Empire of Desire: An Alpha’s Financial Reign - Chapter 16

As Han Zaijing’s game company continued to gain momentum in the market, the leadership team, spearheaded by her and Jiang Shutong, began mapping out the next major phase of development: the professionalization of their player base.

Riding the wave of their initial success, they recognized the need to create larger, structured opportunities for players to engage at a competitive level. Together, they crafted plans to organize high-profile gaming events, complete with lucrative seasonal bonuses and incentive systems designed to cultivate a loyal, skill-driven community.

The goal was clear—transform casual players into professional competitors, and in doing so, further solidify the game’s position within the market.

To ensure the events were executed with precision and global appeal, Han Zaijing and Jiang Shutong made the strategic decision to travel overseas. Their aim was to collaborate with an internationally acclaimed operations firm with expertise in running large-scale e-sports tournaments. The goal was to learn from the best and adapt successful models to fit their brand vision.

A high-altitude silence filled the first-class cabin as the plane sliced through the clouds. Han Zaijing and Jiang Shutong sat side by side, leaning toward each other over documents, laptops, and annotated drafts.

Jiang Shutong’s eyes gleamed with her usual sharpness, dissecting logistics with practiced efficiency. Her demand for perfection was unwavering, scrutinizing every detail of the plan with an executive’s precision.

Han Zaijing responded with calm composure, offering insightful solutions and aligning with her colleague’s expectations in seamless harmony. Their synergy was evident, a partnership honed by mutual ambition and respect.

Upon arrival, they went straight to their reserved hotel, the exhaustion from the flight starting to settle in. Their rooms, conveniently located adjacent to each other, provided easy access for continued collaboration. They agreed to take a brief rest before reconvening to finalize the next day’s meeting agenda.

However, just as Han Zaijing was preparing to unwind with a bath, a sudden wave of discomfort overtook her. Her skin flushed, and her breathing became irregular. A dizzying warmth surged through her body—an unmistakable sign of a pheromone imbalance. She clutched the bathroom sink, trying to steady herself, panic slowly rising in her chest.

Knowing the signs all too well, Han attempted to suppress the reaction, mentally coaching herself to remain in control. Her steps are unsteady, she exited the bathroom in search of an emergency inhibitor. But in her disoriented state, she mistakenly knocked on Jiang Shutong’s door.

Jiang Shutong opened it almost immediately. The moment she saw Han Zaijing’s flushed face and unstable posture, concern flooded her expression.

“Zaijing, what’s happening? Are you okay?” she asked, her voice unusually gentle but edged with tension.

Han Zaijing tried to respond, to explain the overwhelming heat coursing through her, but her words caught in her throat. The next moments unfolded in a haze—driven by hormonal chaos and emotional vulnerability. Drawn in by the heat and the unspoken tension that had simmered between them for months, Han Zaijing found herself leaning closer.

Jiang Shutong, neither resisting nor retreating, met her halfway.

In that moment, they surrendered—to biology, to impulse, to something far more complicated than either of them dared to name.

The next morning, sunlight filtered softly through the hotel curtains, illuminating the tangle of sheets. Han Zaijing stirred first, her head pounding and her senses muddled. As she turned over and caught sight of Jiang Shutong lying beside her, the memories of the night came rushing back in excruciating detail. Shame, confusion, and regret washed over her in waves.

She sat up slowly, slipping into her clothes with care, then perched quietly at the edge of the bed. Her fingers were tightly interlaced, her expression blank as she waited for Jiang Shutong to awaken.

When Jiang stirred and opened her eyes, she immediately noticed Han’s tense posture. “Zaijing…” she began softly, her voice husky from sleep, “about last night…”

Zaijing turned toward her, swallowing hard. “Jiang Shutong, I—I don’t know what to say. It was an accident. I lost control… But please, can we keep this between us? I don’t want Ni Jia to know. She would be devastated.”

There was a pause before Jiang Shutong responded, her gaze unreadable. Then, with a casual smile, she said, “You don’t have to look so guilty. I’m not a sentimental girl, Zaijing. I don’t need commitment. If it was just a moment of indulgence, that’s fine. When you’re tired of it, we’ll walk away. No hard feelings.”

Han Zaijing stared at her, startled by the detachment in her tone. The response left her even more conflicted. Part of her was relieved, yet another part—the part burdened with guilt and unresolved feelings—felt deeply unsettled.

Over the next few days, the two women continued to work side by side, attending meetings with the professional event organizers. Their focus and professionalism impressed their collaborators, who commended their meticulous planning and vision. Outwardly, nothing seemed amiss.

But behind the poised exterior, the emotional undercurrents between them had shifted. Jiang Shutong remained calm and composed, never referencing the night they spent together. Yet, in quiet moments, her eyes would glint with amusement—subtle, teasing, as if to remind Han Zaijing of the intimacy they now shared.

Late one night, as their trip drew to a close, a knock echoed at Han Zaijing’s door. She hesitated before opening it to find Jiang Shutong standing there, her expression unreadable.

“May I come in?” she asked.

Han Zaijing nodded wordlessly, stepping aside. Jiang Shutong entered, her gaze slowly sweeping the room before settling firmly on Han Zaijing’s face.

“Zaijing,” she said calmly, “I need something casual in my life—something to relieve stress. And I don’t want that with just anyone. I want it with you.”

Han Zaijing’s heartbeat quickened, anxiety creeping into her chest. “Jiang Shutong… what do you mean exactly?”

“I want you to be my secret alpha,” she replied, her voice low and serious. “We’ll keep things private. To the world, we’ll remain business partners. But between us, we’ll have this… connection.”

Han Zaijing felt overwhelmed. The proposition was far from simple. “That’s not fair to you. Or to Ni Jia. I can’t betray her like this…”

Jiang Shutong’s eyes darkened momentarily with something unspoken, a flicker of jealousy. But she masked it quickly, her voice firm. “You think you still have a choice? If Ni Jia finds out what happened between us, what do you think will happen to your perfect little relationship?”

Panic struck Han Zaijing like a bolt of lightning. Her throat tightened. “I need time,” she whispered. “Please… I just need to think.”

Jiang Shutong stepped closer, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I’ll give you time. But understand this, Zaijing: what happened between us is now a bond. You can accept it—or you can risk everything by pretending it didn’t happen.”

With those final words, she turned and left the room, her silhouette disappearing behind the closing door.

Han Zaijing stood frozen in place, her mind a whirlwind of guilt, fear, and confusion. That night, she realized the true cost of a single moment of weakness—and how deeply entangled her emotions had become in a situation with no easy answers.