novelraw Chapter 196: Autumn and Lingling
Chapter 196: Autumn and Lingling
Tang Song was no stranger to "Jindun Security."
When he first acquired the Mercedes-Benz S450L, he noticed the company name in the documentation. Though he didn’t personally know the shareholders or legal representatives, he was aware that Jindun Security had some business ties with "Shengtang Security," a company he had established in the game.
Their services included local event security, on-site personnel, and bodyguard services.
After briefly greeting the group, Tang Song’s gaze fell on the familiar faces in the office—the White Knight Band members.
He had just seen their performance the night before. It seemed fate had brought them together again.
As their eyes met, Tang Song gave a nearly imperceptible nod before shifting his attention away.
Cheng Qiuqiu opened her mouth as if to speak but quickly shut it again, her emotions swirling with disbelief.
The car owner was Tang Song? Wasn’t he just a programmer at Shimmer Coffee?
Her impression of Tang Song wasn’t great. Though they had crossed paths at work several times, she had only nodded in acknowledgment when she saw him at the restaurant the night before, choosing not to greet him. To her, Tang Song was little more than an acquaintance.
Zhao Xingzhi pointed to the two seated individuals, briefly summarizing the details of the damage and how it occurred.Tang Song nodded, stepping forward to face Liu Wenning and Zhou Dongbing.
The moment he saw Liu Wenning, he understood the context.
It had to be about his embrace with Gao Mengting outside the building earlier—it must have struck a nerve. Meeting him again at the music restaurant probably reignited that frustration, leading to the kicks at his car.
No wonder Liu had initially refused to apologize.
Zhou Dongbing's face turned several shades before he stood up and spoke in a low voice, “Sir, I accidentally damaged your car's film last night. I’m willing to compensate for the loss and sincerely apologize. Please give me a chance to make things right.”
Despite his usual bravado, Zhou Dongbing was genuinely fearful, especially when facing a wealthy and influential man like Tang Song.
Taking a deep breath, Liu Wenning kept his gaze averted and stammered, “I’m sorry. I drank too much last night and wasn’t thinking clearly. I hope to earn your forgiveness. I’ll cover the repair costs.”
“Alright,” Tang Song replied calmly, moving his gaze away as if Liu Wenning was of no significance to him.
This indifference struck Liu Wenning like a blow, leaving him biting his lip in humiliation. Tang Song clearly remembered him but acted as though he were beneath notice.
To Tang Song, he was nothing.
Meanwhile, Molly’s eyes lit up as she observed Tang Song’s calm demeanor.
Though she sympathized with her friends, she couldn’t help but think Tang Song exuded an air of sophistication and authority, much like the charismatic CEOs from novels.
In contrast, Liu Wenning, though also handsome, appeared utterly unimpressive, his nervous posture a stark contrast.
“Um... President Tang,” Molly began, nervously tucking her hair behind her ear. “The four of us were together last night, and we did drink a lot. I’m very sorry for all the trouble we’ve caused. Don’t worry; they’ll cover the repair costs. I hope you can be lenient with them.”
Cheng Qiuqiu pressed her lips together but chose to remain silent.
She had been present last night and hadn’t stopped the behavior when it started. With Liu Wenning and Zhou Dongbing as her friends, she felt partially responsible and couldn’t shake her guilt.
---
Zhao Xingzhi stepped closer and whispered, “President Tang, if there are no further concerns, shall we proceed with the process?”
“Of course. Thanks for your help, Lawyer Zhao.”
“You’re too kind,” Zhao replied with a polite smile before turning to leave.
Tang Song exchanged a few quiet words with the Jindun Security staff before the police officers approached with two documents in hand.
“Liu Wenning and Zhou Dongbing, your actions constitute deliberate destruction of another's property. Although the offense is minor and you’ve been forgiven, the decision not to prosecute does not mean there are no consequences. You will be subjected to administrative detention for five days as a disciplinary measure.”
Hearing about the detention, both Liu and Zhou flushed in dismay. Still, they accepted the punishment without protest.
Their lawyer had already warned them about this possibility, and they knew it was better than being formally charged and potentially jailed.
As the officers finalized the proceedings, Liu Wenning clenched his fists tightly, silently searing this moment of humiliation and fear into his memory.
With the matter resolved, Tang Song glanced at his watch, said his goodbyes, and left with his team in tow.
---
At 8:30 PM, a flushed and cheerful Yao Lingling emerged from the restaurant alongside some friendly colleagues.
“Goodbye! Let us know when you’re home!”
“Keep up the great work, Lingling!”
“See you Monday!”
As her colleagues parted ways, Li Shumin gave her a playful pat. “Don’t forget us once you’ve made it big, Designer Lingling!”
Xiaoming Xuan chuckled from the side. “Keep it up, Minmin. You might get your own promotion sooner than you think!”
“Really?” Li Shumin’s face lit up with delight. Coming from the boss’s son, such words carried weight.
“Of course. Our company’s only going up from here.” Xiaoming Xuan grinned and pressed his car key, unlocking a Honda Civic in the nearby parking lot.
Despite being the boss’s son, Xiaoming Xuan had kept a low profile for two months, dressing modestly and driving a standard car to blend in better.
The Civic’s headlights cut through the night as the car roared to life, carrying the group toward the Xingchen Huayuan community.
---
As the cool evening breeze whipped through her hair, Yao Lingling let out a contented sigh.
The sample review meeting had gone perfectly, earning unanimous praise from senior designers and executives.
Next Monday, she would officially sign a new contract with a 3,000-yuan salary bump and performance bonuses. She had fulfilled her goal of becoming a designer, and now she could finally bring her creative visions to life.
From the driver’s seat, Xiaoming Xuan glanced in the rearview mirror and asked with a chuckle, “Lingling, now that you’ve hit your promotion goal, what’s next?”
“I’ve got so many plans for the weekend!” Yao Lingling replied playfully, then paused, remembering something.
She pulled out her phone and opened her chat with Tang Song, typing with a grin:
Lingling: “Hey handsome! Your sample outfit is ready. Come try it on whenever you’re free. I can make adjustments if needed!”
Moments later, her phone chimed.
Tang Song: “Great! Are you free tonight? I can swing by to pick it up.” Follow current novels on N()velFire.net
Lingling: “Sure! I’ll be home in about 30 minutes. I’ll send you my location—it’s near Yan Science University.”
Tang Song: “Got it. See you soon.”