abandoned warehouse
Over the next two days, the public outcry intensified. Tingsheng Capital's stock price plummeted again, increasing pressure on the board, with some shareholders even proposing to remove Wei Ting from his CEO position. Wei Ting's public relations team issued a clarification statement, but it was drowned out by the negative publicity and had little effect.
Following Wei Ting's instructions, Ning Zhichu did not respond to any media interviews, but the turmoil within the newspaper continued. She had barely entered her office when she was called into a private meeting room by the editor-in-chief, Lin Man.
Lin Man sat on the sofa, a cigarette between her fingers, her expression serious: "Initially, there was a lot of controversy surrounding the reports about Tingsheng Capital. Tell me the truth, was there something hidden in that interview article?"
Ning Zhichu's heart tightened suddenly, and her fingertips unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes. Lin Man was her direct supervisor and one of the people who reviewed that interview manuscript; the other was her colleague, Shen Yan.
“Sister Man, I wrote the first draft based on the interview transcript. Wei Ting did mention the expected return on the long-term project, but that part was deleted in the final version published.” Ning Zhichu tried to keep her tone calm and did not show any doubt. “At the time, I thought it was due to layout reasons or that it was deleted to highlight the topic.”
Lin Man raised an eyebrow, staring sharply at her: "Are you sure? Is it possible that you forgot to remember it? Or that Wei Ting never said those words at all, and is now trying to make up for it?"
Ning Zhichu felt a pang of grievance, but still insisted, "I'm sure, the recording pen has a complete record." She didn't mention her suspicion that the manuscript had been altered, nor did she suggest that someone might have done it intentionally—Shen Yan had always been very kind to her, always helping her organize her thoughts whenever she encountered writer's block, and even secretly revealing industry secrets to her. The goodwill in his eyes was almost impossible to hide; such a person would never do something like stabbing someone in the back. As for Lin Man, although she was usually strict, she had always valued Ning Zhichu's talent, and there was no reason for her to specifically target her, or even risk altering the manuscript to please outsiders.
But apart from the two of them, no third person had seen the first draft. Who exactly tampered with it? This thought swirled in her mind, but she dared not reveal it at all, keeping it buried deep inside, which only made her more anxious.
"Is the recording still there?" Lin Man pressed.
"Yes, I've kept it all along."
"Okay, don't make a fuss for now." Lin Man breathed a sigh of relief, her tone softening. "Right now, there are rumors circulating that you accepted benefits from Tingsheng Capital. I believe in your professional ethics, but evidence is very important. For the time being, don't touch any related reports and lay low."
As Ning Zhichu stepped out of the meeting room, she bumped into Shen Yan. He was holding a cup of hot coffee, which he handed to her, his eyes full of concern: "Zhichu, are you alright? Did Editor-in-Chief Lin give you any trouble?"
Ning Zhichu took the coffee, feeling the warmth on her fingertips, but her heart was filled with complicated emotions. She forced a smile: "It's nothing, Sister Man was just asking about the situation."
"That's good." Shen Yan breathed a sigh of relief and lowered his voice, "Don't worry, I believe you. There must be something wrong with that manuscript. Maybe something went wrong somewhere. I'll keep an eye on it for you and let you know if I find any clues."
Looking into Shen Yan's sincere eyes, Ning Zhichu became even more certain that he wasn't the one who had done it. But after ruling out Shen Yan, the suspicious gaze could only fall on Lin Man, which made her feel very uncomfortable—she had always regarded Lin Man as a role model, and she never expected that she would now have such doubts about her role model.
She shook her head, clearing her mind of these chaotic thoughts, and returned to her workstation. The anonymous email notification on her desk was still flashing; the words "Old Wharf Warehouse No. 3" felt like a thorn, making her uneasy.
Meanwhile, at the headquarters of Tingsheng Capital, Wei Ting had just finished a lengthy board meeting and walked into the office of partner Lu Zexu.
Lu Zexu was his college classmate and a brother who had worked hard together for many years. The two had a great understanding, and Tingsheng Capital's current scale was inseparable from Lu Zexu's support in risk control and operations.
“Those old fogies on the board are starting to waver.” Lu Zexu handed Wei Ting a glass of whiskey, his tone grave. “If you can’t produce any substantial evidence to refute the allegations, they might actually remove you at next week’s shareholders’ meeting.”
Wei Ting took the glass, tilted his head back and took a sip. The spicy liquid slid down his throat, but he couldn't suppress the irritation in his heart: "The evidence for the exposé is all fabricated, the fund flow chart is pieced together, and the so-called insiders can't be found to have any real identities. The opponent is very well hidden."
“Being well hidden doesn’t mean there are no traces.” Lu Zexu sat opposite him, tapping his fingers on the table. “I had someone investigate. The first few niche websites to publish the exposé all had access records from the same IP address, pointing to an offshore company. And this company has intricate connections with Huo’s Capital.”
Huo's Capital? Wei Ting's eyes turned cold. Huo Jingyuan, his old rival, had always coveted Tingsheng Capital's layout in the new energy field. During this financial crisis, Huo Jingyuan clearly wanted to take advantage of the situation and kick him out of the game.
"Huo Jingyuan is certainly willing to gamble," Wei Ting sneered. "Isn't he afraid that his fabrication of evidence will be exposed and backfire?"
“He’s gone all in now,” Lu Zexu sighed. “Huo’s Capital’s own cash flow isn’t good either. If they can’t secure our new energy project, they won’t survive this quarter. That’s why he’s in such a hurry and resorting to such underhanded tactics.”
