novelraw Chapter 180: LiveHouse
Chapter 180: LiveHouse
At 6:30 PM, the sky gradually darkened.
Gray clouds hung low, continuously swirling as if they could be touched.
Rapid raindrops tapped against the spacious, bright floor-to-ceiling windows.
The Taiping River across the way was draped in fine rain, creating ripples that danced on the surface.
The shimmering water reflected the city’s distant neon lights, forming a beautiful painting.
Under the soft lighting, laughter echoed throughout the hall.
The dining tables were filled with a variety of delicious dishes, from appetizers to main courses and desserts. The plating was exquisite, and the color combinations were visually appealing.
Tang Song held a glass of red wine, gazing out at the hazy twilight.
Standing beside him, Little Jing pretended to take photos of the rain outside but was actually sneakily capturing images of Tang Song's hand.
His fingers were gracefully shaped, each joint perfectly showcasing the strength and flexibility of a man's hand.His thumb and index finger gently held the wine glass's stem while the other three fingers naturally curved.
The crystal-clear glass, the ruby-red wine flowing within, his long, fair hand, and the deep-colored suit…
Elegant, noble, romantic.
She couldn’t help but hold her heart with both hands, lips slightly parted, eyes sparkling.
Tang Song! How can you be so handsome!
Swallowing hard, Little Jing turned and went to the buffet table, taking a few pieces of sushi.
“Tap tap tap,” she returned to his side.
In a soft voice, she said, “Song, you haven’t eaten much yet tonight. Try this signature sushi roll; I heard it’s really good.” Find the newest release on novel•fire.net
“Thanks, Little Jing.” Tang Song smiled, picking up a piece to try. The nori was crisp, the rice soft and sticky, and the vegetables fresh, creating a delightful layer of flavors. “It really is good; you should try it too.”
Little Jing tilted her head slightly, looking at his fingers, and smiled, “My hands are a bit dirty; could you feed me a piece?”
“Uh, sure!” Tang Song readily nodded, extending his right hand to offer a piece near her lips.
Little Jing squeezed her legs tightly together, leaning forward slightly as she opened her small, rosy mouth, taking a big bite out of the sushi, her eyes shining. “So delicious!”
As she spoke, it seemed she was especially eager for the remaining half piece, so she bit down on it along with Tang Song’s finger.
Her teeth gently closed around it, and her soft, warm tongue brushed over his finger, bringing a sense of intimacy and warmth.
Tang Song shivered, goosebumps rising on his skin.
Little Jing’s tongue… had a bit of something!
“Can you feed me another piece?” Little Jing seemed genuinely fond of sushi, licking her lips with a hint of longing.
The refreshing fragrance of her perfume mingled with the sweet scent of her skin, her lovely face infused with a touch of allure, causing Tang Song’s heart to race a bit.
You take one, I take one; soon, a small plate of sushi had disappeared.
Little Jing’s face was flushed with excitement as she went to grab some sweets.
Nearby, Xie Shuyu lowered her head slightly, her gaze filled with complex emotions.
Zhang Yurong clinked her glass against Xie Shuyu’s, smiling, “Shuyu, you’ve been so busy lately that your skin looks like it’s been affected. Now that the funding process is nearly done, why not come to our beauty salon for a full treatment tomorrow? I’ll join you.”
Xie Shuyu instinctively touched her face, glancing at Tian Jing’s fair, dewy complexion, so full of collagen it seemed to glisten.
Unbeknownst to her, she, as a post-90s individual, was already aging.
She raised her champagne glass and took a big sip, her tone slightly dejected. “Let’s do it tomorrow evening, it’s indeed been a long time since I had any treatment.”
Seeing her mood was a bit off, Zhang Yurong quickly added, “But Shuyu, you’re naturally beautiful; your skin is already much better than that of your peers.”
Xie Shuyu smiled faintly, shifting the topic. “By the way, I remember you mentioned your Isha Beauty Salon was planning to do light medical beauty projects. How is that going?”
