novelraw Chapter 803: We're Not the Same
Chapter 803: We're Not the Same
Under the warm yellow reading light, dust particles drifted slowly within the beams.
An extremely faint scent of agarwood drifted in the air, making the surroundings feel even more tranquil.
Ouyang Xianyue pondered for a long time before finally raising her head, her face regaining its usual grace and inscrutability.
"Secretary Chen."
She casually placed the top-secret report about [Crown Bank] in her hand to the side.
Secretary Chen, who had been waiting quietly nearby, immediately took half a step forward. "Yes, Ms. Ouyang."
"Two things."
"First, mobilize our high-level connections and intelligence channels overseas, especially in Europe and North America, to maintain continuous, high-priority attention on Miss Anne Kate and the associated [Crown Bank]."
"The focus should be on observing abnormal fluctuations in its capital flows, the synergistic effects linked to the internal power transitions within the Kate Family."
"And... any potential risks that could affect our overall stability. I need a dynamic risk assessment report, updated weekly.""Yes." Chen Jing quickly noted it down.
"Second." Ouyang Xianyue paused slightly, her fingertips unconsciously caressing the warm, smooth [Xianyue's Blessing] pendant on her chest. Her gaze softened somewhat, yet carried a deep meaning. "Tian Jing from [Jingyi Asset Management] is currently studying under Anne Kate. Arrange for someone to contact Tian Jing privately. The wording must be appropriate, the boundaries well-measured. She needs to understand the stakes, but her edge must not be blunted."
"Additionally, extend an invitation to her in my name. Say that after I return to the country, I would very much like to see her and invite her to my home for tea."
"Yes, Ms. Ouyang." Chen Jing nodded immediately.
The tasks were assigned.
Ouyang Xianyue stood up. Her silk nightgown shimmered with a subdued luster under the light as she walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.
Outside, the night was quiet.
She reached out, her fingertips gently brushing the leaves of a potted plant by the window. The leaf veins were cool and distinct.
Her figure was reflected in the glass.
The outline was blurred, yet still upright.
The situation was now clear.
Continuing to passively speculate was meaningless.
She, Ouyang Xianyue, had always been adept at making the moves most beneficial to herself and the overall situation on a predetermined chessboard.
In essence, she had never truly been the kind of "chaste saintess" packaged by the media.
Deep down, she was a standard political creature with aristocratic blood flowing in her veins.
The so-called "gray energy," in her view, did not necessarily signify wrongness or evil.
This world had never been black and white; the vast majority of things existed in varying shades of gray.
Power, capital, and even the bonds between people were all like this.
What mattered was the purpose of controlling it and the boundaries in its use.
Moreover, that was Tang Song's arrangement.
What she needed to do was not to break it, but to ensure this blade would never wound the hand that wielded it.
No matter what, protecting him, guarding his bottom line for him, was her responsibility and her conviction.
Thinking of this, a flicker of an elusive emotion passed through her eyes.
Jin Meixiao and Anne Kate.
They revered the cold logic of capital, chasing naked profit and power.
As for how much genuine affection they held for Tang Song, who could know?
Only she.
Only she, Ouyang Xianyue, truly wanted to protect that man from the bottom of her heart.
Therefore, deciding to personally enter the fray was right, even... taking it a step further was right.
For the greater good.
And for Tang Song.
No one could stand on the moral high ground to condemn me.
Thinking of the meeting in Dongguan the day after tomorrow, a tingling, itchy sensation couldn't help but stir in Ouyang Xianyue's heart.
After all, the parting last time, that embrace from behind, that kiss, were still vivid in her mind.
What would happen this time?
Just as this secret anticipation quietly fermented in her heart.
"Beep—"
The screen of the private phone on the desk lit up.
Secretary Chen stepped forward, glanced at it, her heart suddenly tightening. She immediately picked up the phone and walked to the window, lowering her voice. "It's Director Jin!"
