Cursed by Ancient Love, Redeemed by Modern Hearts

The banquet hall was a place of silk-draped diplomacy, whispered deals sealed behind the clink of wine glasses. A place where reputation was currency, and power was inherited.

And tonight, Jianyu had walked into his own execution, dressed in his finest suit.

...

Jianyu's Move: The Art of Poisoning Minds

Jianyu had perfected the art of striking without drawing blood.

His weapon was never direct confrontation. That was for the crass and the inexperienced. Instead, he whispered. He planted doubts, nurtured them—watching them bloom into suspicion in the minds of those too polite to question outright.

And tonight?

He was certain he had done it again.

Between sips of wine, he wove his carefully prepared narrative.

"It's remarkable how resilient our industry is," he mused, voice just loud enough for the nearby investors to hear. "Even in the face of… setbacks."

An older investor, always one to weigh words like gold, lifted his gaze. "Setbacks?"

Jianyu sighed, as if reluctant to speak. "Of course, I meant no offense," he continued. "But with three collapses in two weeks, concerns are inevitable."

A board member leaned in. "Concerns about safety?"

Jianyu gave a gracious, almost pained smile, like a benevolent leader who hated to bear bad news.

"Concerns about leadership," he corrected gently. "A company's strength isn't just in its revenue—it's in its stability. A house with cracks in its foundation may stand… but for how long?"

A masterstroke.

A perfectly placed whisper, light as a feather—until it snowballed into an avalanche.

Or at least, that's what he thought.

...

Xinyi's Move: The Face-Slap Heard Across the Room

She set down her knife with elegant precision.

Tilted her head slightly, like she was listening to a particularly entertaining joke.

Then—she smiled.

The elegance before the thunder.

"Jianyu." Her voice was soft, dangerously indulgent. "Your concern for our industry is truly commendable."

Jianyu inclined his head slightly, as if accepting her praise. Fool.

"I simply believe transparency is vital," he responded smoothly.

"Exactly." Her smile widened. The trap snapped shut.

"Which is why," she continued, her voice silk over steel, "I find it interesting that many of the media reports circulating about these collapses have direct financial ties to your subsidiary companies."

Jianyu froze.

The room did too.

And then?

Silence.

The kind of silence that turns into gravity.

Xinyi leaned back slightly, giving him time to fully absorb the weight of his situation.

"I don't see why we'd need to cover up the truth," she mused, lifting her wine glass. "If there's nothing to worry about, then surely reports wouldn't be a concern… would they?"

Jianyu's fingers tightened around his glass.

"Now, hold on—"

"Why?" Xinyi asked, blinking innocently. "Are you nervous?"

Jianyu let out a sharp laugh—forced, unnatural. "This is ridiculous. There's no proof of—"

"Oh, but there is."

She turned slightly, and as if on cue, her assistant appeared by her side, a folder in hand.

Xinyi slid the documents across the table.

"Go ahead," she said lightly. "Feel free to read through them. Financial trails don't lie."

Jianyu's jaw locked.

A heavy pause settled.

The investors, the board members—they weren't looking at Xinyi anymore.

They were looking at Jianyu.

And in this world, perception was everything.

His hesitation? His silence?

It was the face-slap he had delivered to himself.

...

Wei: The Observing General

From his table, Zhang Wei took a slow sip of his whiskey.

Interesting. Catching up with his friend was fun, but the conversation at the main table was too interesting to miss.

The woman at the center of attention, Liang Xinyi, had just turned a well-crafted ambush into a public execution.

Most people in this room danced around their words. Avoided conflict by smiling a little too politely. Even now, some of the investors shifted uncomfortably, unwilling to let their expressions reveal where their loyalties had just shifted.

But Xinyi?

She had struck without hesitation.

Wei had expected someone like her to be sharp, yes. Clever, even. But this level of precision?

Amusing.

If he had been in her position?

He wouldn't have bothered humiliating Jianyu.

Permanent solutions were far more efficient.

A scandal could be erased with time. But a man with no means to return? Now, that was true peace of mind.

Still, there was something fascinating about watching Xinyi work.

Her restraint wasn't hesitation.

It was strategy.

And if there was one thing he admired, it was a mind that understood patience.

Wei swirled the ice in his glass.

Maybe this dinner wasn't such a waste of time after all.

...

The Signing Ceremony: The Final Blow

Jianyu, still stiff with barely concealed fury, had no choice but to endure the rest of the evening.

The signing ceremony was proceeding as planned.

Investors no longer whispered among themselves—they spoke with their actions.

By the time Xinyi's name was announced for the formal contract signing, there was no doubt in anyone's mind.

She wasn't just signing a deal tonight.

She was cementing her place.

Jianyu, once the man with too many words, had none left.

When the documents were passed to him to co-sign—because, after all, his presence had been previously arranged—his hand shook ever so slightly.

A delicious sight.

The moment the ink dried, the room erupted into polite applause.

Xinyi turned to face the cameras, an impeccable smile in place.

Jianyu stood beside her, the perfect picture of defeat in a perfectly tailored suit.

Wei, from his seat, smirked slightly.

He didn't even need to see the contract.

There was only one winner tonight.

...

Just as the champagne was poured, just as Xinyi finally allowed herself to enjoy the weight of her victory—

Her phone vibrated.

She glanced down, expecting an assistant's update.

But the message was short. Urgent.

Another collapse.

This time, it wasn't just one worker.

Several.

Her fingers curled slightly around the stem of her glass.

The celebration was over.

It was time to face the real war.