Meng Yanchen slowly rose, turned on the living room light, and the light illuminated his tired yet determined face. He knew that time was running out and he had to act quickly. He picked up his phone, dialed a secret number, and whispered, "It's time to step up our efforts. No matter the cost, we must obtain the crucial evidence." After speaking, he looked out the window, his eyes revealing a do-or-die determination.

In the days that followed, Meng Yanchen threw himself into the investigation. He traveled to every corner of the city, contacting key witnesses hidden in the shadows. Every meeting was fraught with risk; his competitors' defenses were like an invisible net, ready to tighten at any moment.

This time, Meng Yanchen arranged to meet a witness who knew about a competitor's key violations. The location was chosen in a corner of an abandoned factory, surrounded by the musty smell of rust, with a cold wind howling sharply through the broken windows. Meng Yanchen arrived early, cautiously observing his surroundings. A short while later, a thin, nervous-looking man rushed in.

“Mr. Meng, I… I can only say this once. Please don’t contact me again after this.” The witness’s voice trembled, and his eyes were filled with fear.

Meng Yanchen patted him on the shoulder, trying to calm him down. "Don't worry, I will ensure your safety. As long as the information you provide is accurate, it will only benefit you."

The witness swallowed hard and began to recount his untold secrets. Meng Yanchen listened intently, his pen flying across his notebook. Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside, as if someone was approaching. The witness's face turned deathly pale. "Mr. Meng, is it them? I can't let them find out!"

Meng Yanchen also became alert. He quickly put away his notebook and whispered, "Don't panic, follow me from the back." The two carefully left through the back door of the factory. The noise behind them grew louder and louder, but they were lucky enough to shake off their pursuers.

Meanwhile, the internal crisis within the Fu Group worsened. The stock price continued to plummet, like a precipitous fall, the red numbers stinging everyone's eyes. Inside the offices, employees were filled with anxiety, whispers echoing throughout the space.

"I heard the company might not be able to hold on this time. The stock price has fallen so sharply. Will it go bankrupt?" a young employee said worriedly.

"Sigh, I'm even considering finding another job soon. If this keeps up, we won't even get paid," a colleague chimed in, his face full of anxiety.

The department manager stood in the center of the office area, trying to calm everyone down. "Don't panic, everyone. The company is working on a solution. We must trust President Meng; he will definitely lead us through this difficult time." However, his words didn't have much effect, and the employees' worries remained etched on their faces.

Although Fan Shengmei had left Meng Yanchen, she still cared deeply for the Fu Group. At home, she kept track of the company's activities through various channels. Seeing the news of the stock price drop, her heart clenched. She knew that Meng Yanchen must be under immense pressure at that moment.

"Xiaomei, don't worry too much. The Fu Group is so big, maybe they can pull through," Fan Shengmei's best friend comforted her.

Fan Shengmei sighed, "I hope so too, but... I still can't rest easy." Memories of working at the Fu Group and her time with Meng Yanchen kept flashing through her mind. Despite still harboring resentment towards Meng Yanchen, she couldn't help but want to know how he was doing.

That night, Fan Shengmei lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, falling on her face. She stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. On one hand, she was deeply troubled by Meng Yanchen's concealment; on the other hand, she worried about the future of the Fu Group. She didn't know whether she should set aside her prejudices and go back to help Meng Yanchen.

As the days passed, Meng Yanchen's investigation made some progress, but he was still far from success. His competitors seemed to have noticed his actions and tightened their defenses, making it increasingly difficult to obtain evidence each time.

During a conversation with another witness, Meng Yanchen nearly exposed himself. It happened in a secluded café. Just as the witness was about to speak, a group of men in black burst in, searching for something. Meng Yanchen reacted quickly, pulling the witness out through a side door of the café and weaving through narrow streets, barely managing to shake off their pursuit.

“Mr. Meng, this is too dangerous. I don’t want to get involved anymore.” The witness was still shaken, but his tone was firm.

Meng Yanchen looked at him helplessly, "I understand your concerns, but the information you provided is crucial to bringing them down. Please reconsider; this is also for the sake of justice."

On the Fu Group's side, the situation was becoming increasingly critical. Some partners began to waver, calling to inquire about the company's situation, and a few even proposed terminating their contracts. Meng Yanchen was not only dealing with the investigation but also had to appease the partners and manage the internal chaos within the company, leaving him feeling physically and mentally exhausted.

As Fan Shengmei watched the negative news about the Fu Group emerge daily, her inner struggle intensified. Seeing Meng Yanchen facing everything alone, her heartache gradually overshadowed her anger. Finally, one morning, Fan Shengmei made a decision.

She stood in front of the mirror, straightened her clothes, took a deep breath, and a determined light rekindled in her eyes. She walked out of her house and headed towards the Fu Group.

Meng Yanchen sat in his office, his brow furrowed as he looked at the mountain of documents and investigation materials piled on his desk. He didn't know how much longer he could hold on, nor whether Fan Shengmei would ever return. Just as he was lost in thought, there was a gentle knock on the office door.

Can Meng Yanchen successfully complete his plan while handling the situation alone? Will Fan Shengmei change her mind and return to help Meng Yanchen? Everything remains to be seen…