novelraw Chapter 448: Are You Worthy?
Chapter 448: Are You Worthy?
Yanjing Tiancheng, luxury apartment.
Tang Song glanced at the summary message Lin Muxue had sent, his gaze flickering slightly.
Leveraging its strong background and high visibility, Confluent Capital had successfully connected with Dingyun Investments and Chengrong Group.
Both were early investors who held shares in Huashang Fashion purely for capital appreciation, so they showed great enthusiasm toward Confluent Capital.
Confluent Capital’s team had also begun building valuation models.
As for the other smaller shareholders, to avoid alarming them, they were still in the background check phase.
"Dingdong—" The WeChat notification sound rang.
[Lingling: "(#Mischievous) Senior, I’m almost done with work, I should be able to leave by 8."]
[Lingling: "I'll drive you there~ (GIF)"]
Tang Song chuckled and sent a "received" emoji before heading to the bedroom.After a quick shave, he walked into the dressing room.
He took out the British-style formal suit Yao Lingling had tailored for him, paired it with a white dress shirt, and put them on.
After a moment of hesitation, he opened the exquisite watch cabinet and selected a Patek Philippe wristwatch.
As a high-end piece in PP’s formal collection, this watch was meticulously crafted—an alligator leather strap, a matte blue lacquered dial, and diamond indices, perfectly complementing his outfit.
It added a touch of style and personality to an otherwise overly formal and serious look.
More in line with the purpose of his outing tonight.
Looking at the mirror, he nodded in satisfaction at the [Special Outfit - Accomplished and Renowned] he had chosen.
Lin Muxue must have put great effort into making this suit—its details were impeccable.
He raised his wrist to check the time.
Taking his car keys, Tang Song took the elevator straight to B1.
The garage was dimly lit by the overhead lights.
The Bentley Continental started swiftly, heading toward Yuhua Business Tower.
Against the dark, lacquered night sky, the city’s neon lights gleamed vividly.
——
Shangya Fashion Design.
“How is it? Give me an honest opinion—your work looks amazing, doesn’t it?” Lin Muxue playfully hooked her arm around Li Shumin’s shoulder, grinning as she looked at the exhibited sample outfits.
Li Shumin nodded enthusiastically, “National-style elements are so popular right now! Lingling, do you really think your design has no chance of winning an award?”
“Hehe,” Du Tianyi smirked smugly. “If you win, treat me to snail noodles.”
“You cheapskate! You want a ¥399 teppanyaki buffet!”
“In your dreams!”
The two laughed and joked, while Yao Lingling’s eyes shone with anticipation.
If she really won an award this time, she could solidify her position in the company and even negotiate a salary increase.
Qimeng was a brand-new high-end label, and as one of its core designers, she genuinely had a chance to become a renowned designer in the future.
Liking someone can sometimes make you feel inferior.
Maybe when she became outstanding enough, she could openly express her feelings.
"Bzzzz—" Her phone vibrated in her pocket.
[Tang Song: "I'm on my way. I’ll be at your office in about 20 minutes."]
Yao Lingling couldn’t hold back and blurted out, “Yes!”
Li Shumin immediately leaned over, glanced at the phone screen, and teased, “Come on, can’t you be a little more reserved?”
“Hmph, none of your business!” Yao Lingling bumped her with her hip, then sent a voice message:
“Senior, drive safely.”
Tang Song was driving, so a voice message would be more convenient for him to check—less distraction.
Yao Lingling was always mindful of such small details, which was one of the reasons she had so many friends.
After sending the message, Li Shumin smirked and asked, “So… are you going home tonight?”
“What are you thinking?!” Yao Lingling smacked her head, blushing. “Senior is just picking me up from work. You can take the bus home!”
“Traitor! You’re ditching me for a man!” Li Shumin grumbled in mock jealousy.
Well, there was no denying it—Senior Tang Song was flawless.
A classic scholar-heartthrob type.
Dating a guy like that must be an incredible experience.
Of course, if they were talking about status and wealth, Director Xiao was quite attractive too.
