novelraw Chapter 542: Tangjin Manor
Chapter 542: Tangjin Manor
Night fell over Yang City.
The glass curtain wall of Lanfeng International Apartment reflected the city lights.
“Ding—”
The elevator doors slowly opened, and the crisp sound of heels echoed down the corridor.
Lin Muxue, dressed in a perfectly tailored business suit and pointed high heels, stepped out of the elevator first, followed closely by her two socialite friends, Zhang Xi and Li Yujiao.
They were brightly dressed, impeccably made up, and chatted happily as they surrounded her.
“Lanfeng International Apartment has such a nice environment.”
Lin Muxue’s lips curved into a faint smile, her tone calm: “Mainly for convenience. It’s close to the office, and the service is great. Saves me a lot of energy.”
“True. The property services are in sync with Lanfeng International Hotel, 24-hour butler service. Perfect for a busy person like you.”
The three of them chatted casually as they walked to Room 2002.Lin Muxue raised her hand to press the fingerprint lock. With a “click,” the heavy door swung open, and warm yellow light spilled out, framing her poised and elegant figure.
“Welcome to my place. Please, come in.” She stepped aside to let them enter.
The Vacheron Constantin Overseas on her wrist glinted subtly, and the Tiffany Soleste diamond pendant on her collarbone swayed slightly with her movement, adding an extra touch of brilliance to her appearance.
They stepped into the entryway.
The walls were finished in leather paneling, paired with soft spotlighting, creating a subdued and luxurious atmosphere.
Worth noting was a welcome mat with the lettered pattern “Luna” on the floor.
“The décor is amazing, really stylish!” Zhang Xi exclaimed sincerely.
“This chandelier is from the Ferruccio Laviani series—I saw it online. It looks stunning in person.”
“Wow, didn’t you just post in your Moments asking about these B&B chairs? You already bought them?”
Lin Muxue casually set her Hermès Birkin on the rack, her tone nonchalant: “Thought they were pretty, so I ordered them right away. Wasn’t that expensive anyway.”
“Okay... but that’s like 80,000 yuan...”
“Xiaoxue’s got the means.”
The three of them continued into the living room.
The entire apartment layout flowed smoothly, with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows offering a sweeping view of Yang City’s dazzling nightscape.
The spacious, bright interior and tastefully arranged furnishings all showcased the owner’s refined aesthetic and wealth.
After a brief tour, Zhang Xi and Li Yujiao exchanged a glance, their feelings mixed.
Just moments ago in the walk-in closet, they’d seen the Hermès Birkin 20 “White House (First Snow)” displayed on the shelf.
And besides that 2-million-yuan top-tier bag, there were clothes, jewelry, and accessories from Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Dior...
They’d known Li Yujiao for less than a year, having first met by chance at a party. Their bond had deepened over a wardrobe clash.
Back then, Li Yujiao, despite her rough appearance and claim of being a mid-level manager at a finance firm, always seemed like she was putting on a front—trying hard to maintain a polished image.
She used basic luxury items, with her priciest bag being a 40-50K Chanel.
When dining out, it was often the two of them footing the bill.
Coming from families worth tens of millions or even over a hundred million, they couldn’t help but look slightly down on Lin Muxue.
But since she was knowledgeable and shared common interests, they kept her around.
The real shift came when they learned her other identity—an executive at Lanfeng International Hotel.
That was also why they were willing to invest in Xue Tang Culture.
But this meeting, post-National Day holiday, once again reshaped their impression of her.
It was clear—Lin Muxue’s aura and confidence had changed.
Sensing their subtle expressions, Lin Muxue couldn’t help but smile slightly, her steps lightening.
Ever since getting the Black Card, she had finally shed the “bluffing” label and become a real rich person.
After calming down,
The first thing she did was subscribe to every VIP membership—videos, music, cloud storage, novels.
The second was fully upgrading her little home, adding plenty of luxury furniture to elevate the texture and taste of the space.
Much like when Qianqian signed her trust.
Of course, hers was a credit card, and the bill was to be paid by the company.
And both things she did were somewhat related to Tang Song.
She was Tang Song’s assistant, and occasionally he would stay over—creating a good living environment was essential.
Those video and music memberships also helped the boss unwind.
Tonight was the first time she brought friends over after the upgrade.
She specifically chose these two “investors.”
Partly to show off, partly to assert dominance and establish herself as the lead.
