novelraw Chapter 563: Palace Drama, Teaming Up to Trap Zhuangzhuang!
Chapter 563: Palace Drama, Teaming Up to Trap Zhuangzhuang!
1:50 PM
A black Mercedes business van slowly pulled up at the drop-off area of Building A.
The door opened, and two men and a woman stepped out one after the other, walking into the building at an unhurried yet steady pace.
Leading the group was a handsome middle-aged man dressed in a dark gray double-breasted suit and black Oxford shoes. He carried a high-quality briefcase in hand. His shoulders were squared, his stride steady, exuding a remarkable presence.
The financial center was much quieter on the weekend than during the workweek.
The rhythmic sound of his leather shoes on the floor gave off a strong sense of control.
A few white-collar workers passing through the lobby cast glances their way.
The assistant lawyer following behind quickly stepped forward to speak with the building’s front desk.
Soon, access was granted.
The trio passed through the gates and entered the central elevator, heading straight to the 50th floor.Ding—
The metal doors slid open.
Luo Bin adjusted his cuffs and collar, then took the lead toward Rongliu Capital’s office entrance.
The office area was especially quiet at this time, with only a few staff on duty for special projects. The atmosphere was calm and efficient.
The receptionist waiting at the front area quickly stood up. “Hello, Lawyer Luo.”
“Hello.” Luo Bin nodded slightly, his tone gentle yet authoritative.
“President Tang is waiting for you in the office. I’ll take you there.”
“Thank you.”
The corridor stretched long and silent, their footsteps muffled by the carpet.
Moments later, the group stopped outside the CEO’s office.
Knock knock knock—
“Come in.”
The office door was pushed open, and the three entered in sequence.
Luo Bin’s gaze went straight to the tall figure behind the desk.
He wore a slightly casual suit and square-framed glasses.
He looked refined and elegant, yet there was an undeniable sharpness about him.
“Long time no see, Luo Bin.”
A warm smile appeared on Luo Bin’s face as he respectfully replied, “President Tang, it’s been a while.”
The two shook hands firmly, a warmth of reunion in their eyes.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Luo Bin gave a succinct introduction of the two assistants who had accompanied him.
From his memory, Tang Song was always goal-oriented and valued efficiency—any excessive formality would be wasting his precious time.
Both sides quickly sat down in the lounge area for discussion.
At Luo Bin’s cue, the two assistants swiftly laid out the documents.
Organized and categorized neatly across the table, everything was clear at a glance.
“This is all the information on Silent Crown SPV Limited,” Luo Bin said, pushing a file toward Tang Song. “Including the certificate of incorporation, articles of association, bank account authorization... all executed exactly as you requested.”
Tang Song took the folder and flipped through it carefully.
Silent Crown—
A special purpose vehicle (SPV) registered in the Cayman Islands in 2018, headquartered in New York.
He was well aware of the advantages of such a structure: risk isolation, tax optimization, and capital operation flexibility.
Much of the assets he obtained through Charm 80 were held through this SPV—
Including a 5% stake in Smile Holdings Group, and the Bombardier Global 7500.
Of course, given Smile Holdings' scale, the shares could never be listed under his name directly.
Even though the Cayman Islands doesn’t disclose shareholder information, someone with intent could still follow the trail.
During his time with the Scholar’s Badge, Tang Song had absorbed a vast amount of financial knowledge. After careful review, he quickly understood the operational logic behind it.
This was essentially a nested SPV structure.
Beneath Silent Crown, there were two more SPVs in the BVI and Cyprus, using local no-disclosure treaties to completely sever the traceability.
More crucially, before the transaction was complete, the SPV was held in trust by Kate Trust, and he only existed as a beneficiary.
Now that the Charm 80 conditions had been fulfilled, ownership of this SPV was officially transferred to him.
The exposure risk was extremely low.
Next, Tang Song looked over the documents related to the Bombardier jet—
Including: registration under Hong Kong’s aviation authority, third-party operation agreements, international airworthiness certificates, and more.
All the procedures had been taken care of by Luo Bin’s team.
The plane was docked at the Hong Kong Commercial Aviation Center, ready for his inspection.
Tang Song’s eyes lingered on the photo of the jet.
Its streamlined body gleamed with a cold metallic sheen under the sunlight. The tailfin bore the “Silent Crown” insignia—faint but imposing.
