novelraw Chapter 792: The Crown Belongs To You
Chapter 792: The Crown Belongs To You
Yanjing Tiancheng.
In the early morning of deep winter, the sky was still a heavy ink-blue.
Street lamps cast orange-yellow halos, blending with the not-yet-faded night, diffusing circles of hazy warmth in the chilly air.
Tang Song jogged slowly along the residential path, talking on his Bluetooth headset.
"...So, the future core of [Xuanji Optical World] lies in being imperceptible and predictive. The technology must exist like air, knowing what users need even before they do themselves. The neuromorphic computing and situational awareness algorithms we're laying out now are precisely wiring in this direction..."
A sleepy mumble from Liu Qingning on the other end of the headset cut him off: "Mmm... okay, okay, President Tang, I've received your strategic analysis... can I hang up now? I really haven't slept enough... I'm not throwing a tantrum with you... I'm dead tired..."
She seemed to have turned over, fabric rustling.
Her voice became even more indistinct, as if muffled by a pillow: "If you want to send voice messages in the future... pick a more decent hour, don't be like in high school, it's only a little past 6 a.m., in the middle of winter."
The corner of Tang Song's mouth twitched, and he said helplessly, "Alright, then go back to sleep. Bye, dear."
"Bye..." the voice was almost inaudible.Immediately, the dial tone sounded from the receiver.
Tang Song let out a breath, his expression somewhat strange.
Previously, when he was abroad, due to the time difference, his morning routine of video calls or voice chats with Liu Qingning naturally stopped.
Now that he was back in the country and the jet lag was completely gone, he discovered...
His 'white moonlight' seemed to have completely "given up on trying."
She just wanted to sleep until she woke up naturally.
Even when discussing the technical topics she was most interested in, she showed little enthusiasm.
However, this made him think of Liu Qingning from high school.
Back then, she wasn't exactly a hardcore studier; she listened to music and read novels for fun daily, yet she always ranked in the top three of her grade.
She was pretty lazy back then too, and with her poor health, she often skipped morning exercises, which the teachers indulged.
It was only after entering university that she gradually became that girl full of plans for her studies and future, disciplined, even a bit tense.
He hadn't understood it before, especially after he also arrived at the Imperial Capital; he felt she had changed quite a bit, even putting a lot of pressure on him.
He later learned she was striving to plan her future, and also because, at Imperial Capital University, she saw the truly vast world and higher peaks.
Now, suddenly reverting to her original nature, did it mean she didn't want to strive anymore?
That seemed quite good too.
...
The sound of footsteps gradually stopped.
Tang Song began stretching his legs in the residential area's leisure zone, casually taking out his phone to check.
There were already several unread messages on WeChat.
The first to catch his eye was the junior's energetic morning report.
[Lingling: "(o°v'°) Good morning, little brother! Today is January 5th, Friday. It's a sunny day in Yancheng, temperature -5°C to 7°C. Outfit suggestions as follows...]
Below was also attached a selfie in front of a mirror.
Of course, it was still a back view photo; the perfect curve of her hips outlined by tight leggings was full of youthful, healthy sexiness.
Tang Song smiled and replied with a "thumbs up" emoji.
Then, he saw a message from Xu Qing sent even earlier.
It was from 6:05, half an hour ago.
So early?
For a "night owl + sleep struggler" like her, this was truly the sun rising from the west.
He tapped open the chat box.
It was a photo in ancient costume.
Tang Song raised an eyebrow slightly.
There was an unspoken rule between him and Xu Qing.
Whenever Xu Qing had something to ask of him, or had done something guilty and wanted to please him, she would actively send beautiful photos as tribute.
But in the past, she sent photos from her university days: JK, Lolita, or those strongly anime-style COSPLAY photos.
A proper ancient costume photo like this one, with elegant makeup, exquisite attire, and exuding the charm of a classical lady, was a first.
Tang Song lightly swiped his fingertip, enlarging the photo to examine it carefully.
It had to be said, aside from Da Sha Qing's goofy nature, her foundation was really good.
Otherwise, she couldn't have become one of the most popular sister flowers at Yanke University along with the campus belle Shen.
A thought stirred in Tang Song's heart, and he replied with a smile: "This outfit is nice. I find you quite suited to ancient costumes, Qingqing."
"Giggle giggle giggle—"
The reply was almost instantaneous.
[Xu Qing: "Of course! I'm a professional COSER! If I weren't so averse to acting, wouldn't it be a piece of cake to get into the entertainment industry? (smug face jpg)"]
Looking at the text on the screen, Tang Song automatically filled in Xu Qing's triumphant expression.
