novelraw Chapter 544: 【In the Spotlight】
Chapter 544: 【In the Spotlight】
Yesterday afternoon, the beautician friend returned from Lu Province.
On top of that, she had “lost too much water” the night before, so Lin Muxue took a full day off yesterday and didn’t arrive at the office until after 9 a.m. today.
She had just finished a cup of coffee and was chatting boastfully with her colleagues when she heard the devastating news—
That Special Assistant of President Tang had arrived!
She had rushed over on purpose while June was still sorting out materials, intent on meeting this “uninvited guest” alone.
Originally, she thought that by flaunting her identity as the Executive Assistant, she could intimidate the other woman a bit and make it clear who was the real top dog here.
Who would’ve thought… she’d see someone completely unexpected.
It was like someone hit the pause button on Lin Muxue.
Her eyes swept over Shen Yuyan, landing on that delicate yet sharp-featured face, and a surge of uncontrollable, complicated emotions rose in her chest.
You d**n drama queen!I knew you were no good—ambitious and sneaky, pulling tricks behind my back! You dare sneak attack me, Empress Muxue?!
ε=ε=(#><)/ Aaaaah!
You b****!!!
Lin Muxue’s heart was bleeding. It felt like her home had been broken into.
The first time she saw Xu Qing’s bestie, she’d already sensed that this woman would be a rival someday, so she’d always kept her guard up.
She’d even gone out of her way to show off her prestige and lifestyle in her Moments to suppress Shen Yuyan’s arrogance.
Later, as her own status soared, her attention shifted to Su Yu and Jin Meixiao and she gradually tossed those old concerns aside, no longer seeing Shen Yuyan as a threat.
Who knew she’d exploit the opening?!
“What’s wrong, Luna? Zoned out? Don’t recognize me anymore?” Shen Yuyan walked up to her, tone light and familiar.
Lin Muxue’s eye twitched, but she quickly composed herself. “Yuyan, didn’t expect to see you here. What a... pleasant surprise!”
Those last few words, she practically spat out through gritted teeth.
Shen Yuyan didn’t seem to pick up on the subtext. She smiled and extended her hand. “I guess it’s fate. You know how it is—we’ve always had such a connection.”
The two locked eyes for a moment.
Lin Muxue gripped her hand tightly, using her height advantage to glare straight into her eyes. “Heard you became President Tang’s Special Assistant? Congrats. Bet that took quite a bit of effort, huh? Rongliu Capital is a dream for many. Sure beats your old gig at Youjie Housekeeping Services!”
“Hehe.” Shen Yuyan’s smile was dazzling. “Yup! I’ve always admired you, Luna. So I made the switch. Youjie Housekeeping is in the past—just call me Shirley now. We’re both assistants to President Tang. From now on, we’ll be working side by side, giving it our all for him. Let’s do our best!”
“Our responsibilities aren’t exactly the same.” Lin Muxue pressed her lips together slightly, her grip tightening. Her voice had a warning undertone. “I’m the Executive Assistant, in charge of assisting President Tang with managing the entire company’s operations. As for you... just focus on doing your own job well. Don’t let him down.”
Shen Yuyan chirped energetically, “Don’t worry, Luna! I’ll do my best! If there’s ever a chance, I hope you can give me some guidance too!”
But seeing her act all “pure and innocent” only made Lin Muxue’s gums itch—she even felt a twinge in her wisdom tooth!
It’s that feeling of realizing you didn’t order tea, yet somehow got served a piping hot pot of it. Right now, even Yao Lingling looked like a green tea b**** aged seventy years—her very soul green to the core.
Though Yao Lingling acted polite and aloof, deep down both of them knew—this one came to steal her position!
Back then, Lin Muxue might not have reacted this strongly.
But now? Tang Song’s status had ascended to another level entirely. His promise to her was to entrust his assets under her assistantship in the future—assets including private jets, manors, yachts, and a full set of top-tier resources!