Majestic and elegantly luxurious.
What used to be a top-tier vehicle in a game had now appeared in his real life—he had to go see it in person.
Moreover, Rongliu Capital was about to inject another ten billion USD. He had to go to headquarters and complete the process.
Hong Kong—it was a must.
But he wasn’t in a rush. After all, transferring that amount of capital wasn’t a simple task—it would take a few days to process.
Now that Songmei Apparel’s branding was on track and the first batch of clothing was in production, he had some downtime.
Perfect time for a quick trip to Shenzhen—to surprise Bai Yueguang.
Then from Shenzhen, he could head to Hong Kong. Once things were wrapped up there, he’d accompany Wen Ruan to Yangcheng.
But first, he had to settle everything in Yancheng.
After wrapping up their assistance, Luo Bin’s two assistants got up and left.
Luo Bin leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. “President Tang, there’s one more very important matter. The special advisory seat for the Tangjin Family Office—you need to finalize a candidate soon.”
His tone was steady but tinged with urgency.
Tang Song raised an eyebrow, immediately sensing something was off. “Did something happen?”
Luo Bin nodded. After a pause, he sighed slightly and said, “Ms. Ouyang has once again brought forward a proposal to add Miss Su Yu to the family trust. This time, she invoked her identity as a ‘strategic partner’ to bypass Director Jin, which led to some conflict.
Also, there have been major disagreements over investment directions during recent closed-door meetings.
If you don’t step in, things may get even messier.”
Tang Song instantly felt a headache coming on.
With his current intuition and sharpness, he instantly understood the context.
Secretary Jin and Su Yu had long-standing issues—by now, their relationship had completely fallen apart.
Letting Su Yu into the Tangjin Family Office was something someone as proud as Secretary Jin would never accept.
And that year or so when he had been “spoiling” Su Yu just happened to coincide with recruiting Ouyang Xianyue and developing Tangyi Precision.
Back then, Su Yu was often by his side and had even taken part in several major investments.
Her relationship with Ouyang Xianyue had grown particularly close as a result.
Moreover, Ouyang was a fan of Su Yu’s as both a singer and actress.
Now, Ouyang pushing for her to enter the family trust likely wasn’t just sentimental—it was a power play.
After all, Secretary Jin practically represented him, overseeing the entire family office, and had close ties with Anne Kate.
He had disappeared for a year.
Ouyang, from an elite family herself, had surely sensed the latent risk—
She wanted to break this unhealthy monopoly.
Three women on stage—that’s a full-blown palace drama.
Three women at the top of the world—that’s a high-stakes political thriller.
Even the usually sharp and composed Luo Bin wore an uneasy expression—so Tang Song knew just how difficult this would be.
And now, this suddenly emerging “advisory seat” could, in a way, represent his stance and help quell the chaos.
But picking any side could end up backfiring.
“Do you have any recommendations?” Tang Song finally turned to the top lawyer beside him, full of trust and expectation.
Now that Luo Bin had officially returned, he would serve as his private counsel and play a key role moving forward.
Tang Song was no longer the “Dreamworld Tang Song”—he couldn’t suppress them all so easily anymore.
He hoped Luo Bin could offer something useful.
At that, Luo Bin’s face showed signs of inner struggle.
After a pause, he sat up straight and spoke in a low, cautious voice. “President Tang, your decisions have always been sharp and sound. This is a significant matter—best if you appoint someone yourself. I’ll offer my full support.”
The two locked eyes.
The air turned taut like a drawn bowstring.
Luo Bin gave a small cough, lowering his head as he quietly tidied his documents.
What a joke!
Getting involved in this kind of drama—no matter whom he sided with, he’d end up offending the other.
Didn’t you see Wu Kezhi and Zheng Qiudong had both made themselves scarce?
Yuhua District – Yunhui Sports Club
In the VIP private Red King Court, the air was filled with the crisp scent of clay and sweat.
Smack!
The ball hit the ground hard and bounced straight into the fence.
Wen Ruan lowered her racket, shaking her head with a smile. “Lingling, you spaced out again.”
Yao Lingling blushed and waved her hands frantically. “Sorry, Sister Wen Ruan. I just... your moves looked so cool, I got distracted.”
