Empire of Desire: An Alpha’s Financial Reign - Chapter 28

On the eve of the company’s long-awaited public listing, the news that Han Zaijing’s tech enterprise was officially heading to the stock market exploded across the industry like a thunderclap. Within just one year, the company had accomplished what many seasoned businesses couldn’t do in five—a complete transformation from a scrappy startup into a formidable player in the tech and gaming sector.

What was even more remarkable than the speed of its rise was the quiet force behind much of its stability: Jiang Wan. Her unwavering support and strategic backing had been a critical part of this meteoric climb.

In celebration—and with a sense of deep gratitude—Han Zaijing extended a personal invitation to Jiang Wan for a private dinner at one of the city’s most refined, exclusive restaurants. This wasn’t merely a business dinner; it was a moment of recognition, a quiet acknowledgment of everything they had accomplished together.

Jiang Wan was both pleasantly surprised and quietly thrilled to receive the invitation. After all, it had been some time since their last personal encounter. Tonight felt different—more significant. She spent extra time preparing, carefully selecting a deep navy-blue gown that hugged her form without being ostentatious.

The cinched waist emphasized her graceful silhouette, while her long hair was loosely pinned up, allowing a few strands to fall naturally, softening her refined appearance with an effortless charm. Taking a final glance in the mirror, Jiang Wan inhaled deeply, then headed out with quiet anticipation in her heart.

At the restaurant, the lighting was gentle and golden, glinting off crystal glassware and polished silver cutlery. Every detail of the ambiance exuded tasteful luxury. Han Zaijing was already waiting at the table when she arrived. She wore a tailored black suit with crisp lines and an understated silver tie. Her usual neat hairstyle had been replaced by a more styled Korean look, giving her a charismatic edge.

As Jiang Wan entered, Han Zaijing’s gaze instinctively lifted. Her eyes momentarily widened at the sight of her. There was something about Jiang Wan that always drew her attention—but tonight, she looked particularly radiant.

“Jiang Wan, you look absolutely stunning tonight,” Han Zaijing said as she stood up, pulling out a chair for her in a gentlemanly manner.

“Thank you,” Jiang Wan replied, her smile warm. “You’re looking very handsome yourself.”

They sat across from each other, the soft lighting casting a mellow glow across their faces. The dinner began with light conversation, easing into a more reflective tone. Han Zaijing recounted some of the key milestones over the past year, frequently referencing Jiang Wan’s insights and contributions.

Her strategic recommendations during the company’s early days—particularly regarding operational efficiency and market entry—had proved to be game-changers. She also mentioned her earlier gesture of leasing a prime office space at a favorable rate. She chuckled at the memory, recalling how she once said she’d rather be a shareholder than just a landlord.

“I still regret that I couldn’t offer you a seat at the table then,” Han Zaijing said sincerely. “But the IPO offers another chance. I want you to have the option of acquiring strategic shares before the listing. It’s time for us to align our interests more formally.”

Jiang Wan raised her glass, her eyes gleaming with quiet pride. “You’ve built something extraordinary, Zaijing. I’m proud of you—and honored to have been part of your journey.”
Their glasses touched gently, the faint clink punctuating a shared sense of triumph.

As the evening progressed, Jiang Wan brought up her own latest business venture. With the government’s recent approval, Jiang Enterprises had secured exclusive rights as China’s sole operator of domestic duty-free shops.

This unique advantage allowed her to initiate partnerships with global luxury brands. Her plan? Any luxury brand wanting access to duty-free traffic would be required to simultaneously establish outlets in all of Jiang Enterprises’ high-end malls.

Han Zaijing listened intently, clearly impressed. “You’ve turned the luxury retail battleground on its head. By turning exclusivity into leverage, you’re controlling both the gateway and the destination.”
Their conversation flowed naturally, like longtime partners who spoke the same language—one of ambition, vision, and strategy.

As the dishes continued to arrive, Han Zaijing began to take subtle note of Jiang Wan’s food preferences. She was polite and composed, never making a fuss. But Zaijing observed the pattern: she nibbled politely at the beef but lingered over the seafood, and though she barely touched her vegetables, she brightened up at the sight of fruit.

Without making a show of it, she began to quietly adjust the meal. She passed her the shrimp with a pair of serving chopsticks, moved the beef onto her own plate, and ordered a fresh glass of chilled juice to accompany her meal.

