novelraw Chapter 791: Xu Qing's Shameless Maneuver
Chapter 791: Xu Qing's Shameless Maneuver
Yan Province Financial Center, Tower A, 50th Floor, Rongliu Investment.
Shen Yuyan sat in her semi-open office, quietly surveying her surroundings.
The documents that had once piled up on the desk were now completely cleared away, leaving it unusually tidy.
Several important due diligence reports, correspondence files with portfolio companies like [Yimai Technology], and minutes from various closed-door meetings she had attended on behalf of Tang Song.
All had been sorted, either archived into storage or sealed and packed away.
Detailed handover lists and contact information were attached nearby.
Her gaze swept across this office, finally landing on that small metal nameplate.
[Special Assistant to the Chairman - Shirley]
A nameless emotion gradually welled up inside her.
As Tang Song's special assistant, her core work here for nearly four months had been to mobilize the energy and resources of Rongliu Capital, specifically serving Tang Song's personal investment business, screening and deeply participating in projects with unicorn potential.Now, that mission was complete.
Tomorrow, Friday, she would formally leave this place. All resignation procedures were already settled.
Immediately after, she would assume her new role as Chief Ecosystem Officer at [Xuanji Optical World], flying to Shen City next week to embrace that more challenging, more power-proximate new identity.
She should be feeling excited, elated, even smug and triumphant.
She had always been a woman with clear goals and ambition, possessing an almost instinctive desire and drive for upward mobility and broader stages.
But at this moment, that wasn't the case.
Shen Yuyan let out a soft sigh, her gaze drifting beyond the glass wall to the still-bustling open office area.
Once, to compete with Lin Muxue, she had even schemed to get her high school classmate Bai Menglin into Rongliu Capital, secretly pleased with the back-and-forth "harem struggle" tactics.
Looking back now, she had indeed been too shallow, her horizons too narrow back then.
Her thoughts couldn't help but drift further back, to that bone-chillingly cold night in Modu a few months ago.
The eve of the "Investors' Night."
Back then, her dignity had been crushed to dust by reality. Standing on the edge of a cliff, her heart was filled with icy confusion and hopeless struggle.
Until Tang Song appeared.
He gave her a choice, a lifeline, making her "Assistant Shen."
Not only did she gain the ability to avenge her humiliation, but she was also given the opportunity to reshape her life.
This "Special Assistant" identity was far more than just a job to her.
It was the life-saving straw in her desperate situation, the cornerstone for rebuilding her dignity, the turning point where her life's trajectory was forcibly corrected, pointing towards a brilliant starry sky.
The excitement, trembling, and all-or-nothing resolve from that time, even now when remembered, could still make her fingertips tingle slightly and her heart surge.
That peak experience, mixed with gratitude, awe, and extreme excitement, was probably something she would never experience again in this lifetime.
Even the moment she received the offer for [Xuanji Optical World]'s Chief Ecosystem Officer couldn't compare.
That feeling...
It was a bit like the fire burning in her heart when she first decided to start her own business.
Pure, scalding, heedless of consequences.
She gave a self-deprecating smile, unlocked her phone, opened a photo album folder, swiped her fingertip, and quickly found a photo.
It was summer 2021, the sun blazing.
She had resolutely left her HR position at P&G, joining Zhang Tianqi's team with high spirits to co-found "Youjie Household Services."
The photo background was the crowded public workspace of the Yancheng Entrepreneur Center. They had two narrow, connected workstations at the very back.
Back then, she was filled with aspirations and ambition for the future.
She also believed hard work could change everything, that a business model could disrupt an industry, that she could knock on the door of success.
Looking back now, it felt completely different.
Director Jin's words seemed to echo clearly in her ears again:
"Excessive utilitarianism," "poverty mindset," "cognitive limitations"...
Ever since leaving New York, these sharp terms had been circling in her mind.
She repeatedly introspected, dissecting her growth trajectory and every key decision.
Her real transformation probably began after starting her business.
When she truly witnessed the ruthlessness of capital, the disparities in society, and the despair-inducing chasm between social classes, that anxiety of urgently wanting to break through her current situation, craving recognition, desperately wanting to enter a certain social circle, became her constant shadow.
Especially when dealing with fundraising, navigating among various investors.
That suffocating feeling of constantly needing to weigh her own chips, calculate every bit of social capital, and weigh exchanges gradually made her tense and sharp.
