novelraw Chapter 174: Warm and Soft, Xie Shuyu
Chapter 174: Warm and Soft, Xie Shuyu
May 26, 2023, Friday, Foggy and Overcast, 18–27°C.
In late May in Yan City, the morning air carried a hint of coolness.
The orange-red sunlight filtered through the mist, creating a hazy and beautiful scene.
“Whoosh—” The light gray curtains were pulled apart slightly.
Energized, Tang Song gazed out through the glass window.
The still-drowsy Yan City seemed to be draped in a thin veil.
A gentle breeze stirred, causing the veil to sway lightly, with buildings and traffic in the distance appearing faintly.
The scenery before Tang Song captivated him.
He first picked up his phone to take a photo, then grabbed a sketchpad and pencil to begin sketching his feelings.
Any skill that isn’t practiced for a long time can become rusty.Tang Song cherished the guitar and painting skills he had acquired and genuinely transformed them into hobbies.
At 7 AM, Tang Song entered the dressing room and changed into a brand new sports outfit.
A dark gray sports T-shirt, black sports shorts, breathable sneakers, and black sports underwear.
He opened the system interface, entered the 【Dress Up】 section, selected 【Unlimited Vitality】, and instantly donned the outfit.
With the system’s crisp prompt, a sense of lightness enveloped him.
The outfit consisted of many components; he had scoured the internet for similar clothing items, combining and matching until he finally settled on this set.
According to the system’s assessment, its effectiveness could reach 90%.
Stamina +1.8, Agility +3.6; as long as he was in a state of exercise, he would gain a 45% stamina and effectiveness boost.
Due to the unfavorable weather today, Tang Song chose not to run or jump rope downstairs.
Instead, he laid out a yoga mat on the bedroom balcony and began a “30-minute intense fat-burning workout.”
Squats with alternating knee touches, mountain climbers, jumping jacks…
This set of movements was learned during his initial training; previously, every time he worked out, his heart rate would spike to 150, his body would heat up, and his muscles would tremble.
However, with his current physique, it was much easier to perform.
The recruitment of the first official player made Tang Song appreciate the importance of a good physique even more.
To have more players, in addition to offering satisfactory salaries, there must also be competitive matches, ensuring that players’ physical and mental needs are satisfied.
“Puff puff—”
As he exercised, Tang Song finally experienced the power of the 【Unlimited Vitality】 outfit.
Indeed, it was designed specifically for sports.
The breathability was exceptional, almost as if he were exercising in the nude.
As soon as sweat appeared, the fabric quickly absorbed and channeled it away, keeping his body fresh at all times.
The stamina boost from the special effect 【Unlimited Vitality】 filled him with strength, making the workout feel invigorating.
Soon, a bold idea popped into Tang Song's mind.
If he wore this outfit while playing ball, he felt he could easily take on two opponents!
At 9 AM, Tang Song finished packing his things, slung his backpack over his shoulders, grabbed his helmet and car keys, and headed downstairs.
The fog had mostly dissipated, but the sky remained somewhat dim.
Following the clean stone path of the neighborhood to the garage, he spotted his ninja400 lurking in the corner from afar.
With a metallic black finish gleaming with clear metallic luster, it looked quite exquisite.
The sharp-cut lines and edgy angles hinted at a latent power and muscularity.
The headlights were sharp and profound, shining brightly.
After putting on his helmet and gloves, Tang Song mounted the motorcycle, giving it a pat with excitement and satisfaction.
It had been two days since he picked up the bike, previously only taking it for a spin around the area to get a feel for it.
The SHOEI Z8 helmet he ordered online arrived yesterday afternoon, so it was time to ride it out and try it out.
He started the engine.
“Vroom vroom vroom~” The deep and powerful roar immediately resonated in his ears.
The ninja400 rolled out of the parking shed, merging into the traffic of the main road.
With a twist of the throttle, the speed gradually picked up, and the roar of the engine became clearer.
Tang Song slightly lowered his head, adjusting his riding posture to align with the bike.
The whistling wind, passing pedestrians, speeding cars, and towering buildings…
It was like a flowing painting unfurling beside him.
It ignited the passion within him.
……
Huayun Center.
Tang Song parked his motorcycle across from Building A and locked his helmet.
He thought of Cheng Qiuqiu, the girl he saw here last time.
Dressed in black and riding a white GSX250, she looked both beautiful and cool.
Laughing, he patted the bike and walked toward the building.
Taking the elevator straight to the 15th floor, he headed for the Shimmer Coffee headquarters.
Last night, Xie Shuyu had called him specifically, inviting him to come by this morning.
