novelraw Chapter 243: Starting the Job, Past and Present
Chapter 243: Starting the Job, Past and Present
June 15, 2023, Thursday, Clear, 25~40°C.
As the notification sound of a bank transfer buzzed, Tang Song sat up in bed, feeling refreshed and full of energy.
The Heartthrob Aura (LV3) delivered its daily deposit of 1,600 yuan, a constant reminder that his life had turned into a real-life simulation. It also served as motivation for his commitment to discipline and self-improvement.
He sniffed the air and could still catch traces of a familiar perfume lingering on the bed.
After sending Lin Muxue home last night, he had noticed that his pillow and blanket carried her scent. She had also left behind several small tokens: framed photos on his nightstand, silk scarves, and even a set of women’s pajamas on the clothing rack.
He chuckled softly, recalling the kiss they shared the previous evening.
Despite her bold, experienced facade, Lin Muxue was clearly inexperienced. She had tried to maintain an indifferent demeanor but ended up passively letting him take the lead, her lips yielding to his.
The contrast made the experience particularly enjoyable.
Standing on the balcony, he breathed in the humid morning air and decided against his usual outdoor jog. Instead, he changed into his Unlimited Energy workout gear, rolled out a yoga mat, and started a 40-minute high-intensity fat-burning routine.
The spacious and luxurious living room was bathed in soft morning light, the city outside gradually waking up to the day.As he worked out, Tang Song opened the system interface and navigated to the Companions module.
[Companion List]
[Wen Ruan]: Progress: Mutual Affection, Moderate Liquid Exchange
Buffs: Heart Strengthening, Metabolism Boost, Flexibility and Coordination, Endurance Enhancement
[Tian Jing]: Progress: Mutual Affection, Light Liquid Exchange
Buffs: Kidney Strengthening, Fair Skin, Excellent Hair Quality, Physique Optimization
[Lin Muxue]: Progress: Mutual Affection, Light Liquid Exchange
Buffs: Eye Enhancement, Mood Elevation, Posture Optimization, Expression Management
Tang Song chuckled at the buffs listed. They perfectly aligned with Lin Muxue’s personality and behavior.
He had come to understand her deeply during their interactions. Despite her obsession with appearances, she was undeniably charming, with impeccable posture, strong emotional intelligence, and well-honed social skills.
In Slover Trust, she was more than capable of handling her role as an assistant. If she genuinely wanted to grow, Tang Song wouldn’t hesitate to support her development.
Exiting the Companions module, he opened the inventory.
[Inventory Items]
[Magic Umbrella]
[Su Yu’s Lyrics Notebook]
[Tang Song’s Baseball Cap]
[Scenario Instance Creation Card x1]
[Learning Card x1]
[Stamina Recovery Potion x3]
His gaze fell on the Learning Card, a tool that in the game was considered a beginner's artifact for enhancing cognition and skills, significantly increasing charm stats.
In reality, its effects would likely be even more profound, but it required him to be in an academic setting.
With his current packed schedule, he hadn’t found time to use it. However, as the company’s operations stabilized and structural adjustments were completed, it would be the perfect opportunity to deepen his knowledge, especially in financial investments and corporate management.
While the Ginkgo Bookmark provided a 30% memory boost, many concepts in these fields still felt abstract to him as a newcomer.
After finishing his workout, Tang Song took a quick shower and changed into casual attire before heading downstairs.
At the breakfast shop, he enjoyed a quick meal and packed some food to go. He then made his way to Building 6 of Yanjing Huating.
After unlocking the door with his fingerprint, he stepped into the quiet 180-square-meter apartment.
The silence indicated that He Liting and Zhao Yaqian were still asleep. Placing the breakfast on the dining table, he pushed open the master bedroom door.
The room was cool and fresh with the air conditioner running, and a familiar, pleasant scent lingered in the air.
Under the fluffy duvet lay Zhao Yaqian, her figure partially revealed. She was wearing a silk camisole and a pair of panties. Her curves were smooth and enticing, her legs gracefully poised.
Tang Song inhaled deeply, removed his slippers, and climbed onto the bed.
After the stimulating encounters with Shen Yuyan, Xu Qing, and Lin Muxue the previous day, combined with the vitality boost from Heartthrob Aura (LV3), he felt a strong urge to release his energy before starting work.
His hand gently caressed Zhao Yaqian’s shoulder, tracing the curve of her scapula downward, appreciating her elegant and sensual physique.
Half-asleep, she stirred slightly, mumbling, “Brother Song…”
Sensing his touch, she trembled but didn’t wake up.
Tang Song leaned down and planted a kiss on her slender neck.
“Ah…” Zhao Yaqian gasped softly, her eyes fluttering open, her face tinged with surprise and delight.
Her nose twitched as she caught his familiar scent. “Brother Song! You’re here!”
“Good morning, Qianqian,” he replied, his voice gentle.
The room soon filled with rustling sounds and soft whispers.
After a while, a knock at the door interrupted them.
“Knock, knock, knock—”
He Liting’s voice came from outside. “Qianqian, are you up? Did you get the breakfast on the table?”
Zhao Yaqian peeked out from under the covers, her face flushed.
Tang Song called out calmly, “I bought it. Go ahead and eat.”
“Ah! Got it, got it! You two carry on, I’ll eat first!” He Liting’s footsteps quickly retreated, accompanied by her embarrassed giggle.
