novelraw Chapter 465: Wen Ruan and Liu Qingning
Chapter 465: Wen Ruan and Liu Qingning
3:30 p.m.
Yunxi Tower, Songmei Fashion.
“Let’s go, Qiuqiu. Time for the meeting.”
Cheng Qiuqiu saved her file, grabbed her laptop, and stood up to follow her colleague toward the meeting room.
Her fingers unconsciously traced the edge of her laptop, a twinge of unease welling in her chest.
Today, the art director hired from 4A firm—Xingyun International—was officially starting.
The meeting mainly involved a few members from the Brand Visual Team and the Livestream Visual Team.
This meeting would determine the final direction of the brand’s visual system—and whether her design would be retained.
In other words, she was the main focus today.
She pushed open the meeting room door.Zhao Mingwei from the Strategy Team was already waiting there. He smiled and gestured toward the front, “The video conference is live. This is Lin Zishan, a senior designer from Xingyun International Group, and our visual director for this collaboration.”
Cheng Qiuqiu’s gaze fell on the large LED screen.
On screen was a woman in her thirties, dressed in a sharply tailored women's blazer, her hair neatly tied back, exuding confidence and composure.
Behind her was a bookshelf lined with design awards and art books—she looked both professional and authoritative.
“Good afternoon, colleagues from Songmei,” Lin Zishan’s voice came through the speakers.
“Good afternoon, Director Lin.”
“Afternoon.”
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, everyone took their seats and introduced themselves in turn.
They chatted for another ten minutes before Lin Zishan’s eyes swept across the screen. Her tone was gentle, but firm:
“Qiuqiu, I’ve reviewed your design. I think the transformation process of the ribbon is too complex—it lacks directness. Consumers don’t have time to interpret such details. We need a simpler and more impactful visual symbol.”
Hearing that, Cheng Qiuqiu froze slightly and explained, “My intention was to express the elegance and fluidity of the brand through the ribbon’s details. That’s the soul of our fashion line.”
She continued explaining her design concept.
“You used to do graphic design, right? UI and UX?”
Hearing Lin Zishan’s patronizing tone, Cheng Qiuqiu pressed her lips together. “Yes, that’s right.”
As a contract consultant, she knew Lin Zishan had probably already reviewed the resumes of all their designers.
“Brand visual design needs to prioritize practical impact—it’s very different from your past work.” Lin Zishan’s voice turned stern. “Your approach is too artistic. It may look nice, but it doesn’t resonate with the market. What we need is something that immediately catches the consumer’s eye, not a piece of art that needs to be deciphered.”
“So you’re saying…” Wang Dandan’s voice was slightly strained.
Lin Zishan’s tone grew even more hesitant, “Something more literal! You could even fold a piece of fabric into a letter shape—it would tie directly to the industry’s nature and be easier to remember…”
Her critique continued.
Cheng Qiuqiu kept her head down, lips tightly pressed.
She had poured countless hours into this design, staying up late night after night. She had been so confident—she’d even shown it to Tang Song during the early drafts.
But now, a seasoned expert was tearing it apart. Worse yet, it might even delay the company’s branding efforts.
She had no experience in commercial brand visual systems. Designing this logo and its color scheme had been based on her previous work and instinct. Even if she wanted to argue back, she didn’t know where to start.
Panic began to set in.
On the outside, she may have seemed cold and distant to her colleagues.
But inside, she was a mess of emotion.
Lin Zishan clearly picked up on her attitude and frowned. “Qiuqiu, I’m here to offer professional guidance, not to compete with you. If you have objections, speak up now.”
“I…” Cheng Qiuqiu lifted her head, her face tense. “I’ll redesign a new version.”
She knew her weakness—communication. She didn’t know how to frame her ideas in a way others would accept.
Lin Zishan shook her head. “I don’t think you understand. I want you to abandon your previous habits and truly think in commercial terms.”
Just then, the meeting room door opened softly.
“President Tang!”
“President Tang!”
Everyone stood up immediately.
Even Lin Zishan greeted him through the screen.
Cheng Qiuqiu, however, remained seated, her gaze fixed on the man at the door—Tang Song.
Today, he wore a light blue button-down shirt, casual yet polished.
His long, fair fingers casually twirled a fountain pen with practiced ease.
“Good afternoon, everyone.” Tang Song smiled and nodded. “How’s the discussion going? Personally, I think Qiuqiu’s design is excellent. Are there any points we could improve upon?”
Hearing his words, Cheng Qiuqiu’s lips parted slightly. She lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze.
Her senior had pulled strings to get her this job, with generous pay and benefits. Tang Song had shown her nothing but trust.
But her work hadn’t met the mark.
What would he think of her now?
