novelraw Chapter 338: Qiuqiu, Secretary Jin, White Moonlight, and Little Jing
Chapter 338: Qiuqiu, Secretary Jin, White Moonlight, and Little Jing
July 31, 2023, Monday, Drizzle, 24–31°C
6:30 a.m.
The alarm music began to play.
♪ “A soft echo in my ear, carrying the unsaid words of affection you’ve kept hidden...”
Cheng Qiuqiu woke up from her sleep.
She didn’t turn off the alarm but just sat there dazed, listening to Su Yu’s ethereal singing voice.
Sitting up, she gently stretched her body. Her cascading orange-brown hair fell loosely, with a few strands sticking to her fair cheeks, giving her an air of languid indifference.
After a while, her thoughts began to clear.
Cheng Qiuqiu picked up the yoga mat in the corner, laid it out in the living room, and started her yoga practice.
Her flexibility was excellent, performing high-difficulty poses with ease.After completing several key poses, she sat cross-legged and meditated for a few minutes.
Only then did she get up and begin preparing breakfast.
Breakfast was simple: egg pancakes, smashed cucumbers, and oatmeal porridge.
It didn’t take much effort—done in just over ten minutes.
Looking at the time, it was almost 7:30 a.m.
Cheng Qiuqiu walked to the door of the master bedroom, intending to knock but hesitated, afraid of disturbing her senior.
She particularly enjoyed eating and chatting with her senior because she had so few friends to confide in.
Ever since “He Yiyi” had gone viral this past week, her senior, Gao Mengting, had been so busy every day that they hardly had any time to talk.
As a result, Qiuqiu had been practicing yoga more frequently lately. For her, besides Su Yu’s songs, yoga was another form of emotional solace.
Through various poses, breathing exercises, and meditation, she could relax her body and mind, awaken her senses, and enhance her state of mind.
Standing in front of the master bedroom door for four or five minutes, Cheng Qiuqiu was just about to turn and leave when—
“Creak.”
The door to the master bedroom opened.
Gao Mengting stepped out, yawning, her hair a mess.
Seeing her junior standing there, Gao Mengting was startled and patted her chest.
“You scared me! Morning, Qiuqiu.”
A little embarrassed, Cheng Qiuqiu said softly, “Good morning, Senior. I made breakfast and was just about to call you to eat.”
“Wait for me, just a moment.”
Gao Mengting scratched her head, went to the bathroom, and quickly freshened up before sitting across from Qiuqiu at the dining table.
Looking at the hot breakfast, Gao Mengting smiled warmly.
“Thank you, my dear Qiuqiu. You’ve worked hard.”
Taking a sip of her oatmeal porridge, Cheng Qiuqiu earnestly replied, “It’s no trouble, Senior. It’s what I should do.”
Qiuqiu was well aware of the value of the ticket to Su Yu’s concert.
Just that one ticket alone made her feel like she could make breakfast for a year and still owe her senior.
Not to mention, Gao Mengting had also helped with rent and utilities.
Looking at her serious, well-endowed junior, Gao Mengting couldn’t resist teasing her.
“I must say, Qiuqiu, don’t you know that dressing this sexy early in the morning could overwhelm me?”
“Ah.” Cheng Qiuqiu froze for a moment, her face turning red. “I-I’ll be more careful in the future…”
“Pfft!” Gao Mengting burst into laughter.
“Just kidding! Don’t take it so seriously. It’s just that you’re rocking a D-cup every day, making me feel utterly inadequate.”
Cheng Qiuqiu murmured softly, “Actually, being too big is kind of inconvenient. Senior’s size is just perfect.”
“Sigh, you’re so Versailles*!” Gao Mengting stood slightly to ruffle Qiuqiu’s hair.
“Once you have a guy you like, you’ll know that bigger is better—it’ll drive him crazy.”
This junior of hers was a particularly unique person in her circle.
She craved companionship and someone to confide in but was also a bit aloof and prone to overthinking, often taking jokes literally.
Clearly, she had some psychological issues.
If possible, Gao Mengting wanted to help her, so she often joked around to lighten the mood.
“By the way!” Gao Mengting chewed on some crisp cucumbers and said with a smile,
“Our company has increased the budget for He Yiyi’s packaging and poster design. The boss also wants to make it a key focus moving forward. I’ll have Legal draft a formal contract, so we can keep it all official.”
Hearing this, Cheng Qiuqiu nodded quickly.
“Thank you, Senior. I’m just afraid I won’t do a good job and let you all down.”
“We trust your abilities!” Gao Mengting made a “cheering” gesture with her hand.
