novelraw Chapter 417: Wen Ruan and Xie Shuyu Are About to Fight!
Chapter 417: Wen Ruan and Xie Shuyu Are About to Fight!
If Lin Muxue had to pick the event that impacted her life the most, it would definitely be accompanying Zhao Yaqian to sign the Beneficiary Agreement at Slover Trust.
At first, she went with curiosity and skepticism, plus a little bit of vanity to take pictures and show off. She never expected that step would completely change her life.
A one-hundred-million-dollar family trust. A ten-million-a-year beneficiary contract.
Just like that, the fake heiress who was struggling to make ends meet had her entire worldview shattered beyond recognition.
That’s why she was left with soul-crushing regret—and why she shamelessly kept trying to cling to Tang Song.
And the person who left the deepest impression on her that day was Qin Yingxue.
She had a unique aura, reminiscent of the woman she had seen in the elevator during her very first modeling audition.
Of course, what Lin Muxue admired the most was her outfit.
A Richard Mille RM07-01 Snowflake Diamond, a Hermès Birkin 25, Chanel’s latest haute couture by Virginie Viard, and Bulgari’s Serpenti earrings and necklace…
Every single piece Qin Yingxue wore was something Lin Muxue had obsessed over countless times—top-tier luxury items she adored but could never afford.She still remembered that playful smile, that elegant aura, and the crushing pressure Qin Yingxue exuded.
Lin Muxue could feel it—Qin Yingxue definitely saw through her façade.
Like an ugly duckling, she didn’t even dare to meet her gaze, drowning in shame and inferiority.
Back then, Qin Yingxue, as an investment consultant at Slover Trust, was the epitome of Lin Muxue’s dream self.
Especially when Qin Yingxue casually mentioned that she had interacted with their company’s chairman a few times—
That level of prestige? It was like she was a freaking empress!
She had effortlessly crushed the fake heiress version of Lin Muxue into the dirt.
Ever since then, Lin Muxue had idolized Qin Yingxue, secretly imitating her every move.
Her aura, her mannerisms—she tried to emulate it all.
And now, after all this time, she was finally seeing her "ideal self" again.
Lin Muxue’s heart pounded with excitement.
She turned gracefully, extended her hand confidently, and smiled brightly.
“Hello, Ms. Qin. It’s been a while! I’m so glad to see you here at Confluent Capital.”
Qin Yingxue’s lips curved into a friendly smile as she lightly shook her hand.
“It’s been a while indeed, Assistant Lin. You’re looking more stunning than ever.”
She chuckled softly. “And congratulations on becoming the Executive Assistant at Confluent Capital. I’m sure we’ll be working together often.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Ms. Qin. You are as graceful as ever. And becoming part of Confluent Capital—I consider myself very lucky. I look forward to working with you,” Lin Muxue said, her lips slightly trembling with emotion.
Yes.
The fake heiress she used to be—Xiao Xue—was long gone.
Now, she was an Executive Assistant at a billion-dollar private equity firm, earning 1.5 million a year, with her own private office.
Even Qin Yingxue had to acknowledge her presence now.
Her growth, her rise in status—it was all tangible at this very moment.
Standing beside her, Zhang Chengyuan stepped forward with a warm smile.
“President Qin, when did you arrive?”
“Not long ago,” Qin Yingxue replied casually. “The receptionist told me you were inside signing a contract, so I didn’t want to disturb you.”
Zhang Chengyuan chuckled. “We just finished. President Tang messaged me earlier—he should be arriving around 10 a.m..”
“Got it.” Qin Yingxue nodded slightly.
Then, she took out a business card from her purse and handed it over. Her sharp gaze fell once again on Lin Muxue.
“Let’s make it official—Qin Yingxue.”
Lin Muxue froze for a second before quickly reaching out to accept it.
Looking at Qin Yingxue’s friendly demeanor, she hurriedly pulled out her own business card.
“Thank you. Here’s mine—though the details haven’t been updated yet.”
