novelraw Chapter 228: Xu Qing: Someone’s Trying to Poach Me?!
Chapter 228: Xu Qing: Someone’s Trying to Poach Me?!
Yan City, Beicheng Garden Residential Area.
“Ring, ring, ring—” The alarm clock blared incessantly.
Xu Qing groggily reached for her phone and turned off the alarm.
Silence returned to the room. Updates are released by novèlfire.net
She lay on the bed for a few more minutes, yawning before finally getting up and heading to the bathroom to freshen up.
Today was an important day for her.
Thanks to the ongoing popularity of her serialized novel, her fanbase had grown significantly.
Just a few days ago, a big spender with the username “yyyy” had gifted her two waves of massive tips!
Later, this fan joined her group chat and added her as a friend. The more they chatted, the more they clicked.
“Yyyy” was clearly a genuine fan, eagerly discussing plotlines and potential character developments with her.The conversations had given Xu Qing a surge of inspiration.
To her surprise, she discovered that this fan was also based in Yan City.
Since it was the weekend, they had agreed to meet at a downtown café to discuss her novel in depth.
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Xu Qing puffed up her cheeks and clenched her fists.
Alright! Today I’ll embody the role of an elegant and charming writer, Xu Qing!
She sat down at her vanity, curling her straight black hair into loose waves, instantly giving her a more mature look.
A light dusting of blush brought warmth to her cheeks, while peachy-pink tones blended with hints of orange. Dark brown and red eyeshadow swept across her lids, with upward-angled eyeliner creating a mysterious cat-eye effect.
Soon, a sophisticated makeup look emerged.
Xu Qing snapped her fingers with a crisp sound and smiled proudly. “Perfect!”
“Knock, knock, knock—” A sudden knock on the door. “Hello, delivery!”
Xu Qing jogged over, opened the door, and saw a delivery man holding a large box.
“Thank you, thank you!”
After signing for the package, she quickly closed the door and grabbed a box cutter to open it.
Inside were well-protected items—Intel i9-13900KS, ROG MAXIMUS Z790…
These were the final and most expensive computer components she had ordered through Liu Shuai Bo’s internal connections.
In total, she had spent 35,000 yuan, saving 5,000 compared to market prices.
And Tang Song had given her a full 50,000 yuan!
After the purchase, I pocketed 15,000 yuan! This is amazing!
She even got her RTX 4090 graphics card back—finally!
“Ding-dong!” A WeChat notification sounded.
[Liu Shuai Bo]:
“Qingqing, I saw the delivery was signed for. Please check if everything’s in order. Let me know if you have any issues, even later while using it!”Xu Qing quickly replied: “Got it, thank you, Shuai Bo! When you visit Yan City, I’ll treat you to a big meal!”
After chatting briefly, Xu Qing fetched the earlier-arrived parts and neatly arranged everything on the table.
She snapped a photo of the complete set and sent it to Tang Song, adding a message:
[Xu Qing]:“Tang Song, your ‘family bucket’ is all ready! When are you free to come pick it up?”
After sending the message, Xu Qing glanced at the time, slipped on a pair of sneakers, and headed downstairs.
The meeting spot was a downtown café not far from her office—a location she was very familiar with.
Even though she was meeting a female fan, she thought it prudent to be cautious.
Feeling giddy about her 15,000-yuan profit, she decided to splurge on a taxi instead of sweating it out on public transport.
After all, the weather was hot, and your girl Qingqing can afford it!
ᕕ(ᐛ)ᕗ
She jogged to the north gate of the community and hopped into a taxi, sending a quick message to her fan “yyyy” on the way.
Her phone vibrated again.
[Tang Song]:“I’m on a business trip in Shanghai. I’ll pick it up when I’m back.”
Xu Qing chuckled and replied:
[Xu Qing]:“Got it! Take care while traveling, Tang Song!”
She added a cute sticker to her message.
Tang Song was her goldmine—her novel’s leading inspiration and benefactor—so a little concern was only natural.
[Tang Song]:“It’s been exhausting. Got any new cosplay photos? I could use a mood boost.”
Xu Qing’s cheeks turned red. She typed back furiously:
[Xu Qing]:“No, I don’t!”
Because of the ongoing financing for Yan Yan’s company, she had agreed to let Tang Song photograph her, leaving her too distracted for cosplaying lately.
Even thinking about it made her blush and her heart race.
[Tang Song]:“Then how about sending me a selfie?”
“D**n you, Little Song! You already have psycho-obsessive Xiao Jing, and you still dare to tease me!” Xu Qing muttered under her breath.
Despite her complaint, she obediently took a photo and sent it to him, her face growing redder by the second.
After all, Tang Song had helped her and Yan Yan immensely. She couldn’t refuse him.
╮(￣⊿￣)╭
Yan City, Shimmer Coffee Shop.
After a ten-minute ride, the taxi stopped outside the café.
Xu Qing stepped out of the car, carefully adjusting the Dior chain bag Tang Song had given her.
Alright, it’s time for Writer Xu Qing’s grand performance!
Straightening her back, she walked through the door, consciously maintaining a more elegant and intellectual demeanor.
At this time, Shimmer Coffee Shop was mostly empty.
Xu Qing’s gaze landed on the agreed-upon corner table, where a woman in casual business attire sat, her hair neatly pinned with a claw clip, and her posture graceful.
Though Xu Qing couldn’t clearly see her face, the woman’s demeanor exuded a refined air.
Xu Qing suddenly felt a pang of nervousness as she walked over.
The woman, absorbed in her phone, looked up at the sound of footsteps and smiled. “Long time no see, our great writer Qingqing.”
