Morning light sifted through floor‑to‑ceiling windows of the Li Group's Shanghai headquarters, casting long beams across the marble lobby. Outside, cameras and drones buzzed like anxious bees—journalists jockeying for vantage, live‑stream crews setting tripods, taxis disgorging reporters in crisp suits. An electric tension filled the air: today, Lucian Li would take the stage to set the record straight.
In the boardroom, rows of seats faced a low dais. Flags of Li Group and Waning Tide stood sentinel on either side of a gleaming podium. Staff bustled in last‑minute preparations—adjusting lighting, testing microphones. Gao stepped aside with Lynn, who cradled Kai in one arm while Milo perched on a high stool, eyes bright.
“Stay close to me, okay?" she whispered to Milo, who nodded solemnl