These weren’t things just anyone could touch. They were her ultimate dream.
Her reverse scale as Empress Muxue.
And this scheming b**** dared covet her spot?!
Just then—
The meeting room door was lightly knocked.
“Come in!” both women replied in unison, their voices full of fake harmony and friendliness, as if the tense standoff just now had never happened.
Lin Muxue quickly adjusted her expression. A serene, graceful smile spread across her face, calm and composed.
She, Empress Muxue, had been tempered through enough storms—she could not lose her dignity now!
The door opened slowly, and a poised middle-aged woman in a business suit stepped in, holding a stack of documents in her arms.
“Luna, you’re here too.” June greeted with a smile, then turned to Shen Yuyan, polite and warm. “Shirley, welcome to the company. I’m the HR Director, June.”
“Hello, June. Thanks for your hard work.” Shen Yuyan gave a slight nod.
Lin Muxue curved her lips into a perfect smile and took the initiative to speak. “June, are those Shirley’s onboarding materials? Mind if I stay and accompany her? Actually, Shirley and I are old friends—we’ve known each other a long time.”
Her tone was casual and light, as if making small talk, but her eyes carried a trace of probing.
June nodded calmly. “Of course. Oh right, Luna—President Tang called me last night. He said your salary will be increased by 20%. I was actually planning to come see you for your signature soon.”
“Uh… is that so? Then let’s chat in my office later.” Lin Muxue blinked. Her face stayed calm, but her heart was racing.
Her current annual salary was 1.5 million. A 20% increase meant 1.8 million!
Before, whenever she used her black card to spend, she always felt a bit guilty—it was still credit, after all. Spending it always felt like “borrowing.”
But this was real salary. Tangible and visible!
From now on, whenever she socialized, she could casually drop, “Oh, my salary’s just 1.8 mil,” and it would be legit impressive.
Tang Song really does love me!
It’s all that seductive little green tea Shirley stirring up trouble, plotting against me—the freshly ascended Empress!
Unforgivable!
Listening to their conversation, Shen Yuyan’s eyes flickered slightly, but she said nothing.
The three sat around the meeting table. June pushed a stack of documents toward her, speaking gently and professionally. “Shirley, these are your onboarding materials, including your labor contract, confidentiality agreement, non-compete clause, etc. Please read them carefully. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”
“Alright, thank you.” Shen Yuyan nodded solemnly, carefully taking the papers. Her fingers brushed the pages as if touching something precious.
Having worked at a Fortune 500 foreign company for over a year, combined with her self-study experience afterward, she was already comfortable with English-language contracts.
This one, from Confluent Capital Limited (domestic entity), was clean and concise, with no vague wording.
No probation period. Three-year term. Position clearly stated as “Special Assistant to the Chairman.”
Everything aligned perfectly with her expectations.
As for the salary—she actually didn’t care that much.
On a platform like this, salary was just a bonus. What really mattered were the resources and status that came with it.
Flipping to the next page and skimming casually, Shen Yuyan’s gaze froze, her heart trembling slightly.
Okay, I admit—I was shallow!
Taking a deep breath, she picked up the contract again and began reading it line by line.
Annual salary: 1.2 million!
And this was a 1.2 million salary in Yancheng!
Even the former General Manager of P&G Yancheng Branch didn’t earn this much.
She originally expected a monthly salary of around 30,000 to 40,000 yuan, which aligned well with typical financial institution pay scales.
She hadn’t expected it to be this outrageous.
Not only that, the contract also detailed a generous list of allowances:
4,000 yuan for transportation, 4,000 yuan for meals, and 2,000 yuan for communication.
The company would provide a high-end apartment near the financial center, with the monthly rent fully covered by the company.
As an assistant, she would receive a 100,000 yuan annual wardrobe budget for important occasions.
Business class for travel, five-star or higher hotels, and a daily travel allowance of up to 2,000 yuan.
