novelraw Chapter 165: Chance Encounter, Trust Company
Chapter 165: Chance Encounter, Trust Company
May 22, 2023, Monday, Sunny, 15-28°C.
The sunlight seeped through the light gray gauze curtains, filling the entire bedroom with warmth and brightness.
“Ding-ling-ling——” The crisp sound of the alarm clock rang.
Yao Lingling sat up in bed, casually turned off her phone alarm, and sat on the bed in a daze, gradually waking up.
She had stayed up late last night to finish the clothing pattern list for Tang Song, and by the time she went to bed, it was already 1 AM. Now, she felt a bit sluggish.
In addition to genuinely wanting to help this friend, there was another important reason.
She found the clothes Tang Song sent to be amazing!
As a professional design assistant, she had a keen sense for clothing design.
A successful pattern requires a solid foundation of fashion design knowledge, an understanding of human ergonomics, and mastery of fabric characteristics.
The clothes Tang Song sent were detailed down to the buttons and stitching, even including fabric annotations.While creating the pattern list, she felt a perfect combination of art and function, giving her a wealth of inspiration. She couldn't wait to get to the company to create the samples.
If he could send her a few more outfits at this level, it would surely light up her path as a designer!
Thinking of this, Yao Lingling showed an excited expression, quickly getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom in her nightgown.
She washed up, did her skincare routine, styled her hair, and applied makeup…
“Minmin! Hurry up and get ready; if you’re late, I won’t wait for you!”
“Okay, okay!”
“You take more than twenty minutes every time you go to the bathroom; I really want to replace the toilet with a squat toilet! Are you watching those borderline videos again?”
“Stop rushing me! I’ll be out soon!”
The sound of the toilet flushing echoed as Li Shumin walked out, a bit wobbly on her feet.
After changing her shoes, she grabbed her bag and helmet, heading downstairs.
“Vroom, vroom——” The black-and-white electric motorcycle smoothly rolled out of the Xingchen Huayuan community, weaving through the city’s street corners.
Yao Lingling opened the visor of her helmet and squinted against the sunlight.
In May, the gentle breeze of early summer blew.
Li Shumin, hugging her waist, squeezed her and asked with a smile, “Lingling, you really care about your online boyfriend. You even skipped going out to have fun over the weekend to help him with the pattern list. If Xiao Xiao found out, he’d probably explode with jealousy.”
“I told you, that’s just a joke!” Yao Lingling slapped her thigh playfully, “And stop teasing me about my relationship with Mingxuan at the company; it’s easy for people to misunderstand. We’re just friends.”
“What’s there to fear? Isn’t it better if they misunderstand?” Li Shumin said with a hint of jealousy, “Even as friends, you’re still making a killing. I’m so envious of your luck; when you make it big, don’t forget to help out your good sisters.”
The son of the company boss, secretly entering the design department, and here Lingling was, stumbling upon such a good opportunity.
It was like a novel plot playing out in reality, making people envious to the point of tears.
…
The two chatted and laughed as they gradually arrived at the company building.
After locking up the motorcycle, they squeezed into the elevator and successfully clocked in.
Just as they reached their desks, Yao Lingling noticed a Starbucks bag on her table.
Xiao Mingxuan waved from the opposite desk, “I guessed you wouldn’t have time for breakfast, so I brought you something. Let me know whenever you need anything.”
Yao Lingling felt a bit embarrassed and smiled, “How much is it? I’ll transfer you the money now. Starbucks breakfast costs around twenty or thirty yuan; it’s fine occasionally, but I can’t afford it every day.”
As a design assistant, her salary, after deductions, was just over 3000 yuan, which made it tough to indulge in such luxuries.
“It’s fine, just help me bring breakfast tomorrow if you can.” Then, Xiao Mingxuan added mysteriously, “Lingling, you’re so outstanding; you might get promoted and get a raise soon.”
Yao Lingling was taken aback, her heart racing.
After all, this was the boss’s son. If he truly wanted to promote her, he could definitely pull some strings.
