novelraw Chapter 474: Xiaojing and Wen Ruan’s First Meeting
Chapter 474: Xiaojing and Wen Ruan’s First Meeting
Huashang Fashion Headquarters, 8th Floor, Chairman’s Office.
Knock knock knock—
“Come in.” He Jingping stubbed out his cigarette and looked up.
He Zhihui and CFO Li Mingjie walked quickly into the room.
“Dad.” “Chairman He.”
He Jingping nodded and gestured for them to sit.
He Zhihui, unusually serious today, took the initiative to pour tea for all three of them.
“How did things go? They’re gone now?” He Jingping picked up his teacup and took a sip.
He Zhihui curled his lips, “They finally left. Made such a big fuss—if you didn’t know better, you’d think we were about to go public and getting audited. Especially that Tang Song, never even showed his face. Just sent people over to slow down our operations.”
“All right, enough from you.” He Jingping’s tone was stern. He turned to Li Mingjie and asked, “Mingjie, there weren’t any issues, right?”Li Mingjie answered calmly, “No, their operation was clean and efficient. They mainly reviewed profits, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. They didn’t delve into specific contracts or conduct in-depth due diligence.”
“Good.” He Jingping nodded and allowed a small smile. “Looks like they just wanted to show some presence. Young people—always like to express dissatisfaction this way.”
Li Mingjie nodded in agreement, a relieved expression on his face.
The auditors Tang Song sent were clearly experienced and professional, likely from a major financial institution.
As a company with over seventy years of history, it was inevitable that Huashang Fashion had some internal issues.
If they had really decided to dig deep, there would definitely be plenty of holes to uncover.
As one of the core executives and the CFO, Li Mingjie had been under a lot of pressure.
Luckily, they didn’t probe too hard, so he could finally relax a little.
He Jingping fell into thought for a moment, then suddenly said, “Mingjie, make sure the related-party transactions are more standardized from now on. Global Connect’s pricing also needs to be adjusted—keep it transparent and fair, so no one can use it against us later.”
Li Mingjie paused, then nodded, “Understood, Chairman He. Is this in preparation for the company’s delisting?”
“Mm.” He Jingping’s expression grew serious. “This was a wake-up call for all of you. The audit during delisting will be very strict. Optimization beforehand is essential. Try to increase reliance on affiliated suppliers, and avoid introducing independent third-party vendors.”
With related-party transactions, even though he had always been cautious, over the years, a lot of blood had been siphoned from Huashang Fashion—and quietly too.
Once the delisting process began, regulatory bodies would likely scrutinize the company’s financials and operations over the past eight years.
To pass that review smoothly, it was crucial to start cutting off potential risks early.
Assuming everything went well with the joint venture, in a year or two, Huashang Fashion might very well be delisted. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ nοvelfire.net
Compared to those small interests, the current losses weren’t even worth mentioning.
Just then, the phone rang.
He Jingping picked up his phone, glanced at the screen, and answered with a cheerful tone, “President Huang! What made you think to call me out of the blue?”
“Oh? Who?”
“Slover Trust? From Hong Kong?”
“Alright, let’s talk tonight then.”
After hanging up, He Jingping’s expression turned a little strange.
He Zhihui quickly asked, “What is it, Dad?”
He Jingping waved his hand to silence him and walked over to the desk.
He pulled out a phone directory and began dialing the landline.
“Hey, Brother Zhang, how have you been lately?”
“Nothing major. Huashang Fashion has a big move coming—might hold a shareholder meeting. Just giving you a heads-up. Don’t worry, it’s a good thing!”
“Haha, by the way, we’ve known each other for years—if you ever consider selling your shares, make sure I’m the first to know.”
“Alright then, talk soon.”
After hanging up, He Jingping made two more calls.
Only after a few minutes did he return to the couch.
Li Mingjie asked in a low voice, “Chairman He, is someone trying to buy our company’s shares?”
He Jingping shook his head, “Just that a trust company from Hong Kong suddenly reached out to Huang Yangming—they want to buy his 0.8% stake. But they didn’t agree on the price, so he asked me about it. I just contacted a few shareholders and institutional heads—none of them have heard anything.”
