novelraw Chapter 462: Strength Unknown, Rising to the Challenge!
Chapter 462: Strength Unknown, Rising to the Challenge!
The quiet VIP room was filled with the faint aroma of tea.
Lin Muxue stood slightly behind Tang Song, gazing down at his striking side profile with endless affection in her eyes.
Her heartbeat quickened, and her fingertips trembled slightly. She wanted to reach out and touch him, but she didn’t dare.
At today’s International Fashion Exhibition opening ceremony, she had finally achieved what she had dreamed of for so long—making Wen Qiuyue taste the same pain and helplessness she had once endured.
The shadow that had weighed on her for years was completely lifted in that moment.
For the first time, she felt truly free, as if she had been reborn.
Being by Tang Song’s side right now felt like standing in the MVP spotlight after a victorious match, filling her with a deep sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
For the first time, she dared to imagine the future.
Her feelings for Tang Song had reached their peak.
To her, he had given her a second life—helping her transform her identity and achieve a real leap in social class.On the surface, she remained calm, but inside, she was bursting with excitement, so much so that her emotions nearly overflowed.
Just then, Tang Song glanced at her again, his smile particularly radiant.
Their eyes met, and Lin Muxue instinctively licked her soft, rosy lips, a surge of desire rushing through her.
She really wanted to “play a match” with him right now, but unfortunately, the venue was completely inappropriate.
After all, she had to become a squirting princess in private.
Tang Song looked away and refocused on his system interface.
In the center of the beautifully designed Companion screen, a new glowing portrait card had appeared alongside Zhao Yaqian and Wen Ruan.
The illustration was from three months ago—the first time he had been with Lin Muxue.
A slip dress, stiletto heels, long legs, and the perfect goddess aura.
At the center of the card, the words [Growth Plan Task Generating...] flashed.
Based on his past experiences with the beautician and the big sister, it would take a few more hours to finalize.
Tang Song curled his lips into a small smirk, a wave of anticipation rising in his heart.
After all this time, he finally had his third companion—he wondered what kind of growth plan would appear.
He then turned his focus to the [High Spirits] buff he had just acquired from Lin Muxue.
At the moment, he didn’t feel much of an effect—probably because his current emotions weren’t intense enough.
But judging from Lin Muxue’s reaction, this buff was clearly powerful.
It would take time to fully explore and utilize it.
“Chairman Tang.”
Sitting on the sofa, Zheng Qiudong suddenly stood up, his expression serious.
“I need to personally handle the matter with Wu Wei and Huashang Fashion. I won’t stay and disturb you any longer.”
As he spoke, his eyes subtly swept over Lin Muxue.
With his level of emotional and social intelligence, he could easily pick up on the subtle dynamic between the two.
Being the third wheel in this situation made him feel incredibly out of place.
“Alright, let’s schedule a follow-up later.”
Tang Song rose to his feet and nodded at him.
As Zheng Qiudong’s figure disappeared through the doorway, the VIP room fell silent once more.
Tang Song turned around, his gaze landing on his stunningly dressed assistant.
There was no denying it—Lin Muxue had truly come dressed to impress today.
Noticing his eyes on her, Lin Muxue instinctively brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and bent forward slightly, whispering, “I’m sorry, Chairman Tang. I came to the fashion exhibition without informing you in advance.”
Given her current position, there was no formal attendance policy for her.
But as Tang Song’s assistant, sneaking off to show off and then getting caught in the act… she couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.
Tang Song didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he took a step closer to her.
Lin Muxue’s heart skipped a beat as she rushed to explain, a hint of nervousness in her voice, “It was my mistake. I promise it won’t happen again—I’ll report my plans to you in advance from now on.”
For Lin Muxue, aside from love, there was also deep reverence for Tang Song.
She cherished everything she had gained from him.
The warmth of his breath brushed against her face, making her heartbeat spike.
And in the next second—her lips were gently captured, his warm hand resting on her waist.
A soft whimper escaped Lin Muxue’s lips as her body instantly went limp, all strength leaving her.
Tang Song’s kiss was slow and lingering, carrying an intoxicating warmth.
She raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck, pressing her body tightly against his.
Feeling her soft curves, her sweet lips, Tang Song’s heart rate began to climb.