In addition, the company provided global premium medical insurance, 20 days of annual leave per year, and ample paid sick leave…
The most shocking part? After just three months on the job, she’d be eligible to join the employee stock ownership plan, with an initial 0.1% equity grant that would increase annually.
This was unheard of! For a top-tier private equity firm to offer such terms—it was almost impossible unless it was tailor-made for someone specific.
President Tang, you really get me!
As an entrepreneur, she especially valued the equity incentive structure.
Even more exciting, the company had a comprehensive internal training system covering core skills like financial modeling, M&A valuation, due diligence techniques, and more. It even supported custom courses based on individual needs, including bringing in external experts.
Shen Yuyan tried hard to keep calm, but her legs trembled slightly.
If she’d had an offer like this before, she’d never have started her own business!
A top platform, ultra-high salary, vast networking opportunities, a straight shot at class mobility…
And yet all her exhausting entrepreneurial efforts hadn’t even earned her a seat in an investment conference room at a place like Rongliu Capital.
At that thought, she couldn’t help but glance at Lin Muxue across from her.
As the Executive Assistant, Lin Muxue’s compensation must be even more generous.
From day one, Lin Muxue had stood on a platform far above hers, with more resources and opportunities.
Compared to her, Lin Muxue was ridiculously lucky.
Their eyes met—sparks quietly flew in the air.
“All done, June. I’ve reviewed everything—no issues.”
Scribble, scribble, scribble—
She signed her name without hesitation. Shen Yuyan let out a deep breath and set the pen down, a composed smile on her face.
June nodded and accepted the contract, handing over a card. “Welcome officially to Rongliu Capital. This is your access badge and your office system login info.”
“Thank you. I look forward to working with everyone.”
“By the way, your desk is just outside the CEO’s office, for ease of communication with President Tang.”
Shen Yuyan’s eyes casually swept over Lin Muxue’s still-smiling face. “Xiaoxue, I’ll let you get back to work. I’m going to check out my desk.”
Her tone was gentle, but there was a barely noticeable glint of challenge in her eyes.
Under the table, Lin Muxue twisted her foot and smiled. “Go ahead, you two. Oh, and June, I’ll take the contract to the office for you. Why don’t you show Shirley around a bit?”
June hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. Thank you.”
As Rongliu Capital’s Executive Assistant, Lin Muxue ranked far above June, the WFOE branch’s HR Director.
Since she offered, June had no reason to refuse.
Once the two figures disappeared and the meeting room door shut, Lin Muxue couldn’t wait to flip open the contract and scan the salary section.
Finally—relief.
Her biggest fear was that Shen Yuyan’s salary would exceed hers, meaning that in Tang Song’s eyes, this “Special Assistant” was more valued or capable.
Fortunately, it was a “mere” 1.2 million annual salary.
Still leagues below her glorious 1.8 million.
Putting away the document, Lin Muxue gritted her teeth hard, already quietly scheming her next move.
…..
“Our office space is divided by function: Investment, Risk Control, Branding, and Post-Investment Management each have their own area…”
“Your desk was personally assigned by President Tang. It’s just outside his office. Still getting finalized.”
June walked ahead with a smile, giving explanations as they went.
Shen Yuyan followed her through the company, seeing most of the layout—including Lin Muxue’s private luxury office.
【AssistantToPresident】
Through the half-open door, she could glimpse the fancy decor inside.
Shen Yuyan couldn’t help thinking, D**n, Xiaoxue! You’re really living the good life!
Soon, they reached a quiet corner.
Shen Yuyan saw her new workspace.
To the left of the CEO’s office, a semi-open space enclosed by glass partitions, providing a relatively private zone.
Facing the financial district’s core in Yan Province—below her, bustling city traffic; above, blue sky and white clouds.
A custom walnut standing desk, a MacBook Pro with dual monitors.