From this moment on, her title would officially change from ‘Senior Assistant at Slover Trust Committee’ to ‘Executive Assistant at Confluent Capital’.
She was already planning to order a new batch of more high-end business cards.
“I’ll keep it safe.” Qin Yingxue raised the card slightly and said warmly, “Let’s add each other on WeChat later. I have a feeling we’ll be in touch quite often.”
Lin Muxue nodded excitedly.
“Of course, Ms. Qin.”
She wasn’t the smartest person, but she had sharp social instincts—she could clearly tell that Qin Yingxue’s attitude towards her had changed.
In fact, it felt like Qin Yingxue was genuinely interested in befriending her.
Qin Yingxue smiled softly. “Alright, you’re still new here. I’m sure you have a lot on your plate. Let’s chat again later.”
“Of course. Bye-bye.”
“Bye-bye.”
After exchanging goodbyes, Lin Muxue turned away, clutching Qin Yingxue’s business card tightly.
As she followed Zhang Chengyuan further inside, she couldn’t resist glancing down at it again.
The card was stunning—low-key yet luxurious, with matte black cardstock as the base. It had just the right thickness—solid yet slightly flexible in hand.
There were no job titles or company names—just Qin Yingxue’s name and phone number.
And yet, that minimalism exuded a distinct prestige.
She didn’t even need extra credentials to prove who she was.
Now, that was true class.
Lin Muxue made a mental note.
She was no longer the fake heiress who had to put up a front.
She had to follow suit!
Zhang Chengyuan stopped.
“We’re here. This is your office—right next to President Tang’s.”
“Alright, thank you.” Lin Muxue’s heart skipped a beat as she looked up.
The deep-colored wooden door was polished to perfection. Its edges were lined with matte stainless steel, sleek and modern.
A small black acrylic nameplate was affixed to it, with gold lettering that read:
Assistant To President
The typography was bold yet refined, accompanied by the Confluent Capital logo, subtly reinforcing her status.
She reached out, grasping the curved handle—and suddenly, her heart pounded wildly.
She even felt a sudden urge to pee.
"Click—"
A warm glow seeped through as the door slowly opened.
The faint scent of woodsy essential oils drifted through the air—fresh yet not overpowering.
Lin Muxue’s eyes widened.
She quickened her steps into the room.
A full-length glass window lined one wall.
A deep-gray wool carpet covered the floor.
A sleek bookshelf wall, a plush sofa set, a mini bar stocked with coffee, tea, and fresh plants.
At the center, a walnut wood desk gleamed, topped with an iMac, a MacBook Pro, and wireless accessories.
It was cozy yet high-tech—a perfect blend of style and function.
“Luna, take your time getting used to everything. Let admin know if you need anything.”
“Got it. Thank you.” Lin Muxue’s voice quivered slightly.
“No problem.” Zhang Chengyuan nodded and stepped out.
As the heavy door clicked shut—
“AHHH!!”
Lin Muxue let out a stifled scream, then immediately pulled out her phone—
"Snap, snap, snap!"
She touched everything, inspected every detail, even rolled around on the leather sofa.
After a long while, she finally calmed down.
Standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, nearly 200 meters above ground, she gazed at the cityscape below.
Lin Muxue was on cloud nine, her face flushed with excitement.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
A light tapping sounded on the office door.
Lin Muxue quickly wiped the overjoyed expression off her face, cleared her throat, and said, "Come in."
The door opened gently, and Zhang Lili walked in, dressed in professional attire.
"Good morning, Luna. Congratulations! We get to work together again—this is really exciting."
She had just found out that Lin Muxue was now the Executive Assistant at Confluent Capital.
Unlike Slover Trust, Confluent Capital had far greater upward mobility. Having a friend in a senior position meant a solid career safety net.
Although her family was wealthy, Zhang Lili valued this job for its financial influence and extensive networking opportunities.
"It really is exciting." Lin Muxue took a deep breath, savoring the moment before gesturing, "Have a seat, let’s chat."
"Thanks."
