The Woman who Dared

A Daughter's Fight

The Zhang family mansion stood proudly in one of Shanghai's most exclusive neighbourhoods.

From the outside, it looked like a perfect home. Its tall glass windows, beautiful gardens, and expensive decorations gave the impression of a family blessed with happiness and wealth.

But behind its magnificent walls lived a young woman who had learned that money could buy almost anything except a parent's love.

Xiao Xiao.

At twenty-eight, she had survived more heartbreak than most people could imagine.

She was only twelve when her mother died.

Her mother had been more than a parent. She had been Xiao Xiao's closest friend, her protector, and the person who made her feel that the world was a beautiful place.

But after her death, everything changed.

Her father, who had once seemed to care deeply for her, eventually married his mistress.

And with that marriage came a new family.

Her stepmother brought a daughter of her own, a girl who quickly became the centre of her father's attention.

Whatever the girl wanted, she received.

Whatever mistake she made, someone found an excuse for her.

Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao was treated as though she were an unwanted reminder of the woman her father had lost.

Her stepmother rarely missed an opportunity to humiliate her. Sometimes, she would deliberately give Xiao Xiao impossible tasks and then complain when they weren't completed quickly enough.

Her father saw little of it—or chose not to see it.

But Xiao Xiao remembered everything.

She remembered the nights she cried herself to sleep.

She remembered the times she wished her mother were still alive.

And most importantly, she remembered the promise she had made to herself.

One day, I will stand on my own feet. Nobody will ever have the power to treat me as though I am worthless again.

There was one thing her stepmother feared more than anything else.

The Zhang Corporation.

The company had been founded by Xiao Xiao's mother long before her marriage. It was her mother's life's work, built through years of sacrifice, intelligence, and determination.

After marrying Xiao Xiao's father, her mother had allowed him to become the company's CEO.

She had trusted him.

She had believed that the man she loved would protect the business she had worked so hard to build.

But after her death, the situation changed.

Xiao Xiao's stepmother began influencing her father, insisting that Xiao Xiao was too inexperienced to manage such a large company.

Eventually, her own daughter was appointed director of the Zhang Corporation.

The daughter of the woman who had entered their family after Xiao Xiao's mother was now being positioned to control the company her mother had created.

And Xiao Xiao?

She was expected to remain silent.

But she refused to surrender.

She had studied relentlessly, determined to understand business, management, and everything she would need to reclaim her mother's legacy.

Still, knowledge from books alone wasn't enough.

She needed practical experience.

She needed to learn how successful companies operated.

And she needed to build a career that would give her the strength to stand against her own family.

That was why she had applied for a position at Sheng Corporation.

It was one of Shanghai's most respected business empires, led by a man whose reputation was almost as intimidating as his wealth.

Ethan Li.

Xiao Xiao had no idea that the man she had argued with at the party the previous night was the very person whose company she was about to enter.

If she had known, she might have reconsidered her decision.

Or perhaps not.

After all, Xiao Xiao had never been the kind of woman to run away from a challenge.

The Interview

"Miss Xiao, your interview is scheduled for ten o'clock."

Xiao Xiao glanced at the time on her phone.

Nine forty-five.

"Perfect."

She checked her reflection in the mirror one last time, straightened her formal outfit, and gathered the documents she had prepared for the interview.

Her résumé was neatly arranged, her academic records were complete, and she had researched Sheng Corporation thoroughly.

She wasn't going to let nervousness ruin this opportunity.

"Mother," she whispered, looking briefly at the small photograph tucked inside her handbag, "I'm going to make you proud."

Then she took a deep breath and left.

Twenty minutes later, Xiao Xiao stood before the magnificent headquarters of Sheng Corporation.

The building rose high into the sky, its glass exterior reflecting the morning sunlight. Employees moved through the entrance with purposeful steps, while luxury cars arrived and departed from the front of the building.

Xiao Xiao looked up.

"So this is where the great Ethan Li works," she murmured.

She remembered the arrogant man from the previous night.

His cold expression.

His expensive suit.

