novelraw Chapter 328: Su Yu Gifts a Luxury Home, A Girl's Poetic Sentiments
Chapter 328: Su Yu Gifts a Luxury Home, A Girl's Poetic Sentiments
The restaurant played soothing jazz music in the background.
Under the soft, gauzy lighting, Wen Ruan, dressed in a black evening gown and adorned with a diamond necklace, exuded a sensual charm that was captivating.
Across the table, Yao Lingling asked softly, "Sister Wen Ruan, I’ve already ordered. Did you spot someone you know?"
As she spoke, her gaze followed Wen Ruan’s toward the entrance, her eyes blinking in curiosity.
Near the reception area stood several people, including uniformed waitstaff and the restaurant manager, gathered around three stylish and stunning women.
The one in the lead was particularly striking.
She had high cheekbones, large eyes, straight eyebrows, and a sharp chin.
She wore a sleek black outfit paired with shorts, which accentuated her curvaceous figure and long legs. Her composed and confident demeanor gave her the aura of a goddess.
As a fashion designer, Yao Lingling quickly noticed the luxury brands the women were adorned with—Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès—each piece a high-end luxury item that made her heart race.
Wen Ruan smiled lightly. "Yes, they’re acquaintances. I’ll go say hello."She stood up, locking eyes confidently with Lin Muxue.
Wen Ruan was well aware that her close friend, Zhang Ziqi, had recently left the property management company and would soon be joining Lanfeng International Hotel as a marketing specialist.
Naturally, she knew of the hotel's connection to Tang Song.
Lin Muxue’s presence here, as an assistant, wasn’t surprising at all.
…
After a moment’s pause, Lin Muxue quickly regained her composure, smoothing her initially flamboyant demeanor.
With a graceful smile, she walked toward Wen Ruan. Though her mood was slightly dampened from having her moment interrupted, she was quick to adapt.
After all, Wen Ruan was Tang Song’s officially acknowledged girlfriend, enjoying the same status as Yaqian.
Moreover, as an employee of the trust company, Lin Muxue essentially worked for Wen Ruan, naturally placing her at a slight disadvantage.
As Lin Muxue approached, the waitstaff and restaurant manager followed suit.
“Good evening, Miss Wen Ruan. It’s been a while—you’ve become even more stunningly beautiful,” Lin Muxue greeted with polished flattery as she stopped beside the table, her gaze briefly studying Wen Ruan.
There was no denying that Wen Ruan was indeed... impressive.
Full curves, radiant skin—a figure straight out of a Korean drama. If she turned up the heat just a bit more, which man could resist her?
The thought made Lin Muxue instinctively straighten her posture, exuding confidence. With a quick mental note, she vowed to visit her beautician and double down on her own radiance—she was sure she could surpass Wen Ruan!
“Good evening, Assistant Lin,” Wen Ruan responded, her expression calm as she extended her hand for a handshake.
“Oh, just call me Xiaoxue. It’s a pleasure running into you here,” Lin Muxue replied with a warm smile.
“Alright, Xiaoxue,” Wen Ruan said with a faint laugh, maintaining an air of poise.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lin Muxue’s gaze landed on the young girl sitting across from Wen Ruan.
The girl seemed around her age but appeared far more innocent, with a delicate oval face and a fresh, unpretentious beauty.
Quite pleasant to look at, really.
Could she be Wen Ruan’s assistant?
The thought made Lin Muxue’s lips curl into a smirk.
A modest A-cup... laughable. No threat at all!
Noticing Lin Muxue’s gaze, Yao Lingling hastily stood up, feeling a bit awkward.
Her modest background and ordinary job had never exposed her to such confident and assertive "white rich beauties," making her feel out of place.
Wen Ruan introduced her friend smoothly, “This is Yao Lingling, my friend.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Lin Muxue,” Lin Muxue said with a polite smile. “I won’t intrude on your dinner any further. Goodbye, Miss Wen Ruan.”
Raising an eyebrow, Wen Ruan let her hands rest naturally at her sides as she replied, “No need to be so formal. Since we’re friends now, you can just call me ‘Sister’ instead.”
She said this with a smile brimming with good humor, watching Lin Muxue closely.
Knowing Tang Song as well as she did, Wen Ruan thought it was impossible for him to remain entirely innocent around such a beautiful and sexy assistant.
