novelraw Chapter 618: Appearance
Chapter 618: Appearance
On the 23rd floor, inside the "Star Whisper Hall."
The air was filled with a faint yet exquisite scent, a blend of white truffle and citrus notes.
The atmosphere brimmed with the lively and mysterious vibe unique to youthful parties.
Guests wearing various masks gathered in small groups, guessing each other's identities, laughter ringing continuously.
As tonight’s leading lady, Xiao Jing naturally was the absolute center of attention.
She moved gracefully through the crowd, exchanging greetings and taking photos with every friend, always wearing a sweet smile.
While she was chatting with a few friends, Manager Liu from the hotel hurried over.
He bowed slightly and spoke in a voice only they could hear with respect, “Miss Tian, Director Tang has just arrived at the hotel. He asked me to inform you that he has to meet a friend unexpectedly, so he’ll be delayed for a few minutes but will arrive shortly.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jing pouted her lips.
What on earth was Tang Song up to?! She had planned everything perfectly, with each step precisely timed. How could he suddenly have something to do?
Her friends were all here;
Meng Chuan, Lin Jingming, and others had not arrived yet. This was the perfect moment to make an entrance,
Otherwise, the spotlight would be stolen.
Although a little annoyed inside, her expression remained unchanged. She just nodded lightly and said, “Got it, thank you.”
At that moment, a young man teased, “Tan, Qingli is here!”
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately turned their gaze toward the entrance.
Soon, a man and woman walked side by side toward them.
The woman wore a purple evening gown, her long hair elegantly pinned up, and a black lace mask — none other than Xiao Jing’s close friend Ni Qingli.
Next to her was a man in his early thirties.
He wore delicate gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose and a perfectly tailored Tom Ford suit, his figure well-proportioned.
He did not wear a mask;
his handsome face carried a gentle and confident smile at all times.
He exuded a refined yet capable aura unique to a young elite.
“That’s Lin Jingming from Suchong Power, President Lin!” someone whispered in awe immediately.
“My father mentioned him, saying he started from scratch and is incredibly impressive. He’s currently planning to invest heavily to build a factory here in Yancheng.”
Those unfamiliar with him quietly inquired of their friends.
Soon, the glorious resume of “Lin Jingming” spread through the crowd like ripples,
Young yet already a tech magnate valued at over 500 million dollars, frequently appearing in news reports…
Causing astonishment among those present.
“Qingli, that mask suits you perfectly, so mysterious and beautiful!”
“Qingli, you finally made it!”
“President Lin, welcome, I’ve heard so much about you!”
Many acquaintances immediately smiled and greeted him.
Soon, accompanied by Ni Qingli, Lin Jingming approached Xiao Jing.
“Xiao Jing, happy birthday.” Ni Qingli hugged her close friend with a teasing smile. “Look who I brought along, surprise! This is a VIP guest.”
“Miss Tian, happy birthday.” Lin Jingming looked at the radiant Xiao Jing and spoke politely, “I apologize for not visiting Director Tian first, but I believe the first blessing tonight should be for the most beautiful birthday girl.”
A flash of unabashed admiration and appreciation gleamed in his eyes.
He had a good impression of Xiao Jing.
Not only was her figure and appearance perfectly aligned with his aesthetic, but her family background was outstanding. She was a textbook example of a high-quality, wealthy, and beautiful woman.
After years of hard work and success, he was at a point where he should consider settling down. Tian Jing was undoubtedly his ideal partner.
Xiao Jing replied politely, “President Lin, you’re too kind. It’s an honor to receive your blessing.”
Beside her, Liang Yufan felt a surge of displeasure. As a man, he clearly sensed Lin Jingming’s strong intentions,
Yet he had to admit that neither in career achievements nor personal charm was he a match for the other.
With Ni Qingli and several other core second-generation elites leading the way, Lin Jingming quickly became the absolute focus of the party.
His witty speech and broad knowledge made him adept at discussing cutting-edge tech trends or the latest business dynamics.
In front of these young rich heirs, he delivered a crushing blow.
He drew rounds of praise, surrounded like a star by admirers.
...
On the other side, in the VIP lounge on the east side, the atmosphere was equally lively.
Present were old family friends like Qin Dechang and several important partners of Tian Chengye in the investment field.
A young man dressed as an assistant hurried to You Chengye’s side.
