novelraw Chapter 411: Xiao Xue and Ling Ling
Chapter 411: Xiao Xue and Ling Ling
"Please have a seat, everyone." Xie Shuyu elegantly gestured. "Let's first have a brief discussion about the requirements. More people will be arriving later."
"Alright, President Xie."
The group took their seats around the conference table.
Tang Song naturally sat beside Xie Shuyu, opened his laptop, and connected it to the projector.
Wang Yunping took a deep breath and introduced, "These two are our company's senior human resources consultants, Li Wei and Wang Jianan."
"President Xie, hello." (*2)
"Hello to both of you."
"The main work ahead will be handled by the three of us. We hope to assist Shimmer Coffee in successfully completing this round of staffing adjustments and recruitment." Wang Yunping continued, also briefly introducing their previous case studies and achievements.
As he spoke, he observed Xie Shuyu and Tang Song across the table.
From what he knew, Shimmer Coffee had secured 40 million in funding—an astonishing amount for a chain coffee brand.Many top-tier brands had only raised similar figures in their early financing rounds.
Looking at Tang Song across the table, the shock in his heart gradually swallowed him whole.
At the same time, he felt somewhat relieved. It was a good thing he had backed off from pursuing this beautiful female CEO.
Anyone who could bring out 40 million in cash was likely worth over 400 million.
Compared to such a powerhouse, he, just a regular employee, was insignificant.
After the introductions and pleasantries were exchanged,
Tang Song leaned toward Xie Shuyu and whispered a few words before standing up. Holding the presentation clicker, he walked to the front of the conference room.
The soft, bright lighting illuminated the space clearly.
Tall and poised, Tang Song's deep-colored custom suit was tailored to perfection—simple yet dignified, highlighting his maturity and competence.
"Now, let me briefly introduce the Shimmer Coffee Recruitment Empowerment Plan."
He had personally prepared this proposal based on the materials Xie Shuyu had given him.
At his current level of comprehensive ability and business acumen, he was fully qualified as a top-tier professional—not inferior to Xie Shuyu in the slightest.
Moreover, in his "Scholar" state, he had taken the time to think through Shimmer Coffee's long-term development, making the execution smooth and effortless.
He had even arranged for Bocai Yingrui to connect with Deju Renhe, planning to give his CEO friend a big surprise.
Tang Song then elaborated on Shimmer Coffee’s expansion plans across multiple dimensions, including future store count, organizational structure, employee categories, and market coverage.
Currently, Shimmer Coffee had strong brand recognition and a loyal customer base within Yan City’s coffee market.
Therefore, in the initial phase, the newly introduced Leisure and Quick-Pick stores would only be located in Yan City, with an estimated 30 additional outlets.
Beyond that, the brand would establish premium business cafés in top-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen.
These locations would be positioned as flagship stores, offering a high-end, stylish, and top-quality experience.
Through this strategic urban layout, they aimed to build brand influence and scale advantages.
The goal was to maintain the professional and refined nature of specialty coffee while catering to the diverse needs of mainstream consumers.
Once this expansion was complete, the total store count was expected to exceed 50, with over 450 employees.
The current recruitment needs included: training teams, supply chain management teams, beverage R&D teams, food R&D teams, and data analysts.
Once a nationwide brand presence was established, future growth would follow a hybrid direct operation + franchise model.
With the 40 million investment already in place, along with Shimmer Coffee’s existing cash flow and bank loans,
the actual available funds were substantial, fully supporting the execution of this plan.
Tang Song's voice was deep and magnetic, his posture composed and confident, his words concise yet impactful.
Beneath his sharp, straight nose, a faint, almost imperceptible smile lingered at the corners of his lips.
It exuded both the commanding presence of a leader and an undeniable charisma that drew people in.
Xie Shuyu's gaze grew increasingly bright as she watched him.
Tang Song had never shown her this presentation before, yet it was even more well-structured than her own plans.
Of course, his expansion vision was also far more ambitious.
But that didn't diminish the sense of admiration and appreciation she felt.
This was the benefit of having a powerful partner—whenever major decisions arose, he could stand beside her, sharing the weight of responsibility.
And at this moment, in her eyes, Tang Song looked incredibly dazzling, as if he were radiating light.