Would he believe she wasn’t cut out for this job?
Would he replace her?
Or outsource the whole project to a professional agency?
If that happened, what would be left for her to do here?
A wave of self-doubt came crashing in.
Shame.
Guilt.
Insecurity. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel[f]ire.net
The overwhelming urge to quit and leave Yancheng altogether.
Lin Zishan’s voice softened again. “President Tang, I just felt the design lacked commercial viability and didn’t align well with market demand, so I gave some feedback. It’s all for the good of the project—I hope your team can understand.”
Just as Tang Song was about to respond, a crisp system notification chimed in his ear:
Ding! A suitable scene and character detected. Special item [Dream Seed] has been triggered. Cultivator [Cheng Qiuqiu] has been locked.
A sparkling golden seed floated up from Tang Song and gently drifted onto Cheng Qiuqiu’s forehead.
At the same time, a progress bar appeared above her head:
[Cultivating... 1%...]
Tang Song raised an eyebrow, casting an intrigued glance at Cheng Qiuqiu, then spoke calmly:
“Thank you, Director Lin. Your expertise and experience are exactly what our design team needs. Qiuqiu is a bit introverted—she struggles with communication—but she’s a truly talented designer with a lot of creative spark.”
As he spoke, he gave Cheng Qiuqiu a gentle pat on the shoulder, his voice warm and steady:
“Qiuqiu, if you run into any problems, come talk to me. Anytime.”
Cheng Qiuqiu’s body trembled slightly. She bit her lip gently.
“Understood, President Tang,” Lin Zishan smiled brightly. “Apologies, Qiuqiu—I may have come off a little harsh earlier.”
As a well-known designer and a core member of Xingyun International Group, she had been assigned to mentor a fresh graduate. Naturally, she wanted to establish her authority upfront to make things smoother later.
But she had also been warned—this President Tang was the boyfriend of the company’s Chairwoman Wen Ruan, and absolutely not someone to offend.
Now that he had shown up in person, she knew it was time to dial things back.
“Alright, let’s resume the meeting,” Tang Song said as he sat down beside Cheng Qiuqiu.
The meeting soon continued.
Cheng Qiuqiu stared at the screen, but this time, a strange sense of calm settled over her.
She snuck a peek at Tang Song beside her, only to find his gaze already on her—carrying a hint of something she couldn’t quite decipher.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly straightened up in her seat.
The glow around Tang Song shimmered faintly. His fingers kept casually spinning the pen.
According to the [Dream Seed] description, the seed absorbed the cultivator’s inner darkness and negative energy...
He never expected that beneath Qiuqiu’s calm and aloof exterior, there was a side of her no one knew.
Apparently, her coolness wasn’t just a personality trait.
That air of mystery stirred something deep in him—an intense urge to explore.
It was as if lifting the veil might reveal an entirely new world.
But the seed had only just been planted.
It would need time to sprout.
And once it did, they would be connected in a very special way.
That thought made the corners of Tang Song’s lips curl slightly. His gaze landed on Cheng Qiuqiu once more, a subtle sense of anticipation in his eyes.
Some time passed.
“Bzzz—” Tang Song’s phone suddenly buzzed.
Wen Ruan: "I’ve landed in Shenzhen. Tonight, I’ll finally meet your white moonlight."
Wen Ruan: "Hmph. If she dares mess with me, I’ll show her what 130 pounds of pure gold feels like!"
Tang Song’s eye twitched. His thoughts instantly flew 2,000 kilometers away to Shenzhen.
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.
Bright lights flooded the terminal, packed with streams of people.
As the plane taxied to a stop and the cabin doors opened, a soft light illuminated the private passageway.
Wen Ruan rose from her seat and exited the VIP corridor with her assistant, Wang Dandan, in tow.
A fiery, sensual figure and a perfectly styled outfit—
she caught the gaze of more than a few bystanders.
The pick-up staff, who had been waiting, stepped forward and bowed slightly.
“Chairwoman Wen, the car is ready. It’s currently rush hour, so it’ll take about 50 minutes to reach Raffles Shenzhen Bay from the airport.”
“Got it. Thank you.” Wen Ruan nodded slightly, her eyes sweeping over the busy traffic beyond the terminal.
As someone who loved to travel—and used to write travel blogs on her public account—she’d naturally been to Shenzhen before.
She even had a few old friends here.
But this visit was entirely different.
This time, Juqing Slover Trust had arranged everything: a private jet, luxury cars, a customized itinerary, and full security detail.
For the first time, she was truly aware—her identity had changed.
They walked in silence to the parking lot.
The security driver took Wang Dandan’s luggage and placed it in the trunk, then respectfully opened the Maybach’s door for Wen Ruan.