But she was just an average girl—he wouldn’t look twice at her.
After tidying up fabric scraps and thread spools, they returned to the office area. Find the newest release on novｅlfire.net
At his workstation, Xiao Mingxuan had just finished a round of Honor of Kings and stood up, shaking his phone proudly.
“Just finished—hit 1,900 points in the peak rankings.”
“Damn, that’s impressive!”
“Director Xiao, you’re definitely the top sideline player in Yan Province!”
Yao Lingling and Li Shumin played along, giving him some well-timed flattery.
Xiao Mingxuan was easygoing and laid-back, but he did have a bit of an ego—he liked being praised.
Stretching lazily, Xiao Mingxuan put his phone away. “Alright, let’s go. There’s barely anyone left in the office. If I wasn’t worried about you two being scared, I’d have left ages ago.”
“Haha, thanks, Director Xiao. Such a gentleman.”
The three of them left the office, chatting and laughing.
It was almost 8 p.m., and since it was Sunday, the office building was mostly empty.
The hallway lights were off, leaving only a few dim emergency lamps casting faint glows.
Inside the empty elevator, it was just the three of them.
When the doors slowly slid open, Xiao Mingxuan, with one hand in his pocket, stepped out first.
Yao Lingling and Li Shumin followed side by side, whispering about the upcoming Wednesday fashion event.
Just past the security gate, Xiao Mingxuan stopped and turned to Yao Lingling, his voice gentle.
“Lingling, is your friend here yet?”
He had actually waited until now because he wanted to meet this person.
Yao Lingling glanced at the time. “Almost here. It’s fine, Director Xiao. You can go ahead, no need to wait for us.”
Xiao Mingxuan smiled casually. “Haha, I’m not in a rush anyway.”
Just as he finished speaking, a cold, deep voice rang out from ahead—
“Xiao Mingxuan!”
Yao Lingling and Li Shumin both looked up.
A tall, slender woman stood not far away, arms crossed, gaze as sharp as a blade.
Under the light, her wavy orange-blonde hair gleamed brilliantly.
The crisp white silk blouse and tailored suit pants accentuated her slim figure, radiating an aggressive presence.
Li Shumin paused, whispering, “Lingling, who’s that? She doesn’t look too friendly.”
Yao Lingling shook her head, equally puzzled. “No idea.”
Although she was friends with Xiao Mingxuan, their social circles barely overlapped—she had no clue about his personal affairs.
Meanwhile, a matte gray Porsche 911 slowly pulled up to Yuhua Business Tower.
"Dingdong—" A new WeChat message popped up.
[Xu Ning: Photo.jpg]
[Xu Ning: "Wen Qiuyue really came looking for her fiancé, and judging by the looks of it, she's here to catch him cheating. Xiao Mingxuan just got off work with two female colleagues."]
The photo showed Wen Qiuyue striding forward. Ahead of her stood three men and women.
Lin Muxue glanced at it casually, her gaze sharpening slightly.
Yao Lingling?
With Xiao Mingxuan?
The thought barely formed before it was immediately dismissed.
Impossible.
This was someone Tang Song had gifted a Qixi Festival gift box to—there was no way she’d be involved with Wen Qiuyue’s fiancé. That probability was essentially zero.
Her eyes flickered as she quickly deduced what was going on.
Given what she knew about Wen Qiuyue, that crazy woman was anything but rational. Even the slightest sign of trouble, even without evidence, would set her off.
A glint of excitement flashed across Lin Muxue's eyes.
To Wen Qiuyue, she was just a stranger now.
She had been looking for an opportunity to go after that b*tch—now the woman had delivered herself on a silver platter!
You’ve got some nerve messing with Yao Lingling!
Watch how I, Emperor Muxue, crush you!
She parked her car right by the entrance, grabbed the high heels from the passenger seat, swiftly switched into them, slung her handbag over her shoulder, and stepped out.
Her gaze cut through the glass curtain wall and locked onto her enemy in an instant.
The moment she saw that familiar figure, her adrenaline surged.
She was ready to fight.
At this hour, the lobby wasn’t empty, though there weren’t many people around either.
