novelraw Chapter 806: The Mysterious Sisters
Chapter 806: The Mysterious Sisters
Chapter 806: The Mysterious Sisters
Maxing Out Charisma, Inheriting Game Assets
4:00 PM.
Shencheng Bay, Tang Yi Precision Innovation Center.
Inside the temporary office area of [Xuanji Optical World], a scene of busy activity unfolded.
With a final crisp tap of the keyboard, Zhang Yan clicked the "Save" button, uploading the last handover document to the encrypted cloud.
"Phew..." She let out a long sigh, rubbing her slightly sore neck.
The work was finally done.
*Buzz buzz—* Her phone, placed on the desk, vibrated.
[Wen Ruan].
Zhang Yan quickly picked up her phone, stood up, and walked to a quiet corner to answer the call. "Hello? Director Wen."
"Yanyan, good afternoon." Wen Ruan's voice from the receiver was, as always, tinged with a bit of laziness and warmth. "Has your team finished the first phase of the handover work at [Xuanji Optical World]?"
"Ah? Yes, it's done." Zhang Yan reported truthfully. "Because they're about to move to the new headquarters here, the data is basically sealed. We were planning to return to the Yangcheng branch tomorrow to finish the remaining work."
"That's perfect timing." Wen Ruan said. "Before you leave Shen City, move your luggage to my place tonight. Take the chance to find your way around and pick a room you like. That way, next time you come for a long-term business trip, you won't have to bother with booking hotels and checking out. You can just move right in with your luggage. So convenient."
Zhang Yan's heart fluttered with panic. She hurriedly said, "N-no, that's not necessary. It's too much trouble... And you're still abroad right now. For me to move in alone... it's not appropriate. I should wait until you return, then I..."
After all, it was Wen Ruan's private residence. In her mind, entering and making oneself at home while the owner was away was extremely rude.
Not to mention, it was the legendary luxury residence at Shencheng Bay.
"Why be so polite with me?" Wen Ruan chuckled lightly, her tone carrying a hint of mystery and persuasion. "The main thing is... there happens to be someone at my place tonight."
"Someone?" Zhang Yan was taken aback.
"Mhm. She's a very close sister of mine, also a major shareholder and partner of our group." Wen Ruan deliberately kept her in suspense. "She heard about you and specifically told me she wants to meet you, to get to know you."
"Ah? This..."
Zhang Yan's hand gripping the phone tightened abruptly, her heart instantly growing even more nervous.
If it were just facing Wen Ruan, although she felt timid, she was at least familiar with her. After all, Wen Ruan had always treated her like an older sister.
But a stranger, a "big shot" at that, a shareholder and partner... and a solo meeting?
Her instinct was to retreat, her social anxiety flaring up intensely.
"Wen Ruan, I... I'm not very good with words. I'm afraid when the time comes..."
"Afraid of what? She's a very nice person." Wen Ruan's voice softened a bit, carrying a soothing tone. "And, I'll tell you a secret. My cat, Snowball, was a gift from her. She and Tang Song... Hmm... also have a very special relationship."
Hearing this last sentence, Zhang Yan's heart thumped violently.
A special relationship.
She suddenly realized that this "mysterious friend" was probably yet another of Tang Song's female confidantes.
Just like Xu Qing, whom she had met last time.
"I... I..." Even with mental preparation, she still didn't know how to respond for a moment.
"Alright, Yanyan, don't worry. You trust your sister, right? I wouldn't do anything to harm you."
"Yes."
"Then be a good girl and move in first. When I get back, we can live together, hehe."
With things put that way.
Zhang Yan bit her lip, truly unable to find a reason to refuse, and could only nod obediently. "Then... alright. Sorry for the trouble, Wen Ruan."
"That's more like it. I gave you the access card and password last time. Just go straight there. Treat it as your own home, don't stand on ceremony."
"Mhm..."
Hanging up the phone.
Zhang Yan took a deep breath, her mind in turmoil.
Just as she returned to her workstation.
Lulu beside her immediately leaned over, curious. "What's wrong, Yanyan? Director Wen's call? Did she assign you some task? Need help?"
Zhang Yan hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Director Wen... asked me to move my luggage to her place at Shencheng Bay tonight. Said I should stay there for future business trips, so I don't have to book hotels anymore."
"Wow, that's great! Why the long face?" Lulu excitedly grabbed Zhang Yan's arm, her face beaming. "Let's go! Perfect timing since work is done. I'll help you pack back at the hotel! I'll also get to see with my own eyes what the legendary Shencheng Bay luxury residence looks like!"