“Then I’ll take your good wishes.” After calming her excitement, Yao Lingling sat down eagerly.
She opened her computer, ate her breakfast, and sent the clothing pattern list to Tang Song.
She messaged, “Hey, little brother, the pattern list is ready. If you have any other sketches for clothes, feel free to send them my way. The process of making this list has been very rewarding for me; thank you so much!”
Just as she finished sending the message, her phone vibrated.
[Director - Peng Xinlei: “Lingling, come to my office.”]
Yao Lingling took a deep breath and quickly walked towards the director’s office.
After knocking on the door and hearing a confirmation, she cautiously walked in.
Director Peng nodded at her and asked, “Lingling, you’ve been with the company for a year, right?”
Yao Lingling quickly nodded, “A year and three months.”
She joined Shangya Fashion Design Company through campus recruitment, initially as an intern and only transitioned to a design assistant after graduation.
Director Peng encouraged her, “Your performance has been very impressive all along, and I admire you.”
“Thank you for your recognition, Director!” Excitement and nervousness glimmered in Yao Lingling’s eyes.
Director Peng paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled, “Our company’s summer menswear needs a new style, and I’m assigning this task to you. Xiao Mingxuan will temporarily act as your assistant. If the sample passes the final confirmation, you’ll officially be promoted to a fashion designer. Whether you can seize this opportunity depends on you! Good luck!”
“Thump, thump, thump——” Her heart raced faster.
Yao Lingling blushed and said, “Thank you for your trust, I will definitely work hard to complete the task!”
After leaving the director’s office and returning to her desk, Yao Lingling made a grateful expression toward Xiao Mingxuan.
She wasn’t foolish; she naturally understood who had helped her secure this opportunity.
Now, it was time to perform well and strive to design an outstanding summer outfit that would earn the recognition of her leaders and colleagues, allowing her to be promoted smoothly.
Thinking of this, she felt a surge of excitement and countless thoughts raced through her mind.
Transitioning from assistant to designer was the most critical step in her career, bringing not only a significant pay increase but also a percentage of sales commissions. The rightful source is Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
“Vroom, vroom——” Her phone vibrated again.
[Xiao Mingxuan: “Lingling, let’s work hard from now on. I can’t get too involved in the company’s matters, in the end, it still depends on your own strength.”]
Yao Lingling sent back a grateful emoji.
Soon after, several messages popped up on her computer screen.
[Tang Song: shirt front sketch.jpg]
[Tang Song: shirt back sketch.jpg]
…
[Tang Song: “This is a summer outfit I just finished designing yesterday. If it helps you, please create the pattern list for it when you have time.”]
[Tang Song: “Thank you, Lingling! I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.”]
Yao Lingling’s fingers trembled as she opened the images one by one, her mouth growing wider.
A stylish and casual short-sleeved white shirt, with exquisite attention to detail.
Light-wash denim jeans blended fashion with vintage, and the unique embroidery patterns were eye-catching.
Compared to the brown shirt and trousers Tang Song had sent before, this looked much more complete and impressive.
This… this is the standard answer, right?
Even if she borrowed some design elements, she was confident she could pass the company’s leadership evaluation.
Yao Lingling swallowed hard, feeling an unreal dreamlike sensation, as if her life had suddenly taken off.
Senior! You’re not just an electronic pet; you’re my god!
…
Yanjing Tiancheng.
“Ding-dong——”
[Lingling: “Thank you, dear senior! I’ll quickly prepare the pattern list and samples. Also, I have a small favor to ask you.”]
[Lingling: “My current task is to design a men’s summer outfit for the company. Can I draw inspiration from this outfit of yours?”]
[Lingling: bowing.gif]
Tang Song smiled and replied, “Feel free; even if you copy it directly, that’s fine.”
The outfits provided by the system were indeed excellent. If designed and released to the market, they should be popular.
But it was just a thought; nowadays, fashion copying was common. As soon as a hit product appeared, numerous similar styles would flood the market in just a few days.
