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

Ye Feng felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his chest, making it difficult to breathe: "Second Uncle, the company's current predicament is partly due to..."

"Why? Because you're so incompetent!" Ye Zhengxiong interrupted him rudely. "Do you think I don't know? Who leaked the company's internal information? Who's inciting the employees to rebel? You know perfectly well!"

Ye Feng's heart sank suddenly, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

He knew what his second uncle was referring to, but he couldn't believe it, nor could he admit it.

"Second Uncle, what...what are you saying? I don't understand." Ye Feng's voice trembled, filled with disbelief.

"Stop playing dumb, Ye Feng!" Ye Zhengxiong roared. "Do you think you can hide what you've done from me? You colluded with that mysterious force and betrayed the company's interests; you're a traitor!"

Ye Feng felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, and his phone nearly slipped from his hand. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Traitor? The word pierced his heart like a sharp sword.

"Now, what else do you have to say?" Ye Zhengxiong's voice was cold and ruthless, like a judgment from hell.

Ye Feng gripped his phone tightly, his knuckles cracking. He felt a dryness in his throat, as if he had swallowed a handful of sand.

"I...I didn't..." He managed to squeeze out a few words, but they sounded weak and powerless.

"Facts speak louder than words!" Ye Zhengxiong sneered. "Do you think you can still argue? The family meeting has already decided to remove you from your position as president and take back all your shares!"

"No! Impossible!" Ye Feng almost roared. He felt all the blood rush to his head, and his vision turned blood red.

"What right do you have to say no?" Ye Zhengxiong's tone was full of disdain. "You've already been abandoned by everyone, Ye Feng! You're finished!"

Flashes of light went off one after another, like countless prying eyes, making it almost impossible for Qi Xue to open her eyes.

The press conference was bustling with noise, and reporters bombarded her with sharp questions like a hail of bullets, each word carrying the weight of judgment.

"Ms. Qi Xue, are the rumors circulating online that you are arrogant and have a chaotic private life true?"

"What are your thoughts on the rumors that you've been replaced as the spokesperson for Teana?"

"Is your relationship with Ye Feng, as rumored, based on an exchange of interests?"

Qi Xue gripped the microphone tightly, her palms damp with sweat. She felt dizzy, her stomach churning, as if she were about to vomit.

The pressure of negative news, the panic of having her endorsement replaced, and the worry about Ye Feng weighed on her like a mountain, making it hard for her to breathe.

Taking a deep breath, Qi Xue forced herself to calm down. She couldn't fall; she had to fight for herself and for Ye Feng.

"Regarding the rumors circulating online, I hereby solemnly declare that they are all completely unfounded!"

Her tone was firm, her gaze fixed on the camera, and every word she spoke was powerful and resonant.

"I have never acted like a diva, and I have a clear conscience about my private life. As for my relationship with Ye Feng, we are just friends who help and support each other."

She paused, a barely perceptible hint of pain flashing in her eyes.

"As for the endorsement deal, I believe the company will make a fair decision. Whatever the outcome, I will continue to work hard and prove myself with my music."

After the press conference, Qi Xue was almost completely exhausted. But she knew this was only the first step.

Back home, she dialed Ye Feng's number.

"Hey, Ye Feng, are you alright?" Qi Xue's voice was tired but full of concern.

"I'm fine." Ye Feng's deep voice came from the other end of the phone, carrying a hint of weariness that was hard to hide.

Qi Xue could imagine what he looked like right now: his brows furrowed, his eyes bloodshot, alone in the empty office, facing pressure from all sides.

Feeling a pang in her heart, Qi Xue forced back a sob and said, "Don't worry, I'll help you."

"You've already helped me a lot," Ye Feng said with a hint of gratitude in his voice.

“That’s not enough.” Qi Xue said firmly, “I will use all my connections to clarify the facts for you and restore the company’s reputation.”

In the following days, Qi Xue tirelessly contacted friends in the industry to endorse Ye Feng's company's products. She also actively participated in charity events, using her actions to prove her innocence and regain the support of her fans.

Late at night, in Ye Feng's office, the two sat facing each other.

Two simple bowls of instant noodles sat on the table, their steam rising in the dim light.

"Thank you, Qi Xue." Ye Feng looked at Qi Xue, his eyes filled with gratitude and tenderness.

"Silly girl, why are you thanking me?" Qi Xue smiled, but her eyes were a little moist. "We are friends, and even more so... comrades-in-arms."

Ye Feng reached out and gently took Qi Xue's hand. Their fingers intertwined, and a warm current flowed between them.

"We will definitely overcome this difficulty," Ye Feng said firmly, his eyes filled with hope.

The dimly lit underground parking garage was filled with the damp, musty smell and the stench of gasoline. Liu Qingyi gripped the USB drive tightly, her heart pounding wildly as if it would burst from her chest. Inside the USB drive was evidence she had risked everything to infiltrate the stronghold of a mysterious force—ironclad proof enough to bring down the Qian Group and even expose a massive international criminal organization.

"Drip, drip..." Water droplets dripped from the leaking pipe, their sound particularly clear in the quiet garage, like the urgent beat of a drum. Liu Qingyi warily looked around; the dim yellow light cast distorted shadows on the walls, sending chills down her spine.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. Ye Feng was still waiting for her; she had to hand over the evidence to him.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the garage. Liu Qingyi turned around abruptly and saw several men in black approaching her, their eyes flashing with a fierce light.

"Who are you?" Liu Qingyi asked sharply, her voice trembling slightly.

The man in black did not answer, but quickened his pace, the dagger in his hand reflecting a cold light in the dim light.

Liu Qingyi knew that a fierce battle was inevitable. She quickly dodged the attacks of the men in black, her high heels screeching against the concrete floor.

"Hand over the stuff!" a man in black growled, his voice as fierce as a wild beast.

Liu Qingyi gripped the USB drive tightly, her eyes resolute. "Don't even think about it!"

She nimbly dodged the attacks of the men in black, her mind filled with images of Ye Feng and their shared struggles against the Qian Group. She couldn't fall; she had to protect this evidence, for Ye Feng's sake and for her own.

Liu Qingyi felt a sharp pain as a man in black kicked her hard in the abdomen. She staggered back a few steps, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of her mouth.