novelraw Chapter 278: Hear the Wind Sing
Chapter 278: Hear the Wind Sing
A thin mist hovered over the street, as though the world was veiled in a delicate shroud.
The Maybach's headlights glowed in the rain, its low engine hum blending seamlessly with the gentle patter of raindrops.
A dripping white umbrella, an elegant and mature figure, dazzlingly beautiful features, and a soft, flowing dress…
Bang— The car door closed softly.
High heels tapped lightly on the wet ground as Wen Ruan gently swept back her thick, wavy hair and gracefully made her way forward with a fluid, charming stride.
Her gaze met his, and her radiant smile grew brighter.
She tugged lightly at her dress to keep it from getting damp from the splashing rain.
With the Maybach and the uniformed driver in the background, she exuded an air of elegance, sophistication, intellect, and romance.
The rain had kept the restaurant’s patrons to a minimum, and those inside gradually fell silent, captivated by the scene outside.
The smoky aroma of grilled fish and the sizzle of oil permeated the air.He Yiming gawked, stammering, “You know… maybe Maybachs aren’t so bad after all.”
“Holy crap! That woman’s figure is amazing!” Xu Bin muttered in a hushed voice. “And her looks—just wow! She’s perfect! Damn it, if I could date a woman like that even once in my life, I could die happy!”
He Yiming couldn’t help but mock him. “Oh, come on, Bin. Just earlier, you were making fun of me. A white-collar beauty like her is even more out of reach than your fantasy about Jian Hui.”
Jian Hui, being a Beijing local, had a family that owned two apartments in the city and drove a BMW 3 Series. Compared to her, this stunning, mature woman who stepped out of a Maybach S680 was worlds apart from them.
“Pfft, I’m just daydreaming!” Xu Bin retorted. “If I had to talk to her in person, I’d be shaking like a leaf. I’m not like you—at least you’re chasing Jian Hui for real…”
Before he could finish, his voice rose again in surprise. “Oh my god! She’s coming into Wushan Grilled Fish! What luck—we get to enjoy the view up close!”
Tang Song, putting away his phone, shot them an annoyed look. “Can you guys stop being so creepy?”
Xu Bin bristled at the remark. “Oh, that’s rich coming from you! You’ve secretly snapped several photos with your phone. And with the shutter sound on, no less! Who are you to call us out?”
“Exactly!” He Yiming chimed in, slapping Tang Song on the shoulder with a grin. “Next time, turn off the shutter sound when you’re sneaking photos. Oh, and don’t forget to send me a copy!”
Ignoring their banter, Tang Song shifted his gaze toward the entrance of Wushan Grilled Fish.
Creak—
The glass door was pushed open, letting in a gust of wind and rain.
The restaurant seemed to brighten instantly.
The diners inside couldn’t help but turn to look.
Wen Ruan folded her umbrella and gave it a shake, brushing off the droplets. She lightly patted her damp hair and looked up, her gaze landing squarely on Tang Song’s table.
“She’s looking this way!” Xu Bin whispered excitedly.
“Probably at Tang Song,” He Yiming nudged. “Tang Song, maybe you should try hitting on her. Who knows? You might have a shot.”
Xu Bin joked, “Haha, earlier, didn’t you say your girlfriend was on her way? Don’t tell me this gorgeous woman is your girlfriend?”
They were somewhat familiar with Tang Song’s circumstances.
His family wasn’t well-off, and they were burdened with medical debts from his mother’s treatment.
During his years at Meigou Tech, Tang Song had been one of the most frugal employees in the department, working tirelessly.
He rarely bought snacks or drinks, and his wardrobe consisted of just a few well-worn outfits. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel[f]ire.net
He had no real hobbies and seldom joined his colleagues for outings.
Even now, despite his improved appearance, physique, and demeanor, their impressions of him hadn’t entirely shifted from his past image.
The teasing and banter were mostly the kind shared between close friends.
Click-click-click— The rhythmic sound of high heels tapping on the patterned tiles grew closer.
Both men immediately fell silent, sneaking glances at the woman approaching their table.
