Place: Tanzhe Temple, Mentougou District, Beijing
Time: Morning
The fleet of luxury cars pulled away from the tarmac, weaving through the messy morning traffic before heading straight toward the rugged outskirts of the city. Within an hour, the sleek black vehicles pulled up right at the quiet entrance of Tanzhe Temple.
Tucked deep away in the ancient mountains, the whole place felt like a completely different world. It was choked in this thick morning fog, smelling heavily of rich incense and damp pine.
Stepping out of the car, Siwon walked past the old stone arches. Inside the main prayer hall, she bought some incense, kneeled down, and offered her prayers. For a long time, she just sat there in total silence. Her eyes were closed, her posture completely still.
To anyone watching, it looked like she had totally cut herself off from the chaos of the outside world, just catching this rare, quiet moment of peace.
When she finally opened her eyes, a temple worker approached her team. He looked straight at Secretary Nam, bowed respectfully, and spoke in a low, disciplined whisper in Mandarin.
"Miss Park, the Grand Master requests your presence inside."
Siwon stood up without a word, gesturing for her guards to stay put at the entrance. She followed the worker into the private inner courtyard.
The master's quarters were strangely beautiful. The back of the traditional wooden room was completely wide open, framing this huge view of the sky and rows of green bamboo swaying gently in the mountain breeze.
Sitting in a wooden armchair facing the view was the old man. But the sight made Siwon freeze for a second. An IV drip was hooked up to his left hand, the clear medicine slowly ticking down the tube. A few temple attendants were hovering around him, quietly tending to his needs.
Seeing this usually unstoppable old man confined to a chair, a rare flicker of actual concern crossed Siwon's cold face. She walked over, her voice softer than it had been in days.
"You were always so strong," she muttered, looking down at the IV drip. "What happened to you?"
The old master didn't look bothered at all. Instead, warm, wrinkled laugh lines bunched up around his eyes as he looked up at her. He let out a soft, wheezing chuckle.
"Ah, don't mind these worriers, child," the old man replied, his voice raspy but cheerful as he waved his free hand to brush it off. "It was nothing but a minor fever. But these kids got so terrified, they dragged me straight to the city hospital. After a dozen useless tests, the doctors finally concluded that I had simply caught a bit of a cold from the mountain air!"
He smiled gently. The peaceful rustle of the bamboo leaves filled the quiet space between them.
For all her terrifying power in the corporate world, standing in front of this frail, laughing old man, Siwon was just a traveler looking for shelter.
A soft, genuine smile finally broke through Siwon's cold face, warming her almond eyes. She let out a small, quiet laugh. "You really are strong, Master. But please, just take care of yourself."
The old man smiled, his wise eyes drifting out to the swaying bamboo trees before turning back to her. "I heard a rumor... that you are going to Seoul?"
"Yes," Siwon replied. Her posture dropped slightly as a heavy, real tension clouded her face. Her voice lost its sharp edge, replaced by a rare vulnerability. "I have to establish the branch headquarters there. And... I think it's finally time. I might have to officially reveal my true identity to the public."
The weight of stepping out of the corporate shadows and into the blinding media light—and facing her enemies—was clearly eating away at her.
Sensing the sudden storm brewing in her mind, the old man weakly lifts his right hand. With deep warmth, he gently placed his palm on her head, softly stroking her hair.
"So, is this what has been troubling my fearless warrior so much?" the old man said softly. His hand was warm, bringing a sense of calm to her racing thoughts. "Just remember one thing, child. Change and hardships... they arrive uninvited. They come on their own terms, and in the process, they reshape who we are. Don't fight the tide. Ride it with vibe."
Siwon reached up, placing her hand gently over his wrinkled fingers, squeezing softly. Her voice was thick with unspoken emotion. "I will. Just... promise me you will take care of your health."
The old man let out another raspy, mischievous chuckle, his eyes twinkling with old-man humor.
"Of course I will. After all, I have to stay alive until I see you get married."
Siwon blinked. Her serious expression instantly crashed into pure shock. Her cheeks flushed a sudden crimson, and she immediately let go of his hand, pulling back with a stunned frown.
"Master! What on earth are you talking about?" she huffed, her cold demeanor completely melting into embarrassed annoyance. "If that's your condition, then you're going to be sitting in that chair for a very, very long time!"
The old man's laughter rang out warmly across the open pavilion. Siwon could only nod; a soft flush still settled on her cheeks from the Master's sudden mention of marriage.
Suddenly, the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps broke the quietness of the moment.
"Chairwoman!"
"Chairwoman!"
Secretary Nam burst into the private courtyard, completely breathless, his eyes wide with a mix of sheer excitement and absolute disbelief. He was holding his digital tablet tight.