Ouyang Xianyue's gaze sharpened slightly. She paused for a moment before picking up the phone and answering.
"Meixiao, good evening. Oh wait, it should be noon in London now." Her voice was gentle and calm, betraying no abnormality. "Calling at this hour, is there new progress in Europe?"
"Xianyue, I hope I'm not disturbing your rest?" Secretary Jin's clear, elegant voice came through the receiver, carrying just the right amount of familiarity. "I just finished listening to my subordinates' reports. I thought it would be better to discuss some matters with you personally."
"Of course not, I haven't slept yet either." A faint smile touched Ouyang Xianyue's lips as she leaned back into her chair. "You mean Zurich?"
Secretary Jin was straightforward. "Yes. Crown Bank."
"Regarding Anne, Tang Song, and this private bank... did you also just find out about it?"
Secretary Jin fell silent for a moment, then chuckled lightly. "Of course not. I had some vague knowledge before. But you know me, I never deliberately pry into President Tang's privacy."
A flicker passed through Ouyang Xianyue's eyes. She said calmly, "It's good that you have an idea. That puts my mind at ease. After all, it's overseas; his safety is my biggest concern."
"You don't need to worry about that. The nature of this bank isn't targeting TangJin. Anne should decouple from TangJin's main operations next, including Jingwu Capital."
"Oh? Is she going to move against her own family?"
"... Perhaps." Secretary Jin didn't answer directly, only giving a sufficiently meaningful conclusion.
After the pleasantries.
Secretary Jin shifted the topic. "By the way, Xianyue. Friday is the formal relocation ceremony for [Xuanji Optical World]'s global headquarters. This is also a crucial step for President Tang to officially step into the spotlight."
"Yes, everything is ready. We await your arrival."
"But..." A trace of concern entered Secretary Jin's voice. "As far as I know, until now, President Tang has not formally met with [Xuanji Optical World]'s core executive team. If he appears directly on Friday, it might seem a bit hasty and not conducive to him establishing authority. This seems somewhat inappropriate, both sentimentally and logically."
Ouyang Xianyue listened quietly, not responding.
A sense of foreboding surged in her heart.
Secretary Jin continued, her voice rational and persuasive. "I heard that you and President Tang will both attend the golf event hosted by Tang Yi's Dongguan company on Wednesday?"
Ouyang Xianyue's hand holding the phone tightened slightly, but her expression remained unchanged.
"... Yes. It's mainly some business receptions for the Tang Yi Precision branch, and also to meet with Tang Song, to prevent any public relations issues from him meeting privately with female celebrities."
"That's perfect. I think this is an excellent opportunity. Why not arrange for [Xuanji Optical World]'s main executive team to go over, take this chance to meet President Tang first, have a simple communication, get familiar. Also, several executive committee members and important advisory committee members of TangJin domestically can be invited together..."
"This serves both to warm up for President Tang's official assumption of duties, letting the team get a feel for his style in advance; and to send a signal to the outside world — TangJin's full support for [Xuanji Optical World], and President Tang's increasingly prominent core status within the system. After all, he can't always remain behind the scenes. This event is highly private and relatively relaxed, much better than a rushed meeting at a formal press conference."
The reasons she gave were all reasonable, every word seemingly justified and proper.
Ouyang Xianyue's fingers gripping the phone gradually tightened.
This wasn't building momentum, this was blatantly crashing the party!
With everyone watching, countless pairs of eyes staring, where would she and Tang Song have even a moment of privacy?
Her meticulously arranged private rendezvous.
The ambiguous probing, the tenderness she envisioned amidst the lake and mountain scenery...
A surge of anger at being outmaneuvered flashed through her heart.
But she was, after all, Ouyang Xianyue. She quickly suppressed all emotion, even letting out a low laugh. The laughter remained as graceful as ever, not betraying the slightest strain.