“Tang Song.” A magnetic voice, rich and commanding, filled the air.
The scent of a warm, delicate perfume wafted over them as the elegant, mature woman stopped beside their table.
Her gaze, brimming with joy and affection, held a touch of shy tenderness, like the gentlest summer breeze—calming and refreshing.
Tang Song wrapped an arm lightly around her waist. “Ruan Ruan, have a seat.”
He Yiming and Xu Bin jerked their heads up, their eyes widening to the point of disbelief as they stared at the pair.
Wen Ruan smiled softly, pressing her lips together, and spread her arms slightly.
The couple exchanged a knowing look. Tang Song chuckled and used his free hand to give his Zhuangzhuang of a girlfriend a light hug before planting a kiss on her plump lips.
There was no denying it—hugging this fitness-loving older woman felt amazing.
Her toned, firm body and perfectly sculpted curves radiated a seamless blend of strength and elegance, exuding vitality and health.
Combined with her commanding, alluring figure, she was undeniably a partner worthy of admiration.
Clatter! A pair of chopsticks fell onto the glass tabletop, then rolled onto the floor with a faint noise.
He Yiming and Xu Bin stared in utter disbelief, their minds exploding like torpedoes detonating underwater.
Looking at the embracing couple and then at the parked Maybach outside, their thoughts ground to a halt.
Holy crap! This woman is really Tang Song’s girlfriend?
Where’s the justice? What happened to fairness in this world?!
The sound of a chair sliding against the floor snapped them out of their stupor as Wen Ruan gracefully sat beside Tang Song.
She waved casually at the two men. “Sorry to intrude on your meal. I’m Wen Ruan, Tang Song’s girlfriend.”
Her mature, strikingly beautiful face and captivating voice immediately pulled them back to reality.
“No intrusion at all! I’m Xu Bin, one of Tang Song’s former colleagues,” Xu Bin managed to stammer out.
“H-hello, I’m He Yiming,” the other added nervously.
Their gazes turned toward Tang Song, now filled with an even greater mix of astonishment and bewilderment.
In all their years knowing him, this reunion alone had been shocking enough—but it paled in comparison to the sudden appearance of his incredible “girlfriend.”
“You all carry on, don’t mind me,” Wen Ruan said, her tone light and friendly.
“I passed by Meigou Tech Tower on my way here… The rain today has been so on and off—it’s finally stopped for now…”
Her cheerful personality and polished conversational skills quickly eased the atmosphere at the table.
Xu Bin and He Yiming exchanged a glance, their earlier tension melting away.
This commanding, Maybach-driving older woman turned out to be far less intimidating than they had imagined.
Her gentle and approachable demeanor left them feeling as if they were basking in a spring breeze.
Yet the admiration—and envy—they felt toward Tang Song only grew.
“This grilled fish is really tasty. Such a shame I’m still full from lunch,” Wen Ruan remarked as she picked up a piece of the golden, aromatic fish.
Ignoring the greasiness, she delicately pinched the fishbone with her fingers and used chopsticks to strip the meat.
She then placed the neatly deboned pieces on a small plate in front of Tang Song.
As she chatted with the three men, she continued to serve Tang Song dishes and refill his drink with tender care.
She even took the time to carefully remove chili skins and Sichuan peppercorns from his food.
Watching this unfold before their eyes, Xu Bin and He Yiming couldn’t help but feel their eyes redden with jealousy.
It felt like the grilled fish in their mouths had suddenly turned into a feast of dog food.
Before they knew it, the rain outside had completely stopped.
The grilled fish had been nearly devoured, along with all the side dishes and meatballs in the pot.
Wen Ruan set down her chopsticks, opened her bag, and handed Tang Song a clean tissue.
Through their brief conversation, she gained a general understanding of Tang Song’s past.
He had been reserved and low-key in the company, with no particularly close relationships with female colleagues—essentially a classic tech guy.
His technical skills were outstanding, which often led to him being seconded to other departments for support.
This aligned with how Hu Mingli had described him before.