Siwon't playful expression vanished instantly. The warmth in her eyes froze over. She adjusted her dark retro suit and glared at him, her voice returning to its icy, clinical baseline. "What is it, Mr. Nam? I told you not to disturb me here."
"I am sorry, Ma'am, but..." The secretary swallowed hard, pointing a trembling finger toward the backyard. "Miss, I have incredible news! I...I just had my fortune read by the grandmaster in the backyard, and my future is practically written in gold!"
Siwon't brows knit tight. "What news? And who exactly told you about your future?"
"The grandmaster just said that I will get two 'Big Diamonds' in my future! The most luxurious diamonds in my entire life!" he gasped out, completely invested in the prophecy. He paused, a look of genuine, comedic confusion washing over his face as he scratched his head.
"But honestly, Ma'am, I just don't understand one thing... Why only two diamonds? Maybe they are Kohinoor diamonds, but the Kohinoor is a single diamond in the whole world. So how can there be a second one? And if both are the same, then well, Ma'am... you are a billionaire corporate queen! I want more diamonds because I want to give a whole vault of them as a gift to you!"
He turned to the old master, looking slightly petulant. "But the Master said that only two will be more than enough for me..."
A heavy, dead silence blanketed the pavilion. The old master burst into a fresh wave of hearty, amused laughter, adding that if the grandmaster spoke of his future, it was one hundred percent real because his words never went wrong.
Meanwhile, Siwon't face turned into a picture of absolute, freezing disbelief. She stared at her secretary as if he had completely lost his mind.
"What?" Siwon't voice dropped to a low, deadpan whisper. "You broke into a sacred courtyard, running like a madman, and disturbed me... only for this ridiculous gossip?"
The secretary instantly froze, his breath catching in his throat as he realized he had just stepped right onto his boss's short fuse.
Siwon didn't just look annoyed; she looked entirely done with him. She crossed her arms, her piercing gaze burning right through him.
"And besides," Siwon added, her tone dripping with pure, deadpan sarcasm, "you are already working for someone who is obscenely wealthy. Why on earth would you need two literal diamonds? Ridiculous."
"But Ma'am, luxury diamonds are—"
"Enough," Siwon cut him off smoothly, her voice shifting straight back into the sharp tone of the Valkyrie chairwoman. She pointed a manicured finger toward the courtyard exit. "Go get the cars ready. I'll be down in a few minutes."
"Yes, Ma'am! Right away!"
The secretary bowed frantically, nearly tripping over his own polished dress shoes as he scrambled backward out of the pavilion. He looked eager to escape before she decided to fire him right on the spot.
As the heavy silence returned to the courtyard, the old master just watched her, his wise eyes crinkling with a knowing, gentle amusement. The IV line attached to his hand ticked away quietly against the backdrop of the massive mountain view.
Siwon let out a soft, defeated sigh. Her rigid business posture melted away one last time as she turned back to the elderly man. She picked up her dark glasses from the wooden table, ready to face the world again.
"Take good care of yourself, Master," Siwon said, a knowing, amused glint finally flashing in her almond eyes. She leaned in a bit, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "And by the way... that was a pretty clever trick you pulled just to get me to fly all the way here. A fake heart attack? Really?"
She let out a short, quiet laugh, shaking her head. "Well, I guess I can't complain. At least it gave me a real excuse to talk to you."
The old master's eyes were crinkling with pure delight. He didn't look guilty at all for faking his illness. He let out a raspy chuckle, adjusting his traditional robes.
"To be honest, child, I wasn't entirely sure if you would actually show up or not. You are always so busy conquering the world." He paused, his smile shifting into something deeper, more significant. "Because of that uncertainty, I already shipped your gift straight to Seoul. It is waiting at your new headquarters. You'll find it whenever you arrive there."
Siwon froze, her hand pausing midway as she was about to slip her glasses on. Her brows knit in genuine curiosity. "A gift? What kind of gift, Master?"
The old master didn't give her a direct answer. He just looks straight into her eyes, his expression turning solemn, carrying the weight of ancient wisdom.
"Always keep patience, Siwon," he murmured softly. "True strength isn't just knowing when to strike. It's knowing how to wait."
Recognizing that the old man won't reveal a single detail more, Siwon didn't press further. She bowed her head deeply in a gesture of profound respect, a silent promise sealed between them.
Turning on her heel, she slipped her dark sunglasses back over her eyes. In a flash, she transformed from a concerned child back into the cold corporate boss.
As she continued her walk down the wooden steps, leaving the pavilion behind, a thought crossed her mind. Now, what was the secret gift Master was ready for me?