A Day Earlier...
Madame Han sat in her luxurious hotel suite, her eyes fixed on the city view outside the window. But her mind was elsewhere, replaying the dramatic scene she had witnessed earlier that day.
She had been stuck in traffic near the riverbank when a commotion caught her attention. A young boy was struggling to stay afloat, his mother frantically screaming for help. And then, a young woman had dove into the water, fearlessly rescuing the boy and his kitten.
Madame Han's thoughts lingered on the woman's bravery and selflessness. Who was this remarkable young woman?
What drove her to risk her life for a stranger?
As she pondered these questions, Madame Han's assistant, entered the room. "Madame, I have the information you requested," She said, handing her a folder.
Madame Han's eyes scanned the contents, her interest piqued. "Ah, the charity ball," she murmured. "I almost forgot."
Her assistant. "I've confirmed your attendance, Madame. The ball is this evening."
Madame Han's gaze drifted back to the window, her mind still on the mysterious young woman. Little did she know, their paths would cross again soon...
As Madame Han's thoughts wandered, her assistant cleared her throat to get her attention. "Madame, shall I arrange for your dress to be delivered to the hotel? The designer has sent over some exquisite options for the ball."
Madame Han nodded absently, her mind still on the young woman. "Yes, yes, that would be lovely. Thank you...."
she smiled and nodded, making a note on her clipboard. "I'll take care of it, Madame. The designer will deliver the dresses soon. Shall I also arrange for a hair stylist and makeup artist to come to the hotel?"
Madame Han waved her hand distractedly. "Yes, yes, that's fine. Whatever you think is best."
As the assistant turned to leave, Madame Han's gaze drifted back to the window, her thoughts still consumed her.
Later that evening, Madame Han entered the ballroom with quiet elegance, her silver hair styled perfectly and her designer gown shimmering softly in the light. As she made her way through the crowd, she exchanged warm smiles and greetings with the other guests.
Mr. and Mrs. Li, resplendent in their formal attire, beamed as they welcomed Madame Han to the ball. "Madame Han, it's an honor to have you with us tonight," Mr. Li said, shaking her hand.
Mrs. Li smiled warmly. "We're so grateful you could join us. Please, enjoy the evening."
Just then, Mrs. Li's eyes sparkled as she called out, "Jia, dear, come greet Madame Han."
On the other side of the ballroom, Jia turned from welcoming a group of guests. Her back was to Madame Han, but as she turned, her tailored suit and crisp white shirt accentuated her lean, athletic build. Her dark hair was styled neatly, and her striking features shone under the ballroom lights and showed no doubt she's the sole heir to the esteemed family.
As Jia approached, Madame Han's eyes locked onto the familiar face. Her expression changed from curiosity to surprise, and she took a step forward.
"Ah, you're...the young woman from....," her voice barely above a whisper.
Jia's eyes met Madame Han's, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Madame Han," she said, her deep voice smooth as silk. "It's a pleasure to meet you formally."
Madame Han's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she took in Jia's polished demeanor. "I must say, I'm surprised to see you here," Madame Han said, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.
Jia's smile grew, and she inclined her head slightly. "The pleasure is mine, Madame Han," Jia replied, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
As Jia excused herself to greet other guests, Madame Han turned to Mr. and Mrs. Li. "Your daughter is quite the accomplished young woman," Madame Han said, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
Mrs. Li beamed with pride. "Oh, Jia is a gem! She's always been an exceptional child. She's top of her class and started her own charity foundation, and has been successfully running the family business."
Madame Han's eyebrows rose in surprise. "That's impressive. She's certainly a credit to your family."
Mr. Li smiled, his eyes shining with pride. "We're very proud of her. She's a true leader and a kind soul."
Just then, Jia returned to the group, a gracious smile on her face. "I see you're getting acquainted with my parents, Madame Han," Jia said, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
As the music changed to a elegant waltz, Madame Han turned to Jia with a sly smile. "I think it's time for us to take the dance floor, don't you, My dear?"
Jia's eyes widened in surprise, but she couldn't help laughing at Madame Han's audacity. "I'd be honored," Jia replied, offering her hand.
As they glided across the dance floor, the room fell silent, with all eyes on the unlikely pair. The girls in the audience couldn't help but squeal with delight, snapping photos and cheering them on.
Madame Han, meanwhile, was beaming with joy, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're a natural, sweetheart," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the music.
Jia chuckled, feeling a little more at ease. "Thanks to my excellent partner, Madame Han," she replied, smiling up at her.
The crowd erupted into applause as the music came to an end, with Madame Han and Jia taking a dramatic bow together.
As the night wore on, Jia excused herself from Madame Han's charming company and made her way to her friends, who were eagerly waiting for her.
Meanwhile, Madame Han turned to Mr. and Mrs. Li with a polite smile. "May I have a word with you both in private? There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Mr. and Mrs. Li exchanged a curious glance, but nodded graciously. "Of course, Madame Han. Please, follow us."