The two of them sat facing each other on the lounge sofas, casually discussing the office setup.
Lin Muxue casually asked, "Kylie, I just ran into Ms. Qin Yingxue outside. Is she our colleague? What’s her position?"
Judging by Zhang Chengyuan’s attitude, Qin Yingxue was definitely someone important.
Her natural competitive streak made her eager to find out—was Qin Yingxue above her or below her in rank?
Zhang Lili froze for a moment, her expression turning serious.
"Ms. Qin isn’t an employee of Confluent Capital—she’s a member of the Investment Committee at Tang Jin Family Office.
And Tang Jin is one of our shareholders, holding 15% equity. Ms. Qin is here as their representative."
"...Oh." Lin Muxue’s smile stiffened slightly.
She had hoped she could go toe-to-toe with Qin Yingxue, but it turned out Qin was still leagues ahead.
"Yeah, Luna," Zhang Lili nodded. "If possible, build a good relationship with her—there’s a chance Ms. Qin might join Confluent Capital’s board in the future."
Lin Muxue nodded seriously, then blinked curiously.
"Tang Jin Family Office... whose family office is that? The name sounds like it might be related to President Tang?"
Her finance knowledge was limited, mainly focused on business English, so she had never heard of it before.
But she did understand the concept of family offices—high-net-worth wealth management firms dedicated to serving ultra-rich families.
Zhang Lili, knowing Lin Muxue’s background, wasn’t surprised at her lack of knowledge.
She patiently explained, "In the financial world, Tang Jin is a name you can’t avoid.
Not only do they hold equity in our company, but they also own stakes in Smile Holdings, PDD, Meigou Tech, ByteDance, CATL, NVIDIA, and many other domestic and international firms you might not even recognize.
Their investment portfolio spans across global assets, covering a wide range of industries.
They are one of the top family offices worldwide—a true financial powerhouse."
"Damn, that’s insane!" Lin Muxue took a deep breath, feeling her heart tremble.
Tang Jin Family Office’s Investment Committee?
She had never imagined Qin Yingxue’s background was this powerful!
"Of course it’s insane," Zhang Lili nodded. "But this firm has nothing to do with our President Tang.
The reason it’s called Tang Jin is because of its two founders."
"Who are they?"
"Ouyang Xianyue from Tangyi Precision and Jin Meixiao from Smile Holdings."
Lin Muxue’s lips twitched, and she instinctively squeezed her thighs together.
"Oh... I get it now."
So the "Tang" in Tang Jin came from Tangyi Precision, and the "Jin" came from Jin Meixiao.
No wonder it was so damn powerful.
"Of course, this family office doesn’t just manage their wealth—it also has several billionaires as participants.
For example, Kate from Slover Trust and Zheng Qiudong from Deju Renhe, one of our business partners."
"Oh." Lin Muxue numbly nodded.
She had just joined Confluent Capital, thinking she was already crazy impressive—
Only to have an entire wave of big-shot bosses pop up, each overshadowing her existence.
At least they weren’t part of Confluent Capital, so she could still act like a big shot inside the company.
Zhang Lili’s eyes sparkled.
"Luna, as the Executive Assistant, you should have direct contact with Ms. Qin.
She’s not just anyone—she was once Jin Meixiao’s assistant and is still her most trusted confidante."
Hearing that, Lin Muxue felt like her soul left her body.
Great. Just great.
She definitely needed to stay low-key—
After all, she was just Tang Song’s assistant, while Qin Yingxue had worked for Jin Meixiao!
"I got it," Lin Muxue mumbled. "Kylie, I was placed here by President Tang on short notice, so I don’t know much about the company.
Can you give me a detailed overview?"
"Of course." Zhang Lili readily agreed and began explaining.
As a major shareholder, Tang Song personally holds 60% of the company’s shares.
In addition, he also controls CFL Partnership, the employee equity platform, which holds another 10%.
Meaning, he effectively owns 70% of the company.
This platform structure not only enhances company value but also reduces management costs and diversifies risk.