His [High Spirits] buff activated—his mind grew clearer, his energy surged, and even his kisses became more intense.
A deep, pleased groan escaped him as he pinned Lin Muxue against the wall.
His lips trailed from her delicate jawline down to her neck and collarbone.
Lin Muxue leaned against the wall, her head tilted back, panting heavily, her mind going completely blank.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before Tang Song’s movements slowed, and their lips gradually parted.
Her cheeks were flushed, her gaze unfocused, and her lips slightly swollen.
For the first time, she had experienced Tang Song’s raw possessiveness and gentle yet dominant love.
She felt like she was floating, weightless—completely swept away.
“Xiaoxue, are you okay?”
Tang Song’s deep, magnetic voice carried a teasing smile.
Lin Muxue blinked in a daze before snapping back to reality, her voice trembling slightly.
“I… I’m fine.”
Tang Song patted her firm backside and asked casually, “By the way, what’s going on with Lingling?”
Through the glass window earlier, he had seen Yao Lingling and Wen Qiuyue in some sort of confrontation.
But he wasn’t aware of the details.
“It’s like this…”
Lin Muxue quickly recounted the events in full, without any embellishments.
After listening, Tang Song pondered for a moment before saying, “I’ll handle this matter.”
His Growth Plan Task required him to build a design team.
With Songmei Fashion’s current scale and strength, it was nearly impossible to recruit an entire team at once.
And since he couldn’t cheat his way through the mission, he had to operate within commercial rules.
For the initial phase, he planned to use an outsourcing + core team approach—hiring one or two in-house designers to oversee brand aesthetics while outsourcing the rest to Huashang Fashion’s team.
The key designer needed to deeply understand the brand’s DNA and ensure stylistic consistency.
Once the company scaled up, he would then poach an entire design team.
Without a doubt, Yao Lingling was an excellent candidate.
“Understood, Chairman Tang.”
Lin Muxue responded, then hesitated briefly before whispering, “Do you need… anything else?”
As she spoke, her gaze instinctively drifted to his lower abdomen, her heart racing wildly.
This location wasn’t exactly ideal, but… if Tang Song needed it, she could try.
“No, that’s all. I’m giving you half the afternoon off—you’ve been working hard lately.”
“Thank you, Chairman Tang.”
Lin Muxue pinched her fingers together, a faint trace of disappointment flashing in her eyes.
“Oh, right.”
Tang Song chuckled, his fingers gliding over her soft, warm skin.
“Are you free tonight? I’d like to take you to dinner.”
He already had lunch planned with Wen Ruan and a meeting at Songmei Fashion in the afternoon.
By evening, her Growth Plan Task should be ready—perfect timing to let this former fake heiress choose her next path.
Hearing this, Lin Muxue’s eyes instantly lit up.
“Yes! I’ll be waiting for your call!”
She had a feeling…
Tonight, it was going to pour.
A sleek, metallic gray Porsche 911 glided through the city streets like an elegant bolt of lightning.
In the passenger seat, Xu Ning shifted in her seat excitedly. "Xiaoxue, you were so badass today! You totally put Wen Qiuyue in her place—she was humiliated like a loser! And your boyfriend, Tang Song? Even the high-ranking officials were treating him with so much respect."
"Heh." Lin Muxue let out a soft chuckle, raising an eyebrow. "You got all the photos and videos, right?"
"Of course! Both video and pictures—everything turned out great!"
To avoid interfering at a critical moment, Xu Ning had stayed in the background during most of Lin Muxue’s time in the VIP lounge, simply observing and taking photos.
But she had witnessed Lin Muxue’s absolute dominance and stunning presence firsthand—she still hadn’t calmed down from it.
Lin Muxue, in high spirits, said, "Sort them out for me later. I’m going to post them on my social media."
"Mm-hmm! Leave it to me!"
That afternoon, the two of them went to an upscale restaurant and treated themselves to a luxurious meal before heading back to Lanfeng International Apartments.
Lin Muxue carefully picked out an outfit for her evening date, then took a long, relaxing bath. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel⁂fire.net
Wrapped in a bathrobe, she lounged on the sofa, letting her hair air-dry while watching a variety show.
