The world was no longer burning.
Jiang Xinyao's last memory had been of fire, blood, and the stench of decay. The apocalypse had stripped everything away—wealth, morality, and life itself. She had survived longer than most, wielding power in the ruins, but in the end, even she couldn't escape death.
Yet, when she opened her eyes, it was to a crystal chandelier glinting overhead, the soft touch of silk sheets against her skin, and the faint hum of an automated security system in the distance.
She was alive.
More than that, she wasn't just alive—she was rich.
A flood of foreign yet familiar memories filled her mind. Jiang Xinyao, 27 years old, the sole heir of Jiang International, a billion-dollar conglomerate specializing in security and private military contracts. She was feared in the corporate world, respected for her ruthless efficiency, and worshipped by the elite for her company's unparalleled services.
She wasn't just wealthy—she was powerful.
A slow, calculating smile spread across her lips. Fate had granted her a second chance, and this time, she wouldn't just survive—she would rule.
---
By the time she left her penthouse suite, the sun had barely risen over Shanghai's skyline. Dressed in a tailored black suit, she exuded an aura of untouchable elegance, her cold, obsidian eyes sharp as a blade.
The boardroom fell silent when she entered. Jiang International's top executives—men decades her senior—stood at attention. Some looked wary, others expectant. They were used to her precision, her unshakable control. What they didn't know was that the woman standing before them was no longer the same Jiang Xinyao.
"Madam Jiang," one of them began hesitantly. "About the acquisition of Titan Security—"
"I've already reviewed the reports," she interrupted, her voice smooth but devoid of warmth. "Titan Security has weak leadership and outdated technology. The deal is off."
The board members exchanged glances. One man, bolder than the rest, cleared his throat. "With all due respect, Madam Jiang, Titan is the third-largest private security firm in Asia. Acquiring them would—"
"I don't need their scraps." Her fingers tapped lightly against the polished table. "Jiang International doesn't follow. We dominate."
Silence. Then, one by one, the executives nodded. They knew better than to question her when she spoke with that tone—the tone of an empress delivering an unshakable decree.
She stood. "Meeting adjourned."
As the executives hurried out, her assistant, Lin Qian, approached hesitantly. "Madam Jiang, your schedule has been cleared for the evening per your request. But… are you certain about attending the Gu Corporation gala?"
Jiang Xinyao's lips curled slightly.
Gu Corporation. A titan in global finance and technology. Its CEO, Gu Beichen, was a man known for his ruthless precision in business and his cold indifference to everything else. He was a king in his own right—one that most feared, respected, or envied.
She wanted to meet him.
Not just because his company had ties to government security contracts, not just because their industries were bound to collide—but because she had a feeling. An instinctual pull, a whisper in the back of her mind that told her meeting Gu Beichen would change everything.
And Jiang Xinyao always trusted her instincts.
---
The Gu Corporation gala was an affair of opulence and power, attended only by the elite of the elite.
Dressed in a backless black gown, Jiang Xinyao glided through the hall like a queen surveying her kingdom. She was used to being watched, but tonight, the attention was suffocating. Men stared in awe, women in envy. Conversations quieted as she passed.
And then, she felt it.
A gaze. Heavy. Unyielding.
She turned.
Across the room, leaning against the balcony, stood Gu Beichen.
Tall, clad in a dark tailored suit, he exuded an effortless dominance that made even the most powerful figures tread carefully around him. His features were sharp—aristocratic yet dangerously alluring. But it was his eyes that caught her—the deep, abyssal gaze of a man who had never been touched, never been shaken.
Until now.
Their eyes met, and for the first time in both her lives, Jiang Xinyao felt something foreign coil in her chest. A pull, undeniable and absolute.
Gu Beichen tilted his head slightly, as if intrigued. Then, with deliberate slowness, he pushed off the railing and strode toward her.
The room faded. The air thickened.
When he finally stood before her, he didn't offer a greeting. Didn't introduce himself. He simply looked at her, dark eyes unreadable, and said in a low, velvet voice—
"I've been waiting to meet you, Jiang Xinyao."
Her lips parted slightly, a rare flicker of surprise flashing in her eyes.
Then, she smiled.
So had she.