They led Madame Han to a luxurious VIP lounge, tucked away from the bustling ballroom. The room was dimly lit, with plush sofas and a fireplace crackling in the corner.
As soon as they were seated, Madame Han's expression turned serious. "I've been considering a union between our families for some time now," she began, her voice low and measured. "And I believe Jia would make an excellent match for my grandson, Daniel."
Mr. and Mrs. Li's faces lit up with surprise and delight, but they tried to maintain their composure. "We're honored by your proposal, Madame Han," Mr. Li said, beaming with pride.
Madame Han smiled, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. "I'm glad you're open to the idea. I believe this union would bring great prosperity and happiness to both our families."
As the night drew to a close, Jia remained blissfully unaware of the dramatic turn her life was about to take...
The next morning...
Jia woke up feeling refreshed and energized, the memories of the previous night's charity ball still dancing in her head. She stretched lazily, yawned, and reached for her phone to check the time.
As she scrolled through her social media, she noticed a flurry of notifications and messages from her friends, all congratulating her on a successful event.
Jia smiled, feeling proud of herself, and began to get ready for the day. She headed downstairs, expecting a quiet morning with her parents.
But as she entered the living room, she was greeted by her parents' beaming faces, holding a strange, secretive grin.
"Good morning, sweetie!" Mrs. Li chimed, her voice a little too enthusiastic. "We have some special news to share with you..."
Jia's curiosity piqued, she sat down beside them, sensing something big was about to drop...
"Madame Han approached us last night with a very interesting proposal," Mr. Li began, his eyes shining with excitement.
Jia's curiosity turned into confusion. "What kind of proposal?" she asked, her mind racing with possibilities.
Mrs. Li took a deep breath before dropping the bombshell: "She wants you to marry her grandson!"
Jia's eyes widened in shock... "What!"
Jia's face went blank, her mind struggling to process the unexpected news. "Marry... her grandson?" she stuttered, feeling like she'd been punched in the gut.
Her parents nodded enthusiastically, still beaming with excitement. "Yes, sweetie! Madame Han thinks you two would make a perfect couple," Mrs. Li said, her voice dripping with optimism.
Jia's shock gave way to incredulity. "But... I don't even know the guy!" she protested, her voice rising in dismay.
Mr. Li chuckled. "Ah, don't worry, dear. You'll get to know him soon enough. Madame Han wants to arrange a meeting between you two."
Jia's face twisted in frustration and regret. "I should've just kept my mouth shut!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up.
Mrs. Li's brow furrowed. "What do you mean, sweetie?"
Jia shook her head. "Nothing. Just that I should've stuck to organizing the ball and not tried to be all chatty like you guys told me to."
Mr. Li chuckled. "Jia, you're being too hard on yourself. Madame Han was genuinely impressed."
Jia cut him off, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Oh yeah, impressed enough to want me to marry her grandson!"
*The present day...
Daniel finished reading the bedtime story to Lucas, who was now snuggled up and sleepy-eyed. Daniel gave him a gentle goodnight kiss on the forehead.
"Sleep tight, little bro," Daniel whispered.
As Lucas drifted off to sleep, the butler appeared at the doorway. " Young Master, Madame Han has arrived. She's waiting for you in her study."
Daniel's curiosity was piqued. What could his grandmother want to discuss at this hour?
He quietly left Lucas's room and made his way to Madame Han's study. The door was slightly ajar, and he could see his grandmother seated behind her massive desk.
"You're back," Daniel said, walking into the study. "What's going on? You look like you're plotting something."
Madame Han's expression remained stern, but a hint of a smile played on her lips. "Let's just say I have a surprise for you, My dear. Something that will change your life forever."
Daniel's eyes narrowed, intrigued. "What is it?"
Madame Han leaned back in her chair, steepling her fingers together. "All in good time, Danny. But rest assured, this surprise will be... enlightening."
His raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Enlightening?"
Madame Han nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yes, Danny. You're going to need to sit down for this."
Daniel's curiosity was killing him. He walked over to the chair in front of his grandmother's desk and sat down, his eyes locked on hers.
"Okay, fine. I'm sitting. What's this surprise?" He asked, his tone a mix of amusement and wariness.
Madame Han leaned forward, her eyes glinting with a knowing spark. "Danny, you're old enough now, and it's time you started thinking about your future... and your family's legacy."
Daniel's eyes narrowed, a sense of trepidation creeping up his spine. Where was his grandmother going with this?
As Daniel sat in the dimly lit study, he couldn't shake off the feeling that his life was about to take a drastic turn. Madame Han's stern expression and the weight of her gaze made him wonder what she had in store for him.
The air was thick with anticipation, and Daniel's instincts screamed at him to be prepared. But for what, he had no idea.
And with that, the room fell silent, the only sound the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner, counting down the seconds until his fate would be revealed....