novelraw Chapter 778: The Shocked Noblewoman
Chapter 778: The Shocked Noblewoman
10:01 a.m.
Qingning Tech Tower, 42nd floor.
A Monday morning should be the most chaotic time for an internet company,
meetings, weekly reports, KPI reviews...
The air usually hums with an invisible anxiousness.
But today the office area of Qingmi AI felt subtly different.
Not just because of the Christmas decorations everywhere.
But because.
The general manager who was always unwaveringly punctual, who always arrived an hour early and should have been sitting in the meeting room listening to the tech briefing right now, Liu Qingning, was late.
“Good morning, General Manager Liu.”“Morning, merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, General Manager Liu.”
.....
Liu Qingning wore a creamy white casual outfit, soft-soled shoes,
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shoulders relaxed, a layer of makeup so light it was almost invisible, a faint relaxed smile on her face as she walked into her office.
No emergency meeting was convened.
No chain of @ messages in the group chat.
Not even the usual steadfast morning technical sync meeting had been announced.
Remember, there had been a server fluctuation just last weekend that caused Qingmi AI to have nearly half an hour of response lag.
For a consumer-facing product, that was a significant incident.
Given Liu’s usual style, even a 0.1% error rate would get her probing for the root cause until she found it.
Her soft, adorable face always grew serious when it came to technical problems.
But today...
She even smiled at the tech team as she passed them and said, “Merry Christmas.”
Low whispers rippled through the cubicles.
“Is General Manager Liu in a good mood today?”
“Not just good, she’s like a different person—so cute.”
“Did she read the incident report? Could this calm be the storm before the storm? There was no notice all weekend...”
“Doesn’t feel like that. The way she looked at me just now was almost... kind?”
General Manager’s office
Liu Qingning didn’t immediately sit at her desk.
She went to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, loosely crossed her arms, and quietly stared out.
From this height, Shen City’s morning looked as clear and precise as a newly finished gongbi painting.
The buildings cut neatly into the blue sky, the distant sea flashed tiny silver lights, and the traffic on the overpasses flowed slowly.
She watched for a long time.
Long enough that her secretary Jiang Xing knocked softly twice at the door before she came back to herself and answered leisurely, “Come in.”
Jiang Xing pushed the door open, clutching documents to be signed and a stack of reports, looking hesitant:
“General Manager Liu, are we still having the morning meeting? The tech team is waiting.”
“No.” Liu Qingning turned, a faint smile on her face. “Put the reports on my desk, I’ll look at them later. Tell everyone to handle what’s on hand, they don’t need to wait.”
Jiang Xing froze a moment, confirming, “So... the incident review meeting...”
“We’ll do it this afternoon.” Liu Qingning walked back to her desk but didn’t sit, instead picking up her water cup and slowly watering the somewhat drooping pothos on the desk. “It’s not like the sky is falling. It’s Christmas after all.”
Her watering motion was slow, almost clumsy, droplets rolling off the leaves and sparkling in the morning light.
As a world-leading AI company,
Qingning Technology gathered resources from Smile Holdings, Tang Yi Precision, Jingwu Capital, and had merged with multiple top domestic and international teams, full of industry elites.
As general manager, she should focus more on strategy and management rather than digging too deep into technical minutiae.
But she used to be too eager to prove herself, too afraid to lose.
Jiang Xing stood there watching her boss who seemed to be moving at half speed, unsure what to say.
“Anything else?” Liu Qingning looked up, blinking when she saw Jiang Xing hadn’t left.
“N-no, nothing.” Jiang Xing quickly shook her head and closed the door gently behind her.
After watering the plant, Liu Qingning leaned back lazily in her chair, put on headphones, and opened her music app.
She didn’t immediately read the reports; instead she opened their product Qingmi AT and had it generate a “2024 Spring Home Soft Furnishing Trend Report.”
Su Yu’s large flat was luxurious but had been empty so long it lacked the feeling of lived-in life.
She planned to redecorate a bit, add some soft warmth.
