Embers of Jade: A Soul Rewritten

The grand ballroom of the Xu estate glittered like a sea of stars.

Crystal chandeliers hung like frozen fireworks, casting fractured light over the elegantly dressed crowd. The air was thick with whispered alliances, veiled threats disguised as compliments, and the subtle clink of fine china.

Aurora stepped into the room like a shadow slipping between light and darkness. She wore a midnight-blue cheongsam embroidered with silver cranes — a symbol of longevity and vigilance. Her golden-ringed eyes scanned the crowd, calm and unyielding.

Every face here belonged to a player. To survive, she needed to become the queen of this game.

Sebastian Xu waited near the head table, his posture impeccable, his gaze cool yet intense. When their eyes met, the room seemed to still for a heartbeat.

"Welcome," he murmured as she approached.

Aurora's lips curved into a faint smile. "Thank you for the invitation."

The dinner began with a delicate symphony of flavors — lotus root soup, braised abalone, and lotus leaf-wrapped rice — each course served with ritualistic precision.

But beneath the elegance simmered a tension that could ignite at any moment.

Across the table, Eva Lin lounged like a serpent ready to strike, eyes flicking with calculated malice.

"She thinks she can reclaim her throne," Eva whispered to a cluster of guests. "What a joke."

Aurora caught the words and lifted her glass of jasmine tea in a silent toast.

Sebastian's voice dropped low. "Ignore them. Tonight is about power, not petty rivalries."

Yet Aurora's mind raced. She wasn't just here to reclaim power — she was here to dismantle the illusion her enemies had built around her.

As dessert was served — delicate mooncakes filled with sweet lotus paste — the real game began.

Sebastian leaned closer. "There's a proposal on the table. Xu Conglomerate needs a new face for the charity foundation. You."

Aurora blinked. "Me?"

"Your reputation as a philanthropist could help soften the media's narrative. And you'll have access to resources to rebuild your empire."

Her eyes narrowed. "What's the catch?"

Sebastian's smile was faint but sharp. "That you play the part flawlessly. Publicly, privately — no mistakes."

Aurora sipped her tea thoughtfully. "And what do you get?"

"Control. And a partner," he said simply. "Someone who can challenge me."

The room erupted suddenly into applause. A toast was called for the announcement of a new alliance—between Xu Conglomerate and the Lin estate.

All eyes turned to her.

Aurora lifted her glass, feeling the weight of the moment.

She was no longer the broken woman who fell into the river. She was a force — poised to reclaim everything stolen from her.

And Sebastian Xu? He was both her ally and her greatest mystery.

As the dinner continued, masks slipped and alliances shifted.

But one truth was clear: in this game of glass masks and dinner parties, only the strongest would survive.