Cursed by Ancient Love, Redeemed by Modern Hearts

Xinyi: The Calm Before the Command

The applause had barely died down.

The ink on the contract had barely dried.

And yet, Liang Xinyi was already moving.

The weight of the phone in her hand was heavy, but the sensation was familiar. A battlefield wasn't always made of blood and swords—sometimes, it was built on decisions made in the space of seconds.

She exhaled sharply. "I need a private room."

The venue staff responded swiftly, leading her down a corridor to a dimly lit, elegantly furnished space meant for high-profile guests needing discretion.

Perfect.

She shut the door behind her and immediately dialed the factory manager.

The call connected on the second ring.

"CEO Liang," the voice on the other end was tense, uncertain. "We—"

"What's the current situation?" she cut in, her tone sharp, efficient. No room for pleasantries.\

"The collapse happened suddenly. We've already sent the affected workers to the hospital. Some were only shaken, but a few lost consciousness."

Xinyi's grip on the phone tightened. "And the reports?"

"We've kept things contained for now. But you know how these things go. If even one of the families talks to the wrong person—"

"I'll handle it," she said, already opening her contacts. "Hold position. I'm sending HR to ensure the workers are taken care of and PR to keep the press under control. In the meantime, give all workers the day off."

Silence.

"CEO Liang… That'll put us behind schedule."

She exhaled, steady and composed.

"One thing at a time." She could feel the silent node on the other end. 

The line went dead. 

Xinyi immediately called Zhao Rui, then Mei, then PR.

"Contain the rumors before they spread," she instructed the PR team. "Anyone outside of the company should have no idea that something happened today."

"Understood," came the quick reply.

She took a breath.

The storm had begun.

But she wasn't going to let it rage out of her control.

...

Wei: A Sudden Shift in the Night

Zhang Wei wasn't the type to linger at social gatherings.

But tonight, the whiskey had gone down smoother than expected.

He didn't usually drink much. Not out of discipline, just preference. But tonight?

Tonight, he felt like it.

Seated across from him, his friend—one of the few people in his circle with no interest in corporate warfare—grinned as she swirled her wine.

"So, tell me, Zhang Wei," she teased, resting her chin on her hand. "Do you ever loosen up, or are you secretly a robot?"

Wei smirked, taking a slow sip. "Robots don't drink."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Drinking doesn't count. I mean… do you ever go on dates? Travel just for fun? Or is your idea of a vacation solving supply chain issues in a different city?"

Wei's eyes glinted with amusement. "What's wrong with that?"

She groaned, lifting her glass. "You're impossible."

For once, he didn't argue.

Sometimes, simple conversations were a luxury.

Then—his phone vibrated.

Feng.

Wei straightened slightly, already sensing the shift in the air.

"Hold on," he muttered, stepping away from the table as he answered. "What is it?"

"CEO Zhang, there's been a collapse at one of the plants."

Wei's jaw tensed. "Details."

"It happened sometime in the last hour. Since it's the weekend, the plant was running at lower capacity—which means it took longer for anyone to notice."

A delayed response.

Meaning?

"The alert system didn't catch it immediately."

Wei's expression remained unreadable, but inside, a dangerous spark flickered.

That was unacceptable.

"I'm heading there now," he said, already turning away from the table.

His friend raised a brow as he returned, reaching for her purse. "Let me guess—work emergency?"

"Something like that." He grabbed his suit jacket. "I'll see you later."

She sighed, swirling the last of her wine. "You need better hobbies, Zhang Wei."

He smirked, already walking away.

...

A Brief Collision

Xinyi exited the private room just as Wei turned the corner.

The moment lasted no more than three seconds.

Her gaze was sharp, focused—still carrying the weight of the crisis she had just contained.

His was steadfast, unreadable—a storm barely held in check.

Their eyes met.

A flicker of awareness passed between them.

But neither lingered.

Wei walked past her without a word.

Xinyi continued down the hall without pause.

Neither knowing that their battles had already begun to overlap.