Though she was the main driver behind Xue Tang Culture’s growth, these two rich heiress friends still saw her through old lenses.
By properly showing off her success and breaking their perception, they would truly feel comfortable following her lead.
She changed into a comfortable dress in the walk-in closet.
Lin Muxue took out a bottle of Dom Pérignon, her slender fingers deftly twisting off the cork with a soft “pop” as the amber liquid slowly flowed into the Heritage limited edition crystal glasses.
The crystal sparkled under the lights, and the champagne bubbles danced happily.
Unable to resist, Lin Muxue pulled out her phone to take pictures and casually posted them to Moments.
Only then, satisfied, did she raise her glass and start chatting with Zhang Xi and Li Yujiao.
“Ding ding ding~~”
The clink of glasses rang out, crisp and pleasant.
Soon, her Moments feed was flooded with likes and comments.
As an extremely popular woman, she was long used to such attention.
However, one comment instantly caught her eye.
【Shen Yuyan: “Xiaoxue, your nightlife is so rich and dazzling. You’re truly the center of attention. So jealous.”】
Lin Muxue couldn’t help but chuckle, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes.
If there was anything that had delighted her recently, it was that Shen Yuyan had suddenly turned into her “bootlicker,” “like-spamming fangirl.”
Over the past few days, every time she posted “luxury,” “social,” or “party” content to Moments, Shen Yuyan would instantly like it and leave the most flattering comments, often expressing envy and admiration—maxing out her emotional value.
If it weren’t for that suddenly appearing “Special Assistant,” things would’ve been perfect!
As for that so-called “Special Assistant,” she had her suspicions.
Probably that foreign woman moaning during her call with Tang Song.
She’d heard all those filthy, indecent remarks loud and clear.
Definitely not a decent type.
Might need to consult her beautician friends to develop a few new skills.
Speaking of which, Qianqian’s tongue was impressively agile. Lots of potential.
ε=(0~*))唤。
Being an assistant isn’t easy, Xiaoxue sighed.
“Ding-dong—” the WeChat notification sounded
【Tian Jing: “Is that so? I didn’t even notice myself, ya.”】
Lin Muxue’s eyes lit up.
These past few days, she had been deliberately getting close to Youjing, trying to gather information.
But Tian Jing had always remained cold and distant.
She didn’t expect her to suddenly act so warm today.
Thinking for a moment, Lin Muxue replied: “Your skin is really fair, so strawberry red or coral red—those fresh, sweet colors—would suit you perfectly. I’ll gift you a lipstick sometime.”
“Bzz bzz bzz——”
【Tian Jing: “(Holding face excitedly) Wah! Muxue, you really know how to compliment someone~”】
Lin Muxue blinked, feeling like something was off, but still went along with it: “(#Covering mouth, laughing) Let’s go shopping together next time? I promise I’ll compliment you so much you’ll blush, haha.”
【Tian Jing: “Ya! Are… are you trying to get me to try on all sorts of clothes for you?”】
Lin Muxue’s fingers hovered over the screen, momentarily at a loss for words.
Why was this conversation going in such a weird direction?
After a moment of hesitation, she forced herself to reply: “Xiaojing, with your figure, I bet anything you wear would look amazing.”
【Tian Jing: “Actually, you’ve got a great body too. I think it’s really sexy—especially your legs.”】
After that, the chat started going sideways.
Lin Muxue’s expression became increasingly odd. She couldn’t keep up.
WTF! Why does Youjing feel… kinda off?
A cold shiver ran down Lin Muxue’s spine. She quickly sent a “I’m going to shower” message and put her phone away.
She turned her attention back to Zhang Xi and Li Yujiao.
Clinking glasses with the two of them, Lin Muxue brought up her reason for inviting them today, “You probably know that Xue Tang Culture has been doing quite well lately. The short drama market is booming, and my company needs to expand. I’m about to start a round of fundraising—interested?”
She then took a graceful sip of champagne, as if her words were casually mentioned, but her gaze revealed subtle expectation and probing.
The popularity of short dramas had far exceeded her expectations. Manpower and production space were running short.
With just Xu Ning and those three junior staffers, it was impossible to keep up.
If she didn’t increase investment and expand the team soon, operations would hit a ceiling fast.
However, her actual savings—including her gold bars—barely totaled 200,000.
Although the Black Card gave her a $150,000 monthly spending limit, it could only be used for work-related expenses, never cashed out.
