Unspoken Tensions & Rising Stakes

Morning After the Lounge Incident

The soft golden glow of morning light seeped through the curtains of Joshua's penthouse suite. He sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, a cup of black coffee in hand, as he replayed last night's events in his mind.

Jia Yi's possessiveness, Sung En's teasing dominance, Bai Lianhua's silent intrigue, and Lu Zhenfeng's hostile gaze from the shadows—it was clear that things were becoming more complex than simple business negotiations.

Joshua wasn't naive. He saw the subtle battle lines forming.

His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. A message from Su Yan.

[Su Yan: Morning, Boss. The AI launch event is in three days—everything is in place. We should go over the final security measures today.]

A small smirk played on Joshua's lips. Su Yan never wasted time with pleasantries—always straight to business.

His mind shifted gears. With Titan Dynamics lurking and Lu Zhenfeng now showing his face, securing Alpha's upcoming reveal was more crucial than ever.

Joshua sent a quick reply.

[Joshua: Be at LimTech HQ by noon. We'll finalize everything.]

Jia Yi's Mood & The Drive to LimTech

As he got ready to leave, Jia Yi emerged from the bedroom, wrapped in one of his dress shirts, her long black hair slightly messy. She looked adorable—but her expression was anything but pleased.

"You're heading out?" she asked, a slight edge in her voice.

Joshua raised an eyebrow, amused by her attitude. "Yeah. I have business at LimTech."

Jia Yi crossed her arms. "You mean with Su Yan?"

Joshua sighed, stepping closer to cup her cheek gently. "Are you still upset about last night?"

Jia Yi's face turned slightly pink, but she didn't back down. "You're gathering women around you like it's a business strategy."

Joshua chuckled. "If I was, would you invest?"

Jia Yi glared at him, but her lips twitched into a reluctant smile. "Just don't let them think they have a chance, got it?"

Joshua kissed her forehead before whispering, "I only have eyes for one woman right now."

Jia Yi's heart raced, but she quickly masked it with a fake cough. "Fine. Just don't be late for dinner."

She watched as Joshua left, her fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt tightly.

She wasn't going to lose ground. Not to anyone.

LimTech HQ – Finalizing Alpha's Security

By the time Joshua arrived at LimTech's headquarters, Su Yan was already in the tech lab, surrounded by high-definition holographic displays and complex data streams.

Her striking red hair was tied back, her sharp eyes scanning lines of code at an inhuman speed. She looked up when Joshua entered, her usual cocky smirk in place.

"Finally decided to show up, Boss?"

Joshua leaned against the desk, watching the AI interface flicker. "Just making sure our genius programmer didn't burn the place down."

Su Yan snorted. "You should be begging me to stay at this company, considering I'm single-handedly keeping you ahead of Titan Dynamics."

Joshua grinned. "That's why I'm here—to make sure we stay ahead."

Su Yan's smirk faltered for a second, her fingers subconsciously tightening around her tablet.

She wouldn't admit it, but Joshua's attention—even if business-related—made her chest tighten in an unfamiliar way.

[System Notification: Su Yan Favorability +5 → (Total: 75 Points)]

"Anyway," Su Yan cleared her throat, shaking off her thoughts. "Security measures are in place. We've detected suspicious activity, though."

Joshua's eyes narrowed. "Titan Dynamics?"

Su Yan nodded. "Their 'new' AI prototype is suspiciously similar to Alpha. Either they have a mole inside LimTech, or they stole something directly from SunTech before the acquisition."

Joshua's jaw clenched. He had suspected Titan Dynamics would make a move, but this confirmed it.

"This means they'll be targeting the launch event," Su Yan added.

Joshua smirked, his mind already devising a counterattack. "Then let's make sure they regret underestimating us."

A Surprise Encounter – Bai Lianhua Joins the Game

As Joshua left the tech lab, he spotted a familiar figure waiting for him in the executive lounge—Bai Lianhua.

Dressed in an elegant white blouse and a fitted pencil skirt, she sipped her tea with graceful ease. When she saw Joshua, she smiled softly.

"I didn't expect to find you so soon," she murmured.

Joshua took a seat across from her. "What brings you here?"

Bai Lianhua placed her cup down, her dark eyes studying him carefully. "I've been thinking about what happened last night."

Joshua raised an eyebrow.

She continued, "You're an enigma, Joshua. Every time I think I understand your ambition, I realize you're playing a different game entirely."

Joshua chuckled. "And which game do you think I'm playing?"

Bai Lianhua leaned forward slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "The game of power, influence… and attraction."

Joshua's smirk deepened. "And which part of that interests you the most?"

Bai Lianhua's lips curved slightly. "All of it."

[System Notification: Bai Lianhua Favorability +5 → (Total: 65 Points)]

Joshua could feel the subtle shift in her demeanor. Unlike Jia Yi's possessiveness or Sung En's playful defiance, Bai Lianhua was like a silent storm—slowly approaching, but dangerously unpredictable.

Their conversation was interrupted by a message flashing on Joshua's phone.

[Unknown Sender: Chairman Lim, if you want to stop Titan Dynamics… you'll need more than just Alpha. Be careful. The shadows are watching.]

Joshua's expression darkened.

Bai Lianhua noticed the change. "Something wrong?"

Joshua slipped his phone back into his pocket. "Nothing I can't handle."

She smiled knowingly. "Then I look forward to seeing how you handle it."

The Web Tightens

As night fell, Joshua returned to his penthouse, his mind racing with strategies.

Titan Dynamics had made their move. A mole could be lurking in LimTech. Jia Yi was growing more possessive, Sung En was becoming bolder, Su Yan was proving indispensable, and Bai Lianhua had thrown herself into the mix.

And now, a mysterious third party was watching from the shadows.

Joshua smirked to himself, unbuttoning his cuffs.

"Things are finally getting interesting."

[Current Favorability Points]

• Jia Yi: 92 Points (Still possessive, but deeply in love)

• Sung En: 75 Points (Playful but emotionally conflicted)

• Su Yan: 75 Points (Developing subconscious feelings but focused on business)

• Bai Lianhua: 65 Points (Intrigued and beginning to step forward)

[Recent System Rewards]

• New Skill Unlocked: Cyber Warfare (Allows detection and counter-hacking of intelligence threats)

• New Asset: 500 Million Yen Government Contract for AI Development

• Attribute Points: +10 Intelligence & Strategy

Next Chapter Teaser: "The AI War Begins"

With Titan Dynamics preparing to sabotage the Alpha launch, a mole inside LimTech, and a shadowy figure observing from the dark, Joshua must take control of the battlefield before his empire faces its first true crisis.

But amidst the chaos… will the flames of rivalry between the heroines burn out of control?