novelraw Chapter 521: Once Promised to Be First-Class in the World
Chapter 521: Once Promised to Be First-Class in the World
Night slowly fell.
The lights of the Modu Film Base lit up one by one, making the set glow like broad daylight.
In the distance came the sound of hurried footsteps and hushed conversations from the crew, and the air was filled with a tense yet orderly atmosphere.
Inside the dressing room, under the warm yellow lights.
Tang Song stood before the full-length mirror, taking the costume handed to him by a staff member and putting it on piece by piece.
A deep gray British-style three-piece suit, layered over a lightweight, soft white shirt.
The outfit fit perfectly, the lines smooth and tailored to his body, accentuating his broad shoulders and slim waist, highlighting his sharp and handsome features.
Combined with his confident, noble air, he looked more like a celebrity than a celebrity.
That much was obvious from the admiring glances cast his way by the stylists as he walked out of the dressing room.
Standing nearby, Cheng Xiaoxi couldn’t help but sigh, “Sister Yu really has good taste.”Seeing Tang Song approach, she quickly pulled herself together and said respectfully, “President Tang, the crew is ready. Let me take you over.”
“Alright, thank you.” Tang Song nodded slightly, grabbed the script from the table, and followed Cheng Xiaoxi out.
The shoot was set in the elevator lobby of the office building at the film base, with a scene about his character’s sweet, romantic interaction with the female lead, Li Chu.
Due to the complex setting, coordination between several departments was needed, so there were more people on site than usual—it was buzzing with activity.
As soon as he stepped into the hall, Tang Song spotted Su Yu sitting in the lounge area.
The light fell on her, her skin smooth like mutton-fat jade, glowing enchantingly. Her long dark teal hair cascaded down her shoulders with a casual, lazy elegance.
A white long-sleeve base layer, skinny pencil pants, and white sneakers—
A simple outfit, but with a sleek, upscale feel that showed off her figure perfectly.
Her exquisitely delicate features looked like they belonged in a painting: brows like brushstrokes, lips like crimson clouds.
Every contour felt like it had been meticulously carved by heaven itself.
It made people unconsciously hold their breath.
Tang Song’s heartbeat began to speed up, like a boy in the throes of a crush—nervous, excited, and eager.
This was what it meant to top the “Most Beautiful Faces in Asia-Pacific” list for four years straight.
Su Yu was probably the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen—a true goddess.
Even Secretary Jin couldn’t quite match her in looks.
As if sensing his approach, Su Yu lifted her head and looked over, her lips curving into a smile that could melt hearts.
“You're here.” Her voice was soft and lazy, like a lover’s whisper.
“Mm.”
Su Yu stood up and looked at him, visibly starstruck. “So handsome.”
She walked straight up to him and gently fixed his collar.
When no one was watching, her delicate fingers subtly brushed over his Adam’s apple, her soft breath audible—every detail precisely in place.
As a top-tier actress, her grasp of nuance was impeccable. The tension in the air was electric.
Tang Song’s breathing hitched instantly, pulled right into the role by the film queen herself.
Holy sh*t! What a temptress.
The two had just sat down in the lounge.
A young production assistant girl walked over nervously, holding a notebook, her face tense but hopeful.
“S-Sister Yu... could I get your autograph?”
Su Yu smiled gently, her gaze warm. “Of course.”
She reached out to take the notebook, her voice kind and soothing. “What’s your name?”
“I-I’m Wen Yu. I’ve been your fan for so long... it’s because of you that I entered this industry,” the girl replied shyly, her voice trembling with nerves.
“Thank you for your continued support, little Yu.” Su Yu said as she signed her name and even added an encouraging message.
With the autograph in hand, Wen Yu’s eyes turned misty with emotion. She thanked her repeatedly, then bowed politely to Tang Song before carefully retreating.
She’d wanted Su Yu’s autograph since joining the crew, but the gap in status and Su Yu’s aloof image made her hesitant.
But ever since hearing that a friend visited the set yesterday, the film queen seemed to be in an unusually good mood, warm to everyone.
