Rebirth of the Scumbag and the Retribution of the White Lotus

The morning sun streamed through the curtains. Li Ting opened her eyes and gently pushed open the window. A cool breeze blew in. She stood by the window, gazing at the distant horizon, as if lost in thought. The world outside remained calm, people bustling about on the streets, as if everything was proceeding as planned. But she knew this was merely the calm before the storm.

"Li Ting, today is an important day." Cheng Jie's voice suddenly came from behind, breaking her thoughts. Li Ting turned her head slightly and saw Cheng Jie walking in in simple casual clothes, with a hint of seriousness in his eyes.

"I know." Li Ting retracted her gaze, walked to the table, and picked up a document. "Zhao Shufang has already agreed, but whether she can really act according to the plan depends on her own choice."

Cheng Jie approached and sat down, a hint of worry in his eyes. "I'm a little worried that she might regret it. She's already a scheming person, and betrayal is in her nature. Who knows if she'll contact Li Xin again?"

Li Ting pursed her lips and frowned slightly: "You're right to worry. Zhao Shufang is the kind of person who will do anything to protect herself. But now, she has no choice."

Cheng Jie nodded. Although he appeared calm on the surface, he still hadn't completely let go. After all, their plan had reached a critical moment. If Zhao Shufang and Li Xin's partnership were exposed, the consequences might not only be the political struggle they had anticipated, but also involve their own lives.

"However," Li Ting continued, "we can't just wait for her to make a mistake. We have to take precautions in advance to ensure that if Zhao Shufang makes any move, we can respond in time."

"What are you going to do?" Cheng Jie asked.

Li Ting smiled faintly. "The first step is to increase public pressure. Let everyone know the secret between Zhao Shufang and Li Xin. At the same time, I will send people to contact those key figures to ensure that their attitude remains unchanged."

Cheng Jie pondered for a moment: "This is a good idea, but we have to be careful. The forces behind it are more complicated than we imagined."

Li Ting's eyes grew sharper. "Therefore, our actions must be precise and unremitting."

Around noon, Zhao Shufang reappeared before Li Ting and Cheng Jie. This time, her face was even more haggard than before, and her eyes held a hint of fear and uneasiness. Her steps were slightly slow, clearly a result of last night's events that had left her sleepless.

"You're here." Li Ting looked up at her with a flat tone.

Zhao Shufang did not respond immediately, but sat down quietly, looking down at the bag in her hand, looking a little uneasy.

"We need to discuss the next arrangements." Cheng Jie spoke first, his tone calm but not to be ignored.

Zhao Shufang raised her head, her eyes evasive: "I will do what you want me to do according to the plan, but... I need more guarantees." There was a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

Li Ting smiled lightly, but her voice turned cold. "Guarantee? What qualifications do you have to negotiate terms? You have no way out, Zhao Shufang."

Zhao Shufang's expression changed, but she quickly suppressed her emotions. A stubborn look in her eyes said, "I can't live without security. If you can't ensure my safety, I won't be able to cooperate with you."

Cheng Jie narrowed his eyes. "You should understand that safety is determined by you. If you continue to play both sides and betray us, then we will no longer be able to guarantee your safety."

Li Ting's tone was also cold: "Zhao Shufang, don't force us to speak more bluntly. You have no other choice, unless you want all the secrets to be exposed to the sun, along with the stain on you and Li Xin."

Zhao Shufang's expression grew increasingly tense, her hands clenched into fists on her knees, a flicker of fear in her eyes. She knew that if she continued to resist, all her crimes would be exposed, and her life's work would be in vain.

"I understand." Zhao Shufang finally said through gritted teeth, "I will do as you say, but... you must give me time, time to sort everything out."

A sharp light flashed in Li Ting's eyes: "Time? You don't have time, Zhao Shufang. The only thing you can do now is to act according to our plan, otherwise, you will pay a price you cannot afford."

Cheng Jie added: "We are giving you one last chance. If you still want to protect yourself and your family, just cooperate with us."

Zhao Shufang lowered her head and was silent for a while. Finally, she nodded and said, "I promise you. I will do it."

Li Ting and Cheng Jie exchanged a glance. After confirming her decision, Li Ting slowly stood up, picked up a document on the table, and handed it to Zhao Shufang: "This is the document you need to sign. It contains the specific terms of your cooperation. As long as you follow it, we will ensure the safety of you and your family."

Zhao Shufang looked at the document, hesitated for a moment, then took it and quickly scanned it. She knew that this document completely determined her future. Once signed, all the secrets and anxieties behind it would be exposed.

She took a deep breath and quickly signed her name. Then, she handed the document back to Li Ting and whispered, "I've signed it. I hope you'll keep your word."

Li Ting put away the documents and smiled faintly: "We have always been people who keep our promises, Zhao Shufang."

Her eyes looked at Zhao Shufang more deeply. "But remember, if you dare to regret anything, what you sign today will be the end of your fate."

Zhao Shufang trembled slightly, but said nothing more. She just stood up silently and prepared to leave.

"Let's go." Li Ting waved her hand to signal her to leave.

Zhao Shufang walked out of the room with her head lowered, her back looking particularly frail. Her heart was filled with conflict and anxiety. She knew she had reached a point of no return, and every step forward would determine her future.

After Zhao Shufang left, Li Ting and Cheng Jie sat down again, and the atmosphere was still serious.

Cheng Jie looked at Li Ting: "She signed, what should we do next?"

Li Ting's eyes were grim. "We are going to make her relationship with Li Xin public and use all our power in public opinion to make it impossible for them to recover."

Cheng Jie nodded slightly: "I understand."

A cold light flashed in Li Ting's eyes: "And all of this will be the prelude to our ultimate victory."

She knew that Zhao Shufang's surrender was just the first step, and the real storm was about to come.