After all, Tang Song would probably be staying in Shen City more often from now on.
Time ticked by.
“Vrrr—”
Her phone suddenly vibrated.
[Dad]
Liu Qingning paused.
During work hours, unless there was an emergency, her parents never disturbed her.
It had always been that way.
She grabbed the phone and answered, “Hello? Dad, what’s up?”
Liu Xueming’s voice carried an uncontainable excitement. “Qingning, you not busy now?”
“No. What’s happening?”
“Well... just now, leaders from the municipal state-owned assets commission and several key county leaders personally came to our unit. They said it was to respond to the new policy of combining cadre rejuvenation with experience inheritance...”
He paused, disbelief in his tone.
“They directly issued a red-headed document to transfer me to the municipal Quancheng State Investment Group!”
Liu Qingning’s brows lifted slightly.
Quancheng State Investment—a core municipal state asset platform.
Its level was decisively higher than her father’s county mining company.
“What’s the position?” she asked immediately.
“Audit and Supervision Department! Deputy Director!” Liu Xueming’s voice rose a few degrees, obviously overjoyed. “Responsible for auditing the compliance of major projects. Qingning, you don’t understand, I never even dared to imagine that position—it’s a real power department, and less physical fieldwork, no more running around dusty sites.”
Listening to her father’s breathless description, Liu Qingning fell silent for a moment.
She knew exactly what that position would mean for him.
From a grassroots “workhorse” accountant into a municipal core supervisory body, it was not just higher pay but a complete transformation in social status and professional dignity.
But something didn’t sit right.
A long-serving accountant, solid tenure, good reputation... these were indeed her father’s strengths.
But in the system, those traits usually meant a reliable old hand, not sufficient reason for such a promotion.
Fortune doesn’t fall from the sky.
Unless someone up there specially tossed you a pie.
She quickly thought of something and interrupted, “Dad, is Ms. Ouyang from Tang Yi Precision currently inspecting in Quancheng?”
“Yes, yes! You almost made me forget to say—Ms. Ouyang came to Quancheng and was in our Jing County this morning! It’s all over the news...”
Hearing that, Liu Qingning’s heart skipped.
Pieces rapidly clicked together in her mind.
“This is good, Dad.”
“Yeah, I know. I called mainly to ask...” Liu Xueming’s voice dropped, fraught with uncertainty, “is this related to Little Song...?”
Liu Qingning pursed her lips. “Probably related to him. But don’t worry, it’s not a bad thing.”
“Alright, alright. Go on with your work. Once the paperwork is through, I’ll tell you the details.”
“Okay, bye.”
After hanging up, Liu Qingning fell into thought.
If it was because of Tang Song that the city government was looking out for her father, the logic made sense.
After all, she was Tang Song’s girlfriend.
The Audit and Supervision post also could monitor the flow of funds.
But if that were all, the process would not have been so secretive and quick; they would at least have confirmed through Tang Song first.
More importantly, the route of this transfer was incredibly precise.
From a grassroots accountant at the county mining company straight into the municipal core platform Quancheng State Investment as deputy director of Audit and Supervision—
that was leaping both position level and platform rank simultaneously.
Such an operation was not something ordinary favors could achieve,
it felt like a “high-level” player was manipulating rules and local ecology directly.
A heavyweight must have personally made the move.
Ouyang Xianyue.
Liu Qingning instantly thought of the Moonlight Trust asset injection record.
Besides Jin Meixiao and Su Yu, Ms. Ouyang’s name appeared.
She already knew Tang Yi Precision had tangled links to Tang Song.
So why would Ms. Ouyang do this?
Grant him equity, personally visit Quancheng, arrive in Jing County, and then so neatly arrange her father’s transfer.
What exactly was her relationship with Tang Song?
It couldn’t be... his... lover?
The thought flashed and she almost laughed at herself.
She was being paranoid from one shock to the next, imagining absurd things.
Who was Ouyang Xianyue?
