novelraw Chapter 414: Little Xue—My Path to Enlightenment Has Arrived!
Chapter 414: Little Xue—My Path to Enlightenment Has Arrived!
After finishing the introduction to Confluent Capital Limited (容流资本), Tang Song’s eyes flickered with excitement, his emotions surging.
After months of intensive study—especially the overwhelming cramming under the "Scholar" state—his understanding of capital markets and financial economics had reached an expert level.
In terms of sheer knowledge reserves, he even surpassed many professionals in the industry.
This was a standard private equity firm, with all of its AUM (Assets Under Management) under his sole control.
Of course, the firm's fundraising channels and capital sources were strictly confidential, making it impossible for outsiders to obtain specific details.
$2 billion—140 billion RMB.
While it wasn’t in the absolute top tier, it was already a sizable and reputable firm in certain sectors.
For example, Bojiang Capital, currently making waves as the potential first VC firm to go public in Hong Kong, had less than 10 billion RMB under management.
But capital strength was just one of Confluent Capital’s many resources.
After all, this firm had been operating for over five years, backed by Tang Jin Family Office and Kate Trust.It had extensive industry networks, deep connections, market insights, and a strong reputation.
Previously, when Tang Song needed to conduct due diligence on a company, he had to pull staff from Slover Trust’s management team and collaborate with external consulting and financial firms.
But now, with Confluent Capital, a mature private equity firm, everything would be much easier.
He even had the capability to guide pre-IPO companies through the listing process, ensuring they successfully completed their public offerings.
Tang Song took a deep breath, calming his excitement.
Then, he entered the [Character Center].
Two brand-new character cards floated quietly in the middle of the screen, glowing with different colors.
He focused his mind and checked their basic information.
[Advisor - Annie Kate (SSR)]
Role: Advisor at Jingwu Capital
Status: Unknown
Current Location: Unknown
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 62 kg
Age: 28
Basic Attributes: Unknown
Skills: Unknown
Growth Level: 93/93
Character Evaluation: Possesses an extensive network, unique business acumen and strategic thinking, a global perspective, and outstanding ethics and integrity...
Permissions: Player has obtained WeChat and phone communication access. Can interact freely, but actions must not affect the character’s charm rating.
[Headhunter - Zheng Qiudong (SSR)]
Role: Chairman of Deju Renhe
Status: Unknown
Current Location: Unknown
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 76 kg
Age: 40
Basic Attributes: Unknown
Skills: Unknown
Growth Level: 90/90
Character Evaluation: Highly ambitious, possesses exceptional professionalism and expertise, sharp-tongued yet brilliant in communication and negotiation...
Permissions: Player has obtained WeChat and phone communication access. Can interact freely, but actions must not affect the character’s charm rating.
Staring at the vivid character illustrations, Tang Song felt as if scenes from the game were replaying in his mind.
It was nostalgic.
Especially Zheng Qiudong, who was one of the characters he had interacted with the most.
For business growth, talent is the most critical factor.
Thanks to the system’s training, [Headhunter - Zheng Qiudong] had developed a keen intuition, strong analytical judgment, and unparalleled communication and networking skills.
His presence had provided a vast talent pool for Tang Song’s companies, supporting the rapid growth of Smile Holdings, Tangyi Precision, Jingwu Capital, Tang Zong Entertainment, and many others.
As for [Advisor - Annie Kate], she was there for "support" and "protection."
The Kate Financial Group was an old and highly influential financial family, well-known across the globe, with deep ties to both politics and business.
Early on, it was thanks to her help that Secretary Jin was able to safely amass wealth.
Later, after Annie was officially recruited into the system, she became one of Tang Song’s key allies, accelerating the expansion of his financial empire.
Institutions like Kate Bank (The Bank of New York Kate) provided them with highly efficient transactions, rapid clearing, and optimized cross-border transfers.
Beyond that, they also had access to crisis management, legal protection, dispute resolution, and an unparalleled network of elite connections.
Of course, Annie herself had greatly benefited from this as well.
As a century-old financial powerhouse, the Kate Family had gradually fragmented into independent factions, with most family members prioritizing the preservation of their legacy.
