Less than an hour after the financial live broadcast by "Finance Dark Horse" ended, Lin Wanning dominated the top three spots on Weibo's trending list:
[Lin Wanning Officially Reports Abnormalities in Shen Foundation Accounts][Shen Group's Charity Projects Suspected of Falsifying Expenses][Female CEO Battles Ex-Husband Head-On, Lin Wanning Live Exposes Shen Sihan]
Public sentiment rapidly intensified. More and more influential finance experts began sharing the account data Lin Wanning provided. Even a well-known auditing firm voluntarily offered to help verify the authenticity of the data. Several senior legal bloggers also voiced their opinions, stating that if Lin Wanning's revelations were true, the Shen Group would face huge risks of administrative funding withdrawal and business collapse.
This time, Lin Wanning completely held the command and control.
"Ms. Lin, the Financial Authority called this morning and wants to arrange a meeting with you. They didn't disclose any details," her assistant said nervously as he handed her the phone early in the morning.
"Schedule me as the last appointment of the day," Lin Wanning replied calmly, "Let them wait."
She was sitting at the conference table, dressed in a sharp dark green suit, neat and clean. On the table lay the project plan she was about to submit to investors, every word clear and confident, showing her poise as the new head of the Lin Group.
But her eyes accidentally flicked to a photo on the tablet beside her—
It was a family portrait her father had taken years ago at the old Lin family mansion.
"Dad, I didn't let your company fall completely, nor will I let those who trampled us live in peace," she whispered in her heart.
Meanwhile, inside the Shen Group, chaos reigned.
The atmosphere in the conference room was extremely tense.
"This matter has gotten too big. Our partner banks have suspended short-term loan credits!""Several key partners have also requested to review contract terms again. They fear Lin Wanning's accusations might be true!""President Shen, this isn't something simple PR can handle. We must urgently stop the bleeding!"
The directors grew agitated, pointing fingers at Shen Sihan.
He was silent for a long time, then suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze ruthless: "Issue a statement. Launch a full self-inspection of the fund cycle, and invite a third-party audit team."
"Are you serious about investigating?" one director was shocked.
"Yes." Shen Sihan spat out the word, his eyes cold as ice. "But the one we'll check is a diary I've long prepared."
He knew this matter couldn't be suppressed anymore, so he decided to conduct a "fake investigation" — using a staged "self-examination" to regain credibility and counter-accuse Lin Wanning of "stealing internal data and falsifying accounts."
A sophisticated counterattack was brewing in secret.
But Lin Wanning had seen through it all.
"They will investigate, but never the real accounts," she said, standing by the window watching the city bathed in dawn light. "Shen Sihan will never give up any chance to save face."
She turned and said to Lu Chen, "Your chance has come."
"You finally let me intervene?" Lu Chen smiled faintly. "Do you know how long I've waited to hear that?"
Lin Wanning raised an eyebrow. "Don't think I trust you because I believe in you. I only chose you because among everyone who can make a move, your motives are the clearest — you want to destroy Shen Group and reshape the business world. I don't need to trust a kingdom; I only need you to be a clean blade."
Lu Chen was momentarily speechless, then laughed quietly: "A clean blade, huh? So how do you plan to use me?"
Lin Wanning handed over a document: "Publicly disclose the evidence of Shen Group's 'dual accounting system.' You leak it; the media will believe."
Lu Chen glanced over it, his pupils shrinking slightly: "...This data is the original backdoor of Shen Group's internal financial system?"
"Exactly. Shen family thought I was just a meek little wife. Little did they know I've quietly set up a complete three-year plan behind their backs."
Lin Wanning's eyes were icy like frost: "I want Shen Sihan to die thoroughly from the system he trusts the most."
A few hours later, Lu Chen anonymously published an article on an overseas financial forum—
[Shen Group Through the Eyes of Two Senior Investors: The Exposed 'Account Loopholes']
The article not only detailed the discrepancy between Shen's book income and publicly disclosed amounts but also pointed out the technical path for the shadow ledger system deliberately set up.
The article quickly went viral.
Before Shen Group's "fake investigation" announcement could spread widely, public opinion backlashed — third-party auditing firms began competing to cooperate.
"Shen Sihan, what will you use to stop this?" Lin Wanning sat in her office watching the swarm of reporters outside, a cold smile finally appearing at the corner of her mouth.
That night, the Financial Authority officially announced: a formal investigation into Shen Group was launched, multiple fund accounts were subpoenaed, and cooperation was given to public security authorities to review the financial system and hold top executives accountable.
Shen Sihan only then realized he wasn't losing because Lin Wanning's counterattack was too fierce, but because — from the start — he had underestimated her strategy.
He thought she was just a soft-hearted ex-wife, forgetting Lin Wanning was once the Lin family's heiress — a woman who could fight to the death, dismantle her own marriage, and reclaim her father's honor with her own hands.
At midnight, Lin Wanning stood alone in the garden of the old Lin family mansion.
Cold wind brushed her face, and faint osmanthus fragrance drifted in the yard.
"Wanning." A familiar male voice sounded. Shen Sihan, wearing a trench coat, walked into the courtyard with a complex gaze. "You won."
"I don't care about winning or losing." Lin Wanning turned around, her voice calm. "I just want you to understand that no one has the right to easily trample another person."
Shen Sihan was silent.
He had imagined countless times Lin Wanning breaking down, crying and begging for forgiveness, but never expected her to be so calm, rational, and no longer touched by any feeling.
She was no longer the Lin Wanning who silently supported and admired him.
"I know you hate me," he said softly.
"You're wrong." She smiled lightly. "I stopped hating you a long time ago."
"Now, I just don't love you anymore."