Chapter 23: Internal Calculation
Liang Yue sat alone in her private study, the city lights spilling through the floor-to-ceiling windows like scattered diamonds across the darkened floor. Her fingers traced the edge of a crystal glass holding a faint trace of tea, the steam curling upward in quiet, meditative spirals. The room was serene, but her mind was anything but. Strategy, foresight, and calculation dominated every thought—her reborn instincts, honed sharper than ever, guiding every consideration.
She leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowing slightly as she considered the events of the past weeks. Xu Liwei's repeated attempts at manipulation had failed spectacularly. Yulan's petty schemes and whispered campaigns had been dismantled before they could reach the light. And now, Huo Tianrui's proposal lingered in her mind—not as a romantic whim, but as a chess piece of immense weight.
Wealth, protection, influence, she thought, ticking each advantage silently. Aligning with Huo Tianrui would secure all three... and more.
A soft chime indicated a visitor. Without looking up, she murmured, "Enter."
Yulan stepped in, her face a practiced mask of concern. "Liang Yue, I thought... perhaps we could talk privately. Just us. I don't want this... misunderstanding to grow any further."
Liang Yue's gaze remained on the cityscape, calm, detached. "Misunderstanding?" she echoed, her voice even. "Or your attempt to manipulate perception? Which is it, Yulan?"
Yulan's lips trembled, a slight falter in the confident exterior she always wore in public. "I... I just... we've been friends, haven't we? Family. I never wanted to see you lose everything. You've changed... I can help you, if you just let me."
Liang Yue finally turned her gaze to her cousin, sharp and unyielding. "Let you help me?" she asked, voice cool, almost surgical in its precision. "Do you remember what happened last life, Yulan? Do you remember the betrayal, the humiliation, the lies? Tell me—how could I ever allow someone who once destroyed me to 'help' me now?"
Yulan's carefully crafted mask cracked, just a little, but Liang Yue's eyes were unforgiving. "Liang Yue... I..."
"You will not speak," Liang Yue interrupted, voice low and decisive. "Your words carry no weight here. No amount of performance, no act of contrition, no whisper of 'friendship' can undo what has already transpired. And more importantly... I will not allow emotion to dictate this life. Strategy, foresight, power—these are the principles by which I operate. Not sentimentality, not pity."
Yulan paled slightly, realizing her emotional ploys were ineffective. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, defeated. Liang Yue had anticipated this, as she had anticipated nearly every move. Every hesitation, every attempt at guilt or manipulation was irrelevant when measured against a mind reborn with memory and foresight.
Liang Yue's attention returned to the cityscape, her mind calculating. Huo Tianrui... cold, ruthless, precise, almost untouchable. Yet... he respects me. He recognizes capability. That makes him different from Xu Liwei. That makes him a potential ally—and shield.
Her fingers drummed lightly against the desk as she considered every angle. Aligning with Huo Tianrui would mean merging their influence. Together, they could dominate not only the financial world but any social or political maneuvering that came their way. Her independence would remain intact—he would not underestimate her, and she would not underestimate him.
But there was always risk. No alliance, no matter how carefully calculated, was without it. Huo Tianrui's power was immense, and though his respect for her was clear, she could not ignore the possibility that even he might have ambitions that conflicted with her own. Every advantage had a shadow, every ally a potential adversary.
Liang Yue's lips curved into a faint smile. I am prepared. I have been reborn into this life with knowledge and foresight. I will anticipate every contingency, every counter, every betrayal before it even occurs. And I will act decisively.
Yulan, sensing she had lost the conversation, attempted one last emotional appeal. "Liang Yue... please. Don't push everyone away. We can still—"
Liang Yue's eyes flicked to hers, icy and unyielding. "No, Yulan. You misunderstand. I am not pushing anyone away. I am ensuring that I remain in control. That is the difference between surviving and thriving. This is my life. My strategy. And anyone—friend or enemy—must operate within the boundaries I establish."
Yulan's shoulders slumped, realizing her final attempt had failed. Liang Yue's composure, reborn knowledge, and strategic mind left no room for manipulation. She had been outplayed, outthought, and publicly humiliated in ways Yulan had not yet fully realized.
Liang Yue returned to her calculations. What does Huo Tianrui expect from me? What do I require from him? She listed the conditions silently: autonomy, influence, strategic freedom, and protection. Each element would ensure her dominance, preserve her resources, and secure her position. The proposal was not about love—it was about leverage, safety, and foresight. It was, in short, exactly what she needed.
A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. A junior associate entered quietly, bowing. "Ms. Liang Yue, your morning briefings for the new investments are ready. Huo Tianrui requested a preliminary overview of the potential mergers before tomorrow's meeting."
Liang Yue nodded. "Thank you. Leave them on the desk. I will review them."
The room fell silent again, the city lights a constant reminder of the stakes outside. She studied the papers, her mind connecting dots, calculating outcomes, projecting gains and losses. Every potential move Xu Liwei could make, every whisper Yulan might attempt, every ripple in the business world—she anticipated it all.
Her thoughts returned briefly to Huo Tianrui. Cold, ruthless, strategic... but respectful. His power complements mine. Our alliance could be unstoppable if managed correctly.
She allowed herself the faintest, almost imperceptible smile. The past life's mistakes will not define me. This life... this life, I control.
The evening deepened, and with it, the clarity of her strategy. Every decision, every alliance, every partnership would now be calculated with precision. The proposal from Huo Tianrui was not a trap—it was a tool. And Liang Yue intended to wield it flawlessly.
Finally, she rose, walking to the window. Her reflection in the glass was composed, almost serene, but her eyes betrayed the sharpness, the foresight, and the unyielding determination within.
Tomorrow, she would respond to Huo Tianrui. Tomorrow, the terms would be set, the alliance considered, and her strategy further solidified.
For now, she allowed herself one thought: I am reborn. I am prepared. I am untouchable. And every move I make from here will secure the life I was denied, the power I deserve, and the revenge I am owed.
Yulan, standing near the door for what felt like an eternity, finally left silently, defeated. Liang Yue's focus returned entirely to the city, the investments, the strategy, and the man who had proposed an alliance of power.
She did not fear Huo Tianrui. She respected him. And she calculated—always calculated.
In the quiet of the night, Liang Yue allowed herself a rare moment of satisfaction. The board was set, the pieces aligned, and the game—her game—was moving forward precisely as she intended.
The whispers of the past life, the betrayals, the loss—all were irrelevant now. This life was hers to command. And no one, not Xu Liwei, not Yulan, not circumstance, would ever have the power to undermine her again.