After the divorce, the aloof CEO begged me not to withdraw my investment.

The enormous crane stood motionless in the center of the construction site like a steel behemoth, its steel cables swaying gently in the breeze, emitting unsettling creaks.

Inside the mixer, the cement had hardened, lying still like gray stone, emitting a pungent odor.

Liu Yunfei's shirt was soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to his back. He irritably tugged at his tie, but it felt like he was strangling a venomous snake, making it hard to breathe. He paced back and forth, his leather shoes screeching against the ground, mirroring his anxious state of mind.

"Mr. Liu, Jinsheng Building Materials called again, saying... saying..." The project manager's voice trembled slightly, and he hesitated, unable to continue.

Liu Yunfei whirled around, his eyes sharp as knives: "What did you say?!"

The project manager shuddered and quickly said, "They...they said that unless we agree to their terms, they will...they will stop supplying us completely."

"Conditions? What conditions?!" Liu Yunfei's voice was almost squeezed out from between his teeth.

"They...they want to raise the price...by thirty percent! And...and they want us to pay...the full amount upfront!" The project manager's voice trailed off, becoming almost inaudible.

Liu Yunfei felt a surge of anger rush to his head. He slammed his fist into the steel bars beside him, making a dull thud. "Thirty percent?! Full payment?! Why don't they just rob us?!"

He felt dizzy, and everything before his eyes blurred. He knew that Jinsheng Building Materials was the largest building materials supplier in Yunhai City, and if they stopped supplying goods, the project would be completely ruined.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "Are there any other suppliers? Contact them! Whatever the cost, we must ensure the project stays on track!"

"Mr. Liu, I...I've contacted all the suppliers I can reach, but...but they all..." The project manager's face showed despair, "They all say they're under...pressure from the Qian Group..."

Liu Yunfei's face turned deathly pale instantly. He slumped helplessly onto the steel pipe beside him, feeling as if all the strength had been drained from his body. He knew this was Qian Rongguang's revenge, a blatant act of retribution.

He closed his eyes, and Ye Feng's face appeared before him. Ye Feng's powerful words at the meeting echoed in his ears: "We must fight this battle, and we must win it!"

He suddenly opened his eyes, his fighting spirit rekindled. He couldn't give up; he couldn't betray Ye Feng's trust!

He took out his cell phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, Mr. Wang? This is Liu Yunfei... Yes... I'd like to ask you for a favor..." His voice was deep and firm, as if he had seen a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

The voice on the other end of the phone was intermittent, and Liu Yunfei's heart rose and fell with every word the other person said.

He gripped his phone tightly, his palms sweaty, his knuckles white from the force.

Finally, he heard a voice on the other end of the phone that filled him with ecstasy: "...Yes...I can help you...but...I can only supply...a small quantity...and...the price..."

Liu Yunfei interrupted without hesitation: "Price is not a problem! As long as you can supply the goods, everything is negotiable!"

He hung up the phone, let out a long sigh of relief, and felt as if a huge weight had finally been lifted from his chest.

He knew this was just the first step, and even greater challenges awaited him.

He looked up at the sky, the blinding sunlight making him squint, but he felt that the sunlight was no longer so scorching, but instead carried a trace of warmth and a trace of hope.

He knew that this battle had only just begun.

"One month?! Three songs?! Qi Xue, are you crazy?!" Manager Li's voice was sharp, like fingernails scratching a blackboard, echoing in the small recording studio.

Qi Xue rubbed her aching temples, her dark circles under her eyes like two dark clouds covering her pale face.

She forced a smile, her voice hoarse with weariness: "Sister Li, the contract with Tianlai has already been signed, what's the point of saying all this now?"

"The contract? That unfair contract?! They're exploiting us! They're rigging us out!"

Sister Li slammed her hand on the table, causing the coffee cup on the table to shake and spill a few drops of coffee, which spread across the surface, much like Qi Xue's mood at that moment.

Qi Xue picked up a tissue and wiped the table, took a deep breath, and tried to suppress her inner turmoil: "I know... but we had no choice... we can't afford the penalty for breach of contract..."

"Rock, classical, pop... They're deliberately making things difficult for you! How can you possibly finish three songs of completely different styles in just one month?!"

Sister Li's voice was filled with heartache and anger. She looked at Qi Xue's increasingly thin face and felt a sharp pain in her heart.

"I...I will do my best..." Qi Xue's voice was low, like the buzzing of a mosquito. She picked up the sheet music on the table, her pale fingertips trembling slightly.

The densely packed musical notes danced before her eyes, like a group of little elves mocking her.

"Try your best? What's the point of trying your best?! We still have to shoot promotional posters! Castles, deserts, cities... Do they think you're Superman?!"

Sister Li snatched the sheet music from Qi Xue's hand and slammed it onto the table.

"Look at yourself! You're pale, and your dark circles are worse than a panda's! How can you possibly take a good poster like this?!"

Qi Xue didn't speak, but silently picked up the sheet music from the ground. The coolness of the paper touched her fingertips, which made her feel a little more awake.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, a resolute look filled her eyes: "I must do it... for my dream... for..." She paused, her voice choked with emotion, "...to... survive... in this city..."

Looking at Qi Xue, Sister Li was too heartbroken to speak. She knew how much effort Qi Xue had put in and how much pressure she had endured for this dream.

She walked over to Qi Xue and gently patted her shoulder: "I know you're working hard... but you must take care of yourself... don't push yourself too hard..."

Qi Xue nodded, forcing a smile: "I know... I will..."

The recording studio fell silent, with only the hum of the air conditioner and the sound of Qi Xue turning the pages of sheet music.

Outside the window, the city's neon lights flickered like cold stars, reflecting Qi Xue's weary figure.

She felt dizzy, her stomach churned, and the bitter taste of coffee spread in her mouth.

Three days later, Qi Xue stood in front of the ruins of the ancient castle. The cold wind tousled her carefully styled hair, and the frigid air made her shiver.

The heavy costume felt like a heavy shackle, making it hard for her to breathe.