novelraw Chapter 409: Power is a Man’s Best Attire
Chapter 409: Power is a Man’s Best Attire
Saturday, August 26, 2023.
Rainy. 19~21°C.
The heat of summer had begun to fade.
With the arrival of the End of Heat solar term, the oppressive warmth of the season was finally coming to an end—every autumn rain brought a new chill.
The scent of damp earth filled the air.
Fine drizzle, like strands of silk, gently fell, weaving an invisible veil over the world.
7:00 AM.
"Ring, ring, ring—"
The alarm clock blared relentlessly in the small room.
A fair and delicate hand emerged from under the blanket, blindly groping around for a while before finally grabbing the phone.Xu Qing sleepily cracked open her eyes and silenced the alarm.
Then, she flipped over and went right back to sleep.
Thankfully, she had prepared for this—ten minutes later, the second alarm rang right on schedule.
Xu Qing wriggled under the covers, mumbling groggily, but ultimately forced herself to sit up.
As the blanket slid off, a burst of cool air swept over her, instantly waking her up.
She yawned, got out of bed, used the bathroom, and changed into an autumn sports outfit.
Then, she headed to the living room and hopped on the elliptical machine for a quick workout, occasionally glancing at the rain-drenched view outside the balcony.
Her dark eyes flickered with thought.
She opened Tang Song’s WeChat chat window.
Xu Qing: “It’s so cold today, but as someone dedicated to morning workouts, I’ve already started my daily fitness routine.”
After typing the message, she struck a pose and snapped a selfie to send along with it.
As soon as she hit send, she grinned to herself.
"Hah! Let’s see if you dare call me fat again, Little Song!"
"I, Xu Qing, am working hard! I already lost 0.5kg! One day, I’ll be under 100 pounds!"
Ever since Qixi Festival, when Tang Song had promised to take private photos of her at Lanfeng International, she had started a grueling weight loss journey.
Thirty minutes of exercise every day, bubble tea reduced to 30% sugar!
After her workout, she took a quick shower.
Her damp hair cascaded over her fair shoulders as she lay on her bed, wrapped in a bath towel.
She reached over and gently touched the golden treasure chest sitting beside her pillow.
It was Tang Song’s Qixi gift to her.
The contents were worth nearly 150,000 yuan—the most expensive gift she had ever received.
Now, she couldn’t even fall asleep at night without admiring it for a bit.
Ding-dong—
Her phone vibrated with a message.
Tang Song: “As far as I know, you used to stay up late writing novels and never exercised in the morning. That’s why you kept gaining weight.”
Xu Qing’s eyes widened.
She furiously typed back.
Xu Qing: “That’s slander! At least I exercise at the office during lunch!”
Tang Song: “I’ve touched your legs before. There’s plenty of extra flesh. You definitely don’t work out enough.”
“Ah!!” Xu Qing gasped, her lips puffing up in outrage.
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
"Damn you, Little Song! You’ve already touched them—how dare you complain?!"
Her fingers trembled with rage.
Buzz, buzz, buzz—
Tang Song: “But they feel pretty good. I don’t mind.”
Xu Qing’s face instantly turned beet red.
She furiously sent an angry sticker of someone slamming a table.
The two continued their emoji battle for a while.
Tang Song: “I’ve been swamped lately, even have meetings this weekend. But next week—Lanfeng International’s presidential suite. You in?”
Seeing the bold “You in?” at the end of the message, Xu Qing’s hands shook, and she almost dropped her phone.
Her face burned.
"What the hell?! It’s just a photo shoot! Why does it sound like a hookup invitation?!"
But then, her eyes caught on “presidential suite.”
She had never been there, but she had seen it all over Douyin.
Ultra-luxurious, 700 square meters, costing over 30,000 yuan per night…
Xu Qing bit her lip, hesitated, and nervously typed a reply. For more chapters visit novęlfire.net
Xu Qing: “Just photos, okay?”
Tang Song: “Mhm. Bring several cosplays—NieR 2B, Little Daji, maid outfit… I want them all.”
Xu Qing’s hands clenched into fists.
"This little bastard! What does he think this is, a dress-up game?!"
(>血<)
At that moment, her bedroom door suddenly swung open.
A sleepy voice called out.
