novelraw Chapter 785: United Front Value
Chapter 785: United Front Value
At an altitude of ten thousand meters, above the clouds.
The Bombardier Global 7500 cruised smoothly through the troposphere.
Outside the window was an endless expanse of inky black sky.
The wingtip lights flashed rhythmically, illuminating the sea of clouds spread out below like cotton wool.
In the middle of the cabin, in the spacious and luxurious conference and lounge area.
The beige, hand-stitched leather seats were wide and comfortable, and the air was filled with a faint scent of aromatherapy.
Liu Jiayi sat in the lounge area further back, wearing noise-canceling headphones.
Beside a folded-out redwood conference table, Tang Song and Cheng Qiuqiu sat facing each other.
On the table were exquisite crystal glasses, a freshly cut tropical fruit platter, and some desserts.
Qiuqiu sat upright with perfect posture, her slender fingers hovering over the keyboard.Her face showed no particular expression, still maintaining that aloof, goddess-like aura that kept strangers at a distance.
But her gaze involuntarily swept around, taking in her surroundings.
As one of the business jets with the longest global range and largest cabin space, the interior of this Bombardier Global 7500 was like a flying, luxurious palace.
The warm black ebony wood veneer, the smart dimmable windows, the top-tier sound system, the climate-controlled wine cabinet....
Every detail within sight exuded ultimate luxury and comfort.
She had never been this close to a world of this level before.
Her heart held both shock and an indescribable sense of distance.
"Qiuqiu." Tang Song, who had been staring at his screen, suddenly looked up. Seeing her demeanor, he couldn't help but smile. "Don't be so tense. If you want to eat or drink anything, just tell the flight attendant."
"Oh, oh." Qiuqiu replied somewhat flustered, grabbing the glass of lemon water in front of her and taking a sip.
She drank too hastily and nearly choked.
"Cough, cough..."
Her originally cool and aloof face instantly flushed bright red.
Tang Song immediately stood up, walked around the table to stand behind her, and gently patted her back with his broad palm.
"Drink slowly."
Qiuqiu's body, however, tensed up instantly as if electrified.
The aftereffects of that early morning spring dream were simply too strong.
Now, feeling his touch, her mind automatically conjured images of those wandering hands from the dream, and his scorching, domineering lips.
Most crucially, the shameful form of address from the dream.
It made her feel a bit perverted.
Seeing Tang Song return to his seat.
Qiuqiu cleared her throat softly and said in a small voice, "Um... President Tang, regarding the New Year's visual design plan, I've already organized my preliminary ideas. Also, the two new employees about to join the Visual Design Department were recommended by [Dejurenhe]. According to President Gao, their resumes are outstanding; they've won international awards. I think..."
Talking about work, she finally began to regain some composure.
And stopped her wild thoughts.
Now, with the development of [Songmei Apparel], especially the expansion of offline experience stores and the growth of the [Heyi] brand.
The importance of visual communication had risen exponentially.
It was not only the face of the brand but also the core touchpoint connecting user emotions, conveying brand philosophy, and driving purchasing decisions.
And she was, after all, just a recent university graduate.
No matter how talented or inspired she was, facing such heavy responsibility and the imminent arrival of industry elites with impressive resumes, she inevitably lacked some confidence deep down, even harboring thoughts of stepping aside for someone more capable.
Tang Song closed his laptop, leaned back in his chair, and looked at her calmly. "Don't worry, the Visual Design Department will still be under Brand Marketing, which I oversee. I believe in our Qiuqiu's abilities; you will definitely lead the team to create stunning work."
Hearing his form of address.
Qiuqiu's expression instantly became unnatural. "Mmm... Thank you, President Tang."
"We're not at the company; no need for such formalities."
"Oh." Qiuqiu responded, pursed her lips, and was about to continue discussing work.
Suddenly, she raised her hand to cover her mouth, letting out a huge yawn, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes from the physiological reflex.
"Sleepy?" Tang Song straightened up, his voice gentle. "That's about enough; time to go to sleep. No need to force yourself to adjust to the time difference right now. Once we reach Yancheng, you can rest for another couple of days."
Qiuqiu's expression instantly became awkward again. "It's okay. I'm... not that sleepy."