Wen Qiuyue’s sharp voice echoed through the space, drawing a few curious glances from passersby.
As the stares around them increased, Xiao Mingxuan's face darkened, his tone stiff. “What are you doing here?”
Wen Qiuyue sneered, sweeping her gaze past Yao Lingling and Li Shumin before settling on Xiao Mingxuan. “Why am I here? I called you seven times. Why didn’t you answer?! Why?!”
Yao Lingling and Li Shumin exchanged wide-eyed glances, both sensing the tension.
This… sounded an awful lot like a couple’s quarrel?
Neither of them had any idea Xiao Mingxuan even had a girlfriend.
Xiao Mingxuan took a deep breath, speaking firmly. “I already told you—I was working late at the office. The fashion exhibition is on Wednesday. You should know how important this is to me.”
“Heh.” Wen Qiuyue took a slow step forward, her voice growing aggressive. “Too busy to answer the phone? Do you think I don’t know the people at Shangya?”
Li Shumin quickly interjected, “Director Xiao really was working all day, he just—”
“Shut up!”
Wen Qiuyue’s high heel struck the floor with a sharp clack.
Her piercing gaze locked onto Li Shumin. “Who the hell do you think you are? Do you have any right to speak here?”
Li Shumin’s face turned bright red. She stammered, “I just—”
She had only wanted to help smooth things over and explain the situation for Xiao Mingxuan.
She hadn’t expected Wen Qiuyue to be so aggressive—straight-up attacking without hesitation.
Yao Lingling tugged on Li Shumin’s arm and looked at Wen Qiuyue. “That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”
“Heh, Yao Lingling, right? You think you can lecture me?” Wen Qiuyue stepped right up to them, her voice razor-sharp. “I’m Xiao Mingxuan’s fiancée. My father is Wen Zhenhua, a shareholder of Shangya Fashion Design.”
Yao Lingling felt her face burn. She opened her mouth but ended up closing it again.
Li Shumin shrank back, unsure what to say.
Shangya’s shareholder structure was simple—there were only three major shareholders, and they had all met Director Wen before.
He wasn’t just a shareholder of their company; he was also the chairman of Jiaxin Group—a real big shot.
All of Shangya’s clothing was produced by Jiaxin’s factories.
Xiao Mingxuan stepped forward, blocking Yao Lingling from Wen Qiuyue’s glare. His eyes locked onto her.
“Wen Qiuyue, have you had enough? We agreed not to interfere in each other’s work. What do you want?”
Wen Qiuyue raised a brow, her lips curling into a mocking smile.
“What do I want? You work late on weekends, ignore my calls, and leave the office laughing and joking with your female colleagues. And since May, you’ve been giving me the cold shoulder on purpose. Do you think I’m stupid?”
“You—” Xiao Mingxuan’s lips pressed into a firm line, his tone turning serious. “Qiuyue, let’s talk about this privately.”
“Hah!”
She pushed Xiao Mingxuan’s shoulder aside with ease, her gaze sweeping arrogantly over Yao Lingling.
“So this is your little mistress? I’ve heard about you, Yao Lingling.”
Yao Lingling’s eyes widened in shock.
She raised her voice. “Please don’t spout nonsense! Director Xiao and I are just colleagues! That’s all we’ve ever been!”
She was never one to back down easily. If it were anyone else, she would’ve already cussed them out.
“Just colleagues?” Wen Qiuyue sneered.
“A junior assistant designer, barely a year out of college—what makes you worthy of being a core designer for Qimeng? What makes your trash designs worthy of being featured in the fashion show’s runway showcase, with a specially assigned model to present them?”
Yao Lingling’s face turned scarlet.
She had no idea how to argue against that.
Xiao Mingxuan gritted his teeth and grabbed Wen Qiuyue’s wrist. He spoke through clenched teeth.
“Wen Qiuyue! Stop being unreasonable! As the head of the department, I can choose whoever I want!”
Yao Lingling bit her lip, lowering her voice.