Yet, Annie, by managing Kate Trust, had achieved tremendous success in the capital markets, allowing her to stand out among the family heirs.
She even helped her father, Clair Kate, rise to become one of the family’s top decision-makers.
Exiting the [Character Center], Tang Song’s gaze shifted to a newly unlocked module—[Asset Blueprint].
Click.
A brand-new interface appeared before his eyes.
A deep blue background spread across the screen, with a gorgeous world map at its center.
Several regions on the map flickered with colorful lights.
Beside the map, detailed annotations were displayed:
Gold: Represents owned businesses (equity shares).
Brown: Represents real estate assets (shops, residential buildings, office towers).
The map could be zoomed in and out based on his thoughts.
Whenever he focused on a glowing point, its detailed information would appear in his mind.
[Songmei Fashion Co. (75%)] → Located in Yan City, Yunxi Tower...
[Qingning Technology Co. (3% equity)] → AI unicorn company...
Returning to the main system interface, Tang Song opened [Warehouse].
Two brand-new rewards sat quietly inside.
[Feather of Memory ×1]
A gorgeous feather containing a mysterious dream memory.
When the player enters a familiar environment and experiences an emotional shift, the memory fragments will automatically trigger, helping to recall hidden past experiences.
Note 1: Exploring the past is also a way to improve oneself.
What was I doing between 2017 and 2018?
It was identical to the previous Feather of Memory, except the timeframe had changed to 2017–2018.
Without lingering on it, Tang Song directly selected the [Growth Gift Pack] and opened it immediately.
"Ding! You have received [1 billion RMB in cash]."
"Ding! You have received [5 billion RMB in commercial investment funds]."
"Ding! You have obtained a special item: [Tang Song’s Draft Paper]."
[1 Billion RMB in Cash]
Can be used freely with no restrictions.
[5 Billion RMB in Commercial Investment Funds]
Can only be used for business operations, including:
Corporate mergers
Equity acquisitions
Venture capital investments
Tang Song’s journey in the capital markets had just begun.
[Tang Song’s Draft Paper]
Description: A high-quality draft paper previously used by Player [Tang Song]. Write down any project, individual, or company you wish to research, and receive reasonably accurate analysis based on available data.
Durability: (3/3)
Note 1: "A riverbed of accumulated knowledge, a hidden corner of thought."
Note 2: "When durability reaches zero, dispose of it properly. You might be in for a surprise."
After reviewing the three reward items, Tang Song couldn’t help but grin.
Finally, real liquid cash!
So far, all his money had been accumulated through his "Popular Me" title and various minor missions.
Now, with a billion RMB at his disposal, he could freely splurge on anything that refreshed in the system shop.
As for the 5 billion RMB commercial investment fund, it was likely tied to his next Growth Plan Task.
Tang Song clenched his fists and returned to the [Mission Center].
[Phase 3 Growth Plan Task]
① Branding (Incomplete)
As a result of opportunity-driven events and collective team efforts, the "He Yiyi" IP has become a black horse on Douyin (TikTok China).
Conduct target market research
Establish your own women's fashion brand
Build a design team
Set up supply chain and manufacturing operations
Enhance brand recognition
② Performance Explosion (Incomplete)
Under your leadership, Songmei Fashion has steadily grown, securing its place in the industry and gaining widespread recognition.
Strengthen team cohesion
Achieve a single-month revenue milestone of 100 million RMB
Utilize marketing, supply chain expansion, strategic account positioning, and equity incentives
③ Capital Hunter (Incomplete)
With extensive venture capital experience, you are now the sole controller of Confluent Capital Limited. Time to conquer the investment market.
Identify 3 companies with unicorn potential
Make successful investments
Ensure equity value appreciation
[Mission Reward: Growth Gift Pack ×1]
Tang Song quietly analyzed the objectives and soon felt confident.
These three tasks were natural progressions from his previous goals.
For Songmei Fashion, he had already perfected the corporate structure and built a strong influencer-driven IP.
Now, he was hitting a growth bottleneck.