The corner of his mouth lifted. As he strode his long legs towards the residential area exit, he casually replied with a smiling emoji and didn't continue the conversation.
Sure enough.
After a while.
Probably because she waited and waited but didn't get his follow-up, she finally couldn't hold back.
"—"
[Xu Qing: "Where are you? Where are you? Why aren't you saying anything? (kitten peeking jpg)"]
She's getting anxious! She's getting anxious!
Immediately after, a bold message popped out:
[Xu Qing: "Why don't you ask me if this outfit is easy to take off?"]
Yet the next second.
"The other party has withdrawn a message."
The amusement in Tang Song's eyes deepened. Only then did he reply unhurriedly: "What's up? What did you just send? Why did you withdraw it?"
[Xu Qing: "Guess. (#stealing a glance at you)(#picking nose)"]
Tang Song: "Not guessing. I'm going to get breakfast, bye."
[Xu Qing: "Wait! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧ How can you be so clueless! (frustrated jpg)"]
Tang Song chuckled, then replied: "If you have something to say, say it directly. Don't beat around the bush."
The chat box header immediately showed "typing..." for quite a while, clearly the other side was carefully weighing words, deleting and revising repeatedly. Finally, a message that had obviously been prefaced for a long time was sent.
[Xu Qing: "Um, I heard from Yanyan that you're going to Old Zhang's Barbecue with her and Lu Ziming tonight, right? So, after dinner tonight, do you have any plans?"]
Tang Song: "Go home and work. You know how busy I am right now."
[Xu Qing: "Ah? (#disappointed) Don't you want to relax a bit? Staying tense all the time isn't good for your health. (hint jpg)"]
Tang Song raised an eyebrow, following her lead: "So? How to relax?"
Another moment of silence.
Then, a freshly taken selfie popped out.
Clearly just taken.
The camera angle was from above, not only capturing her pretty face just after waking up but also perfectly catching her smooth, plump, beautifully lined long legs under the hem of her nightgown, and the emptiness below.
That mix of purity with the laziness of just waking up, and the faintly discernible temptation, made Tang Song, whose morning energy was already high, feel somewhat restless.
What is this? Seduction?
For a moment, Tang Song couldn't quite figure out what scheme Da Sha Qing was up to.
It wasn't that she was deeply scheming; on the contrary, her thinking was too jumpy, her actions often didn't follow conventional logic, making it hard for ordinary people to keep up with her train of thought.
Tang Song: "Are you actively inviting a match? Tonight?"
[Xu Qing: shyly covering face jpg]
Tang Song shook his head with a laugh, lightly tapping with his fingertip: "Granted, my beloved consort."
Putting away his phone, he looked up, stepped out of the residential complex gate, and turned onto a bustling street.
The morning liveliness hit him in the face.
Tang Song went familiarly to the Hongfu Breakfast Shop he frequented.
The shop wasn't large, filled with steam and bustling voices.
He ordered a bowl of spicy soup, a steamer basket of soup dumplings, and two freshly fried dough sticks.
He sat down by the window and ate with relish.
The sky outside the window gradually brightened, morning light spilling onto the street.
Nowadays, his body was stacked with a bunch of buffs; he no longer needed to deliberately count calories or avoid certain foods to maintain his condition.
Instead, he could more purely enjoy the satisfaction brought by delicious food.
After all, for a person alive, eating is a very important thing.
After finishing breakfast, Tang Song exhaled a satisfied puff of warm air, pushed open the glass door, and walked out.
The morning air carried warmth and the unique vitality of the street.
He hadn't walked more than a few steps.
A tall, beautiful figure unexpectedly crashed into his line of sight.
She wore an ordinary short puffer jacket and smoke-gray jeans, but against her figure and temperament, it exuded a kind of urban woman's unique refinement and fashion sense.
Thick, soft, wine-red long curls casually draped over her shoulders, making her face appear even fairer.
Against the somewhat monotonous gray backdrop of winter, she was like a dancing flame.
Their eyes met.
The girl's face broke into a bright, pure smile, full of pleasant surprise.
"Brother Song!" She ran over quickly, like a gust of wind, throwing herself into his arms.
Tang Song smiled and held the beautician's slender waist, looking down at her: "Morning, Qianqian. What are you doing here? Getting food?"
"Mhm!" Zhao Yaqian looked up, her eyes sparkling: "Just woke up, suddenly really, really wanted to eat a jianbing guozi, so I thought I'd come out and see if the street stalls were open. Never thought I'd run into you!"
As she spoke, she subconsciously licked her lips, her eyes revealing unconcealed craving and anticipation, like a greedy little girl.
