other motives? She couldn't confirm. After all, in the business world, no one could trust anyone easily.

Li Ting stood up, her gaze determined. She knew the road ahead would still be full of challenges, but she was ready to face them all. No matter what lay ahead, she would face it one by one.