Entering the company door, he noticed a quiet girl in her early twenties at the front desk, wearing glasses.
As she noticed Tang Song entering, the girl quickly stood up, politely saying, “Hello, how can I—uh…”
She stammered, slightly shy, “You’re Tang Song, right? Sorry, I didn’t see you clearly just now.”
As she spoke, her eyes kept sneaking glances at him.
Tang Song, surprised at the unfamiliar receptionist, asked, “Do you know me?”
“Uh-huh!” The girl nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling. “There’s a photo of you in the company’s honor display area, and Xie Zong also shared a video of your roadshow in the company’s internal group.”
Tang Song realized, “I see. By the way, is Xie Zong in her office now?”
“She hasn’t arrived yet; she usually comes in around 9:30.”
“Okay, I’ll wait in the lounge. Bye-bye.”
“Bye-bye~”
As she watched Tang Song’s handsome figure leave, the receptionist reluctantly withdrew her gaze and began spreading the news about his arrival in the company’s female group chat.
There weren’t many people at the Shimmer Coffee headquarters, only about 50, and most of them were in business support roles.
The pay wasn’t high, but the work was easy, with women making up over 60% of the staff.
There were only a few male colleagues, and none were particularly impressive.
The earlier appearance of Tang Song’s photo had left them all shocked, eagerly awaiting the chance to see the real person.
At the lounge bar, Tang Song had barely sat down when he noticed several female colleagues walking over.
They were making coffee while secretly glancing at him, whispering among themselves.
“Tap tap tap—” Quick footsteps sounded.
Li Xiaomin hurriedly entered the lounge.
She walked up to him, enthusiastically saying, “Tang Song, you’re here so early today! Come on, Xie Zong arranged a workstation for you earlier; I’ll take you there.”
“Okay, thank you, Sister Xiaomin.”
Tang Song stood up and followed her, a bit surprised that the company had provided him a workstation as a part-time technician.
The Shimmer Coffee headquarters wasn’t very large, probably around three to four hundred square meters.
They walked for a short while before arriving at a separate office, directly opposite Xie Shuyu’s office. It had only four workstations and was very spacious.
Li Xiaomin pointed to a spot by the window and said, “This will be your workstation; the office supplies are in the storage cabinet.”
“Alright.” Tang Song nodded, placing his backpack down and sitting in the office chair.
The desk was clean, with a brand new laptop in front of him, along with a blue mug, a Shimmer Coffee-themed calendar, a file rack…
In addition, there was a tender green potted plant in the corner.
Tang Song rummaged through the storage cabinet below and found his employee ID, a signature pen, sticky notes, a mouse, and other commonly used office supplies.
It was clear that Xie Shuyu genuinely appreciated him; she practically wanted to recruit him as an employee.
Li Xiaomin picked up the mug from his desk and smiled, “What would you like to drink? We have coffee, tea, and juice.”
“Coffee is fine, thanks.”
Li Xiaomin gave him an OK sign and quickly walked out.
Her enthusiasm toward this part-time technician was evident.
In addition to Tang Song’s impressive abilities, it was also because of Xie Shuyu’s attitude.
Having followed this boss for so long, it was her first time seeing her so appreciative of an employee.
Plus, with thoughts of Tang Song’s and Xie Shuyu’s intimate behavior in the car, and his handsome appearance, she smiled, thinking he might even become her boss in the future.
Sitting at his workstation, Tang Song sipped his coffee while waiting for Xie Shuyu.
Looking out at Building B, he felt a stir in his heart.
It had been a few days since he last saw Wen Ruan, and he wondered if this big sister had finished her work.
He opened his phone and sent her a message: “Guess where I am?”
After a while, “Buzz buzz buzz—”
【Wen Ruan: Chest selfie.jpg】
【Wen Ruan: “I guess you’re here.”】
Since there was no one in the office, Tang Song discreetly opened the photo.
It appeared to have been taken in the company restroom, with the tiles and wood paneling visible behind her.
Her shirt was unbuttoned two buttons, revealing a deep neckline.
He zoomed in, inhaling deeply, and replied, “Alright, sister, you’re right; I’m already in.”
Just as he was about to continue flirting with the big sister…
“Knock knock knock!” A knock on the door sounded, and Tang Song quickly tucked his phone away, sitting up straight. Read full story at novel(ꜰ)ire.net
Moments later, Xie Shuyu entered the office, dressed in a fitted skirt and stockings, smiling at him. “Good morning, Little Song. Sorry to keep you waiting; I didn’t expect you to arrive so early today.”
Tang Song stood and replied, “Good morning, Sister Shuyu. It’s no problem; I just got here not long ago.”