Tang Song kissed her fair cheek, dotingly saying, "Let's go, I'll go with you."
"Ah? You just ate, right? If you're busy, it's okay, I can go by myself." Zhao Yaqian was a bit embarrassed, yet also didn't want to let go.
"It's fine, not busy. Work starts at 9, I still have time to accompany you."
The beautician immediately beamed with joy, "Alright! Let's go! I want two eggs in mine!"
The two arrived at the jianbing guozi stall at the intersection.
There was quite a queue, but the two of them standing there were the most eye-catching scenery.
Zhao Yaqian's jianbing guozi was exceptionally plump, containing not just the crispy cracker and two eggs, but also spicy strips, enoki mushrooms, and a Wang Zhong Wang sausage—a veritable deluxe, top-tier version.
The hot jianbing guozi was soon ready, packed in a paper bag, a bit hot to handle, yet it also dispelled the winter chill.
Zhao Yaqian eagerly held it to Tang Song's mouth, presenting it like a treasure: "Brother Song, you take the first bite! The first bite is the best!"
Seeing Tang Song cooperatively take a bite.
Only then did she smile contentedly and take a big bite herself from the spot he had bitten.
"Phew phew—"
The heat made her suck in air sharply, her pink tongue instinctively licking the sauce at the corner of her mouth.
But she squinted her eyes in satisfaction, mumbling indistinctly:
"Mmm! Delicious!"
The winter morning light pierced through the thin mist, falling on her.
Bright, vibrant, utterly unguarded.
So beautiful it was hard to look away.
Tang Song looked at her and suddenly spoke:
"Qianqian, do you want to come with me to Songmei Apparel for a visit later?"
Zhao Yaqian, who was struggling with the spicy strips in her jianbing guozi, paused, blinked, not quite reacting.
"Me... go to Songmei Apparel?"
"Mhm."
Tang Song reached out to wipe away the crumbs at the corner of her mouth, his tone natural:
"—, oh no, Tingzi also works there. Come to think of it, you've never been to see her work environment.
Want to go play? Maybe do some part-time work as a print model.
We're launching a batch of new winter styles. Your figure and temperament are a good fit. Rather than spending money to hire outside models, why not let you try? Just treat it as going to have fun."
Zhao Yaqian bit her lip, looking into Tang Song's serious, gentle gaze, her heart skipping a beat.
Then, she nodded heavily, "Okay."
Though she was simple and a bit naive, she wasn't stupid, especially after going through a series of events; she had grown a great deal.
She clearly understood that Tang Song's involvement at [Songmei Apparel] wasn't just about work.
There was Gao Mengting, the Executive Vice President, and the clothing designer Lingling that Tingzi had mentioned to her.
They all had special relationships with Tang Song.
All along, to avoid causing trouble for him, even though she knew he and Tingzi had been working there and was very curious, she had never dared to go there.
But now, Tang Song had actually brought it up himself, even inviting her to be a model.
This meant deeper acceptance and favoritism, filling her heart with immense joy and emotion.
"Brother Song, then I'll be a model for once! Help you save some money! But... you don't need to personally accompany me inside. I'll call Tingzi later and have her pick me up downstairs, to avoid being too conspicuous."
"Alright."
"Then... after we're done, I want to sneak a peek at your office, is that okay?"
"Of course."
"Thank you, Brother Song, mua~"
...
3 p.m.
Tokyo, Ginza.
[Tangjin·WANO] Club, General Manager's Office.
Outside the window, the winter Tokyo sky showed a sickly gray-white.
Inside the office, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.
The third son of the Tsukamoto family, traditionally not highly regarded, currently the head of the group's overseas business division—Tsukamoto Kenzo—was slumped in a temporary office chair.
Though wearing an expensive custom suit, the man looked like a plucked quail.
His hair was disheveled, his eyes filled with terror and struggle.
In just a few short days.
An invisible giant hand had pushed the entire [Tsukihana Gosho] Group into an abyss.
His father suddenly critically ill and hospitalized, the group's overseas capital chain broken, scandals erupting...
A series of precise and fatal blows made this commercial edifice that had stood for half a century instantly teeter on the brink.
And now, the document before him made him feel as if he had fallen into an icy chasm.
The file recorded the fake accounts he had made using the overseas subsidiaries over the past few years to cover the hole from his private investment failures.
And his money laundering transactions with certain yakuza organizations behind the family's back...
Any one of these was enough to make him rot in prison.
Tsukamoto Kenzo's hands trembled as he slowly raised his head.
Looking at the excessively beautiful young woman sitting across from him.
