Monday morning arrived with a chill in the air. Despite the clear skies over Dongjiang, Lu Zhen could sense the shift before stepping into the Urban Affairs Coordinating Division.
Whispers that paused mid-sentence when he passed.
Eyes that glanced, then darted away.
Emails that used to arrive at 8:00 sharp now arrived at noon—if at all.
Lu Zhen's name was no longer just whispered with admiration or curiosity. There was something else.
Caution.
Or worse—fear.
And where fear grew, sabotage wasn't far behind.
---
The Seed of Mistrust
By 10:00 a.m., Lu was summoned to Director Peng Shicheng's office.
The door closed quietly behind him.
Peng didn't look up immediately. He tapped a pen thoughtfully before speaking.
"Do you know what was said this morning in the Planning Bureau tea room?"
Lu remained still.
"That you were offered a 'research assistant' position in Xu Qinglan's strategic unit," Peng said. "But turned it down because you had 'bigger fish' on your line."
Lu raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I haven't spoken to anyone in that bureau in weeks."
Peng looked up sharply. "You don't have to. In politics, the truth is irrelevant. The narrative is what matters."
He slid a printed email across the table.
Anonymous. Carefully worded. Meant to provoke suspicion.
> "Advisors should know their station. The boy forgets he is not yet a man."
Lu read it, then placed it back on the desk.
"I expected the knives to come. I didn't expect them to be so dull."
Peng cracked a small grin, but there was no warmth.
"You have two choices. Keep rising and attract more arrows. Or step back and let someone else catch the next volley."
"I'll bring a shield," Lu said calmly. "And let the arrows come."
---
System Alert: Political Pressure Event Triggered
> Minor Defamation Campaign Detected
Source: Unknown (3-hop proxy)
Goal: Slow promotion momentum, test internal support
> System Response Options:
1. Ignore and Proceed (High risk, medium gain)
2. Deflect via Counter-Narrative (Medium risk, high gain)
3. Isolate Rumor Network Source (Low risk, low gain)
Lu selected Option 2.
Counter it—with strategy.
---
Operation: "The Humble Climber"
That afternoon, Lu arranged for a team lunch with the five junior officers from the Logistics and Planning wing—a team known for casual gossip leaks.
At first, they were wary. But he came bearing food. Good food.
And better yet—stories.
Over hot dumplings and cold tea, Lu laughed softly as he spoke:
"I used to be a nobody, you know. First week in this office, I got lost trying to find the restroom. Now people act like I'm some secret weapon. It's flattering, but I'd rather be a workhorse than a warhorse."
He paused for effect.
"I've still got dust on my shoes. And my mother still tells me to be humble when I call home."
By the end of the meal, the vibe had changed.
He was no longer the threatening golden boy.
He was one of them, just lucky, just working hard.
---
Counter-Narrative Spread: Active
> False Reputation Damage: -32%
Shadow Hostility Index: Reduced
Trait Gained: "Situational Humility" (Passive)
— Minor resistance to jealousy-based rumor campaigns
— Improves favorability with mid-tier bureaucrats
Lu Zhen smiled to himself.
Sometimes, survival was about playing smaller than you were.
---
Xu Qinglan's Warning
That evening, Lu received a voice message from Xu Qinglan.
> "They're testing you. Vice Minister Hao has greenlit a parallel candidate for the same track you're on. A girl from Suzhou. Strong background. Family in the Central Office."
> "She's been assigned to the Agricultural Bureau. And guess what? They're about to launch a joint initiative with your policy pilot from Chapter 15."
Lu's eyes sharpened.
So it wasn't just arrows. It was replacement.
They were giving another rising star his pathway—and seeing who would shine brighter.
Politics was never fair. It was a test of who could rewrite the rules faster than the others could read them.
---
Meet the Competition
Wednesday morning, the joint session for the Dongjiang Agricultural-Urbanscape Integration Pilot convened.
And that's when Lu met her.
Chen Yuwei.
28. Elegant. Reserved. And sharp as a scalpel.
She walked into the room like she already owned it—but made sure to look modest while doing so.
When Lu introduced himself, she smiled with gentle eyes and said: "So you're the one causing all the waves. I've heard...rumors."
"I try to keep the ripples small," Lu replied.
"Small ripples make big floods," she said with a smirk, then turned to address the room.
It was war.
But this time, with diplomacy.
---
The Policy Debate
The session centered on implementation timelines.
Lu advocated for a modular rollout, beginning in high-yield village corridors before extending into low-performance zones.
Chen countered with a top-down integration, citing research grants tied to provincial frameworks.
The room watched as they exchanged point and counterpoint.
Lu brought data. She brought connections.
He wielded flexibility. She wielded formality.
After two hours, they reached a compromise—a hybrid model.
The director applauded them both.
But Lu saw it in her eyes.
This wasn't the last round.
---
System Alert: Dynamic Rival Detected
> Name: Chen Yuwei
Alignment: Neutral-Competitive
System Rating: "Parallel Prodigy"
Risk Tier: 3
Traits: "Legacy Network," "Policy Precision," "Public Compliance"
> Rivalry Path: Activated
Special Rule: Shared Ladder — One promotion slot, two candidates
> Warning: Future Promotion Evaluations Will Be Weighted Against Her Performance
Lu Zhen leaned back in his chair after the meeting.
He wasn't angry.
He was motivated.
---
Internal Message: Cao Tianyi Speaks
That night, a rare message came from Cao Tianyi—the quiet mentor with deep ties to shadow networks.
> "They've thrown in a star child against you. You must be doing better than I thought."
Lu typed back: "Any advice?"
> "Yes. Don't try to beat her in the spotlight. Make sure the ground under her moves. Quietly."
Lu paused, then asked: "And when the floor gives out?"
> "Offer her a hand. The crowd will remember that more than the fall."
---
Final Scene: The Files Beneath the Floorboards
Late that night, Lu returned to the city records center. He had an idea.
If Chen Yuwei's initiative relied on provincial grant renewals, then the key was timing.
He searched past audit reports, financial rebalancing schedules, and legislative delay patterns.
And he found it.
The Suzhou Backlogged Reallocation Clause—a buried loophole. It delayed new grant approvals by 60 days unless revalidated by the finance committee.
Her proposal would hit a silent wall—unless she'd seen it too.
Lu didn't intend to sabotage her.
He just intended to prepare better.
---
End of Chapter 17