The best strategy moving forward was branding—
Find a manufacturer
Design clothing aligned with brand identity
Push Songmei Fashion to new heights
However, since main quests had strict restrictions, he couldn't simply dump money into the company and call it a day.
Even though he had enough capital to instantly achieve these goals, he had to build everything from the ground up using legitimate business strategies.
Otherwise, he could just burn cash to buy massive ad traffic and complete the mission overnight.
But the Growth Plan Tasks were designed to hone his business acumen, ensuring he built and scaled a company properly.
This practical experience was invaluable to him.
[③ Capital Hunter] – The Hardest Task
Identifying "unicorn potential" startups and achieving equity appreciation was no small feat.
This meant he needed to spot three future giants in the high-risk venture capital market.
The difficulty? Massive.
Even seasoned investors struggled to predict market trends, secure investment deals, and make profitable exits.
Luckily, he had [Tang Song’s Draft Paper], which would drastically reduce the difficulty of this mission.
Of course, he couldn’t make investment plans until he had full control over Confluent Capital.
Once he fully took over, he would formulate a concrete strategy.
[Wrapping Up Asset Review]
Tang Song closed the system interface, pulled out his phone, and scrolled through his contact list.
Soon, he found Annie Kate and Zheng Qiudong.
Smirking, he sent them both a message.
"Hello, Annie."
"Good work, Old Zheng. The HR consulting for Shimmer Coffee was solid."
Chatting with his old in-game characters gave him an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
Stashing his phone away, he sipped his sweet tea, adjusted his attire, and casually strolled out of the lounge.
Now, it was time to celebrate his investment success.
With his charm surpassing 70, a new wave of assets under his control, and fresh characters unlocked, Tang Song felt on top of the world.
[Chengyuan Tower – Slover Trust]
Sitting in her office at Slover Trust, Lin Muxue flipped through an English financial report, a soft smile unconsciously appearing on her face.
The previous night at Lanfeng International Hotel, she had ended up alone, only to be ambushed by Tang Song.
She even took half a day off yesterday to recover.
Even now, her mind kept replaying the chaotic moments from that night.
Of course, that wasn’t the main thing on her mind.
More importantly—
She had felt Tang Song’s genuine care for her.
Just from the tone of her voice over the phone, he had responded with a casual "I love you."
That night, he even showed up at her apartment, took her swimming, played ball, and ended up spending the night in the Presidential Suite.
She had seen love in his eyes.
And for her, that was the greatest sense of security.
At first, she had approached him for his wealth, but emotions were complicated.
Now, she truly loved him.
Sometimes, she even had dreams—
In them, Tang Song suddenly went bankrupt, losing everything.
Other women abandoned him, but she stayed—
Becoming a viral influencer just to support him.
It was absurd to think about, but it also made her realize how much her emotions had changed. Google seaʀᴄh noⅴelfire.net
[Lunchtime at Slover Trust]
"Gurgle~"
Feeling her empty stomach, Lin Muxue checked the time and stood up.
She hadn’t eaten much this morning, and now, it was nearly lunchtime.
Curious about today’s business lunch menu, she headed out, greeting her colleagues as she passed.
Eventually, she settled on a traditional Chinese health-boosting meal and picked a window seat.
Enjoying both the meal and the view of the city skyline, she felt incredibly content.
"Click."
Across from her, Zhang Lili sat down, smiling.
"Good afternoon. You look like you're in a great mood."
Lin Muxue smirked. "Of course. A lot of good things have happened lately."
They exchanged some casual conversation before Zhang Lili leaned in, lowering her voice.
"Luna, do you remember what I mentioned last time?"
Lin Muxue’s expression tensed, her body reacting instinctively.
"You mean the contract transfer issue?"
"Yeah," Zhang Lili nodded. "Hong Kong just sent an official email. All investment-related divisions will be shut down. Only essential departments like equity services, HR, and finance will remain."
Lin Muxue bit her lip. "I see…"
While she was relieved that her job was safe, she couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of loss.
For the past two months, she had blended in perfectly with the firm’s high-end corporate circle, slowly building her "financial elite" persona.
Moreover, many of her coworkers had strong family backgrounds in Yan City, providing connections in countless industries.