Zhang Yurong smiled bitterly and shook her head, “At first, I thought it would be simple to transition to beauty services by just buying some light-based equipment—just a few hundred thousand per store. Later, I had Yunjing Consulting conduct a detailed investigation and assessment, and the investment is far greater than I imagined; I really can’t take the risk. For example, Fotona equipment costs 1.4 million, and I can’t even sell it for a good price.”
Xie Shuyu softly advised, “It’s better to be cautious; the capital market is very conservative right now. Cash is king.”
“Yeah.” Zhang Yurong nodded, a faint worry crossing her face.
Currently, the light medical beauty market is booming, and many clients have gradually shifted to other beauty institutions because they lack such services.
These clients are the ones willing to spend money, the high-level members.
With business shrinking and income decreasing, Zhang Yurong felt compelled to seek change.
However, she had just opened two private clubs earlier this year, so wanting to enter the light medical beauty sector was a bit difficult.
Recently, she had even lost two beauty teams to competitors.
Participating in these private events was her way of seeking opportunities, hoping to find partners to share risks.
……
“Dingling—” The phone rang.
Tian Jing, who was chatting with Tang Song, picked up her phone and raised her fluffy eyebrows.
Liang Yufan?
She hung up the call directly.
Continuing, she said, “What games do you usually play? I play Honor of Kings, Genshin Impact, PUBG, and Onmyoji. If you have time, we can play together, and I can gift you skins.”
Tang Song was about to respond when—
“Dingling—” The phone rang again.
Qi Wen?
Tian Jing gave Tang Song an apologetic look and answered the call. “Hello, Sister Wen, what’s up?”
“Uh… sorry, I forgot to tell you. I’m accompanying Dad to attend the Yan Province Bank’s private event, so I won’t be able to make it to the team building tonight.”
“Really can’t come? Have fun!”
“Hmm, I’ll see how it goes.”
Hanging up, Tian Jing stuck out her tongue, feeling a bit embarrassed.
She had told Qi Wen earlier that she would be attending the event.
However, when she found out Tang Song would be at the private event, she completely lost her head and forgot to inform her.
“What’s up, Little Jing?” Tang Song asked with concern.
Tian Jing smiled, “Nothing much, just a few colleagues got together for some fun. Let’s not worry about it.”
Just then, a deep male voice sounded from the side: “Tang Song, Jingjing.”
Looking up, she saw Tian Chengye approaching.
“What’s going on, Dad?”
Tang Song greeted politely, “Director Tian.”
Tian Chengye nodded at him, smiling. “There’s a pretty important small team-building event over at Jinxiu Commerce, which would be beneficial for Jingjing’s development in the company. If you’re free, could you accompany her to sit in?”
His gaze toward Tang Song was much gentler than at the beginning.
Throughout the private event, aside from socializing, he had been observing Tang Song.
His performance had been exceptional; his communication skills, cognitive abilities, and sense of proportion were all well-balanced. Most importantly, he was confident, calm, and had clear goals, quickly garnering positive impressions from many, completely devoid of the awkwardness and confusion typical of young people at business gatherings.
He truly was a person of potential.
After a moment of thought, Tang Song replied, “I’m fine with that; it depends on Little Jing.”
He really had nothing planned for tonight, and he also had the task of 【Building Connections】 to complete. If luck was on his side, he might be able to finish it directly.
Tian Jing pouted, saying, “Dad, you said as long as I came with you to the private event, I wouldn’t have to go there. How can you go back on your word?”
“Jingjing.” Tian Chengye shook his head at her. “Think carefully. The private event is about to end. You can either go home with me or go with Tang Song to the team building.”
He knew his daughter too well; during these times, saying anything would be useless.
He could only persuade her indirectly, hoping Tang Song would accompany her.
As a father, he was truly dedicated to paving the way for his daughter.
“Um…”
Tian Jing blinked, suddenly realizing that if they went to the Livehouse together, she could spend more time with Tang Song.
After all, it was a bar; if they drank too much and had some small stories happen, it wouldn’t be her fault.
She bit her lip, feeling a bit shy, “Alright, I should indeed interact more with my colleagues, and I don’t want to go home so early anyway.”