Putting aside her illustrious background and married status,
just at thirty-six, with the reputation and standing she built in political and business circles, it was impossible to be that kind of relationship.
She was known for being elegant, proper, and upright.
A rule-abiding, honorable, most respectable noblewoman.
A more reasonable explanation took shape.
Maybe she was acting as a senior or investor, taking care of Tang Song and by extension those close to him.
Given Ms. Ouyang’s past public behavior and industry reputation, she had long been generous in supporting promising juniors.
With such a high-level figure quietly lifting them, many practical problems that used to frustrate Liu would indeed become much smoother.
Her father’s new post removed a heavy worry at home.
This was a heavy favor.
Landed squarely on the two things Chinese people value most—family and future—so heavy she could hardly refuse.
Since refusal was impossible, she’d accept.
Liu Qingning, deciding to “let it slide,” quickly made peace with it.
She let out a small breath and looked back at the “2024 Spring Home Soft Furnishing Trend Report” on the screen.
Sunlight warmed half the desk.
.....
4:00 p.m.
Jing County, Yun Jing Tai community, Building 8, Unit 501.
On a winter afternoon the sun was thin, but the floor heating kept the apartment very warm.
Tang Jianying sat on the sofa in thermal underwear,
holding a porcelain teacup and intently watching the TV on the wall.
The program was Quancheng News.
On screen, a group of suit-clad leaders flanked a graceful woman inspecting planned development land.
That woman carried herself calmly and confidently; even municipal leaders leaned in to listen.
“Hah, what a show...”
Tang Jianying blew tea foam and sighed in admiration.
Xu Feng sat cross-legged beside him scrolling short videos; the narrated voice in the clip proclaimed, “Breaking! Tang Yi Precision’s industrial chain is about to land in Quancheng! Yannan’s economy faces historic opportunity...”
She thrust her phone toward Tang Jianying, face flushed with excitement. “Jianying, look. Douyin is blowing up about this. Everyone in our county is going crazy, saying Ms. Ouyang is going to build a big factory here in Jing County! Think of all the jobs—schools and hospitals too!”
Tang Jianying nodded, eyes still on the news, pride faintly in his voice.
“Of course. I ran into Director Zhang from the county a couple days ago and he let something slip. That municipal and Little Song’s industry guidance fund played a big role. They invested heavily because of the fund’s face. Phase one alone can create over two thousand jobs. Kids can work near home.”
“Really?” Xu Feng brightened, then sighed with a tinge of regret and locked her phone. “Too bad Little Song is abroad on business. If he were back to inspect with Ms. Ouyang, how impressive that would be!”
“He’s doing important work overseas.” Tang Jianying laughed and waved a hand. “It’s better to be low-key.”
Just then—
“Ding dong—ding dong—”
The doorbell rang.
“At this hour? Who could it be?” Xu Feng looked at the wall clock in puzzlement. “No relatives coming. Third brother only gets off later.”
“Maybe a delivery? Qingning’s always ordering stuff online—she said she’d buy a massage device last week.” Tang Jianying set down his teacup, put on slippers, and went to the entrance.
“Coming.”
He swung the door open.
Standing outside were not delivery workers or familiar neighbors.
Two women stood there.
The one in the back wore a dark professional outfit and carried two ornate gift boxes, head bowed politely.
The woman in front—Tang Jianying’s eyelids jerked. He rubbed his eyes instinctively.
This... wasn’t the same as on TV.
But it was the same person.
This woman looked around thirty.
She wasn’t in the sharp, authoritative black suit from the broadcast, nor did she exude the overpowering pressure of a top leader.
Instead she wore a gentle, homey outfit:
a cream cashmere coat that looked soft and warm,
a warm apricot knit dress underneath, a finely embroidered silk scarf casually around her neck,
a light-colored hat, very light makeup, lips a gentle rose-bean color.
She didn’t look like a high-ranking executive on a pedestal; more like a cultured miss from a scholarly family—graceful, warm, and poised.
She inspired instant goodwill.