The delicate and sweet scent of her perfume wafted in.
Xie Shuyu approached gracefully, sitting down at the workstation next to him. “Have you had breakfast?”
Unlike her usual composed demeanor, Xie Shuyu appeared very warm now, her gaze toward him filled with a kind smile.
“Yeah, I had. I keep a very regular routine, eating on time every day,” Tang Song replied confidently, making eye contact without any hesitation.
After a brief chat about daily matters, Xie Shuyu inquired about his work.
Then she spoke up, “The reason I asked you to come today is mainly for two things. First, we’re starting the marketing campaign for the mini-program. I contacted a planning company; we’ll have a meeting to discuss it shortly to see if we can achieve the effects they mentioned. The second thing…”
She paused before continuing, “There’s a private business gathering this Saturday, and all attendees are elites in their respective fields. I want to take you to see it. I’m not sure if you’re interested.”
Tang Song was taken aback, a joyful smile spreading across his face. “Of course I’m interested; thank you, Sister Shuyu.”
From Xie Shuyu’s invitation and attitude, it was clear she truly regarded him as a friend and wanted to help him connect with a higher social circle and elevate himself.
He just so happened to have the task of 【Building Connections】 to complete, making it a win-win situation.
Originally, he planned to approach it through situations like the Qianqing Gathering or Huashang Fashion, but he didn’t expect to find a breakthrough through Xie Shuyu.
What a pleasant surprise.
Xie Shuyu nodded gently, leaning back slightly, her arm resting on the armrest, her long, supple legs crossed lightly.
She spoke softly, “I wonder if you’ve heard of the concept of ‘weak ties’?”
Tang Song nodded, “I’ve heard of it. I’ve been reading Stephen Covey’s ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ recently. It emphasizes the importance of weak ties and how to manage relationships to achieve long-term benefits.”
Xie Shuyu’s eyes lit up, and her gaze toward Tang Song grew softer.
She sat up straight again, smiling lightly. “Yes, I’m bringing you along this time because I hope to help you build some weak connections.
These connections may not be strong, but they can provide useful information from different social circles.
Networks are crucial, especially for someone as young as you.
The significance of upward networking isn’t to expect others to help you, but to experience better people and a broader world, quickly expanding your understanding…”
She looked at the confident and upright Tang Song, her admiration evident.
She genuinely liked this young man, seeing many shining points in him.
Warm, humble, confident, vibrant, thoughtful, and strong in execution…
Of course, he was also very handsome.
People are visual creatures, and Xie Shuyu was no exception.
What she wanted to do was not to add frosting to the cake but to provide timely assistance.
At the starting phase of his journey, giving him access to platforms and networks that he couldn’t reach, helping him see a broader world, and discovering just how far he could go.
She also hoped he would avoid the temptations of shortcuts like “Wang Miao” and become a better version of himself.
Even if he couldn’t join Shimmer Coffee in the future, a sincere friendship would still form, which might benefit him later on.
While Tang Song admired the graceful and intelligent woman, they discussed topics about “interpersonal relationships” and “value.”
Xie Shuyu, who had built her multi-million fortune from scratch, naturally had a high level of personal capability and understanding.
Her earnest guidance was invaluable for Tang Song, who was still in a developmental stage.
…
“Knock knock knock—” A sudden knock at the door interrupted.
“Come in.”
After a moment, Li Xiaomin pushed open the office door, saying, “Xie Zong, the people from Light and Shadow Media have arrived and are waiting in the conference room.”
“Okay, I understand.” Xie Shuyu nodded gently.
Hearing the words “Light and Shadow Media,” Tang Song’s eyes widened.
He remembered Wen Ruan mentioning that she was in charge of the marketing plan for Shimmer Coffee. He wondered if she was coming today.
Thinking about the earlier selfie, he felt a bit itchy.
The big sister’s heart was so broad; he really wanted to experience it.
“Let’s go; we need to have the meeting. Don’t worry; we’ll finish before noon, so it won’t delay your work in the afternoon.”
“Alright!” Tang Song quickly stood up and followed Xie Shuyu out.
Since the area wasn’t large, they arrived at the small conference room in no time.
Xie Shuyu directly pushed open the frosted glass door and stepped inside.
Tang Song silently muttered “Wen Ruan” and looked up, a big smile spreading across his face.
Gotcha!
In the small conference room, Wen Ruan, dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and gray slacks, sat there with a laptop in front of her.
This was Tang Song’s first time seeing her in work mode; her expression was composed and serious, her demeanor dignified and mature, exuding a unique charm that combined intellect and allure.
Gentle as water, elegant as an orchid.