Without brand support, everything was meaningless.
[Lingling: “You’re so generous, senior! I’ll work on the pattern list and then create the samples based on your measurements. With the samples, you can easily get a tailor shop to make fitting clothes.”]
After chatting for a bit.
Tang Song put away his phone and stepped into the wardrobe, approaching an exquisite watch cabinet.
The soft luster of lacquer combined with glass and LED lights looked stylish and luxurious.
The drawers had a slow-close design and felt incredibly smooth.
Each drawer was finely partitioned, suitable for storing various sizes of jewelry and small items.
On the top layer were three watches lined up.
Qianqian’s thousand-yuan Citizen, Xiao Jing’s ten-thousand-yuan Longines, and Su Yu’s million-yuan Patek Philippe.
Tang Song’s fingers gently landed on the Patek Philippe, taking it out and putting it on his left wrist.
His slender hand, dressed in a white dress shirt, paired with the gleaming watch, looked exceptionally stylish.
He had also looked up information about this watch online.
The Patek Philippe complicated function 5961P watch, platinum version.
It featured a perpetual calendar, day/night display, and chronograph function, with a matte blue dial, diamond hour markers, and a bezel set with 36 diamonds.
The diameter was 40.5mm, thickness 13.53mm, with an outstanding feel and a well-organized layout, on a crocodile leather strap.
The retail price was over 1.55 million, placing it in the high-end series of PP dress watches, very suitable for formal occasions like business meetings and banquets.
This watch did not retain its value, with the secondary market pricing around 900,000.
However, it was clear that Su Yu hadn’t considered this issue; she only cared if it was suitable and beautiful.
He opened the safe in the wardrobe.
First, he glanced at the photo of Secretary Jin inside, then pulled out a thick stack of documents.
These were the materials he retrieved from the custody box of China Merchants Bank (Yan City branch) regarding the trust company.
It included all the core documents of the family trust, detailing the terms, conditions, and the rights and obligations of all parties involved.
Additionally, there were asset ownership certificates for the trust, legal and tax advisory reports, trustee and management reports, and other materials.
Since the company was closed on weekends, he only contacted the company head in advance and didn’t go there personally.
Today, it was time to visit the trust company with assets totaling 100 million USD.
…
The brand-new black tires rolled over the clean asphalt road, and the white Bentley Continental GT merged into the traffic.
Time flowed gracefully, and early summer began.
Warm sunlight filtered through the car windows, illuminating his chiseled profile, long fingers, and luxurious Patek Philippe watch, creating a beautiful picture.
Huaxin District, Chengyuan Building.
Tang Song parked the car in the above-ground parking lot and checked the time.
9:40.
He was scheduled to arrive at 10 AM, quite a bit early.
He dialed the contact, Zhang Chengyuan.
Tang Song spoke in a friendly tone, “Hello, Mr. Zhang, I’m downstairs at the company.”
“Okay, I’m waiting for you at the front desk.”
After hanging up, Tang Song picked up his briefcase and walked toward Chengyuan Building.
As one of the prominent Grade A office buildings in Huaxin District, Chengyuan Building is very high-end.
Located in the bustling commercial area, the glass curtain walls reflected the blue sky, white clouds, and the silhouettes of surrounding buildings, appearing modern and shiny.
The spacious lobby, with several floors of high ceilings, was adorned with bright marble walls and floors, showcasing a delicate texture and harmonious colors.
Upon entering the lobby and waiting for Zhang Chengyuan, Tang Song felt someone watching him.
Turning around, he saw a woman in a dark blue uniform at the front desk staring at him intently.
Tang Song raised his eyebrows, feeling a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen her photo somewhere.
…
At the front desk, a colleague tapped Zhang Ziqi’s back, whispering, “Hey, be modest! He’s noticed you! But that handsome guy really looks great; his fashion and temperament are both top-notch. I really want to get to know him.”