Wen Ruan brushed back the loose strands on her forehead and blinked playfully. “Sweet talker. Come here—let big sis reward you.”
mua~ (* 3 *)
“Okay!” Yao Lingling grinned brightly and actually leaned in with her face.
But the next second, Wen Ruan tapped her round butt with the racket, winking mischievously.
“Ah! Sister Wen Ruan, you’re so bad!”
Yao Lingling clutched her butt, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
The two teased and chased each other across the court.
One had hourglass curves, full chest and hips, dressed in black sports bra and miniskirt, fair-skinned and sultry-eyed, radiating vibrant energy;
The other was youthful and spirited, toned with a tight waist and perky bottom, her laughter like summer soda—bubbly and refreshing.
It was like a living painting—dynamic, full of energy and the subtle tension of flirtation.
Fortunately, this was a private court, and no one came to interrupt.
After a short break, their tennis match resumed.
Wen Ruan served, tilting her head slightly. Her hair fluttered in the wind, and the lighting traced the elegant lines of her shoulders and neck.
Smack!
Though not pro-level in speed, her shots were precise and forceful.
Her movements were smooth and powerful, her body coordination excellent—sexy and dominant, like a queen on the court.
Yao Lingling raised her racket to counter. Watching her older sister across the net, she couldn’t hide her admiration.
Her own skills were decent—she used to play competitively in college and had beaten plenty of guys.
But against big sis, she felt totally suppressed—like she couldn’t unleash her full strength.
Of course, a big reason might be that the other party’s E-cup was just too distracting.
A sharp contrast to her own modest A-cup, making her feel self-conscious and a little inferior.
“Smack!”
Wen Ruan scored another point with ease.
She shook the sweat-dampened bangs from her forehead and walked off the court.
Grabbing two bottles of mineral water from the sidelines, she handed one to Yao Lingling on the way back.
“Have some water. Take a break.”
“Thanks, Sister Wen Ruan.” Yao Lingling took it carefully.
She’d kept in touch with Wen Ruan all this time. They often played Honor of Kings together. Thanks to supporting Wen Ruan in matches, she had now reached the Glory tier.
Now that the weather had cooled off, they were chatting mid-game today when she casually invited Wen Ruan to play tennis or badminton.
Next thing she knew, she’d been brought here—an upscale, private sports club.
From what she’d read online, just the membership fee alone cost tens of thousands.
The place was immaculate.
Built to European red clay court standards, surrounded by fences, and kept at a constant indoor temperature of 24°C...
Definitely the most luxurious venue she’d ever played on in her life.
“No need to be polite.” Wen Ruan patted her shoulder. “You’ve actually got a great physique—solid footing, good rhythm. Tennis really suits you.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Sister Wen Ruan!” Yao Lingling beamed brightly, her smile infectious.
She did have a stable lower body—mostly because of her small chest, wide hips, and thick thighs. People jokingly called it a natural-born fitness body.
Seeing her smile put Wen Ruan in a good mood. She chuckled, “Keep at it, we can be long-term tennis partners. It’s good exercise and helps with shaping up. If there's ever a doubles competition, we could team up too.”
Yao Lingling nodded excitedly. “I’ll do my best! Not just in Honor of Kings—one day I’ll be your doubles partner on the court too!”
Seeing her playful expression, Wen Ruan suddenly smirked mischievously. “Of course, when I say tennis, I mean real tennis—don’t get any funny ideas~”
“Ah!” Yao Lingling’s cheeks turned crimson. “I wasn’t thinking anything!”
Wen Ruan couldn’t hold back a laugh. “You’re adorable. Tease you just a little and you blush like crazy, hahaha.”
Then, a subtle, meaningful glint flashed in her eyes.
The reason she was being so good to Yao Lingling—besides her cheerful personality and shared interests—had a lot to do with Tang Song.
Otherwise, as a board member of Nebula International Group, how could she have time to create a smurf account just to carry a newbie to Glory rank?
Wouldn’t it be more fun to just play Peak Rank?
But what could she do—her man was a flirt, always “playing the field” outside.
And somehow, she always ended up being the one to take the blame.
Zhuangzhuang wasn’t an idiot—she graduated from a top university and had made it to 30. She wasn’t naïve.