"You're so thoughtful, Meixiao. I was so focused on preparing for the ceremony, I forgot about this. This suggestion is excellent. The team should indeed meet President Tang in advance to settle their minds."
She retreated to advance, seizing the initiative in one smooth motion.
"Since it's my event, let me handle the arrangements. I'll draw up a suitable invitation list, ensuring the occasion is private yet carries weight. When the time comes, I'll need your help confirming the availability of several executive committee members and advisors. After all, they always have to give you face."
There was half a second of silence on the other end of the line, then Secretary Jin's voice came through. "Of course. You decide the list. If you need me to coordinate anything, have Chen Jing contact Shangguan anytime. It's all for President Tang, for the greater good."
"Yes, all for the greater good." Ouyang Xianyue repeated softly, but her eyes held a profound, deep light.
"Then it's settled. I won't disturb your rest anymore, Xianyue."
"Bye bye."
The call ended.
The study returned to silence, only the scent of agarwood still lingering.
Ouyang Xianyue listened to the dial tone in the phone, then slowly tossed it back onto the desk.
She took a deep breath, her ample chest rising and falling slightly.
She suddenly raised one hand and pressed it against her thigh through the soft silk nightgown.
Her neatly trimmed, rounded nails pressed against the warm skin beneath the thin fabric through the cloth, bringing a faint yet distinct sting.
That feeling was utterly terrible.
Like being forcibly interrupted in the midst of enjoying some ultimate pleasure.
Not only disappointing, but humiliating.
Jin Meixiao was clearly teasing her.
Was telling her: "Don't think I don't know your little thoughts."
This made her, who always valued propriety and restraint, feel a kind of anger at having her underwear seen through.
The suppressed emotions within her heart surged even more fiercely.
....
Switzerland, Zurich time, 14:00.
The winter light was pressed low by the clouds.
The sky was a gloomy leaden gray.
Bahnhofstrasse.
This street was never noisy, yet never absent.
Every step here trod upon the rules and order of global wealth.
And the headquarters of Crown & Co. Private Bankers was hidden among a row of luxury flagship stores and established law firms.
It wasn't a flamboyant skyscraper, but a classical stone building from the late 19th century.
The facade was restrained, the window panes slender.
On the light gray stone wall, there was no publicity, no superfluous decoration.
The brass plaque bore only a brief line:
[Crown & Co. 1838]
No flashing LED signs, no large promotional posters, even the "security guard" standing by the door didn't look like a guard.
"Tap, tap, tap—"
The crisp, rhythmic sound of high heels broke the solemn silence within the bank's lobby.
Anne Kate walked slowly through the domed hall.
Her attire today was visually striking.
The top was a silk satin blouse with a high neckline, fitted, and a puritanical cut.
The flowing silk fabric tightly hugged her explosive, devilish figure.
The bottom was a deep blue high-waisted pencil skirt that outlined an extremely sexy waist-to-hip ratio.
Her dazzling blonde hair was meticulously combed back, revealing a smooth, full forehead and those icy blue eyes.
Coldly beautiful, noble, yet exuding an extremely dangerous allure.
Behind her were three gray-haired, suit-clad old gentlemen.
Each had once been influential in European financial circles, figures that central banks and family offices had to take seriously.
But at this moment, they all lowered their posture in unison, bowing their heads, keeping silent, even trying not to make unnecessary sounds as their leather shoes touched the floor.
No one in the lobby dared to speak loudly.
When bank staff saw her, they would stop at just the right distance and give a slight nod.
Neither overly fawning, nor showing the slightest neglect.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Kate."
"Welcome back, Ms. Kate."
"Always a pleasure."
Greetings came from all directions, swirling around her and then quietly receding.
Anne didn't respond, only nodded faintly, her gaze passing over every face.
Like a mistress inspecting her domain.
She passed through the reception area and walked deeper along the corridor.
A few 19th-century oil paintings hung on the walls, their tones dark and heavy.
At the end of the corridor was a seemingly ordinary wooden door.
