Last hope.....Han Li?
The past few months had been hell for Qin Zhen.
It wasn't just a financial crisis—it was a full-scale war.
The Jiang family, an old money dynasty with a history entrenched in medicine, politics, and elite circles, had turned their focus onto him and his company.
Who would have thought that the woman they had all dismissed, mocked, and ignored had been their long-lost daughter?
Who would have thought that her death would awaken such unrelenting vengeance?
Qin Corp had always been a pillar in the business and entertainment world.Feared. Respected. Untouchable.
But not anymore.
The silent attacks began subtly, creeping in through government regulations, investment withdrawals, and unexpected legal battles.
One by one, shareholders pulled out, their allegiances shifting to safer, more stable ventures.
Contracts were lost.
Deals dissolved.
Everything he built—everything his family had controlled for generations—was slipping through his fingers.
The Jiang family hadn't just declared war.
They were winning.
---
That was why he was here.Standing at the entrance of a towering glass skyscraper, sleek and modern, the beacon of a rising empire.
The Han Group.
In the past year, this company had grown at an alarming rate.
Despite its relatively young existence, it had made all the right moves, crushed its competitors, and subtly woven itself into the highest levels of business and politics.
It was whispered that the CEO had ties to someone powerful, someone untouchable.
Qin Zhen needed those ties.
They were his last hope.
If they refused him—if he left this building without a deal—
He wouldn't have a company to return to.
**
He ducked his head as he entered, evading the lurking paparazzi at the entrance.
Inside, the cool, polished floors reflected the glow of crystal chandeliers.
Employees moved swiftly, their expensive suits and focused expressions giving away the atmosphere of power that resided here.
This was not a company that entertained weakness.
He approached the front desk, barely managing to state his purpose before he was instructed to wait.
And wait.
And wait.
Two hours.
That was how long they left him in a lavish waiting room, sipping bitter black coffee, watching the sun dip lower through the skyscraper windows.
He knew the game.
This was a power move.
A deliberate tactic to remind him that he was no longer in control.
For so long, he had been the one to dictate meetings, control negotiations, make others wait on him.
Now, he was just another desperate man in a failing suit, hoping for a lifeline.
Finally, a tall, stone-faced secretary approached.
> "The CEO will see you now."
Qin Zhen exhaled, setting his untouched coffee down.
His hands adjusted his suit jacket out of habit, his movements stiff, mechanical.
He gathered his files, took one last deep breath, and followed the man down a long, sleek hallway.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
He could feel it—the weight of his family's legacy crushing down on his shoulders.
If this didn't work, if this CEO refused to align with him—
Qin Corp would not survive another month.
The high-rise penthouse office was massive, cold, and clinical.
Expensive artwork adorned the walls. A floor-to-ceiling window overlooked the entire city, the lights twinkling below like dying stars.
The air was thick with authority, a presence so tangible it nearly suffocated him.
And at the center of it all—A chair.
Facing away from him.No movement.
No indication of acknowledgment.
Qin Zhen tensed.
It was disrespectful—deliberate, once again, to put him in his place.
Still, he swallowed his irritation and kept his voice steady.
> "I greet CEO Han."
Silence.
The chair did not move.
His brows furrowed, his patience wearing thin.
He was already at the bottom.
How much further were they planning to push him?
He clenched his fists, inhaled sharply, and forced himself to begin.
> "I have prepared a proposal for a strategic alliance between Han Group and Qin Corp," he started, voice measured, professional. "Despite the turbulence in the market, I believe a partnership between us would be mutually beneficial. Han Group has demonstrated remarkable growth, and aligning with Qin Corp would—"
Twenty minutes.He spoke for twenty minutes, detailing mergers, investments, and contingency plans.
He laid everything on the table.
His final gamble.
And yet—the chair still did not move.
Then—
A hum.Soft. Thoughtful.A voice finally broke the silence.
> "Hmmmnnn..."
It was light, amused, taunting.
Slowly, the chair turned.
And the moment he saw who sat there, his blood turned to ice.
Han Li.
His former secretary.
The woman who had once stood quietly behind him, taking orders, arranging meetings, managing his affairs.
The woman who had left without a trace, only to resurface here.
At the top.
In power.
Sitting in the chair he had once thought reserved for men like him.
She was different now.
Her usual submissive posture was gone, replaced with the lazy confidence of someone who owned everything in the room.
She sat like a queen on her throne, her sharp gaze studying him like he was nothing more than a passing amusement.
The corner of her lips curled.
> "I'm still not convinced, though, CEO Qin."
Meanwhile, in the System Core…
> SYSTEM 404: [PROCESSING NEW DATA...]
SYSTEM 404: [ERROR. ERROR. ERROR.]
SYSTEM 404: [HOST DETECTED.]
SYSTEM 404: [...HOW DID SHE GET HERE?!]
SYSTEM 404: [WHY IS SHE CEO?!]
SYSTEM 404: [THE PLOT—THE PLOT IS STILL INTACT, BUT—]
SYSTEM 404: [WHAT. THE. HELL. HAPPENED?!]