Chapter 115: Cease-and-Desist

Wei sat in his spacious, meticulously organized office, his gaze fixed on the numerous screens displaying various metrics and projections for CinkoSolar Holdings. The tranquility of the room was suddenly interrupted by the soft knock of his personal secretary.

"Enter," Wei called out, without shifting his focus from the screens.

The door opened, and in stepped Li Hua, his efficient and ever-discreet secretary. With her steps measured and her posture respectful, she approached Wei's desk, holding a piece of paper that seemed oddly out of place in the digitalized environment.

"Mr. Wei, this just arrived for you," Li Hua said, extending the printed email towards him.

Wei turned his attention to her, a slight frown forming on his brow as he took the paper.

"What is this about?"

"It's a cease-and-desist letter from SolaraTech, sir," Li Hua replied.

Wei's frown deepened as he began to read the letter.

Chen Wei

CEO, CinkoSolar Holdings

No. 88 CinkoSolar Road

Beijing, China

Date: September 25, 2025

Subject: Cease and Desist for Unauthorized Cyber Activities

[Dear Mr. Chen Wei,

This letter serves as a formal notice from SolaraTech Corporation, a leader in the photovoltaic industry, recognized for its commitment to innovation and the development of sustainable energy solutions. It has come to our attention that CinkoSolar Holdings has engaged in activities that infringe upon our legal rights and harm our business interests.

However, he was also infuriated that SolaraTech found out that they were conducting cyberattacks against their network.

"Sir...what do we do?" Li Hua asked.

"I need to contact Shadow," Wei answered as he picked up his phone and contacted

the hacker known as Shadow. His fingers moved swiftly, navigating through encrypted communication channels to ensure the conversation remained secure.

As the call connected, Wei's tone was stern, "Shadow, it's Wei. We have a situation. SolaraTech has sent us a cease-and-desist letter, accusing us of hiring you for cyberattacks against their network. They claim to have irrefutable evidence linking us to you. Do you mind explaining what happened?"

"I see. That's problematic. But you should know, that I've covered our tracks well. It's highly unlikely they have anything directly connecting us," Shadow replied.

"If it's highly unlikely then why do they have a cease-and-desist letter claiming otherwise? It means that you might have left something that led them back to us. This is a serious breach of our agreement and the operational security I expected from you," Wei's frustration was evident, his voice gaining a sharper edge.

Shadow remained calm, a contrast to Wei's growing agitation. "I understand your concern, Mr. Wei. Please give me some time to look into this matter more deeply. I'll conduct a thorough review of our operations to identify any potential slip-ups. However, I assure you, my initial assessment is that they're bluffing.

They might not have concrete evidence."

"Evidence..." Wei repeated and glanced at Li Hua. "Send a reply to their email, and request for this so-called irrefutable evidence they claim to have. Let's see what SolaraTech actually has on us. We'll decide our next steps based on their response."

Li Hua nodded, "Understood, Mr. Wei. I'll draft the email and send it right away."

After Li Hua exited the room, Wei leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. The situation was delicate, and he knew that any misstep could have significant consequences for CinkoSolar Holdings. Not only was the company's reputation at stake but so were its financial stability and market position.

Wei's mind raced through various scenarios, planning for each possible outcome. If SolaraTech's evidence was as solid as they claimed, CinkoSolar would need to prepare for a legal battle. On the other hand, if SolaraTech was bluffing, then this might be an opportunity to negotiate and settle the matter out of court. Either way, Wei was determined to protect CinkoSolar Holdings at all costs.

He considered the importance of public relations in this situation. A public dispute could harm CinkoSolar's image, especially if the allegations of cyberattacks were taken seriously by the media and the public. Wei decided to reach out to his PR team to start preparing a strategy to mitigate any potential damage.

Wei also pondered the possibility of internal leaks. How did SolaraTech manage to connect CinkoSolar with Shadow? Was there a breach within his own team, or had Shadow been careless? These were questions that needed answers, and quickly. He made a mental note to enhance the company's internal security measures and conduct a thorough investigation.

As he awaited Li Hua's return, Wei thought about the broader implications of this conflict. The renewable energy sector was highly competitive, and companies often went to great lengths to outdo each other. Engaging in cyber espionage was one of them. Wei conducted this to get the schematics of their solar panel and how they are manufactured.

But now it seemed the decision to do that is biting them back. Wei knew the implications of their actions going public could not only tarnish CinkoSolar's reputation but also potentially lead to significant legal and financial penalties. The stakes were high, and the margin for error was nonexistent.