Rebirth of the Business Empress

Chapter 16: Forging Fire — The First Step Toward Power

The office buzz surrounding the scandal died down after Su Wei’s suspension, but whispers still lingered in the halls. Some colleagues avoided Liang Yuna entirely, as if proximity to her meant courting disaster. Others eyed her with wary respect.

An intern who had dared to challenge a director in front of the board — and won — was no ordinary intern.

Yuna ignored them all. She wasn’t here to make friends. She was here to build an empire.

But she knew too well that victory painted a target on her back. Su Wei would return, and next time the blows would be deadlier. If Yuna wanted to survive — no, thrive — she needed allies and her own power base.

Two days later, Yuna requested a meeting with Manager Liu, the stern man who oversaw the finance internship program. He was not one to indulge interns, yet curiosity prompted him to grant her ten minutes.

The moment she stepped into his office, she saw the faint lines of suspicion on his face. He had clearly been warned not to trust her.

Yuna bowed politely, her expression calm. “Manager Liu, thank you for your time. I know you’re busy, so I’ll be direct.”

He gestured curtly for her to speak.

“I’ve noticed Aurora’s expansion projects are bleeding funds through inefficient supply contracts. If this continues, the losses will quietly eat into profits. I’ve drawn up an alternative procurement strategy. It cuts unnecessary intermediaries, saving at least twelve percent annually.”

She slid a slim folder across his desk.

Manager Liu opened it skeptically. But as his eyes scanned the figures, his brows furrowed. Then lifted. He looked at her with something new — recognition.

“These numbers… accurate?”

“I double-checked every calculation,” Yuna said firmly. “If you implement this, Aurora gains not only savings but leverage over our competitors. I don’t need credit. I only ask for your support in future projects.”

The silence stretched. Manager Liu tapped the file with his finger, studying her.

“You’re bold,” he said at last. “Most interns beg for recommendations. You offer me weapons.”

“I don’t beg,” Yuna replied simply. “I bargain.”

His lips twitched, almost amused. He closed the folder and locked it in his drawer. “Very well. I’ll keep this in mind. But tread carefully, Liang Yuna. Ambition shines, but it also burns.”

She smiled faintly. “Then I’ll forge fire into steel.”

That night, Yuna stayed late, pouring over Aurora’s archived data. Knowledge was power, and power was survival. She dissected financial reports, memorized supply chains, and marked hidden inefficiencies others had ignored for years. Every detail was a weapon she could wield when the time came.

But beneath her calculated focus, another thought simmered.

In her past life, she had trusted too easily. Betrayal had come not just from rivals, but from those she once called allies. This time, she would trust no one blindly. Every relationship would be tested, every promise weighed.

Three days later, opportunity arrived disguised as chaos.

A sudden snag hit Aurora’s negotiation with Crown Textiles, one of its key suppliers. The deal was on the verge of collapse. Executives scrambled, but the Crown representatives threatened to walk out. Losing them would ripple through Aurora’s spring launch, costing millions.

Han Jin himself called for an emergency late-night session with senior staff. By some twist of fate — or perhaps deliberate testing — Yuna was summoned as well.

The conference room was tense. Documents scattered across the table, executives arguing in circles.

“They want exclusive distribution rights. Impossible!” one director shouted.

“If we lose them, production halts. We’ll miss the entire launch schedule!” another argued.

Han Jin sat at the head, silent but visibly impatient. His gaze cut through every word, sharp as a blade.

Finally, he turned to Yuna.

“You’ve been silent, Liang Yuna. Speak.”

All eyes swung to her. Some mocking, others curious.

Yuna inhaled slowly. Then she spoke, her voice steady.

“Crown doesn’t want exclusivity. They want security. Their real fear is Aurora shifting to cheaper suppliers once the launch succeeds. We should offer a five-year rolling contract with scaled incentives. They’ll feel protected, and we retain flexibility.”

The room fell quiet.

One executive scoffed. “Naïve. Why would they accept less than exclusivity?”

Yuna met his gaze calmly. “Because I studied their expansion. Crown is seeking stability to finance their new factories. If we guarantee them steady demand with performance bonuses, they gain exactly what they need. Exclusivity is just their opening bluff.”

Han Jin’s lips curved faintly. He rose. “Prepare the offer. Liang Yuna will present it herself.”

Gasps erupted. An intern negotiating with Crown’s senior executives? Unheard of.

The next evening, Yuna walked into Crown Textiles’ glass tower. Executives in tailored suits sneered at her youth. Yet when she laid out Aurora’s revised proposal — sharp, logical, and laced with foresight — the tide shifted.

She anticipated every objection, countered every demand, and reframed the negotiation as a partnership rather than a battlefield. By the end, Crown’s lead negotiator leaned back, visibly impressed.

“You’re no ordinary intern,” he said slowly. “Aurora is bold to send you.”

Yuna only smiled. “Aurora values fairness. And I value results.”

The deal was signed that night. On Aurora’s terms.

Back at headquarters, news spread like wildfire. Executives who once dismissed Yuna now watched her warily. The girl who had been accused of betrayal was now the intern who salvaged a multimillion-dollar contract.

But not everyone celebrated.

In her penthouse, Su Wei smashed another glass. Her suspension kept her out of the boardroom, but whispers of Yuna’s success reached her ears daily.

“That little fox,” she seethed. “She thinks she’s untouchable.”

Her phone buzzed. A message flashed:

“The girl is talented, but talent can be broken. Shall we proceed?”

Su Wei’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Yes. Break her. Crush her. Make her regret ever stepping into my path.”

Meanwhile, Yuna returned to her tiny apartment. The city glittered outside her window, alive with endless ambition. She sat at her desk, flipping through her notes, but her thoughts wandered.

Every victory drew her closer to danger. She could almost feel the invisible threads tightening around her — old enemies stirring, new rivals emerging.

But her heart did not tremble.

She had lived through betrayal once. She had been destroyed once.

This time, she would destroy first.

Yuna closed her notebook, her gaze burning with resolve.

This was only the beginning.