As Tang Song headed to the restroom, Wen Ruan seized the moment and teased, “From what you’ve said, Tang Song’s life in Beijing sounds so dull! You’re not covering for him, are you? I can’t believe he didn’t have at least one close female friend!”
Both men grinned awkwardly.
Tang Song’s incredible luck made them both envious.
There was no need to cover for him—he truly hadn’t been involved with anyone at the company.
After a moment of thought, He Yiming said, “He really was that way at work—just as dull as you said. But there was this one high school friend of his he seemed really close with. A super cute girl. I actually bumped into them at the zoo once.”
Hearing this, Wen Ruan’s heart skipped a beat.
A female classmate? His high school white moonlight?
So that’s it! No wonder!
The sound of footsteps signaled Tang Song’s return to the table.
“The food’s about gone, and it’s about the right time. Let’s get going,” he said with a smile.
He Yiming quickly stood up. “Hang on, I’ll take care of the bill.”
“No need, it’s already settled,” Tang Song said, taking Wen Ruan’s hand. “Next time, you guys can treat.”
“Alright,” He Yiming and Xu Bin nodded, not making a fuss about it.
The three-person grilled fish meal only cost a little over a hundred yuan—not worth debating over.
As they stepped out of the restaurant, the fresh and cool post-rain air greeted them.
After exchanging farewells with his former colleagues, Tang Song held Wen Ruan’s hand and began strolling along the damp street.
He shared his thoughts about the area and recounted some amusing anecdotes from his time there.
The streets were dotted with small puddles, glistening under the dim light like tiny mirrors.
The couple walked and talked, occasionally pulling each other gently to avoid stepping into muddy patches that could dirty their shoes.
As they strolled, Wen Ruan discussed their plans for the next few days.
After finishing work that afternoon, they’d head to the China World Trade Center for some fine dining and night views. Then, they’d visit the Panjiayuan Ghost Market to shop for hand-beaded bracelets.
The following day, they’d bike along Chang’an Street, row boats at the Summer Palace, and finish the day at Xishan Ghost Laughing Stone, overlooking the entire city.
Since Wen Ruan was wearing high heels, they didn’t walk for too long.
They soon caught a ride to a nearby shopping mall.
At the mall, Wen Ruan picked out a Zegna suit for Tang Song to wear as a groomsman.
She then forwarded him the wedding itinerary.
The wedding was scheduled for Saturday and wasn’t going to be a grand affair.
Both Sun Simin and Zhou Bo hailed from Shandong Province, where their official Chinese wedding ceremony would be held—that was expected to be the grand event.
The ceremony in Beijing was more of a preliminary celebration. Scheduled for the weekend, it was designed to accommodate classmates, colleagues, and supervisors, with fewer family members present.
The goal was to make it easier for these attendees to participate, bring gifts, and enjoy a meal together.
As a groomsman, Tang Song’s role turned out to be much simpler than anticipated. All he needed to do was accompany the groom during the bride’s retrieval and walk with him during the wedding procession. No rehearsals were necessary.
Creak—
The door to the fitting room opened softly.
Standing in front of Wen Ruan in his formal suit, Tang Song looked upright and dashing, his figure exuding an elegant charm.
Wen Ruan’s gaze softened, her eyes glistening with tenderness.
For a moment, the scene seemed to blur, as if time had slowed down. Tang Song approached her, and in her mind, it felt as though he were holding a bouquet of flowers.
The image of him as a handsome groom flashed vividly before her eyes.
Biting her plump lower lip, Wen Ruan murmured inwardly, “I do.”
On the High-Speed Train from Beijing to Yan City
Dingdong—
The WeChat notification sound woke Shen Yuyan, who had been dozing against her seat.
She picked up her phone, and her weariness vanished as she read the messages.
Zhao Wenyu:
"Yuyan, I asked around. Songmei Fashion has been recruiting like crazy lately, and they hired Bocai Yingrui, a top HR consulting firm, to help. Now they have nearly 80 employees!"