Looking at the excited Lulu, Zhang Yan tried hard to muster some courage for herself.
Thinking about how pleasant her interaction with Xu Qing had been last time, and how nice Tang Song was, the people around him should probably be easy to talk to as well, right?
The two bid farewell to their colleagues and left by taxi.
The entire way, Lulu was in a state of extreme excitement.
Zhang Yan was quite famous in the company now.
Last time at headquarters, Ms. Ouyang personally gave her a boost, letting everyone know that this usually quiet girl had incredible connections in the background and a friend who was a global CEO.
As a good friend, Lulu also felt a sense of shared pride.
Back at the hotel room.
While helping Zhang Yan stuff clothes into the suitcase, Lulu kept chattering nonstop.
"Once you move in, next time I come, I'll need to find a place too. Renting an apartment with colleagues wouldn't be bad either."
"Oh right, who is this friend Director Wen mentioned? Someone who can stay at Director Wen's place must be a major figure too, right?"
"Yanyan, be sharp when you get there. Knowing more people is never a bad thing..."
Zhang Yan looked at the neon lights gradually lighting up outside the window and softly replied, "Mhm."
But her heart was still a mess of conflicting emotions.
What kind of person would this suddenly appearing "sister" be?
She was an extremely sensitive and delicate person at heart.
Meetings like this, involving Tang Song and intertwined with hidden emotional relationships, always made her feel an instinctive timidity and a sense of not knowing what to do.
The luggage wasn't much, just simple changes of clothes and her laptop.
Everything was ready.
Zhang Yan hesitated for a moment, then picked up her makeup bag and went into the bathroom.
She looked at her slightly tired reflection in the mirror and applied a simple, light makeup to make her complexion look better.
After doing this, she took out a small velvet jewelry box from a hidden compartment in her makeup bag.
*Click—* She gently opened it.
A pair of exquisitely crafted, elegantly designed diamond earrings shaped like irises lay quietly on the black velvet.
Under the warm yellow bathroom light, they sparkled with fine, dazzling starlight.
This was the gift Tang Song had given her in Yangcheng.
It was also the most expensive and cherished piece of jewelry she had ever received in her life.
Usually, she couldn't bear to wear it, afraid of losing it.
Only during very important occasions, or... when she felt nervous and needed courage, would she put them on.
As if wearing them was like having him by her side, giving her infinite strength.
Facing the mirror, she held her breath and carefully fastened the two dazzling "irises" to her earlobes.
Turning her head slightly, the starlight shimmered.
It added a touch of composure and brightness to her pure face.
"Phew..."
Zhang Yan gently pressed her lips together and turned to walk out of the bathroom.
China Resources • Shencheng Bay Yuefu.
The taxi drove along Keyuan South Road, eventually stopping in front of that top-tier luxury residential area by Shenzhen Bay. Not far away stood the towering Spring Bamboo Shoot building.
This was the absolute core of Shen City, where every inch of land cost a fortune.
The sea breeze, carrying moisture and the scent of money, swept through the clusters of towering glass curtain wall buildings.
Zhang Yan and Lulu got out of the taxi with their luggage.
The moment they stepped onto the ground, Lulu couldn't help but look up at the highly modern, coldly luxurious facades of the buildings before her and gasped.
"Oh my god... Yanyan, even though I looked it up online, being here in person... this isn't a residential complex, it's practically an art gallery!"
She lowered her voice, leaning close to Zhang Yan's ear, her tone full of astonishment. "I heard the apartments here, any random one costs tens of millions. The rent starts at forty or fifty thousand a month!"
Zhang Yan's hand gripping the suitcase handle tightened. Looking at the gate that seemed especially imposing at this moment, her heartbeat involuntarily quickened.
She took out the access card Wen Ruan had given her earlier.
*Beep—* The heavy gate slid open.
Following the detailed address instructions on their phones, the two walked through the serene, almost isolated entrance garden, heading inward.
The stone pavement underfoot was spotless. The well-trimmed tropical greenery lining the path cast faint shadows under the landscape lights.
Occasionally, residents dressed impeccably walked by with expensive dogs, making Lulu unconsciously rein in her earlier excitement and become somewhat reserved.
"North District, Building 2."
The two stopped in front of a high-rise building with an exceptional view.
Swiping the card, they entered the nearly ten-meter-high lobby.
Here, even the air carried a scent of high-end fragrance.
