The deal begins
Grand ballroom at the luxurious Qin Dynasty Hotel. The space is filled with glittering chandeliers, a soft hum of classical music, and an air of power and wealth. CEOs and business elites mingle, sipping champagne and exchanging polite but calculated smiles.
Qin An (30, sharp-eyed and commanding, wearing a sleek yet understated evening gown) enters the party. She exudes confidence, but a flicker of tension lingers beneath her poised exterior. The camera follows her as she scans the room, her expression unreadable yet determined.
(Glasses clink as servers glide past with trays of hors d'oeuvres. Qin An steps forward, greeting a few familiar faces with polite nods, but she doesn’t linger in small talk. Her eyes are searching for something—or someone.)
A group of middle-aged businessmen standing near the bar, laughing loudly. One of them notices Qin An. It’s Mr. Zhang, her former investor. His smirk is lecherous as he watches her. Qin An’s body stiffens momentarily before she brushes past them, ignoring his presence.
Qin An
(Qin An’s Internal Dialogue)
"Men like him think power gives them the right to take whatever they want. Not this time."
She straightens her posture, holding her head high as she approaches a group of potential investors.
Qin An joins a conversation with a group of CEOs, speaking confidently about her company’s growth and upcoming projects. The men nod politely, but their interest seems lukewarm. One of them, Mr. Lin, interrupts her.
manager
(smiling condescendingly)
Miss Qin, your company is impressive, no doubt. But the gaming market is volatile. Perhaps you’d be better off merging with an established name instead of chasing impossible growth.
Qin An
(smiling coldly)
If I feared volatility, Mr. Lin, I wouldn’t have built my company from scratch. We’re not chasing growth—we’re redefining it.
(The group falls silent, unsure how to respond. Qin An nods politely and excuses herself, her expression firm.)
(Close-up shots of elegantly dressed guests sipping champagne, servers gliding between them, and a low hum of excitement building. A small group of businessmen and socialites stand near the entrance, whispering to one another.)
manager
(leaning in conspiratorially)
Have you heard? Jiang Wei, the CEO of Bluejay Investments, might actually show up tonight.
Rui
(raising an eyebrow, intrigued)
Jiang Wei? Isn’t he the one who turned SkyPeak from a small firm into an empire in
business man2
(nodding)
That’s him. Ruthless, brilliant, and impossible to pin down. They say he only attends events when there’s something in it for him.
socialite 1
(smirking)
Or someone. Maybe he’s here to scout his next target.
Rui
(hushed tone)
I heard he’s never been photographed with the same woman twice. Doesn’t believe in attachments, apparently.
socialite 1
(chuckling)
With his money, who needs attachments
(A group of younger executives nearby join the conversation, clearly in awe.)
young executive 1
(excitedly)
If Jiang Wei’s here, it must be for a reason. His portfolio doesn’t include gaming—maybe he’s looking to expand.
young executive 2
(skeptical)
Or maybe he’s just here to show off. You know how these billionaires are.
young executive 1
Still, if he so much as glances at your company, it’s like winning the lottery.
Qin An, standing near the bar. She overhears the conversation, her expression calm but her mind clearly calculating.
Qin An
"Never photographed with the same woman twice? A serial heartbreaker, then. Of course, a man like him would thrive in these circles—wealth, charm, and no accountability. Typical."
(Her gaze shifts back to the entrance, where the murmurs grow louder as Jiang Wei enters. She takes another sip of her drink, feigning disinterest but feeling a flicker of curiosity.)
(A sudden shift in the room’s energy draws everyone’s attention. The grand double doors at the entrance swing open, and a tall, impeccably dressed figure walks in: Jiang Wei. The crowd falls silent for a moment before murmurs ripple through the room.)
manager
(in awe)
That’s him. Jiang Wei.
business man2
(whispering)
He’s even more intimidating in person.
(Jiang Wei strides into the room with effortless confidence, his sharp suit tailored to perfection. He pauses briefly, scanning the crowd with a faint smirk as if the entire event is beneath him. His gaze briefly meets Qin An’s before moving on, but the subtle connection is enough to spark whispers.)
A group of women near the center of the room, including Qin Ling.
socialite 1
(swooning)
I can’t believe he’s here. He’s even better looking than his photos.
Qin ling
(smirking, eyeing him)
Looks like the king himself has graced us with his presence. Too bad he’s probably here for business, not pleasure.
young executive 1
(laughing)
You think you’d have a chance with someone like Jiang Wei?
Qin ling
(flicking her hair, confident)
Why not? Men like him fall for power, and I’m the queen of this hotel.
Qin An
"Let me guess—he’s arrogant, smug, and probably thinks the world owes him something. Men like that love the spotlight. I’ve seen enough of them to know they’re more trouble than they’re worth."
(She looks away, forcing herself to focus on her own agenda.)
(Jiang Wei walks deeper into the ballroom, the crowd subtly parting for him. Qin An watches him closely, her expression unreadable. As he moves past her, their eyes meet again, this time lingering longer. He gives her a faint, knowing smile before continuing on. Qin An’s grip on her glass tightens slightly, her thoughts racing.)
(She looks away, forcing herself to focus on her own agenda.)
Qin An
"Besides, I’m here for business, not to waste time with some self-important womanizer. If Jiang Wei is the shark they all say he is, he can circle someone else’s waters."
