Heavy rain lashed against the ceiling-high windows of the Chia Group's penthouse office, blurring the city's silhouette into a faint neon glow.
Inside the room, the atmosphere was profoundly quiet, with a calming, faint scent of lemon lingering in the air. The office was a symbol of luxury, its polished ebony floors gleaming.
A monolithic desk, carved from a rare dark wood, dominated the space in front of the glass windows. Various pieces of modern art, both paintings and sculptures, adorned sections of the walls.
Chia Jinhai stood near the window, his back to the vast office. He was not admiring the view; his gaze was fixed on a point beyond the rain, his eyes vacant.
He wore a custom-tailored suit, looking splendid on his strong physique. His hair was neatly styled, and his sharp eyes gave him a naturally handsome appearance that could easily captivate many women.
A soft clinking sound came from his desk, but Jinhai did not move. He remained still for three seconds.
Then he turned with a fluid and efficient movement, contrasting with the weariness within him.
His eyes swiftly scanned his workspace, then picked up the report from his desk. His expression remained emotionless.
The report detailed quarterly earnings from the technology, real estate, and shipping sectors, showing significant increases. Market share remained stable.
On paper, the Chia Group was an unconquerable force.
But Jinhai's eyes saw a fractional decline in the luxury retail sector. It was barely visible, but it was a dip under his leadership.
He dropped the paper back onto the desk with a soft thud. He didn't need the paper to tell him about that margin, all because of pure competition.
Slightly more aggressive bids from competitors, nothing more. Yet, the old executives of the Chia Group, who believed in 'luck,' gave him headaches with their complaints.
As if summoned by his thoughts, his encrypted phone vibrated softly in his pocket. Jinhai pulled it out, seeing a message on the screen.
The sender was marked with an ancient family seal icon.
Deal with Liang complete, terms acceptable. Ensure stability. Guard our foundation, fortune requires vigilance, Jinhai.
The message was formal and brief, typical of the Chia family council's communication style.
But the last phrase sent made him frown slightly. Not a congratulation for a successful acquisition, not praise for the increased quarterly report.
A family foundation where they believed in something intangible and superstitious.
The muscle in Jinhai's jaw tightened.
Fortune.
That word was just a myth to him. He had built his career painstakingly, studying hard since childhood as the heir to the Chia Group.
His extraordinary ability to anticipate market flows and expand the Chia Group's reach came purely from his effort and intelligence. Not from mythical aid.
Yet, for the elders, especially the patriarch, now secluded in his luxurious Peak residence, what mattered and was always spoken of was fortune.
He placed his phone face down on the desk deliberately. But it wasn't long before his phone vibrated again.
This time it was a call from his grandmother, the matriarch. He already knew what she would say. She would also talk about 'dwindling fortune,' like the others.
"Grandmother," he said after pressing the accept button, his voice deep and controlled.
"Jinhai," his grandmother's voice echoed across the phone line. "Have you seen the report? The numbers... they are worrying. More than worrying."
"It's being handled, Grandmother," Jinhai replied flatly.
He didn't ask how his grandmother knew, or why she had access to internal financial reports before his own executive team. Such questions were futile; the network held by the Chia family elders was vast.
"Handling it is not enough," his grandmother retorted, her voice rising slightly. "Our family's fortune, even our qi, is tied to this group. And it's weakening now; we can feel it."
Jinhai pressed his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose, trying to soothe his throbbing head. "Grandmother, business fluctuates. We are implementing new, more aggressive strategies..."
"Strategies," his grandmother cut in with a scoff. "Do you believe strategies will fix what has already made us truly sick? This is a matter of destiny, Jinhai. A matter from heaven. Our bloodline must be strengthened, and you need a suitable partner for that."
Jinhai remained silent, letting his grandmother continue to speak. Words he had heard often, the relentless push to provide a 'fortune-bringing match.'
"Your grandfather and I," his grandmother continued, her tone softer, more persuasive. "We have consulted with Madam Tan, the Tan family matchmaker. Her reputation is unparalleled. She can find the most auspicious match for you."
Jinhai's jaw tightened again. "Grandmother, I've said this many times. My focus is entirely on this group. It's not the time for... such distractions."
"Distractions?" his grandmother's voice became shrill and piercing. "A proper union is not a 'distraction'! It is the foundation of our continued prosperity! You are thirty-five, Jinhai. It is time to start a family, for your future and the future of all of us. For the continuation of our name."
"We have found a suitable candidate for you," his grandmother urged on, interpreting his prolonged silence as a sign of reluctant acceptance.
"Li Weiwei. From the Li Group, she would be a perfect match in every aspect. Her family's qi is strong, untainted by recent misfortune. A union with their family will bring great fortune to all of us."
Li Weiwei. He knew the name, of course. A beautiful, graceful, accomplished, cultured woman, and a woman with a perfect lineage.
Her life was as disciplined as his own. He imagined her calm, relaxed, yet regal face. And she was the embodiment of every parent's hope for a daughter-in-law or their own child.
Yet the thought of her, as his bride, left him feeling that something was missing.
"Grandmother," Jinhai said slowly, choosing each word carefully. "This requires ongoing discussion. My schedule, as you know, is very tight."
"Cut back on your schedule for the Chia name!" his Grandmother's sharp, high-pitched voice commanded. "Madam Tan has begun her consultation. She will contact you soon. You will show her respect, and you will not dishonor our ancestors. This is not a request, Jinhai."
The phone line went dead, returning silence to his office. But for him, it felt heavier, his grandmother's voice still ringing in his ears.
Jinhai slowly lowered his phone, placing it very carefully beside the detailed quarterly report folder he hadn't touched yet.
The burden of his family's expectations, their ancient beliefs, pressed down on him with an invisible force.
He was the CEO of the Chia Group, master of a vast financial empire. Yet, at this moment, he felt like a mere pawn on a giant chessboard.
He brushed his neatly trimmed hair back, a habitual gesture of his when agitated.