No sooner had she finished speaking than she uncontrollably yawned again.
Then she guiltily lowered her head.
Because it was a night flight, she had actually been very sleepy since boarding.
But the moment she heard Tang Song suggest she go sleep in the bedroom inside, she couldn't help but recall last night's dream and the sounds.
So she stubbornly insisted she needed to adjust to the time difference, and there was indeed a lot of work to handle.
But she hadn't expected Tang Song to sit here with her the whole time.
By now, she was truly struggling to stay awake, yet the thought of going to sleep in his bedroom left her feeling at a loss.
"Come on, follow me."
Tang Song didn't give her another chance to refuse. His tone, though gentle, carried an unquestionable, almost parental authority.
"I..."
Qiuqiu opened her mouth, looked up, and met his deep, dark eyes. All her excuses died in her throat.
"Oh."
She obediently closed her laptop, lowered her head, and followed behind him.
They passed through a short corridor and pushed open a solid wood door with soundproofing seals.
The Bombardier's master bedroom suite came into view.
It completely simulated a top-tier hotel environment, devoid of the cramped, oppressive feeling typical of airplanes.
A double bed occupied the central position, with a separate dressing area and shower room beside it.
The electric blackout curtains were already fully drawn. The room was dimly lit, with only the bedside lamp emitting a drowsy, warm glow.
Qiuqiu stood by the bed, her cheeks burning, hesitating and not daring to move.
"Lie down on the bed." Tang Song said softly.
Qiuqiu bit her lip, finally shuffled forward, took off her shoes.
And somewhat stiffly climbed onto the bed, trying to shrink herself as close to the far edge as possible.
The soft mattress instantly enveloped her, as if she had sunk into a cloud.
As Tang Song pressed a button on the wall control panel.
All the lights slowly extinguished, leaving only a faint glow from the footlights.
The room plunged into quiet darkness.
Only the extremely faint sound of air from the central air conditioning remained.
Qiuqiu lay on her side, facing away from the other side, pulling the blanket up to cover half her face, not daring to breathe heavily.
Immediately after, the other side of the mattress dipped slightly.
A familiar scent wafted over.
Tang Song had indeed lain down beside her.
"Sleeping together is fine, right?" His voice sounded particularly deep and magnetic in the darkness.
"N-no problem..."
Qiuqiu fell silent, biting her lower lip, not daring to move again.
In the darkness, her senses were infinitely amplified.
In the confined space, the warmth from his body seemed to penetrate the air, invading every pore of hers.
The images from the dream began uncontrollably overlapping with reality.
In the darkness, Tang Song's gaze slowly fell upon the [Dream Flower Seed] above Qiuqiu's head.
Looking at its increasingly clear, robust leaves and branches, even faintly revealing crimson patterns, he felt curious.
Was this the mutation caused by Su Yu's appearance?
Moreover, during this period, beside Su Yu, Qiuqiu's inner turmoil had been consistently intense.
This flower seedling, which had already been harvested once, was thriving again, showing signs of budding.
This excited Tang Song greatly.
Because, his [Comprehension] attribute had already reached 89 points. With just one more point, he could break through the 90-point threshold.
Breaking through 90 in a base attribute was a crucial milestone in games. In reality, perhaps an unexpected qualitative change would occur as well.
Breathing in the faint, cool, delicate fragrance emanating from Qiuqiu.
Tang Song took a deep breath and directly reached out his hand, wrapping it around her slender waist.
With a slight pull, he drew her closer to him.
Their bodies instantly pressed tightly together.
Through the thin fabric, their body heat mingled.
Tang Song's firm chest pressed against Qiuqiu's back.
"Ah!" Qiuqiu let out a flustered, low cry.
"Qiuqiu." He called her name softly by her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe.
"Mmm..." Her voice trembled violently.
Tang Song's fingers gently stroked her waist, feeling her astonishing waist-to-hip ratio. "Speaking of which, it's been a long time since I helped you with your... illness. I wonder how your condition has been lately?"
Hearing the word "illness," Qiuqiu's mind went completely blank.
"I... I... I'm much better."
"Really? Then let me examine you." Tang Song chuckled softly, a hint of teasing in his voice.