Laughter filled the cozy living room.
After a while, Lin Muxue seemed to remember something. She picked up her phone and tapped on the screen a few times.
Then she turned to Xu Ning. "I just transferred ¥30,000 to you."
"Huh?!" Xu Ning gasped, staring at her in shock. "That’s… way too much…"
"Use it to pay off your credit card bill on the 20th, and whatever’s left, put it toward your rent." Lin Muxue’s expression was relaxed. "I already spoke to the property management. Your rent has been cut in half, and you can pay monthly."
Now that she had 500g of gold she could cash out anytime, plus a fresh ¥50,000 paycheck, her wallet was feeling quite full.
Xu Ning stared at the transfer notification on her phone, hesitating. "This… this is too much… I don’t need that much. ¥25,000 is more than enough."
"We’ll go shopping this weekend. It’s a new season—you need some new clothes."
Xu Ning froze for a moment before suddenly turning and hugging her tightly.
A soft, stifled sob escaped her.
After a long moment, she wiped away her tears and said sincerely, "Thank you, Xiaoxue. I swear, I’ll never do anything to betray you."
"Tch~~" Lin Muxue knocked on her head playfully. "You make it sound like you’re my girlfriend or something. Don’t get any ideas—I’m not interested in you."
"Pfft—!" Xu Ning burst into laughter.
The two of them goofed around on the sofa for a while, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed, bringing them back to the carefree days of two years ago.
Then Xu Ning suddenly looked at Lin Muxue, concern in her eyes. "By the way, Xiaoxue… Have you reconnected with your family yet? You’re doing so well now, and they…"
"Stop. I don’t want to talk about this." Lin Muxue’s smile slowly faded.
Xu Ning lowered her voice. "I just think… Your parents probably had a tough time too. It’s been over a year since you last went home."
Lin Muxue pursed her lips slightly, her gaze flickering with complex emotions.
She was born into a rural family in Shaanxi Province, with an older brother four years her senior.
Since she was young, her parents had drilled into her that their family was poor, that she shouldn’t cause trouble, and that she shouldn’t compare herself to others.
As if she ever had the luxury to compare.
In high school, her monthly allowance was ¥350—how was she supposed to compete with anyone?
Even in college, her living expenses were capped at ¥500. She could barely afford anything.
Everything—her phone, laptop, clothes, makeup—she had bought with money she earned from part-time jobs.
When it was time to find a job after graduation, she knew she could pay her way into becoming a flight attendant at a top airline.
But she never even dared to ask her family for help.
Later, thanks to her looks and hard work, she started making money as a model.
The income was unstable, but she always tried to send some money back home when she could—how much she sent depended entirely on how much she earned.
Her parents thought she had landed a good job and bragged about her to relatives, saying they were "saving it as her dowry" and wouldn’t touch it.
She had always been a responsible daughter.
But then her brother got engaged and needed to buy a house.
Without hesitation, her parents handed over the entire ¥200,000 they had saved for her, even selling the plot of land they had promised to give her.
Nobody told her.
Nobody asked for her opinion.
It was as if she wasn’t even part of the family.
At the time, she had just suffered humiliation from Wen Qiuyue and was already on the brink of collapse.
And then—her mother showed up in Yan City, supposedly to “visit her,” but in reality, to ask for money.
She wanted Lin Muxue to lend her brother more money to help with the down payment and ease their financial burden.
It was unbearable.
She had argued fiercely with her mother that day, and after that, she had never gone back home.
Every penny she earned afterward was invested in herself.
She moved in with Xu Ning at Yanjing Huating, living a seemingly glamorous life on the surface.
Xu Ning probably brought it up now because she had seen Lin Muxue finally let go of her grudge against Wen Qiuyue and thought she should try to mend things with her family too.
Lin Muxue wasn’t a cold-hearted person.
She had once deeply loved her family.
And after all this time, she no longer harbored as much resentment.
But the feeling of being cast aside… that never really went away.
After a long silence, Lin Muxue suddenly stood up, her expression blank.
"This is my own business. Just stay out of it."
Xu Ning opened her mouth, but in the end, she didn’t dare to push further.
Back in her bedroom, Lin Muxue sat on the bed in a daze for a long time.