Zhao Wenyu:
"What’s even more shocking is that they occupy an entire floor—the 30th floor—of Yunxi Tower! I just heard this from some other classmates! My god, Mengting’s company is thriving! I’ll ask her later if they need a copy editor like me!"
Attached to the messages were several photos showing a luxurious office environment, well-dressed employees, and state-of-the-art livestreaming studios.
Shen Yuyan pressed her lips together tightly, her gaze complicated as she stared out the window.
Her own entrepreneurial journey was far less glamorous than it appeared.
Youjie Domestic Services had started as a six-person team, primarily acting as a broker, connecting clients from Zhang Tianqi’s uncle with domestic workers.
Their first office had been in the University Student Entrepreneurial Incubation Center in Yan City.
The company had slowly grown, and it wasn’t until the previous year that they finally acquired their own office space—a seven-story, older commercial building on a busy street in Qiaoxi District.
The building housed hundreds of small companies, and its environment, property management, amenities, and location were worlds apart from Songmei Fashion.
Thinking about her hardships and comparing herself to Gao Mengting and Guo Liyuan, a wave of regret and frustration surged within her.
She couldn’t help but remember the opportunity she had let slip through her fingers—the one that could have changed everything.
“Yuyan, what’s wrong?” Zhang Tianqi, seated across from her, raised an eyebrow. “You don’t seem happy. Why not?”
As one of the founders of Youjie Domestic Services, Zhang Tianqi wasn’t overly attached to the venture. However, the successful funding round and a valuation of 20 million yuan were undoubtedly satisfying achievements.
Even the family patriarch had expressed great pride in him, offering high praise.
Other team members like Li Meixia and Wang Ning were buzzing with excitement in the group chat, eagerly discussing the next steps for development.
But Shen Yuyan, who had always been the most eager to secure funding, had been behaving strangely for days.
“It’s nothing,” she replied, lowering her head. Her voice was soft. “I suppose I should be happy.”
At the root of it all, though, was her unwillingness to accept what had happened.
If she thought about it more optimistically, Gongying Technology wasn’t a bad choice.
Their projects and businesses could complement each other well.
This partnership was a win no matter how you looked at it.
Zhang Tianqi glanced at the fresh and beautiful "Campus Belle" Shen Yuyan sitting across from him, falling silent for a moment before speaking.
“With this round of financing, my family elders are quite satisfied with me. They’ve also expressed their admiration for you as an excellent partner.
“Our family’s food factory is about to expand, and my focus will soon shift toward our family business. I’ll be stepping down as general manager of Youjie Domestic Services. Moving forward, the company will primarily rely on you.
“Don’t worry—I’ll always support you. Between our combined shares, we hold 53% of the company. Gongying Technology joining won’t have any adverse impact on your control.”
At 26, Zhang Tianqi felt he had proven his capabilities. It was time to return to the path that had always been laid out for him.
After all, his family’s business was rooted in the tangible economy, providing connections and social status far beyond what this small domestic services company could offer.
He was content to let Youjie Domestic Services operate as it was. If it truly took off, he’d welcome the success.
Hearing his words, Shen Yuyan felt her determination reignite.
Zhang Tianqi had always been a laid-back partner. While he didn’t hinder progress, he also wasn’t the type to provide significant active support.
Now that the financing was secured, she would formally assume full management as the company’s top leader upon her return.
Perhaps this was her chance to propel Youjie Domestic Services toward rapid growth.
If she could scale up quickly, there was a possibility of cashing out and transitioning into a new venture down the line.
Looking earnestly at Zhang Tianqi, she said, “Thank you, Tianqi. I wish you all the best with your next endeavors.”
“One more thing,” Zhang Tianqi said, glancing at his watch. “I might be getting engaged soon. You’ve met her before.”
Shen Yuyan’s eyes lit up with surprise. “Is it Lin Lu?”
“Yes, it’s her!”
“Congratulations! I always thought you two were a perfect match. You're well-suited in every way—family background and personality alike. When the wedding comes, I’ll be sure to give you a big red envelope.”
“Hehe, I’ll be counting on it,” Zhang Tianqi replied with a relaxed grin, leaning back in his seat with an air of contentment.