Her observations of Lin Muxue only reinforced this assumption.
Lin Muxue’s mouth twitched slightly, sensing the subtle challenge in Wen Ruan’s words.
Nevertheless, she obediently responded, “Alright, Sister Wen Ruan.”
With the shift in address, Lin Muxue felt a sudden loss of status, as though she had been subtly outmaneuvered.
She clutched her bag strap tightly before turning to leave, followed by her entourage.
Once seated at their window-side table, Lin Muxue regained her composure.
The restaurant manager handed over the menu respectfully, and as Lin Muxue flipped through the pages, he softly introduced each dish.
Meanwhile, the two girls seated across from her, Zhang Xi and Li Yujiao, still seemed stunned.
Straightening her back again, Lin Muxue quickly readjusted her mindset.
With a casual flick of her long hair, she asked nonchalantly, “Xi Xi, Jiao Jiao, is there anything you feel like eating?”
“Oh... anything works. You can decide for us,” Zhang Xi replied quickly, still flustered.
“Okay,” Lin Muxue nodded gently, selecting a few dishes recommended by the restaurant manager.
Once the staff left, Li Yujiao took a deep breath and spoke in an affectionate tone, “Xiaoxue, today you’ve completely blown us away. You’ve been hiding so much from us! Care to share the story—what’s your relationship with Lanfeng International Hotel?”
“Yeah, Xiaoxue! Why haven’t you ever mentioned this before?” Zhang Xi added, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and anticipation.
Although they were second-generation rich kids, their wealth merely granted them more resources than the average person. They still relied heavily on their families and didn’t hold significant social status.
Lin Muxue’s display today had truly impressed them.
Lin Muxue chuckled softly, picking up her Hermès Birkin bag and retrieving two business cards from within to hand over. “It’s not really a secret, actually.”
“I’m the Senior Assistant to the Slover Trust Committee. Most of Lanfeng International Hotel’s shares have been acquired by one of our board directors, and I’m currently overseeing the hotel’s operations on their behalf.”
Lin Muxue’s tone was calm and composed, her demeanor confident yet relaxed, exuding an intellectual charm.
Across the table, Zhang Xi and Li Yujiao felt their hearts race as they gingerly picked up the high-quality business cards.
This was the first time they learned the truth about Lin Muxue’s position and company.
Before, they only knew she worked at a financial company, often putting in long hours and traveling for business.
They had no idea she was this impressive.
This was Lanfeng International Hotel they were talking about—Yan City’s most luxurious hotel, owned by the powerhouse Yunxi Real Estate, a behemoth of a publicly listed company.
The ability to buy controlling shares from Yunxi Real Estate was a testament to the power of the board director Lin Muxue referred to.
And Lin Muxue was managing this hotel for them.
Even their parents, despite their wealth, rarely had access to figures of this level.
Who would have thought that a friend they met by chance at a party—Xiaoxue—would have such an influential background?
If they could cultivate a good relationship with her, their families would undoubtedly benefit.
“Wow, Xiaoxue, you’re an executive at a trust company? That’s amazing!”
“My uncle set up a trust for our family at the bank. Is it the same as what you do?”
“Not quite,” Lin Muxue replied casually. “We handle private offshore trusts, but the general idea of asset protection and…”
The restaurant was bustling with diners on a Saturday evening, especially at Lanque Western Restaurant.
However, the dishes at their table were being served unusually fast.
While savoring the delicate, flavorful Western dishes, Lin Muxue took the opportunity to post pictures of her newly purchased car on several social media platforms.
As she read the wave of praise and compliments from her followers, and noted the subtle shift in attitude from her two friends, Lin Muxue felt euphoric.
The fabricated persona she had carefully crafted was now a reality. The wealthy second-generation friends she used to approach cautiously, unsure of how to connect, now treated her with admiration and respect.
No one could understand what this moment meant to her.
This was the definition of a dream come true.
…
“Sister Wen Ruan, thank you for treating me to such an expensive dinner,” Yao Lingling murmured shyly, lowering her head as she continued eating her steak. She avoided Wen Ruan’s gaze, too embarrassed to look directly at her, especially with the striking contrast in their physiques.
A-cup and E-cup—what a world of difference.
Especially today, when this “sister” was dressed so seductively, Yao Lingling felt she could barely lift her head.