Jiang Wan noticed. Her brows lifted slightly, her voice soft. “How did you know I prefer seafood?”

Han Zaijing gave a modest smile. “You never complain, but small actions reveal more than words. People don’t often notice unless they pay attention. You eat everything so politely it hides your preferences, but I noticed what you reached for the most, how you paused ever so slightly before touching the beef. You’re too gracious to say what you don’t like, but you do let your habits speak for you.”

For a moment, Jiang Wan was speechless. Only her family knew about this. Even Ni Kuang, who had dated her for years, had never picked up on it. Her heart softened, touched by the depth of Han Zaijing’s attentiveness. She looked down, suddenly shy in a way she rarely was.

After dinner, Han Zaijing invited her into a private room adjacent to the restaurant—her game testing lounge. It was sleek and modern, with large screens mounted on the walls and dual high-spec gaming setups. This was the lab where many of her company’s flagship games had been born.

“I want you to try our flagship title—’Myth Game’,” she said with a boyish grin, handing her a phone already set up with the game’s quick install link.

Jiang Wan sat beside her on the plush sofa. Their arms brushed slightly. The closeness was innocent, yet charged. Han Zaijing guided her through the character creation screen. Jiang Wan, unsure of what name to use, hesitated. Han Zaijing took her phone and typed “Novice Junior Sister.”

“Why that name?” she asked, amused.

“It makes people less likely to target you—and since I’m the one teaching you the ropes, it fits,” she replied. However, the name was already taken. Jiang Wan made a small pout without realizing it.

Amused by her expression, Han Zaijing called one of the backend technicians directly. “I need to reserve a unique username ending in 122. Add a crown to the ‘Novice Junior Sister’ title. Also, max out the virtual currency for the account.”

Jiang Wan blinked in surprise as her account was instantly updated and sparkled with a golden tag.

“Now it’s your turn,” she said playfully. “Your new character will be called ‘The Boss Himself’. Let’s see what kind of reactions that gets.”

A voice rang out from the voice chat system. It was one of Han Zaijing’s developers. “Whoa, the boss is power-leveling a newbie girl!”

The comment made both of them blush. “Shut up, Wesley,” Han Zaijing muttered, embarrassed. “We’re just testing gameplay flow.”

The game began. They were placed on the same team. Jiang Wan selected a sharpshooter character, while Han Zaijing took on the role of a tank—a frontline fighter who absorbs damage to protect teammates.
“Stay close. I’ll shield you from the enemies,” Han Zaijing said, her voice unusually soft.

As the match progressed, Jiang Wan adapted quickly. With her guidance, her reactions became faster, her confidence more evident. Whenever danger loomed, Han Zaijing’s character would dash in front, taking the hits and giving her room to aim and strike.

“Careful—left side!” she called out as an enemy approached.

She instinctively fired an arrow, knocking the enemy back. Han Zaijing clapped quietly. “Nice shot, Junior Sister.”

She beamed. The title sounded sweet coming from her.

Their coordination improved with each wave of enemies. With Jiang Wan providing cover fire and Han Zaijing clearing paths, they advanced toward the final stronghold.
“Let’s go. Time to push the last tower,” she commanded.

The final battle was fierce, but exhilarating. Together, they destroyed the enemy’s defenses and claimed victory. Jiang Wan clapped excitedly, a gleam in her eyes. “We did it!”

“You were great,” Han Zaijing said, smiling with a rare ease.

“You weren’t bad yourself. Though I think my damage score was higher,” she teased.

Han Zaijing handed her a drink. “Then next time, you’ll be the tank.”

Jiang Wan raised an eyebrow. “And watch you get beat up? That, I’d pay to see.”

They both laughed. The energy between them shifted—still playful, but deeper, as if something unspoken had settled between them.

Eventually, Jiang Wan received a call from her chauffeur. It was time to leave. She stood, smoothing her dress, and looked back at Han Zaijing.

“Good luck with the listing,” she said, her voice low.

She nodded, watching her go with a strange tightness in her chest.

After she left, Han Zaijing remained in the room for a moment, then turned back to her work. There were preparations for the Hong Kong listing, meetings with the legal team, and back-to-back calls. But her thoughts drifted—not to the stock exchange, not to the IPO, but to the way Jiang Wan had smiled during the game, and how quietly close she had felt on that sofa.

For a person surrounded by numbers, charts, and projections, that feeling was more intoxicating than any quarterly earnings report.