novelraw Chapter 451: Xiaojing-chan, Ganbatte!
Chapter 451: Xiaojing-chan, Ganbatte!
Tuesday, September 12, 2023.
Cloudy, 20–27°C.
6:00 AM.
The dim morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a soft glow in the room.
Tang Song slowly opened his eyes, his consciousness gradually pulling away from his dream.
Last night, he had an incredibly bizarre yet amusing dream.
He had just gotten home from work when Secretary Jin suddenly appeared in his bedroom. Without saying a word, she pushed him onto the bed and started making out with him.
A moment later, she suddenly demanded that he lie down—because she was going to spank him.
She had the dominant queen aura down perfectly, even holding a belt in her hand.
Then, she started listing all the women he had been involved with, lecturing him about his playboy tendencies and saying he needed to be punished.Just as he was drenched in cold sweat, the mask on Secretary Jin’s face suddenly fell off—revealing Xu Qing underneath.
In his dream, Tang Song instantly realized… it had been Xu Qing cosplaying as Secretary Jin the entire time.
Enraged, he flipped her over, pinned her down, and whipped her mercilessly with the belt.
Rubbing his forehead, Tang Song immediately realized what caused this dream—it had to be from staying up late reading "Wrong Room, Found a Bossy CEO".
Lately, he had been in contact with an auto dealership to arrange a surprise car gift for Zhao Yaqian and Xu Qing.
To make sure it was a true surprise, he decided to follow his usual method—buying them their dream car based on what Xu Qing wrote in her novels.
He never expected Xu Qing’s storytelling skills to actually draw him in.
In the novel, there was a similar scene where the villainess, Liu Ruyan, had an intense encounter with the female lead, Tang Song, and was later caught and "rewarded" by the male lead, Xu Yanquing.
Alright! I definitely need to spank Qingqing for real later, or I won’t be able to let this go!
“Mmm… gege…”
A soft, sleepy murmur suddenly reached his ears, the voice carrying a gentle, sultry tone.
Tang Song turned slightly, his gaze falling onto the beautician lying beside him.
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, revealing hazy, half-lidded eyes.
Her cheeks were rosy from sleep, and her lips were slightly pouted, exuding a childlike laziness.
Unable to resist, Tang Song leaned in close to her neck and took a deep breath.
The delicate fragrance filled his senses—a mix of morning dew and floral notes, fresh and soft.
Extremely enticing.
System rewards truly are amazing!
Since the beautician buff was still active, it meant she could continue to improve.
Tang Song gently stroked her smooth back and whispered, "It’s still early. Sleep a little longer."
Cheng Qiuqiu didn’t reply—just hummed softly before her breathing returned to a steady, peaceful rhythm.
Tang Song carefully got out of bed, changed into his workout gear, and ended his morning self-discipline routine as a bank notification chimed in.
Morning Jog & Call with Liu Qingning
Taking the elevator downstairs, Tang Song put on his Bluetooth headset and sent a voice call invite to Liu Qingning.
The call connected.
“Good morning, Qingning.”
A moment later, her sweet, clear voice came through his headset.
“Morning, Xiao Shu~ Give me two minutes. I’m getting dressed. I worked late last night for an internal meeting, so I woke up late today.”
Tang Song chuckled. “If I had known, I would’ve sent a video call instead.”
“Nice try. If you did that, I wouldn’t turn on the camera.”
“Hmph, it’s not like I haven’t seen you before. I’ve even touched you.”
“You jerk! Don’t say that!”
They teased each other playfully as Tang Song began his morning jog around the residential area.
They casually chatted about work and life.
Ever since White Moonlight stabilized at Qingning Technology, her schedule had also returned to normal.
The two of them had gone back to their old routine from their days in Beijing—starting their mornings with voice calls.
However, for the sake of better time management, Tang Song could only fit this call into his morning workout session.
Otherwise, saying sweet nothings in front of his other "connections" would be too embarrassing.
After an hour of exercise, Tang Song ended the call and returned to his luxury penthouse.
A Surprise Bath with Zhao Yaqian
Back in his bedroom, the blanket had been neatly folded, and the room had been thoroughly cleaned.