Wei Ting remained silent. He knew Huo Jingyuan's style of doing things; he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. This time, not only was he being targeted, but Ning Zhichu was also implicated, and the interview transcript was even altered beforehand. Such a large scheme was clearly premeditated.
"By the way, what do you plan to do with that reporter, Ning Zhichu?" Lu Zexu suddenly asked. "Right now, everyone is blaming her and you, and her newspaper is putting pressure on her. She might become Huo Jingyuan's next target."
Mentioning Ning Zhichu, Wei Ting's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He hadn't contacted her for the past two days, partly because he was busy dealing with the pressure from the board of directors, and partly because he didn't know how to face her—he kept telling himself that she was just a pawn, but the thought of her possibly getting hurt because of him made him unable to stay calm.
“She is innocent.” Wei Ting’s voice lowered. “The interview transcript was altered; she is also a victim. Huo Jingyuan wanted to use her to attack me, and I cannot let her be put in danger.”
"You want to protect her?" Lu Zexu raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry. "Wei Ting, you wouldn't happen to have developed real feelings for this young reporter, would you? I'm reminding you, this is a critical moment, and you can't let personal feelings cloud your judgment."
Wei Ting's heart skipped a beat. Had he developed real feelings? He had been deliberately avoiding this question, telling himself that his concern for Ning Zhichu was only because she was a crucial link in the plan, a "tool" that couldn't afford any mistakes. But Lu Zexu's words were like a mirror, reflecting the truth he dared not admit deep down.
"Don't talk nonsense." Wei Ting avoided Lu Zexu's gaze, his tone stiff. "I just don't want to be led by the nose by Huo Jingyuan, and I don't want innocent people to be implicated. She is the only reporter who has interviewed me. Protecting her will also protect a channel for clarifying public opinion."
Lu Zexu clearly didn't believe him, but didn't press further. He simply sighed, "Alright, as long as you know what you're doing. So what's the plan for the future? We can't keep taking hits like this."
Wei Ting's eyes sharpened again, a resolute glint in them: "Didn't Huo Jingyuan want to lure me out? Then I'll grant his wish. He thinks that by altering the interview transcript, he can make Ning Zhichu and me distrust each other, and make me lose sight of one thing while focusing on another? He's wrong."
He paused, then continued, "I've already had someone investigate and found that Huo Jingyuan doesn't have any so-called 'solid evidence.' He's just bluffing to make me panic. He'll likely take action against Ning Zhichu next, either by forcing her to write a false report or by creating an accident to shut her up."
So what are you planning to do?
"Use stillness to control movement." Wei Ting's lips curled into a cold smile. "Huo Jingyuan wants to use Ning Zhichu to lure me out, so I'll follow his lead. But I won't let him succeed. I will protect Ning Zhichu and at the same time find solid evidence that he fabricated evidence, delivering a fatal blow."
Lu Zexu nodded, approving of his plan: "What do you need me to do?"
"Keep an eye on Huo Jingyuan's movements for me. Also, send someone to protect Ning Zhichu's safety and make sure she doesn't find out." Wei Ting's voice carried a hint of gentleness. "Furthermore, investigate Ning Zhichu's newspaper office and see who altered the interview article and whether Huo Jingyuan was behind it."
“Okay.” Lu Zexu agreed, watching Wei Ting’s retreating figure and gently shaking his head. He had known Wei Ting for so many years, and this was the first time he had seen him so devoted to a woman. This wasn’t just a simple “protective tool”; it was clearly genuine affection. It was just that Wei Ting himself hadn’t realized it yet, or rather, was still deliberately avoiding it.
After a grueling day at the newspaper office, Ning Zhichu finally got to leave work. Back home, staring at the anonymous emails on her computer screen, her inner turmoil deepened.
To go or not to go?
Going might mean facing unknown dangers, or even being used by Huo Jingyuan (whom she didn't yet know was the mastermind) as a tool to attack Wei Ting; not going, however, meant she would never know the truth, who had altered her manuscript, or whether Wei Ting was truly innocent. More importantly, her uncontrollable worry made it impossible for her to stand idly by—she wanted to know just how difficult Wei Ting's situation was, and whether she could offer any help.
After agonizing over the decision all night, Ning Zhichu finally decided to go. She was a journalist; uncovering the truth was her mission, and she couldn't back down because of fear of danger. Moreover, she had to personally verify whether Wei Ting was truly as the exposé described, and she had to find the mastermind behind the altered interview transcript.
Before leaving, she sent Su Xiaoran a message, telling her the location and time she was going, and that if she hadn't contacted her by 10 p.m., she should call the police. Then, carrying a voice recorder and her phone, she took a taxi to the old wharf warehouse.
It was seven o'clock in the evening, and darkness had already fallen. The old dock warehouse area was deathly silent, with only a few dilapidated streetlights casting long shadows in the dim light. The door of Warehouse No. 3 was ajar, and the inside was pitch black, without a trace of light.
Ning Zhichu took a deep breath, gripped her phone tightly in her pocket, and gently pushed open the door to go inside.
A damp, musty smell permeated the warehouse, and the cobblestone path creaked underfoot, the sound particularly jarring in the silence. She hadn't walked far when she suddenly heard a loud bang behind her; the door had been slammed shut from the outside.
Her heart tightened, and she turned to open the door, only to find it locked.
"Who? Who's there?" she shouted into the darkness, trying to remain calm.
There was no response, only the sound of wind seeping in through the gaps in the warehouse, making a chilling howling noise.
Ning Zhichu's heart pounded faster and faster, and her palms were already sweating. She knew she had truly fallen into a trap. Was the other party not trying to give her any solid evidence, but simply trying to silence her?
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