“Ms... Ouyang?!” Tang Jianying’s tongue tripped and he froze in the doorway. “You... you’re—”
Hearing her husband’s stunned exclamation, Xu Feng came over curiously.
“Who is it? Jianying, why do you look like you saw a ghost...”
She glanced at the paused short video on the phone and then at the real person in front of them; her eyes widened into saucers.
“Ouyang...Chairwoman?!”
Seeing the couple flustered and at a loss, Ouyang Xianyue smiled warmly, like spring rain soothingly falling.
She didn’t wait to be invited in; she dipped into a respectful half-bow, gentle and polite, her voice like polished jade, without any airs:
“Uncle Tang, Aunt Xu, hello. I’m Tang Song’s friend, Ouyang Xianyue.”
“I happened to be in Jing County on business and wanted to come see you. Sorry for dropping by without notice; I hope I didn’t disturb your rest?”
The couple were completely stunned by being addressed as “Uncle Tang” and “Aunt Xu,” and by being told she was Tang Song’s friend.
Their hands didn’t know what to do; they stammered awkwardly.
“N-no, you didn’t disturb us...”
“Please, please come in...oh dear, the house is messy, we haven’t cleaned...”
Ouyang Xianyue stepped forward with ease, shortening the distance naturally.
She took the two gift boxes from Secretary Chen and handed them to the couple personally:
“A small token, worth nothing really. Tang Song mentioned Uncle likes tea, and I happen to have two cakes of aged Pu’er I’ve kept. I thought you might like them. Also two bottles of Maotai—New Year’s coming, for entertaining guests.”
Her words were flawless.
Every sentence dropped Tang Song’s name, instantly transforming the distance of her status into the intimacy of a son’s friend visiting.
When the heavy gift boxes were placed in the couple’s hands and they felt her warm manner, their tension dissolved into astonished delight and pride.
The famous Ms. Ouyang was a friend of their son and came to visit—who would believe that?
“Oh my, this is too much! You’re such a big boss to honor us by coming in person...”
“Aunt, don’t be so formal.” Ouyang Xianyue linked her arm with Xu Feng’s in a natural, neighborly way and spoke lightly. “There’s no boss here. Tang Song and I are close friends. By generation, I should call you Aunt. If you keep being so polite I might not dare come next time.”
She glanced around the room and complimented in a warm voice:
“This place is so cozy, it feels like home. Uncle, Aunt, shall we not stand at the door? May I come in for a cup of water? After a day of inspection, I haven’t even had a hot drink—your home would be comforting.”
Her manner utterly charmed the couple into elation.
Both flattered and warmed.
“Please come in! Please come in!” Tang Jianying snapped back to himself and patted his thigh. “Wife, hurry! Get new slippers! I’ll make tea for Ms. Ouyang!”
.......
In the living room,
Ouyang Xianyue took off her coat to reveal the warm apricot knit dress.
Under soft lights her silhouette was elegant yet homey.
Tang Jianying’s hands trembled almost dropping the teapot.
“Uncle Tang, let me.” Ouyang Xianyue smiled and took the purple clay pot from him naturally.
Warming the pot, warming the cups, adding tea, pouring high—
Her movements flowed like running water; the white hands handling tea had a classical charm.
Elegant, composed, a pleasure to watch.
Noticing his lingering awkwardness, she teased lightly as she served tea:
“Don’t be so formal. At the company you’re waited on and never lift a lid. Honestly, my hands were itching to do this myself. Letting me do it here is a treat and the least a junior can do.”
Her words gave him a graceful exit and quietly erased the distance her status had created.
Tang Jianying’s tense heart settled and his face smoothed into a deeper smile marked by crow’s feet.
They sat.
Ouyang Xianyue did not sit on the guest single sofa but took the spot on the long couch next to Xu Feng, at a perfectly measured distance.
Neither intrusive nor distant, it made Xu Feng feel close.
On the coffee table a fruit plate sat.