However, there was no sign of the beautician.
As he walked into his wardrobe, he faintly heard the sound of running water from the bathroom.
Smirking, Tang Song removed his sweat-drenched workout clothes and pushed open the bathroom door.
He was immediately greeted by the sight of Zhao Yaqian preparing a bath.
Hearing movement behind her, she turned around with a radiant smile.
“Rong-ge, you’re back.”
She was wearing a camisole and shorts, looking both cozy and incredibly sexy.
Her long, sculpted legs practically glowed under the soft bathroom lights.
Tang Song stepped forward, gently wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her cheek.
Breathing in her refreshing scent, he whispered, "Thank you for your hard work, Qianqian."
“It’s not hard work at all! I’m very happy.” She shook her head earnestly, her voice soft and affectionate.
“Song-ge, the seasons are changing, and your skin is getting dry. You need more hydration. Hop in the tub, and I’ll give you a skincare treatment.”
Tang Song’s lips curved into a smile. “Alright, I’ll leave myself in your hands, Beautician-sama.”
Even though his skin had greatly improved due to the beautician buff, he still wasn’t perfectly flawless.
Skincare was essential.
Soon, warm water enveloped Tang Song, and the massage jets in the bathtub gently soothed his muscles.
A light fragrance filled the steamy bathroom.
Sitting beside him, Zhao Yaqian carefully wiped his face with a warm cloth before applying a foamy facial cleanser.
Her fingers were warm and delicate, gently massaging his chin, smoothing over his temples, and rubbing his forehead.
As she worked, she shared interesting stories from her daily life, occasionally checking on his health and workload.
Her steady, rhythmic breathing tickled his ear, making Tang Song feel completely at ease after his workout.
Time seemed to blur.
A Heartfelt Conversation
Suddenly, Tang Song murmured, “Qianqian.”
“Hmm? What is it, Song-ge?”
Her hands slowed down, and she leaned in slightly.
“You’re an incredibly talented woman.”
“From the moment I met you, I liked you a lot.”
As he spoke, he looked into her beautiful eyes and began telling her about his first impressions of her.
In his Companion Growth Plan, one of the goals for Zhao Yaqian was to strengthen her self-awareness and confidence—to clearly recognize her own value in both love and career.
He had been waiting for the right opportunity to bring this up.
And now, as she cared for him so attentively, he realized the best way to help her grow was simple—
By loving her, encouraging her, and making her believe in herself.
Zhao Yaqian quietly listened, her eyes slowly turning red as she lowered her head.
Cloud Tower, 30th Floor – Songmei Fashion
“The Brand Strategy team will first focus on user segmentation and competitor penetration analysis, refining our existing fan profile... and structuring a tiered product matrix.”
“Wang Chuang, your team’s 'Hook Material Library' is shaping up well—keep expanding it…”
Inside the large conference room, Tang Song stood in front of the projector, his expression serious as he assigned tasks.
The Brand Department had now been fully established, with Tang Song himself as the department head overseeing four specialized teams.
With the foundational staff in place, they were now entering the "Brand Strategy Foundation Phase"—the most critical period.
After the brief morning meeting concluded, the employees got up and left one after another.
Tang Song closed his laptop and turned around, his gaze falling on Cheng Qiuqiu, who remained standing, looking at him intently.
A flicker of curiosity crossed his face. "Do you need something?"
"Yes." Cheng Qiuqiu’s hands were clasped tightly, her expression full of determination. “I’ve made progress on the visual identity system for 'HEYI STUDIO'—I’d like to show you and get your feedback.”
"Oh?" Tang Song raised an eyebrow. "That fast?"
Cheng Qiuqiu pressed her lips together and said nothing, but her expectant gaze spoke volumes.
Tang Song set his things down and gestured. "Alright. Show me."
(This was actually a meme reference, but Cheng Qiuqiu clearly didn’t catch it. Instead, she just pointed to her laptop.)
Tang Song stepped closer to her.
Cheng Qiuqiu immediately turned the laptop screen toward him and pressed play.
The animated presentation began.
Tang Song’s eyes lit up instantly.