Qiuqiu's breathing instantly became rapid; her whole body seemed frozen.
She neither dodged nor refused.
Tang Song looked at her blurred outline in the darkness.
His hand began to slowly move downward.
Sliding down along her taut waistline, over the curve of her hips, finally coming to rest on her straight, warm thighs.
At this altitude of ten thousand meters, in this enclosed, private space.
There were only the gradually intertwining sounds of their breathing and the subtle rustle of fabric.
Senses were infinitely amplified.
Tang Song breathed in her cool, delicate fragrance, feeling the allure of youthful flesh beneath his palm.
At some point, his hand vanished into the air.
"How does it feel?" Tang Song's voice was husky.
"Hot... I..."
Qiuqiu buried her face in the pillow, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.
"Hot? Then let me help you."
Tang Song's hand, like a nimble fish, deftly moved around to her back.
"Click."
The clasp at the back popped open, the feeling of restraint instantly gone.
Qiuqiu realized what had happened, looked up at him. Her cool eyes shimmered with moisture, full of shyness and confusion.
"Weren't you hot? Helping you get some air." Tang Song stated matter-of-factly.
Before Qiuqiu could react.
He leaned in and kissed her cool, yet now scalding hot, cheek.
Then the tip of her nose, and finally those two soft lips.
Faint rustling sounds arose.
The expression on Qiuqiu's face remained aloof, but her body was exceptionally hot, her breathing becoming increasingly rapid.
The plane flew steadily eastward, the sea of clouds churning in the night sky outside the window.
The [Dream Flower Seed] swayed violently, its branches stretching out. Within the shimmering green light, increasingly clear crimson patterns began to show, as if about to bloom.
Amidst the entwining of lips and intimate touches, Tang Song finally confirmed that Qiuqiu's long-troubling "illness" had indeed improved.
Perhaps soon, this carefully nurtured [Dream Flower Seed] could fully blossom.
Paris, 16th Arrondissement, beside the Place du Trocadéro.
8:00 AM.
In the master bedroom.
Su Yu wore a high-quality champagne-colored silk nightgown, barefoot and curled up in the center of the messy bed.
The belt of the nightgown was tied loosely, exposing large areas of snowy, delicate skin.
Star-like red marks dotted her skin, appearing especially alluring under the soft morning light. They exuded a breathtaking beauty of ravishment.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
A knocking sound.
Life assistant Cheng Xiaoxi and work assistant Zhen Yu entered quietly, heads bowed.
"Sister Yu." Cheng Xiaoxi stepped forward and said softly, "We just received word that President Tang's private jet has landed safely in Yancheng. Everything is fine."
"Mmm, that's good."
Su Yu responded with a nasal sound.
She didn't get up, didn't even turn her head.
Her gaze remained fixed on the lead-gray Parisian sky outside the window, her eyes somewhat unfocused.
He had left after all.
Of course, there was regret, there was reluctance in her heart.
But what filled her chest more at this moment was an overflowing, almost pathological sense of satisfaction.
She knew, it was enough.
Truly enough.
From the morning of December 23rd, when he suddenly descended upon Paris.
A full ten luxurious days.
The surprise of that morning, the Christmas Eve stroll along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, receiving the birthday gift he personally handed her, singing the song she wrote for him in the recording studio, and that absurd yet romantic New Year's Eve...
Scene after scene, etched deep into her bones.
During these days, all the regrets she had accumulated over the years, all her cautious longings, all her nearly obsessive infatuation, had been satisfied and released beyond imagination.
Su Yu slowly closed her eyes, a poignant yet happy smile curling at the corner of her mouth.
She genuinely felt.
Even if her life ended abruptly at this moment, she would have no regrets in this lifetime.
"Sister Yu." Zhen Yu, seeing her boss lost in thought, hesitated for a long time before mustering the courage to remind her, "Shouldn't... we call President Mo and Ms. Ouyang back now?"
These past few days, the boss had gotten her wish and was thoroughly satisfied, both physically and mentally.
But she had truly put those two powerful figures through the wringer.
Tang Song staying in Paris with her for so long, indulging in debauchery, with little communication.