Below, Wang Yunping pressed his lips tightly together, his expression a mixture of shock and complexity.
He vividly remembered their meeting a few months ago.
Back then, Tang Song had still carried traces of youthful inexperience and timidity.
Despite trying to maintain composure in conversations, he had been far from confident—just like an average introverted programmer.
That was why Wang Yunping had felt justified in "advising" him:
Spend more time interacting with the outside world, read more books—it will broaden your perspective and refine your character.
But the Tang Song before him today was like a completely different person.
It was a total transformation.
"Alright, that's about it." Returning to his seat, Tang Song said calmly, "If anyone has questions, feel free to ask."
Wang Yunping exchanged glances with his two colleagues, exhaled lightly, and spoke:
"Mr. Tang, President Xie, Shimmer Coffee's expansion plans have gone beyond our initial expectations. Let's confirm the specific requirements today, and afterward, I'll report to my superiors and arrange for additional team members to join the project to fully support you."
Yunjing Consulting wasn't a large firm, mainly serving small and medium-sized enterprises in Yan Province.
At present, their functional consulting department only had 20 employees, each managing other tasks.
Based on Tang Song’s proposed plan, completing everything within a short timeframe would require at least five consultants.
Naturally, the service fees would increase significantly as well.
Xie Shuyu’s eyes flickered, and she replied softly, "These are just preliminary plans. We still need further discussions."
Beneath the table, Tang Song discreetly patted the female CEO’s thigh and flashed her a smile.
Then, he turned to Wang Yunping and the others. "No need to worry, Manager Wang. Besides Yunjing Consulting, I’ve also arranged for other HR firms to participate in this recruitment empowerment plan.
Your team has worked with Shimmer Coffee for over two years and understands the company’s needs well. You’ll mainly be coordinating with them, so your actual workload shouldn’t increase significantly. I hope we can move forward efficiently."
Xie Shuyu was very focused on cost control.
Her HR department only had three employees—far too few to handle such a massive task.
Yunjing Consulting was the perfect supplement.
"Uh… this…" The three consultants hesitated.
Wang Yunping frowned slightly, straightening his posture. "Mr. Tang, with all due respect, having more people isn’t necessarily better. Our firm is fully capable of handling this project alone, and we hope you can trust us."
Then, he turned to Xie Shuyu. "President Xie, we’ve worked together for a long time. You should know our capabilities well."
Xie Shuyu pursed her red lips, glanced at Tang Song, and mouthed a few words.
Just then, Tang Song’s phone vibrated.
"Hold on a moment, I need to take this call."
Tang Song answered. "Hello, President Huo."
"Mm, alright, you can come straight to the main conference room."
"Bye-bye."
He hung up. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel(ꜰ)ire.net
Tang Song looked up with a smile. "The people I invited have arrived. Let's discuss everything together. Manager Wang, you don't need to worry— as a shareholder of Shimmer Coffee, I want the company to grow faster and better more than anyone else."
Hearing this, Xie Shuyu remained silent.
Wang Yunping took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright, I understand."
Beside him, HR consultants Li Wei and Wang Jianan exchanged glances, seeing the same concern in each other's eyes.
As frontline consultants, nothing frustrated them more than a lack of trust from clients.
Especially when multiple firms were brought in for the same project— it always made execution far more difficult.
A moment later, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the conference room entrance.
Then came a knock on the door.
Xie Shuyu stood up. "Come in."
Everyone in the room followed suit, turning their gaze toward the doorway.
"Ah—"
The frosted glass door slowly swung open.
Figures appeared at the entrance.
A quick glance revealed at least a dozen people.
Men and women alike, all dressed in standard business attire.
Noticing the logo on their briefcases and spotting a familiar face among them, Li Wei blurted out, "President Zhao!"
At his words, Wang Yunping and Wang Jianan also recognized the man standing there— Zhao Pengyu.
The general manager of Deju Renhe (Yan City) Branch.
Deju Renhe was the largest human resources service provider in the country, with an expansive business network. Yunjing Consulting had collaborated with them on multiple occasions.
Naturally, they all knew the renowned President Zhao.
On top of that, their company's chairman had a good personal relationship with him.