The animation, created with Cinema 4D (C4D), dynamically showcased the evolution of the logo design.
At first, it was just a graceful silk ribbon, slowly morphing into an abstract "H", forming the final HEYI STUDIO logo—sleek, stylish, and sophisticated.
As the animation ended, Cheng Qiuqiu spoke softly.
"The primary color scheme is Morandi pink with silver-gray accents. I’ve made some refinements to enhance its elegance while maintaining warmth..."
Once she finished, Tang Song clapped his hands lightly and smiled in surprise.
“This is amazing—far beyond my expectations!”
A well-executed visual identity system was crucial for establishing brand recognition.
To be cautious, Tang Song had even arranged for Xingyun International’s art consultants to help fine-tune their brand visuals.
But before they even got involved, and with the Brand Department still newly formed, Cheng Qiuqiu had already silently completed the foundation work—brilliantly.
Seeing Tang Song’s genuine excitement, Cheng Qiuqiu visibly relaxed.
“Then I’ll refine this further and put together our official design manual. That way, future designs can be more standardized and efficient.”
Tang Song’s eyes shone as he patted her shoulder. “Great. I’m counting on you—keep up the good work, Qiuqiu!”
Cheng Qiuqiu shuddered slightly, then softly replied, "Mhm."
After discussing a few more logo refinements, the two of them walked out of the conference room together.
As she followed behind Tang Song, Cheng Qiuqiu’s lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something—but in the end, she held back.
Returning to her workspace, she set down her belongings and leaned back in her chair, gently massaging her forehead.
Ever since that fateful encounter on Huai’an Road, she had felt restless.
Nervous, uneasy, even afraid.
She had wanted to explain her relationship with Gao Junfeng to Tang Song—but at the same time, she felt it wasn’t appropriate.
To cope with these feelings, she had only been sleeping four hours a night, spending the rest of her time working relentlessly.
As if burying herself in work was the only way to calm her emotions.
Now, after finally earning Tang Song’s approval, she at least felt at ease—as if she had done something meaningful for him.
At the same time, a deep fatigue suddenly washed over her.
Cheng Qiuqiu bit her lip, turned on her graphics tablet, and dove back into work.
10:00 AM – Beijing, Smile Holdings Headquarters
Inside an elevator, Tian Jing stood before the mirror-lined walls, carefully adjusting her business skirt.
To prepare for today’s big occasion, she had chosen a professional outfit, styled her hair into an elegant updo, and applied a mature, polished makeup look.
After all, she was about to meet the "Empress"—Director Jin.
"Ding—"
The elevator doors opened slowly.
Beside her, a female assistant gestured politely. “This way, please.”
Five elite mid-level executives from Smile Holdings stepped out of the elevator cautiously, their footsteps light, afraid of making even the slightest noise.
Entering the bright, softly-lit conference room, Tian Jing sat down quietly, placing her hands neatly on the dark brown wooden table, her back perfectly straight.
Her big, expressive eyes couldn’t help but wander around curiously.
This was the top floor of Smile Holdings Headquarters—where Director Jin worked daily.
As everyone waited in nervous anticipation, a series of approaching footsteps echoed through the corridor.
The meeting room door suddenly swung open.
All eyes immediately snapped toward the entrance.
A female assistant in a sleek black business suit stepped in, holding a stack of folders, her expression calm and professional.
She moved aside slightly, her gaze shifting toward the figure behind her.
A moment later—
A stunning, statuesque figure entered the room.
She wore a white silk blouse, a deep blue high-waisted pencil skirt, and nude-colored pointed heels.
It was the signature “Director Jin outfit”, highlighting her flawless physique.
Her chestnut-brown hair was elegantly coiled, the roots lifted for volume, with soft side strands framing her face—a flawless combination of refinement and power.
Her striking features were immaculately sculpted, radiating both sophistication and authority.
As her serene gaze swept across the room, she didn’t exude forcefulness—yet there was an undeniable sense of power, as if she could see straight into one’s soul.
“Tap. Tap. Tap.”
The five executives immediately sprang to their feet, speaking in unison with nervous excitement.
“Director Jin!”
Tian Jing’s eyes sparkled—she instantly entered "fangirl mode."