Now, with most of them leaving, she felt like she was being left behind—a committee assistant with nothing but a skeleton crew left to manage basic functions.
Without the environment and connections she once had, Lin Muxue felt like even her ability to show off had taken a hit.
At this rate, if Su Yu the "Heavenly Emperor" suddenly descended from the sky, she, Little Xue, would get smashed into the ground and mercilessly rubbed against it.
Just thinking about it sent shivers down her spine!
"Where’s your new office? Are you heading back to Hong Kong?"
Zhang Lili grinned. "That’s exactly what I wanted to tell you. Good news—we’re staying in Yan City!"
She had left the investment banking sector and joined Slover Trust precisely because she wanted to return to her hometown.
"Oh my god! That’s amazing! We’ll still be able to meet often!"
Overjoyed, Lin Muxue put down her chopsticks and firmly grasped Zhang Lili’s hands, her face beaming with excitement.
"So, what’s the company’s name?"
Thankfully, a part of my Lin Muxue Emperor’s high-class status has been preserved!
"Well, it’s a pretty big deal," Zhang Lili nodded enthusiastically. "It’s called Confluent Capital Limited (容流资本), a Hong Kong-based company headquartered at Central Financial Street No. 8, Phase II. They manage over $2 billion in assets."
"The Yan City branch is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE), known as Confluent Investments. The office is in the Yan Provincial Financial Center, Tower A."
Lin Muxue swallowed hard, feeling a wave of envy wash over her.
Having worked in Slover Trust for a few months, she was familiar with Hong Kong’s financial landscape.
Central Financial Street, located in Hong Kong Island’s Central and Western District, was home to the headquarters and key branches of major banks, securities firms, and insurance companies—the very heart of Hong Kong’s financial industry.
Its most iconic landmark?
The Hong Kong International Financial Center (IFC)—the very building housing Confluent Capital.
As for Yan Provincial Financial Center?
She knew all too well about it.
Every top financial firm in the province had offices there. It was an AAA-grade international skyscraper, the most prestigious business hub in Yan City.
Many of her high-end social circle friends worked there.
It had everything—
Prestige, luxury, high-class atmosphere, elite business networking, prime location.
And most importantly?
It was right next to Yunxi Tower—
The same area where Tang Song’s Songmei Fashion and his former firm, Rongxin Ventures, were located.
"Yeah, it’s an incredible place. The company is highly successful, has a strong backing, and even offers an employee equity plan, [CC Partnership]. So, even regular employees have a chance to own shares."
Zhang Lili was visibly excited.
She had worked in Hong Kong for years and had heard of Confluent Capital, but never imagined she would join them one day.
Lin Muxue pursed her lips, sipping her juice.
Still feeling bitter.
If only I could join them…
That would be another huge level-up! A perfect chance to flex!
But unfortunately—
She was placed into Slover Trust by Tang Song specifically to manage his family trust affairs.
And let’s be real—
A billion-dollar private equity firm backed by Kate Trust was looking for professionals, not amateurs.
She wasn’t qualified to join them.
At That Moment, a Familiar Name Caught Her Ear—
[Meigou International Import & Export Co., Ltd.]
Her eyes instantly sharpened.
Meigou International was a key subsidiary of Meigou Tech, focusing on cross-border e-commerce supply chain management.
It handled everything—
Raw material procurement
Product distribution
End-to-end supply chain coordination
But the most critical part?
Meigou International was one of the major organizers of the Yan Provincial International Fashion Expo.
In other words—
They held Jiaxin Group’s lifeline.
Lin Muxue brushed her bangs aside, lowering her voice.
"Kylie… are you saying that Confluent Capital is a shareholder in Meigou International?"
"Yep!" Zhang Lili smiled. "And since we were an early co-investor, Confluent Capital even holds a board seat there. It’s actually one of our largest investment projects."
Lin Muxue let out a deep breath.
Her heartbeat accelerated.
Finally—her chance to take revenge on Wen Qiuyue!
With the connections she had built, she might just know someone in Confluent Capital’s investment management division.