She knew this well and would never risk crossing the line.
Though she had the status now to seek financing from professional institutions,
She also knew her limits—afraid of being scammed, and more afraid of losing control of the company. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ N0velFire.ɴet
That’s why Zhang Xi and Li Yujiao were the best candidates.
After all, the initial startup capital for Xue Tang Culture came from the 300,000 each of them invested, barely keeping things afloat.
These two trusted her, and were easy to manage.
Zhang Xi and Li Yujiao exchanged a glance, then nodded together, “No problem! Tell us how much you need, we’ll work out a plan.”
Hearing this, the corners of Lin Muxue’s lips lifted, satisfaction flashing in her eyes.
“Don’t worry. I’ll have my professional team draft a financing plan that won’t infringe on your interests.” Lin Muxue’s tone was gentle yet confident, “Come, let’s toast to our future.”
“Cheers!”
"Cheers!"
The cold champagne slid down their throats, slightly tart with a pleasant aftertaste.
Lin Muxue lounged lazily in a single-seater sofa, her long legs elegantly crossed, the Dom Pérignon in her hand catching flecks of golden light under the lamp.
She spoke up casually: “Oh right, Jiao Jiao, Xixi—next month I’m flying to London to attend Imperial College’s Global MBA alumni event. This year it’s being held at the Duke of Charleston’s private estate. Want to come along for a few days of fun?”
Zhang Xi froze mid-sip, nearly spilling her champagne.
Her eyes widened, voice rising involuntarily: “Wait… Xiaoxue, you’re a grad student at Imperial College?”
Li Yujiao also sat up slightly straighter, her gaze complex as she looked at Lin Muxue.
As if meeting a different person.
“Mm.” Lin Muxue crossed her legs, swirled her glass, and said lightly, “What I really value is the network behind it. My boyfriend felt bad seeing me so busy, so he reached out to their development office. Donated some money, negotiated an academic partnership, and the school gave me a fast-track admission.”
Li Yujiao swallowed, staring at Lin Muxue in disbelief: “The same boyfriend you mentioned before? The one who invested in the Yannan Film Base?”
“Yep, that’s him.” Lin Muxue nodded lightly.
Zhang Xi’s breathing quickened, “This… Xiaoxue… your boyfriend got you a fast-track into Imperial through donations and academic deals?”
Having studied in the UK herself, she knew exactly how high the bar was for Imperial to even consider such “donations.”
It wasn’t a small sum. Let alone the resources and connections behind it.
To have a top global institution bend the rules for one person—the power behind that was simply suffocating.
“Hehe, I actually wanted to try taking the exam myself, but he’s a bit overbearing—didn’t want me away for too long.”
Lin Muxue took another sip of champagne, a blush spreading across her cheeks, her voice tinged with sweetness and shyness.
Time to milk this act in front of old friends. Once in London, she’d go full-on flaunt mode across all social platforms!
She’d cement her financial high-IQ persona and show Shen Yuyan, Youjing, Xu Qing, Yao Lingling just what her life was like.
Thinking of this, Lin Muxue squeezed her thighs together.
Forcing down the urge to pee, she enjoyed the stunned looks on her friends’ faces.
Showing off is an art. And I… am reaching the pinnacle.
(==)
“Special Assistant”? Once you join, Empress Muxue will definitely put you in your place!
Might even… draw a map on you!
Just then.
“Click”—the apartment door opened.
Then, steady footsteps sounded.
The three women instinctively looked toward the entrance.
A tall figure appeared in the doorway, wearing a sharply tailored silver-gray suit, broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, exuding power, carrying a shopping bag.
He seemed to notice the presence inside. He raised his gaze slightly, sweeping over the three of them, revealing a strikingly handsome face.
High nose bridge, clean lip line, jet-black hair.
Under the warm lighting, he looked as if bathed in a soft halo.
Like the male lead from a workplace drama, or a “modern-day elite” who had casually stepped into reality.
For a few seconds, the air seemed to freeze.
Lin Muxue’s heartbeat quickened uncontrollably—almost drawing a map right then and there.
It had been half a month since they last met. Only God knew how much she missed him!
If it weren’t for the two old friends sitting nearby, she’d have pounced on him already.
But right now, she was at a critical moment in her act.
It was just like playing ball—at the key moment, you absolutely couldn’t break the flow!