The door opened from the inside.
Beyond was not an office, but a narrow transfer anteroom.
Further inside was an elevator with no buttons.
The elevator walls were smooth as mirrors, with only a biometric identification area on one side.
After confirming her identity, the elevator went directly to the 4th floor.
This was the director's office area and the confidential floor.
"Ms. Kate." The bank's current CEO, Hans Weber, stopped in front of a mahogany door. "As per your instructions, the final activation of the two trust chains in the Cayman Islands and Luxembourg has been completed. The dispatchable authority of the capital pool has been switched to the instruction layer under your name."
He paused, handing over an encrypted brief.
"The mining settlement payment from South America and the security service advance payment from Abu Dhabi have completed the first phase of structured processing and risk isolation. The chain compliance explanation is complete, funds are available for dispatch at any time."
"Good job, Hans."
Anne just glanced casually, not even reaching out her hand, only carelessly curling her red lips.
"Let the money circulate in the pool for now. No one is to make the final landing until I say stop."
"Yes, Ma'am."
The crowd dispersed.
Anne pushed open the heavy mahogany door and entered the Managing Partner Office, symbolizing the highest authority.
This office had the best view in the entire building.
Through the bulletproof floor-to-ceiling windows, one could clearly see the Limmat River flowing quietly nearby and the iconic twin spires of Zurich's Grossmünster church.
Anne walked to the window and stopped.
Her icy blue eyes narrowed slightly, her expression almost intoxicated.
She had waited too long for this moment.
A truly vast, dangerous system that she could mobilize.
The so-called [Crown Bank] was never simply a private bank storing gold and cash.
It was an underground labyrinth buried deep beneath the heart of European finance.
Vaults, ledgers, clearing, legal, trusts, security...
Every channel pointed to the same result — turning money into power, without leaving a trace.
And beneath the bank's vast reach, it was connected to a string of unseen yet extremely effective organizations.
Private security companies, dark web data brokers, shell trading companies and offshore SPVs spread across the globe...
They were like invisible organs parasitizing the financial system, dormant normally, but once awakened, capable of completing resource dispatch and identity transfer within hours.
These things didn't appear overnight.
It took her over two years to lay them out, bit by bit.
Leveraging the credit backing of the Kate Family, her own identity advantages, and also Tang Song's almost miraculous guidance.
This process was not glorious.
It could even be said to be bloody and dirty.
The leverage in her hands, once exposed, would make her a traitor and criminal to the entire Kate Family.
This was also Tang Song's means of controlling her.
But she didn't care.
"Ring ring ring—"
The phone she had casually thrown on the desk vibrated frantically.
The name flashing on the screen was one of her uncles.
Howard·Kate.
Head of energy and commodities business, one of the old foxes in the family most adept at stirring up trouble.
This was who knows how many calls already.
Since this morning, the calls had come like an avalanche.
Uncles, cousins, family lawyers, fund managers, board assistants... even partners from several Wall Street investment banks.
They smelled blood.
They realized she now held a card powerful enough to rewrite the line of succession.
In the past, she had also achieved dazzling resumes and exposure with the help of Tang Song and Mira.
But in the eyes of the family elders, those seemed more like external forces betting on her.
She was just a pretty chip pushed to the forefront, winning respect but not enough to change the power structure.
The real wars within the Kate Family had long been among her father's generation.
But now it was different.
Nominally, she was already the controller of [Crown Bank].
More importantly — within the Kate Family, assets of this level never asked about the process, only looked at the result.
No one would care how she did it, no one would investigate what she paid.
They would only care: what could she exchange for with this card?
"So noisy."
Anne frowned, a flicker of impatience in her icy blue eyes.
She reached out a finger and carelessly pressed the reject button.
The call abruptly stopped.
The room returned to quiet.
She wasn't in a hurry to respond to them.
Let the rumors continue to ferment.
Let the panic continue to spread.
Let everyone keep guessing —
What exactly does Anne control?