…
Noticing the movement at the door, Wen Ruan quickly stood up and respectfully greeted, “Hello, Xie Zong.”
Xie Shuyu nodded gently, “Thank you, Wen Ruan. I often ask you to come here for meetings.”
“It’s my duty. Shimmer Coffee is our important client, and we must serve them well.” Wen Ruan responded with a smile.
However, she silently complained: It’s not like you’re too demanding, nitpicking at every detail. Every time you make me revise until I’m exhausted; it’s really too much.
Just then, her eyes flickered, and she glanced at the handsome boy who suddenly appeared at the door.
For a moment, she wondered if she was missing him so much that she was seeing things.
Then she quickly realized.
Tang Song did indeed say he was a part-time technician at Shimmer Coffee.
Noticing her gaze, Xie Shuyu introduced, “This is our company’s technical lead, Tang Song. Let’s sit down and talk.”
Wen Ruan discreetly retracted her gaze and returned to her seat.
Tang Song took a seat opposite her, winking at Wen Ruan while glancing at her ample bosom, the corners of his mouth slightly lifting.
Xie Shuyu began, “I’ve reviewed the proposal; overall, it looks fine. Wen Ruan, please give a detailed introduction. If Tang Song thinks it can be implemented, we’ll start executing immediately.”
“Okay, Xie Zong.” Wen Ruan slightly turned her body, her fingers gently sliding across the touchpad.
The display screen in front of the conference table lit up, and the PowerPoint presentation began.
Soon, her magnetic voice resonated: “This event planning mainly targets group-buying clients from enterprises, teams, and communities. We have divided it into two major modules: online and offline, with the online part based on the mini-program…”
In work mode, Wen Ruan was very serious and responsible, speaking clearly and covering every detail.
After she finished discussing the “Effect Evaluation,” Xie Shuyu glanced at Tang Song and said softly, “Little Song, can the mini-program achieve these interactive effects? If it’s too troublesome, we can modify the plan.”
Her voice was very soft and gentle, completely different from her usual decisive demeanor.
Wen Ruan across the table was taken aback.
Shimmer Coffee was a long-standing client; they had been in contact for a long time.
Wen Ruan knew very well about Xie Shuyu’s serious and stern demeanor at work.
She was speaking to Tang Song in such a friendly tone.
If he found it troublesome, they could modify the proposal?
Good grief! This is something I labored over for two nights!
Looking at the fashionable and sexy Xie Shuyu, then at the handsome and dashing Tang Song, why did it feel so ambiguous between them?
She felt a sudden pang of discomfort in her heart.
Damn! Xie Shuyu is three years older than me!
Unable to help herself, she reached out under the table and lightly stepped on his foot.
Tang Song showed no sign of change on his face, smiling as he said, “No problem; the functions aren’t complicated. It’ll be done quickly.”
“Then that’s good.” Xie Shuyu nodded, “Wen Ruan, play the electronic versions of the offline banners and posters for me; I want to confirm them again.”
“Okay.” Wen Ruan took a deep breath, opened the file rack, and began displaying the images one by one.
The small conference room wasn’t large, and the table could only accommodate six people, akin to a dining table.
Wen Ruan’s leg brushed against his, occasionally nudging him, as if expressing her dissatisfaction.
Tang Song looked at the voluptuous woman opposite him and stretched his long legs, playfully teasing her.
Wen Ruan hurriedly controlled her expression, but her fingers couldn’t help trembling slightly.
Damn little brother! You’re playing this game, huh!?
Once the images finished displaying, Xie Shuyu furrowed her brow slightly, saying, “This slogan should be optimized a bit more, and the color of the posters seems a bit too light?”
Tang Song slightly leaned to the side and said, “Sister Shuyu, I think it’s pretty good; there’s no need to change it.”
Xie Shuyu pursed her lips, gently nodding, “Alright, let’s go with this. Wen Ruan, please hurry up and get our materials ready as soon as possible.”
“Okay, Xie Zong.” Wen Ruan nodded.
“Buzz buzz buzz—” The phone vibrated.
Xie Shuyu took it out to check, then stood up, saying, “Little Song, continue discussing the implementation effects with Wen Ruan. I have a video conference to attend; I’m not sure how long it will take. If you’re busy, you can leave after you finish talking. By the way, come to my house tomorrow; I’ll send you the address and time shortly.”
After finishing, she gently patted Tang Song’s shoulder. “See you tomorrow.”
Then she nodded at Wen Ruan and turned to leave the conference room.
“Bang—” The door closed behind her.
Wen Ruan let out a long breath.
Raising her eyebrows, she said, “Not bad, little brother. I didn’t realize you were quite the flirt!”