Transmigration; Married to My Ex-Fiancé's Uncle-Chapter 171; Making the first step (a)

"Am I?" She pulled out her phone with deliberate slowness, scrolling through it with casual confidence. "Would you like me to recite account numbers? Dates of transactions? Names of shell companies? I can give you the details of the Shenzhen deal, the one where you partnered with the vice mayor’s nephew and split the municipal contract funds sixty-forty."

"Stop." Lu Zeyan’s voice was hoarse and unbelievably terrified. "Just... stop."

"Then give my people their positions," Shuyin said simply. "Director level. The titles I specified. Full authority and competitive salaries. Or would you prefer I take my documentation to the police? Or perhaps the media? I imagine the scandal would be quite entertaining."

The threat hung in the air like a blade because he had just calmed the masses and it would definitely destroy him if another scandal came out.

Lin Yueling made a small sound, something between a gasp and a whimper, finally understanding exactly how cornered Lu Zeyan actually was.

"You..." Lu Zeyan’s voice was barely above a whisper. "You’d destroy everything. The company, our families, and everyone who works here. Thousands of people would lose their jobs if those accusations went public."

"Then I suggest you make sure they don’t go public," Shuyin replied with ruthless calm. "Give me what I want, and your secrets stay buried. Fight me, and I’ll burn this entire branch to the ground and dance on the ashes."

She straightened, smoothing down her skirt elegantly. "Your choice, Lu Zeyan. But decide quickly. My patience has limits, and you’ve already tested them quite thoroughly this morning."

The silence that followed was suffocating and oppressive.

Lu Zeyan stared at her like he was seeing her for the first time, this woman who’d once loved him, who’d once been soft and yielding and eager to please him. That version of Lin Shuyin was gone, if she’d never truly existed, and now was replaced by something cold and calculating and absolutely merciless.

"Fine," he said finally, the word tasted like bile in his mouth. "Director positions. For all three. I’ll have the paperwork drawn up by the end of the day."

"Excellent!" Shuyin’s smile was bright and terrifying. "I knew you’d see reason. Though, there is one more tiny little thing..." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Lu Zeyan’s eyes closed briefly, bracing for impact. "What?"

"I’ll need an office as well," she said cheerfully. "Since I’ll be overseeing my people’s integration into the company structure. Making sure they’re properly supported, that they have everything they need to succeed. You understand."

"You want an office." Lu Zeyan’s voice was flat with exhausted defeat.

"Not just any office," Shuyin clarified, her tone suggesting she was being perfectly reasonable. "Something appropriate. Executive level. With a view, preferably. And close to yours, so we can coordinate easily. We can work well like partners..."

"There are no executive offices available....."

"Then make one available," she interrupted. "Fire whoever’s least useful and give me their space. Or would you prefer I choose which of your directors deserves to be removed? Because I have several candidates in mind who’d benefit from unexpected unemployment."

Lu Zeyan’s jaw worked silently. She could see the calculations running behind his eyes, the desperate search for any way out of this trap that didn’t involve complete capitulation.

He found none.

"There’s... there’s an office on this floor," he said slowly, each word clearly causing him physical pain. "Vice President of Strategic Development. The position has been vacant for three months since Lin Wei retired."

"Perfect!" Shuyin clapped her hands together once, the sound sharp in the tense silence. "I’ll take it. Have it prepared immediately, I’d like to move in today. And my official title will be..."

She paused theatrically, clearly enjoying watching him squirm.

"...Special Executive Advisor to the President. With full access to board meetings, financial reports, and strategic planning sessions. After all, if I’m going to help ensure my people integrate smoothly, I’ll need complete transparency into company operations."

The room seemed to contract around those words.

Special Executive Advisor to the President.

It was a position that didn’t officially exist but could be created with executive authority. A position that would give her access to everything, oversight of everything, influence over everything, without the formal responsibility of an actual operational role.

It was a poisoned gift, dressed up as a job title.

And Lu Zeyan knew it.

"That’s..." He tried to find words, any words that would push back without triggering her nuclear option. "That’s highly irregular, Lin Shuyin. The board will have questions. The other executives....."

"Will accept it because you’ll tell them to," Shuyin interrupted smoothly. "Or because I’ll explain to them, individually and in detail, why it’s in their best interest to welcome me warmly. I’m sure Director Chen and Director Wang especially will be very understanding once we have a private conversation about mutual interests."

The threat was crystal clear.

Comply, or I’ll destroy you all individually.

Lu Zeyan’s shoulders sagged fractionally, the posture of a man who’d just lost a battle he hadn’t even known he was fighting until the killing blow landed.

"I’ll make the arrangements," he said quietly. "But Lin Shuyin, if you think you can just walk in here and....."

"I already have," she pointed out, gesturing around his office where she’d assembled her entire entourage and systematically stripped away every defense he’d tried to erect. "And I’ll keep walking wherever I want, taking whatever I want, until you learn that the woman you betrayed isn’t the helpless victim you imagined."

She turned away from him, addressing her people with the ease of a commander addressing troops.

"Tank, Blade, Razor, you’ll start tomorrow. Today you’ll spend the day getting properly outfitted. Corporate wardrobe, company phones, security badges. Ting Fei will coordinate with HR to expedite everything."

The three of them nodded in unison, satisfaction evident in their bearing.

Shuyin’s attention shifted to Lin Yueling, who’d been standing frozen throughout the entire exchange, her hand still clutching her pregnant belly like it might protect her.

"As for you.....