The next morning, Hua woke up with a dull ache in her chest. Last night's encounter with Ming lingered in her mind. It wasn't just the conversation; it was the weight of her decisions. Balancing her role as CEO with her personal life was becoming harder, and she was starting to feel the cracks forming.
As she arrived at the office, she was greeted by the usual flurry of activity. Her assistant handed her a series of reports to review, and Hua buried herself in work. She was determined to prove to the board—and to herself—that she could handle everything without losing focus.
By mid-afternoon, Hua was in the middle of a meeting with the finance team when her phone buzzed. She ignored it at first, focusing on the discussion at hand. But then it buzzed again, and again.
After the meeting ended, she checked her phone to see a series of messages from Ming.
**Ming:** *Hey, are you free to talk later?*
**Ming:** *I know you're busy, but we need to talk.*
**Ming:** *Hua, I feel like we're drifting apart. Can we fix this?*
Hua stared at the messages, her heart sinking. She hadn't meant to push Ming away, but the demands of her job were consuming her every moment. She knew she couldn't ignore this any longer. Ming deserved an answer.
She sat at her desk for a moment, her fingers hovering over her phone. What could she say? She cared about Ming deeply, but the pressure from the board, the responsibility of leading the company, it all weighed on her more than she had ever anticipated.
Just as she was about to respond, her office door opened, and the chairman walked in. His presence immediately shifted the atmosphere in the room.
"Hua," he said, his voice calm but firm. "We need to discuss the upcoming shareholders' meeting."
Hua nodded, putting her phone down. The conversation with Ming would have to wait.
The chairman sat across from her, pulling out a stack of papers. "The board wants to ensure you're fully prepared. There will be scrutiny, especially after the recent issues. You've managed the crisis well, but you need to project unwavering confidence. The shareholders need to see that you're in control."
"I understand," Hua replied, her tone steady.
The chairman studied her for a moment before leaning back in his chair. "Hua, you've done an extraordinary job. But I have to ask—are you fully committed? We can't afford any distractions right now."
The question hit her like a punch to the gut. She had known this was coming. The board's concerns weren't just about the company; they were about her relationship with Ming.
"I'm completely focused on this company," Hua said, her voice firm. "I've worked harder than anyone to be here."
The chairman nodded, but his expression remained serious. "I know that. But being CEO means making sacrifices. You need to decide what you're willing to sacrifice for the company's success."
Hua's heart raced as she realized what he was implying. Her relationship with Ming was being viewed as a liability. The board didn't want her to just succeed—they wanted her to devote every ounce of her energy to the company, leaving no room for anything or anyone else.
After the chairman left, Hua sat in her office, her mind spinning. Could she really have it all? The company, the success, and Ming?
As evening fell, Hua decided to leave the office early for the first time in weeks. She needed clarity. She needed to talk to Ming.
She met him at their usual café, the one they had been frequenting since they started dating. Ming was already there, waiting for her. When he saw her, his eyes lit up, but there was a tension in his expression that hadn't been there before.
"Hua," he said as she sat down. "I'm glad you came."
Hua took a deep breath, bracing herself for the conversation. "I'm sorry I've been distant," she began. "Work has been… intense."
"I understand that," Ming said gently. "But it feels like you're slipping away. Every time we're together, you're somewhere else—mentally, emotionally."
Hua's throat tightened. "I don't want to lose you, Ming. But the board… they're putting so much pressure on me. They think I'm distracted. They think you're a distraction."
Ming's expression darkened. "Is that what you think too? That I'm a distraction?"
"No," Hua said quickly. "But I'm being pulled in so many directions. I'm trying to keep everything together, but I don't know if I can."
Ming reached across the table, taking her hand. "Hua, I'm not asking you to choose between me and your career. I know how important your work is to you. But I need to know that we're still important too."
Hua looked into his eyes, her heart aching. She didn't want to lose him, but the path she was on felt like it was pulling her away from everything she cared about outside of work.
"I don't know how to balance it all," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm scared that if I give too much to the company, I'll lose you. But if I don't give enough to the company, I'll lose everything I've worked for."
Ming squeezed her hand. "You don't have to do it alone, Hua. I'm here for you. I've always been here for you."
Tears welled in Hua's eyes, and she quickly blinked them away. "I don't know what to do."
Ming stood up, pulling her into a tight embrace. "We'll figure it out together," he whispered. "You don't have to carry this burden alone."
In that moment, standing in Ming's arms, Hua felt a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe she didn't have all the answers yet, but she knew one thing—she wasn't alone.
As they pulled away, Ming gently cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, softly at first, then with more intensity. It was a kiss filled with unspoken promises, with the hope that they could weather whatever storm came their way.
And for the first time in a long time, Hua allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, they could.