The news of Zhong Haiming's passing was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

Wu Yali knew that this was the best opportunity for her to reclaim everything that belonged to her.

She held her child tightly; that was her only bargaining chip, and the bond that connected her to the Zhong family.

Clutching the will tightly in her hand, she seemed to hold the key to a new life, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of determination and trepidation.

Inside the Zhong family mansion, the atmosphere was tense and solemn as family members busied themselves discussing how to distribute Zhong Haiming's estate.

They stood or sat, discussing amongst themselves, their eyes gleaming with greed and calculation.

Wu Yali's arrival was like an untimely gust of wind, shattering their temporary harmony.

"I want to take back everything that belongs to me!" Wu Yali's voice echoed in the spacious hall, filled with unwavering determination.

She stood in the center of the hall, the child squirming restlessly in her arms, as if sensing the complex atmosphere around them.

However, the Zhong family ignored her and continued their discussion, as if Wu Yali was just an insignificant bystander.

This ignited a fierce anger within Wu Yali, forcing her to raise her voice and shout loudly in an attempt to attract their attention.

Finally, her shouts broke the silence of the Zhong family.

They all turned their heads, scrutinizing Wu Yali and the will in her hand with critical eyes.

An old man, an elder of the Zhong family, curled his lips into a cold smile, a smile full of disdain and mockery.

"If you're sure the child is from the Zhong family, everything here is yours. But look at this, you had a child with a foreigner, do you think anyone will believe he's a member of the Zhong family?"

The old man's words were like sharp blades, piercing Wu Yali's heart.

Her face was pale, her lips trembled slightly, but the determination in her eyes remained unwavering.

"I also have a will!" Wu Yali shouted urgently, trying to prove her rights with the will.

However, the old man's response was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing her hope.

"A will? Who knows if it's real or fake? In this family, forging a will is not difficult. If you want the inheritance, get a paternity test first!" The old man's words were full of doubt and distrust towards Wu Yali.

Paternity test? This word struck Wu Yali like a bolt of lightning.

Her heart tightened, and her face instantly turned deathly pale.

She knew perfectly well whose child it was, but a paternity test would expose the secret she had kept hidden for so many years.

That child was actually the result of her relationship with a foreign man, not Zhong Haiming's.

Once this secret is exposed, she will not only lose the family fortune, but will also completely lose her foothold in the Zhong family.

Wu Yali felt an unprecedented sense of despair and struggle.

She held her child tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.

She wanted to refute loudly and prove her innocence, but the words she wanted to say turned into a silent sob.

She could only sit helplessly on the ground, letting tears stream down her face and soak her clothes.

She tried to elicit sympathy from those around her with her cries, but the eyes of those around her were filled with indifference and suspicion.

"Look at this child, all dark-skinned, he doesn't look like he's from the Zhong family at all," someone muttered under their breath, their words filled with obvious sarcasm and disdain.

"Is this how you gang bully us orphans and widows?"

Wu Yali shouted loudly.

But the Zhong family wouldn't care. Wu Yali knew very well whose child it was. What could she do even if she had a will?

Everyone knows that the boy is a bastard.

Are they trying to use the child to blackmail the Zhong family?

Keep dreaming.

Do you really think everyone is as stupid as Zhong Haiming?

The child is already so dark-skinned, yet they still claim to have lost a genetic mutation. It's shameless.

Seaside, Shen Family Villa.

Miss Shen was finally able to temporarily relax her tense nerves and sit leisurely in the living room of her luxuriously decorated villa.

The sun was shining brightly outside the window, but it couldn't compare to the pride and satisfaction she felt at that moment.

The exquisite cup of coffee in her hand emitted wisps of steam, which complemented the triumphant smile that unconsciously crept onto her lips, as if even the aroma in the air carried a hint of smugness and mockery.

For her, Zhong Haiming's death was not just about eliminating a troublesome opponent, but also a perfect test of her wisdom and cunning.

This person, who had once given her a major headache, ultimately could not escape the carefully woven web of death she had created.

Miss Shen took a sip of her coffee, a calculating glint in her eyes. She knew this was just the beginning; the real feast was yet to come.

Next, the name Huo Deguang lingered in her mind, as if he had become the next prey to be hunted.

Her plan was meticulously crafted, with each step carefully considered to ensure its success.

In her view, it was only a matter of time before Huo Deguang followed in Zhong Haiming's footsteps.

Everything was under her control, just like the temperature of the cup of coffee in her hand—neither too hot to burn her hands nor too cold to lose its flavor; everything was just right.

As for the Zhong family's assets, they represent the most direct return from years of strategic planning.

The successive passing of Zhong Lao and Zhong Haiming has left those well-hidden assets like treasures that have lost their protection, waiting to be harvested by her.

Miss Shen's lips curled into an even deeper smile. She knew that these assets were not only a symbol of wealth, but also the highest praise for her wisdom and patience.

She wouldn't let any opportunity slip by easily, because every gain was the best proof of her painstaking efforts and meticulous planning.

At this moment, she seemed to be standing at the pinnacle of the provincial capital's business world, looking down on the power and wealth that were once high above but were now about to fall into her hands.

Miss Shen was filled with unprecedented pride and satisfaction. She knew that her time had come, and those who had once stood in her way had become stepping stones on her road to success.

===

"Old Zhong, Zhong Haiming is dead?"

When Zhang Fan heard the news, he was quite surprised. Old Zhong was old and it was fine for him to die, but Zhong Haiming, that old fox, was actually dead.

It seems we still can't beat the Shen family; they're still incredibly powerful.

No wonder the Shen family isn't opposing me anymore.

They're currently busy nibbling away at the Shen family's assets.

There's no time to be at odds with yourself.

However, he also gave the Shen family a big gift.

They were busy taking over the Zhong family's assets, but they didn't realize that they were already stealing from the family.

Zhang Fan sat in his newly purchased office, looking outside, a cup of tea in his hand.

Hu Qian has already bought this place as instructed by her boss, and has now moved the office staff here.

Looking at this boss, Hu Qian saw a sense of strategic planning and mastery.