How much does she hold?
What exactly does she plan to do?
When they finally couldn't hold back and came to negotiate with her in groups.
She could stand by the floor-to-ceiling window like this, smiling, and name her price.
Just then.
"Buzz buzz buzz—"
The phone, quiet for less than two seconds, vibrated violently again.
[Mira]
The smile on Anne's lips stiffened slightly, the fanaticism in her eyes cooling by a few degrees.
She took a deep breath, adjusted her breathing, and pressed the answer button.
Her voice instantly switched back to that sweet American accent. "Hey, Mira~ Calling at this hour, did you miss me? Or did London's gloomy weather finally make you remember your poor friend sunbathing in Zurich?"
"Annie." Secretary Jin's voice came through the receiver, clear and calm, with no intention of pleasantries. "It seems you've been doing quite well recently, in such a good mood you've stirred up such a big commotion."
Anne's breath hitched, but she still maintained a relaxed expression. "Commotion? What commotion? I've been very well-behaved lately. Helping Song with some... routine asset organization work."
"Routine?" Secretary Jin chuckled lowly, with undisguised mockery. "High-profile entry into a century-old private bank on Bahnhofstrasse, becoming the focus of the global financial circle, forcing the Kate Family to hold emergency meetings overnight... Annie, your definition of 'routine' always brings such delightful surprises."
Anne instinctively felt a bit guilty.
After all, she had indeed done some things beyond control behind the back of this best friend, also the most formidable person in the system.
But at this moment, at the peak of her life, with her desire for conquest swelling to the point of overflowing, rebellion and provocation quickly overpowered the guilt, making her unable to resist striking back.
She chuckled lightly, making her voice even softer, more ambiguous.
"Surprise? Mira, the world needs a little surprise to be interesting, don't you think? Besides... you know, I can't refuse him. Neither body, nor soul."
Silence fell on the other end of the line.
This brief silence put more pressure on Anne than any sharp-tongued interrogation.
The silent oppression was like an invisible hand gripping her throat, making her heartbeat uncontrollably quicken.
"Well, well... Alright, I admit," Anne's voice softened a bit, carrying a tone trying to mend the relationship, "In some aspects... I'm sorry. But you have to believe me, Mira, I would never do anything to harm your interests. We're still best friends, right? After I seize control of the Kate Family, I'll be able to help you, help Song, even better..."
A moment later.
Secretary Jin's voice sounded again, coldly. "Annie, you seem to have misunderstood something. I don't care what happened between you and him in bed, nor do I care about your so-called souls."
"I'm calling just to remind you, you are a blade. If a blade is useful, its owner will cherish it, will fit it with the most exquisite scabbard."
"But if this blade starts having ideas of its own, even wanting to turn around and cut the owner's hand... then, no matter how sharp it is, it will be broken without hesitation."
"You and I are different. You are not irreplaceable."
The smile on Anne's face finally completely fell away.
"I understand, Mira." She said through gritted teeth, her voice lowering. "Thanks for the reminder. I'll be more careful about the method going forward."
"See you in Shen City, Annie. Remember to dress appropriately."
"Beep—"
The call ended.
Anne held the phone, maintaining the posture after the call ended, sitting in the vast, luxurious office, motionless for a long time.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the Zurich winter light was still bright, yet somehow seemed thin.
After a long while, she lowered her head, a dry smile on her lips.
"You're always the winner, Mira."
"I admit, I'm jealous of you."
Her thoughts uncontrollably drifted back to Harvard eleven years ago.
Back then, she was still the flamboyant, domineering young lady of the Kate Family, one grade above Mira.
She wasn't top-tier academically, but never lacked a stage.
After all, in that world of fame and fortune, background itself was the sharpest halo.
She was obsessed with conquest.
Obsessed with the thrill of having the crowd's focus on her, obsessed with the unmatched sense of control when pulling others into her orbit.