Today, she mustered up her courage—and it worked out beautifully.
Watching her walk away, Tang Song suddenly said, “Su Yu, do you have any signed photos? My friend’s a die-hard fan from your Echo girl group days. Give me two, and write something encouraging on them. Uh... for one of them, maybe write a bit more.”
If not for this little moment, he would’ve totally forgotten about the surprise for Qiuqiu.
That gloomy designer basically worshiped Su Yu.
If Su Yu personally wrote her a blessing, it might even give her Dream Seed a major boost.
Of course, he hadn’t forgotten his coser girlfriend, Qingqing—
Known in the cosplay world as “Little Su Yu,” she was also a hardcore fan.
With this surprise, he was definitely unlocking some new poses when he got home.
Su Yu picked up on the key detail instantly. “Girls? Two of them?”
“Yeah, two girls.” Tang Song’s expression grew slightly awkward.
Su Yu smirked, suddenly leaned close to his ear, her breath warm against his skin, laced with the faint scent of perfume.
Her voice was feather-light, “That depends on how well you perform today, Mr. Tang. If I’m satisfied, anything’s possible.”
After just one day together, this film queen had already pinpointed Tang Song’s weak spots and temperament.
She knew exactly how to push his buttons.
Tang Song took a deep breath, his Adam’s apple bobbing unconsciously. “Alright! Just you wait!”
A few minutes later, take two began.
The director’s voice came through the walkie-talkie as the elevator doors closed, shutting out the noise from the outside world.
Only their breathing remained in the confined space.
The overhead lights cast a soft golden glow, adding a romantic filter to the whole scene.
Facing away from the camera, Tang Song pressed the elevator button, then pulled a deep red rose from his suit pocket like a magician and offered it to Su Yu.
Su Yu accepted it, lowered her head to sniff it, and a smile of bliss curved her lips. “I love it.”
The line was simple, but her delivery was full of emotion, like she was truly lost in the joy of love.
The next second, Tang Song suddenly pinned her against the elevator’s mirrored wall.
Su Yu let out a perfect gasp of surprise, the rose trembling slightly between them.
One of Tang Song’s arms was braced beside her head, while the other gripped her wrist.
He leaned down and kissed her slender, snow-white neck.
Su Yu let out a soft moan, her amber eyes clouded with desire and intoxication.
“Cut!” Director Lin Mouchuan was unusually tactful this time, taking the initiative: “One more, Gu Heng—slow down the kiss. I want a close-up of that moment!”
“Got it, Director.” Tang Song nodded.
The two slowly let go of each other.
“Action!”
“No, Gu Heng, you need to show more possessiveness...”
“Wait, one more! Li Chu’s expression just now was perfect!”
Thanks to yesterday’s experience and today’s lack of lines, Tang Song’s performance was smooth—practically second nature.
After three or four takes, the two were in sync, practically flawless.
But the perfectionist film queen didn’t see it that way.
Su Yu stood behind the monitor, eyes calm, brows slightly furrowed. “No, they’re supposed to be in the throes of passionate love. Their reactions are too restrained.”
Lin Mouchuan pondered for a moment and tentatively suggested, “Then... make it more intense? Maybe some physical friction, body contact, groping?”
Su Yu nodded nonchalantly. “Mm, let’s try it.”
A new round of shooting began.
The elevator doors closed again. Flower. Wall slam. Kiss—Tang Song executed it all in one smooth motion.
This time, Su Yu tilted up her beautiful face and slid her long right leg between his thighs.
Their bodies pressed tightly together.
Seemingly to stir deeper emotion—
She leaned in close to the non-actor Tang Song’s ear and whispered softly, “F**k—I love you so much... mm~”
That sexy, hoarse breath hit him like an electric shock, straight down his spine—like the strongest aphrodisiac.
Boom—Tang Song’s heart lit up in flames. He was fully immersed.
His hands started to roam and squeeze.
Long legs like compasses, perky hips, firm, round breasts...
The rose fell, petals scattering.
Her hands were pinned to the mirror by Tang Song’s right hand.