Taking a deep breath, Lin Muxue slowly stood up and gently said, “Tang Song, you’re here. I was just having a drink with my friends, and we were just talking about you.”
At her words,
Li Yujiao and Zhang Xi, who had been stunned, instantly snapped back to reality, their faces so expressive it almost spilled over.
What the hell?!
This was the legendary boyfriend of Xiaoxue?!
They looked at the dashing godlike man in the doorway, then back at the Xiaoxue in front of them.
Their eyes turned red.
Of course they had privately speculated about Xiaoxue’s “boyfriend.” Since she never posted him on Moments, it naturally led to some negative assumptions.
Now that they saw him in person, it felt like the sky had fallen.
Xiaoxue! You really scored too damn well! You’re too much!
“Xiaoxue.” Tang Song smiled and nodded, then looked toward the other two.
“Li Yujiao, Zhang Xi—both my friends,” Lin Muxue introduced. “This is Tang Song, my… boyfriend.”
After she spoke, she couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Tang Song’s expression.
Seeing the faint smile still on his face without a hint of displeasure, she quietly let out a breath of relief.
“Good evening, ladies.” Tang Song raised a hand to greet them, a flicker of amusement in his gaze.
He had recognized them, of course—they were the two who’d dined with Lin Muxue at Shengwei Pavilion.
Back then, he’d been sitting diagonally behind the three of them, just got his first car, had kicked off the Growth Plan Task, and was full of excitement for the future,
Enjoying beautiful women while eating gourmet food.
That moment and scene were still vivid in his memory.
Now, all four of them appeared in the same setting again, but the identities had completely flipped, and the relationships had changed entirely.
It stirred a subtle feeling in him.
“Hello.” “Good evening, Mr. Tang!”
Li Yujiao and Zhang Xi almost reflexively stood up, their voices slightly tense.
The crystal glasses in their hands trembled slightly, refracting delicate shimmers of light.
Tang Song nodded, wrapped an arm around Lin Muxue’s waist and sat down, handing her the “Date Gift Pack” he’d brought from the company.
Li Yujiao and Zhang Xi were once again awash in envy.
The four of them chatted briefly.
Tang Song took the crystal glass Xiaoxue passed him, and his fingers casually brushed her thigh, making her suck in a breath and quickly press her legs together.
After about ten minutes,
Under Lin Muxue’s glance, Zhang Xi and Li Yujiao “reluctantly” got up to leave.
“Boom—”
The sound of the front door closing echoed especially clearly in the quiet apartment.
Lin Muxue held her breath, biting her lower lip slightly as she looked at Tang Song.
“Tang Song…”
Before she could finish her sentence, her back hit the hardwood cabinet in the foyer.
The cool surface seeped through her thin clothes, sending a shiver up her spine, while the man’s body heat in front of her was scalding hot.
The next moment, her body was pinned against the foyer cabinet.
The air seemed to ignite, temperature rising rapidly.
“Um…” Lin Muxue’s voice trembled slightly, “I had a lot of drinks tonight, then champagne too, I really need the bathroom.”
“No need.” Tang Song’s eyes glinted, fingers tracing along her waistline. “Isn’t that better?”
Then, Tang Song leaned in close to her ear and whispered.
Lin Muxue’s cheeks instantly turned crimson, her long lashes fluttering nonstop.
Night deepened, and outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the lights of Yang City blurred into a dreamy sea of color.
Much later, Lin Muxue called her beautician far away in Lu Province
and started “sharing feelings” over the phone.
In the Imperial Capital, a light rain fell, the damp air carrying a hint of chill,
Inside the VIP corridor at the airport, Anne Kate walked out gracefully, her golden hair swaying lightly under the lights, shimmering with a lovely luster.
Behind her trailed several sharply dressed assistants, carrying various document bags and personal items.
A two-tone Bentley sat quietly at the exit.
“Bang—” the door closed, cutting off the noise from outside.
The car cruised smoothly away from the airport, gliding over the damp road.
Anne leaned back in her seat, gently rubbing her temples, her voice lazy: “Hugh, I didn’t expect you to personally come pick me up.”
Zheng Qiudong, sitting beside her, responded with a beaming smile: “Anne, you probably don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this day.”
“That kind of line could be misunderstood. Or are you… into me?” Anne raised an eyebrow, her blue eyes gleaming mischievously.