Wen Ruan chuckled softly and placed a piece of pan-seared codfish onto Lingling’s plate. “No need to be so formal with me. Now, keep telling me about your story with Tang Song.”
“Well…” Yao Lingling’s face flushed as she continued, “I ended up getting my other two roommates to help brainstorm ideas for Senior Tang Song…”
As she listened to Lingling’s story, Wen Ruan’s eyes gleamed with curiosity and amusement.
Through their conversation, she discovered several entertaining tidbits, like Tang Song’s Little Red Book account.
The self-deprecating posts where he took advice and underwent “transformation” nearly had her laughing out loud.
Who would’ve thought that her boyfriend had such an adorable side in the past?
The “traitorous bowl cut”!
This could definitely count as Tang Song’s “black history.”
Next time, when they were playing badminton together, she’d sneakily show him those old photos and see how he reacted.
The thought made Wen Ruan’s toes unconsciously wiggle under the table.
The only regret was that their next match wouldn’t be until next month.
Recently, Wen Ruan had been incredibly busy. Managing a massive company like Light and Shadow Media was no easy feat.
On top of working with Xingyun International Group on its acquisition, she was also restructuring internal management, adjusting operations, and strengthening client relationships.
Most of her days were packed with back-to-back meetings.
It was only yesterday that she finally managed to wrap things up.
Early this morning, Lawyer Luo Bin had sent her a message:
[Zhen Yu: “Miss Wen Ruan, after our team’s evaluation, the financial situation of Yanbei Printing Factory is extremely poor. Including severance compensation for departing employees, it is essentially insolvent. Even if it were acquired, it wouldn’t hold much value, and the short-term profits would be negligible.”]
[Zhen Yu: “Chairman Su deeply regrets this. As compensation, she has purchased a property for you in Shanghai’s Emerald Lake Residences. Once you’ve wrapped up your work in Beijing, Chairman Su would like to invite you to Shanghai, where she will personally host you.”]
[Zhen Yu: “Of course, Chairman Su emphasizes that this is entirely optional and based on your willingness.”]
“Thump, thump~ thump, thump~” Wen Ruan’s heart raced as she read the message.
…
“Just so happened that Senior Tang Song was eating at the noodle shop near the university, so we shared a table and finally got to know each other.”
“Sister Wen Ruan, I wanted to ask for your advice on something,” Yao Lingling hesitated, her voice filled with uncertainty. “Senior Tang Song has helped me a lot, so I want to get him a gift. I’m thinking either a pair of limited-edition sneakers or a laptop. What do you think?”
Wen Ruan shook her head dismissively. “He doesn’t lack for those things. You’re a fashion designer, right? The best choice would be to make him a custom suit—something for spring or autumn. Use high-quality fabric.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea!” Yao Lingling’s eyes lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically. “Thank you, Sister Wen Ruan.”
“Uh…” Wen Ruan’s eye twitched slightly.
Why did it feel like she was teaching Yao Lingling how to woo her boyfriend? The thought left her feeling a bit uncomfortable.
“Buzz, buzz, buzz—”
The phone on the table suddenly lit up. Wen Ruan casually picked it up and glanced at the screen.
After reading Zhen Yu’s messages, Wen Ruan’s heartbeat quickened, and her face turned even redder than Yao Lingling’s across from her.
She naturally knew about Shanghai’s Emerald Lake Residences—the pinnacle of luxury housing.
With an average price of over 200,000 yuan per square meter, even a modest 200-square-meter unit would cost more than 40 million yuan.
First, Su Yu helped solve her family’s livelihood issues by acquiring the printing factory.
And now, she was gifting Wen Ruan an ultra-luxurious home?
What exactly was Su Yu trying to do?!
Anyone unaware of the situation might think Su Yu was trying to... keep her!
That being said, if it were Su Yu, even as a woman, Wen Ruan might not be able to refuse her charm.
Massaging her temples, Wen Ruan took a deep breath and firmly typed her reply:
“Please thank Miss Su Yu for me. Once I’m done with my work here, I’ll personally visit Shanghai to express my gratitude. However, the property is too extravagant, and I don’t need it.”
After hitting send, she finally relaxed a bit.
Although she had signed a trust agreement and taken on the role of company president, her mindset hadn’t fully adjusted yet.