She looked unbelievably young, about the same age as his daughter who was still in university.
She wore a light coffee-colored high-neck sweater, paired with a matching blazer.
Her jet-black, smooth long hair casually draped down; her features were sweet, those clear big eyes looking at him, the corners of her mouth even holding a fresh, sweet, cute smile.
But in Tsukamoto Kenzo's eyes, this smile was more terrifying than a demon's.
Yet he didn't dare show a trace of resentment.
He didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
Because the other party was from the Tangjin Family Office.
That was a true behemoth, an invisible giant beast entrenched at the pinnacle of global capital.
Compared to them, the so-called Tsukamoto financial group was just a slightly larger ant; the other side didn't even need to step onto the field personally, just slightly move a finger to cut a few lifelines, and they would die without a burial place.
What made his soul flee in terror was that standing behind them this time was Anne Kate.
Having been responsible for overseas business for many years, he knew all too well what that name represented.
The joint encirclement and suppression by two top-tier forces, targeting [Tsukihana Gosho].
This wasn't business competition; this was dimensional reduction strike.
They didn't have even a sliver of ability to resist!
And now, the devil was giving him a choice.
To become the new puppet CEO of [Tsukihana Gosho].
The price was betraying his family, personally stabbing the final knife into his father and brothers' chests, then kneeling down to be a dog.
"Mr. Tsukamoto Kenzo." Xiao Jing spoke again, her smile still sweet and harmless. "Time's up. I don't need worthless trash, but I do need someone familiar with the group's internal operations and sufficiently sensible. Tell me your decision."
Tsukamoto Kenzo's pupils contracted sharply, his breathing becoming rapid and heavy.
'3...'
Xiao Jing extended a slender finger, starting the countdown.
"2..."
"1."
The moment the last finger fell.
The final line of defense in Tsukamoto Kenzo's heart completely collapsed.
To hell with family honor! To hell with blood ties! They never treated me as one of their own anyway!
The fear of authority carved into his bones and the greed of a petty man gaining power instantly overcame everything.
"I... I understand what I must do!"
Tsukamoto Kenzo suddenly sprang up from the chair, not even caring about the sharp pain from his knees hitting the floor, adopting an extremely standard dogeza posture, deeply kneeling before Xiao Jing.
"Miss Jane! Please, I beg you, let me serve you as your loyal dog!"
"Very good, Mr. Tsukamoto. Then sign it. Remember, don't let my shoe soles get dirty."
After saying this, Xiao Jing gave a slight nod to her assistant Lily beside her, didn't glance at him again, and turned to leave in her high heels.
Soon, she pushed open the heavy door to the adjacent lounge.
Inside the lounge, the light was bright.
The air was filled with a faint scent of premium cigars.
Anne Kate was sitting with her back to the door, overlooking the bustling Tokyo streets.
She wore a deep blue fine wool suit, paired with a beige high-neck sweater, and below was a pair of beige wide-leg trousers with excellent drape.
Even just a seated silhouette exuded a kind of upright, cold, and oppressive power.
Xiao Jing walked in quickly, her voice carrying the lightness after completing a task.
"It's done! That Tsukamoto third son is such a spineless coward. I hadn't even unleashed my big moves, just scared him a little, and he was already completely kneeling..."
Hearing the noise, Anne slowly turned the chair around. Her exquisite, sculpted face didn't show much expression.
Anne chuckled softly, stood up, and walked to Xiao Jing.
Suddenly, she reached out, her long fingers pinching Xiao Jing's delicate chin, forcing her to look up.
Her thumb gently stroked Xiao Jing's smooth cheek, her gaze carrying a dangerous scrutiny and instruction:
"Remember that feeling just now."
"For creatures that kneel out of fear and greed, never see them as human, and never have the slightest pity."
"You must always keep a tight grip on the leash in your hand. Occasionally give him a bloody bone, but most of the time, make him feel fear from the marrow of his bones. Understand?"
Enveloped by that powerful aura, Xiao Jing's cheeks flushed with an abnormal redness, her heartbeat accelerating, obediently nodding: "I remember, Mentor."
"Good." Anne released her hand with satisfaction, elegantly turning sideways, pointing to the wide leather sofa beside her: "Sit. This is just an appetizer. Next, I'll teach you how to completely swallow the Tsukamoto family, this piece of fat meat. But... for the subsequent specific operations, I won't be by your side to teach you hand-in-hand anymore."
"Ah? You're leaving? Where to?"
Xiao Jing's face was full of reluctance.
This period of teaming up with her mare mentor had been way too awesome!