Lin Muxue took mental notes as she nodded along, occasionally asking questions.
Most of these things were far beyond her current level.
But as the Executive Assistant, she needed to understand the company thoroughly—
So she could flex properly when the time came.
Chang’an District, ES Fitness Studio
Soft lighting reflected off the polished wooden floor, and the air was filled with the gentle notes of a piano melody.
At the center of the private training area—
Wen Ruan, dressed in sleek gymwear, was focused on her dumbbell shoulder press.
Her arms were toned, her shoulders slightly raised, each movement smooth and powerful.
Her personal trainer stood beside her, reminding her to control her breathing and maintain proper form.
Between sets, Wen Ruan walked over to the lounge area, grabbed a bottle of mineral water, and took a small sip.
"Tap, tap—"
Soft footsteps approached.
"Wen Ruan, your training today is excellent!"
Li Ran, her nutritionist, walked in, dressed in a simple white uniform, holding a printed meal plan.
"I just updated your nutrition plan based on your latest body metrics. I’d like to go over it with you."
"Sure." Wen Ruan wiped her sweat and casually sat on the plush sofa.
Li Ran flipped open her clipboard, pointing at the data while speaking in a warm and professional tone.
Wen Ruan listened attentively while occasionally checking her phone.
Maintaining a good figure wasn’t easy—especially for someone approaching thirty.
Because of her curvy physique, she had always preferred training during off-peak hours for privacy.
That’s why she loved this private studio—it had a strict appointment system, ensuring one-on-one service.
Now that she was financially free, Wen Ruan never cut costs on self-care.
Besides her personal gym, she had also invested in luxury beauty treatments, dietary plans, posture correction, and even mental wellness services—
Everything had to be top-tier.
These expenses alone cost around 600,000 a year, but for someone like her, who makes over ten million annually, it was practically nothing.
As their conversation wrapped up, Li Ran, her nutritionist, smiled and said, "If you have no objections, I’ll go ahead and customize today’s lunch based on this plan."
"No problem," Wen Ruan nodded casually, then added, "Make an extra portion. I have a colleague coming over later."
"Got it. I’ll start preparing now." Li Ran nodded and quickly left.
12:00 PM
Assistant Zhang Xintong walked briskly into the studio’s dining area.
The moment she saw the exquisite, mouthwatering dishes on the table, her eyes lit up instantly.
"Thank you, President Wen! Good thing I skipped lunch."
"Oh, please," Wen Ruan took a bite of avocado, smirking.
"You rushed over at lunchtime just to mooch a meal, didn’t you?"
"President Wen, you’ve got laser vision—haha. I’ve gained weight recently, so I wanted to learn a thing or two from you," Zhang Xintong chuckled sheepishly.
Truthfully, it wasn’t just about the free meal—she was also trying to strengthen her relationship with her boss.
Ever since Wen Ruan returned from her business trip in Shanghai, she had brought in a five-member elite assistant team.
From daily life arrangements to schedule management, HR matters, and strategic planning, everything was handled flawlessly.
This meant Wen Ruan could enjoy late starts, early finishes, gym time, and skincare treatments without a care in the world.
Even Zhang Xintong, who was originally her assistant, found herself with barely any work left to do.
This sense of job insecurity made her proactively seek ways to get closer to Wen Ruan, hoping to become one of her trusted confidantes.
And, of course, she subtly kept Tang Song informed of Wen Ruan’s schedule as well.
Post-Lunch Business Updates
After finishing their healthy gourmet meal, Zhang Xintong began reporting on some important event invitations.
For example, the Yan Provincial International Fashion Exhibition—since Meigou Tech, one of their key partners, was one of the hosts, Wen Ruan had no choice but to attend.
Suddenly, a familiar name popped up.
Wen Ruan's expression shifted dramatically.
"Say that again?"
Zhang Xintong blinked in surprise before quickly repeating,
"Qingning Technology is hosting a press conference next month to launch their next-gen AI model and the latest version of their A-search software, Qingmi.