Just as Director Jin had pointed out so incisively, this wasn't exactly wrong.
In the jungle where the strong prey on the weak, to survive, to climb upward, one must understand calculation, be adept at using rules, even exploiting human nature.
But this posture was indeed not very likable.
Perhaps someone with a simple mind like Da Sha Qing would actually be more likely to win Tang Song's affection.
Even the university version of herself would probably be more to Tang Song's liking.
But the reality was, she had already developed this way of thinking and behaving, ingrained to the bone.
Wanting to change was almost impossible.
That wasn't her personality either.
She quietly gazed at the bright-eyed version of herself in the photo, then looked up at her reflection in the glass curtain wall.
Time had left clear marks on her, not just on her appearance, but on her core.
Just then—
"Ring ring ring—"
The landline on the desk suddenly rang, interrupting her thoughts.
The screen showed the internal extension for the front desk.
Shen Yuyan took a deep breath, quickly adjusted her state, and when she picked up the phone, her voice had already regained its usual efficiency and elegance. "What is it, Emily?"
"Shirley, there's a gentleman named Lu Ziming here at the front desk looking for you. He doesn't have an appointment, but he says he's an old friend of yours."
Shen Yuyan was slightly taken aback. "Yes, he is indeed a friend. Let him come straight in."
"Okay, I'll bring Mr. Lu over right away."
Putting down the receiver, Shen Yuyan quickly stood up, straightened the slightly wrinkled hem of her professional skirt suit, and subconsciously glanced at the small mirror on the desk to confirm her makeup was flawless.
A moment later.
"Knock knock knock—" A rhythmic knocking sounded.
"Come in."
The office door was pushed open.
Emily stepped aside, making an inviting gesture, and then that familiar figure walked in.
Lu Ziming was wearing a crisp, dark blue casual suit, his hair neatly combed. He looked a bit travel-worn, but his spirits were clearly much better than they had been in New York.
The whole man exuded a sense of high-spirited confidence after having a burden lifted.
"Yuyan, oh no, I should call you President Shen now," he said with a smile, his tone familiar. "Surprised?"
Shen Yuyan couldn't help but smile too, walking around the desk to greet him. "When did you get back? Why didn't you say anything in advance?"
"Got in last night, slept all day to adjust to the time difference. Came to the company this afternoon to handle some work, and here I am, immediately coming to pay my respects to you," Lu Ziming joked.
"Have a seat." Shen Yuyan personally poured him a glass of water. "Are things all wrapped up in New York?"
"Consider myself completely free!"
Lu Ziming took the water glass, plopped down into the leather sofa, and let out a long, relieved sigh.
He began recounting recent developments.
With the strong intervention of the Sloan-Huntley company, the review passed quickly, and the project was smoothly handed over.
He could be considered to have accomplished his mission and retired honorably, not only ending his assignment early but also receiving a fairly substantial project bonus.
At this point, he reined in his smile, looking at Shen Yuyan with sincere eyes. "So the first thing I'm here for today is really to thank you, Yuyan. If you hadn't made the connection in the middle, I really would have been stuck in that mess in New York, unable to climb out."
Although it was due to Tang Song's help, Shen Yuyan's deliberate arrangement had also been a huge favor to him.
"Why thank me? If you want to thank someone, thank your good brother." Shen Yuyan leaned against the edge of her desk, arms crossed, her beautiful peach blossom eyes looking at him with a hint of amusement. "But... your real purpose in coming today is probably to check out your future work environment, isn't it?"
Lu Ziming's hand holding the water glass paused slightly. He chuckled awkwardly. "As expected, nothing escapes the sharp eyes of Campus Belle Shen."
"Made your decision?"
"Mm, thought it through." Lu Ziming put down the water glass, his expression becoming a bit more serious. "I know my own limits. Even though I have a master's degree and work experience, if I really went to a top-tier institution like Jingwu Capital or Smile Investment, places full of Wall Street sharks and Ivy League elites, that high-pressure environment is like raising gu. With my half-baked skills, I definitely wouldn't be able to keep up with that insane pace. I'd end up at the bottom of the performance rankings, embarrassing Old Song instead."
"But Rongliu Capital is different. The WOFE license is right here in Yancheng, and the office location is on the financial street I'm familiar with. A place like this, backed by a big tree, has a higher tolerance for mistakes, and the pace is more suitable for me right now. I'll establish a foothold first, accumulate some real skills. When I truly have the confidence, I can always shamelessly go ask Old Song for a more difficult challenge later."