Zhang Ziqi blinked and smiled, “How about we make a bet? If I can get his WeChat, you’ll treat me to lunch today.”
“(ˉ▽￣～) Tch~~” A colleague shot her a disdainful look, “Pretty girls asking for guys’ WeChat have a high success rate. I’m not betting with you.”
“Then let’s raise the stakes! Besides getting his WeChat, I’ll make him willingly chat with me for a while. What do you think?”
Her colleague looked her up and down and nodded, “Alright, I rarely see you so confident. I’ll support you.”
Zhang Ziqi flashed a smug smile.
“Tat, tat, tat——” She quickly walked out from the front desk and approached Tang Song with a cheerful smile, looking familiar, “Hey, handsome, let’s add each other on WeChat.”
In person, he looked even better than in the photos; he was indeed the man who had slept with Wen Ruan.
Tang Song looked at her curiously, “Haven’t we met somewhere before?”
Zhang Ziqi covered her mouth and chuckled, “Let me give you a few keywords: Wen Ruan, Hu Mingli.”
“Ding——” A light bulb went off in Tang Song’s mind.
So, she was Wen Ruan’s good friend.
He had seen her photos in Wen Ruan’s moments.
But back then, his attention had been entirely on the alluring figure of the older sister, and with the beautification, he hadn’t recognized her right away.
Tang Song revealed a warm smile, “Nice to meet you, I’m Tang Song, Wen Ruan’s boyfriend.”
“I’m Zhang Ziqi, Wen Ruan’s good friend.” Zhang Ziqi waved her phone, “Let’s add each other on WeChat. You can also consult me about anything related to Wen Ruan.”
Previously, Hu Mingli always shared the various red envelopes and gifts Tang Song had given her in the group, which made Zhang Ziqi envious.
Now that she had the chance, she had to get in on the action.
“Mr. Tang has kept you waiting for a long time!” A steady male voice came from beside him.
Along with it was the sound of hurried footsteps.
Zhang Ziqi looked up and saw five middle-aged men in suits striding over.
As a staff member of the building’s property management, she naturally recognized them.
They were the top executives of a financial company on the 29th floor.
Zhang Ziqi quickly put away her phone and displayed a formulaic smile on her face.
Zhang Chengyuan extended his right hand with a sincere attitude, “Mr. Tang, I’m Zhang Chengyuan, the head of the Yanjing office of Juqing Huijin. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Hello.”
Tang Song shook his hand, his demeanor relaxed and casual.
This was his own enterprise; the entire trust company was serving him alone, and all the employees of this office were his subordinates, so there was no need to be overly polite.
“Mr. Tang, I’ll take you upstairs.” Zhang Chengyuan slightly bowed, his attitude exceedingly respectful.
“Wait a moment.” Tang Song nodded, pulling out his phone from his pocket, smiling, “Sister Ziqi, let me scan you.”
Zhang Ziqi looked at him, then at the few important figures beside him, feeling a shiver down her spine.
She quickly opened her WeChat QR code, her voice a bit timid, “Okay.”
Sister Ziqi? No, no, no! I can’t take that title!
Wow! Although she wasn’t very clear about the situation at the company on the 29th floor, she knew it was a branch of a Hong Kong company in the country.
There weren’t many employees, but they rented an entire floor! Truly wealthy.
The respect shown by the head of such a company to Tang Song was unbelievable!
This was a hundred times more outrageous than what she had heard about Hu Mingli’s “CTO” and “technical advisor”!
My goodness! Zhuangzhuang, what incredible luck did you have to get involved with such high-profile people!
No wonder you were sharing a bed with someone after just over a month; it turned out there were hidden secrets!
It’s no wonder that the so-called beautiful rich girl, Tian Jing, was pursuing you!
After sending the friend request, she sent her name.
Zhang Ziqi blushed as she looked at Tang Song, her heart racing.
Thinking that such an important figure was her best friend’s boyfriend, Zhang Ziqi felt a rush of excitement, thinking she might also gain some benefits!
For example, getting herself introduced to a job at the financial company on the 29th floor.
