The sun had barely risen over Shanghai when Joshua awoke to the soft breathing of Jia Yi beside him. Two days had passed since the night he saved her and her family from the loan sharks, and their relationship had subtly changed. She no longer teased him out of habit—her eyes now held a gentle affection, the kind that didn't need playful banter to mask deeper feelings.
As Joshua turned, Jia Yi stirred, blinking sleepily before offering him a small smile. "Good morning," she murmured, resting her chin against his chest.
"Morning," Joshua replied, his fingers absentmindedly brushing through her dark hair.
She hesitated before speaking. "Are you free today?"
Joshua glanced at the time. "That depends. What do you have in mind?"
Jia Yi bit her lip. "I want you to meet my family properly. After everything that happened… my mom insists on thanking you in person."
Joshua studied her face. There was an unspoken vulnerability in her eyes, as if she wasn't just asking for a meeting—but for him to step deeper into her world.
"Alright," he said simply. "Let's go."
Meeting the Liu Family
Later that morning, they drove to the Liu family's home—a modest yet cozy apartment in the quieter parts of the city. When Jia Yi's mother opened the door, her eyes immediately softened upon seeing Joshua.
"Chairman Lim," she greeted with deep gratitude. "Welcome to our home."
"Just Joshua is fine," he replied, offering a polite smile.
They sat down for tea, and the atmosphere gradually warmed. Jia Yi's mother repeatedly thanked Joshua for saving their family, while her father, looking healthier after two days of rest, sat awkwardly, guilt evident in his eyes.
At one point, Mr. Liu sighed, rubbing his temples. "I've made too many mistakes," he admitted. "Because of my gambling, I nearly destroyed our family… and I almost ruined my daughter's happiness."
Jia Yi reached over, squeezing his hand reassuringly.
Joshua took a sip of his tea before speaking. "The past can't be changed, but you can still control what happens next. Learn from this, and move forward."
Mr. Liu nodded solemnly. "I will."
Jia Yi's mother smiled warmly at Joshua. "You're a good man," she said. "Now I see why my daughter loves you so much."
Jia Yi, who had just taken a sip of her tea, immediately choked, coughing violently. Her face turned completely red as she slammed the cup down, glaring at her mother.
"Mom! Don't just say stuff like that!" she protested, flustered.
Joshua smirked, enjoying the rare sight of Jia Yi being the one caught off guard for once.
Mrs. Liu wasn't done. "And how about you, Joshua?" she asked with a playful glint in her eye. "Do you love my daughter?"
Jia Yi froze, her eyes darting to Joshua in panic and anticipation.
Joshua met Mrs. Liu's gaze calmly and, without hesitation, smiled softly.
"Yes," he said. "I love your daughter."
The room fell into a stunned silence for a brief moment before Jia Yi turned even redder, looking away in embarrassment. Her fingers gripped the edge of her skirt tightly.
"W-why would you just say it like that so casually?!" she mumbled under her breath.
Mrs. Liu, clearly enjoying herself, chuckled and poured more tea. "Good," she said with a satisfied smile. "I can trust you to take care of her, then."
Joshua simply smirked, while Jia Yi hid her burning face behind her cup.
As they left the apartment, Jia Yi clung to Joshua's arm, muttering, "I'll get you back for that."
Joshua chuckled. "Looking forward to it."
A Dark Turn – The Stolen AI
The afternoon sun cast golden hues over the city as Joshua and Jia Yi drove back home. The peaceful moment was abruptly shattered when his phone buzzed with an urgent message.
Su Yan:
"Joshua, turn on the news. Now."
Joshua frowned, quickly switching the car's display to the live news stream. A tech broadcast was in full swing, and the screen displayed the logo of Titan Dynamics—the American tech giant known for its aggressive corporate tactics.
The headline was bold and clear:
"Titan Dynamics Unveils Cutting-Edge AI System—A New Era of Technology?"
Joshua's fingers tightened around the steering wheel. The demonstration played, showcasing the AI's capabilities—real-time decision-making, self-learning adaptability, predictive modeling…
It was Alpha.
Not a variation. Not an inspired replica.
A complete 1:1 theft of everything Joshua and his team had been developing.
Jia Yi, sensing the shift in his energy, glanced at him. "Joshua?"
His expression was unreadable, but his voice was calm and controlled. "It looks like someone just made a very big mistake."
He pulled over, his mind already moving at lightning speed. His system window flickered open.
[Urgent System Mission Unlocked]
Objective: Reclaim Alpha
• Expose Titan Dynamics' corruption.
• Retrieve the stolen AI source code.
• Crush Titan Dynamics in the global market.
• Reward: ???
Joshua's eyes darkened as he read through the mission details. This wasn't just a corporate attack. It was war.
Gathering the Team
Without hesitation, he made a call. The line barely rang before Su Yan picked up.
"They stole Alpha."
Her voice trembled with rage. "I KNOW. That's our work! Do you understand what this means? This could set us back years!"
"They must have had a mole," Joshua said, already calculating the possibilities. "No one outside of LimTech had access to our internal structure. Someone leaked it to Titan Dynamics."
Su Yan swore under her breath, her temper flaring. "What's the plan? We can't let them get away with this."
Joshua's voice was low and sharp. "We don't just take it back. We destroy them."
The Plan Begins
Joshua immediately contacted his legal and cybersecurity teams, instructing them to trace any leaks within LimTech's network. Meanwhile, he arranged a high-stakes business conference to publicly challenge Titan Dynamics.
He wasn't going to approach this as a victim.
He was going to turn it into a trap—a business war that Titan Dynamics could never recover from.
A Storm is Coming
As Joshua prepared for the battle ahead, one last message arrived.
An unknown number sent a chilling text:
"You should have kept a tighter grip on your creation, Chairman Lim. Titan Dynamics isn't the only one watching."
Joshua stared at the screen, a smirk slowly forming on his lips.
"Oh? Then let them watch."
The war for Alpha had begun.
[Current Favorability Points]
• Jia Yi: 91 Points (In Love – True Feelings Confirmed)
• Sung En: 70 Points
• Su Yan: 85 Points (Furious & Determined)
[Recent System Rewards & Skills]
• Bank Deposit: +20,000,000 yen
• New Asset: AI Company (with additional investment; 49% shares transferred to Su Yan)
• Reward: Shanghai Airport Asset (4.8 Billion dollars)
• Reward: Corporate Dynasty Reward (3 Billion yen deposited; Master Negotiator skill unlocked)
• Reward: Visionary Insight (Attribute Boost: +10 in Strategic Vision; 500 Million yen in Startup Equity)
• New Urgent Mission: Reclaim Alpha
• Language Proficiency: Fluent in English, Korean, Japanese, French, and Russian
• Skills: Genius Acting, Master Piano, Business Warfare Strategy
Next Chapter Preview:
The high-stakes business confrontation between Joshua and Titan Dynamics begins. Meanwhile, the search for the mole inside LimTech intensifies. Who betrayed Joshua? And what unseen forces are pulling the strings behind the scenes?
The war has just begun