“Hmm.” Tian Chengye smiled, continuing, “Tang Song, you’re now the CTO; that’s a good entry point. These people may just be ordinary middle-level employees for now, but their connections are intricate and significant.
Making the right connections won’t hurt you, and it’ll be beneficial for your future development.
I’ve arranged for a driver to wait at the entrance. You two can get ready and head over.”
“Got it, Dad.”
“Little Jing, wait for me a moment. I’ll go say goodbye.” Tang Song said, turning to head towards the wine tasting area.
Passing by a screen, he saw Xie Shuyu chatting with a few men and women.
She was leaning on a mahogany chair, her legs crossed, her fair and dignified face slightly flushed, perhaps from having had a few drinks.
“Su Zong, Zhao Zong, Li Zong…” Tang Song smiled and greeted several acquaintances.
Bowing slightly, he said softly, “Sister Shuyu, are you alright?”
Xie Shuyu put down her glass, looked up at his handsome face, and smiled, “It’s fine to drink a little more occasionally. It’s about time; Xiaomin is waiting in the car. I’ll take you home first.”
Tang Song replied, “No need to worry about me; there’s a team-building event at the company tonight, and I’ll be going with Tian Jing. We’re leaving shortly.”
Xie Shuyu’s eyes flickered, and after a moment of silence, she said cheerfully, “Then be careful on the way; remember to take your phone. Bye-bye.”
“Bye-bye~” Tang Song smiled at her, saying goodbye to a few others before turning to leave.
Watching his handsome figure depart, Su Ping couldn’t help but exclaim, “Tang Song is indeed excellent; no wonder he caught Director Tian’s daughter’s attention.”
Initially, when she first saw this dapper young man, she had entertained some thoughts.
After all, his appearance and temperament were outstanding; now she didn’t dare to think any longer.
Xie Shuyu bit her lips, her mood complex, unsure of what she was really overthinking.
If Tang Song could get together with Tian Chengye’s daughter, it would be beneficial for him and for her as his friend.
This would mean her “investment” in him would yield huge returns.
But she just couldn’t feel happy about it.
…
“Click—” The car door gently closed.
The black Maybach S480 slowly started, entering the rain-soaked night.
The bright yellow streetlights flashed by, and the car’s interior flickered in and out of the dim light.
Tang Song looked around at the interior, comparing it to his Mercedes S450.
Overall, it looked quite similar, but this one was more luxurious and exquisite.
For example, there was more metal and wood trim, along with a rear entertainment system.
Little Jing shifted closer, breathing in his scent as she secretly observed his beautiful hands.
Sweetly, she said, “Song, thank you for accompanying me on this trip.”
“It’s no problem; I genuinely wanted to chat and have dinner with you. This unexpected meeting is quite nice.”
As he gazed at Little Jing’s sweet face, Tang Song's attention inadvertently fell on her rosy lips.
He wondered if he would have the opportunity tonight to collect some of her bodily fluid, allowing him to see the buffs she carried.
Hearing his words, Little Jing smiled widely.
She softly said, “We’re heading to 'Drink Old' on Beibin Road, a Livehouse just opened by our colleague Li Jun’s family. I haven’t been there yet, but the photos look great. Do you have any favorite drinks? I’ll have him prepare them in advance.”
“I rarely drink, anything is fine.” Tang Song hadn’t been to a bar before, so he wasn’t sure what they offered.
“I’ll have him prepare some craft beers and light cocktails for you. You didn’t eat much tonight, so I’ll get him to arrange some food too.” Little Jing took out her phone from her bag and sent a message to Li Jun.
Just as she was about to put her phone down—
“Ding ding ding—” A WeChat voice call invitation sounded.
Little Jing raised her eyebrows, answered the call, “Hello, Brother Du, what’s up?”
“It’ll take about 20 minutes. It’s raining today, so the roads are congested.”
“Ah, no need to pick me up; just send the reserved table location over.”
“Really unnecessary; I can just find a waiter.”