If she pulled the right strings, she could ensure that Wen Qiuyue’s "Yue Shang Fashion" would never enter Meigou’s cross-border e-commerce system.
Give that woman a taste of her own medicine.
Too bad she couldn’t join Zhang Lili’s team.
That would make everything so much easier.
But at her current skill level, she couldn’t just go back to being an admin assistant—
That would completely destroy the "Financial Elite" image she had worked so hard to build.
"Meigou is a world-class unicorn. That’s insane," Lin Muxue sighed, then jokingly added, "Kylie, don’t forget me when you guys make it big!"
Zhang Lili leaned in, lowering her voice.
"Luna, if you love this industry so much, why don’t you come with us?"
"I really think this would be a great opportunity. And if we ever go to our headquarters in Central, I’ll take you on a full tour of Hong Kong."
Lin Muxue took another sip of juice, licking her lips slightly.
"I’m still Tang Dong’s assistant. I have a lot of responsibilities here, so it’s better if I stay at Slover Trust."
Zhang Lili shrugged. "I don’t see why that’s a problem. Slover Trust mainly serves Tang Dong, right? But Confluent Capital is also Tang Dong’s company. You could help him just as easily from there."
"W-Wait… what?!"
Lin Muxue’s entire expression froze.
Her eyes widened.
She couldn’t even form words.
$2 billion Confluent Capital…
Was Tang Song’s company?!
Which meant—
Meigou International’s board was under Tang Song’s control!
Zhang Lili watched Lin Muxue’s shocked face with a knowing smirk.
She had been dropping all this information on purpose.
She wanted to secure Lin Muxue as an ally—to have someone close to the real boss.
After learning about Confluent Capital’s ownership, she realized that this was her golden opportunity.
Unlike Slover Trust, which was just a family trust, Confluent Capital was a real private equity firm.
It had global-level investment operations, backed by both Tang Jin Family Office and Kate Trust.
And Lin Muxue—
Was Tang Song’s assistant.
A direct link to the boss himself.
"Confluent Capital is an incredibly strong firm," Zhang Lili continued. "Its AUM (Assets Under Management) grows every year. It’s far better than Slover Trust and offers access to higher levels of finance."
"Tang Dong even placed you on the due diligence team. That probably means he wants to train you in this field. Why not take the chance?"
Lin Muxue put down her chopsticks, her voice lowering.
"I understand… Thanks, Kylie."
"I need to make a call."
Returning to her small office, Lin Muxue gripped her phone tightly.
She hesitated for a moment—
Then nervously dialed Tang Song’s number.
"Beep… Beep… Beep…"
The call rang for a long time.
Just as she was about to hang up, the call connected.
Tang Song’s warm, amused voice came through.
"Hey, Little Xue, what’s up?"
Lin Muxue swallowed hard.
"Tang Dong… are you available right now?"
"No problem. Go ahead."
Lin Muxue rubbed her fingers together nervously, lowering her voice.
"I heard from Lili that she and some colleagues might be transferring to Confluent Capital soon. I just wanted to ask… do you have any plans for me?"
A brief silence came from the other end of the line.
Then, Tang Song chuckled.
"Whatever you want to do, whatever plans you have, just say the word. I’ll support you."
At that moment—
Lin Muxue melted on the spot.
The only reason she had dared to make this call today was because she had finally gained some confidence in her standing in Tang Song’s heart.
But now, hearing his direct reassurance?
She was ecstatic.
"I…" Lin Muxue licked her lips.
"I’ve gotten really close with my colleagues. I’d love to keep working with them."
"Alright, I’ll take care of it."
Lin Muxue’s voice trembled slightly.
"Thank you."
"No need to be so formal with me."
Tang Song paused for a moment, then said, "I’ve got things to handle here. We’ll talk later. Bye-bye."
"Byebye."
As soon as the call ended, Lin Muxue felt like she was floating.
Like she was about to ascend to heaven.
She sat there in a daze for a while, repeatedly confirming that she wasn’t dreaming.
Then, suddenly, she pressed her legs together and rushed toward the restroom.
Yan Provincial Financial Center.
Confluent Capital Limited.
My true path to enlightenment has arrived!