Shen Yuyan sat down slowly, fingers brushing the desk surface. Looking out at the financial center, then back at the journey she’d taken to get here—
She was overwhelmed with emotion, filled with ambition.
<4
Cough cough—
Oops, she’d accidentally caught “big silly Qing’s” dramatic bug.
……
Yunxi Tower – Songmei Fashion
Fashion Design Office Area
Yao Lingling sat at her desk, flipping through Qiuqiu’s visual identity system design documents for the HEYI STUDIO brand, quickly jotting down keywords in her notebook:
“Exquisite, elegant, modern… artistic detailing, refined luxury…”
For the past two days, she’d been reviewing Qiuqiu’s design materials.
She was genuinely amazed and impressed.
Qiuqiu was seriously talented!
From brand logos to color systems, typography, texture patterns, and application guidelines—every detail was professional and deep.
As someone equally passionate about design, Yao Lingling could feel the emotions and concepts Qiuqiu wanted to convey:
“Aesthetic restraint in impulsive beauty.”
Moonstone Gray and Cream Silk as the primary palette, with Dusk Rose and Mineral Blue as premium accents—
The entire system felt both cool and gentle, rational and warm.
Exactly the kind of tone and style she’d always pursued.
A successful brand needs more than just precise positioning. It needs products that can carry that tone into reality.
And next—it was Lingling’s turn to step up.
Tang Song had “poached” her with a generous salary and full trust. How could she let him down?
She also wanted to use her skills and designs to help take Songmei Fashion to the next level.
Over at Huashang Fashion, the design team had already started moving things forward.
And now, it was her turn to develop her own collection.
Starting from the brand's visual DNA and blending in her own understanding of professional women's aesthetics, she began crafting her first design for Songmei Fashion.
Inspiration flashed through her mind like lightning, and her eyes gradually lit up. Original content can be found at novel•fire.net
Eventually, her gaze locked onto a single product—
A windbreaker.
In recent years, the "outdoor craze" had quietly taken off, and demand for windbreakers continued to rise.
Songmei Fashion’s target audience—urban women who value refinement and cost-performance—weren’t overly concerned about heavy-duty functionality. What mattered more was the practicality and fashion sense for daily wear.
And that was exactly her specialty.
She personally loved windbreakers and had always wanted to design a "city-style windbreaker" specifically for career women.
Back when she was at Shangya, she had done extensive market research and even drafted an early design. She just never got the chance to actually launch it.
What’s more, her very first conversation with Tang Song on Little Red Book had been a suggestion to mix "windbreaker + sweatpants + canvas shoes." (See Chapter 5.)
Thinking back on all those moments,
Yao Lingling couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, her eyes filled with nostalgia.
From their first encounter as “digital pet” to “senior” to now “President Tang”...
The story between them was actually pretty interesting.
Every time she recalled it, she felt warmth and a slight flutter in her heart.
Pulling her thoughts back, Yao Lingling focused and began to create seriously.
Her fingers glided across the drawing tablet, quickly sketching a character silhouette.
She swiftly translated the inspiration in her mind into a rough draft.
Bit by bit, the design on the screen took shape and became increasingly detailed—
Buzz buzz buzz—her phone vibrated, and a notification popped up on the computer screen.
[Tang Song: “Lingling, come to my office.”]
The brief, direct message made Yao Lingling beam with delight.
Working together really is great—she got to see her “senior” and visit his office.
She put down her work, casually tidied her hair, checked her reflection in the mirror, and then strode confidently toward the CEO’s office.
Luckily, she was in her “fake Lingling” mode today—otherwise, she might’ve lost her cool.
Ugh, it was really stressful being around Qiuqiu.
Two women walking into Tang Song’s office—one with D-cups, one with A-cups. Seriously.
Knock knock knock—
“Come in.”
She pushed open the office door and saw Senior Tang Song typing at the keyboard. He was wearing square-framed glasses—so handsome it made people drool.