Zheng Qiudong’s eye twitched, quickly clarifying: “You misunderstood. I was referring to the SCG (Stonebridge Consulting) acquisition. Director Jin originally said you’d arrive yesterday, but it got pushed to tonight. You can imagine how anxious I’ve been, so I came to pick you up myself.”
“Oh~ OK.” Anne shrugged, her expression a bit awkward.
Mentioning that reminded her of the exhausting days she’d just survived.
Legs like jelly, head spinning—it took two full days just to barely recover.
Although the memory left her somewhat flustered, the lingering pleasure outweighed the shame.
She waved her hand and pulled herself back to reality, casually saying: “I’ll talk to the family member responsible for this. All the issues you’re worried about will be resolved.”
Relieved by the firm promise, Zheng Qiudong shifted the topic to the acquisition’s finer details.
The car entered the East Fourth Ring Road via the airport expressway.
Approaching No. 8 Hesheng Xiaoyun Road—
Zheng Qiudong suddenly said, “By the way, Anne, there’s something I should mention ahead of time. Tangjin Manor might be activated. I ran into Tina in Europe last week.”
“No way!” Anne exclaimed in excitement, her eyes lighting up. “That’s major news! You know there’s supposed to be a villa in that manor reserved for me!”
Zheng Qiudong’s expression turned complicated—he really wanted to say “I didn’t know.”
But since he needed her now, he could only play along.
As a shrewd man, he could easily tell Anne had her sights set on President Tang. There might be conflict with Director Jin down the line.
Sigh! Women are such trouble!
The car parked steadily in the underground garage. Shangguan Qiuya immediately came over to open the door.
Anne stepped out elegantly and tossed her platinum bag to Shangguan Qiuya, flashing a red-lipped smile to Zheng Qiudong inside: “Byebye, Hugh.”
Then, she strutted into the building.
Inside the silent high-speed elevator,
Anne looked at her reflection in the mirror, swept her golden hair to one side, revealing a graceful neckline.
Shangguan Qiuya lowered her voice and reminded, “By the way, Ms. Kate, there’s someone else currently staying at Director Jin’s residence.”
“Oh? Who?” Anne raised an eyebrow with interest.
Mira never liked anyone else staying at her place, so for Shangguan Qiuya to bring it up—it had to be someone special.
“Wen Ruan. She’s attending a Xingyun International Group meeting tomorrow morning. Arrived here about half an hour ago.” (Chapter 538)
Shangguan Qiuya answered concisely while watching Anne’s reaction from the corner of her eye.
“So it’s her—”
Anne’s lips curled into a sly smile, as if catching a whiff of prey. “That’s good news.”
Seeing this, Shangguan Qiuya couldn’t help but warn: “President Tang knows she’s in the capital.”
Anne let out a soft laugh, her tone lazy and confident: “Relax, dear Qiuya, I just want to exchange a few experiences with her. If possible, maybe we could share a hotel room tonight. You know Mira never lets anyone stay at her place—not even me.”
Shangguan Qiuya’s eye twitched. She didn’t know what to say.
It’s because of you that she doesn’t let people stay, okay?
If it were Wen Ruan, that’d actually be fine.
Everyone knew—Ms. Kate had once been very interested in women. Director Jin wouldn’t want President Tang getting the wrong idea, so of course Anne wasn’t allowed to stay.
“Ding—”
As the elevator doors opened, Anne had already sashayed out.
She walked down the corridor, pushed open the door, and stepped into the 520-square-meter flat.
“Ms. Kate, your slippers…”
Anne ignored it, her red lips lifting slightly, steps uninterrupted.
Her gaze swept across the luxurious, refined interior, full of eager anticipation.
Passing the Su embroidery screen, the living room lighting glowed softly, the faint scent of Earl Grey lingering in the air.
In this elegant and quiet atmosphere, she saw her.
The so-called “pervert” that Song had mentioned.
Anne still remembered that night when Tang Song ridiculed her skills while saying: “You’re not even half as good as her… she can grind me into the floor… you useless thing!”
Truthfully, her eagerness to meet Wen Ruan stemmed mostly from that.
Hearing movement, Wen Ruan turned slightly, then immediately stood up.
The black knit dress traced an arresting silhouette with her motion, fully displaying the mature allure unique to women.
“Oh my… Well well—” Anne drew out her words, her voice openly delighted, and said in Mandarin: “Wen Ruan, right? This isn’t our first meeting—you’re even more charming than I remembered. Truly… unforgettable.”