Back in their university days, Zhang Tianqi had certainly been interested in Shen Yuyan. She was dazzling, after all.
Her name was everywhere—in dormitory gossip, on forums, in endless discussions. Any guy would have harbored some thoughts about her.
But Zhang Tianqi was pragmatic. Once he understood Shen Yuyan’s true ambitions and saw the intensity of her drive, he decisively let go of any personal hopes.
He realized he could never handle someone like her.
Her idols were women like Jin Meixiao, Executive Director and CEO of Smile Holdings, or Ouyang Xianyue, Chairwoman of Tangyi Precision.
She had always been working toward those goals with relentless execution and ambition—so intense that it was blinding.
She wasn’t the type of woman to settle for a quiet life. If a man couldn’t satisfy her, conquer her, or match her aspirations, it was better not to get involved at all.
But as a partner or a friend, she was ideal.
That’s why he had invited her to start Youjie Domestic Services with him two years ago.
And he was proven right.
Youjie Domestic Services had grown far faster than he ever imagined, indirectly earning him tremendous face with his father and grandfather.
In this respect, he couldn’t help but look down on Hou Shaoyuan.
Investing purely to pursue women? Mixing work and emotions together? Immature.
Now, as he observed Shen Yuyan—her fighting spirit rekindled and her bright gaze burning with purpose—Zhang Tianqi found himself curious.
What kind of man could possibly match her immense ambition, fulfill her desires, or even conquer her?
So far, he hadn’t met one.
The train slowly pulled into Yan City Station.
Zhang Tianqi carefully slipped a bookmark into his copy of Hear the Wind Sing and closed it, turning his gaze to the platform outside.
Everyone was moving forward along their predetermined paths, though the final destinations remained unknown, and the journey was often fraught with storms.
So, listen to nature and your heart, go with the flow of time, and embrace the present.
Hear the Wind Sing.
May this partner have good fortune!
And may I inherit the family business soon!
June 30, 2023, Friday.
In a luxury apartment in Shenzhen.
Tap, tap, tap—
Zhen Yu, the assistant, walked briskly over and spoke softly, “Chairwoman Su, Ji Qiuyu from Xingyun International has sent word that Wen Ruan proactively submitted her resume through an intermediary, seeking a position at Xingyun International’s Yan City branch.”
Hearing this, Su Yu immediately set down her paintbrush.
She wiped her hands with a damp towel, stood, and paced the room for a moment.
Looking at the outlines on the canvas before her, she seemed to reach a decision.
Turning around, her eyes gleamed as she asked, “What’s the situation with Light and Shadow Media?”
In a low voice, Zhen Yu reported, “It’s complete chaos. Twelve media agencies and twenty-one clients have successively issued notices to terminate their partnerships. At this rate, within six months, Light and Shadow Media’s operations will collapse entirely. Jingwu Capital is likely about to make a move…”
She proceeded to provide a detailed account of the information she had gathered.
As a prominent cultural media company in Yan Province, Light and Shadow Media had its main branches in various cities across the province.
In addition, it maintained small-scale operations in Beijing and Shanghai.
For a company of this size, it still wielded a considerable amount of influence.
If not for the consecutive actions of Tang Zong Entertainment, Smile Holdings, and Jingwu Capital, the company wouldn’t have been reduced to such a dire state.
Su Yu raised her eyebrows slightly and said calmly, “Inform Xingyun International’s Li Mohai to directly acquire Light and Shadow Media. Offer a reasonable price and finalize the deal as soon as possible. The Yan City headquarters of Light and Shadow Media can operate as a subsidiary of Xingyun International.
“Also, tell Ji Qiuyu to get in touch with Wen Ruan as soon as possible!”
“Understood, Chairwoman Su.”
“And one more thing—help me arrange a meeting with Ms. Ouyang. She just returned to Shenzhen last night. Let’s schedule it for this evening.”
“Right away. I’ll take care of it.”
As her assistant left the room, Su Yu walked to the window and opened it slightly.
She narrowed her eyes as the gentle morning breeze drifted in.