Li Mingjie frowned, “Could it be Huang trying to drive up the price? Maybe he’s using it as an excuse to get you to buy it?”
“That’s possible.” He Jingping pondered, then said quietly to He Zhihui, “Zhihui, talk to Wu Wei. Have headquarters allocate some production capacity from the new flexible line to help with Songmei Fashion’s OEM orders.”
“Dad, why are you doing this? Isn’t that showing weakness to Tang Song? Besides, we barely have enough capacity for our own brand!”
“No point dragging this out. Just do as I say.” He Jingping’s tone was firm. “Right now, stabilizing the situation and ensuring the joint venture goes through is our top priority. Everything else can wait.”
Huashang Fashion’s recent upgrades added two new product lines—
One for their in-house brand, and the other for OEM customization.
The OEM line was already designated for the joint venture and couldn’t be touched.
As for the in-house brand’s e-commerce performance, it wasn’t ideal. Making some compromises was acceptable.
He Jingping felt he’d already extended enough goodwill. He didn’t believe Tang Song would turn it down.
After all, there were no fundamental interest conflicts between them, and he had already made the first move.
He Zhihui clenched his jaw, nodded reluctantly, and got up to leave.
He had a few more quiet words with Li Mingjie.
Meanwhile, He Jingping’s eyes flickered. He picked up the phone and dialed another number.
In a low voice, he said, “Secretary Zhang, I want to schedule a shareholder meeting before the Mid-Autumn holiday. We’ll vote on the establishment of the joint venture. Please arrange the time, prep the materials, and notify all shareholders.”
After hanging up, He Jingping exhaled deeply, though unease still lingered in his heart.
Ever since Tang Song suddenly acquired 35% of the shares and disrupted all his plans, he had been uneasy.
Now hearing similar rumors from Huang Yangming, he couldn’t help but feel like a bird startled by every gust of wind.
Confluent Capital — Large Conference Room
“We’ve conducted a full analysis of Huashang’s financial reports over the past three years… OEM business accounts for 68%, proprietary brands 32%...”
“We used a cross-validation approach with DCF and relative valuation… WACC set at 7.95%, with a mean of 1.2…”
“A scale adjustment factor has been applied, and the final valuation range is between 2.04 and 2.31 billion yuan.”
Huashang Fashion equity acquisition lead Geraint (Liu Zhengping) stood before the projector screen, reporting on the project’s progress.
Lin Muxue sat to the left of Tang Song, eyes shining and expression excited.
This was the first time she had truly participated in financial work—not just tagging along, but actively involved. It meant a lot.
And the target this time was He Zhihui. That made her even more thrilled.
Seeing the team’s pace, she felt it wouldn’t be long before she could show up in front of He Zhihui as the victor—and utterly crush him.
Back when she was just a little freelance model, she could only avoid and endure around guys like him. The frustration still lingered.
Especially since that idiot had dared to hit on her and even send harassing messages.
Unbelievable! Do you even know whose woman I am now? Hmph!
Lin Muxue bit her lip, her glistening eyes drifting toward Tang Song at the head of the table.
Her gaze landed on his long, smooth fingers, and she shivered involuntarily.
Today’s high was 33 degrees, and she was only wearing a skirt—no stockings.
Inside the president’s office, she got a personal taste of the greatness of the “Heartthrob Hands.”
No doubt about it—Tang Song’s hands were invincible! Only those who’ve experienced them would understand!
Just after 11 a.m., the meeting officially ended.
Lin Muxue packed up Tang Song’s laptop and followed behind him out the door.
She asked softly, “President Tang, do you have anything in mind for lunch? I can make a reservation.”
“No need. Just the staff meal with you is fine.” Tang Song paused for a beat. “Oh right, the Yannan Film Base officially opens the day after tomorrow. Come with me.”
“Okay!” Lin Muxue nodded enthusiastically, eyes sparkling with excitement.
It’s finally opening!
Perfect timing to show her face in front of the execs—afterward, she could designate her own Xue Tang Culture as an officially recommended partner.
Then she could comfortably start expanding her agency business.
It might not be hugely profitable, but it would be steady and reliable.
She could finally have a career of her own, just like Qianqian.