“Can’t talk right now; I have urgent matters. Bye, see you later.”
Hanging up, she smiled at Tang Song as he looked at her. “That was Du Shaokai. He switched to the channel department a while back and is now under Wen Jie. He’s there to join the fun tonight.”
“Du Shaokai.” Tang Song murmured, not feeling much of a reaction.
With his current mindset and position, he found it hard to get interested in such small-time players.
In the darkness, Little Jing sitting in the back seat suddenly flashed her eyes, pulling out a tube of hand cream from her bag.
“Squirt—” She squeezed out a large dollop.
After applying it briefly, she looked up and smiled, “Song, I squeezed out too much by accident; it’ll be a waste if I don’t use it. Could you help me out?”
Tang Song nodded and promptly extended his hands. Just as he was about to take the hand cream, Little Jing had already seized his hand.
Then, the oily hand cream glided between their skins.
Soft, smooth, and delicate.
Tang Song licked his lips, his nimble and powerful hands started to work, taking the initiative.
Little Jing bit her lower lip, feeling unprecedented excitement.
Her body trembled slightly, and she felt an urge to shout out loud.
This all-encompassing, no-angles-untouched kneading and caressing made her feel dizzy, her face flushed, and her heart raced.
After a while, Tang Song felt their hands were starting to heat up, and he finally exhaled, stopping his movements.
Little Jing felt soft all over, as if her clothes had become dirty.
Fortunately, the leggings she wore today were somewhat absorbent; otherwise, there would be marks left behind.
……
Neon lights flickered under the night sky and in the fine rain.
“Drink Old.”
The colorful lights changed rhythmically with the music, and the giant LED screen displayed dynamic symbols.
Customers sat or stood around the stage, forming a lively circular area.
Live House is a small music performance venue with professional staging and high-quality sound effects.
It is very suitable for enjoying live music performances up close.
To cater to the market, domestic Live Houses typically exist in the form of bars.
Many bands and emerging musicians use this place as a platform for performance and promotion.
In the second-floor sofa area.
Du Shaokai put down his phone and said, “Little Jing will probably arrive in about 20 minutes; I’ll go pick her up shortly.”
However, no one paid him any mind, only Qi Wen smiled at him.
Du Shaokai took a deep breath, his gaze shifted to the group of young men sitting across from the sofa, feeling the pressure mounting.
The investment relations department’s Liang Yufan, strategic planning department’s Li Junyi, auditing department’s Yue Minyang, and legal department’s Su Hang.
These four male colleagues were all standard tall, rich, and handsome.
For instance, Li Junyi's family owned several bars, clubs, and KTVs in Yan City, as well as a textile company, closely cooperating with Jinxiu Commerce.
Although his family was in a good situation, they couldn’t compare to these rich second-generation men.
In the company, his so-called connections were all derived from his uncle, who was a vice president.
Recently, he had been stressed, first due to the situation with Tang Song, and now there were so many competitors appearing.
Moreover, the intimate actions between Tang Song and Tian Jing at Xingyue City were clearly suggestive of something going on.
But at this point, he had invested so much time, energy, and money into Tian Jing that the sunk costs were too high; he was unwilling to give up.
That’s why he had pushed himself to come here.
He couldn’t bear to see these guys flirt with the goddess; after all, he had made the first move!
But the result was painful; he had been completely isolated, sitting alone in the corner, while these guys didn’t pay him any attention!
Noticing the awkward atmosphere, Qi Wen raised her glass and smiled, “Comrades, come, let’s have a toast.”
Around her were three girls whose appearances weren’t particularly striking, but they were exquisitely dressed and had great aura.
“Clink clink—” The sounds of glasses clinking rang out in succession.
Du Shaokai took a sip of his cocktail, his face slightly reddened as he watched the lively atmosphere around him, feeling uneasy.
The excitement was theirs; he had nothing.
“Du Shaokai!?” At that moment, a surprised female voice called out from the side.
Du Shaokai turned in astonishment, recognizing several familiar figures, recalling a few names right away.
University alumni, software engineering majors Qiu Yu and Wang Ning.