And the way he had spoken to her as though she were beneath him.

Her lips curved into a small smile.

"Let's hope the people working here have better manners than their boss."

With that, she entered the building.

The spacious lobby was filled with activity. Employees hurried between departments, phones rang at reception, and the sound of footsteps echoed across the polished floor.

Xiao Xiao approached the reception desk.

"Good morning. I'm here for an interview."

The receptionist looked up.

"Your name, please?"

"Xiao Xiao."

The receptionist checked the appointment list.

"Yes, Miss Xiao. You're expected on the twenty-eighth floor. Please take the elevator to the executive recruitment department."

"Thank you."

Xiao Xiao turned and hurried towards the elevators, holding her documents carefully against her chest.

She was already imagining the questions she might be asked.

Her qualifications.

Her strengths.

Her understanding of the company.

She had prepared answers for everything.

Everything except what happened next.

As she rounded a corner, someone stepped into her path.

BAM!

Her shoulder collided with a solid chest.

Her documents flew into the air.

Several sheets scattered across the polished floor.

"Oh, no!"

Xiao Xiao stumbled backwards.

Instinctively, she squeezed her eyes shut, preparing for another embarrassing fall.

But the fall never came.

Instead, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her safely back.

For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, Xiao Xiao found herself in the arms of a man she had absolutely no desire to meet again.

She slowly opened her eyes.

And froze.

Dark eyes stared back at her.

A familiar sharp jaw.

Perfectly styled black hair.

An expression that seemed permanently carved from ice.

Ethan Li.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The corridor fell strangely silent.

A gentle breeze from the nearby ventilation system lifted a few strands of Xiao Xiao's hair, which brushed softly against her cheek.

Ethan's gaze remained fixed on her face.

Something about those eyes stirred an unfamiliar feeling inside him.

He had no idea why.

He only knew that, once again, this woman had managed to interrupt his day in a way nobody else could.

Xiao Xiao stared at him in disbelief.

You've got to be kidding me.

Of all the people in Shanghai, why did it have to be him?

She quickly stepped back, but Ethan's hand remained at her waist for one extra second before he released her.

Their eyes met again.

And somewhere deep inside Ethan, an old memory stirred.

A rainy night.

A little girl.

A sweet voice calling herself Star.

He couldn't understand why the memory had suddenly returned.

But before he could examine the feeling, a sharp voice interrupted them.

"President Li!"

A young woman in an elegant office outfit hurried towards them.

She was beautiful, carefully dressed, and wore a professional smile that vanished the moment she saw Ethan holding another woman.

Her name was Lin Meiyu, Ethan's executive secretary.

For five years, she had worked beside him.

For five years, she had secretly hoped that one day Ethan would look at her as something more than an employee.

She had watched countless women attempt to attract his attention.

None had succeeded.

And now, here was a woman who had somehow managed to end up in his arms twice.

Lin Meiyu's fingers tightened around the tablet she was holding.

Who does she think she is?

She forced a smile onto her face.

"President Li, are you all right?"

Ethan finally looked away from Xiao Xiao.

"I'm fine."

His tone was cold and dismissive.

Lin Meiyu glanced at Xiao Xiao, taking in her appearance before lowering her eyes to the scattered documents.

"Miss, you should be more careful. This is the executive floor, not a place to run around carelessly."

Xiao Xiao bent down to collect her papers.

"I wasn't running around. We bumped into each other."

Lin Meiyu smiled without warmth.

"Of course."

Xiao Xiao ignored her and continued gathering her documents.

Ethan watched silently.

There was something almost impressive about the way Xiao Xiao refused to become intimidated by the atmosphere around him.

She was standing in the middle of his headquarters, surrounded by employees who feared making even the smallest mistake in his presence.

Yet she behaved as though he were simply another man standing in her way.

Once Xiao Xiao had collected her papers, she straightened and looked at Ethan.

"Thank you for catching me."

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

She continued before he could respond.

"But I think we should stop meeting like this. It's becoming a habit."

For a moment, Ethan simply stared at her.

Then he spoke.