Even Su Yu and Jin Meixiao were caught in a power struggle, and Liu Qingning was lurking like a tiger waiting to pounce.
So she was also working to secure her own position.
At work, she kept in touch with Xie Shuyu regularly. In her personal life, she maintained close ties with Yao Lingling.
Worth mentioning—she had once tried to sound out Little Jing, but that girl was just too wild. She even suggested going on a date with Tang Song together.
That totally stunned her.
Nowhere near as sweet as Lingling—who listened to everything she said and admired her with starry eyes.
Something suddenly crossed her mind. Wen Ruan stole a glance at Lingling.
Tang Song had developed a habit of smacking butts at some point... and in that department, Lingling might have a natural advantage.
Just then—
Ring ring— A phone started ringing on the court-side rack.
Wen Ruan quickly pushed aside her wandering thoughts and picked up the phone. Her eyes paused on the screen.
[Mo Xiangwan]
“Lingling, I’m taking a call.”
She waved to her, stepping off the court while answering. “Hello, Sister Xiangwan?”
“Wen Ruan, is this a good time to talk?” came Mo Xiangwan’s low and melodious voice over the phone.
“Yeah, it’s fine.” Wen Ruan grabbed her water bottle and sat down on a rattan chair at the edge of the court. Her tone was calm, but she instinctively lowered her voice.
“There’s something very important I wanted to tell you in advance—just so you’re mentally prepared.” Mo Xiangwan’s voice carried a slight hesitation, as if she’d been weighing her words.
“What is it?” Wen Ruan’s expression hardened, eyes turning serious.
Mo Xiangwan represented Su Yu, so if she called outside of work, it had to be personal.
“You’ve heard of the Tangjin Family Office, right?” Mo Xiangwan asked cautiously.
“Of course I have,” Wen Ruan paused briefly before replying in a steady voice. “It’s currently the most secretive and largest family office in the country, involving Tangyi Precision, Smile Holdings... There’s not much public info online, but the rumors say it’s composed of ultra-wealthy elites.”
She had done plenty of research on it after learning about Jin Meixiao.
Mo Xiangwan said softly, “Yes, it’s a joint family office—but it’s probably not what you think. Globally, very few institutions can be truly called family offices. They’re usually exclusive to the wealthiest families. Tangjin has surpassed even that.”
Wen Ruan held her breath and listened silently.
As Mo Xiangwan explained in her gentle, measured voice, the veil of mystery over Tangjin slowly began to lift in Wen Ruan’s mind.
Currently led by Director Jin, with Ms. Ouyang of Tangyi Precision, Wu Kezhi of Jingwu Capital, Anne Kate, and others serving on the decision-making committee—they were the core participants.
It wasn’t just a wealth management platform.
It was a massive financial nerve center and strategic command tower.
The capital it controlled through various mechanisms was beyond terrifying.
If you had to compare it to an organization, it was more like a world-class shadow consortium.
Wen Ruan exhaled softly and said sincerely, “That really goes beyond anything I imagined.”
Mo Xiangwan wasn’t one to exaggerate—if she was describing it this way, then Tangjin was definitely not what it seemed. Discover more novels at NoveI★Fire.net
Hearing “consortium” made her instantly think of America’s JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Rockefeller, and Kate...
She had never imagined that something like that was hiding so close to her.
“Wen Ruan, have you ever wondered—why is it called ‘Tangjin’?” Mo Xiangwan’s voice dipped lower.
Wen Ruan’s heart jolted, her throat tightening. “I thought it was just because of Tangyi Precision and Director Jin... isn't that it?”
She had a strong hunch about what was coming but still found it hard to believe.
“Heh, that’s just the public version. That ‘Tang’—refers to none other than Tang Song.”
Mo Xiangwan’s voice was clear and firm, without a hint of hesitation.
Wen Ruan felt like she’d been struck by lightning. She shot up from the rattan chair.
“This... this...” she muttered, hands trembling, her cheeks flushing deep red.
“You heard me right,” Mo Xiangwan continued calmly. “The office was originally built around Tang Song. It was created to serve him. Yes, Director Jin is part of it, but the true founder is Tang Song.”
Wen Ruan’s breath quickened uncontrollably, chest rising and falling sharply. She clenched her phone tightly.
So many lingering questions were finally answered.