Sommei Fashion had undergone a massive transformation. In just eight days after an unexpected collaboration with Bei Yuwei, their livestream sales exceeded 9 million yuan.
Over 3 million came from a collaboration with a major domestic brand, featuring special live-stream sessions with slotting fees and commissions.
The remaining 6 million was generated directly from Sommei Fashion’s small store.
The reason they capped it at this amount was intentional inventory control.
The sudden surge in popularity meant many purchases were impulsive.
Even though the clothes were high-quality with great fits, the estimated return rate could reach up to 60%.
If they opened the floodgates, the sheer volume of returns to the warehouse would be terrifying, and their cash flow wouldn’t survive.
Jinxiu Commerce certainly wouldn’t bear such massive risk for them.
Once the current buzz cooled down, the remaining audience would be their true target demographic—and a sizable one at that.
For influencer live-commerce, what they lacked most was traffic.
Bei Yuwei’s appearance had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, envied by countless competitors.
They were now receiving over a dozen complaint notices daily and had even been forced offline twice.
…
After breakfast, the two freshened up and did their makeup before heading downstairs together.
The damp, cool morning air was refreshing.
“Vroom, vroom.” A Wuling Hongguang van slowly started up.
Driving through the wet residential roads, it merged into the traffic, moving at a stop-and-go pace.
While driving, Gao Mengting discussed the packaging design requirements with Cheng Qiuqiu.
“Ring, ring, ring.” A phone rang.
Cheng Qiuqiu opened her bag, pulled out her phone, glanced at it, and silenced it without answering.
“Spam call?”
“No, it’s my mom.”
“…Oh.” Gao Mengting blinked and didn’t press further.
After a moment, the phone rang again.
This time, Cheng Qiuqiu hesitated, then answered and held it to her ear without speaking.
“Hello, Qiuqiu, had breakfast yet? It’s Monday—are you on your way to work?” Her mother’s voice came through the receiver.
“Mm.”
“Haven’t seen you post anything on WeChat Moments lately. Take some photos for me when you get a chance.”
“Okay.”
“Ah, I saw online that Su Yu is about to release a new song. Isn’t that great?”
“I know.”
…
“How’s work going? Still working overtime a lot?”
“Busy as ever.”
“Well… I’ll wait a bit longer. I’ve already transferred the shop over here, so I’m free anytime. Once you’re less busy, I’ll come to Yan City. Don’t want to be a bother to you.”
“Mm. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now.”
Ending the call, Cheng Qiuqiu leaned back in her seat, staring blankly out the window.
Gao Mengting glanced at her, concerned, and said softly,
“Being here alone, your mom must worry about you. She might even show up unexpectedly one day. If she wants to visit, you can book her a hotel if you don’t feel like sharing your space.”
Cheng Qiuqiu pursed her lips. “Thank you, Senior.”
…
The car pulled into Yunxi Tower.
Gao Mengting grabbed her bag and took the elevator to the 30th floor.
As the elevator doors opened, a warm and gentle smile appeared on her face.
In the bustling office area, her colleagues were hard at work, energized and joyful.
The company’s shop had exploded in sales, and successfully launching “He Yiyi” brought stability and promising prospects to everyone’s jobs.
It was also a significant boost for their resumes.
“Good morning, Director Gao!”
“Director Gao!”
“Morning!”
Passing through the office area, Gao Mengting glanced at the CEO's office, wondering if Tang Song had arrived. He had mentioned on WeChat that he would come to the company today.
Over the past half month, Sommei Fashion had undergone tremendous changes. She was eager to share this joy with her partner and discuss the next steps for their plans.
“Creak.” Pushing open the door to her own office, Gao Mengting entered gracefully. She took out her phone and hung her bag.
The moment she turned around, her expression froze. Her gaze landed on the corner of the office near the window, and a joyful smile broke across her face.
Tang Song was reclining on the soft beanbag chair, feet resting on a low stool, holding a book in his hand. His eyes were focused and gentle, his lips curved slightly upward in a faint smile.
Their eyes met. Tang Song casually set the book down and stood up from the chair.
“Good morning, Mengting.”
Looking at his handsome face and his calm, upright posture, Gao Mengting felt her taut nerves finally relax for the first time in days.
“Click, click, click.” The sound of leather shoes stepping across the wooden floor echoed.
Gao Mengting opened her arms and hugged him tightly. “Good morning!”
The scent of lemony shampoo filled her nose.
Tang Song froze momentarily, then naturally wrapped his arms around her soft, slender waist, savoring the curve of her body.
At this moment, he was no longer the inexperienced, shy rookie he once was, when a simple hug from Gao Mengting could make his heart race and his body stiffen.