She accepted an orange from Xu Feng, peeled it, cleaned the pith, and split it in half—one half for Xu Feng, one half for Tang Jianying.
Only then did she peel one segment for herself and put it lightly into her mouth.
After that series of gestures the elderly couple felt as if in a dream.
Ten minutes earlier they had seen her on TV surrounded by leaders discussing grand plans.
Now the legendary woman was actually sitting on their sofa peeling an orange.
When Tang Jianying bit a slice, it tasted sweeter than any delicacy.
“Ms. Ouyang.” He still felt awkward, rubbing his hands together holding the orange. “Little Song didn’t mention this. The child is thoughtless to not tell us and you went to the trouble...”
“Yes, yes, sorry to trouble you.” Xu Feng echoed, gratitude and awe in her eyes.
Ouyang Xianyue set down her teacup and looked at them, expression suddenly earnest and sincere:
“Uncle, Aunt, now that I’ve come through this door, we’re family. If you keep calling me Ms. Ouyang that will be too formal. Call me Xianyue, or Xiao Yue if you like—I truly see you as elders and family.”
“Oh! Sure! Xianyue.”
“All right...” they both nodded repeatedly.
Only then did Ouyang Xianyue open up the conversation naturally.
The atmosphere instantly became immensely harmonious.
She chatted with Tang Jianying about national trends and Jing County’s development,
avoiding heavy economic jargon and speaking plainly about the benefits industry landing would bring.
Tang Jianying nodded often, feeling his horizons broaden.
She talked with Xu Feng about skincare and health, praising Tang Song’s features as inherited from Xu Feng and even pulled up recent photos to compare.
The two leaned together, mother and son-like in intimacy.
Before they knew it, dusk fell outside.
Xu Feng glanced at the time. “Oh dear, it’s gotten late. Xianyue, are you going back to the city for dinner or...”
She asked politely expecting the guest to leave.
Instead Ouyang Xianyue seemed to have been waiting for this, a perfectly timed look of delighted but slightly embarrassed surprise on her face.
“Aunt, if it’s not too much trouble... may I share dinner at your home?” Her voice softened. “Honestly, these days in the city it’s all banquets. The food is heavy and greasy; my stomach’s upset. Right now I don’t crave anything fancy, I just want some home-made, hot dumplings.”
It was the perfect line.
It gave Xu Feng face while expressing genuine need.
“Great!” Xu Feng clapped in delight. “I was worried you wouldn’t like our home cooking. We just finished wrapping dumplings and haven’t cooked them yet. Pork and scallion, and chive-and-egg—which do you want?”
“Pork and scallion, please. I love it.” Ouyang Xianyue smiled.
Soon the family was busy.
Ouyang Xianyue even rolled up her sleeves to help in the kitchen but Xu Feng would not let her.
At dinner,
steaming dumplings were served with pickled side dishes and sliced braised beef.
Full of homey flavors.
Ouyang Xianyue ate heartily,
no pretension—bite after bite, forehead faintly sweating,
completely natural contentment.
......
8:00 p.m.
Outside Yun Jing Tai community.
Only when the car window rose, cutting off the cold wind and the warm, reluctant gazes of Tang Jianying and Xu Feng, did Ouyang Xianyue recline into the leather seat.
She exhaled softly.
The “gracious younger relative” smile hadn’t completely faded, but the warmth in her eyes cooled into her own depth and thoughtfulness.
The car slid smoothly out of the community and merged into the county’s sparse nightscape.
She watched the passing streets, fingertips tapping her knee.
“Secretary Chen.” she said finally, calm and resolute, “Start implementing the transfer for Uncle Tang’s job in the next couple of days.”
Secretary Chen in the front seat responded immediately, “Understood.”
Ouyang Xianyue mulled for a moment and then gave crisp instructions:
“Don’t publicize it, and don’t have us directly handle it. Go make a polite approach to the main county leaders. This role needs to be presented as if the county is making a big, humble effort to invite Uncle Tang out of retirement, give him face.”