Refusing a property worth tens of millions was genuinely difficult for her.
She had accepted the Yanbei Printing Factory because she understood the situation there—it was a struggling company with outdated equipment and significant debts, with its land being the only valuable asset.
What truly mattered was Su Yu’s promised business and equipment upgrades, which could revive the factory, provide stable jobs for its employees, and ensure her family’s well-being.
But a luxury home in Shanghai was an entirely different matter—purely a cash gift. Accepting it would feel unsettling.
As for meeting Su Yu, her feelings were mixed: some apprehension and nervousness, but also a lot of excitement and curiosity.
Wen Ruan was half a fan of Su Yu, holding a favorable impression of her.
“Buzz, buzz, buzz—”
[Zhen Yu: “Xingyun International Group has extensive operations in Shanghai. As a board member, you’ll likely visit frequently in the future. Having your own property there will make travel more convenient. Additionally, Chairman Su often stays in Emerald Lake Residences herself and hopes you can understand her goodwill.”]
“Hiss—” Wen Ruan sucked in a sharp breath, her brow twitching.
What was this supposed to mean? She wanted them to live so close to each other?
Was this for Tang Song’s convenience?
Would he spend the first half of the night at her place, then sneak over to Su Yu’s room in the early hours?
Or were they planning to play… multi-player basketball?
Good heavens!
Su Yu, have you been brainwashed by Tang Song?!
Wen Ruan prided herself on being mature and rational, but she truly couldn’t wrap her head around Su Yu’s actions.
After hesitating for a while, she finally typed her response:
“Then I’ll wait until I arrive in Shanghai to discuss this matter with Miss Su Yu in person.”
[Zhen Yu: “Understood, Miss Wen Ruan. I won’t disturb you further. Bye-bye.”]
Exiting the chat interface, Wen Ruan glanced at Yao Lingling, who was sitting shyly with her head down, and her eyes flickered thoughtfully.
Leaning forward slightly, Wen Ruan asked with a serious expression, “Lingling, do you like Tang Song?”
“Ah!?” Yao Lingling’s face turned beet red, and she stammered in panic, “No, no, absolutely not!”
Seeing her reaction, Wen Ruan chuckled softly and lowered her head to continue eating.
Compared to Su Yu, this little sister Lingling was far too simple to deal with.
…
9:00 PM. Yuhua District, Minghui Mall, Second Floor.
“We’re here, Lele. This is the shop I mentioned,” Zhang Wen said, tugging Qian Lele’s arm and pointing to a store. “Tifeiyi is considered a mid-to-high-end domestic brand. With an 800-yuan budget, you can definitely find a decent-quality dress.”
Looking at the chic and stylish storefront and the exquisite clothes displayed in the window, Qian Lele nervously clutched her purse as she followed Zhang Wen inside.
After agonizing for days, she had finally decided to splurge on upgrading her appearance.
She had even made fewer drinks at work today, clocked out early, and asked Sister Wen for advice on her shopping trip.
Most of her clothes were cheap finds from online shops, and she had zero experience with big-name brands.
Inside the store, the space was bright and spacious, with clearly defined display areas and an open, modern layout.
The polished marble tiles reflected the light, and the subtle fragrance of perfume lingered in the air.
A smiling saleswoman approached quickly, warmly leading the two of them to the women’s section.
As Qian Lele glanced at the price tags, her heart began to race.
Even a simple pair of jeans cost 500 yuan. That was way too expensive!
“Come over here. These dresses are all on sale and have great value for money,” Zhang Wen said, stopping in front of a display rack. “Let me pick a few for you.”
“Thank you, Sister Wen,” Qian Lele murmured softly.
If it weren’t for Zhang Wen, she wouldn’t have dared step into such a store, let alone know where to start.
“Haha, no need to thank me!” Zhang Wen chuckled.
After carefully considering Qian Lele’s figure, she selected four dresses from the rack.
They were all from last year’s collection, with post-discount prices under 800 yuan, which was the upper limit of Qian Lele’s budget.
Although she didn’t know why this modest university student suddenly wanted to buy brand-name clothes, Zhang Wen could tell that Qian Lele truly needed them.
“Go try them on, Lele. You’re so pretty and have such a great figure. As long as the fit is right, you’ll look amazing.”
After a short while, the fitting room door opened slowly.