"Heh, that's quite good too." Shen Yuyan nodded, not trying to persuade him to change his mind.
She understood Lu Ziming's personality well and had already guessed his choice.
For a second-generation rich kid from an upper-middle-class family like him, who never wants for food or clothing, his quality of life has already surpassed the vast majority of people, even without desperately competing in the rat race.
Choosing a platform like Rongliu Capital, which offers "moderate pressure and bright prospects," was indeed the safest decision at this stage.
Moreover, with Rongliu Capital backed by the Tangjin Family Office, even just being a mid-level manager here would give him access to resources and networks at a level unimaginable to the outside world.
The two chatted for a while longer about their respective recent situations.
Lu Ziming glanced at his wristwatch, a hint of hesitation appearing on his face. Finally, he spoke up. "Um... Yuyan, tomorrow is Friday. Are you and Tang Song free in the evening? I was thinking... of treating you and Tang Song to dinner. Firstly, to tell him about joining Rongliu in person, show my stance; secondly, to formally thank you both for saving me this time."
He rubbed his hands together, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Actually, I originally wanted to call Tang Song directly. But you know, after that meeting with him in New York, I was really intimidated. His level is just too high now. I was afraid it wouldn't be appropriate to call him out of the blue, or if he was really busy, he'd have to think of a polite excuse to turn me down, making it awkward for everyone. So, I wanted to trouble you to sound him out for me first."
This was the inevitable sense of distance brought by a disparity in status.
Even if they were once good friends who slept in bunk beds, when one party stands in the clouds, the other, no matter how much they don't want to create distance, will subconsciously become overly cautious.
Seeing Lu Ziming's cautious, somewhat uneasy demeanor, Shen Yuyan felt a subtle sense of resonance in her heart.
She wanted to explain that she actually didn't have that much say in front of Tang Song, and was far from being some special existence who could easily "blow a pillow breeze."
But the words died on her lips.
Some boundaries were still blurry even to her; how could she explain them clearly to others?
In the end, she just nodded. "Alright, leave it to me. I'll communicate with him later. But you don't need to be so formal. Tang Song's feelings for you, his old classmate, are still very deep. If you contacted him directly, he would definitely agree, and he'd be happy about it."
"That's good!" Lu Ziming let out a relieved sigh and immediately stood up. "Then I won't disturb your work any longer! I'll wait for your news! I'm off now!"
After seeing Lu Ziming out, Shen Yuyan returned to the suddenly quiet office.
She didn't sit down immediately, but stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at Yancheng's gradually lighting up, dazzling nightscape.
She was silent for a moment.
Picking up her phone, she opened that familiar chat dialog. Her finger hovered over the screen for a long time.
She weighed her words carefully, deleting and rewriting repeatedly, finally composing a message.
She clearly and concisely recounted Lu Ziming's return, his decision to join Rongliu Capital, and his wish to treat them to dinner.
The wording no longer carried the ambiguous push-and-pull of before.
Click, send.
The wait wasn't particularly long, but in this deliberately quiet atmosphere, every second felt stretched.
"Bzz bzz bzz—"
[Tang Song: "No problem, I happen to be free Friday night."]
Shen Yuyan felt a slight sense of relief in her heart and immediately replied, "Okay. Where would be suitable for the restaurant? Do you need me to book a private club with good privacy?"
Almost an instant reply.
[Tang Song: "No need for that much trouble. Let's just go to that old Zhang's barbecue place outside the west gate of Yanke University."]
[Tang Song: "We used to eat there a lot during university. Kind of miss that taste."]
Looking at that familiar, somewhat faded address on the screen, Shen Yuyan bit her lower lip.
Outside the west gate of Yanke University, that neighborhood filled with the atmosphere of everyday life and memories of student days, that dimly lit but always bustling barbecue joint... she naturally knew it.
During university, she would occasionally go there with classmates.
But what truly moved her at this moment was Tang Song's subtle thoughtfulness and gentleness.
With Tang Song's sharpness, he must have seen through Lu Ziming's carefulness in going through her to relay the message.
He must have guessed the awkwardness and unease stemming from that huge status gap.
So he specifically chose such a place, wanting to dissolve the barrier between them, wanting to preserve this camaraderie from their school days.
He really was... a contradictory and complex person.