A uniformed butler smiled and pressed the elevator button for them, providing attentive yet not overly enthusiastic service throughout.
As the elevator ascended rapidly and smoothly, the numbers kept changing, finally stopping at the 36th floor.
*Ding—* The doors slid open.
This was a private elevator lobby, one elevator per residence.
The first sight was a floor paved entirely with marble. An elegantly shaped orchid plant sat in the foyer.
Zhang Yan took a deep breath and pulled her suitcase out of the elevator.
Standing before that heavy, deep-set double armored door, she looked up at the doorplate beside it: [3601].
This was the place.
From now on, would this be her "home" in Shen City?
After all, she was just an ordinary girl. It was hard to remain completely unmoved by such a luxurious residence.
Living in such a nice place would definitely make her happy.
And she did look forward to it.
But because of today's sudden "mysterious sister," her heart was filled with unknown anxiety.
"Yanyan, hurry, ring the bell." Lulu behind her nudged her, whispering.
Zhang Yan pressed her slightly dry lips together.
She raised her hand again, using the motion of adjusting her hair to gently touch the pair of iris earrings.
She extended her slender, fair finger and pressed the doorbell.
*Ding-dong— Ding-dong—*
The clear, pleasant chime echoed in the quiet corridor.
After a moment.
*Click—*
The heavy double armored door made a soft sound and slowly swung inward.
There was no grand entrance from a big shot as imagined.
It was a young woman who looked about their age, roughly in her late twenties.
Her features were quite delicate. She wore a sharply tailored black business suit, her hair neatly pinned up at the back, looking efficient and professional.
Seeing the two at the door, the woman showed a standard, professional smile.
Then, under Zhang Yan and Lulu's surprised gazes, she respectfully bowed.
"Miss Zhang Yan, good evening."
"Ah... H-hello!"
Zhang Yan was startled by this sudden formal greeting, flustered to the point of shrinking back, her face instantly flushing red.
Reflexively, she also hurriedly bowed in return, her bow even deeper. Her hands and feet were so nervous she didn't know where to put them, as if she had done something wrong.
Lulu beside her was completely bewildered and bowed along.
Just as the two were exchanging bewildered, helpless looks because of this over-the-top courtesy.
The woman had already straightened up, her smile unchanged, her tone gentle as she introduced herself.
"I apologize for startling you both. I am Sister Yu's personal assistant, Cheng Xiaoxi. Director Wen has already given instructions in advance. Welcome."
Personal assistant?
Only then did Zhang Yan realize that this young woman with such an outstanding presence was not the "sister" Wen Ruan had mentioned on the phone, but an assistant.
This realization let her slightly hanging heart settle a tiny bit. But following that came an even deeper curiosity and nervousness about the mysterious figure respectfully referred to as "Sister Yu."
Before she could think further, Cheng Xiaoxi very naturally took the suitcase from her hand, turned slightly, and made an extremely graceful "please" gesture, her tone respectful and soft.
"Please come in, Miss Zhang Yan."
"O-okay... Th-thank you for the trouble..." Zhang Yan's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, the heat on her face not yet subsiding.
Suppressing the churning doubts and the increasingly strong unease in her heart, she took a deep breath and followed Cheng Xiaoxi, carefully stepping into the foyer.
As her footsteps led deeper into the interior, passing through a short corridor filled with artistic ambiance, the view ahead suddenly opened up dramatically.
This was an enormous living room with a 270-degree, unobstructed sea view.
The evening glow streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, coating the entire space with a golden-red filter.
By the living room's floor-to-ceiling window, an incredibly alluring figure stood quietly.
She was simply leaning casually against the pure white window frame, her posture lazy and relaxed.
A head of thick, seaweed-like long hair was loosely tied at the back, revealing a slender, graceful neckline like a swan's.
She wore a moon-white silk dress of exceptional quality.
The hem of the skirt, stirred by the evening breeze sneaking in through the slightly open window, lifted in fine, light folds, clinging to her graceful body curves before gently falling again.
She was completely integrated with the setting sun, the blue sea, and the city lights behind her, forming a flowing cinematic picture.
The moment Zhang Yan clearly saw her face.
Her pupils dilated sharply, her mind went completely blank, and she even forgot to breathe.
In that instant, no adjectives came to her mind.
Only a line of poetry she had once read drifted uncontrollably through her thoughts:
"Floating lightly like a light cloud veiling the moon, drifting gracefully like swirling wind returning snow."