“And in staffing for the supporting factory, leave a slot for an expert consultant. Not a core technical post—security, logistics, warehousing—basic positions where Uncle Tang should have some advisory influence.”
Chen Jing nodded and took notes, her mind sharp.
Ms. Ouyang’s maneuver was downright seasoned.
In a county’s acquaintance-based society, clan ties are an unavoidable web.
With Tang currently flying high, relatives and acquaintances might have ideas and possibly cause trouble.
Rather than having them scramble for channels, better to give the power to arrange jobs directly to Tang Jianying.
Money arouses envy, but having authority lets you make placements for nephews and townsfolk—then you become the real arbiter whom people respect.
This wasn’t just about solidifying Tang Jianying’s status in the family; it laid groundwork for future...
Chen Jing glanced at her boss in the rearview mirror.
She knew this was only step one.
Next Ms. Ouyang would subtly straighten out the internal family relationships through this kind of soft power.
That would make many awkward future matters more smoothly accepted within the family.
As an observer, she sincerely felt Ms. Ouyang was the perfect partner for President Tang.
Both thunderous in action and compassionate in heart.
Ouyang Xianyue stared at her own blurred reflection in the window.
She had spent an hour on that gentle makeup look today.
Though minimal, it made her complexion glow.
She was already well-preserved and at a top level.
This deliberately gentle styling made her look younger than Xie Shuyu or Jiang Yourong, at most thirty.
Heh.
She closed her eyes and a satisfied curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.
Step one, perfect.
....
9:30 p.m.
Yun Zhen Hotel, Presidential Suite.
After a quick wash, Ouyang Xianyue changed into comfortable silk loungewear and entered the suite’s private office.
Chen Jing was already there handling work, files from the inspection stacked on the desk.
“Ms. Ouyang.”
Seeing her boss, Chen Jing stood.
Her expression was odd and she held her phone, hesitant.
“What’s wrong?” Ouyang Xianyue poured a glass of water. “What happened?”
“There’s... something I need to report.” Chen Jing pressed her lips, lowering her voice. “According to the team in Paris, Miss Su Yu did not attend today’s birthday gathering in Paris. In fact... she hasn’t been seen all day.”
“What?” Ouyang Xianyue froze with her glass mid-hand and turned, brows tightening. “Not seen all day? What happened?”
As a top superstar, Su Yu’s birthday event, though said to be small, would definitely have been held and many eyes would be watching.
At minimum, there should be paparazzi photos or official images.
But she was simply missing?
Tang Song was over there now...
Her heart tightened.
Had that crazy girl done something out of control?
Or had something happened to Tang Song?
“No, nothing happened to him.” Chen Jing’s odd expression hardened into an awkwardness she struggled to voice. “According to Paris insiders, Miss Su Yu and President Tang have... since last night remained in their 16th Arrondissement apartment and did not go out.”
Ouyang Xianyue’s eyes narrowed and she gently dragged a fingertip along the rim of her glass.
A whole day and night? Not leaving the apartment?
As an adult she immediately grasped the implication.
“Until just now...” Chen Jing steeled herself and continued, “Su Yu’s private doctor, Zhao Sisi, was urgently called in.”
“The doctor sent word that Miss Su Yu is somewhat injured and needs bed rest for a few days. All subsequent scheduled events have been canceled.”
“Injured?! How? Did she fall? Or—”
Chen Jing lowered her head and murmured, “The doctor said maybe from pushing too hard, physical exhaustion. The injury is mainly soft tissue bruising and tearing.”
......
Silence like death.
The crystal glass in Ouyang Xianyue’s hand slipped from her fingers without warning.
It hit the carpet with a thud.
Though it didn’t shatter, water spilled and dampened her trousers.
She didn’t notice.
The usually composed noblewoman had completely lost her composure.
Her phoenix-like eyes widened, face flooded with disbelief and absurdity, with a faint, undetectable flush of heat.
A whole day and night? Injured? Tearing?
My God!!!
How could it be so extreme?!