Her eyes were dazed, body trembling, breath ragged—perfectly portraying the obsession and passion of new love.
Tang Song gave himself fully for the art.
And helped the film queen achieve her breakthrough.
...
As the city lights came on, the Bund’s international architecture bathed in a golden glow.
A taxi stopped in front of No. 3 on the Bund.
Shen Yuyan stepped out and took the elevator straight to the top-floor Jean Georges restaurant.
Pushing open the heavy glass door, she was greeted by warm lighting and elegant background music.
Following the waiter into the restaurant,
She spotted Qiu Sirou seated by the window.
It had been a year since they’d seen each other—she looked even more radiant than in her posts and videos.
Clearly, life had been treating her well.
“Yuyan! Over here!” Qiu Sirou spotted Shen Yuyan, raised her champagne glass, and smiled.
Shen Yuyan walked to the table with a smile, setting her clutch to the side. “Sorry, had a last-minute call with the boss before I left—ran a little late.”
“No worries, the night view in Modu is worth the wait. Oh right, I thought you were your own boss now? What boss?”
“The head of the investment firm,” Shen Yuyan shrugged helplessly and sat down gracefully, the curve of her hips outlined by her skirt.
The waiter came over immediately to pour her a glass of champagne.
Shen Yuyan thanked him, then raised her glass to Qiu Sirou. “Come on, cheers to our first meal together again.”
Clink~ Their glasses met softly, the bubbles in the champagne sparkling in the candlelight.
Qiu Sirou took a sip, then let out a sigh. “Still so gorgeous. Every time I see you, I’m insanely jealous.”
As she spoke, her eyes scanned her old friend up and down.
A perfectly tailored MaxMara suit, makeup polished but natural, every movement exuding elegance and confidence.
“Can’t help being born beautiful, haha.” Shen Yuyan winked playfully, and the two burst into laughter. Follow current novels on n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net
The appetizer was served quickly—foie gras pâté with sour cherries and candied walnuts.
As the two of them caught up over the meal, they gradually found that familiar feeling again.
Soon, the conversation shifted toward work and life lately.
From Shen Yuyan’s stories, Qiu Sirou learned more about her current situation, eyes full of emotion.
She had always admired this former colleague—not just her, but the higher-ups at the company too had been deeply impressed by this one-time HR.
Yancheng University of Technology wasn’t even on Procter & Gamble’s target recruitment list, and the position Shen Yuyan held required at minimum a 985 university degree.
A regular first-tier university like Yancheng Tech shouldn’t have stood a chance.
But Shen Yuyan got in thanks to an internal referral by one of her seniors, then personally took her résumé to a job fair in the Imperial Capital, competing against others on the same stage.
She muscled her way into P&G with her standout interview skills and foreign language ability.
Qiu Sirou had been a management trainee from Sun Yat-sen University, in charge of the Yancheng market’s MT project. Shen Yuyan was the HR supporting that program.
That was how they met and grew familiar.
Shen Yuyan did entry-level recruitment at the Yancheng branch and performed so well that she caught the attention of a top executive.
To make up for her academic background, she also earned SHRM (International Human Resources certification) and CFA Level I.
Just over two years ago, when Shen Yuyan resigned to start her own business—
That same executive spoke to her multiple times, hoping she’d stay, promising to transfer her to the Modu headquarters within a year to lead the high-potential talent development program.
But she resolutely chose to pursue entrepreneurship, betting on a chance at financial freedom.
Qiu Sirou had stayed in touch with Shen Yuyan and naturally knew her Youjie Housekeeping venture hadn’t been smooth.
After dinner, the two crossed the street and strolled along the Bund.
The night wind off the Huangpu River was a little cool, the crowd bustling around them, full of laughter and chatter.
“Yuyan.” Qiu Sirou looked at Shen Yuyan’s elegant profile and said softly, “Honestly, I’ve always thought staying at P&G was the better choice. With your talent and emotional intelligence, if you returned to a platform like that, your potential would be limitless.”
