Liang Xinyi stood in her corner office, the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the sprawling metropolis below. The city was alive with movement, its pulse synchronized with the heartbeat of industry and commerce. Skyscrapers, each a testament to human ambition, jutted into the sky, but none stood taller than the building that housed Liang Steel Industries.
Xinyi's eyes traced the horizon, but her thoughts were elsewhere. The Liang family's empire had humble beginnings—a small paper company founded by her great-grandfather. Over the decades, it had grown, evolving into a steel conglomerate that supplied custom parts to clients across the globe. But the path to success had been anything but smooth, especially for Xinyi.
She could still remember the boardroom battles, where she had to prove herself to a group of men who believed she was too young, too inexperienced, and too female to lead. They had expected her to fail, to fold under the pressure. Instead, she had fought them tooth and nail, securing her place at the head of the table through sheer determination and business acumen.
As she turned away from the window, her gaze fell on the framed photographs that lined the walls—images of factories, steel mills, and smiling workers, each a reminder of how far the Liang family had come. But no matter how much success she achieved, there was always a shadow hanging over her, a curse that seemed to taint every victory.
A soft knock at the door pulled her from her reverie. Her assistant, a young woman named Mei, entered the room, holding a tablet.
"Ms. Liang, the negotiations with the new supplier are progressing well. We should have a final agreement by the end of the week," Mei reported, her voice steady but tinged with concern.
Xinyi nodded, trying to focus. "Good. We need to stay ahead of the competition."
"There's one more thing," Mei hesitated, her fingers tightening around the tablet. "There's been another incident at the factory."
Xinyi's stomach tightened. "What kind of incident?"
"An unexplained illness. One of the workers collapsed during his shift. The doctors can't figure out what's wrong, and there are rumors… about the curse."
Xinyi felt a chill run down her spine. She had heard the whispers before, the hushed conversations about the curse that plagued her family. Illnesses, accidents, deaths—all inexplicable, all seemingly tied to the Liang name. She had always dismissed them as superstition, a way for people to explain the unexplainable. But the coincidences were becoming harder to ignore.
"Thank you, Mei. I'll look into it," Xinyi said, her voice betraying none of the unease she felt.
As Mei left the room, Xinyi sat down at her desk, her mind racing. The curse had always been a part of her life, a dark cloud that loomed over every decision she made. But she had never allowed it to control her—until now.
That night, after a long day of meetings and phone calls, Xinyi finally retired to her penthouse apartment. The city lights twinkled outside her windows, but she barely noticed them as she prepared for bed. Her mind was still occupied with the day's events, the incident at the factory, and the nagging feeling that something was terribly wrong.
She walked into the bathroom, the cool tiles under her feet grounding her momentarily. Standing before the large mirror, she gazed at her reflection, her features sharp and strong, much like the steel her family had built their empire upon. Yet, behind the strength, she could see the shadows of doubt and fear.
As she stared into her own eyes, her thoughts drifted back to a story her grandfather had told her when she was a child—a story that had always lingered in the recesses of her mind. The tale of Lady Mei, a woman so beautiful and so beloved that her life became a tragedy of epic proportions.
"Lady Mei was adored," her grandfather's voice echoed in her memory. "But she was loved too much. It was that very love that led to her downfall."
According to the story, Lady Mei had been the jewel of the Liang family, destined to be a concubine to the emperor. Her beauty was said to be unmatched, and her grace captivated everyone who saw her. But it was her heart, already promised to another, that sealed her fate. Her love for Captain Jian, a brave warrior from the Zhang family, was both her greatest joy and her greatest sorrow. Their love was forbidden, and when it was discovered, it led to their tragic deaths—and the curse that had haunted both families ever since.
Xinyi had always thought of Lady Mei as a figure from a distant past, a cautionary tale rather than a real person. But now, as she looked at her reflection, she couldn't help but wonder: What would it feel like to be loved so deeply, so passionately, that it could bring a person to ruin?
She frowned at the thought, feeling a pang of insecurity creep into her mind. Would she ever experience a love like that? Xinyi had never been the type to dwell on romantic notions—there was always too much at stake, too much to be done. Her life was consumed by the demands of running a conglomerate, of protecting her family's legacy, and now, of trying to break a curse that had plagued them for generations.
Besides, who could love someone like her? Xinyi knew she was admired, respected, even feared in some circles, but love? Love seemed like an indulgence, a luxury she couldn't afford. She was always so guarded, so focused on the next goal, the next challenge. Perhaps, she mused, she was too much like the steel her family forged—strong, unyielding, but cold and unapproachable.
Was it better to be loved too much, or not at all?
The thought lingered as she turned away from the mirror and climbed into bed. Her mind refused to quiet, replaying the events of the day, the dreamlike images of Lady Mei and Captain Jian, and the inescapable question of love and its consequences.
When she finally drifted off to sleep, her dreams were vivid and unsettling. She found herself in a grand palace, the walls adorned with gold and silk, the air heavy with the scent of incense. She was not alone. A young woman, dressed in delicate robes, stood before her. Her face was one of breathtaking beauty, but her eyes were filled with sorrow.
"Lady Mei," Xinyi whispered, recognizing the woman from the stories she had heard as a child. The tragic figure from her family's past, the woman whose love had cursed them all.
Before Xinyi could speak again, another figure appeared—a man, tall and strong, dressed in the armor of an ancient warrior. He reached out to Lady Mei, but before they could touch, a shadow fell over them, and they were torn apart by an unseen force.
Xinyi woke with a start, her heart pounding. The dream had felt so real, so much more than just a figment of her imagination. She could still see the faces of Lady Mei and the warrior, their love doomed by forces beyond their control.
As she sat up in bed, Xinyi realized that the curse was no longer just a story from the past. It was real, and it was reaching out to her. She knew then that she couldn't ignore it any longer. If she was to protect her family and her empire, she would have to uncover the truth behind the curse—and perhaps, find a way to break it.
But love? Love was a luxury she couldn't afford. She didn't have time to think about love, to wonder what it would feel like to be adored the way Lady Mei had been. She had a conglomerate to run, a legacy to protect, and a curse to break. Love, if it ever came, would have to wait.
Xinyi took a deep breath, pulling herself out of the stupor that had settled over her. She pushed the unsettling thoughts aside and left the bedroom, her bare feet padding softly on the cool floor as she made her way to the kitchen. The modern, minimalist space was a stark contrast to the ancient scenes that had just played out in her mind. She filled a glass with water, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat, and stared out of the window at the city lights, trying to find some semblance of peace.
She knew she couldn't afford to dwell on dreams and curses—at least, not tonight. There was too much at stake, too many responsibilities weighing on her shoulders. Xinyi set the empty glass down with a determined clink, resolving to push all thoughts of Lady Mei and forbidden love to the back of her mind.
Returning to her bedroom, she slipped back into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. A rested body, she reminded herself, would have to balance an unrested mind. She would face whatever challenges tomorrow brought, with or without the specter of the past hanging over her. But for now, she needed sleep. With that thought, she closed her eyes, forcing herself to drift off once more into the quiet darkness.