Those two were naturally worried, even anxious.
The calls progressed from initial inquiries to later reminders, becoming more frequent as time went on, the tone growing increasingly subtle.
Later, there was clearly some displeasure; she hadn't called for three whole days.
Clearly genuinely angry.
Hearing this, Su Yu pulled herself from her memories.
She turned her head, a lazy, slightly cool, and arrogant smile playing on her lips.
She extended a slender hand. "Give me the phone."
Cheng Xiaoxi hurriedly took out the phone and handed it over.
Su Yu took the phone, ignoring the stream of unread messages popping up on the screen, and directly dialed Mo Xiangwan's number.
"Hello, Sister Xiangwan."
"My god! You're finally calling back?" Mo Xiangwan's anxious voice came from the other end. "You were too willful this time! No matter what, you can't just go off the grid! Do you know the domestic media is going crazy? And Ms. Ouyang's side..."
"I know." Su Yu interrupted her, her tone lazy, carrying a hint of nonchalance. "It's fine. As for the outside public opinion, let them write whatever they want. Anyway, no photos leaked. I'll just say I was in Europe, in seclusion, focusing on creation."
But in Su Yu's eyes at this moment, these were all insignificant.
"Xiao Yu! You should understand, this is a very critical moment! Regarding the plan for your LP status entry into the family office system..."
Without waiting for Mo Xiangwan to say more, she directly hung up.
Immediately after.
Su Yu took a deep breath, adjusted her sitting posture, her expression becoming slightly more serious.
She twirled the phone in her fingers and dialed another number.
"Beep— Beep—"
The phone rang for a long time, almost about to be automatically disconnected, before it was finally answered.
"Hello." Ouyang Xianyue's voice was calm, serious, exuding an imposing low pressure even without anger.
"Sister Xianyue, Happy New Year." Su Yu's voice remained intimate and natural, as if the days of being out of contact had never happened. "How's work lately? Busy?"
A light flickered in Su Yu's eyes, and she chuckled softly. "I heard from Tang Song that you went to Jing County a few days ago, specifically to visit his parents? How was it? Did you get along well?"
Ouyang Xianyue on the other end of the line paused slightly in her breathing, the coldness in her voice dissipating a bit. "It was fine. Mainly went along the way to investigate the industry chain, and... Tang Song is about to officially take up the position of CEO at [Xuanji Optical World]. At that time, he will be completely exposed to the public eye. I needed to handle his family background and public opinion risks in advance."
Ouyang Xianyue was silent for a moment, her voice completely softening. "By the way, Xiao Yu. Regarding what I've been wanting to advance—having the assets under your 'Starlight Media' swapped into the Pan-Entertainment Fund of the [Tangjin Family Office] in exchange for LP shares. Director Jin's side has already given a formal reply; the email just arrived on my end."
She let out a cold, mocking laugh. "What? What excuse did she find to block it this time? Is the valuation too high, or my qualifications insufficient?"
"..."
Silence fell in the bedroom.
Su Yu was stunned for a moment, subconsciously repeating, "Agreed?"
That she-devil who held the reins of the family office power, who had always seen her as a thorn in her side, actually relented?
"Mmm, the official approval has been issued." Ouyang Xianyue explained. "According to feedback from Qin Yingxue, it was Wen Ruan who, after arriving in London, personally brought this matter up with Director Jin face-to-face and made significant efforts and contributions. Director Jin finally nodded."
"Mmm. Regardless of the exact reason, this matter is settled. Jin Meixiao is the person in charge of the Pan-Entertainment Fund. Her reply basically confirms it."
"I understand." Su Yu took a deep breath, her heart beating fast. "Thank you, Sister Xianyue."
All along, her relationship with Tang Jin had been subtle.
She had always been floating on the periphery of the core system.
Relying on her unique star status and her personal relationship with Tang Song, she possessed considerable autonomy and a network of connections, and had never faced deliberate commercial suppression or harassment.
Coupled with her close cooperation and years of management with Mo Xiangwan, they had jointly built what is now the largest listed entertainment company in the country—Tang Entertainment.