As they walked into the president’s office, Tang Song’s phone suddenly vibrated.
He took it out and glanced at the screen.
【Huashang Fashion – Wu Wei】
Tang Song answered directly, “Hello, President Wu.”
Soon, Wu Wei’s calm voice came through the receiver:
“Chairman Tang, He Zhihui just came to talk to me. Chairman He wants to free up 30% of the new production line at headquarters for OEM work for Songmei Fashion. He’s also offering a 10% discount on pricing.”
“Oh?” Tang Song raised an eyebrow. “Chairman He is really generous.”
“And one more thing,” Wu Wei lowered his voice. “Chairman He plans to convene a shareholders’ meeting before the end of the month to vote on forming a joint venture with Yingqu Media. You should receive the notice in the next few days.”
Tang Song chuckled, “So he’s afraid I’ll interfere. Trying to ease tensions, huh?”
“Seems that way.”
Tang Song paused in thought, then said, “Accept it for now. We’ll finalize things after the shareholder meeting.”
“Understood, President Tang. I won’t disturb you further. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
After hanging up, Tang Song sat down in his chair, eyes contemplative.
His side quest 【Supply Chain Empowerment】 required the creation of an exclusive high-end workshop at Huashang’s factory. So the offer held no real appeal.
And the He Jingping family was undeniably a risk factor.
Songmei Fashion’s upcoming plan involved building agile fast-response capability and its own competitive moat, which meant heavy reliance on supply chains and OEMs.
To avoid future issues, it was best to keep Huashang Fashion firmly in his own hands.
And He Jingping’s upcoming “shareholders’ meeting” aligned perfectly with his goals.
Originally, he had planned to propose replacing the chairman and board members right after the equity acquisition.
Buzz buzz— His phone vibrated again.
【Anne: “Good afternoon, dear Song. I’ve taken care of everything here in New York. Planning to head to Shanghai on October 3rd and stay for a while—just in time for your holiday. I’m really looking forward to a romantic date with you. I miss you terribly.”】
【Anne: “Don’t worry—I definitely won’t tell Jin. Haha.”】
Tang Song smiled and replied, “Looking forward to our date.”
【Advisor – Anne Kate】 was an important figure in his network—basically his overseas safety net.
She was also a former classmate and close friend of Secretary Jin.
What Tang Song was most eager for… was learning about Jin Meixiao’s past through Anne—her college life, and her family background.
He then opened the system interface and entered the inventory.
His eyes landed on a dazzling feather.
【Feather of Memory ×1】: …
【Note: Exploring the past is also a path to self-growth. What exactly was I doing in 2017–2018?】
2017–2018.
During that time in the game, aside from steady investment and business building, he’d devoted most of his energy to the 【Starlet – Su Yu】 training instance.
He had truly been obsessed.
Curated viral future songs and scripts for her, helped her with styling and makeup,
Even acquired a bunch of international VFX studios, filming teams, and production houses for her.
Thinking of that ethereal, stunning starlet, Tang Song felt heat rising in his chest.
This upcoming trip to Shanghai—he wondered if he’d get the chance to see Su Yu again.
Maybe it would even trigger the 【Feather of Memory】 and help him recover lost memories they shared.
…
2:00 p.m.
Linjin Tower – Jinxiu Commerce
Tappa tappa tappa—keyboard clacks echoed.
Hu Mingli’s face wore an excited smile.
In the bestie group chat—
【Hu Mingli: “I heard from Zhang Xintong that Light and Shadow Media is coming to our company this afternoon to talk business. Are you coming too?”】
【Wen Ruan: “Still in Yan City. Just got off the plane. Thanks for the invite, but sorry—I can’t make it.”】
【Hu Mingli: “@Zhuangzhuang, sure you’re not coming? This afternoon’s tech seminar—our President Tang will be there in person. He should be arriving soon. If you show up, you could surprise him!”】
【Wen Ruan: “(#eyeroll) I’ve been on a business trip for three days—I’m exhausted. You think I’ve got the energy to give him a surprise?”】
【Hu Mingli: “Didn’t you always want to meet our company’s rich girl? She just returned from Beijing this week. Who knows, maybe President Tang’s only coming over today to keep her company. Poor Zhuangzhuang~”】
【Wen Ruan: “Don’t try reverse psychology on me. You think I’ll fall for that? Let him keep her company if he wants—who doesn’t like a young, pretty little thing?”】
【Wen Ruan: lecherous.jpg】
【Zhang Ziqi: “I also think that You Jing is super pretty—like a little kitten. I kind of want to rua~ her. Bet she smells good and feels soft~”】
Soon, the chat started getting a little... off-track.