Clearly already standing on a cloud unimaginable to ordinary people, looking down on the operating rules of this world, yet still willing to bend down, brush away the dust for those he cares about, carefully maintaining those seemingly insignificant old sentiments.
Clearly having stunning beauties like Su Yu and Director Jin by his side, yet still maintaining a kind of almost indulgent gentleness and patience towards Da Sha Qing.
After replying with a simple "Okay,"
Shen Yuyan put down her phone, closed her eyes, slowly leaned back, and sank completely into the soft, wide back of her chair.
The neon lights outside the window flowed silently, enveloping her in a mix of warm and cool light and shadow.
But her thoughts surged like a breached tide, uncontrollably churning and colliding.
It's a pity, life has no 'what ifs.'
...
8:30 PM.
Lan Feng International High-end Apartments, Unit 2202.
On the living room sofa, Shen Yuyan, wearing a simple white T-shirt and light blue yoga pants, sat in a lazy yet elegant pose.
She held a thick hardcover copy of "Das Kapital," her long, fair fingers gently turning the pages.
The electronic lock emitted a soft "beep," and the door was pushed open.
"Yanyan! I'm back! So tired!"
Before the person even entered, Xu Qing's energetic shout came through.
Shen Yuyan couldn't help but smile, looking up.
Immediately after, Xu Qing bustled in.
She casually tossed her jacket and bag aside, collapsed onto the sofa next to Shen Yuyan, and leaned against her.
"Back? Did everything go smoothly on set today?" Shen Yuyan closed the "Das Kapital" in her hands and ruffled Xu Qing's thick hair.
"Don't even mention it!" Xu Qing pouted in complaint. "I'm never guest-starring in a main role again, it's too tiring! Just standing there for scenes, blocking, it takes so much energy, especially since I haven't been resting well lately."
As she spoke, she nuzzled against her best friend like a koala, acting spoiled. "Yanyan~ I'm so thirsty, and I want some fruit too~"
Shen Yuyan gave her a light, exasperated tap on the head, but still turned and went to the kitchen, returning shortly with a plate of cut fruit and a drink.
Xu Qing immediately grabbed a few cherries and stuffed them into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster storing food.
She began vividly recounting funny stories from the set.
Shen Yuyan sat quietly beside her, listening. Unlike before, she didn't join in the giggles, and a hint of low spirits showed between her brows.
Xu Qing just assumed she was tired from work today and didn't think much of it.
She picked up the biggest, reddest cherry and held it to Shen Yuyan's lips, using a coaxing tone. "Ah— open up, be a good Yanyan."
Shen Yuyan obediently bit it, chewing slowly.
After swallowing, she suddenly spoke softly. "By the way, Qingqing. Tomorrow evening, Lu Ziming is treating me and Tang Song to dinner. It's set at that old Zhang's barbecue place outside the west gate of Yanke University."
"Old Zhang's barbecue!" Xu Qing's eyes instantly lit up, and she subconsciously smacked her lips. "Their charcoal-grilled lamb skewers, sizzling with oil! And the grilled bread slices, brushed with honey butter. Amazing! Just thinking about it makes me drool!"
"Then come along," Shen Yuyan said, laughing at her greedy expression. "It's a good chance for you to spend some time with Tang Song too. You haven't had much contact with him since he came back from abroad."
Hearing this, Xu Qing blinked her big eyes.
She suddenly put down the fruit, leaned forward, and moved right up to Shen Yuyan's face.
The distance between them was extremely close, their noses almost touching, warm breaths mingling.
"Something's off! Very off!" Xu Qing pinched Shen Yuyan's cheek. "Tell me! Who are you? What demon has possessed my 'Scheming Yuyan'?"
"Get lost! What are you doing..." Shen Yuyan laughed, pushing away her mischievous hand.
"Hmph hmph!" Xu Qing crossed her arms, wearing an "I've seen through everything" expression. "A dinner like this, and you're actively inviting me? That's so unlike you! Are you up to something bad? Or... are there other women at the dinner? Xiao Jing? Luna?"
She immediately thought of those two names that made her feel a bit "intimidated."
"What do you think?" Shen Yuyan looked at her, turning the question back.
Xu Qing eyed her suspiciously up and down. "Really... really not?"
"Really," Shen Yuyan said calmly.
"Alright, I'll reluctantly believe you this time." Xu Qing pouted and nestled back into the sofa to eat more fruit.