During the day, conquering the business world together, campaigning in the Land of Cherry Blossoms; at night, listening to her thrilling stories about European aristocratic families and Wall Street, with some cuddling on the side.
It was just too much fun!
"First to Europe, to handle some private matters. Then to Shen City."
"Shen City?" Xiao Jing was slightly stunned.
Anne sat back down, elegantly crossing her long legs, her gaze becoming playful:
"Mhm, to attend the global headquarters relocation ceremony of [Xuanji Optical World]. That will be a very interesting show. Also, there's an important offshore trust structure I'm responsible for that needs to be finalized there; I must be present in person."
"Okay, I understand." Xiao Jing nodded. Though curious, she sensibly didn't ask more.
Just then.
"Ring ring ring—"
Anne's private phone placed on the nearby coffee table rang.
She casually glanced at the caller ID.
Her originally lazy expression instantly tightened a bit.
A flash of excitement and anticipation passed through her eyes.
She quickly raised her hand, making a "shush" gesture to Xiao Jing.
Then, pressed the answer button, bringing the phone to her ear.
"Hello, Song. Calling at this hour, is it to check the 'homework' here in Tokyo?"
Immediately, Tang Song's magnetic voice came through the receiver: "No, it's something more important."
"What is it?" Anne unconsciously straightened her posture.
"Crown & Co. Private Bankers."
"!"
The moment she heard these words.
Anne's hand holding the phone tightened sharply, her chest heaving.
Crown Bank.
That was the deepest, most secretive, and most dangerous link belonging solely to her and Tang Song.
It was the shadow treasury they had jointly constructed, completely independent from the dazzling, glamorous system of [Tangjin Family Office].
Back then, he had used her ambition and greed, using her as a white glove to complete a series of heart-stopping financial operations walking the gray line.
That was how this behemoth hidden in Swiss underground vaults came to be, along with the series of unspeakable assets and forces it controlled behind the scenes.
When he left in 2022, he had told her.
He would "forget" the existence of this shadow empire.
And when he actively mentioned it again.
It meant the shadows would begin to stir, the giant beast was about to awaken.
This meant... the moment she had long awaited had finally arrived.
She could finally leave that [Jingwu Capital] where she was constrained at every turn.
Step from behind the scenes to the front stage, legitimately taking over the surface control of this bank on his behalf.
This chess move, enough to shake Wall Street and Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse, would be the explosive starting point of her personal prestige.
More crucially, the long-term plan he had once promised—to help her dismember and devour that vast, decaying [Kate Family]—from this moment on, was officially set in motion.
You must know, within the current Tangjin system, her position was quite awkward.
She wasn't like Mira, holding control over trillions in assets, the "Golden Smile" feared and trembling throughout the capital markets.
She wasn't like Ouyang Xianyue, holding heavy industrial assets, controlling top-tier tech groups, with solid foundations and authority in hand.
Her greatest achievement now was merely being a co-founder of [Jingwu Capital].
And even here, real power was firmly held by Wu Kezhi.
Within the entire [Tangjin], there wasn't a single core territory where she had the final say alone.
In terms of actual influence, she was actually quite small.
This was completely disproportionate to the price she had paid, the risks she had borne, and the ability she believed she possessed.
But once [Crown Bank] was openly managed by her...
Everything would be different.
She would truly possess a powerful, independent, and openly acknowledged foundation.
Her authority and achievements would no longer be overshadowed or suppressed by anyone else's brilliance.
The entire ancient, decaying Kate family would be enveloped by the gradually materializing colossal shadow behind her.
She would have the ability, and the audacity, to reverse-erode and digest that family's century-old accumulated carcass.
And all of this required that man's approval and authorization.
If not for this absolute hook of interest and fatal leverage...
How could a woman as proud and ambitious to the bone as her willingly follow his arrangements, serving as an ordinary committee member with no real power in the Tangjin Family Office?
How could she, like a high-end nanny, be sent by him to Tokyo to teach Jane hand-in-hand? (Though she was enjoying it now.)
Even before, the reason those humiliating acts of taming and threats from Tang Song worked on her was because of this ultimate goal's existence.
Now, the fuse was finally lit.
Countless thoughts about power and ambition flashed through Anne's mind.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, suppressing the surging storm of emotions in her chest.
"Understood."
"The Crown belongs to you."
"I will depart for Zurich immediately."
She stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the tiny Tokyo below, a curve full of wild charm and dangerous temptation lifting the corners of her red lips.
"I will place the Crown upon your head, my King."
From the receiver, brief silence.
Then came Tang Song's calm voice of approval: "Good girl."