A perilous game among the elite, where hidden currents surge before the dawn!

The family, having narrowly escaped danger, returned to the hospital for a brief rest. Yan Dafa fell into a deep sleep in Yan Xiaonian's arms, his small hand clutching tightly at the hem of her clothes, as if afraid of being separated again. Tears still glistened faintly on his flushed cheeks, stirring a deep ache in anyone who saw him. Xiao Sheng sat quietly beside them, gently stroking the child’s forehead, his eyes full of tenderness yet his brow remained furrowed. The company’s crisis hung over him like a dark cloud, urgent and unrelenting.

“I have to go back to the company,” Xiao Sheng said softly to Yan Xiaonian, his gaze resolute and determined, as if piercing through the current difficulties to strike at the root of the problem. “Those people won’t stop easily. The stock price is volatile, and the trust of our partners is shaken. We must resolve this quickly.”

Yan Xiaonian nodded slightly, worry etched deeply in her eyes. “Be careful. Your health isn’t fully recovered yet… I don’t know when all this trouble will finally end.” Her voice trembled with emotion, the anxiety and fear of recent days weighing heavily on her.

Xiao Sheng squeezed her hand gently, then rose and left swiftly. Upon arriving at the office, Ou Lie hurried to meet him, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, his expression anxious yet urgent. “President, the situation is grim. We haven’t fully uncovered the masterminds behind the stock sell-off, but all signs point to a coalition of competitors. Their tactics are ruthless.”

He swallowed hard and lowered his voice. “I’ve learned they’re not only spreading rumors to discredit us and stir public opinion but have also bribed some ‘black mouth’ industry insiders to fabricate false reports, exaggerating the company’s financial troubles. Many employees are now fearful, whispering that the company is doomed.”

Xiao Sheng’s face darkened. He strode into the conference room where the senior executives had already gathered, the atmosphere heavy enough to drip with tension. Anxiety and unease were etched on every face, murmurs filled with doubt about the company’s future.

“Activate the emergency PR plan. Respond to public opinion head-on. Reveal the company’s true operational status and financial strength,” Xiao Sheng commanded. “Legal department, collect evidence of malicious competition and prepare to counter-sue. HR, stabilize employee morale and emphasize that our foundation remains solid.”

His words landed like hammer blows, shaking the hearts of everyone present. They nodded and immediately set to work.

As the team busied themselves, a sharply dressed man with eagle-like eyes approached briskly. Lin Feng, Xiao Sheng’s trusted aide of many years, had long worked behind the scenes, handling thorny issues with cool efficiency. His expression was grave as he handed over a thick dossier. “President, I have critical leads. I’ve been working tirelessly, digging through covert channels. The opponents began planning months ago—not only to depress our stock but to steal our core business secrets. Here is some of the evidence.”

Xiao Sheng’s eyes flickered with a rare spark of hope. He quickly flipped through the documents, his expression growing even sterner. “Good work, Lin Feng. With this, we can strike back with confidence.”

Lin Feng nodded slightly. “President, I suggest a two-pronged approach. Publicize this evidence to regain ground in the court of public opinion. At the same time, proactively reach out to key clients who have hesitated because of this turmoil, demonstrating our strength and sincerity to secure our business foundation.”

Xiao Sheng gave an approving look. “Do exactly that.”

Meanwhile, in a shadowy corner of the city, a luxurious private club hosted leaders of several rival companies. They sat clustered around a table laden with fine cigars and expensive liquors, yet none seemed inclined to indulge. Their faces bore triumphant, sinister smiles, as if they already envisioned the collapse of Xiao Sheng’s business empire.

“This time, Xiao Sheng has truly stumbled. With the child and the company both in turmoil, how can he possibly manage? Just one more push, and his empire will crumble. After all the groundwork we’ve laid, we can’t let it fail now,” one man said, downing a drink with wild gleam in his eyes.

“Hmph, don’t underestimate him. He’s no ordinary opponent,” another snorted, a flicker of caution in his gaze. “I heard he single-handedly stormed the East Suburb warehouse to rescue that child. That kind of courage isn’t common.”

“Courage won’t help him now. His company is in chaos internally, and externally we’ve got public opinion tightly controlled. There’s no way he can turn the tide,” a third scoffed confidently.

Back at the hospital, Yan Xiaonian watched over Dafa when her phone suddenly vibrated. An anonymous message appeared: “Want true peace? Leave Xiao Sheng, or greater disasters await you.”

Her face turned pale, her hands trembling uncontrollably, almost dropping the phone. She gazed out at the bustling city—luxurious yet fraught with hidden dangers—her heart a tumult of conflicting emotions. On one hand, the bond forged through hardship with Xiao Sheng, whose protection had moved her deeply during life-or-death moments; on the other, the fear of unknown calamities, the dread that she and her child might once again fall into peril, and the terror of dragging Xiao Sheng down with them.

She was caught in a painful dilemma.

This high-stakes battle among powerful families only grew more tangled, with dark currents swirling beneath the surface. The road ahead was strewn with thorns. Could they hold fast and break through the siege? Only time would tell.