And standing right beside him—
The head of Bocai Yingrui’s Yan City branch, Huo Wanjun.
Another heavyweight in Yan City's consulting industry.
Xie Shuyu’s chest rose and fell under her blazer, and an uncontrollable trace of shock surfaced on her face.
Were these the "outside reinforcements" Tang Song mentioned?
Wasn't this… a bit too much?
Before they could even react, the group of over ten people had already begun entering the room one after another.
At the forefront was a strikingly handsome man—
Around forty, with thick eyebrows and sharp features. His eyes were clear, steady, and composed.
He exuded the undeniable presence of a corporate elite.
Huo Wanjun took a quick step forward and warmly introduced, "President Tang, this is Vice President Lin Bai of Deju Renhe. He will personally oversee the organizational restructuring and talent recruitment for Shimmer Coffee."
He himself had only found out yesterday that Lin Bai was coming and had been so stunned he barely slept.
Even his view of his own boss had grown more complicated.
Lin Bai’s face lit up with a bright and enthusiastic smile. He leaned forward slightly and extended his hand. "Good morning, President Tang!"
"Hello, President Lin." Tang Song shook his hand with a slight smile, his thoughts stirring.
Vice President of Deju Renhe— he must be closely connected to Zheng Qiudong. And judging by his gaze, he clearly knew who Tang Song was.
Hearing the words Vice President and Lin Bai, Wang Yunping and his colleagues felt their heads buzz as if struck by lightning.
They stood there in stunned disbelief, staring at the man before them.
No wonder he looked so familiar— it was Lin Bai!
Was this some kind of joke?!
A simple talent recruitment project for Shimmer Coffee… and they had managed to bring in the Vice President of Deju Renhe?!
Though Lin Bai wasn’t as famous as Zheng Qiudong, he was still a major figure in the industry.
And it didn't stop there—
The executives standing behind Lin Bai stepped forward one by one, introducing themselves.
Among them were HR consulting specialists, top-tier headhunting team leaders, senior talent acquisition advisors, and industry research experts…
Every single one of them was a big deal, yet they all remained humble and courteous.
Xie Shuyu's eyes widened, her hands—hanging at her sides—clenched tightly.
Even someone as composed and poised as her was momentarily stunned by this unbelievable scene.
Tang Song gently patted her slender waist and introduced, "This is President Xie Shuyu, General Manager of Shimmer Coffee. I appreciate everyone's efforts in advance."
"President Xie, nice to meet you."
"President Xie."
…
Xie Shuyu's lips trembled slightly. She quickly adjusted her mindset, putting on a composed and dignified smile as she nodded in greeting.
After some polite exchanges,
Tang Song turned toward Wang Yunping. "These three are from Yunjing Consulting. They have been Shimmer Coffee's consulting partner for years and are very familiar with the company's operations and structure.
Manager Wang, these are industry experts from Bocai Yingrui and Deju Renhe— their professional capabilities are beyond question.
From here on, your teams will collaborate to complete this task as soon as possible."
His voice was steady and firm, allowing no room for doubt.
Even Lin Bai and the rest of the group quickly nodded in agreement.
Wang Yunping and his colleagues trembled slightly, standing there awkwardly, their bodies tense as they mechanically nodded along.
Any one of these people would be a significant figure on their own.
Together? Even their own boss would have to bow in respect.
Having a negotiation with them? That was already giving Yunjing Consulting more face than they could possibly ask for.
Xie Shuyu gritted her teeth and reached out to grab Tang Song’s arm, asking, "There's still one more thing— shouldn't we discuss the contract terms and specific fees with them first?"
Tang Song raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Of course, we need a contract. You can handle that with President Huo from Bocai Yingrui. Don’t worry, Shuyu— the costs will definitely stay within your budget.
I’m the largest individual shareholder of Bocai Yingrui, and I have a strong relationship with Zheng Qiudong."
Hearing that, Wang Yunping and his team froze in place, their mouths slightly open yet unable to utter a word.
Xie Shuyu’s brow twitched as she looked at Tang Song, her gaze shifting once more.
A moment later, she suppressed the surge of excitement in her chest and whispered, "Alright, I understand."
This boyfriend of hers had once again given her an overwhelming surprise.