In other words, Tangyi Precision, Jingwu Capital, Smile Holdings—these world-renowned enterprises were all drawn together under his control.
My God! What kind of monster is he?!
If I tell Jin Meixiao and Su Yu that I once pinned him down and rode him... wouldn’t that just—
Oh my God! Just thinking about it gives me a thrill!
That sense of achievement, that emotional payoff—it’s off the charts!
Thankfully, she was mentally tough. She’d been shocked so many times before.
If she’d known all this when they first started dating, she’d probably have passed out from fright.
After a long silence—
Wen Ruan took a deep breath and forced herself to stay calm. “Sister Xiangwan, are you telling me this because you want me to...?”
Mo Xiangwan’s voice was gentle but edged with steel. “Due to certain reasons, Tang Song has temporarily stepped away from the Tangjin Family Office. Right now, Jin Meixiao is managing everything. But recently, he’s looking to place someone he trusts into the office—to communicate his intentions.”
Wen Ruan’s mouth went dry. Her heart pounded. “You mean...?”
Mo Xiangwan’s tone grew resolute. “Exactly. I don’t need to tell you how important this role is. You’re smart and experienced—you know what it means.
Entering Tangjin means stepping into his core circle. You’ll have a seat at the table alongside Director Jin.
Tang Song will soon head to Hong Kong. And with Liu Qingning in Shenzhen, there’s no way he won’t drop by.
Wen Ruan, are you really going to give up this opportunity?
Remember, this is his family office.”
“Why shouldn’t I have a shot at power?”
Wen Ruan’s eye twitched. Why did this sound like she was being coaxed into a palace coup?
Mo Xiangwan’s tone was warm and measured, but her words carried a conspiratorial undertone.
Something didn’t sit right, but Wen Ruan couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
“Sister Xiangwan,” she finally said after biting her lip, her voice tense. “This is too big... I need time to think.”
“I understand—and that’s a wise response,” Mo Xiangwan replied with a note of admiration. “Take your time. I trust you’ll make the right call.”
“Thank you, Sister Xiangwan. Goodbye.”
The moment she hung up, Wen Ruan let out a long breath, her whole body drained of energy as she slumped back into the rattan chair.
She curled her toes without realizing it, her gaze flickering.
Everything Mo Xiangwan said was undeniably tempting.
Not because she craved Tangjin’s fortune—she was already financially free and well-respected.
It was because Tang Song’s family office represented his future legacy—
His children.
If he was willing to choose her, it proved just how important she was to him.
Even the most easygoing woman would be selfish when it came to love.
Just then—
Ring ring— Her phone rang again.
It was an unfamiliar number from Shenzhen.
Wen Ruan’s heart skipped a beat. Just seeing “Shenzhen” made her think of Liu Qingning.
She hesitated, then answered. “Hello?”
A deep, magnetic female voice came through the speaker—elegant and mature: “Hello, Wen Ruan. I’m Ouyang Xianyue.”
“What?!”
Wen Ruan’s peachy butt bounced right off the chair again.
She couldn’t stop her voice from rising. “Hello, Ms. Ouyang!”
“Good afternoon. I hope I’m not disturbing you?”
“N-not at all! It’s an honor to speak with you.” Wen Ruan quickly adjusted her tone and forced herself to stay calm. “May I ask why you’re calling...?”
A soft chuckle came through the line. “I’ve been meaning to find a time to sit down and chat with you. But I’ve been too busy. I also worried that reaching out abruptly might give you the wrong idea. The reason I’m calling today is because—there are some things I wanted you to hear directly from me.”
Wen Ruan held her breath without realizing it. “I’m listening.”
Ouyang Xianyue’s voice was calm and precise, like a finely tuned instrument:
“Wen Ruan, I’ve been keeping an eye on you. You’re smart, grounded, and rare in your ability to stay pure.”
“A lot of people become calculating when they’re smart, detached when they’re self-aware, and fragile when they’re pure. But you haven’t. That’s rare—and valuable.”
“I just wanted to tell you that I admire you. Sincerely, and seriously.”
“And I hope that at some important moment in the future, we’ll have the chance to work side by side.”
That blunt praise from Ouyang Xianyue hit Wen Ruan like a vat of extra-concentrated chicken soup for the soul—completely submerging poor Zhuangzhuang.