They embraced for a while.
“Huff—” Gao Mengting exhaled softly against him.
She raised her head, her eyes glistening with tears, and exclaimed with excitement and emotion,
“Tang Song! We’ve made it! Our company has truly succeeded!
“With the He Yiyi IP, we now have guaranteed exposure and sales, which means our bargaining power, collaboration opportunities, and user retention will all improve significantly!
“Luckily, you improved the organizational structure in advance. Without a solid team to support us, we couldn’t have managed this sudden windfall!”
Her words flowed quickly and clearly as she shared her visions for the future.
No one could understand the intense emotions, tension, and exhilaration she had been carrying these past days. To maintain stability, Gao Mengting had shown calmness to the outside world, working long hours and throwing herself entirely into the heavy workload.
Inside, however, she had been suppressing a flood of emotions for far too long.
Seeing Tang Song suddenly appear in her office, her emotions could no longer be held back.
She had once been trapped in the mire, and it was Tang Song who had pulled her out, helping her build Sommei Fashion together. This update is available on novel~fire~net
Now that the company was soaring, she could finally feel at ease, knowing she hadn’t let down Tang Song’s trust and effort. She couldn’t wait to share this success with him.
Tang Song, smiling joyfully, silently appreciated the softness and warmth of her embrace.
After a long while, Gao Mengting finally fell silent.
“You’ve worked hard,” Tang Song said softly.
“It wasn’t hard; it’s what I should do,” she replied, her face beaming as she met his gaze.
The atmosphere in the office suddenly grew a little ambiguous.
Breathing in his scent and feeling the firm grip of his hand on her waist, Gao Mengting’s cheeks flushed red as she calmed down.
“Hey, um, isn’t it time to let go?”
“I heard that hugging reduces stress hormones and boosts happiness. I’ve been under a lot of stress lately. Can we hug a bit longer?” Tang Song said, leaning slightly closer as he gazed at her soft features.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly pressed a hand against his chest.
“Hey, partner, I have reason to suspect you’re being a rogue!”
Her tone was firm, but her body remained soft, making no effort to pull away.
This was the first time she had hugged Tang Song for so long. His defined muscles and handsome features left her feeling light-headed.
Safety, harmony, and happiness—when these elements combined, they might resemble love or even equal love. But deep down, she knew these were not the same as love.
She had always wondered if her feelings for Tang Song were merely derived from the security and happiness he provided.
But at this moment, the strong physiological response within her reminded her that it wasn’t.
“Love, first and foremost, is an instinct. You’re either born knowing it, or you never will.”
Still, she couldn’t help but wonder: what was her partner feeling toward her at this moment? Was it love of the heart, or love of the body?
Outside, the sky grew dark, and rain began to patter against the glass curtain walls.
After a moment, Tang Song released Gao Mengting.
He glanced at his watch and said,
“Get ready. Let’s have a meeting later to discuss the next steps for the company.”
In his “Scholar” state, Tang Song had already made detailed plans. The next step was to help the company grow quickly, harnessing this surge of traffic to solidify He Yiyi as a genuine IP.
“Got it,” Gao Mengting replied, straightening up. Then she suddenly added,
“Let’s take a photo together to celebrate this milestone success for the company.”
“OK.” Tang Song nodded with a smile.
They stood back-to-back in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. Gao Mengting instinctively positioned herself on his right side.
She raised her phone in front of them, wrapping her left arm around Tang Song’s right arm, tilting her head slightly to the left.
“Cheese!”
“Click!”
Satisfied with the photo, Gao Mengting grinned as she looked at it.
Then she scrolled through her photo album and pulled up another picture, showing it to Tang Song.
“Do you remember this?”
Tang Song looked at the phone screen, his eyes momentarily unfocused.
It was a photo of him and Gao Mengting taken on the day the company was founded.
Back then, he had been a shy young man, thrilled and nervous when his gorgeous partner had hugged his arm for the first time.
He also recalled their bold declarations at the time:
“To go public,” “to ring the bell at the stock exchange,” “the birthplace of dreams,” “a national fashion brand”…
At the time, he had just inherited his first assets, filled with anticipation for the future.
Now, those expectations were gradually being realized, and he had reached the heights he once dreamed of.
He had gained business, money, and women.
And yet, what had to be faced would inevitably come to pass.
For instance, the White Moonlight waiting far away in Shenzhen, whom he had promised to meet at the peak.
Would she feel joy or sorrow when she saw the person he had become?
Tang Song’s feelings for Liu Qingning were a complex mix of friendship and love.
This unique affection, coupled with the growing distance between them, had always kept him from confessing his feelings.
