WHEN THE PASTSTRIKES BACK

Chapter 4 – The Price of Pride

Mo Xiaoxi left the Ye family estate with legs like jelly. The encounter had drained her completely, not just physically, but emotionally. She wasn’t sure if it was fear, frustration, or something else clawing at her chest. All she knew was—this mess had gone way beyond what she’d signed up for.

She had only meant to dig up a juicy scandal. Instead, she’d become the scandal.

Back at Tianyu Media, she slipped in quietly, avoiding curious stares. Her colleague, Yu Wen, shot her a suspicious glance but said nothing. Xiaoxi had no intention of explaining. She headed straight to her desk and slumped into the chair, staring blankly at her computer screen.

Then—her phone buzzed.

A news alert.

“CEO Ye Zhen involved in mysterious incident at Huacheng nightclub—rumors swirl.”

Her eyes widened.

Tapping into the newsfeed, she saw her own blurry photos spreading like wildfire. The headline was vague, but the implications weren’t. Ye Zhen’s polished reputation was under attack.

And worse—she was at the center of it.

Her stomach dropped.

Before she could process it all, the door to her office slammed open.

It was Blue—Lan Sijing—her longtime friend, mentor… and the one who’d sent her to track Ye Zhen in the first place.

He tossed a copy of the morning paper onto her desk. “Care to explain this?”

Mo Xiaoxi forced a grin. “Well… mission accomplished?”

Lan Sijing wasn’t amused. His tone was ice. “You were supposed to get a few photos of him partying—not end up in them.”

Mo Xiaoxi winced. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like that.”

“Obviously,” he snapped, running a hand through his hair. “Do you know what this means? Do you know what he’s capable of?”

She bristled. “You’re the one who told me to follow him.”

“I didn’t tell you to fall into his trap!”

Mo Xiaoxi stood up, fists clenched. “You think I wanted this? I was drugged! He was drugged! Someone set us both up!”

The room went quiet.

Lan Sijing’s expression shifted slightly, but his voice remained cold. “Then find out who did it. Fast. Before he decides you’re the only target worth blaming.”

She exhaled shakily and sat back down, her anger fading into something heavier—guilt, maybe. Or fear.

“I’ll look into it,” she muttered.

“Good,” he said. Then, after a pause, added more gently, “Be careful, Xiaoxi. Ye Zhen may act like a gentleman, but behind that suit is a man with nothing to lose.”

She nodded.