A soft sandalwood scent lingered in the air.
The leather seat was plush and cozy, sealing her away from the noise outside.
Once the car was on the road, Wen Ruan leaned back, eyes closed in rest. Her slender fingers tapped lightly on her knee.
Wang Dandan scrolled through her phone, then began briefing her on the itinerary.
“Tonight’s welcome dinner is set for 7:30 p.m., at the hotel’s multi-function banquet hall. The organizers specifically mentioned that several key clients and partners will be attending. They hope you’ll make an appearance. Tomorrow at 9 a.m.…”
Though her assistant’s voice remained steady, Wen Ruan’s thoughts had already begun to drift.
Liu Qingning—Tang Song’s childhood friend. His white moonlight.
For her, Tang Song had stayed in the Imperial Capital for three years, living as an ordinary man by her side.
It was also because of Liu Qingning that he returned to Yancheng—
which eventually led to their "arranged date."
Her significance in Tang Song’s life was undeniable.
And now Wen Ruan had to take the fall for this damn man, standing alone to face Liu Qingning’s “pressure” and engage in a head-on battle.
Even Su Yu would have to kneel in respect if she knew about this!
6:00 p.m.
Their group arrived at Raffles Shenzhen Bay Hotel.
The polished marble floor reflected soft lighting, and the air held a faint floral fragrance.
Check-in was quick and smooth.
The hotel staff, clearly prepared in advance, were warm and professional.
With room key in hand, Wen Ruan took the elevator to her executive suite on a high floor.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the last rays of sunset spilled in, painting the sea in gold. The view was calming and breathtaking.
Wen Ruan stood silently at the window, gazing out, a hint of contemplation in her expression.
“Chairwoman Wen, would you like to rest for a bit?” Wang Dandan asked softly.
“No need. We’re short on time,” Wen Ruan replied casually, taking off her blazer and handing it to Wang Dandan. Then she walked into the bathroom to freshen up her makeup.
By the time she emerged, Wang Dandan had already hung up her dress in the walk-in closet.
Wen Ruan changed into an elegant evening gown, paired it with earrings and sleek high heels.
After carefully checking herself in the mirror, she gently touched the Vow Necklace around her neck, a bright smile rising on her face.
This necklace was a token between her and Tang Song—
a symbol of her hope and unwavering conviction for the future.
Sure, the story between Liu Qingning and Tang Song was touching.
But when it came to love, she didn’t believe she had any less to offer than anyone else.
Her love might not be as long-lasting, but it was fiery and sincere.
If anyone tried to take her happiness, she wouldn’t back down—not even a step.
“Chairwoman Wen, the banquet starts in 15 minutes,” Wang Dandan reminded her gently.
“Alright. Let’s go.” Wen Ruan turned gracefully and stepped out of the walk-in closet with composed elegance.
Ding— The elevator doors slid open.
Led by hotel staff, they stopped in front of the banquet hall.
After showing their digital invitation—
The reception staff from Qingning Technology became even more enthusiastic.
“Thank you, Chairwoman Wen, for making time in your busy schedule to attend tonight’s event. We hope you have a wonderful evening. Please, this way!”
Wen Ruan offered a polite thank-you and stepped inside.
Melodic violin music drifted through the air, mingling with the sounds of conversation. The atmosphere was both cozy and grand.
Guests bustled about inside the ballroom.
Chandeliers sparkled brilliantly overhead.
Long tables were adorned with a dazzling spread of delicacies.
Wen Ruan’s entrance instantly drew attention.
Low murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Wang Dandan took a glass of red wine from a waiter and passed it to her.
Wen Ruan accepted it casually but didn’t rush to mingle.
Her gaze swept across the room—she was clearly searching for someone.
And then, their eyes met across the space.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Her eyes locked on a figure walking toward her from the crowd.
Black hair cascading naturally, not very tall, with a sweet and youthful face.
Dressed in a smart professional skirt suit, her full chest proudly lifted.
The classic “baby face, curvy body” type—beautiful and instantly eye-catching.
Wen Ruan drew in a deep breath, suppressing the stir of emotions.
A bright, warm smile lit up her face as she stepped forward.
“Hello, Qingning. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Hello, Wen Ruan.” Liu Qingning’s voice was soft, but carried a barely noticeable tremble.
She looked up at the tall, voluptuous woman before her, a complex flicker in her eyes.
The real Wen Ruan… was even more stunning than she imagined.
A deep blue silk gown, the hem sweeping gently across the floor, perfectly tracing every seductive curve of her body.
Strikingly beautiful features, radiant and confident eyes—
Every move she made exuded mature, captivating charm.
This was Wen Ruan.
The woman who had “taken Tang Song away.”