In a shadowy corner, far from the crowd, stands Jiang Wei, the CEO of Bluejay Investments. His towering figure and sharp tailored suit make him impossible to ignore, even though he clearly wants to be left alone. Beside him, his assistant, Mr. Alan
, fumbles with his tablet, looking nervous.
Jiang Wei
(glaring at the crowd, his tone clipped and irritated)
Alan, remind me. Why am I wasting my evening here?
Alan
(calmly, with a hint of humor)
Because Chairman Jiang insisted. You know how persuasive he can be.
Jiang Wei
(snorting, swirling his drink)
Persuasive? That’s just a polite way of saying he still thinks he can tell me what to do.
Alan
(grinning faintly)
Well, he’s not entirely wrong. You’re here, aren’t you?
Jiang Wei
(narrowing his eyes at Alan, but there’s a flicker of amusement in his tone)
Don’t push it. You know I hate these gatherings.
Alan
(shrugging)
Could’ve fooled me. You look right at home in that corner, radiating charm and warmth.
Jiang Wei
(chuckling dryly)
Careful, Alan. That sarcasm might get you fired.
Alan
(unfazed, gesturing toward the crowd)
The Qin family’s influence is significant. Chairman Jiang thought it might smooth negotiations for the Shanghai expansion if you made an appearance.
Jiang Wei
(shaking his head, his tone firm)
Negotiations? I don’t negotiate with people like the Qins. They need me more than I need them.
Alan
(nodding, but still lighthearted)
True. But your father probably thought a little goodwill wouldn’t hurt.
Jiang Wei
Goodwill doesn’t close deals. Power does. And they all know where the power lies.
(Alan raises an eyebrow but doesn’t argue. Jiang Wei exhales sharply, his sharp eyes scanning the room. His gaze briefly lands on Qin An, standing near the bar, her confident demeanor catching his attention.)
In the corner, a small group of women, including Qin Ling (Qin An’s stepsister, 27, beautiful but arrogant), are gossiping. Qin An stands on the other side of the room, keeping her distance and avoiding unnecessary attention.
Rui
(whispering loudly to Qin Ling)
Isn’t that Qin An? The one you said was kicked out of the Qin family?
Qin ling
(snickering, loud enough for others nearby to hear)
Yes, that’s her. She’s always been so stubborn, thinking she could survive without us. Look at her now—still desperate for attention, hoping someone will throw her a bone.
(Guests around them glance at Qin An, whispering. Qin An notices but remains composed, sipping her drink and pretending not to hear.)
Rui
(mocking)
She started some gaming company, right? What was it called? Oh yes, "PhoenixTech" or something. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes? How dramatic.
Qin ling
(laughing)
More like a pigeon flapping in the dirt. She’s just playing CEO. It’s pathetic, really.
(Qin An finally looks over, her calm expression sharpening. She starts walking toward them, the room falling quieter as guests sense the tension.)
Qin An
(calmly, but with an edge)
If you’re going to gossip about me, at least get your facts straight. PhoenixTech isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving.
Qin ling
(smirking, feigning innocence)
Oh, An An, I didn’t see you there. I was just explaining your… situation to my friends. No hard feelings, right?
Qin An
(raising an eyebrow)
No hard feelings. I stopped expecting decency from you a long time ago.
(The crowd murmurs. Qin Ling’s smile tightens, clearly angered by the subtle jab. She picks up a glass of red wine from the table nearby, her temper flaring.)
Qin ling
(mocking, stepping closer)
You know, for someone who loves acting high and mighty, you don’t belong here. Maybe a little reminder would do you good.
(She suddenly lifts the glass, aiming to throw the wine at Qin An. The crowd gasps. Just as Qin An steps back, Jiang Wei steps in from seemingly nowhere, his back to the glass.)
(The wine splashes against Jiang Wei’s perfectly tailored suit. A collective gasp ripples through the room. Jiang Wei turns around slowly, his expression calm but with a dangerous glint in his eyes.)
Jiang Wei
(coolly, looking at Qin Ling)
Well, that was rude.
Qin ling
(stammering, suddenly nervous)
I-I didn’t mean to—
Jiang Wei
(interrupting, his tone sharp)
I don’t care what you meant. Throwing drinks at your guests? Interesting way to host a party.
(He steps closer to Qin Ling, towering over her. The room is dead silent.)
Qin ling
(faltering)
It’s—it’s just Qin An. She’s not really—
Jiang Wei
(cutting her off, turning to Qin An)
Miss Qin, are you alright?
(Jiang Wei offers his arm to Qin An, who hesitates for a moment before accepting. They walk away together, leaving Qin Ling humiliated in the center of the room. As they leave, Jiang Wei leans in slightly to Qin An, speaking quietly but with a teasing smirk.)
Jiang Wei
You’re welcome, by the way.
(They move through the crowd, heads turning as the murmurs of their encounter ripple across the room. A figure standing near the edge of the ballroom, hidden among the guests, quietly lifts their phone and snaps a photo of the pair walking away. Qin An’s face is just out of view, only partially captured in the frame, while Jiang Wei’s sharp features are clearly visible.)
(The photo on the phone screen shows the two of them walking side by side, but the angle obscures Qin An’s face, leaving her identity partially hidden. The focus on Jiang Wei’s face is sharp, his expression unreadable, adding an element of mystery to the photo. The sound of a camera shutter echoes faintly, unnoticed by both.)
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