They’ve extended an official invitation through Xingyun International Group."
Wen Ruan’s eyes flickered sharply.
Her gut instinct screamed that something was off.
According to Su Yu, Liu Qingning was currently working at Qingning Technology—
And she was the one leading the Qingmi project.
So how did she know about me?
It has to be Tang Song!
Then why the hell was he bringing her into this?
Forget it. She’d just ask him directly.
If something shady was going on, he wouldn’t get away with it!
At that thought, Wen Ruan suddenly burst into laughter.
If it came to a fight, she definitely wouldn’t lose.
Even if there were five of them, she could take them all down.
Let’s see if he’d dare to mess around!
"By the way," Wen Ruan asked casually, "Do I have any important meetings this afternoon?"
"Yes," Zhang Xintong checked her phone.
"President Xie from Shimmer Coffee scheduled a collaboration meeting with you this afternoon.
They recently completed their Series A funding and want to renegotiate the partnership agreement with us.
You know how meticulous President Xie is—her standards for marketing are incredibly high."
Wen Ruan rubbed her temples.
"Xie Shuyu..." she muttered, her eyelid twitching.
Damn. She had almost forgotten about her!
And on top of that, Tang Song was also Shimmer Coffee’s chief technology officer.
She knew exactly what that bastard was up to.
There was a good chance Tang Song was behind their Series A investment, too.
And on top of all that, Xie Shuyu also lived in Shengyuan Scenic Residence—
The same complex Tang Song had arranged for her to move into.
Was he trying to get them to bond?
Was he planning some kind of multiplayer mode?!
Wen Ruan’s face flushed red, her teeth clenched.
She had been so pleased with herself for becoming a director at Xingyun International—
Now, she was starting to regret it.
As a media group, Xingyun International had a wide range of business partners.
For example, both Qingning Technology and Meigou Tech were major clients.
Now it was Liu Qingning and Xie Shuyu.
Who knew how many more women would pop up in the future?
And worst of all, she had to keep dealing with them professionally!
Ugh! She should’ve chosen the first option back then—
Living like a carefree bum sounded way more appealing right now.
"Let’s go! Help me pick out an outfit at home!" Wen Ruan suddenly stood up and strode toward the dressing room.
Since she was about to meet her ‘rival’, she had to dress to kill.
At the very least, she couldn’t lose in appearance.
Come to think of it, this was her first time officially meeting "the female CEO" in her capacity as President of Light and Shadow Media.
She had to get a photo with Xie Shuyu—
And send it straight to Tang Song.
Let’s see how that bastard reacts!
10 Minutes Later
"Vroom—"
A black Audi RS6 roared out of the underground parking lot and merged into the city’s busy traffic.
2:00 PM - President’s Office
"Ring, ring—"
The phone suddenly rang.
[Zhen Yu]
Wen Ruan’s heart stirred, and she answered immediately.
"Hello, Zhen Yu."
"Good afternoon, Ms. Wen," Zhen Yu’s voice was warm and professional.
"The preliminary negotiations for the Yanbei Printing Factory acquisition are complete.
The only remaining issue is debt resolution terms.
Once you finalize the deal, we will provide the factory with a batch of long-term contracts to help them recover.
I’ve sent all the details to your email—please review them when you have time."
"Got it. Thank you."
"Of course. I won’t take up more of your time—contact me anytime if you have questions."
"Will do. Goodbye."
After hanging up, Wen Ruan opened her email, downloaded the attachments, and skimmed through the acquisition agreement and operational plan.
She let out a long breath, her body finally relaxing.
At the end of the day, she was a sentimental person.
This printing factory wasn’t just a business deal—
It held cherished memories of her family and provided livelihoods for many relatives and friends.
With this acquisition, her family’s status would rise dramatically, and she could finally settle into a peaceful life.
After a moment’s thought, she sent a thank-you message to Su Yu on WeChat.
Acquiring a near-bankrupt printing factory was no easy feat.