Curiously, Liu Qingning had never shown any inclination either.
Now, the sudden prospect of buying a house in Yan City felt like a chaotic storm in his heart.
What kind of mindset should he have when facing her?
…
Meanwhile, in Beijing, at the headquarters of Smile Holdings Group.
In the executive director’s office:
“Knock, knock, knock.” A soft, rhythmic knock sounded on the door.
“Come in.”
Personal assistant Shangguan Qiuyuan stepped in, standing quietly in front of the desk.
“Director Jin, the detailed report on Tian Jing, the compensation supervisor at Jinxiu Commerce, is ready.”
She handed over a tablet carefully and looked at the elegant figure behind the desk.
Secretary Jin shifted her gaze from her computer screen, picked up the tablet, and leaned back slightly. Her chest rose prominently as she did so.
Her eyes quickly scanned through the information:
Age: 22Education: Graduated from Rongcheng University of Finance and EconomicsFamily Background: Daughter of Tian Chengye, a shareholder and executive director of Zhongcheng Group, as well as a shareholder and supervisor at Jinxiu Commerce.Attached were recent photos. Secretary Jin casually tapped one to enlarge it, her gaze flickering slightly.
Fair-skinned, petite, with narrow shoulders and a sweet, delicate appearance.
The profile described her as the perfect “White Rich Beauty.”
Another woman of a completely different type.
After a moment, Secretary Jin asked,
“Has the rumor about her office relationships been confirmed?”
“According to Jinxiu Commerce’s HR director, Shi Qiuli, Tian Jing has an ambiguous relationship with the CTO. Several colleagues claim to have witnessed it firsthand. I’ve also verified it multiple times; it’s true.”
“Let Fan Wenzen know to include Tian Jing in the upcoming employee training session in Beijing.”
“Understood.”
Secretary Jin casually set the tablet down, gently removing the glasses perched on her nose as she stood up.
Her chestnut-brown hair flowed freely down her back, the roots voluminous and lifted, framing her stunningly delicate face with even greater elegance.
“Where’s Wen Ruan? She should be in Beijing by now, right?”
“Yes,” her personal assistant nodded, continuing,
“She arrived in Beijing last Saturday and is currently staying at The Westin at Liangma Bridge. This afternoon, she’ll be heading to Xingyun International Group to attend the shareholders’ meeting and vote for the new board director.
“Additionally, the president of Tang Zong Entertainment, Mo Xiangwan, has just checked into The Westin. She’s likely there to assist Wen Ruan in settling into her new role.”
“Has Lawyer Luo Bin returned from Shenzhen?”
“The equity transfer for Qingning Technology has been completed. Lawyer Luo is scheduled to return to Beijing on Thursday.”
Qingning Technology… 3% equity…
Secretary Jin’s clear, bright eyes lifted slightly, her chestnut irises glinting with a crystalline clarity under the light.
“Have Lawyer Luo meet me on Friday morning. Also, what’s the current status of Century Smart Learning?”
“It’s progressing smoothly. APP users are steadily increasing, and the company has entered its profitability stage.
“Their self-developed AI large model, built on Qingning Technology’s open platform, is currently in development and performing well.
“In addition to that, they’ve begun developing terminal products.
“As for the team member you asked me to monitor—Liu Qingning—she has requested a 1.5 million yuan interest-free loan from the company using her equity as collateral.
“However, the company’s investors are still negotiating to acquire her shares.
“It’s not just her, actually. According to information I’ve obtained from Changyun Investment, they’re very optimistic about Century Smart Learning’s future.
“Now that the software is stable and they’re transitioning toward hardware development, there’s talk of pushing some non-core technical partners out of the team, and Liu Qingning is one of them.”
Secretary Jin pressed her plump, full lips together slightly, her tone calm as she instructed,
“Arrange for a company to approach Century Smart Learning and commission a batch of educational devices from them. This will accelerate their transition to hardware development.”
“Understood!” Shangguan Qiuyuan quickly responded, “Does Liu Qingning need any special arrangements?”
“No, let everything proceed naturally.”
“Got it.”
As the assistant left the office, Secretary Jin turned slightly to the side, her dazzling earrings swaying gently, catching the interplay of light and shadow like two rivers of starlight.
Looking at the southern skies, she murmured to herself,
“Century Smart Learning is just your starting point. Some ups and downs in love and career will ultimately aid your growth.
“Don’t blame me. After all, you still have Qingning Technology, and you still have Tang Song’s feelings.
“You’ll gain so much. I hope these things can make up for the pure love you’ve lost.
“And if, in the future, you really feel uneasy… then just blame Su Yu.”