(V)
[Director Jin! The real, living Director Jin! She’s even more breathtaking than in photos—this is literally the ‘Cold, Elegant Empress’ anime archetype! And she’s totally SSR-tier!]
And she noticed—Director Jin’s hands were also beautiful.
She definitely had "manga hands"—delicate, slender, and elegant.
"Mhm."
Director Jin nodded calmly, her deep, autumn-water eyes exuding a gentle yet unshakable authority.
Her voice was clear and composed, yet carried undeniable weight.
"Please, take your seats."
With that, she gracefully lowered herself into the head seat.
Her movements were elegant and effortless, as if every detail had been meticulously choreographed.
The assistant placed the folders before her, then stepped back and announced, "Let’s begin with introductions."
One by one, the five executives stood up and delivered their well-rehearsed self-introductions.
Director Jin sat poised, flipping through her documents with focused serenity.
Until—
Tian Jing stood up.
For the first time, Director Jin paused, her sharp gaze locking onto her.
“Director Jin, esteemed colleagues, good morning. I’m Tian Jing, from Jinxiu Commerce, currently responsible for…”
Their eyes met.
On the surface, Xiaojing remained composed—but inside, she was screaming.
【Sugoi! Director Jin-san, kakoii!】
The meeting lasted just over ten minutes.
Once the introductions were complete, Director Jin gave a brief but encouraging speech before wrapping up the session.
Yet, no one felt slighted—if anything, they were pumped up, their blood boiling with excitement.
With Director Jin’s status, taking time out of her packed schedule to meet with mid-level executives from subsidiary companies was an extremely rare privilege.
Just as everyone was about to leave, a calm yet authoritative voice rang out.
“Tian Jing, come to my office.”
The room fell into stunned silence.
All eyes turned toward Xiaojing.
She shivered slightly, her face turning beet red.
She bowed deeply and answered loudly:
“Understood!”
Big Sis Shangguan Qiuya is amazing! She actually managed to secure a private meeting for her!
Now the question was—would she get a chance to take a picture together?!
Director Jin’s Office
The clicking of high heels echoed rhythmically across the floor as Xiaojing quickly followed behind Director Jin, sneaking glances at her elegant silhouette.
She wasn’t particularly taller than Xiaojing—but her aura was at least 2.8 meters tall.
Absolute dominance!
And that figure—she was literally a real-life version of Boa Hancock from One Piece!
Ahhh, she needs to cosplay Hancock at least once! That would shake the entire anime fandom to its core!
Because this was Jin Meixiao—the founder of Smile Holdings, the real-life “Empress”!
The office door gently swung open.
Xiaojing lowered her gaze slightly, keeping a polite smile as she followed inside.
After taking a seat in the lounge area, the assistant placed a cup of tea in front of her.
Xiaojing warmed her hands against the cup and thanked her politely.
Despite the storm raging inside her heart, she remained composed and poised on the outside.
After all, she had been raised as an elite socialite from childhood—her etiquette was impeccable.
Then suddenly—
She stiffened.
Her eyes widened in shock.
(00O"1) !
Director Jin just sat down right next to her!
And she was only 10 centimeters away!
Holy sh*t!
She desperately wanted to pat Director Jin’s head or pinch her cheeks—
But she valued her life more.
Director Jin’s Direct Offer
“Xiaojing, your performance during training was excellent,” Jin Meixiao said, her voice as smooth as a flowing stream. “Your creative proposal, in particular, left a strong impression on me.”
“Thank you for your kind words, Director Jin! I’ll keep working hard!”
Using her peripheral vision, Xiaojing stole another glance at the gorgeous and powerful woman beside her.
Her inner fangirl was doing somersaults.
I just casually wrote that proposal, and Director Jin actually liked it?!
This is the legendary "Protagonist Halo" at work!!
Arigato, Jin Meixiao-san!
Of course, Director Jin had no idea about Xiaojing’s internal monologue.
She simply looked her straight in the eyes and said:
“Tell me more about your proposal. I’m very interested.”
“Mhm!” Xiaojing immediately straightened up and explained with serious professionalism:
“The group is undergoing a digital transformation. Employee creativity and team collaboration are key. Compensation isn’t just about numbers...”