For a company, the right talent was everything. It could dramatically enhance competitiveness, drive innovation, and propel development.
With such a powerful backing and ample financial support, Shimmer Coffee would soar like a tiger growing wings.
More than that—
Tang Song's network had just been elevated to its peak!
A major shareholder of renowned consulting firm Bocai Yingrui. A close associate of Zheng Qiudong.
Even professional investment firms couldn’t match such resources.
Since the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey, Xie Shuyu had never fought a battle with such abundant resources!
——
Yuhua District, Headquarters of Huashang Fushi Co., Ltd.
Administrative Building, 5th Floor.
Zhang Jiahong sat upright in a small conference room, her hands clasped tightly on the table, her face tense with nervousness and anticipation.
Over the weekend, she had spent every moment—except for sleep—preparing for today’s interview.
The first round had just concluded, lasting over 20 minutes.
It was a formal process, involving HR and senior members of the fashion design department.
But her performance had been mediocre at best.
After all, she had spent the past few years preparing for the civil service exam, leaving her with little work experience.
Her family’s financial situation had been decent before—both her parents worked in a flour mill, providing stable income.
They had even bought an apartment in the county a few years ago.
But recently, the mill had shut down due to poor management, and her father had injured his leg while working in renovations.
The family quickly fell into a financial crisis.
At times like this, Zhang Jiahong had no mind to continue preparing for the civil service exam—she just wanted to find a job as soon as possible to help her family get through this tough period.
As she was lost in thought, the meeting room door suddenly swung open, and an HR representative walked in, reading a document.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Jiahong."
Zhang Jiahong immediately looked up. "No problem, no problem… um, I just wanted to ask, when will I know the interview results?"
"Haha, I can tell you right now." The HR rep smiled warmly. "Your expected salary was 5K, right?"
"Uh…" Zhang Jiahong bit her lip, then said sincerely, "I really love this company. If I have the opportunity to join Huashang Fushi, I’d be willing to accept a slight pay cut."
Huashang Fushi was right next to the South Third Ring Road, very close to the Star Blossom Garden where she and Yao Lingling lived. It was only eight bus stops away, and she could even commute by e-bike.
It was also a well-known local company—she genuinely wanted this job.
The HR rep quickly shook her head. "That’s not what I meant. The fashion design department’s leadership thinks you're a great fit and really wants to keep you on board.
We're offering you a salary of 6K, with full pay during the probation period—no deductions.
Your position will start as a design assistant, mainly to help you adapt to the work and environment. There will definitely be promotion opportunities down the line."
She placed a folder in front of Zhang Jiahong and smiled. "Welcome to Huashang Fushi. This contains some company information and a checklist of things you need to prepare for onboarding. I’ll send your offer letter to your email shortly."
"This…." Zhang Jiahong froze for a moment before standing up excitedly. "Thank you for recognizing me! Thank you!"
Normally, large fashion companies would conduct at least two rounds of interviews.
For her to pass in just one round, with a salary offer this high—it was obvious that her internal referral had played a key role.
—
Stepping out of the administrative building,
The sky was bright and clear, with white clouds dotting the vast blue expanse.
Zhang Jiahong took in her surroundings, feeling an overwhelming rush of emotions.
From today onward, she was officially an employee of Huashang Fushi.
This was a renowned fashion manufacturing company with over 20 years of history, covering an area of 100,000 square meters and employing nearly 3,000 people.
Whether in terms of company scale, employee benefits, or job stability,
It was far better than Shangya Fashion Design, where Lingling and Shumin worked.
It was her dream job.
Standing in the open space for a long moment, she checked her group chat notifications.
Then, she picked up her phone and called her best friend.
—
Shangya Fashion Design Co., Ltd.
A male colleague suddenly walked into the office area, sighing dramatically.
"A client just arrived, and she is gorgeous. Amazing presence too—seriously, this is the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen in real life."
A few veteran gossipers instantly perked up, setting aside their work.
"Liu, details—what’s her figure like?"
"Got any pictures?"
"Figure’s perfect, and she looks like she’s in her early twenties. But she’s got this strong aura, super high-class and cool."
Yao Lingling, who had been sketching designs, turned around with a grin. "Where is she, Liu? If she’s that pretty, I have to go check her out!"
