chapter 3

Ming Ye was a man of extremes. Cold, calculated, and intimidating, he was a figure whose presence demanded respect—and fear. His name was whispered in the halls of business, in the world of politics, and among those who knew the weight of power.

At first glance, he appeared flawless—handsome, with sharp features and an aloof demeanor that made him seem untouchable. His striking appearance was only enhanced by the air of detachment that surrounded him. He didn’t need to try to impress anyone; his mere existence was enough to command attention.

But Ming Ye’s true strength wasn’t in his looks. It was in his mind. With an extremely high IQ and exceptionally high emotional intelligence (EQ), he had the ability to analyze situations with the precision of a surgeon, to read people like open books, and to manipulate events in his favor with effortless ease. His intellect was unparalleled, and his decisions were always ruthlessly efficient.

He was a CEO, but not the kind that played by the rules. His empire wasn’t built on connections or favors, but on strategic brilliance, calculated risks, and the quiet fear that he instilled in others. He wasn’t interested in forming friendships or alliances—he never had been. Ming Ye preferred to work alone, moving through the world with a sense of quiet authority that left no room for questions or opposition.

The people who crossed his path did so at their own risk. He wasn’t cruel for the sake of it, but rather because he knew the world was a place where weakness would be exploited, and he was anything but weak. Ming Ye didn’t believe in second chances. He didn’t believe in apologies. He believed in results.

Not only that, but he lived by logic, not emotion. Relationships, for him, were an inconvenience—attachments were something to avoid. In his world, there was only what could be controlled and what needed to be destroyed. He never allowed himself to be vulnerable.

Despite his wealth, fame, and power, Ming Ye lived a life of complete solitude. He had no family, no friends—only his work and his cold, unfeeling ambition. The idea of love or connection was foreign to him. His world was defined by one thing: control.

And then, unexpectedly, everything changed.

A tiny, fragile girl in his arms—a child he had no reason to care for, and yet when their gazes met, something inside him stirred. He couldn’t explain it, but he knew, at that moment, that this child would be his to protect. Not out of love, not out of kindness, but out of an instinctive, possessive need.

The child was his. And no one, nothing, would take her from him.

...----------------...

Country X was a land of contrasts, where sleek modernity stood side by side with the quiet remnants of history. Its wide streets were always teeming with life, and the skyline—dominated by sleek glass towers—seemed to stretch endlessly. To most, it was a place of opportunity and future. To Ming Ye, it was merely a temporary stop on his journey, one that he hadn’t planned but accepted nonetheless.

He stood in the corner of a high-rise apartment with sweeping views of the city. The space was clean, modern—exactly the way he preferred it. The apartment, like everything else in his life, was a reflection of his personality—orderly, practical, and free of distractions.

In his arms, Ming Ye held his newborn daughter. She was so small, so fragile. He hadn’t expected her to feel so delicate, so… helpless. He hadn’t thought much about the child before, nor had he been interested in becoming a father. But now, as he stood with her in his arms, there was a strange pull in his chest—one he couldn’t quite place.

Ming Ye wasn’t a man to dwell on emotions, and he wasn’t going to start now. The baby was here, and he was here to fulfill his duty. He would raise her. That was the extent of his commitment.

He made his way over to the crib set up in the corner of the room. The room was spacious, with soft lighting that cast a gentle glow on the baby’s small face. As he laid her down gently, he couldn’t help but notice the soft rise and fall of her chest, the way her little hands twitched in her sleep. It was simple. It was innocent. And yet, there was something... warm about it.

He didn’t think too much about it. He wasn’t supposed to feel anything. But as he watched her, something stirred within him—something unfamiliar, almost foreign to him. It wasn’t love, not yet at least. But there was a softness to the way he looked at her, a tenderness he hadn’t realized was there. He wasn’t ready to label it, and he wasn’t about to get emotional about it either.

Still, he found himself lingering a little longer than he intended. His cold, calculating gaze softened as he watched her little hands curl up in her sleep. She was his daughter, and for reasons he couldn’t explain, that simple truth felt... important.

Ming Ye straightened up and took a step back, his posture still as composed as ever. He glanced toward the door, where his bodyguards stood silently, waiting. His life was in China, not here. But for now, this was his reality. He would take care of her, even if he didn’t yet understand why it mattered.

With a quiet sigh, he turned to leave the room, but before he did, he stole one last glance at the crib. The baby was still asleep, her tiny face relaxed in peaceful slumber. Something in him tightened, just slightly, but he brushed it off as quickly as it had come.

They would return to China in a few weeks, where his real life awaited. But for now, he had one responsibility—his daughter. And in the quiet of that moment, he couldn’t help but think that, perhaps, he would find it easier to take care of her than he had originally believed.

...****************...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***