The richest man's parents were kidnapped, and his adorable son captivated the entire family.

Then she took a deep breath and made a decision.

No matter how painful it was, she had to hear the whole story clearly. She couldn't wait any longer.

However, when the clock struck two in the afternoon, the air suddenly became oppressive and heavy, like the stillness before a heavy rain.

A news notification suddenly popped up on her phone screen. She instinctively clicked on it, and the next second, her pupils contracted sharply.

"Major Information Disclosure Announcement: A press conference will be held tomorrow morning to reveal the true parentage of the Gu Group's president and his 'adopted daughter'! This involves ethical controversies and legal issues, but the evidence is conclusive. Please stay tuned! Published by Lichuan Law Firm"

Xie Yumin's fingertips instantly turned icy cold, and her phone fell to the floor with a "thud." She felt as if she had been struck in the chest, unable to breathe. She stood up, swayed a couple of steps, and steadied herself by holding onto the back of the chair.

She knows what this means.

Ruolan finally made her move.

Instead of waiting for Gu Yinshen to speak, she chose to expose all the "secrets" to the public in the most cruel and humiliating way. She even went so far as to use legal means to turn the "adopted daughter's" background into a news headline, using terms like "ethical controversy" and "deceiving the public" to push them and Mengmeng into an abyss of public condemnation.

She picked up her phone, trembling all over. The screen displayed a string of reposts and comments from social media platforms, the trending topic skyrocketing instantly. Her face was ashen, and she felt as if she had been doused with ice water.

"Is she crazy..." she murmured to herself.

Soon after, the wind on the terrace suddenly blew in, making Gu Yinshen's clothes flutter.

Just as he was about to go over his confession one last time, he was interrupted by a phone call.

The assistant's voice was urgent: "Mr. Gu! Something's happened! Ruolan has hired Lichuan Law Firm and just released a public announcement saying they're going to expose your and Miss Gu Meng's true background! It's already trending on social media! There's a press conference tomorrow at 10 a.m.!"

Gu Yinshen's expression changed drastically, his eyes instantly hardening into sharp blades. He raised his hand and slammed his fist hard against the railing of the terrace beside him. The iron handrail trembled and made a dull thud.

He knew all too well the methods and power behind Lichuan Law Firm. Once Ruolan's "evidence" was put out, even if it was fake or cobbled together, the public and media's curiosity would ruthlessly tear Mengmeng apart.

Then he turned abruptly and dialed the long-unused emergency line—the only encrypted line he had personally instructed to keep after Xie Yumin had blocked him. His fingers trembled slightly as he dialed, but his eyes were unusually resolute.

The moment the call connected, he heard Xie Yumin's suppressed breathing, just like his own heartbeat, so heavy it felt like it was about to burst.

"You saw it?" he asked, his voice hoarse and low, carrying a hint of anger and anxiety.

On the other end of the phone, Xie Yumin gritted her teeth and said in a trembling voice, "I saw it."

Those two short words pierced each other's hearts like bayonets.

Gu Yinshen frowned, standing in the wind, and said in a low but firm voice: "They're going to make their move tomorrow."

There was a half-second silence on the other end of the phone, then Xie Yumin's voice came through clearly and forcefully, like a sharp blade finally breaking through the soil after countless struggles:

"Mengmeng cannot be a victim."

There was a deathly silence on the other end of the phone, as if an invisible wall had blocked their breathing.

Xie Yumin held her phone, her palms sweaty and her knuckles white. She could hear Gu Yinshen's faint, suppressed breathing sounds on the other end of the line—hesitation, struggle, and the desperate hesitation of a man facing a critical moment in his life.

She said softly but firmly, "There's no time left. We can no longer passively endure this; we must take the initiative and seize control of our own destiny."

"You want me to tell the whole world that Gu Meng is my biological daughter?" Gu Yinshen's voice was low and hoarse, carrying a hint of coldness and unspeakable fear.

“We have no other choice,” Xie Yumin paused, then said decisively, “Ruolan will confront the media tomorrow, and we all know how despicable her methods are. Either we reopen this wound ourselves and protect Mengmeng in the gentlest and most controllable way, or she will be torn to pieces in front of everyone.”

Gu Yinshen remained silent. His gaze fell on the window; the city sky was overcast, and a downpour seemed to be gathering.

His mind was filled with images of Xie Yumin covering Mengmeng's ears to prevent her from hearing the gossip in the corridor; the little girl hiding in her mother's arms, biting her lip and not crying, only whispering, "Why isn't Daddy here?"; the angry shouts pointing at him at the shareholders' meeting; the public's questioning of his control over everything; and most unforgettable of all, Xie Yumin's figure standing outside the company auditorium that day, desperate yet stubborn, as if abandoned by the whole world, yet still refusing to bow her head.

He nearly crushed the phone in his grip. He lowered his head, his eyelashes casting a heavy shadow.

“…Okay.” He finally spoke, his voice like a knife squeezed from his throat, yet carrying a resolute determination, “I’ll listen to you.”

“But Xie Yumin, this time, we’ll be together.” He paused for a second, his voice filled with an unprecedented weariness and trust. “I’ll hold the press conference, and I’ll take full responsibility. You just need to stand by my side when necessary.”

Xie Yumin's throat tightened for a moment, but he couldn't say anything. He could only nod vigorously, even though he couldn't see.

"The time is set for tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, in the small auditorium on the top floor. Two hours earlier than Ruolan. The location is to be sealed off immediately, with absolute confidentiality." Gu Yinshen quickly made the arrangements, his words like a series of rapid hammer blows, one after another striking the taut timeline. His tone regained its long-lost crispness and decisiveness, not for the sake of business or profit, but to protect the two people he cared about most.

The call ended, and in the quiet room, Xie Yumin looked down at the still-warm phone in her palm, her fingertips trembling slightly. She knew that from this moment on, they were standing on the edge of a precipice of fate, with no way back.

The operation was quickly launched.

Gu Yinshen activated his highest authority, notifying only his five most trusted confidants. The auditorium was completely sealed off, with the entrance area filled with electronic jamming and shielding. The outer security guards changed into plainclothes and remained hidden to prevent any spying or eavesdropping. He personally dictated the key points of the announcement, which were then drafted overnight by the public relations director, reviewed and revised several times, with every word as precise as a scalpel.

Meanwhile, Xie Yumin didn't stop. While contacting Aunt Zhang to confirm that Mengmeng had been transferred to the safe house by "Eagle Eye," she quickly organized all the information she could access: an ultrasound scan from many years ago, a photo of her and Gu Yinshen receiving an award together in the university newspaper, and excerpts from a diary saved in her email drafts.

She sat at the table, the light from the desk lamp falling on her pale, taut profile. She repeatedly considered the potential problems that might arise tomorrow.