novelraw Chapter 816: [String Moon Drifting]
Chapter 816: [String Moon Drifting]
9:40 PM
Shencheng Bay One, Tower 8 Large Flat, study.
The soft lighting enveloped the wall of bookshelves and the central reading area in a blanket of tranquility.
Secretary Jin stood before the bookshelf, holding an original copy of *Homo Deus* in her hand.
Liu Qingning sat on a single reading chair not far away, her hands clasped together, a thoughtful expression on her face.
In the past hour, the two had not discussed feelings, nor had they talked about interests.
Secretary Jin was like a true mentor, talking about everything from the cyclical laws of history to how AI is reshaping social structures, from the distribution logic of technological dividends to the ethical boundaries of capital in technological revolutions.
Her vision was lofty, her arguments rigorous, data and case studies flowing effortlessly from her.
That way of thinking, standing at the pinnacle of the era and looking down upon structures, evoked in Liu Qingning a pure, emotionless intellectual admiration.
They were indeed very similar.At the foundational level of cognition, they both were accustomed to using models to understand the world, using logic to dissect complexity, and using variable thinking to view people and systems.
It was just that Secretary Jin operated at a higher dimension.
As if she had already walked the path Liu Qingning wanted to climb.
Liu Qingning felt that if it weren't for Tang Song standing between them,
she might have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of contact with this "Ms. Smile," even viewing her as a lifelong idol and confidante.
But then again,
if it weren't for Tang Song, she probably would never have had the chance in this lifetime to have such close interaction with someone standing so high above the clouds.
She was acutely aware.
If she hadn't been selected by Professor Wang Chang during university, won the entrepreneurship gold prize in the "Internet+" competition, and participated in AI field entrepreneurship,
she might have ended up like many of her classmates, entering a major corporation, becoming a stable cog in the system.
Hardworking, ambitious, respectable, eventually becoming a mid-level manager with an annual salary of several hundred thousand.
That was already success in the secular sense.
But this Director Jin before her...
Even without Tang Song, without [Smile Holdings], she would still be that genius who made the world take notice, a trailblazer of the times.
She belonged to the type for whom the structure itself would make way.
"It's getting late."
Secretary Jin closed the book, her slender fingertips lightly tracing the cover, her tone casual and relaxed:
"Do you plan to stay the night? The guest room is ready, toiletries are provided. Or should I have Ying Xue drive you back?"
Liu Qingning pulled herself from her thoughts, glanced at the deep night outside the window, and slowly stood up.
"I'll go back. I've received too much information tonight; I need time to digest it myself."
"Alright, as you wish."
Secretary Jin did not offer a hypocritical attempt to make her stay, elegantly rising to her feet.
The two walked to the foyer.
Secretary Jin naturally picked up the trench coat hanging on the coat rack and personally draped it over her.
Liu Qingning's body stiffened for an instant, feeling the faint warmth from the other's fingertips. Her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately held back.
Their gazes met in the air.
Secretary Jin looked at the now clear-eyed Liu Qingning and spoke slowly:
"Regarding the future industrial landscape of the [Tang Jin Family Office] and the position you should occupy, you should have an idea in your heart now. Qingning, I believe in your understanding and in your big-picture perspective."
Liu Qingning fastened the trench coat belt, struggled for a moment, and finally spoke:
"Director Jin... about that [Moonlight Trust]... the more I understand it from our conversation just now, the more I feel I need to consider it more carefully."
She bit her lower lip and said frankly:
"Because it is simply too valuable. Even as 'family,' its share far exceeds any so-called contribution I can currently make. Holding it would make me feel guilty and uneasy."
"You don't need to feel guilty." Secretary Jin took a step forward, helping her straighten her slightly messy collar. "Often, when an industry reaches a certain level, it is no longer personal private property. You holding it, in essence, is participating in governance and taking on responsibility, not simply enjoying a gift. Moreover, I believe that you having these things is equivalent to Tang Song having these things."
Liu Qingning took a deep breath and finally asked, "Then... Ms. Ouyang... is she really...?"