Xu Qing froze, her expression turning to shock. “Guo Liyuan? It’s you?!”
“Ha! Let’s sit down and talk,” Guo Liyuan said, gesturing toward the chair with a smile.
Xu Qing’s face twitched, overwhelmed by an awkward sense of exposure.
Guo Liyuan was Shen Yuyan’s classmate—same year, same major.
Back in college, Xu Qing and Guo Liyuan had been friendly, but after graduation, Guo Liyuan moved to Hangzhou, and they had lost touch.
And now she’s my ‘fan’?!
Guo Liyuan sat up straight, giving Xu Qing a once-over with a teasing smile. “When I first stumbled upon your novel, the characters felt strangely familiar. Especially when the protagonist was named Xu Yanquing, and then ‘Tang Song’ appeared along with flashbacks to college days—that’s when I confirmed it was you!”
Xu Qing felt unbearably embarrassed. She stiffened her neck and retorted, “You could’ve just told me, Yuan Yuan! Instead, you used a fake WeChat account to mess with me!”
“Pfft—hahaha!” Guo Liyuan covered her mouth, laughing heartily.
Xu Qing’s face turned bright red as she mentally screamed, What is this? Is my dignity as Miss Xu worth nothing?!
After some laughter, Guo Liyuan spoke sincerely. “Honestly, I’m truly your fan. Your novel is excellent—both the writing style and the plot are outstanding. But the best part is the story itself. I have no idea how you come up with such brilliant ideas—you’re amazing.”
Hearing this stream of compliments, Xu Qing’s mood instantly soared. She cleared her throat and sipped her coffee, trying to act nonchalant. “Well, I guess I just have some talent.”
Guo Liyuan chuckled, then pulled out a business card from her bag and handed it over.
Xu Qing took it with surprise, reading:
[Ordinary Folks Media Co., Ltd., General Manager, Guo Liyuan]
“Yuan Yuan, how did you become a general manager?”
Guo Liyuan confidently began recounting her journey.
After graduating, she had worked for an internet company in Hangzhou. Last year, the company decided to venture into short drama production and operations. She volunteered to join the new department.
With the rise of short-video platforms and the increasing demand for bite-sized content, their operations had performed exceptionally well, allowing her to make her first significant earnings.
However, this year’s explosive short-drama market also brought internal conflicts among the company’s shareholders. Guo Liyuan was caught in the crossfire and reassigned away from the short-drama department.
A media company in Yan City, which had long collaborated with her former employer, valued her highly. The boss personally went to Hangzhou to invite her to take full charge of their short-drama business, offering her a 15% equity stake.
Although the company was small, the vast potential of the short-drama market convinced her to accept. Now, she had firmly established herself there.
Looking earnestly at Xu Qing, she said, “Qingqing, I’d like to invite you to join Ordinary Folks as a full-time legal consultant. We’ll increase your salary by 50%.
“In your free time, you could also try writing short-drama scripts. Once approved by our internal review, you’d get a share of the revenue.
“Our company has 92 employees, a 500-square-meter office, and we’re currently negotiating a Series A funding round worth tens of millions.
“The short-drama market is limitless, and with your talent, why not seize this opportunity?
“You could change your life, just like I did. You might even see your characters brought to life on screen.”
Her tone was sincere, and the offer was incredibly tempting.
Xu Qing’s heart raced, her mind full of possibilities.
Forget everything else—this is a 50% raise! Plus, I’d be officially allowed to ‘slack off’ and write my novels at work!
Shanghai, WJ Marriott Hotel.
“Click, click, click—”
Lin Muxue sashayed behind Tang Song, her slender waist swaying as she followed him closely.
They took the elevator to the 59th floor and entered an executive suite with a keycard.
Tang Song opened the minibar, retrieved a drink, and handed it to her. “The weather’s stifling. Have a cold drink.”
“Thank you.” Lin Muxue quickly accepted it, softly closing the door behind her.
Being alone in a room with Tang Song made her heart race uncontrollably.
As they walked into the master bedroom’s walk-in closet, Tang Song stopped abruptly, his gaze landing on a safe on the floor.
Lin Muxue, not noticing, bumped lightly into him.
“Ah!” She quickly stepped back, smoothing her hair. “Sorry, I’m not used to walking in heels and a skirt.”
Tang Song turned to look at her, his eyes carrying a faint smile.
Lin Muxue avoided his gaze, quickly remarking, “I’ve been to this WJ Marriott before. It’s been around for a while, but the service and facilities are great.”
It was true—this hotel was relatively affordable and often had discounts. On past trips to Shanghai, she’d sometimes split costs with friends to stay here for a night, snapping photos to show off online.
“Hold on, I need to grab something.” Tang Song nodded and crouched down, opening the safe.
From inside, he retrieved a beautifully crafted wooden glasses case. Standing up, he handed it to Lin Muxue.
“Xiao Xue, your task is to deliver this to Mo Xiangwan. I’ll send you a document later on WeChat—give it to her along with this.”
“Got it! No problem at all—I’ll make sure it’s done!” Lin Muxue quickly accepted the case, wisely refraining from asking why he wasn’t delivering it himself.
She had always been sensible. Since Tang Song had given her this responsibility, all she needed to focus on was doing it well.
Tang Song glanced at her obedient expression and broke into a broad smile.
It was clear she had dressed carefully for the occasion, especially in her fitted “stepmother dress,” which accentuated her womanly charm.
It was an obvious effort to please him.
Tang Song chuckled, crouched again, and looked at the two stacks of cash in the safe.
“Since this is a task, it comes with a reward. I’ve got a prize in each hand—left or right. Which one do you want?”