She picked up her phone and opened a picture of Tang Song.
Staring at his face, her mood slowly improved.
To her, Tang Song was the closest person she had now.
She would never leave him.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Muxue shook off the heavy thoughts and focused on getting ready.
Strictly speaking, this was their first official date, and it meant a lot to her.
She wouldn’t let anything—or anyone—ruin her mood.
Tonight had to be perfect.
Yunxi Tower, Songmei Fashion
Tang Song had just returned to his office with his laptop when a crisp system notification sounded in his ears.
Ding! [Companion - Lin Muxue] Growth Plan has been generated. Please proceed to the [Companion] module to view.
Tang Song’s eyes lit up.
He quickly sat down in his chair, opened the system interface, and navigated to the Companion module.
Lin Muxue’s portrait was glowing with a soft aura.
He tapped the card to check the details.
The interface switched, revealing two sections in contrasting colors.
[Companion: Lin Muxue (23)]
[Role: Confluent Capital - Executive Assistant]
[Height: 173cm, Weight: 52kg]
[Strength: 67, Stamina: 63, Agility: 70, Intelligence: 72] (Note: Male and female attribute standards differ.)
[Growth Progress: 35%]
To the right, a selection menu appeared:
[Please choose the Companion Growth Mode]
[Choose Your Companion's Growth Mode]
A: Easy Mode (Elite Socialite) – Focuses on building a top-tier companion and a high-society darling. Sign a contract with Slover Trust Family Office and gain access to a $10 million luxury lifestyle fund, exclusive collaboration lines with high-end fashion brands, Black Gold VIP memberships at the world’s top 10 medical aesthetics institutions, and automatic renewal of VVIP seats at Haute Couture Fashion Week… Requires moderate resources and minimal emotional investment.
B: Standard Mode (Personal Assistant) – Focuses on developing a precise executive and personal life manager for the player. Handles private scheduling, including medical aesthetics, household affairs, and travel planning. Manages high-end social resources and luxury service relations… Requires significant resources and moderate emotional investment.
C: Hard Mode (Executive Assistant) – Focuses on creating a proxy-level private assistant, balancing both business coordination and personal support. Gains remote Master’s degree enrollment at a TOP 100 university, participation in family office non-public decision-making, oversight of global travel, medical, and beauty resources, and management of the player’s non-core assets (wineries, private jets, yachts)… Requires extensive financial resources and moderate emotional investment.
D: Custom Mode – The player manually tailors a plan, including options like Socialite, Life Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Elite Executive, etc.
[Note 1: The first three options are optimized based on Lin Muxue’s skills, upbringing, cognitive level, and personality.]
[Note 2: The chosen mode will determine her growth trajectory and impact her overall competence at the end of the plan.]
[Note 3: Companions also contribute to the player’s charm rating, offering an additional bonus. Choose wisely.]
Tang Song carefully read through all the options.
The system’s three preset paths had clear connections to Lin Muxue’s current abilities.
[Elite Socialite] seemed tailor-made for her—it was practically a perfect fit. The training tasks would be effortless for her.
[Personal Assistant] was also well within her current capabilities, since she was already fulfilling that role to some extent.
[Executive Assistant], on the other hand, was a top-tier position.
It required expertise across finance, law, management, and technology, making it far beyond her current reach.
For example, the assistants recruited by Secretary Jin, such as Shangguan Qiuya and Qin Yingxue, were all trained toward becoming Executive Assistants.
Once they reached a certain level, they would help manage an industry sector under him.
But for Lin Muxue, most of the training assigned by the system was centered around luxury and social refinement. There wasn’t much specialized knowledge or professional expertise in the mix, and it was even linked to the Tang Jin Family Office.
From his perspective, [Executive Assistant] was clearly the most beneficial choice.
It had the highest potential and would yield the best returns for him.
It would also allow her to handle some of his game-related assets and business interactions.
But since she was his companion, the final choice would be hers.
Even if she chose to lie back and enjoy life as a glamorous socialite, he would accept it and support her.
Knock, knock.
A sudden knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
Tang Song immediately straightened up and closed the system interface.
A moment later, Gao Mengting walked in, wearing a stylish office outfit, her steps light and her face glowing with happiness.