“Miss Wen, I understand your feelings, but Director Xiao and I really are just colleagues. There must be some misunderstanding.”
Wen Qiuyue violently yanked her hand away, pointing directly at Yao Lingling.
“You really don’t get it, do you? Cut the act! I’ve seen plenty of sluts like you—like flies buzzing around any tall, rich, handsome guy. Do you even look at yourself? Are you worthy?”
Yao Lingling clenched her fists, eyes turning red.
She was about to clap back when—
A cold, commanding voice suddenly cut through the air.
“Are YOU worthy? Who the hell do you think you are?”
Everyone turned toward the sound.
A tall, striking figure walked toward them.
She wore a sleek black designer blazer, a crisp white shirt, and black tailored shorts.
Her long legs shimmered under the lights.
"Click. Click. Click."
The sharp taps of pointed high heels echoed off the marble floor.
She carried an exclusive limited-edition LV Himalaya bag, her delicate, defined features exuding an icy, powerful presence.
At 175 centimeters tall, plus her heels, she had an imposing aura that demanded attention.
She walked straight into their group, scanning Wen Qiuyue from head to toe with a cold, indifferent gaze.
All eyes in the lobby turned toward her.
Yao Lingling was stunned, blurting out, “Sister Muxue.”
Li Shumin instinctively tightened her grip on Yao Lingling’s arm, eyes filled with shock and admiration.
Holy sh*t! Wasn’t this Lin Muxue?!
The assistant director of Huashang Fashion, an executive at Lanfeng International Hotel.
Was she here to stand up for Lingling?
Xiao Mingxuan froze.
Was Lingling’s “friend picking her up” actually Lin Muxue?!
“Lingling.” Lin Muxue gave her a small nod before shifting her sharp, confident gaze to Wen Qiuyue.
A cold smirk played at her lips.
“I’m asking you—who the hell do you think you are?”
Faced with her mortal enemy, she cranked her aggression to max level—not backing down one bit.
For the first time, Yao Lingling felt her heart tremble.
When she had been at her most helpless and furious, someone had stepped up for her.
How could she not be moved?
You never expected someone to stand up for you like that.
Wen Qiuyue’s face darkened instantly, her sharp eyebrows arching high like two upturned daggers. “And who the hell are you, putting on an act here? I don’t care who you are—stay the hell away from me! Get lost!”
Lin Muxue leaned in slightly. “No manners at all. Did your parents never teach you how to speak to people?”
Hearing that, Wen Qiuyue was so enraged she actually laughed. All these years, no one had ever dared speak to her like that.
She turned fully toward Lin Muxue, her gaze sharp and haughty. “So… what’s your deal? Sticking up for this little homewrecker? You seem like the same kind of woman.”
“Wen Qiuyue!” Xiao Mingxuan yanked her back, gritting his teeth. “Have you had enough? Do you want me to call your father right now?”
Then he turned to Lin Muxue, his tone stiff. “Director Lin, tonight’s situation is my fault. I apologize.”
Wen Qiuyue’s face twisted in anger. “Do I need you to apologize for me?! If you don’t give me a proper explanation about you and Yao Lingling, do you believe I won’t tear your whole company apart?!”
“You—” Xiao Mingxuan inhaled sharply, his expression turning grim.
The biggest mistake of his life was getting involved with this crazy woman. Worse, he’d slept with her in a drunken haze.
If he completely severed ties with her now, he’d be making an enemy of Wen Zhenhua—which meant making an enemy of Jiaxin Group.
For Shangya Fashion Design, the consequences were too severe.
Li Shumin glanced at her best friend, took a deep breath, and raised her voice.
“Lingling and Director Xiao have always been just friends. What gives you the right to slander her?!”
She had once wanted to pair them up, so she knew their relationship better than anyone.
There wasn’t even the slightest hint of ambiguity between them—so pure it was almost ridiculous.
And now, knowing that Xiao Mingxuan had a fiancée and was still hanging around Lingling? The rose-tinted filter she had for him shattered on the spot.
Sure enough, these rich and handsome men were never simple.
Wen Qiuyue cast her a cold glance. “What’s your name?”