Shen Yuyan: “Qingqing.”
Xu Qing jumped, quickly hid her phone, and took a few deep breaths.
Then, she turned around. “Yanyan, you’re finally up! How are you feeling?”
Last night, Shen Yuyan had been out drinking with clients and had ended up throwing up several times before passing out.
She had slept through the morning.
Shen Yuyan yawned, ran a hand through her messy hair, and stepped forward to hug her best friend.
“I feel a little sick,” she murmured, pouting.
“I just went to the bathroom… Still not fully rested. Can you make me some millet porridge?”
“Of course, no problem.” Xu Qing patted her back, feeling a bit worried.
“How did the Zhishang Property meeting go last night? Any luck?”
Shen Yuyan let out a dry laugh.
“No chance. Their VP asked for way too much money, plus ridiculously high kickbacks. We can’t afford it.”
Xu Qing frowned. “Why is your company struggling so much? Didn’t you guys secure funding already?”
“The housekeeping industry is a total bloodbath—cutthroat competition everywhere.”
Shen Yuyan flopped onto Xu Qing’s bed, rolling around in the blankets.
“The real problem is that Gongying Technology’s app isn’t bringing in enough leads—way below expectations.”
“So to meet our performance targets, we have to find other ways to make up for it.”
She stretched out, then groaned.
“Hurry up and make porridge. I have another big client to meet at noon.”
Xu Qing’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you’re drinking again?!”
“No, no.” Shen Yuyan waved a hand.
“Hou Shaoyuan used his family’s connections to arrange a meeting with Yunxi Property’s manager. It’s a rare opportunity.”
Xu Qing raised a brow. “Wow, Hou is actually being useful for once. Do you think you have a good shot?”
Shen Yuyan sighed and shook her head.
“All I can do is try. Yunxi Property is owned by listed company Yunxi Real Estate. They already have well-established housekeeping partners. Getting a piece of their business is incredibly difficult.”
“Hmm…” Xu Qing blinked, suddenly remembering something.
“Oh, wait! Tang Song’s company is in Yunxi Tower. Do you think he could talk to the property manager for you?”
She had handled legal affairs for Songmei Fashion before and had been to Yunxi Tower several times.
Shen Yuyan hesitated. “Uh… I doubt it. Yunxi Tower has tons of tenants and owners. They can’t just do favors for everyone.”
“Besides, this is a business deal, not just a personal favor.”
“Oh… alright then.” Xu Qing sighed and ruffled her best friend’s hair.
“Go back to sleep. I’ll make the porridge.”
She, Miss Xu Qing, only had one useful connection—Tang Song.
And if even he couldn’t help, then there was no hope.
11:00 AM.
22nd Floor, Lanfeng International Hotel – Executive Office Area
The atmosphere was tense and solemn.
Employees sat upright at their desks, their movements careful and restrained.
Whenever someone passed by, they walked cautiously, afraid to disturb the heavy silence that had settled over the office.
Wang Linqing glanced around before leaning over and whispering, "Nana, our boss brought so many people today… Do you think something big is happening?"
Yu Qiuna shook her head and silently typed a reply on WeChat.
"Don’t overthink it. Whatever happens, it won’t affect small fries like us. Just focus on work."
Seeing her message, Wang Linqing breathed a sigh of relief.
An hour ago, the company’s major shareholder and executive director, Tang Song, had suddenly arrived with seven or eight people.
Then, he took all the senior executives into the conference room—where they had been for the past hour without coming out.
According to whispers in the office, among the people Tang Song brought were lawyers and headhunters from Deju Renhe.
Given their backgrounds, the situation was crystal clear.
Most likely, major leadership changes were about to take place—perhaps even with the new candidates already chosen.
Tang Song was finally making his move as the new boss.
Lanfeng International had been a luxury five-star hotel for over eight years.
Though it wasn’t riddled with extreme corruption, the internal interests were deeply intertwined.
People protected each other, and there were plenty of leeches.
More serious issues, like kickbacks on purchases, supplier price hikes, and sales rebates, were common knowledge among leadership.
But since the leaders themselves were part of the system, no one was willing to disrupt the ‘harmonious stability’ of their ecosystem.
However, with the new boss taking over, this ecosystem was inevitably going to change.