The two chatted for a while longer. After finishing her juice, Xu Qing stood up. "Alrighty, I'm going to shower, write, and then sleep! Have to get up early tomorrow."
She had only taken two steps when Shen Yuyan's voice suddenly came from behind.
"Qingqing."
Xu Qing stopped and turned back. "What's up?"
Shen Yuyan pressed her lips together, her eyelids lowering slightly, her voice much softer than before. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" Xu Qing tilted her head. "Did you secretly use my eye cream again?"
Shen Yuyan shook her head slightly, was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "For before, when I hid it from you, went to get close to, to seduce Tang Song. After all, you're his girlfriend. I'm sorry."
"Ah—" Xu Qing was stunned, clearly not expecting her to bring this up suddenly.
A complex emotion flashed across her face, but she quickly put on a look of nonchalance.
Waving her hand, she said, "Pfft~, I thought it was something serious. That playboy Little Song, there are butterflies and bees all around him, one more won't make a difference..."
She deliberately used a light tone, but her eyes were secretly observing her best friend's reaction.
"It's different." Shen Yuyan shook her head, her attitude serious. "What I did back then was using our relationship, using your feelings for me, to make Tang Song feel that kind of emotion, and even pulling you into bed together. That was actually really excessive. I never asked for your opinion."
Seeing the rare guilt and solemnity on her best friend's face,
Xu Qing suddenly stepped forward and gave her best friend's yoga-pants-clad perky butt a firm slap.
"Smack—"
"Hmph, it's good you know you were wrong!" She raised her chin, trying to look fierce, but there was laughter in her eyes. "This young lady has a broad heart, I'll reluctantly forgive you!"
After saying that, she stuck her tongue out at Shen Yuyan, then with light steps, humming a tuneless song, retreated to her own bedroom.
Closing the door, leaning back against it, the playful expression on Xu Qing's face slowly faded.
She spaced out for a bit, then walked to her desk and turned on her computer.
She didn't start writing immediately. Instead, she typed a keyword into the search box—"Jin Meixiao."
Ever since her best friend returned from New York, on the surface everything seemed normal, but Xu Qing could sense that Shen Yuyan had something on her mind.
Before, she hadn't thought too much about it, and she herself had been completely stunned by Jin Meixiao's sudden appearance.
Now, thinking about it carefully, her old best friend had been looking forward to going to New York for a long time, had planned the Lu Ziming thing, wanting to secure Tang Song.
And then Jin Meixiao popped up, and something must have happened that she didn't know about.
It seemed her best friend really had been "scared" badly.
Looking at the search results page showing the stunningly beautiful, golden-ratio-figured, ridiculously impressive resume photo of Director Jin, Xu Qing couldn't help but click her tongue.
She shrank her neck, somewhat disheartened to realize.
Even if she and "Scheming Yuyan" were stacked together, they still seemed far from comparable...
Could it be that Director Jin discovered Yanyan's little schemes, gave her a harsh warning, forbade her from being with Tang Song, and that's why she turned out like this?
Sigh...
To her, Shen Yuyan was the most important friend in the world.
Seeing her like this now, of course she was worried and wanted to help her.
Xu Qing scratched her head, thinking hard for a good while, but couldn't come up with anything.
She took a shower and changed into pajamas.
Sitting in front of the computer, she opened a document.
It was a script she had just received today from Tang Entertainment.
That S-grade major drama prepared for Bei Yuwei.
Her responsibility was to write a small portion of the side plotlines.
But even so, once the series aired, even during the promotion phase, her name would appear in the screenwriter credits.
By then, she would really transform into a famous, beautiful screenwriter, maybe even blow up all over the internet.
Thinking about it, she couldn't help but let out a big yawn, tears even welling up in the corners of her eyes.
(-.-)(-O-)......
"Forget it, forget it, I'll think about how to write it tomorrow. Sleep first!"
Xu Qing turned off the computer, flopped sideways, and dove straight into the soft bedding, burying her face in the pillow and rubbing it comfortably.
Consciousness gradually blurred.
That night, she had a long dream.
A star-studded international red carpet event.
A black, custom-made, extended-length Maybach business sedan slowly stopped at the end of the red carpet.
The door slid open silently.
Instantly, countless flashbulbs went off like crazy.
"She's here! She's here! It's Goddess Qingqing!"
"Ahhh! Writer Xu! I've read your books! I'm a fan!"
