1 Fall

Zi'an, the capital city of Huaxia Empire, one of the most populous cities in the country and a tourist attraction, is home to diverse people and cultures. From the Han Chinese locals to Hui Muslims and foreigners. There exist different classes of people, from the class of elites to government officials down to the working class people.

This thriving city was abuzz with the staggering news of the rise and fall of its own elite.

From the death of her parents, when she officially took over Li Real Estates and single handedly grew the company to what it is today— to her slow and tortuous descent into madness and finally death in an unknown asylum.

News of her struggle-filled life made her an epitome of pity to those at common place.

Of what use is status when you lose your mind?

This has become the frequent question asked.

Li Baozhai's only stain was her madness.

"It was too much for her to handle—The emotional stress from the death of her parents to the stress and pressure the position she occupied presented," said the leading psychiatrist.

Her life and death had become something the public would debate on, not letting even her soul rest in peace.

Only a few hours earlier...

Seated inside a private room in an asylum was a frightening pale woman dressed in white. Her once succulent lips were chapped. She was once a slender woman with an hourglass figure, after going through days of starvation, she had been reduced to bones. Even her once beautiful upturned eyes appeared dead. Her luxurious hair oddly retained its beauty.

The lack of good skincare products, good food, peace of mind and even sleep had made her a living ghost but still she was much better than she was a few months ago.

The woman appeared to be in her late twenties or thirties? Clearly stress had done a number on her as she appeared much older than her age.

She was once very stunning, with an hourglass figure. The dream of many men. With an incomparable head for business, Li Baozhai, the heir to the Li Real Estates.

With one-third of the capital city under the ownership of the company, Li Real Estates had many properties within and outside the capital. The huge wealth amassed by her ancestors thrived under her careful nurture.

Though, her eyes seemed lifeless, she felt she could see better than ever before.

She had told the doctor that her condition had improved, she had stopped hearing or seeing things.

Indeed she should have come earlier.

Then again, the reputation of her family would have been destroyed had she done that. Well, it wasn't better now either as it was in tatters.

She was lost in her own memories.

Only a few days ago, she was bound with her arms folded. Now for a reason she did not know, her bounds had been losed.

They said she was a lot calmer and so her bounds could be removed.

She had told the doctor that a lot but he never believed her. So why now? What changed?

Everyone said she was crazy.

Li Baozhai herself felt she had gone mad too.

Only a year after she took over Li Real Estates, she started seeing things that weren't there, hearing things that weren't there. Blacking out occasionally with no memories of the wrongs she had committed.

Her family had tried to keep the truth away from her. "To protect you," they said.

To protect her from prying eyes. No one could know about her situation. But it didn't get better, rather it got worse.

She ruined her reputation. In public, she had lost control of her sanity. Everything was out in the open.

The doctor had said they should have brought her in earlier rather than hide her situation.

No one in her family believed she was mad. There was no history of madness on both sides of her family, how did it turn out so?

Why was her situation different?

She had worked hard ever since they died, to fulfil their dreams and let Li Corps stand out.

She was almost going to be the bride of an outstanding gentleman. Only now...

Where did it all go wrong?

How come ever since she arrived at the asylum she was no longer hunted by those images. She no longer mixed up reality, she no longer blacked out?

Who could explain these matters to her?

Li Fu, her grandfather had an attack and finally passed away after he found out she totally lost it.

"If only I had not gone mad," she thought. But how could one control her sanity?

The video of her outburst trended on the internet. It was the most searched video for a while even after it was taken down, it was reuploaded and circulated by the netizens.

The rich heiress who was once respected, admired and envied had stripped in public.

Many claimed she did it for attention. Others said she was an exhibitionist but none of those were true.

Li Baozhai was only trying to fulfill her duties when she saw bugs climbing her skin, invading her most intimate parts. In a streak of panic, she had undressed.

But it was only her imagination. She could no longer distinguish reality from her 'imagination'. It felt so real.

She felt those bugs crawl against her skin. She felt them bite her.

Only to discover no such thing happened. How could she explain? Who was willing to listen? She had screamed for help, she had begged to be saved but everyone avoided her.

There were already rumours that the Li heir was crazy, her actions only served as a confirmation.

Who would want to associate with a person who had gone crazy?

Yes! She was magnificent. Yes! She had a good head for business. However, those were all in the past.

Which shareholder would entrust his money in the hands of a mad woman?

None! This resulted in losing her position.

Time trickled by as Li Baozhai recalled her life.

Who could understand her struggles? Who would trust her? She didn't even trust herself.

The one person who had told her he believed in her, she sent away.

Now she was alone.

Ever since her grandfather Li Fu was buried, her relatives had not come to see her.

Perhaps they blamed her for his death. Even though she did not mean it. Even if it wasn't intentional, it couldn't change the fact that her grandfather had died because of her.

It was likely he felt too guilty for entrusting the family into her hands because of which she was stressed and pressured into insanity.

Then again, she had taken the reins after the death of her parents because no one stepped up. The company was a ticking bomb threatening to blow up. The shareholders were selling their shares, the investors were pulling out, there were also those pulling strings behind in order to take advantage of the situation.

It was a mess.

She had only just graduated from school and wasn't thinking of leading the family but the unfortunate death of her parents made her stand to the task. She had no choice, she didn't want their hard work to be ruined.

Li Baozhai heard rushing steps just before the door was pushed open with a huge bang.