Earlier in the afternoon at Zi Softech
On the top floor of the towering Zi Softech headquarters, a figure stood motionless by the expansive bay windows. The office, with its sleek black furnishings and minimalist design, was deceptively simple, exuding a quiet, sophisticated power. Despite its cold aesthetic, the sunlight filtering through the glass bathed the space in a warm glow. The room, vast enough to house an entire family, held a couch set in one corner, a large bookshelf filled with carefully selected volumes, and a massive desk cluttered with documents waiting for the man’s signature. Off to the side was a private break room—an exclusive retreat for none other than Zi Haoran, the mastermind behind one of the country’s most successful tech empires.
As the sunlight traced the sharp lines of his jaw, the city sprawled beneath him like a kingdom viewed from on high. Zi Haoran, at 26, was a man feared by many and desired by all. The young CEO and founder of Zi Softech had built an empire from the ground up at the age of 22, turning the company into a colossal force in just two short years. But his success in business had not translated to his personal life.
He seemed untouchable.
But even gods have chains.
Now, he was trapped in a marriage arranged by his maternal grandfather, Zi Mingsheng, the chairman and patriarch of the powerful Zi family. Haoran’s life was not his own. His success might have been his, but his path had been carved long before he’d taken his first steps. His maternal grandfather, Zi Mingsheng, was the head of the wealthiest, most powerful family in the country—Zi Family behind the Zi Corporation. They were old money, the kind that had roots so deep you’d forget where they started. Haoran had been chosen, shaped, and given the Zi surname, not for love but for legacy.
His mother, Zi Yù Míng, had been an unshakable pillar in that empire, her brilliance marred only by her affair with a college lover—an affair that produced Haoran but ended in heartbreak when the lover abandoned her, unable to withstand the Zi family’s wrath.
Haoran was her only reminder of that mistake.
Haoran’s thoughts drifted to the day his grandfather introduced him to the woman who was to become his wife, Han Xue, to propose their marriage which till date has remained as cold and distant as the view from his office.
Flashback: 3 YEARS ago at Zi Mingsheng’s Library, Zi Mansion
Haoran remembered hurrying through the grand halls of Zi Mansion, his footsteps echoing in the silence. His grandfather had summoned him with a stern tone, urgency lacing his voice. When Zi Mingsheng called, no one dared to delay.
Reaching the door, he knocked softly and announced, “Grandpa, I’m here.”
A deep, commanding voice answered from within. “Come in.”
Haoran stepped into the library, greeted by the familiar scent of his grandfather’s favorite tea—imported from Japan. The room was bright, filled with rich, classical furnishings and the overwhelming presence of books. But what caught Haoran’s attention wasn’t the nostalgic smell of the tea or the books lining the walls—it was the woman seated across from his grandfather.
Zi Mingsheng sat at the head of the room, looking every inch the powerful patriarch that he was. To his right, on a velvet couch, was a young woman, Haoran had never seen before. She was beautiful, delicate in a way that suggested strength beneath the surface, and she was watching him. He could feel her eyes as they flickered over him, searching for something in his expression.
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“Haoran,” Zi Mingsheng gestured toward the empty couch to his left.
Grandpa’s voice was authoritative yet soft, “meet Han Xue, the only granddaughter of my old friend, Han Hongliang. She’s just returned from Harvard, where she completed her Master’s in Fashion Business Management. She's been incredibly talented since young.”
Haoran’s eyes flickered toward Han Xue, who blushed at the praise. She cast a curious glance in his direction, clearly eager to gauge his reaction.
Out of respect for his grandfather, Haoran gave her a brief nod before turning to Zi Mingsheng. “Grandpa, you called me for…?”
Zi Mingsheng, never one to waste time, cut straight to the point. “I believe you two are perfect for each other. You have talent, shared family values, and this would strengthen my ties with Hongliang.”
He turned to Han Xue, his eyes softening for the first time. “What do you say, Han Xue? Do you want to marry my Haoran?”
Han Xue’s eyes widened slightly to words she heard, her cheeks reddening further. She stole a glance at Haoran, who stood cold and indifferent. Her heart fluttered, but her nerves betrayed her. She opened her mouth to respond, but Zi Mingsheng continued before she could.
“He’ll take care of you. Don’t let his demeanor fool you.”
And just like that, Haoran’s future was laid out before him, once again without his say. His chest tightened, but he didn’t let it show. What difference did it make? His life had always belonged to the family.
Zi Mingsheng then turned to his grandson. “Haoran?”
Haoran’s gaze remained on his grandfather, his confusion growing. Why was his grandfather suggesting marriage so suddenly, and at their first meeting? But Haoran had long learned that his grandfather’s decisions were not to be questioned. And in truth, he didn’t care. Women had never mattered to him, and whoever he married made little difference.
"If you deem it fit, I have no objections," Haoran said, his voice devoid of emotion.
Zi Mingsheng’s smile widened as he gently took Han Xue’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Xue, consider it carefully. I’ll speak with your grandfather tomorrow."
Han Xue nodded, her voice soft with respect. “Yes, Master Zi, I will.”
Zi Mingsheng’s smile faltered. “You’re still calling me ‘Master Zi?’ You should call me ‘Grandpa!’”
Her voice wavered as she corrected herself. “Grandpa…”
The old man hummed in approval. “Good. Now, you two should take a walk. Get to know each other.”
Haoran felt his grandfather’s eyes on him, a silent order to treat her well.
As they left and started walking toward the mansion’s grand garden in awkward silence, Haoran’s thoughts were elsewhere—on the important meeting he had rushed from. Before Haoran could figure out whether he should explain his hurried arrival, to excuse himself; he heard Han Xue speak hesitantly, her voice stumbling over the words.
“Do you mind... if we meet sometime later...?”
Without much thought, Haoran handed her his business card. "Text me." And with that, he walked away, not bothering to look back as he left her standing there.
A knock on the door brought Haoran back to the present. Expecting his men to bring her updates he cleared his head.
Zi Softech Office
His voice, sharp and cold, echoed in the room. “Come in.”
Two men entered, both dressed in black suits that mirrored the somber tone of the office. Their footsteps echoed softly in the large space, breaking the silence. These were the men he had tasked with following Han Xue, monitoring her every move.
“Boss, we have updates on Madam,” one of them said, his voice trembling slightly.
Haoran turned slowly, his face unreadable, his gaze icy. The men, trained to withstand all manner of stress, still couldn’t help the shiver that ran down their spines under his watchful eyes.
No one knew what the king was thinking.
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