Back at the Hua mansion, Hua Ling hung up the call with Dr. Zhang and tossed her phone onto the couch with a look of pure disgust.
"Spineless old man!" she spat, pacing like a trapped animal.
The air in the mansion was thick with unease.
The once quiet and regal home was now riddled with tension. Staff members whispered in corners. The landlines rang non-stop. The sound of doors opening and slamming echoed down the hallways.
In the study, Hua Ming Rong was on another frantic phone call—this time with a long-time investor, Mr. Wang.
"Mr. Wang, please listen to me!" he pleaded. Sweat glistened at his temples.
"Listen to you?!" Mr. Wang's voice blasted through the receiver. "Hua Ming Rong, are you out of your mind?! Do you know what kind of mess you're in right now?! Your name is trending for all the wrong reasons!"
"This is a misunderstanding!" Hua Ming Rong tried again, gripping the phone like a lifeline.