Breaking News in the Company Group Chat
Suddenly, a major announcement appeared in the company’s group chat.
📢 [General Manager – Qiao Anji]:
"After a thorough review by hotel management, we are making the following personnel changes for the Procurement Department. Mr. Wang Binlong, the former Procurement Manager, has officially resigned due to personal career development plans. He will officially leave his position on August 30...
"Effective September 1, Mr. Zhao Zhuo will take over as the Procurement Manager. Mr. Zhao previously worked at..."
As soon as the announcement dropped—
"Buzz, buzz, buzz—"
A wave of chatter erupted throughout the office.
As the Procurement Manager, Wang Binlong held significant power at Lanfeng International.
He was a true authority figure—his departure was a massive shake-up.
Sitting at her desk, Yu Qiuna’s eyes flashed, her heart racing.
Previously, a colleague from her department, Qiu Wenze, had always received preferential treatment because he was Wang Binlong’s nephew.
He even stole clients from her.
So when Tang Song privately asked her about internal relationships, she casually mentioned what she knew about Wang Binlong.
She never expected that one small report would lead to such a high-ranking executive’s downfall.
Yu Qiuna felt a mix of shock and exhilaration.
She was now one of Tang Song’s trusted insiders.
Her future in the company was looking very promising.
Before she could fully process the situation, more announcements flooded the group chat.
Six departments were affected—including Supplier Management, Marketing, and Recreation.
And every dismissed executive had already been replaced with experienced, well-credentialed successors.
Tang Song’s decisive actions and swift clean-up left everyone in awe.
Footsteps from the Conference Room
Shortly after—
A wave of footsteps echoed from the direction of the conference room.
The entire office instantly fell silent.
One by one, employees turned their heads, watching in reverence as a sharp-suited young man walked at the forefront.
His face held a calm smile, yet he carried an undeniable aura of authority.
Marketing Department – Zhang Ziqi’s Secret Fangirl Moment
Sitting in the corner of the Marketing Department, Zhang Ziqi’s cheeks flushed as she stared at Tang Song.
Unable to resist, she pulled out her phone and snapped a quick photo.
Then, she immediately sent it to her best friends’ group chat.
📱 @Zhuangzhuang, our boss looks insanely handsome today!
"He came in an hour ago and already fired 7-8 department heads. Everyone is freaking out!"
📢 Buzz, buzz, buzz—
💬 [Zhuangzhuang]: “Mm, he does look amazing. I’ve decided—I’m sleeping with him tonight.”
💬 [Zhuangzhuang]: (insert smug meme.jpg)
Zhang Ziqi smacked her lips and grumbled sourly.
"Why are you always so dirty, huh? You only ever think about those kinds of things!"
💬 [Hu Mingli]: “@Zhuangzhuang, don’t overdo it. Watch out for back pain!”
💬 [Zhuangzhuang]: “It’s not about that! I’ve just been having trouble sleeping lately, and my doctor suggested I rest on a set of abs.”
"Sigh, you guys wouldn’t understand…
"Because none of you have a boyfriend with an eight-pack.”
Seeing that message, Zhang Ziqi turned green with envy.
"Damn! Zhuangzhuang, you lucky pervert!"
Executive Director’s Office
Inside the office, Hotel General Manager Qiao Anji sat upright on the sofa, discussing team-building and management strategies.
Tang Song casually flipped through the documents in his hand, nodding occasionally.
The leadership reshuffle at Lanfeng International wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Over the past few days, he had instructed Qiao Anji to work with Deju Renhe.
Through surveys, employee interviews, and management assessments, they conducted a deep internal evaluation of the hotel.
A professional analysis revealed both weaknesses and strengths, allowing for a targeted improvement plan.
Deju Renhe’s contribution was invaluable.
As China’s largest HR service provider, their expert team and extensive talent pool ensured the best possible replacements for each position.
This leadership purge was only the beginning.
Tang Song was establishing his authority.
A Message from Zhuangzhuang
Buzz, buzz, buzz—
His phone vibrated.
Tang Song glanced at it and raised an eyebrow.
[Zhuangzhuang]: “Little brother, come to my office this afternoon. I’m working overtime, and the office is empty. Crying emoji.”
Tang Song: “What’s wrong? I’m at Lanfeng International today. Pretty busy.”