Even with the hints in Secretary Jin's words, and Ouyang Xianyue's name prominently written on the initiator list of the [Moonlight Trust],
she still found it somewhat hard to believe that the noble and dignified Ms. Ouyang could possibly have that kind of relationship with Tang Song.
Secretary Jin understood her subtext.
She smiled, the corner of her mouth carrying a trace of composed sarcasm and indifference:
"Perhaps. She may have her own desires, or she may have her own... 'payments'."
"But, Qingning, you must remember. This person is far too logically self-consistent, and far too hypocritical. To maintain that flawless, perfect moral facade of hers, there are many things she probably neither dares to truly take to the extreme, nor dares to admit to openly."
"Even if she did them, she would find a way to make herself self-consistent."
"And that is your opportunity, and the reason we need you."
Liu Qingning nodded, not fully understanding but not probing further.
Some layers of window paper, once pierced, are bad for everyone.
At the moment of parting.
The main door opened. Qin Yingxue was already standing respectfully by the elevator.
Secretary Jin stood in the light and shadow of the doorway, watching the departing Liu Qingning, and said finally, "Regarding your choice in feelings, I don't want to interfere too much. Because I understand very well your feelings for him over more than a decade; that is something that cannot be severed. So, I give you time to think it through clearly."
She paused, her gaze becoming deep and bright.
"But no matter what, I won't let you truly leave Tang Song. Because that would hurt him, would make him incomplete."
"So, Qingning, you actually have no choice but to accept. Try to get past that hurdle in your heart."
Liu Qingning trembled all over, her fingers tightly clenching her palms.
She looked at Secretary Jin for a long time, her eyes slightly reddening, then she bowed deeply:
"Goodbye, Director Jin."
With that, she turned and walked towards the elevator. Her steps were heavy but no longer unsteady.
She understood Director Jin's meaning very well.
Their personalities were truly similar.
Just as she had once, to avoid putting Tang Song in a difficult position, proactively planned the property purchase route, even hiding her plans from him.
She had even impulsively thought that if he met a better girl, she would be willing to let go and step aside.
She genuinely wished for the happiness of Tang Song, her best friend.
And Director Jin was probably the same.
It was just that the Tang Song she saw was more powerful, and the landscape she wanted was more grand.
Director Jin wanted a complete, flawless, regret-free Tang Song.
The union of two dimensions, as Su Yu had described.
Therefore, this woman personally cleared all the bugs that could potentially make Tang Song incomplete.
The elevator doors slowly closed.
Secretary Jin stood alone at the doorway, quietly standing there for a long time.
Only when the descending floor numbers on the elevator display completely disappeared did she slowly turn and return to the spacious living room.
She walked to the huge panoramic floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the nightscape of Shencheng Bay outside.
The brilliant lights reflected on her exquisitely beautiful face, outlining an indescribably complex expression.
An extremely soft sigh dissipated into the air.
An unknown amount of time passed.
"Click—"
The sound of the smart lock opening rang out, followed by soft footsteps.
"Director Jin."
Shangguan Qiuyas's voice came from behind.
"Speak."
Secretary Jin withdrew her gaze, turned, and walked to sit on the sofa.
She casually undid the hair clip holding her hair up at the back. A thick, smooth cascade of chestnut-brown hair instantly cascaded down like a waterfall, spilling over her shoulders and back.
The lazy, homely aura about her instantly vanished, replaced by an intimidating authority that one dared not look directly at.
"As you anticipated. After the event at the Mission Hills Golf Club concluded, President Tang did not stay in Dongguan. Instead, he left the club with Ms. Ouyang's secretary."
"In addition, the accompanying Jiang Yourong was specifically arranged to stay in Dongguan to coordinate follow-up executive reception matters and did not follow."
Shangguan Qiuyas paused, her tone becoming more cautious:
"Regarding President Tang's specific whereabouts, our people cannot conduct substantive tracking. So, we are not clear on exactly where they went."
"However... based on the information we just received, President Mo of [Tang Entertainment] suddenly crossed the border from Hong Kong tonight and urgently came to Shen City. The destination is the villa area in Shekou."
"Hmm."
Secretary Jin's movements paused slightly.