Even with Su Yu’s professional acquisition team, it had taken almost two months to complete.
Just as she was about to take another look at the documents—
"Knock, knock—"
A knock on the door interrupted her.
Zhang Xintong walked in.
"President Wen, President Xie from Shimmer Coffee has arrived in the guest lounge."
"Alright, I got it."
Wen Ruan stood up, adjusted her outfit slightly, and walked out.
She took half a lap around the hallway before pushing open the conference room door.
The moment she entered, her gaze locked onto Xie Shuyu.
A sleek yet professional outfit, exuding elegance and confidence.
Sharp, striking features, flawless porcelain skin, and a tall, sultry figure.
At the sound of the door opening, Xie Shuyu uncrossed her legs, turned her head, and flashed a radiant smile.
She stood up proactively and greeted, "Wen Ruan."
Eyes met.
Wen Ruan couldn't help but internally marvel once again at Xie Shuyu’s beauty and aura.
Though they were both around thirty and CEOs of their respective companies, Xie Shuyu's presence felt even more commanding.
Her eyes were sharp, intense, exuding the energy of a powerful, ambitious woman.
No wonder Tang Song had specifically gone over to work part-time for her.
"President Xie, long time no see."
Wen Ruan stepped forward and shook hands with her.
Xie Shuyu’s voice was gentle yet firm.
"I’ve always wanted to meet you, but you’re quite the busy woman these days. It’s not easy to get a hold of you.
To be honest, when I first heard you had become President of Light and Shadow Media, I was shocked.
But I’m glad we’ve always had a good relationship. Having a friend like you as President makes me even more confident about working with Light and Shadow Media."
Wen Ruan’s eyes gleamed as she let out a small smile.
"President Xie is absolutely right—we’ve always been good friends, and we’ll definitely be seeing a lot more of each other in the future."
Xie Shuyu ignored the playful undertone in her words. Newest update provided by novel{f}ire.net
Instead, she actually seemed pleased with the friendliness.
After some cordial small talk, they took their seats opposite each other in the lounge.
Wen Ruan, acting nonchalant, casually asked,
"I heard Shimmer Coffee recently completed its Series A round.
President Xie, would you mind sharing who your investor is?"
Xie Shuyu crossed her legs slightly, her smile graceful.
"You’ve actually met him before—over at Shimmer Coffee."
"Oh? Who?"
"Tang Song—our company’s external tech consultant."
She added lightly,
"You might remember him from the time we all had that mini-program campaign meeting together."
At that moment, Zhang Xintong froze, her entire body tensing up, face filled with shock.
Meanwhile, Wen Ruan’s smile grew even brighter.
With a meaningful glint in her eyes, she replied,
"Of course, I remember.
What President Xie may not know is that Tang Song and I have always kept in touch… and we have a very good relationship."
Xie Shuyu’s expression stiffened slightly.
She was sharp—she immediately sensed something off.
Tang Song had never mentioned this to her before.
And now, looking at Wen Ruan, she took a more detailed look.
A stunning, curvaceous figure, radiant skin, and an effortlessly sensual charm.
From a man’s perspective, she was irresistibly attractive.
And Tang Song frequently interacted with her?
And they had a "very good relationship"?
For a split second, Xie Shuyu’s gaze toward Wen Ruan subtly shifted.
But her first reaction wasn’t anger—it was excitement.
If Tang Song and Wen Ruan had a good relationship, that meant Shimmer Coffee could potentially gain stronger support from Light and Shadow Media—
And even backing from Xingyun International Group.
For Shimmer Coffee, which was about to embark on brand expansion, this was an unbelievable advantage.
Of course, after the excitement, there was also a slight sense of discomfort.
Meanwhile, Zhang Xintong sat there, glancing back and forth between the two.
The tension in the air was palpable.
Not wanting to witness an all-out battlefield, she quickly pulled out her phone.
She opened Tang Song’s chat and frantically typed a message—
"Sh*t just hit the fan! Wen Ruan and Xie Shuyu are about to go at it!!"