[Zhuangzhuang]: “Tsk! Tsk! Your love for me has faded! You’re already brushing me off!”
[Zhuangzhuang]: (insert crying meme.jpg)
Tang Song: “Can you just talk normally?”
[Zhuangzhuang]: “I’m itchy.”
[Zhuangzhuang]: (attaches sultry selfie.jpg)
The photo showed Wen Ruan in her office, pulling down her black top just enough to reveal an enticing glimpse of cleavage.
Her slightly parted lips added an irresistible allure.
Tang Song subtly tilted his phone away, stole a quick glance, then calmly replied.
Tang Song: “Understood. On my way.”
Helping his girlfriend with her “itch” was a serious responsibility.
Work could be delayed.
Putting away his phone, Tang Song placed the files aside and instructed:
"In addition to team management, we also need to optimize the performance evaluation system."
"Coordinate with Deju Renhe’s Director Wang to create a new assessment framework—increase salaries by 10-20% based on performance. Tie it directly to bonuses and promotions."
Qiao Anji: "Understood, Director Tang!"
Tang Song glanced at the time.
"Inform all senior executives—we’re having lunch at Lan Yue Chinese Restaurant."
To become a competent corporate ruler, one must wield both authority and benevolence in equal measure.
After establishing authority, it is equally important to motivate employees, nurture their loyalty, and create a corporate culture of both respect and aspiration.
As Tang Song’s wealth, sophistication, emotional intelligence, and experience grew, he was steadily shaping his own philosophy of corporate management.
A White Audi A7 Glides Through the City
Raindrops slid down the car window, creating streaks of water that blurred the cityscape outside.
In the driver’s seat, Hou Shaoyuan glanced at the navigation and smiled. “We’re almost there.”
“Mm.” Shen Yuyan took a deep breath, pulling a compact mirror from her handbag and carefully adjusting her appearance.
Beside her, Li Meixia followed suit, fixing her posture and smoothing out her clothes.
Since Shen Yuyan had taken over as General Manager from Zhang Tianqi, Li Meixia had been promoted to Vice President, responsible primarily for housekeeping sales services.
Today, they were set to meet Ma Zijian, the manager of Yunxi Property.
Despite numerous attempts to arrange a meeting, Shen Yuyan had never been able to meet him in person.
Originally, they had planned to shamelessly seek out Zhang Tianqi’s help through his uncle’s connections.
But to their surprise, Hou Shaoyuan had quietly arranged the meeting for them.
This was a rare opportunity.
Inside the Car
“Don’t be nervous.” Hou Shaoyuan tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, smirking.
“I reached out to Ma Zijian through Yunxi Real Estate’s headquarters. It’s a reliable connection.”
“That’s a relief.” Li Meixia exhaled. “By the way, Shaoyuan, what kind of person is Ma Zijian?”
“Seems like a decent guy.”
Li Meixia patted her chest in relief. “Oh, thank goodness. I’ve been yelled at by so many people lately—I think I’ve developed a trauma. I’ll be relying on you during the meeting.”
“Haha, don’t worry.” Hou Shaoyuan let out a slightly guilty chuckle.
Yunxi Property managed numerous real estate projects developed by Yunxi Real Estate.
As the General Manager of the parent company’s property division, Ma Zijian held significant influence.
Hou Shaoyuan had only managed to get in touch with him through family connections and had never met him in person.
He had no idea what kind of person Ma Zijian was.
But, as a man of status, he had to keep up appearances—especially in front of two women, particularly in front of Shen Yuyan.
Lanfeng International Hotel – Underground Parking
The Audi A7 smoothly entered the underground parking lot of Lanfeng International Hotel.
The reason they chose Lanfeng International was because it was also a property under Yunxi Real Estate.
The three stepped out of the car and took the elevator directly to the third floor.
They had reserved a private room at Lan Yue Chinese Restaurant and waited anxiously for Ma Zijian’s arrival.
Hou Shaoyuan glanced at the two women sitting properly across from him and lightened the mood by chatting about the restaurant’s cuisine and ambiance.
Shen Yuyan responded politely but was clearly distracted.
The reality was that Youjie Housekeeping was in trouble.
The primary reason?
The Gongying Technology App’s promotional campaign was failing miserably.