Yao Lingling licked her lips, stepped lightly over to the desk, and smiled brightly. “President Tang, you called for me.”
Tang Song looked up, leaning back in his chair, and his eyes instinctively scanned over her thick thighs and landed on her “anime-style chest.”
The corners of his mouth twitched into a grin.
Yao Lingling stuck out her tongue and whispered, “Don’t call it out, I’m just trying to keep up appearances—you know how it is.”
She winked at him as she spoke, her eyes carrying a bit of playfulness, a bit of hope, and a hint of undefinable flirtation.
Tang Song chuckled and shook his head. “Honestly, you’d still look great without them.”
Lingling blushed, bit her lip, and mumbled shyly, “A compliment from you, President Tang... I’ll be dreaming about it for days.”
“What kind of dream? Don’t tell me it’s…” Tang Song deliberately dragged his tone, his eyes mischievous.
“Ahh! Senior… President Tang, how’d you know? I’m sorry! Hahaha~~”
Just a few lines of banter with Lingling, and Tang Song felt his fatigue melt away.
This junior of his had a special energy—bright and cheerful,
like a little flame dancing in the cracks of everyday life.
Then, Tang Song opened a drawer and gently placed a few sheets of sketch paper on the desk.
“This is…” Yao Lingling’s eyes widened in surprise. “Sketches? A new design? They’re beautiful!”
“Yeah, I’ll be counting on you again.” Tang Song nodded and pointed to the chair beside him. “Have a seat, let’s chat.”
“Sure thing!” Lingling cheered, happily pulling over a chair and sitting down beside him.
The sketch papers spread out over the solid wood desk.
Tang Song started explaining his design vision and the material specs in detail:
Caramel Brown Turtleneck Sweater: Slightly loose H-cut, double-layer foldover collar, natural shoulder drop, slightly gathered cuffs—relaxed and effortlessly chic.
Dark Grey Wide-Leg Dress Pants: Straight cut with a slight flare, flattering leg shape, pressed with hidden three-dimensional pleats—elegant yet comfortable.
Yao Lingling’s eyes sparkled with excitement, her leg unconsciously bouncing with joy.
It had been a long time since she last made clothes for him. Finally, another chance.
Back then, she didn’t know Tang Song’s real identity, nor how powerful he really was—
She was simply drawn to his makeover posts on Little Red Book and fell for her “digital pet.”
After getting to know him, his exceptional design talent completely won her over.
She loved fashion design and especially admired Tang Song’s creativity.
Looking at these exquisite hand-drawn sketches now, she was filled with pure excitement.
“Are you cold? Why are you still shaking?” Tang Song smiled and reached out to hold down her still-quivering thigh.
A wave of warmth spread from his palm to her skin. Yao Lingling froze, her heart rate spiking to 160.
“N-no… not cold,” she stammered. “I’m just too excited.”
“Oh, let’s continue then.” Tang Song smiled, but didn’t move his hand away.
Truth be told, this junior of his with her fitness-toned body and pear-shaped figure—
those thick thighs were seriously impressive to the touch.
Firm muscles wrapped in just the right amount of softness—
like freshly baked mochi that had just cooled: soft on the outside, dense on the inside.
As the warmth on her leg continued, Yao Lingling’s face burned hotter, her legs clamping together.
She felt itchy and hot inside.
Ten minutes later, their conversation paused.
Lingling gathered the sketches. “Don’t worry, senior. With Huashang Fashion’s team and workshops now, the clothes will be ready soon.”
She looked up, earnest. “As for our 【HEYISTUDIO】 brand, I’ve already started designing. We’ll get the pieces ready for the Double Ten sale—absolutely won’t let you down!”
Seeing her expression, Tang Song patted her thigh lightly. “Go get ’em, Lingling. I believe in you!”
Gotta say, her thighs really were springy—like massage balls, one pat bounced three times!
Tang Song couldn’t help but pat them again.