Hu Mingli rubbed her forehead and exited the group chat.
One person’s rise lifts all boats.
Her bestie was soaring to success, and she—pushing 30, a veteran programmer—was benefiting too with a promotion and raise.
As the matchmaker between the two, she naturally hoped her bestie and Tang Song would end up happily ever after.
Even though it had never been officially confirmed, many in the company were already gossiping that You Jing and Tang Song were dating.
She honestly did hope her bestie would show up today in full glam and confirm it herself.
If it was true, she could keep an eye on You Jing at the office and regularly update her bestie.
Help Zhuangzhuang defeat her “rival.”
Just then, the tech department suddenly went quiet.
And one voice after another rang out—
“President Tang!” “President Tang.” …
Hu Mingli sat up straight, eyes turning toward the hallway.
Wearing a beige casual shirt and black slacks, Tang Song walked in—tall, handsome, calm, and confident.
So handsome!
Hu Mingli bit her lip, sneakily took a photo with her phone, and shared it in the besties’ group chat.
Then she stood up immediately, beaming warmly. “Good afternoon, President Tang!”
Tang Song raised his hand slightly, a faint smile on his lips. “Good afternoon, Xiao Hu.”
“Pfft—” The nearby colleagues couldn’t help laughing.
Mingli bantered with them briefly, then grabbed her notebook and followed Tang Song toward the meeting room.
She whispered, “President Tang, Zhuangzhuang got back to Yancheng today—just landed.”
“Oh, she’s already back?” Tang Song was slightly surprised—Wen Ruan hadn’t mentioned it at all.
While Liu Qingning was around these past two days, Wen Ruan had kept a low profile and didn’t message him even once.
Even when he sent her a text this morning, she only replied with “Busy.”
Clearly, she was upset and giving him the cold shoulder.
He understood her temperament well.
As casual and open as Wen Ruan might seem, she was still a woman. Having her be the one to reach out to Liu Qingning—it would’ve been hard not to feel anything about that.
He figured he’d better spend some proper time with her tonight. Might even need a bottle of 【Recovery Potion】 to smooth over any lingering frustration.
The technical seminar didn’t last long. It mainly covered updates on development progress and discussed technical issues faced in day-to-day work.
As head of tech, Tang Song made it a point to attend these meetings once or twice a month.
By 3:30 PM, the meeting wrapped up.
As he rounded a corner on his way out, a graceful silhouette in soft ivory-white entered his field of view.
In the staff lounge, Xiao Jing sat quietly, wearing a cream-colored knit top that outlined her delicate neckline and collarbones.
Long straight black hair with bangs, glowing fair skin—she was still every bit the elegant, sweet beauty of the company.
When their eyes met, she gave a gentle smile—soft as a spring breeze rippling across a lake.
Seeing her familiar figure, Tang Song felt a brief moment of nostalgia.
He remembered how she used to stand just like that during Friday afternoon tea sessions—
Back then, he only dared to sneak glances, while the others gossiped in the group chat about her looks and fashion.
Light footsteps approached, along with a familiar floral scent.
Xiao Jing stopped in front of him and looked up slightly. Her voice soft and sweet: “Song, it’s been a while.”
Tang Song smiled brightly. “You look great today, Xiao Jing.”
“As long as you like it.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and whispered, “I have something to talk to you about—mind stepping outside with me for a bit?”
“Sure.”
Xiao Jing blinked and headed out.
After half a month apart, anticipation and excitement swirled together, heightening the atmosphere.
Like a scene out of a romantic anime—the kind of moment that feels both sweet and surreal.
Even though she was thrilled inside, she remained composed—walking lightly, but with poise.
They reached the hallway, and Xiao Jing glanced around before gently pushing open the stairwell door and gesturing for Tang Song to follow.
