Early the next morning, Lin Wanning arrived at the company. Dressed in a sharp charcoal-gray suit with her hair tied into a high ponytail, her expression was cold and resolute. Her entire presence radiated an air of authority that brooked no dissent.
Inside the meeting room, Vice President Li Cheng was already waiting. He had been promoted by Lin Wanning after her father's passing—a steady and reliable man, and one of the few she trusted wholeheartedly.
"Vice President Li," Lin Wanning walked in directly and took the main seat. "From today onward, you will take full responsibility for the 'Starlight Plaza' collaboration."
Li Cheng was taken aback. "Isn't this the project with Shen Group? According to the original plan, you were supposed to handle it personally—"
"I've changed my mind," she said coolly. "I don't want any personal feelings involved in this project."
Li Cheng nodded. "Understood. I'll coordinate with Shen Group's team immediately."
—
At the same time, in the Shen Group headquarters.
Shen Sihan sat in the leather chair in his CEO office, eyes fixed on the fax in his hand.
[Project Manager for 'Starlight Plaza' has been changed to Vice President Li Cheng of Lin Corporation, who will now be fully responsible for all cooperation with Shen Group.]
His assistant stood nearby, cautiously saying, "President Shen, it's a clear refusal of your direct liaison proposal."
Shen Sihan's eyes turned cold, and his thin lips uttered two words, "Withdraw it."
"…Excuse me?"
"Have our project team suspend the handover process," he ordered, his voice icy. "Draft a new set of cooperation terms. And deliver this message to Lin Wanning—this project will only proceed if I'm working with her."
"Yes, sir."
Shen Sihan leaned back slowly in his chair, gaze dark and unreadable. This woman always had a way of igniting both his possessiveness and his fighting spirit.
The more she pushed him away, the more determined he became to pull her back.
—
That afternoon, at Lin Corporation.
Her secretary hurried into the office and reported in a low voice, "President Lin, we've received a message from Shen Group. They're suspending the project and insist it must be handled by you personally. Otherwise, they won't move forward."
Lin Wanning put down her pen. Her face remained calm, but her voice carried a hint of frost.
"He's forcing my hand."
"President Lin, should we—"
"No need to give in." Lin Wanning stood, hands tucked into her pockets. "If Shen Sihan wants a game of corporate warfare, I'll play it to the end."
She strode out of the office with firm, resolute steps. "Tell Shen Group: I, Lin Wanning, won't compromise for anyone—not even him."
—
That night, at the Shen residence.
Shen Sihan returned home. His mother, Madam Shen, was watching the financial news in the living room.
"Ah Han, I heard you're working with the Lin family again?" she asked coolly.
"Mm."
"What are you trying to do? You're already divorced, and you're still clinging to her? Isn't that disgraceful?"
Shen Sihan looked up. "If I don't cling to her, she'll never look back."
Madam Shen scoffed. "You're asking for pain."
"I don't care," he said firmly. "She can hate me, she can reject me—but I won't stand by and watch her walk out of my life again."
Madam Shen sighed and turned to go back to her room.
Shen Sihan remained on the couch, staring at the photo on his phone. It was from the launch of Lin Wanning's new project—she looked radiant and independent.
But he remembered how she once looked when she married into the Shen family—gentle, obedient, leaning on him, looking up to him.
Unfortunately, he had been the one who destroyed that tenderness.
Now, he was determined to win back not only her pride—but her heart.
4o