Chapter 1: The Corporate Jungle
Bianca Lin had never been one to shy away from a challenge, but she had always preferred challenges wrapped in elegance and sophistication. That’s why, when her body suddenly jerked awake in a completely unfamiliar environment, she didn’t panic. She couldn’t afford to. Panic, after all, was not part of her personality.
Her eyes fluttered open to see a sterile white ceiling, and the sharp scent of antiseptic filled her nostrils. No warm bed, no familiar comforts of home, just... cold and sterile. She immediately assessed her situation. Judging by the lack of immediate threats, this wasn’t an emergency room or a hospital. She wasn’t dying. At least, not yet.
Her gaze darted around, taking in the sleek, modern design of the room. A polished wooden desk stood against one wall, beside a floor-to-ceiling glass window revealing the expanse of a sprawling city below. The hum of bustling traffic was audible even from the top floor of the building. With a soft intake of breath, Bianca realized the city outside looked impossibly clean, overly organized—a corporate metropolis, perhaps? She could tell that the hustle and bustle she could hear wasn’t a typical street scene, but something more, something orchestrated and controlled.
A corporate world.
The realization hit her hard, and she sat up, ignoring the brief discomfort from the unfamiliar bed. She needed to be on top of things—wherever things were now.
The bed she lay in was not one she recognized, nor was it in any place she could recall visiting before. For a moment, she felt the gnawing of panic, but then she suppressed it, focusing instead on the task ahead. Adjusting her hair into an effortlessly styled updo, she reached for the neatly folded clothes at the foot of the bed.
"Welcome to your new world, Bianca Lin," a voice chimed in her head.
It was her guide.
"System 777," she muttered, still acclimating to the reality she was thrust into. "Explain, please."
"Your mission here is simple. Charm and manipulate your way to the top. The target? Yu Cheng, CEO of the powerhouse conglomerate, Tang Industries. He is ruthless, calculating, and cold. You must navigate this world, using your skills to secure the company's control and fix the dimensional instability caused by this world’s neglected power struggles. Remember, your time here is limited. Complete the mission, and you may return to the next world."
Bianca blinked. "Yu Cheng? CEO of Tang Industries?" She frowned. This sounded easy enough. She could handle this. As the ultimate "green tea," the charming yet deadly manipulator, she was well-versed in navigating power structures. This... would be no different.
"And what's the catch? There's always a catch," Bianca muttered, her fingers instinctively reaching for her lip gloss in the drawer beside the bed.
"There is no immediate threat yet," System 777 replied, "but things will escalate. Yu Cheng is not someone you can simply manipulate with your usual tricks. His company is built on deception and power, and the rivals in this world are as dangerous as they are influential. A simple mistake could lead to ruin."
"Got it," Bianca replied with a smirk. A challenge, she thought, was always more fun when the stakes were high.
After a quick check of her reflection in the mirror—her image now perfectly suited for the corporate environment—Bianca took a steadying breath. Her skin was flawless, her figure petite but alluring, and her large, dark eyes glinted with a spark of mischievous confidence. Perfect for her next role.
A soft chime sounded from a device on the desk, indicating the presence of a message. She crossed the room swiftly, taking her time to adjust her suit jacket, making sure it hugged her frame in all the right places. She wasn't just a woman in a suit—she was a force.
The message on the screen was brief, but no less important.
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From: Yu Cheng, CEO of Tang Industries
Subject: Meeting Request
Ms. Lin,
Please join me for a meeting at 10 AM in my office. The matter concerns our ongoing projects and the future direction of this company.
Best regards,
Yu Cheng
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The words on the screen were cold, efficient, and unyielding. Bianca allowed herself a quiet chuckle as she glanced over her appearance in the reflection of the glass.
So this is Yu Cheng, she thought. The man who ruled the corporate jungle with an iron fist. It would be an easy conquest. Or so she thought.
The time on the message was 9:30 AM. She had thirty minutes.
"System 777, what do I know about Yu Cheng?" Bianca asked, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she sat down at the desk to type a quick response.
"Yu Cheng is the founder and CEO of Tang Industries, a multinational corporation with a stake in nearly every industry, from technology to real estate. He is known for his cold, logical approach to business and his ruthlessness in eliminating threats. He does not tolerate failure or weakness."
Bianca’s fingers hovered over the keyboard as she processed this information. A man with such power and precision was exactly the type of person who would be easy to manipulate—if one could gain his trust. The trick, of course, was making him believe she wasn’t a threat in the first place.
"How does he operate?" Bianca asked, her voice more demanding now.
"He has no tolerance for games, no patience for flattery, and he rarely—if ever—makes emotional decisions," the system replied, its tone slightly clipped. "You'll need to be subtle, Bianca."
"Subtle," she repeated with a sly smile.
She stood, making sure to adjust her skirt and straighten her jacket. Her footsteps were quiet but purposeful as she made her way out of the bedroom and into the elevator. No need to rush—Yu Cheng wouldn’t appreciate a hurried approach. She had to be careful, poised, and confident, as if she belonged there. No sudden moves.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime. She stepped inside, her fingers dancing over the sleek touchpad as she selected the top floor.
As the elevator ascended, Bianca let her mind wander. This world was vast, but she had no intention of getting lost in the maze of power plays and corporate drama. She was the queen of manipulation, after all. It was time to make her mark.
The elevator doors opened to a pristine, marble-tiled lobby. Tall glass windows provided a sweeping view of the city below, and sleek, contemporary furniture decorated the space, all in muted shades of gray and silver. The receptionist—an attractive woman in a fitted black dress—gave her a polite smile as Bianca approached the desk.
"Ms. Lin, right?" the receptionist asked. "Mr. Cheng is expecting you. He’s on the top floor."
"Thank you," Bianca replied smoothly, offering a dazzling smile as she walked past the desk. The woman’s gaze lingered a bit longer than necessary, a subtle sign of approval. That was good. She had already set the stage.
Bianca stepped into the private elevator at the back of the lobby and ascended one more floor. When the doors opened, the room before her was unlike anything she'd seen in a while—immaculate, minimalist, yet lavish in its simplicity. Everything screamed power, control, and cold precision.
Yu Cheng sat at the far side of the room, his back turned toward her as he stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows. His posture was perfect, his tailored suit a study in subtle luxury.
"Ms. Lin," he said, without turning around. His voice was low and commanding, carrying a hint of disinterest. "You’ve arrived precisely on time."
Bianca paused for a moment, admiring the way he effortlessly commanded the room before taking a step forward. "I try not to be late, Mr. Cheng," she said smoothly, her voice warm, but with just enough edge to it to keep him guessing. "Wouldn't want to waste anyone’s time."
He finally turned to face her, his dark eyes studying her with a mixture of curiosity and cold evaluation. Bianca met his gaze without flinching. She wasn’t just any woman. She was the woman who could bring him to his knees without him ever realizing it.
"Please, take a seat," he said, gesturing toward a chair opposite his sleek, glass desk.
Bianca did so, crossing her legs and leaning slightly forward, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She was ready for the game to begin. The question was: would he be ready for her?
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End of chapter 1