Gongying Technology specialized in smart lighting products, with no relation to cleaning services.
Their customers had no reason to use the app to find housekeeping services.
Instead, their housekeeping platform was doing free advertising for Gongying Technology both online and offline.
By now, Shen Yuyan had realized they had been played.
In their desperation for funding, they had walked straight into a trap.
But it was too late to turn back now.
Her only option was to push forward aggressively—securing as many major clients as possible to meet the performance targets required by their betting agreement.
If they succeeded, they would unlock the next round of investment.
A Sudden Phone Call
"Ring, ring, ring—"
The sudden ringing of Hou Shaoyuan’s phone made the three of them snap to attention.
He quickly answered in a cautious tone.
“Hello, Ma? Mm-hmm, understood.”
Hanging up, he turned to the others. “Ma Zijian is on his way. Let’s head to the lobby to greet him.”
“Let’s go!” Shen Yuyan grabbed her handbag and stood up.
The Grand Lobby
Standing near the entrance, Shen Yuyan took a deep breath, then plastered a warm, sweet smile onto her face.
She tried to radiate elegance as much as possible.
After a few minutes—
Hou Shaoyuan whispered, “He’s here.”
A middle-aged man with a stern expression strode into the restaurant lobby.
Dressed in a navy blue executive jacket, tailored trousers, and polished leather shoes, he exuded an air of authority.
Hou Shaoyuan straightened his posture, took a few steps forward, and extended his hand.
“Hello, Mr. Ma. I’m Hou Shaoyuan.”
Ma Zijian smiled and shook his hand.
“Hello, Shaoyuan. Mr. An spoke highly of you. You’re certainly a promising young man.”
Hou Shaoyuan’s face lit up.
“Haha, thank you for your kind words, Mr. Ma.”
Shen Yuyan stepped forward gracefully and bowed slightly.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Ma. I’m Shen Yuyan, General Manager of Youjie Housekeeping. Thank you for taking the time to meet us.”
“Likewise.” Ma Zijian nodded and gave her an appraising glance.
“Youjie Housekeeping’s management team is younger than I expected. And quite attractive, too.”
Shen Yuyan’s hands rested naturally in front of her, maintaining a poised yet enthusiastic smile.
“You flatter us, Mr. Ma. But receiving such a compliment from you is truly an honor.
“We’ve heard so much about your exceptional achievements in the industry and your visionary leadership.
“Now that we finally have the privilege of meeting you in person, we juniors are eager to learn from you.
“We also hope for the opportunity to explore a future partnership that would be mutually beneficial.”
Her voice was soft and sweet.
Combined with her gorgeous, campus-beauty face, graceful figure, and elegant demeanor, she radiated the aura of a high-class career woman.
The Power of a Compliment
Everyone has an ego.
Even though Ma Zijian was aware of her intentions, he still felt pleased to be praised by such a stunning woman.
At first, he had only agreed to this meeting because a Yunxi Real Estate VP had personally asked him to.
He hadn’t taken it seriously and never considered working with them.
After all, the property’s existing housekeeping services were all provided by nationwide chains with proven track records.
Compared to them, Youjie Housekeeping was unqualified.
But now, looking at Shen Yuyan’s sincere gaze and smooth-talking charm, Ma Zijian began to take them a bit more seriously.
“Alright,” Shen Yuyan gestured politely. “Mr. Ma, please—let’s move to the private room.”
“Sure.” Ma Zijian nodded and was just about to step forward when—
A commotion broke out at the restaurant entrance.
Numerous footsteps and lively chatter filled the air.
Ma Zijian’s heart skipped a beat.
As General Manager of Yunxi Property, he was well aware of Lanfeng International’s senior management.
He also knew who the hotel’s new boss was.
And from the voices approaching behind him, he distinctly heard hotel GM Qiao Anji’s voice addressing someone as “Chairman Tang.”
His footsteps halted immediately.
Shen Yuyan blinked in confusion. “Mr. Ma, is something wrong?”
“Just saw a friend. One moment.”
With that, Ma Zijian strode toward the entrance with a broad smile.
The three turned around—
And saw a group of over ten people entering the restaurant.
Among them, one figure stood out more than anyone else.