P&G was a giant in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, full of female executives and with a mature promotion system. The internal competition might be intense, but for someone like Shen Yuyan, it was the perfect arena.
“There’s no standard answer in life, Sirou.” Shen Yuyan put down her fork and knife, paused for a moment, and said, “I just couldn’t accept it. I had to take the gamble.”
She had always been the brightest, the one who stood out.
But after entering the workforce, she could feel herself being swallowed by ordinariness.
She refused to let that happen—refused to let herself be consumed by mediocrity.
That fierce ambition pushed her to burn her boats, trading youth for a shot at a better view from the top.
Maybe someday, she too could become the kind of powerful woman that once inspired her.
“Vroooom—” A deep, thunderous engine roar broke their thoughts.
They stopped and looked toward the sound.
In the night, a matte-gray Lamborghini roared past, its signature taillights leaving a dazzling streak in the dark.
People stopped in their tracks—some took photos, others talked excitedly. The whole street lit up with buzz over that car.
“A Lamborghini Aventador SVJ63, a tens-of-millions-level supercar…” Qiu Sirou couldn’t help but sigh, “Modu really doesn’t lack rich people. If I had that kind of money, I’d just pay full price for a home, haha.”
Her boyfriend was a car enthusiast, their rental full of model cars. His favorite? That exact limited-edition Lamborghini. She knew the model like the back of her hand.
As the gray blur disappeared into the night, Shen Yuyan slowly looked away, her thoughts stirred.
“So beautiful!” Qiu Sirou looked up ahead and said with heartfelt admiration.
Shen Yuyan followed her gaze—Lujiazui’s skyline glittered in the night, neon lights reflecting on the river like an endless light show.
Every skyscraper looked like a massive crystal, glowing brightly in the darkness.
“It really is,” Shen Yuyan echoed softly, then leaned against the railing, letting the river breeze blow through her hair.
Qiu Sirou pursed her lips and murmured like she was reminiscing, “This place is nothing like Yancheng. That’s why I chose to stay here.”
She was a native of Yancheng, had worked there for two years after graduation, then by chance got transferred to Modu headquarters.
Now, she was deeply in love with this grand, turbulent city.
Coffee, Chanel, fine dining, shopping at Galeries Lafayette…
She dreamed of one day owning her own apartment here, staying for good.
“Just staying here isn’t enough,” Shen Yuyan said suddenly.
“What do you mean?” Qiu Sirou looked at her, confused.
Shen Yuyan paused for a moment, then pointed a slender finger toward the towering skyscrapers ahead.
“Sirou, right now, behind those glass curtain walls, someone in a suit is calmly discussing matters that could reshape society.
Finance, investment, technology, policy…
They stand high above the clouds, watching the Huangpu River from above—watching people like us, who seem so small.”
She spread her arms wide, the evening wind filling her sleeves, her voice full of yearning: “A boy’s ambition once soared to the sky, he once vowed to be first-class in the world.”
In the distance, a beam of light from the Shanghai World Financial Center pierced the night, tracing a bright path through the clouds.
“Haven’t you ever imagined yourself standing atop one of those buildings, seeing what the world really looks like?”
“Haven’t you ever fantasized about being the one who controls the board, leads the trends?”
Her voice was nearly lost in the river breeze, but her eyes shone brighter than the lights across the water.
Qiu Sirou stared at her, stunned by her conviction, unable to say a word.
......
At 9:50 p.m., Shen Yuyan returned to her executive suite at the Grand Hyatt Jin Mao.
She took a quick shower, wrapped herself in a bathrobe, and reclined on the sofa by the window, lost in thought.
“Riiiing—” Her phone suddenly rang, breaking the silence.
She glanced at the screen, her brows slightly furrowed.
【Mingjian Capital - Wang Yubo】
But quickly, her expression returned to calm.
She answered the call, her voice tinged with the perfect amount of warmth. “Hello, Chairman Wang. Still awake this late? Anything I can help with?”
Faint music and laughter echoed through the earpiece.
Wang Yubo sounded slightly tipsy, his tone casual. “Yuyan, done with dinner with your friends? How was your night?”