"Gold-tier screenwriter! I'm guilty, I actually want to call you wifey!"
Amidst waves of screams and shouts that seemed about to lift the roof, a snow-white jade foot wearing exquisite crystal high heels elegantly stepped out of the car door, landing steadily on the bright red carpet.
Immediately after, Xu Qing slowly bent down and got out of the car.
She wore a daringly cut, floral-embroidered spaghetti-strap gown, her seaweed-like thick black hair fluttering slightly in the wind.
Her D-cup bust filled out the dress with a full curve, while her waist was slender to the point of being almost graspable, truly an hourglass figure, swaying seductively with every step.
She radiated a dazzling, fatal attraction in front of the cameras.
"Click! Click! Click—!"
The sound of shutters merged into one continuous roar, almost setting the air on fire.
Over a dozen black-suited bodyguards, hand in hand, formed a human wall, struggling to hold back the fans and media reporters frantically trying to push closer.
"Miss Qingqing! As this year's best-selling novelist, and with your S-grade short drama just breaking platform viewership records this week, how do you feel?"
"Xu Qing! We heard that Miss Su Yu from Tang Entertainment publicly stated you are her top choice for a screenwriting collaboration. Is that true?"
"Rumors outside say your personal net worth has long surpassed ten billion, making you a veritable 'wealthy writer.' What are your criteria for choosing a partner?"
Xu Qing elegantly held a small clutch bag. Facing the onslaught of questions, the corners of her mouth slowly curved into what fans jokingly called a "perfect arc of three parts elegance, three parts cool indifference, and four parts nonchalance."
She didn't directly answer any of the questions. Instead, she simply blew a light kiss towards the direction of the cameras.
"Talent is merely the most inconspicuous of my accessories. And beauty... is my original sin."
"As for partner criteria... heh, that depends on whether the other person can keep up with the pace of my soul."
After saying that, amidst even more frantic screams, she elegantly turned, leaving the entire world with an exquisitely beautiful and mysterious back view.
The scene shifted.
Xu Qing's personal global studio.
It was resplendent and luxurious to the extreme. Even the frames of the makeup mirrors were inlaid with tiny diamonds, shimmering under the lights.
Xu Qing lounged lazily in a wide, genuine leather armchair, allowing four or five personal makeup artists and stylists to swarm around her, attending to her hair and makeup.
"Qingqing, here's the upcoming schedule."
Shen Yuyan, dressed in a crisp professional outfit, walked over.
"2 PM is the cover shoot for 'VOGUE' magazine."
"4 PM, you need to go to Songmei Apparel headquarters. Tang Song has been begging for a long time, humbly requesting you to grace them with your presence to inspect the work and discuss global spokesperson matters."
"Also, Hermès sincerely invites you and Miss Su Yu to jointly serve as the global dual celebrity spokespersons for Hermès' next season."
Xu Qing, legs crossed, listened quietly, but the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned upward.
△+(｡◕‿◕｡)+△
This was the peak of life!
"Fine then."
She pretended to be reserved, extending her hand to admire her freshly done manicure, saying nonchalantly, "Since it's with Sister Su Yu, I'll reluctantly agree. Yanyan, go reply to them. Appearance fees less than nine figures are out of the question."
"Understood!" Shen Yuyan respectfully acknowledged and stepped aside, casually using a silver fork to spear a plump cherry and considerately bring it to Xu Qing's lips.
"BANG—!!!"
A deafening crash!
The heavy solid wood door of the dressing room was violently kicked open from the outside, slamming hard against the wall and bouncing back.
The air in the entire room instantly froze, the temperature plummeting to freezing.
All the staff froze in place, looking at the doorway in terror.
"Who is it! So rude! Don't you know this young lady is—"
Xu Qing frowned in displeasure, opening her eyes and turning around with an imposing air, ready to lecture this clueless person.
However, the next second.
Her half-spoken, arrogant words got stuck in her throat, turning into a string of meaningless "guh... guh guh..." sounds.
Exactly like a chicken suddenly having its neck wrung.
At the doorway.
A woman stood there quietly.
She wore a high-quality, cream-colored silk blouse paired with a black pencil skirt, her long legs sheathed in sheer black stockings.
Her features were stunningly beautiful to the point of being almost unreal, her figure a textbook-perfect S-curve.
But at this moment, what was most suffocating wasn't her beauty, but the palpable black aura swirling around her.
