No ashes Left

The First Flames of Power

Episode 6 – “The First Flames of Power”

The morning sun streamed through the tall glass windows of the boardroom, bouncing off polished wood and steel. Li Xue walked in, her heels clicking with an authority that silenced the murmurs instantly. The once uncertain girl was gone—replaced by a woman with fire in her eyes.

Stacks of proposals sat before the executives, each man twice her age, their gazes skeptical, almost dismissive. She set her files down, lifted her chin, and spoke.

“Gentlemen, if we continue with the same strategies, we’ll be bankrupt within two years. I won’t let that happen under my watch.”

Gasps. A few exchanged glances. One man, Mr. Zhao, leaned back with a smirk.

“And what makes you so sure, Miss Li? Experience doesn’t come from… burning midnight oil over coffee.”

Her jaw tightened, but she didn’t flinch. Instead, she spread her blueprint across the table. Charts, graphs, projections—all meticulously designed.

“Numbers don’t lie, Mr. Zhao. While you’ve been playing it safe, I’ve been planning for growth. Partnerships, digital expansion, aggressive marketing—we double revenue within eighteen months.”

Silence followed. Her pen tapped against the table, deliberate, sharp.

Inside, her heart raced. Lei Feng… do you see me now? This fire you left behind—it’s unstoppable.

Hui Ying, seated at the corner as her silent supporter, flashed her a tiny thumbs-up.

Another executive cleared his throat. “These projections… are bold. Risky.”

Li Xue met his eyes, steady as stone. “So is greatness. If you want safety, step aside. If you want to rise, follow me.”

For a moment, the room hung on her words. Then, slowly, one by one, heads nodded. The tide was shifting.

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Later, in her office, she finally let out a shaky breath. Her coffee sat untouched this time; adrenaline was her fuel. She gazed out at the skyline, watching the city pulse with life.

Hui Ying slipped in, grinning ear to ear.

“You were terrifying in there. I loved it.”

Li Xue laughed softly, tension breaking. “I thought my hands would give me away.”

“No one saw that,” Hui Ying teased, handing her a pastry. “They only saw the queen in the making. You owned that room.”

Li Xue’s eyes softened. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Maybe… maybe this is just the beginning.”

Lian Hua barged in then, dramatically waving a gossip magazine. “Guess who’s suddenly being called ‘The Ice Flame of Business’?”

Li Xue groaned, covering her face. “Please don’t tell me they’re already giving me ridiculous names.”

“Oh, they are,” Lian Hua said, plopping onto the couch. “But admit it, Xue—it suits you.”

Li Xue allowed herself a small smile. For the first time in weeks, it wasn’t forced.

An empire… my empire. And I’ll build it brighter than the pain that forged me.

The three friends laughed, bickered, and shared snacks late into the evening. But beneath the lightness, Li Xue knew something deeper—her rise had begun, and nothing could stop the first flames of her power from spreading.