As a compensation specialist, Xiaojing actually had solid expertise.
She had studied extensively during university, and her articulation and knowledge were on point.
A faint glint of approval flickered in Director Jin’s eyes.
“Very good. The group needs employees like you—ones with ideas and the ability to execute them.”
“Thank you for your recognition, Director Jin!”
Then—a curveball.
“Xiaojing, what’s your impression of Tangyi Precision?”
Xiaojing paused for a second, then answered honestly:
“It’s an outstanding company. As a globally renowned high-tech manufacturing group, its success not only drives innovation in high-end manufacturing but also sets a benchmark for Chinese enterprises on the international stage…”
She was quick on her feet.
Smile Holdings is a major shareholder in Tangyi Precision, and Director Jin personally contributed to its rise.
Obviously, this was the time to shower praise!
Not to mention, she knew so much about the company because of her dad, Tian Chengye.
Although her dad made his fortune in real estate investment, he had always dreamed of getting into high-tech.
He constantly rambled about domestic tech firms, and just recently, he had even mortgaged company shares to invest in a new energy tech startup.
Unfortunately, her mom told her a few days ago that the company’s technology path had failed, and they were now in serious trouble—to the point where her dad was too stressed to even check up on her.
Once Xiaojing finished speaking, Director Jin turned slightly to face her directly.
“Excellent. When you return to Yan City, prepare to resign from Jinxiu Commerce. You’ll officially become an employee of Smile Holdings. After that, I will arrange for you to join Tangyi Precision.”
Xiaojing: (@_@)
Wait—that’s it?! That fast?!
Hold on—I don’t wanna be part of the corporate rat race!
I just wanna be a laid-back rich socialite, damn it!
Seeing through her inner turmoil, Director Jin’s lips curved into a faint smile. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn novel_fіre.net
Her gaze became deep and unreadable.
“What? You have other plans?”
Xiaojing bit her lip and hesitated before softly saying:
“Director Jin, I’m actually… a bit of a homebody. I don’t really want to relocate to Deep City.”
“That’s fine. You’ll work at Tangyi Precision’s Yan City branch instead.”
Xiaojing internally panicked. Her mind raced before she blurted out another excuse:
“Uhh… my dad wants me to integrate into Jinxiu Commerce’s system…”
The only reason she took a compensation specialist role at Jinxiu Commerce in the first place was because she needed industry experience to eventually inherit her dad’s shares.
With Smile Holdings’ support, Jinxiu Commerce was destined to take off.
This was her parents' biggest expectation for her future.
And Xiaojing wasn’t opposed to it—she knew she’d have to take over one day anyway.
“That’s fine. If you ever decide to return to Jinxiu Commerce, I’ll help you.”
Director Jin’s voice was gentle yet carried undeniable authority.
She raised a hand and lightly patted Xiaojing’s head.
“Xiaojing, I have high hopes for you. I truly admire you. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Hiss—”
Feeling the legendary "manga hands" ruffle her hair, Xiaojing took a deep breath.
It was as if she could hear Director Jin saying in her mind:
"Xiaojing-chan, ganbatte!"
Her face flushed bright red, and she lowered her head, her voice slightly trembling.
“Understood, Director Jin. Thank you for your trust.”
Strategic Moves
As Xiaojing disappeared through the door, Jin Meixiao smiled faintly.
Placing Tian Jing at Tangyi Precision had always been part of her plan.
Ouyang Xianyue’s influence within Tangyi Precision was growing stronger, and she needed a counterbalance.
And besides—Ouyang Xianyue was a Su Yu fangirl and close to her.
Though Tian Jing wasn’t significant yet, just like Wen Ruan and Zhao Yaqian, she would likely step onto the stage in the future.
"Knock, knock."
Assistant Lin Tiantian entered briskly.
“Director Jin, Assistant Shangguan has arrived in Yan City. Tomorrow, she will meet Wen Ruan and Lin Muxue at the Yan Province International Fashion Expo.”
“Mhm.”
Director Jin nodded calmly, her gaze drifting southward beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.