“I…” Li Shumin’s heart pounded as her face turned red.
It felt like being stared down by Taishang Laojun’s Purple Gold Gourd—like the moment she spoke her name, she’d be swallowed whole.
And honestly, with Wen Qiuyue’s status, she really could get her fired with a single word.
With Jiaxin Group’s power, she could be blacklisted from the entire fashion industry.
Faced with the looming fear of unemployment, Li Shumin’s mind went completely blank.
Yao Lingling quickly pulled her behind her, glaring at Wen Qiuyue. “You’re completely unreasonable! You only care about yourself!”
Wen Qiuyue scoffed. “Oh? A homewrecker who lurks in the shadows thinks she has the right to lecture me? Do you really think Xiao Mingxuan would ever take you seriously? You’re just a toy.”
Lin Muxue coldly interrupted, “If you don’t know how to shut up, then shut up. Do you really think everyone treasures their fiancé as much as you do? You’re so full of yourself. Honestly? I highly doubt Lingling would even be interested in him.”
Xiao Mingxuan’s expression froze—that one actually stung.
Even Yao Lingling, who was fuming a moment ago, suddenly found herself at a loss, her face turning slightly awkward.
Still, she had to admit—Sister Muxue’s verbal attacks were insane.
And that cold, aloof aura?
Did Tang Song also get scolded like this when they were together?
Wen Qiuyue’s chest heaved, her fists clenched tight. “His name is Xiao Mingxuan, right?”
Lin Muxue chuckled. “Oh? Are you thinking of taking revenge on me now?”
Xiao Mingxuan tugged at Wen Qiuyue’s arm, lowering his voice. “Enough. Stop this already. She’s an executive at Lanfeng International Hotel. Lanfeng International is our company’s client.”
“Oh?” Wen Qiuyue shot Lin Muxue a mocking look. “I thought you were someone important.
Our Jiaxin Group has been collaborating with Lanfeng International for years—we’re one of your biggest clients, you do know that, don’t you?
We also have numerous subsidiaries and suppliers tied to your contracts.
Starting next week, your hotel will start receiving termination notices—I’ll personally call your boss to make sure he hears about this.”
She was bluffing, of course.
Even as Wen Zhenhua’s daughter, she couldn’t single-handedly overturn a major business deal.
At most, she could temporarily pull out of some agreements and switch hotels.
But even that was a serious threat.
Yao Lingling instantly panicked, looking nervously at Lin Muxue.
This was her fault.
In her mind, Lin Muxue had only gotten dragged into this mess because of her.
If it were any ordinary hotel executive, they’d probably be terrified.
But Lin Muxue?
Not even slightly.
With adrenaline pumping and emotions surging, she wasn’t scared at all.
Her tone remained icy.
“Childish. All you know is hiding behind your father’s power—without Jiaxin Group, you’re nothing.
Go ahead, try it.”
A joke.
Did Wen Qiuyue even know who Tang Song was?
A billion-dollar private equity fund owner.
The man behind Su Yu and Lin Muxue herself.
A small drop in hotel revenue?
Who cares?!
“Oh, still putting on a brave face?” Wen Qiuyue gritted her teeth. “Fine. Just you wait. This isn’t over. You’ll regret messing with me!”
Lin Muxue took one step forward, closing the distance.
“Who gave you the guts to talk to me like that?”
Finally saying what she’d always wanted to say, Lin Muxue was thrilled.
Her toes curled with excitement.
If it weren’t for the setting, she’d have to run to the bathroom just to scream in pure joy.
This is what I’ve been waiting for all these years!
Our story is far from over.
Come Wednesday, I’ll make you regret ever crossing me!
She finished speaking, and the entire room fell silent.
Wen Qiuyue fumed, her murderous glare burning holes into the floor.
Yao Lingling and Li Shumin exchanged stunned looks.
Xiao Mingxuan’s expression completely collapsed.
Lin Muxue… was completely unhinged.
And possibly even more terrifying than Wen Qiuyue.
Just then—
A set of steady, rhythmic footsteps echoed through the empty lobby.