"Why are you here?"

Xiao Xiao adjusted her documents.

"That's none of your business."

Lin Meiyu nearly dropped her tablet.

Nobody spoke to President Li that way.

Nobody.

Ethan's expression darkened slightly.

"You are standing inside my company. I believe that makes it my business."

Xiao Xiao blinked.

Then her eyes widened.

"Wait."

She looked around the corridor, then back at him.

"This is Sheng Corporation?"

"Obviously."

She stared at him for another second.

Then she muttered under her breath, "Wonderful. Just wonderful."

Ethan heard her.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, President Li."

She gave him a bright smile that did not reach her eyes.

"Absolutely nothing."

She turned to leave.

"Miss Xiao."

She stopped.

Ethan's voice was calm, but something in it made the nearby employees pay attention.

"Where exactly are you going?"

Xiao Xiao lifted her documents.

"To my interview."

His eyes narrowed.

"Your interview?"

"Yes. Unless this company has suddenly decided that applicants aren't allowed to attend interviews."

Lin Meiyu's face changed.

An applicant?

This woman was applying for a job at Sheng Corporation?

She looked at Xiao Xiao again, her mind already racing.

If Xiao Xiao became an employee, she would have more opportunities to encounter Ethan.

That possibility was unacceptable.

Ethan glanced at the papers in Xiao Xiao's hand.

"Which position?"

Xiao Xiao hesitated.

She had prepared for an interview, not an interrogation by the company's CEO.

Still, she lifted her chin.

"Business management trainee."

Something flickered in Ethan's eyes.

A trainee position meant she would have to learn, observe, and work her way up.

He wondered whether she understood how demanding his company could be.

"Do you think you're qualified?" he asked.

Xiao Xiao's smile disappeared.

"Would I have applied if I didn't?"

Gu Chen, who had just arrived carrying a folder, stopped in his tracks.

He looked at Ethan.

Then at Xiao Xiao.

Then back at Ethan.

Oh, no.

He knew that expression on his boss's face.

And he knew that the young woman standing before him had absolutely no idea how much trouble she might be getting herself into.

Ethan took a step closer.

"Sheng Corporation doesn't employ people simply because they believe they deserve a position."

Xiao Xiao met his gaze without flinching.

"Good. I wouldn't want to work somewhere that hires people without checking their qualifications."

Gu Chen lowered his head, pretending to examine his folder.

He was trying very hard not to react.

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

For reasons he couldn't explain, he found himself fighting the smallest urge to smile.

It was an unfamiliar feeling.

One he immediately pushed away.

"Go to your interview," he said at last.

Xiao Xiao blinked.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

She studied his face suspiciously, as though expecting him to change his mind.

Then she nodded.

"Fine. And for the record, President Li, I hope your employees are nicer than you are."

She walked away before he could respond.

Gu Chen watched her disappear around the corner.

Then he slowly turned towards his boss.

"President Li..."

"What?"

Gu Chen hesitated.

"Should I find out more about Miss Xiao?"

Ethan's expression became unreadable.

"Yes."

"Understood."

Ethan turned towards his office.

But before he took another step, he heard a sharp voice behind him.

"President Li!"

Lin Meiyu hurried forward, her professional smile firmly back in place.

"There's no need to worry about that applicant. I'll personally ensure the recruitment team follows the proper procedures."

Ethan looked at her.

"Good."

For one brief moment, relief washed over Lin Meiyu.

Then he added coldly:

"Make sure nobody interferes with her interview."

Her smile stiffened.

"Of course, President Li."

Ethan walked away.

Lin Meiyu remained where she stood, watching him disappear into his private office.

Her hands slowly curled into fists.

For five years, she had worked beside Ethan Li.

Five years of patience.

Five years of hoping.

And now a woman she had never seen before had appeared out of nowhere and captured his attention—not once, but twice.

Lin Meiyu's expression hardened.

You will not take my place.

She turned towards the recruitment department, her mind already forming a plan.

Xiao Xiao would not get that job.

Not if Lin Meiyu had anything to say about it.