However, even though Tang Entertainment was an industry giant, in the face of the "Tang Jin" empire spanning core areas like technology, finance, and precision manufacturing, its market value of over 80 billion and its entertainment industry nature still seemed more like icing on the cake.
Compared to tech projects like [Qingning Technology] and [Xuanji Optical World], which represent the future and have valuations easily reaching hundreds of billions of dollars, its strategic weight and level of importance were clearly different.
Now, the situation was about to undergo a fundamental change. Obtaining LP status in the Pan-Entertainment Fund under the [Tangjin Family Office] was, for her, far more than just a title.
Moving forward, with the IPO process of [Xingyun International Group] advancing, the implementation of Tang Entertainment's overseas expansion strategy, and the empowerment of AI technology.
The scale and complexity of the entire media and entertainment sector would grow exponentially.
If combined with the potential new "tech + entertainment" ecosystem that the [Xuanji Optical World] project might catalyze, this sector had the full potential to grow into a pivotal, indispensable core business unit within "Tang Jin."
The media and entertainment sector would also truly become a significant part.
Although Wen Ruan was someone Tang Song trusted and had entered the family office sequence, her main strengths lay in marketing and media, and her qualifications were still relatively shallow.
When the time came, she could naturally step into the core.
Su Yu softly "mm"-ed in agreement, was about to hang up, then suddenly seemed to remember something. "Oh, right, Sister Xianyue. The relocation ceremony for the new headquarters of [Xuanji Optical World], and the media preview for the new product... are they about to start soon?"
"Mmm, January 12th."
"The day before Tang Song's birthday. A precious day, full of commemorative significance. So, besides Tang Song, who else will be attending?"
Ouyang Xianyue slowly said, "Director Jin, Liu Qingning, and Wen Ruan will all attend."
"And you, Sister Xianyue, right?" Su Yu chuckled, her eyes becoming fervent and wild. "What a... grand 'reunion'."
"Tang Entertainment is also a shareholder of [Xuanji Optical World], and I am interested... in endorsing the first-generation product. So... I would also like to attend this ceremony. Is that possible?"
Finally, she sighed. "Let's talk face-to-face when you return."
"Alright then. I'll attend a few events here in Europe and then return to China." Su Yu smiled with satisfaction, then, as if thinking of something, suddenly said, "Coincidentally, I also plan to go to Shen City, on the way to see another girl."
"Zhang Yan from Yangcheng. You know of her, right?"
"...Mmm."
"But I bet you absolutely don't know the story between her and Tang Song. A beautiful story."
Su Yu's voice was soft and gentle, as she narrated the story about Zhang Yan in a measured tone.
Su Yu casually tossed the phone onto the soft bedding.
She leaned against the headboard, looking out the window at the Eiffel Tower standing tall in the morning mist in the distance. A playful, captivating curve lifted the corner of her mouth.
His first official exposure in the spotlight, appearing under the global media's spotlight.
How could I possibly be absent?
Shen City, hillside villa.
Sea breeze rustled through the palm trees in the courtyard, making a light rustling sound.
After hanging up, the villa living room fell into silence again.
Sea breeze rustled through the palm trees in the courtyard, making a light rustling sound.
Her gaze sank into silent contemplation, weighing pros and cons, deducing the subsequent situation.
If Su Yu also joined this situation, what kind of chemical reaction would occur between Jin Meixiao, Liu Qingning, and her?
Her gaze sank into silent contemplation, weighing pros and cons, deducing the subsequent situation.
Convenient for her to fish in troubled waters, and also to divert their attention away from the target.
But for her, it could very well be the best opportunity to accelerate and catalyze the situation.
Her thoughts turned in another direction.
Her red lips parted slightly as she murmured softly, "Zhang Yan..."
This name, she naturally knew.
In the information about Tang Song, this name occupied an inconspicuous position.
Tang Song's middle school classmate, reunited with him in Yangcheng.
Later, she resigned from her job at Shucheng Technology and was specially recruited into [Xingyun International Group].
Tang Song helped treat her mother's cancer.
Initially, Ouyang Xianyue only regarded this as an ordinary story of "childhood friends helping each other."
But later, when Zhang Yan went to Yancheng and stayed at Tang Song's house for a few days, this name truly entered her field of vision.