Her powerful presence didn't just lift the roof; it practically dyed the entire sky black.
Stars began to tremble, revolving around her.
She slowly extended a hand, and everything around her instantly froze.
"Di... Director Jin!" Xu Qing's eyes widened, her body beginning to tremble uncontrollably.
Jin Meixiao didn't speak, only a bone-chillingly cold smile appearing at the corner of her lips.
A pitch-black long whip materialized in her hand as she stepped forward.
"Yanyan, save me!"
Xu Qing was scared out of her wits, instinctively turning to look at her all-powerful agent beside her.
Only to despairingly discover that Shen Yuyan had, at some point, already knelt on the floor, holding up a small whiteboard with both hands. On it, written in red marker, were several large characters:
[Empress, spare our lives!!!]
Xu Qing's legs went weak, and she "thumped" to her knees as well, her posture so standard it seemed rehearsed countless times.
A small whiteboard also appeared above her head.
[This servant knows her wrong! Will never dare to daydream again!]
Jin Meixiao's cold gaze swept over the trembling pair of best friends, her wrist flicking.
"Smack!"
Sharp, crisp whip cracks sounded continuously.
Xu Qing clenched her teeth, biting her lip, lowering her head in horror to see that on her expensive, gorgeous floral gown, a glaring patch of blood was slowly blooming.
"Ah—! Tang Song! Save me—!!!"
A scream exploded in the quiet bedroom.
Xu Qing jolted upright from the bed, her heart pounding wildly, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
She stared wide-eyed, looking around blankly.
Familiar bed, desk, sliver of light through the curtain gap...
It was her bedroom in Lan Feng Apartments.
She patted her little chest with lingering fear, letting out a long sigh of relief, collapsing back weakly.
"Thank goodness... scared me to death, it was just a dream..."
Just as her tense nerves began to relax, an uncomfortable sensation of warmth and stickiness came from below.
Frowning, she slowly lifted a corner of the blanket to look.
Sure enough.
On her originally pink, pure cotton little panties, there was an additional glaring patch of crimson.
Her period had come.
No wonder she had such a bloody, violent nightmare.
Xu Qing scratched her messy hair in annoyance, about to get up and deal with it.
Suddenly, her pitch-black big eyes rolled around.
An idea lit up in her mind like a little lightbulb.
Wait!
This is actually a good opportunity!
Maybe... she could help her best friend out?
Scheming Yuyan had come back from New York like her backbone was broken, pitiful.
To revive her, unless Tang Song made the first move.
And she, Miss Xu Qing, was someone who valued face the most. She couldn't very well advise her own boyfriend to go after her best friend, could she?
How awkward would that be!
But... what if she changed tactics?
She could first call that big pervert Tang Song over, tease him a bit, get his fire going.
When he was impatient, at the point of no return... Duang!
She'd just hang up the "no battle" sign.
Little Song, burning with desire, would definitely set his sights on her best friend!
As long as he was the one who took the initiative to push her down, even if Director Jin had objections, she should go whip the culprit, Little Song, right?
Scheming Yuyan's long-held wish would be fulfilled.
Thinking this, Xu Qing immediately perked up.
Grabbing her phone from the nightstand, she checked the time.
6:03 AM.
Perfect timing!
She unlocked her phone, opened WeChat, and her fingers quickly scrolled through her photo album.
Soon, she found a photo of her in ancient costume from yesterday's guest appearance on set.
She directly shared it with Tang Song.
Looking at that drop-dead gorgeous photo of herself on the screen.
Wearing a light purple cross-collar ruqun, the fabric soft and flowing, making her skin look like snow.
Her hair was styled into an elegant updo, adorned with a simple jade hairpin.
The makeup was a Tang Dynasty-inspired peach blossom style, her gaze fluid with a classical brightness, a touch of vermilion on her lips.
She looked like a lady stepping out of an ancient painting, serene yet lively.
Xu Qing couldn't help but hug her phone, rolling excitedly on the big bed, wrapping the blanket around herself, the corners of her mouth rising uncontrollably, almost reaching her ears.
"Tsk tsk tsk, look at this face, this figure, this aura! Perfect!"
"That big pervert Little Song, seeing this version of me first thing in the morning, is definitely going to suffer a direct hit from this level of beauty!"
"Hmph hmph, he's probably grinning like an idiot at his phone screen right now, drool about to drip onto his pillow!"
(◕ᴗ◕✿)