“Tap. Tap. Tap.”
Lin Muxue froze, a realization hitting her instantly.
She whipped around just as a deep, magnetic voice reached her ears.
“Lingling, I tried calling you, but you didn’t pick up. So I just came over.”
Whoosh.
All eyes turned toward the voice.
Their expressions varied.
Dressed in a deep blue British-style suit, a white dress shirt, and exuding calm, unshakable confidence—
Tang Song approached at a leisurely pace.
His sharp nose, sculpted lips, and casual yet elegant demeanor—
A glimmering Patek Philippe at his wrist caught the light, subtly exuding luxury.
He stopped in front of them, effortlessly commanding everyone’s attention.
Lin Muxue’s face flushed red—she instinctively pressed her legs together.
Xiao Mingxuan finally pieced it together.
This was the friend Lingling had been waiting for?
But this wasn’t the Tang Song he had seen before—the one driving a Wuling Hongguang at KTV.
Right now, this man had an undeniable aura.
Even Xiao Mingxuan had to admit—this guy was outstanding.
And with that thought, a bitter feeling crept into his chest.
The moment Yao Lingling saw Tang Song, the tension in her body instantly melted away. She quickly stepped forward and spoke softly, “Sorry, Senior. Something unexpected happened just now. My phone was still on vibrate, so I didn’t notice your call.”
Li Shumin, watching Tang Song’s grand entrance, immediately piped up, “Senior, Lingling has been missing you like crazy! She’s been looking forward to you picking her up after work. If it weren’t for all this drama, she’d definitely be waiting outside for you right now.”
As she spoke, she deliberately glanced at Wen Qiuyue.
See that? Everything you said was pure slander!
Lingling has someone she likes. And he’s right here, picking her up in front of Director Xiao!
Still, deep down, she felt a bit shaken and guilty.
If her matchmaking efforts had actually pushed Lingling and Director Xiao together, she had no idea how they’d clean up this mess tonight.
And now, seeing Senior Tang Song in the suit Lingling designed for him—he looked insanely handsome.
Yao Lingling glanced at Lin Muxue, then smacked Li Shumin’s arm hard, her face flushing red.
“What nonsense are you talking about?!”
“It’s fine.” Tang Song chuckled, rubbing her head affectionately. Then, he turned to Lin Muxue, his gaze slightly curious.
“Xiaoxue, what are you doing here?”
Lin Muxue took a deep breath, lowered her head slightly, tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, and replied gently, “Good evening, President Tang. Xu Ning works here—I came to pick her up. I just happened to run into Lingling.”
“Mm, I see.” Tang Song nodded slightly, his gaze flickering.
His sharp instincts, coupled with his deep understanding of Xiaoxue, told him that she wasn’t entirely telling the truth.
More than that—he could feel that she was especially worked up tonight. She hadn’t even bothered to explain why she knew Yao Lingling.
But he was still in the middle of his mission: "Understanding Humanity."
He had a strong feeling that this chance encounter tonight was somehow related to this branch quest.
The former "Instance Trial Subject" Lin Muxue and his role as the "Observer" seemed to share a strange connection.
They kept running into each other in unexpected places.
And tonight, once again, he had witnessed her transformation.
What he needed to do now was offer the right amount of care and support—to observe her growth, not interfere too much.
Watching Lin Muxue, who had just been radiating unmatched dominance and fierce energy, suddenly turn soft, gentle, and respectful—
While Tang Song, on the other hand, remained calm and completely at ease, as if this was the most natural thing in the world—
Everyone around them looked utterly stunned.
Wen Qiuyue’s eyes flickered between Tang Song and Yao Lingling, her expression incredibly complicated—even carrying a hint of jealousy.
She was starting to realize that things weren’t as she had imagined.
But she would never admit she was wrong.
If anyone was wrong, it was Yao Lingling.
It was all her fault—for being shameless, for not knowing her place, for getting too close to Xiao Mingxuan!
Then, her gaze shifted to Lin Muxue.
Her eyes burned with undisguised hatred and resentment.