Qian Lele stepped out, wearing a fishtail-waist black dress that accentuated her tall, graceful figure.
Zhang Wen’s eyes lit up as she immediately gave a thumbs-up.
The dress perfectly outlined Qian Lele’s curves, making her look both elegant and alluring.
The saleswoman beside them seized the opportunity to chime in, “This dress suits you perfectly! It’s made of imported acetate fiber with a double-layer twisted structure. It’s resistant to pilling and wrinkling, and it’s cool and breathable…”
Qian Lele looked at her reflection in the mirror, a flicker of joy and excitement flashing in her eyes.
It was her first time wearing such high-end clothing. The mature design was worlds apart from her usual student-style outfits.
It even bore some resemblance to the type of clothes Ding Yao and her circle wore.
If she showed up in this dress at the birthday party, she definitely wouldn’t feel as awkward as before.
Of course, there was another significant reason that gave her the determination to spend a hefty 800 yuan on this dress:
She wanted Tang Song to see how she looked when dressed beautifully.
Afterward, Qian Lele tried on a few more floral dresses.
Ultimately, with Zhang Wen’s advice, she decided to go with the little black dress.
At a final discounted price of 750 yuan, it became the most expensive piece of clothing she had ever purchased.
Her heart pounded as she pulled up her payment code.
Exiting the store, Zhang Wen glanced at Qian Lele’s sneakers and pointed to another shop.
“Lele, how about getting a pair of heels to go with the black dress? You’d look stunning.”
Hearing Sister Wen’s suggestion, Qian Lele felt a pang of temptation.
She hesitated for a while but eventually shook her head.
“No, I’ve never worn high heels before, and I’m afraid I might twist my ankle.”
The dress was already expensive enough, and she couldn’t justify spending several hundred more yuan on a pair of heels.
The sneakers Ding Yao had gifted her were still stylish and should work well enough with the dress.
Besides, she was already over 1,000 yuan in debt on her credit app from buying Ding Yao’s birthday gift. She’d need to pay it back by next month. The rightful source is Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
“Well, okay then. It’s a pity our shoe sizes are so different; otherwise, I could’ve lent you a pair of mine,” Zhang Wen said with a shrug.
“Thank you, Sister Wen.”
…
At 9:30 PM, the two left Minghui Mall.
After saying their goodbyes, they headed to their respective homes.
The cool night breeze brushed against Qian Lele’s face, tousling her slightly messy bangs.
Hugging the white shopping bag to her chest, her eyes sparkled with joy.
She walked with a light step, as if she were dancing, imagining how Tang Song and Ding Yao might react when they saw her in her new outfit.
As a 20-year-old girl in the prime of her youth, she cherished these small moments of happiness.
Just then, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Hello, isn’t this Lele, our star baker?”
The smile on Qian Lele’s face froze as she turned to see her university roommate, Duan Fang, riding a bicycle.
“Fangfang, good evening.”
Noticing the shopping bag in her arms, Duan Fang raised an eyebrow.
“Wow, Lele. Looks like you’re doing well—you’re actually splurging on a Tifeiyi dress.”
Qian Lele lowered her voice, explaining, “It’s for a friend’s birthday party, so I bought it specifically for that.”
Duan Fang paused, then asked, “Is it Ding Yao’s birthday?”
“Uh, yeah. How did you know?” Qian Lele looked up in surprise.
“Heh.” Duan Fang’s mouth twitched awkwardly. “I work at the X-Stat Party House near the South Third Ring. I ran into Ding Yao there a couple of days ago.”
The thought of having to serve Qian Lele at the party irritated Duan Fang.
She was also deeply envious that Lele had such a wealthy friend who included her in everything.
Tightening her grip on her bike’s handlebars, Duan Fang couldn’t resist sneering.
“Honestly, Lele, you and Ding Yao aren’t even in the same league. Why bother trying to squeeze into her circle?
“Her friends all wear Celine, Burberry, and LV. Even if you’re wearing a 750-yuan Tifeiyi dress, they won’t think any higher of you. Heh.”
With that, she waved dismissively and pedaled away on her bike.
Qian Lele watched as Duan Fang’s figure disappeared into the night.
She lowered her head, clutching the shopping bag tightly, biting her lower lip hard.
Standing in place for a moment, she took a deep breath of the night air before continuing her journey forward.