Shen Yuyan smiled faintly, voice soft but courteous. “Mm, just got back to the Grand Hyatt. Thank you so much for the arrangement—it’s my first time staying in such a high-end hotel.”
“Haha, as long as you liked it! I’m out with some friends at a bar now—I sent you the location on WeChat. Come join us. Just hang out and relax.”
Shen Yuyan replied smoothly, “Oh no, I’m so sorry, Chairman Wang. I drank quite a bit with my friends tonight and my head’s spinning. I’m afraid I won’t last much longer. And we’ve got a meeting tomorrow, right? I’d better rest early so I don’t mess things up.”
“Oh?” Wang Yubo paused, his tone rising slightly. “You’re sure you won’t come?”
Shen Yuyan pressed her lips together, “Sorry, maybe next time—”
“Heh, fine then. Bye-bye.” He didn’t give her a chance to say more, hanging up immediately.
Shen Yuyan silently set the phone down and looked out at the hazy nightscape. A figure seemed to appear in her mind.
“Tang Song…”
She sighed and was about to get up—
“Ding-dong——” A WeChat notification.
【Qingqing: “(人)☆ Your cute little fairy has arrived~”】
【Qingqing: “Yanyan, are you still up? I’ve got big news!”】
Shen Yuyan smiled and replied: “Still awake. What’s the news?”
【Qingqing: “I just video chatted with Tang Song and found out—he’s in Modu too! Isn’t that wild?”】
Shen Yuyan paused, her eyes widening slightly. She quickly asked: “Where’s he staying?”
【Qingqing: “Didn’t ask, haha. You know me—I don’t know a thing about Modu. Why are you asking?”】
Shen Yuyan: “When is he leaving?”
【Qingqing: “Not sure, but definitely after the 8th. He’s staying a few more days. Since you’re in Modu, you should meet up! Oh, and check if there’s some girl around him.”】
Shen Yuyan replied with a sticker, then quickly returned to the main screen and opened her pinned chat.
She hesitated, then copied Qingqing’s emoji line.
Suhewan Overseas Chinese Town.
“Bzz bzz bzz——”
【Shen Yuyan: “=(（() DYNAMIC LIGHT WAVE WHOOOSH!!!”】
【Shen Yuyan: “Hello, big bro, I just heard from Qingqing you’re in Modu too? What a coincidence. Got time to meet up?”】
Tang Song smiled, tapping out a reply: “Sure. I’m just a bit busy these days. I’ll contact you once I’m free.”
He didn’t check Moments often, especially since he’d been busy with Su Yu these past few days—he’d only just found out Shen Yuyan was also here.
Thinking back to the dream memory of the dazzling and radiant school belle Shen, his heart stirred.
They chatted a bit more, then after a quick goodnight,
Tang Song turned off the lights and lay down.
He closed his eyes, breathing slowly.
The moonlight outside filtered through the sheer curtains, casting dappled shadows on the floor.
His consciousness started to blur, faint sounds beginning to echo in his ears, like coming from far away.
The screech of metal scraping, mixed with a girl’s broken cries.
The sound drifted closer and further, as if muffled through frosted glass.
Gradually, the scene became clearer.
Under flickering white lights, the scent of disinfectant mixed with something rotten.
It was a hospital corridor that seemed to stretch on forever, with peeling paint revealing yellowed plaster.
Doors on either side were half-open, revealing messy beds and hanging IV bags.
At the end of the hallway, a thin figure was curled up in the shadows.
A girl with her head down, school uniform askew, long hair covering half her face.
She nervously bit at her thumbnail, muttering something over and over.
Compared to the last dream, this version of Qiuqiu was clearly older—there were now subtle curves visible beneath the uniform.
Her leather shoes clicked “tap tap” on the old floor.
“Qiuqiu?”
Qiuqiu felt a warm beam of sunlight suddenly shine on her.
She jerked her head up, eyes wide, and cried out excitedly, “Daddy... save Grandma… they said if we don’t pay, they’ll pull the plug…”