Lingling let out a soft yelp, then boldly patted his leg in return, pouting, “You’re gonna bruise my leg at this rate.”
“Uh… sorry, got a little carried away.” Tang Song smiled, reaching out to gently rub her leg, soothing the “injury.”
“Aiya! Senior, you—you’re too much.”
Tang Song chuckled, opened the right-hand drawer, and placed an orange gift box on the table in front of her.
“Can’t let you make clothes for me for free. You know the drill—this is your gift.”
Lingling quickly waved her hands. “No, no! I can’t accept it! You’re my boss now. It’s my job to do this.”
“This is different. Work and personal stuff should stay separate. Just take it—I saw you ‘wishlist’ this on Little Red Book recently. You’ll love it.”
Lingling froze. She hadn’t expected that her senior was still following her posts—her heart pounded like a drum.
She gently opened the elegant package:
La Mer - Revitalizing Essence Gift Set (Limited Edition).
Worth over 30,000 yuan. The set included the iconic Crème de la Mer, treatment lotion, eye concentrate, plus a custom gilded makeup mirror and handwritten card.
Though just a small-time content creator on Little Red Book, she’d always loved beauty and skincare and occasionally shared her thoughts in notes and comments.
Not long ago, she’d even joked under a video comment: “If I ever own this set, I’ll be dancing around the office for three days.”
She never imagined Tang Song would actually buy it for her.
“Thank you, senior.” Lingling’s fingers caressed the gift box, her eyes full of surprise and emotion.
“No need. You’re my cyber strategist, after all. Haha.”
Yao Lingling giggled. “By the way, senior, your Little Red Book hasn’t been updated in ages. Your other cyber strategists aren’t as lucky as me. They’re all spamming your posts asking for updates.”
She covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “If they saw what you look like now, their jaws would drop.
Actually, I think you should post updates from time to time. Even just sharing your daily life at Songmei Fashion would attract a lot of people.
You have so many fangirls, you know.
From a nobody ‘digital pet’ to a fitness influencer, fashion blogger, and now a fashion company CEO… That story alone would go viral!”
She meant it sincerely—after all, she’d lived through it.
In her eyes, Tang Song had every right to become a dual-career star: entrepreneur + fashion influencer.
He could be a major online presence, boost his own visibility, and drive traffic to Songmei Fashion.
Hearing this, Tang Song paused.
She… kind of had a point.
Little Red Book did mean something special to him.
He remembered hitting 100 followers and unlocking the special item 【Betting Agreement】, which gave him the courage to pursue Zhao Yaqian;
Hitting 1,000 followers unlocked the title 【Popular Me】, his main source of early funding;
Reaching 10,000 triggered the hidden item 【Low Whispers of Humanity】, opening his strange relationship with Lin Muxue.
Those days of recording his disciplined life and transformation through his posts felt like yesterday.
According to the system rules, the next milestone reward would be at 100,000 followers.
But as he inherited more and more assets, 【Popular Me】 had become less relevant, so he stopped updating both Little Red Book and Douyin.
With his current charm and wealth, if he posted daily, he’d probably hit 100k fans in no time—maybe even become a million-follower influencer on Douyin.
Just then, a crisp system alert chimed in his ear:
“Ding! You’ve triggered Side Mission【In the Spotlight】. Please visit【Mission Center】to view.”
【Mission Objective: Fame is the external form of charm; influence is the projection of personality.
As a key factor in your Charm score, your current popularity and influence are far from adequate.
Your persona has not yet entered the public eye. Your voice hasn’t pierced the noise.
Please grow your accounts through proper operation and complete a genuine account breakthrough—
Reach 100,000 followers on Little Red Book and 1,000,000 on Douyin.】
*【Mission Reward: Charm +1, Skill Pack 1】
Note 1: No unconventional methods allowed (e.g., botting, fake followers).
Note 2: Content must be original, authentic, and match the account’s style.
Note 3: Follower growth must be natural, stable, and sustainable.