Whispering, “Director Tian, President Lin has arrived. But he came with Miss Ni and went straight to the Star Whisper Hall on the west side.”
Upon hearing this, You Chengye raised his eyebrows, about to say something.
His wife, Chen Man, stood up elegantly and smiled, “I’ll go greet them. You all keep talking.”
As the key guest of this event, Lin Jingming should have come here first,
But he went straight to Xiao Jing’s side, making his intention clear.
As the hosts, they should show proper respect.
Chen Man then bid farewell to everyone present.
Several well-dressed socialite friends whom she had specially invited to “hold the fort” also stood up.
“We’ll go over and take a look. I heard Xiao Jing hired a professional photographer today;
it’s a good chance to get some nice shots.”
“Exactly, and we’ll also meet the so-called outstanding President Lin everyone’s talking about.”
With that, a group of six or seven women decked out in pearls and jewels strode through the internal passage, leaving the VIP lounge in a grand procession.
Just arriving at the entrance of the west side Star Whisper Hall, a burst of young and lively laughter greeted them.
There they saw Lin Jingming, surrounded by admirers like a shining star, and beside him stood the poised Xiao Jing.
A glance revealed Lin Jingming at the center, embraced by a group of young people.
Standing beside him was Tian Jing, wearing a gorgeous gown, looking exceptionally elegant.
Everyone chatted happily, laughter filling the air.
“Manman, look at those two standing together — truly a perfect match!” Chen Man’s close friend gently nudged her elbow.
Others nodded in agreement, their eyes full of admiration as they looked at Lin Jingming.
Chen Man sighed softly, her mood complicated as she gazed at the refined and confident Lin Jingming.
She stepped closer.
Xiao Jing immediately greeted her, “Mom, why are you here?”
“Of course to welcome our distinguished guest.” Chen Man’s face carried a gentle and appropriate smile. “President Lin, please excuse any lack of hospitality.”
Seeing her, Lin Jingming immediately stopped talking and bowed politely, “Aunt Chen, you’re too kind.”
They exchanged a few pleasantries.
Nearby, Ni Qingli cleverly stepped forward and began introducing people to Lin Jingming one by one:
“President Lin, let me introduce you. This is Aunt Sun, chairwoman of the Yancheng Cultural Foundation;
this is Aunt Wang, wife of the chairman of Huasheng Group;
and this one is from the city…”
Each lady introduced was influential, forming the true upper-class core of Yancheng’s social circle.
They smiled and nodded at Lin Jingming, subtly observing this young talent.
Lin Jingming greeted them warmly, his eyes growing brighter with joy.
His investment in Yancheng was mainly because of Tang Yi Precision’s cultivated high-tech supply chain locally.
He intended to develop more deeply here in the future.
These socialite ladies and their family backing represented the local connections he most needed to open up.
His strong interest in Tian Jing stemmed not only from genuine admiration but naturally also from these considerations.
After all, Tian Jing currently worked at Tang Yi Precision, an ideal and fateful entry point.
If he could unite with Tian Jing, his future business empire would gain tremendous strength.
Seeing the harmonious and mutually appreciative scene before him,
Xiao Jing’s brows furrowed slightly, her mood growing heavy.
The plan hadn’t gone according to script after all;
Brother Tang Song was a bit late, and the spotlight had already been stolen.
Even if she made an appearance later, the effect would be much diminished.
ε=('0^*)) throat-clearing
Chen Man noticed her daughter’s expression and quietly took her hand, asking, “Jingjing, where’s Tang Song? I don’t see him.”
She had seen Tang Song’s photos and was actually quite eager to meet him.
Ni Qingli’s eyes flickered, then she said, “Xiao Jing, I just found out you actually have a boyfriend? And he used to be your colleague?”
She had just returned from abroad recently and had been busy with family business, rarely chatting with Tian Jing.
It was only yesterday that she heard the news in the group chat.
Lin Jingming’s eyebrows lifted ever so slightly, his smile dimmed a little, and his gaze returned to Tian Jing’s face, carrying a hint of scrutiny.
Nearby, Zhang Yuxin blinked curiously and asked, “I say, Jingjing, most people have arrived. Why hasn’t your mysterious ‘boyfriend’ shown up yet?”
The originally harmonious atmosphere instantly grew subtle.
