Empire of Desire: An Alpha’s Financial Reign - Chapter 5

The preliminary round of Huaxin University’s prestigious business competition has officially concluded. Under the scrutiny of peers and professors alike, the results of the business proposal review were publicly announced, drawing widespread attention. Among a multitude of impressive entries, ten teams rose above the rest—emerging as representatives of China’s next generation of business leaders.

Many of them are senior students, hailing from powerful families or boasting impressive personal achievements. Yet among them, three standout teams captured the spotlight with their distinct strengths and bold visions.

Team 1: Ni Kuang of Ni Enterprises. A junior at Huaxin University and heir to Ni Enterprises—a major player in China’s communications and smartphone manufacturing sector—Ni Kuang leads a project centered around a new social media platform tailored to youth demographics.

By leveraging his family’s vast communications infrastructure and smartphone supply chains, he aims to integrate the app at the system level, giving it instant reach and visibility.

Team 2: Jiang Wan of Jiang Enterprises. Jiang Wan, also a junior, is the heiress to Jiang Enterprises, a national conglomerate that evolved from real estate into infrastructure and energy. Her project targets the high-end commercial real estate market, proposing a blend of luxury retail and contemporary art to elevate her family’s property ventures.

She is joined by siblings Yan Yining and Yan Haoning, heirs to the powerful Yan family business empire, forming a formidable alliance of influence and capital.

Team 3: Han Zaijing’s Mythological Strategy Game. Standing out from the competition is a team with no elite background: a group of freshmen led by Han Zaijing. Their project is a strategy-based mobile game, creatively built around characters from Chinese mythology.

With support from Liang Zheng and other top students from the Software Department, the project has captured attention for its originality, technical execution, and significant commercial potential.

The atmosphere in the conference hall during the announcement was a mix of nervous energy and palpable excitement. All eyes turned to these three teams—the ones viewed as the strongest contenders moving forward. At the event, the university also unveiled its proprietary business simulation system, which will be used in the upcoming semi-finals.

This immersive tool simulates a three-month business cycle, challenging participants to manage virtual companies and prove their decision-making capabilities. The top five teams based on performance in this system will advance to the finals.

Inside the brightly lit conference hall, the tension was thick. The lead professor took the stage, his gaze sweeping across the audience before he spoke in a firm, encouraging tone.

“Congratulations to all of you who made it through the preliminary round. Your effort and ingenuity have been recognized,” he said. “In the semi-final, you will be participating in a business simulation designed to replicate real-world market dynamics. Over the course of a simulated three-month period, your strategies and leadership will be tested. The top five performing teams will earn a place in the finals.”

Students murmured among themselves, exchanging excited and anxious whispers about what lay ahead. Seated in the front row, Ni Kuang wore a confident expression. To him, this wasn’t merely an academic contest—it was a proving ground.

In this arena of rising elites, every glance, every move, carried significance. Both Ni Kuang and Jiang Wan, as heirs of renowned chaebol families, were constantly under a magnifying glass. Their actions, no matter how small, became topics of conversation and speculation.

Ni Kuang, with his unruly charm and razor-sharp gaze, exuded a quiet dominance that made him impossible to ignore. He carried himself with the calm assurance of someone who belonged at the top. Jiang Wan, in contrast, was elegance personified—her presence as pristine and reserved as winter’s first snowfall.

Yet when she smiled, that icy aura melted, revealing a rare warmth beneath her cool demeanor. When the two stood together, they drew every gaze in the room—a picture-perfect pair combining power, beauty, and brains. Their alliance wasn’t just strategic; it was magnetic.

As Jiang Wan’s eyes drifted across the room, they eventually settled on an unexpected figure—Han Zaijing. There was something distinct about her: a sharp, composed air that contrasted with her youthful appearance. Her beauty was understated and genuine, free from pretense. Jiang Wan’s curiosity was piqued.

She found herself drawn not only to Han Zaijing’s demeanor but also to her originality and poise.

Intrigued, Jiang Wan began observing her more closely, watching how Zaijing animatedly discussed strategies with her team. There was a fire in her eyes—a drive that made her stand out even in a room full of prodigies. Unaware of the attention she was drawing, Han Zaijing remained focused on the task at hand.

“We’re up against giants,” murmured Liang Zheng, leaning in toward Zaijing. “They’ve got resources, networks… things we can’t match.”

Zaijing offered him a calm smile. “What we lack in connections, we make up for in creativity and execution. Our concept is strong, and our teamwork is solid. If we stay focused, we can go far.”
Her conviction was unwavering. Though the road ahead would be challenging, she was undaunted.

From afar, Jiang Wan continued to watch—and began to formulate a plan. She wanted to understand Han Zaijing better. Maybe even work with her. In a competition like this, allies were often more valuable than rivals. When the time was right, she would approach her.

Meanwhile, Ni Kuang had also taken an interest. He had heard his sister casually refer to Han Zaijing as a “little pervert”—a teasing term used with more amusement than malice. Ni Kuang chuckled inwardly at the nickname, intrigued by the contrast between reputation and reality. His curiosity compelled him to find out more.

With that thought, he approached Han Zaijing. “Hey, I’m Ni Kuang. My sister’s mentioned you—says you’re an interesting one.”

Zaijing glanced up with a grin. “Well, I’m flattered. And thankful you didn’t quote her word for word—I’m sure it was much more embarrassing.”

The two exchanged knowing smiles. Though their backgrounds were vastly different, their ambition united them. Standing at the edge of a pivotal competition, all three—Zaijing, Ni Kuang, and Jiang Wan—shared the same goal:

Victory.