Monday Morning – NovaWear HQ
The glow of the weekend's success hadn't even faded when the trap was sprung.
Bai Chen sat at his glass office desk, still reviewing festival performance metrics.
Sales? Up 470%.
Social engagement? Viral.
Brand awareness? Through the roof.
But then—
[ALERT: Legal Summons Detected]
Sender: Zhao Enterprises + Fang Legal Group
Reason: Trademark Infringement, Tax Irregularity, Suspected IP Theft
Deadline to Respond: 48 Hours
Consequence: NovaWear shutdown + Public Reputation Hit
He froze for half a second. Just half.
Then the calm returned to his face like a switch being flipped.
"So this is how they want to play."
Downtown Law Firm – Fang Group HQ
Fang Zemin stood behind a conference table, his fingers tapping slowly.
"Bai Chen's company is flashy, fast… but unprotected. Let's see how long he lasts in the real world."
Zhao Ming smirked beside him. "The festival? Just a flare. We'll crush his company before next week."
[New Threat Detected: Legacy Shield Alliance]
[Power Tier: Elite Second-Gen Conglomerates]
[Tactic: Legal, Corporate Sabotage]
[Objective: Destroy Bai Chen's credibility + seize NovaWear IP]
Back at NovaWear – CEO Office
[System Mission Triggered: "Win the Lawsuit War"]
Main Task: Defend NovaWear from elite legal attack
Sub-Tasks:
– Hire a powerful legal team
– Counter-investigate Fang-Zhao irregularities
– Survive the public smear campaign
Bonus: Publicly flip the case = Unlock National Media Attention + System Stock Market Access
That Night – Su Yiran's Private Penthouse
Bai Chen sat across from Su Yiran, wine in hand. The lights of the city twinkled far below them.
"They're pulling strings in the legal world now," he said.
"I warned you," she replied. "Zemin's father has a private law firm. And Zhao's family owns half the media in this district."
"Good," Bai Chen smirked. "That just makes their downfall more valuable."
She studied him for a moment.
"You need help," she said finally. "Real help."
Bai Chen raised an eyebrow.
She tapped her phone. A number dialed. Then—
A calm, older voice answered.
"Su Yiran. What's the favor?"
She replied, "I need the Dragon's Claw."
Silence. Then:
"...Understood."
She ended the call.
[Su Yiran Loyalty Perk Activated: Hidden Support Accessed – "Dragon's Claw" Elite Legal Team Summoned]
[Estimated Success Rate: 72% → 94%]
Next Morning – City Courthouse
The media flooded in.
"NovaWear facing massive lawsuit!"
"Is Donghua High's new star a fraud?"
"Zhao Enterprises strikes back!"
Inside the courtroom, reporters lined the back. Fang Zemin and Zhao Ming sat confidently at the plaintiff's bench.
Bai Chen walked in alone at first—calm, black suit, no tie.
Then the doors opened again.
In walked the Dragon's Claw Legal Team.
Five lawyers in blood-red ties, each carrying case files. Their leader, an icy woman with silver hair, walked like she'd already won.
Fang Zemin's face twitched.
[System Perk Activated: Psychological Pressure]
[Zhao Ming Confidence -32%]
Courtroom – Opening Argument
Zemin's lawyer went first. Calm. Confident. Rattled off terms like "fraudulent registration," "unauthorized branding," "IP theft."
It sounded solid. Legal death.
Then the lead Dragon's Claw lawyer stood.
And in less than seven minutes, shredded every accusation.
Screenshots. Dated documents. Hidden transactions from Zhao Enterprises showing they had stolen NovaWear's pre-release product designs three months prior.
"Your Honor," she said coldly, "this lawsuit is nothing more than an attempted corporate ambush. Our counter-suit for damages is being filed now."
Fang's face drained of color.
[Surprise Counter-Attack Activated]
[Zhao Enterprises Reputation -520]
[Fang Group Legal Privileges Suspended Pending Internal Review]
Outside the Court – Media Frenzy
The headlines changed instantly.
"Bai Chen's Team Strikes Back!"
"Zhao Enterprises Caught Red-Handed!"
"NovaWear's Rise Just Got National Attention!"
[System Notification:]
[Mission Complete: "Win the Lawsuit War"]
Rewards:
¥3,000,000 in Compensation
Access to Investment Platform: Shenhao Stocks
New Trait: "Corporate Immunity – Level 1"
Public Favorability: +800
School Reputation: +MAXED
Later That Night – Rooftop Reflection
Bai Chen stood on his apartment rooftop, city lights spread beneath him.
The stars above. The battlefield below.
They tried to bury him in paper and lies.
He answered with truth and fire.
[Next Mission Unlocked: "Conquer the Stock Market"]
[Special Event in 48 Hours: National College Startup Summit – Media + Rival CEO Attendees Confirmed]
He looked up and whispered:
"One empire down. Time to build a kingdom."