Xiao Jing’s expression paused for a moment before she smiled and explained, “He’s actually already at the hotel, but he happened to meet an important friend and went to handle some work matters. He’ll be here soon.”
Hearing this, several friends around showed various expressions.
Qin Hua, holding a glass of champagne, casually remarked, “That’s a bit strange, isn’t it? His girlfriend is throwing such a big birthday party, and as the male lead, he’s nowhere to be seen. Just when he arrives, he suddenly has to deal with something? Is he really that busy?”
Not far away, Liang Yufan smiled and stepped forward, “Qin Hua, you don’t know the whole story. Our President Tang is always like this. Even though he’s CTO of Jinxiu Commerce, he rarely shows up at the company once a month—very mysterious.”
“What kind of friend could be more important than his own girlfriend? This really shows he doesn’t care about you.”
“Yeah, that’s a bit too much.”
For a moment, all eyes focused on her.
Facing the continuous whispers from friends and the looks from her mother and other elders,
Xiao Jing kept her smile but unconsciously tightened her grip on the champagne glass.
Even Xu Qing, who had been quietly enjoying caviar tarts in the corner, stopped and looked at Xiao Jing with concern.
She also thought this Xiao Song guy was unreliable.
Just as the atmosphere suddenly quieted,
The heavy double doors of the Star Whisper Hall were slowly pushed open from outside by two attendants wearing silver masks.
Then, a series of dense and rhythmic footsteps echoed from outside the door.
Several silver-masked greeters automatically lined up on both sides, bowing in unison with precise movements.
“Director Tang! Director Tang!”
The deep and respectful greeting rippled through the hall.
Everyone’s attention was immediately drawn to the commotion.
Xiao Jing’s eyes lit up;
she instantly turned around, her gaze burning toward the entrance, knowing that her long-awaited boyfriend was finally making his appearance.
The script was finally returning to the right track.
In the next second, a tall and upright figure appeared in everyone’s sight.
A dark Loro Piana suit jacket, paired with a white Brunello Cucinelli turtleneck underneath.
This seemingly simple outfit exuded an indescribable top-tier quality when worn by him.
Luxurious beyond words, yet not ostentatious.
His pace was steady and unhurried, his spine straight as a sword, shoulders level, hands naturally hanging by his sides.
His demeanor was flawlessly perfect, yet carried an innate ease and composure as if born with it. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on NoveI(F)ire.net
Every movement radiated a pleasing rhythm and beauty.
He wore no mask;
his handsome, sculpted face bore only a faint gentle smile. His dark eyes were like a deep, still lake.
He emitted no oppressive pressure, but a higher-level unique charm born of absolute confidence and control.
He merely stood there and had already naturally become the center of attention.
The entire banquet hall’s lighting seemed to automatically focus on him.
Inside the reception hall, everyone, male and female alike, unconsciously held their breath.
Behind him, more figures slowly unfolded like a scroll.
The first to come into view were two people Xiao Jing knew well enough to make her heart race —
One was her long-anticipated ultimate “cheat code,” Shangguan Qiuyas;
the other was Fan Wenzeng, one of Smile Capital’s representative directors at Jinxiu Commerce.
After them came the core management team of Lan Feng International Hotel led by Yang Anji.
At this moment, they all slightly bowed, their faces wearing respectful and enthusiastic smiles.
Although many people appeared,
Everyone’s gaze remained firmly fixed on Tang Song.
Everything around him seemed merely a backdrop designed to highlight his presence.
Xiao Jing’s eyes widened slightly, filled with extreme shock and excitement.
A surge of heat uncontrollably shot up from her heart, instantly rushing through her limbs and causing her fair cheeks to flush with an almost unhealthy redness.
This version of Tang Song was familiar, yet his aura had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.
It felt like her favorite anime male lead had finally pressed the hidden transformation button after being pushed to the brink, completely unlocking his final seal!
From a gentle and powerful protector, he transformed into the cold, indifferent “god” who viewed all beings from above!
Noble, aloof, and overwhelmingly powerful to the point of causing shivers!
Ah! How she wanted...
How she desperately wanted to be punished fiercely and mercilessly by this... this Lord Tang Song!
Beneath her gorgeous haute couture evening gown, Xiao Jing’s slender, fair legs began to tremble uncontrollably.