Back then, she was indeed laughably naive.
To win an argument with a certain cousin in the family, she even deliberately stole his date.
As a result, she not only won, but also unexpectedly became addicted to that forbidden thrill.
From then on, her boundaries regarding "desire" began to blur.
No longer fixated on gender, but on the act of control itself.
Until she met 17-year-old Mira Jin on Harvard's campus.
That girl had a suffocating Eastern aura.
Serene, aloof, yet sharp.
More fatally, she was not only beautiful, but possessed an almost despair-inducing intellectual dominance.
At first, Anne wanted to conquer her.
She thought it was just another hunt and possession.
But the truth was, she was almost conquered by Mira instead.
In the face of that kind of genius, the social skills and tactics Anne prided herself on seemed as clumsy as a student's tricks.
She began, unknowingly, placing herself in the other's rhythm, even without realizing it herself: she willingly became Mira's tool, actively using Kate Family connections to pave the way, build bridges, open doors for her.
Back then, she was truly infatuated.
But also in this process, influenced by Mira, she became more and more outstanding.
After graduation, Anne entered the family fund.
Anne had invited her countless times.
She didn't hesitate to offer a core partner position, trying to win this top genius in the "talent war" the whole world participated in.
But no one expected, Mira chose none of them.
She rejected Morgan Stanley, rejected Goldman Sachs, and also rejected the Kate Family.
She resolutely returned to Huaxia and founded the later world-shocking [Smile Investment].
Beginning a legend of her own.
It wasn't until later, when Anne flew to Huaxia to visit her for the second time,
Through Mira's introduction, she met that still slightly unpolished Tang Song, only 18 years old at the time.
That day, he was excessively young, yet so quiet it was unsettling.
It was also at that moment, the gears of fate began to mesh in reverse.
The way he barged into her world was more direct, more overbearing, and more unreasonable than Mira.
It wasn't the pleasure of being courted, being chased.
It was more like an absolute crushing by power.
Making her understand for the first time.
Conquest wasn't a game; conquest was power.
She couldn't refuse.
Perhaps it was worship, perhaps the thrill of being tamed by strength.
In any case, that man used the most primitive and effective way to rewrite her understanding of relationships, power, and her own desires.
Her gaze began to shift away from Mira, bit by bit, landing on him instead.
She watched Mira step higher and higher, becoming more dazzling, more untouchable.
But in the depths of her heart, another emotion began to sprout—
Jealousy, loss, and a deeper panic.
She didn't want to be left behind.
Didn't want to be just a spectator.
She yearned even more to control the ancient, decaying family.
It was also around that time, in 2021, that Tang Song found her.
He saw through all her ambitions, saw through her desires, and also saw through the ruthless inheritance order of the Kate Family.
He lured her, promised her, and also backed her into a corner with no retreat.
Thus, today's [Crown Bank] was born, buried deep beneath the heart of European finance.
Anne Kate took a deep breath, pressing the memories deep into the recesses of her mind.
She picked up her phone and opened the chat window with Tang Song.
Her fingertips paused for a moment before typing: "Everything in Zurich has been arranged according to your will. The detailed information has been sent to your email."
After a pause, she added another line: "The scenery here is beautiful, but I'm already missing you. Am I amazing now?"
Message sent.
Anne held the phone, leaning against the window, her gaze fixed on the screen.
Her breathing became somewhat rapid.
"Buzz buzz buzz—"
[Song:
: "Well done."]
The corners of Anne's lips instantly lifted, as if satisfaction from being rewarded overflowed from her soul.
She typed quickly: "I'll accept this praise. A kiss for you, dear Song."
[Song:
: "What did you call me?"]
The smile on Anne's face froze.
She bit her lip, deleted the originally prepared teasing words, and retyped: "Sorry, Master."
Click send.
After doing all this, she seemed to finally let out a sigh of relief, lowering her eyes and murmuring softly:
"Yes, Mira..."
"We really are different."