“Sister Ziqi, I’ll head up first. Let’s chat when we have time.” Tang Song waved at her, “Goodbye.”
“Goodbye!”
She watched as Tang Song was enveloped by a crowd of people walking toward the elevator hall.
Zhang Ziqi glanced at her phone and secretly took a photo.
She hurried back to the front desk, and her colleague licked her lips in disbelief, saying, “Qiqi, your courage is really impressive! You dared to add a friend in this situation! I would have run away already!”
Zhang Ziqi raised her eyebrows excitedly, saying, “Of course, I’m fierce like this! Remember to order me a portion of eel rice for lunch.”
“Okay.” Her colleague admitted defeat with a sigh.
Zhang Ziqi calmed her racing heart and shared the photo in the best friends group chat.
Excitedly, she commented, “I ran into the charming Tang Song at Chengyuan Building today; he looks even better in person, exuding amazing vibes!”
Zhang Ziqi: “@Zhuangzhuang, you didn’t see it; a bunch of Hong Kong company bosses are all fawning over him. He seems like a really important figure! Honestly, spill it! Are you hiding something from us?!”
“Buzz, buzz, buzz——”
[Hu Mingli: “So handsome! The most eye-catching guy in the crowd! But why is Mr. Tang at Chengyuan Building?”]
Zhang Ziqi: “I heard them calling Tang Song ‘Mr. Tang’; it felt like he was their boss. My sixth sense tells me he’s definitely not ordinary. @Zhuangzhuang, you need to treat Mr. Tang well, and see if you can get me an introduction to a big company job.”
The three of them became best friends because Hu Mingli and Wen Ruan previously worked in the same company at Chengyuan Building.
Zhang Ziqi was the front desk receptionist at the building, and as they interacted, they became familiar, later discovering they lived in the same community.
Their relationship grew stronger, and they eventually became best friends.
Unlike Wen Ruan and Hu Mingli, Zhang Ziqi didn’t possess any specific skills and was merely enjoying her youth.
She always worried about what direction to take as she got older.
That scene just now had given her a glimpse of hope.
…
At Light and Shadow Media.
Wen Ruan returned to her workstation after finishing a meeting.
She quickly saw the messages in the group chat.
After browsing through her friends’ chat history, she clicked on the photo and became momentarily distracted.
In a crisp white shirt, with a tall and handsome profile, and a calm demeanor.
He stood there, radiating the aura of a promising young talent.
She licked her dry lips, hurriedly picked up her water cup and took a big gulp, but she couldn’t suppress the restlessness within her.
Her legs rubbed together lightly as she recalled that night in the room.
Taking a deep breath, she quickly walked towards the restroom.
Tang Song, oh Tang Song!
Why is it that every time I finally calm my heart, you throw me back into confusion!
…
“Ding——” The high-speed elevator went directly to the 29th floor.
Tang Song stepped into the hallway.
Directly in front of him was an open office door.
Behind the exquisite reception counter was a bright white logo wall, embossed with golden text.
[Slover (HK) Trust Company Limited]
[Juqing Huijin (Xiangjiang) Trust Company Limited]
[Yanjing Office]
Entering the splendid foyer, the beautiful receptionist quickly stood up, bowing respectfully to the leaders.
Tang Song glanced around and, accompanied by Zhang Chengyuan and others, walked into the office area.
The internal decoration was luxurious yet understated, showcasing a dual-color scheme of deep blue and gold.
It appeared both dignified and exquisite.
The office furniture, ornaments, and bookshelves were all imbued with a heavy sense of quality.
As they approached, a formally dressed employee in the office stood up quickly and cast a reverent glance at him.
Through the expansive glass curtain walls, Tang Song saw the vibrant cityscape under the golden sunlight.
Buildings arranged in an orderly manner, flowing traffic, and interplaying glass facades…
An indescribable feeling made his heart tremble slightly.
Early summer as ink, slightly light.
Writing in this world, how beautiful.
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