Tang Song raised an eyebrow. "Why do you look so excited?"
"Hehe."
Gao Mengting walked up to his desk and handed him a car key.
"I finally got my new ride—a Mercedes-Benz E-Class. So, this Wuling Hongguang officially goes back to its rightful owner."
Tang Song immediately understood, laughing.
"Congratulations, Mengting. Should we celebrate with a hug?"
He had previously arranged for the company to provide her with a car—now, she had finally received it.
"Get lost, you perv!" Gao Mengting shot him a playful glare, then grinned. "Anyway, it’s almost time to clock out. I’m taking Qiuqiu out for a spin, and we’re planning to have a little wine night at home. Want to join us?"
Tang Song hesitated, looking a little guilty.
"Uh… I already have plans tonight."
Gao Mengting’s expression froze for a split second before she smirked.
"Alright, your loss. Qiuqiu’s wearing a slip dress at home—I was even going to let you check out her ‘assets.’"
"Next time, I swear!"
The two bantered for a bit before shifting to a discussion about brand development strategies.
Soon after, Gao Mengting walked out of the office with a lighthearted stride.
Watching her leave, Tang Song sighed.
He really felt a little guilty toward his business partner.
With all the work piling up—and his wings spreading—he hadn’t been spending much private time with her.
Their company’s upcoming team-building trip to Wushan would be the perfect chance to make it up to her.
Refocusing on his screen, he continued analyzing Lin Muxue’s growth plan options.
Ding Dong!
His WeChat notification suddenly chimed.
[Lin Muxue: (#obedient) I’m ready.]
Tang Song checked the time—6:15 PM.
Outside, the sky had already darkened.
He quickly replied:
[On my way. About 10 minutes.]
After putting his phone away, he stretched and started packing up.
Then, his gaze landed on the Wuling Hongguang key on his desk.
A playful smile crossed his face.
It had been his first car, and his first meeting with Lin Muxue had happened the day he picked it up.
They had gone to Shengwei Pavilion for dinner that night.
Without hesitation, Tang Song grabbed the Wuling key, informed Liu Jiayi, and took the elevator straight to the underground parking lot.
There, the bright white Wuling Hongguang S stood proudly.
Chuckling, he got in.
Moments later, the Wuling Hongguang smoothly pulled out of the parking space.
Lanfeng International Luxury Apartments
A tall, curvaceous figure stepped out of the glass doors, walking elegantly along the stone pavement toward the sidewalk.
It was peak rush hour, and the city streets bustled with traffic and pedestrians.
Yet she stood apart.
Dressed in a Chanel haute couture evening gown and carrying a limited-edition LV handbag, she exuded an aura of effortless luxury.
People instinctively slowed their steps as they passed by, nearly 100% of them turning their heads.
Men admired her stunning beauty.
Women scrutinized her outfit and accessories.
Some even discreetly snapped photos on their phones.
A few young professionals fresh out of college stood nearby, their eyes wide as they struggled to move their feet.
"Damn… that woman is insane!"
"Bro, I wish I knew who was dating someone like her. I’d die of jealousy."
"If she were my girlfriend, I’d break my ribs to make soup for her."
"Yeah, right. Would you even have the guts to approach her?"
"…No."
"Then shut up. Just work hard, make money, and buy a BBA (BMW, Benz, Audi)!"
"Pfft, as if a basic BBA could land a girl like that! You’d need a Ferrari at minimum."
As they continued their banter, a car suddenly pulled up beside the woman—its hazard lights flashing.
Beep beep—
A crisp horn sounded.
The passenger window rolled down, revealing a shadowy figure inside.
"Holy sh*t! Some Wuling driver actually tried to hit on her?!"
"Bruh… that’s comedy gold. What a clown!"
"This is the funniest sh*t I’ve seen all year! Hahaha!"
"Wait, don’t laugh yet… Remember, Wuling drivers—strength unknown. They rise to any challenge! Hahahaha!"
But just as they laughed—
The stunning woman’s face lit up with a radiant smile.
She gracefully opened the passenger door, lifted her gown slightly, and elegantly slid into the seat.
The door closed.
The window rolled up.
And just like that, she disappeared from their sight.