Inside the quiet stairwell, after a brief moment of eye contact—Tang Song leaned down and softly kissed her.
Xiao Jing let out a surprised murmur, cheeks instantly flushing. She stood still, her heart racing.
Tang Song gently wrapped his arms around her.
The scent of her perfume mixed with her natural fragrance—subtle and comforting.
He could feel her slight nervousness and innocence, which made his mood all the better.
After a while, they slowly pulled apart.
Xiao Jing bit her lip and smiled sweetly. “Song, I got you a little something. Hope you like it.”
She pulled out a small, sleek black gift box from her pocket and handed it to him.
Tang Song was caught off guard and chuckled. “Sorry, Xiao Jing. I should’ve gotten you something too—I’ll make it up to you.”
“It’s okay!” she shook her head with a smile and opened the box. “It’s a new Van Cleef & Arpels ring—I thought it’d suit your hand.”
The platinum ring had a sleek, stylish design.
“I love it. Thank you, Xiao Jing.” Tang Song accepted it with a warm smile.
“Great! Let me put it on for you.” Xiao Jing quickly grabbed his hand and gently slid the ring onto his index finger.
Then she lifted his hand and admired it closely.
His fingers were long and well-proportioned—like they were sculpted. Healthy, fair skin with faint veins beneath.
Xiao Jing took a deep breath, visibly entranced.
He still has the perfect hands.
Tang Song was just about to speak when she suddenly brought his hand to her lips and placed a light kiss on it.
Then, her lips trailed softly across his skin, her movements careful and lingering.
Seeing this charming, slightly unpredictable beauty in front of him, Tang Song felt his heart beat faster.
He gently traced a finger along her cheek, down her neck and collarbone—
Slowly, quietly, savoring the moment.
Xiao Jing’s eyes widened in surprise.
This is it! Tang Song’s finally taking the initiative!
In the quiet stairwell, their breaths and heartbeats mingled in a silent rhythm.
Over ten minutes later, when Tang Song finally withdrew his hand,
Xiao Jing looked a little unsteady, her face flushed.
After a short rest,
Tang Song asked with concern, “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” Xiao Jing quickly replied, then bent down slightly and whispered, “Song, I had dinner with my girlfriends last night and… I smoked, and drank a little. I’m sorry—I let you down. Please punish me.”
Tang Song’s eye twitched. “Here?”
“Well… your office works too.” Xiao Jing shifted slightly, adding softly, “I wore something really loose today—easy to… adjust. And no layers underneath.”
Tang Song’s breathing quickened.
Then—smack!—a crisp sound echoed.
“Eep!” Xiao Jing trembled, her eyes suddenly glossy.
Tang Song glanced at Xiao Jing’s backside, his voice slightly hoarse. “Let’s go. Time to give you a proper lesson.”
Xiao Jing licked her lips and lowered her head, quietly following behind him.
Once they stepped back into the company office area,
Xiao Jing immediately returned to her usual self. A sweet smile bloomed on her face as she cheerfully greeted her colleagues, her steps light and graceful.
Watching this with his own eyes, the corner of Tang Song’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.
Good grief! Rich and pretty lady, you really know how to play the contrast game.
Gotta introduce you to Xiao Xue someday. Trust me—you two would absolutely hit it off.
As they walked along the corridor, they slowly approached the CTO’s office.
Just as they were about to reach the door, Tang Song suddenly stopped in his tracks, glancing toward the direction facing the office door. A look of surprise flickered across his face.
Noticing his reaction, Xiao Jing also turned to look.
Standing there was a tall, curvy woman in a fitted black long-sleeve top and tailored slacks. Her figure was striking—mature, elegant, and confident, with a touch of sultry charm.
Their eyes met, and Xiao Jing instantly picked up on the key message in the other woman’s gaze.
This woman’s relationship with Tang Song was definitely not ordinary.
She licked her lips, a gleam of excitement gradually lighting up in her eyes.
It’s happening! A classic anime moment is here!
The dimensional rift quietly opens, and the bubbly, energetic Xiao Jing steps into a mysterious realm—colliding head-on with the radiant, healing aura of an alluring mature woman. Thus begins the prelude to their first encounter...