Another moment passed, then Zhao Yaqian’s phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was a voice chat invitation from Lin Muxue.
“Brother Song, should I answer?” she asked hesitantly.
Tang Song arched a brow and leaned in to whisper near her ear. “Go ahead, it’s fine.”
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Yaqian accepted the call.
“Hey, Xiaoxue,” she said, her voice still trembling slightly.
Lin Muxue’s cheerful voice came through, “Good morning, Qianqian! Today’s my first day at Slover Trust. About your dedicated fund, I’ll learn all the details and help you create a tailored investment plan soon.”
“Thank you, Xiaoxue,” Zhao Yaqian replied softly, covering her mouth to muffle her tone.
“No need to thank me—we’re sisters!” Lin Muxue said warmly. Then her tone turned curious. “By the way, are you feeling okay? You sound a bit off. Are you unwell?” This update is available on novel✶fire.net
“No, no… I just woke up, that’s all.”
“Oh, okay. Also, one more thing I should tell you. I’ve moved some of my stuff into Tang Song’s place, and he’s given me a car for getting in and out of Yanjing Tiancheng. Since we’re pretending to be a couple, we have to make it look convincing. I hope you don’t misunderstand.”
“No problem,” Zhao Yaqian replied quickly.
Tang Song chuckled quietly at Lin Muxue’s thinly veiled attempt to explain herself.
The room filled with muffled noises as Zhao Yaqian squirmed slightly, her face buried in the blanket. “Xiaoxue, I’ll hang up now, okay? I’m still sleepy…”
“Uh… okay,” Lin Muxue replied, seemingly sensing something off.
After ending the call, Zhao Yaqian let out a soft squeal, burying her face even deeper into the duvet.
Meanwhile
At Lin Muxue’s apartment, she sat on her bed, lost in thought.
Her mind replayed the events of the previous night—the kiss against the floor-to-ceiling window and the intoxicating closeness with Tang Song.
The memory sent a thrill through her as she tried to focus on her schedule.
8:30 AM.
Her offer letter required her to report to Slover Trust at 9:30 AM. It was a 20-minute drive to Chengyuan Tower in Huaxin District. She had a bit of time to spare.
A notification on her phone brought her back to the present.
[An Tian Middle School, Class 3 Group Chat]
Chen Siyue: “@Everyone, Huihui and I are on the 9 AM train. We’ll arrive in Yanjing around 1 PM!”
Chen Siyue: “Check out my Douyin for previews of today’s trip. We’re live-streaming, so leave your comments and likes!”
He Xiaohui: “@Lin Muxue @Li Da, are you two ready to meet your old classmates?”
Lin Muxue’s gaze sharpened, her fighting spirit reignited.
Chen Siyue’s “Classmate Mystery Box” series on Douyin had gained significant traction. The nostalgic theme of reconnecting with old classmates, paired with her carefully crafted content, had turned her into a small-time influencer.
What started as a casual group of a few classmates had now grown into a full-fledged class group with 43 members.
Lin Muxue opened Douyin, skipped over the “99+” unread notifications, and navigated to Chen Siyue’s page.
Current followers: 640,000.
Her eight most popular videos each had over 20,000 likes, showcasing interviews with former classmates:
Gao Zhiqiang, the once-arrogant top student, now pursuing a master’s at Nanjing University.
Zhao Jian, the “bad boy” who turned his family business into a stable career while remaining single and handsome.
Wang Xiaofei, the diligent girl who now lived a 996 corporate life in Beijing, working for a small company.
The blend of past and present made these videos compelling. The mystery-box theme added an element of surprise, capturing viewers’ curiosity about the twists and turns of each classmate’s life.
Seeing these videos, Lin Muxue couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. Despite her vanity and materialism, she still cherished memories of her high school days.
Her finger hovered over the latest preview video and clicked.
“How are our high school classmates doing now? Six years after graduation, I’ve turned my classmates into a mystery box.”
“No matter where you are, I want to see how you’re doing.”
The video transitioned to a shot of Su Yu’s concert tickets.
“Next stop: Yan City! While attending Su Yu’s concert, I’ll also catch up with two classmates.”
First, a photo of Li Da, the top student, appeared.
“Li Da! Our class star, now a mid-level manager at a listed medical device company’s Yan City branch.”
Then came a photo of Lin Muxue.
“Lin Muxue! The most beautiful girl in our class. After graduating from a vocational college, she’s now a senior executive at a major financial company, living in a luxury home, driving fancy cars, and managing her social media presence.”
Lin Muxue paused the video, staring at the old school photo of her younger, innocent self.
Back then, her life had been simple—free of the pretenses she’d later adopt.
“High school me, I won’t let you down,” she murmured, her eyes glinting with resolve.
At Chengyuan Tower
9:30 AM
“Ms. Lin, here are your employment contract and ID badge. I’ll show you to your workspace now,” said the HR representative, handing over a file.
“Thank you,” Lin Muxue replied with a polite smile.
Next to her, the branch manager Zhang Chengyuan chimed in enthusiastically. “Assistant Lin, since Mr. Tang is the sole trustee of the Yan City branch, your workspace has been set up just outside his office for convenient communication.”
He had clearly received instructions and was eager to ensure everything was perfect for Tang Song’s trusted aide.
The sound of Lin Muxue’s high heels echoed as they walked through the office.
Catching her reflection in a passing mirror, Lin Muxue smiled to herself.
The high school version of her would have never imagined this moment.
“I won’t let you down.”