However, she still didn't pay much attention to this girl.
In her view, Zhang Yan was simply too ordinary.
Introverted personality, poor family background, limited capabilities.
Even if she was considered pretty among ordinary people, she was inconspicuous among the women around Tang Song.
Introverted personality, poor family background, limited capabilities.
She couldn't see any value in this girl that would make Tang Song particularly attached.
In this world, the most immeasurable thing is emotion.
Ouyang Xianyue's eyes grew profound.
In this world, the most immeasurable thing is emotion.
This was also why, whether it was her, Jin Meixiao, or Su Yu, they all maintained the highest level of vigilance and respect towards Liu Qingning.
Began in youth, fermented over time, pure and untainted by any impurities.
Yet they never expected that behind Liu Qingning's halo, in that inconspicuous shadow, there hid such an obscure story.
A story that, though not earth-shattering, was like a trickling stream, carrying the warmth of Tang Song's youthful memories.
Such emotions, the longer they last, the more mellow they become, the more they can touch the heart.
This emotion was absolutely precious.
If that was the case, then her "united front value" was far beyond that of an ordinary beauty.
Ouyang Xianyue slightly lowered her gaze, her meticulous thinking rapidly spinning into motion.
If that was the case, then her "united front value" was far beyond that of an ordinary beauty.
"Mmm, noted." Ouyang Xianyue snapped back to attention. "How is Liu Qingning's state?"
"Very good. Working normally, emotionally stable."
A flicker of light passed through Ouyang Xianyue's eyes, a satisfied curve lifting the corner of her mouth.
"Very good. Working normally, emotionally stable."
"Understood." Chen Jing nodded, making a note.
"Good. Change the meeting location for tomorrow; not the office. Set it at the private tea room. It's quiet there, suitable for a heart-to-heart talk."
Secretary Chen quickly pulled up the information and handed the tablet to her.
"And." Ouyang Xianyue changed the subject. "Help me retrieve Zhang Yan's detailed file."
Secretary Chen quickly pulled up the information and handed the tablet to her.
"Yangcheng..." Ouyang Xianyue nodded thoughtfully, then instructed, "In the name of the street community, arrange a job for Zhang Yan's mother nearby, within the community where she lives. Make sure it's a bit more leisurely."
"Recovering well. She received CAR-T cell immunotherapy last year with significant effect. Currently, the cancer cells in her body have been cleared; she is in the recovery observation period. It can be considered clinically cured in medical terms. However, because she just recovered from a major illness, and the previous chemotherapy exhausted her body, her mother has basically lost the ability for heavy physical labor. She is currently recuperating in Zhang Yan's rental apartment in Yangcheng."
"Alright, understood. Also..." Secretary Chen put away the tablet. "Shangguan Qiuyas just contacted me and sent over Director Jin's detailed itinerary plan after her arrival in Shen City on January 12th. Please review it."
Ouyang Xianyue frowned slightly. "As for her father's side... the situation seems somewhat complicated. Investigate that in more detail."
Once again, the spacious living room held only Ouyang Xianyue.
She didn't look at the itinerary beside her, but quietly leaned back in the sofa, her fingertips unconsciously lightly tapping the armrest, sinking into profound contemplation.
In her mind, like playing a quiet old movie, scenes from the stories of Liu Qingning and Zhang Yan alternated and surfaced.
Those fragments about youthful school days, ignorant crushes, and silent guardianship.
Even though they had no intersection with her own life trajectory, merely imagining and sketching them actually made her heart tremble.
Although she understood her own thoughts, she still felt a sense of melancholy.
"Ouyang Xianyue, you have truly become infatuated."
Although she understood her own thoughts, she still felt a sense of loss.
Her story with Tang Song was destined not to be as innocent and pure as theirs.
She remembered that many of the yacht's core equipment and control systems were involved in custom development by teams under [Tang Yi Precision].
After a long time, a thought suddenly leaped into her mind—that super yacht Tang Song purchased abroad seemed to be nearing delivery.
A faint gleam flashed in her calm eyes.
She pursed her rosy lips, her body unconsciously shifting slightly in the soft sofa, adjusting to a more relaxed posture.
A clear and bold thought became clear.