Liu laughed. "Lingling, you’re a girl—this is kind of unusual, you know?"
"What, are you discriminating based on gender?" Yao Lingling arched an eyebrow playfully. "My Douyin and Little Red Book feeds are full of gorgeous women. I just love looking at beautiful girls—it’s good for the soul."
At that moment, another colleague walked over, having overheard the conversation.
"President Little and President Zhao are meeting her in the fashion display area. I heard she’s a senior executive from Lanfeng International Hotel. They’re here to order a batch of high-end uniforms.
And I have to say, she really is stunning—covered in luxury brands, carrying an LV Capucines Himalaya bag."
Shangya, as a well-known local fashion design company, had a dedicated high-end customization department that served corporate clients like Lanfeng International.
"Oh! A female executive from Lanfeng International!"
"I don’t have many hobbies, but I love checking out luxury bags—I have to see this."
"Perfect, I needed to use the restroom anyway. I’ll sneak a peek on my way."
Although they were hyping it up, most of them knew better than to actually go over. Only one or two people casually strolled in that direction.
—
"Bzzzz—"
A phone vibrated on the desk.
Yao Lingling glanced at the caller ID and quickly answered.
"Hey, Jiahong, how did it go?"
"I got the offer! Salary is 6K, full benefits, annual leave included—" Zhang Jiahong’s excited voice rang through the speaker.
Yao Lingling listened quietly, a big smile forming on her face.
When Jiahong finally finished, she chuckled. "As expected of a big company—those benefits are amazing! Let’s celebrate tonight."
"Thanks to you, Minmin, and your boss! I know he probably doesn’t care, but I still want to thank him in person if I get the chance."
"Mm, mm, the company’s busy prepping for the Yan Province International Fashion Exhibition. Let’s wait until that’s over."
"Got it. I won’t keep you from work, then. Bye-bye!"
"Bye-bye!"
The moment she hung up, Li Shumin leaned in. "Well?"
Yao Lingling flashed an "OK" sign. "All set—Jiahong’s in. Salary’s 6K."
"Wow!" Li Shumin first beamed with joy, then pouted. "Dang, she’s making 1K more than me. Now I kinda want to switch jobs too."
For design assistants in Yan City, salaries typically ranged from 4K to 6K.
Shumin’s base pay had been just 4K, but after joining the Qimeng Brand Division, Little Mingxuan had given her a 1K raise—one of the reasons she had such a good impression of him.
Yet Jiahong, with a simple referral, had landed a 6K salary outright.
Of course, she was a little jealous.
Yao Lingling laughed and reassured her, then pointed toward the guest area. "Come on, let’s check out the stunning female executive. We can take a walk in the hallway too—sitting too long is killing my back."
"Fine." Li Shumin shrugged.
They walked along the office corridor, took a turn, and continued forward.
Soon, the luxurious fashion display area came into view—the most upscale part of Shangya’s showroom.
As they passed, they subtly peeked inside.
Several figures entered their sight.
Little Mingxuan, the director of the high-end customization department Zhao Yueming, and two senior designers.
Besides them, there were two unfamiliar individuals—a man and a woman.
Yao Lingling paused, her gaze landing on the woman.
Fair-skinned, stunning, with a slender waist and long legs.
Tall and graceful, she wore a deep blue women's business suit—both sleek and fashionable.
Her bright eyes exuded confidence as she leaned casually against the railing, her posture elegant yet assertive.
She radiated an aura.
After a moment of recollection, a name surfaced in Yao Lingling’s mind.
Lin Muxue.
She had seen her once before at Lanfeng International Hotel when she had been dining with Wen Ruan.
At the time, Lin Muxue had been surrounded by people—definitely a hotel executive.
But they had only exchanged a fleeting glance. If she hadn’t left a strong impression, Yao Lingling would have long forgotten her name.
She figured Lin Muxue probably didn’t remember her either.
Just then, Li Shumin whispered, "Lingling, her earrings and watch look just like yours."
Yao Lingling blinked and stopped in her tracks.
Damn— they were identical to the ones Senior Tang Song had gifted her!
Their eyes met.
Lin Muxue’s expression subtly shifted as her gaze swept over Yao Lingling, a flicker of intrigue flashing across her face.