A sharp-featured young man, dressed in a perfectly tailored custom suit, standing at the very center of the crowd.
His charismatic aura made it clear—
He was the true leader.
Shen Yuyan’s heartbeat accelerated.
Beside her, Li Meixia blurted out—
“Tang Song?! What is he doing here…?”
Hou Shaoyuan frowned deeply as he stared at the young man who had suddenly appeared.
His impression of Tang Song was still stuck on that investment roadshow, so much so that he had almost forgotten this guy even existed.
While the three of them stood frozen in shock, Ma Zijian had already stepped forward with a warm smile.
"Good afternoon, Chairman Tang. Long time no see."
Tang Song smiled casually and shook his hand. "Hello, Mr. Ma."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ma Zijian greeted Qiao Anji and the other hotel executives before turning back to his own group.
"I won’t keep you all. I still have some business to attend to."
As he spoke, he gestured toward the private dining rooms.
Tang Song’s gaze swept over the area before lingering briefly on Shen Yuyan.
A strange glint flashed through his eyes.
"Hoo—"
Shen Yuyan felt her chest tighten, her breath quickening slightly.
She forced herself to keep smiling, then quickly stepped forward.
Her eyes subtly flicked toward Ma Zijian before she put on a sweet, playful tone.
"Tang Song! What a surprise running into you here—how lucky!"
She blinked her bright, watery eyes and stretched out a delicate hand, adding a touch of flirtatious charm.
Tang Song lightly grasped her soft, warm fingers and smiled. "It’s certainly a surprise. It’s been a while, Yuyan."
"It really has! What can I say? We’ve both been so busy lately."
Shen Yuyan’s lips curled playfully as she tilted her head slightly.
"I’ve been meaning to invite you over to my place. You should definitely visit sometime."
Tang Song chuckled. "Alright, I’ll take that as a real invitation."
"You’d better!" Shen Yuyan’s eyes sparkled mischievously. "Next time I invite you, you’re not allowed to refuse!"
"Of course not."
The executives from Lanfeng International stood quietly by the side, tactfully remaining silent.
After exchanging a few more words, Shen Yuyan gracefully tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and bid farewell.
She didn’t want to linger too long and attract unnecessary attention.
As she watched Tang Song’s group enter the restaurant, Hou Shaoyuan turned to Ma Zijian and lowered his voice.
"Mr. Ma, how do you know Tang Song?"
He had never expected Ma Zijian to be so respectful toward Tang Song—almost as if he was trying to curry favor.
And judging by Shen Yuyan’s expression just now, her relationship with Tang Song was definitely not ordinary.
A strange, complicated feeling stirred in his heart.
Ma Zijian raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable.
"Chairman Tang is the owner of a unit in Yunxi Tower. More importantly, he is also the owner of Lanfeng International Hotel."
As an experienced business executive, Ma Zijian was highly skilled at reading people.
It was obvious that Hou Shaoyuan was feeling a mix of curiosity, frustration, and maybe even jealousy.
Ridiculous.
This kid had no idea what kind of dangerous consequences could come from offending this man.
Shock and Realization
Hearing those words, Hou Shaoyuan’s pupils contracted slightly.
A look of disbelief flashed across his face.
Next to him, Shen Yuyan’s carefully composed expression froze.
Lanfeng International Hotel’s owner?!
She had long been familiar with this landmark five-star hotel.
The ultra-luxurious Lan Yue Chinese Restaurant, the famous Sinmo Bar, a state-of-the-art international conference center, and the 30,000-yuan-per-night presidential suite…
Not to mention the executive lounge, VIP event halls, and high-end clientele.
This was Yan City’s most prestigious hotel.
Located in the prime district, right along the city’s main boulevard, it was surrounded by top-tier commercial facilities.
It employed a massive workforce and maintained a vast network of suppliers across multiple industries.
Whoever controlled this hotel had access to an immense web of connections, resources, and social influence.
Shen Yuyan’s breath hitched.
Her mind went blank for a full three seconds.
She suddenly whipped around, staring at Tang Song’s retreating figure.
Her eyes were glazed over, as if she had just witnessed something unreal.
At that moment—
Tang Song radiated an aura of power.
He exuded dominance.
He was overwhelmingly attractive.
Because—
Power is a man’s best attire.