Her gaze, through the reflection in the floor-to-ceiling window glass, looked past the bustling Nanshan district, focusing distantly in the direction of Shekou.
"Ouyang Xianyue's hillside villa..."
She murmured the location, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
Her slender fingers lightly tapped her knee, making a dull sound as her mind began to race.
Shangguan Qiuyas stood quietly beside her, her expression also showing some confusion and bewilderment.
As one of the core personnel under Director Jin closely monitoring Ms. Ouyang's movements, she knew the fundamental character of that noble lady all too well.
She was notoriously conservative, restrained, patient, and protective of her reputation, viewing it as life itself.
In the eyes of outsiders, she was practically a jade Guanyin Bodhisattva.
At such a sensitive juncture.
Under the watchful eyes of so many.
To actually take President Tang to the hillside villa to sleep?
This was an absolutely bold, even crazy, move.
Because once such a thing was done, no matter how it was covered up, within their circle, it fundamentally couldn't be hidden.
Given Ms. Ouyang's calculating, meticulous, and watertight character, she should absolutely never make such a low-level mistake.
Yet she did exactly that.
Secretary Jin stopped tapping, her eyes narrowing slightly. "That custom-made suit I helped President Tang design and order in London, it should have been delivered, right?"
"It's here, it arrived the day before yesterday."
"Good. First thing tomorrow morning, have Lin Muxue contact President Tang and, together with her, personally deliver that suit to the hillside villa."
"Understood." Shangguan Qiuyas's eyes flickered slightly as she nodded in acknowledgment.
"Oh, right."
Just as Shangguan Qiuyas was about to turn and leave, Secretary Jin, as if suddenly remembering something, said nonchalantly, "By the way, send some special supplies over as well."
"Ah?" Shangguan Qiuyas abruptly looked up, her usually professional composure almost crumbling. "This... is it to be the same as the kind sent last time...?"
Secretary Jin leaned back gently into the sofa, her posture elegant and relaxed. "Hmm... Sildenafil tablets won't be necessary; President Tang doesn't need those."
"...Okay." Shangguan Qiuyas's face instantly flushed bright red. She quickly lowered her head, not daring to look into Director Jin's eyes.
In her heart, she was utterly impressed.
For a noble lady like Ms. Ouyang, who was extremely particular about dignity and restraint,
this was absolutely the most effective form of sarcasm.
Casually piercing that layer of window paper meant to conceal.
At the same time, this was also Director Jin's way of breaking through Ms. Ouyang's "self-consistency."
She just didn't know what that noble lady was actually thinking.
So many years of perseverance, yet revealing a flaw at such a critical moment...
...
Shekou Hillside Villa, third-floor study.
The wide purple sandalwood desk was in disarray.
Several sheets of rice paper were scattered, crumpled, some even fallen to the floor.
That precious Duan inkstone had been knocked over at some point.
The air was thick with the heavy scent of pine-soot ink, mixed with rising steam.
Ouyang Xianyue leaned slightly against the edge of the desk.
Her breathing had not yet fully calmed, her chest heaving,
her phoenix eyes shimmering with moisture.
The flush on her face spread from her cheeks to the roots of her ears, forming a stark contrast with her usual snow-white skin.
The black silk cheongsam she wore was no longer as smooth and neat as it had been initially.
Two of the frog buttons at the collar had been undone at some point.
Her thick, black shoulder-length hair fell dishevelly over her shoulders, a few strands sticking to the corner of her mouth.
Her fingers were curled, lightly pressed against Tang Song's chest or arm.
It was both like a push of refusal and like a powerless clinging.
She exuded an unprecedented, enchanting allure.
This made Tang Song's gaze grow even more intense.
He couldn't help but lean in again.
Ouyang Xianyue, however, bit her lower lip; the slight pain brought her back to her senses.
She gently pushed against his chest with her hand, creating some distance.
"Sir... you... please stop for a moment." Her tone was already trying to regain its usual composure.
"What's wrong?" Tang Song looked at her. "Do you need to change clothes?"
Ouyang Xianyue's eye twitched slightly.
She took a deep breath, tucking the stray strands of hair behind her ear.
"Today's guidance on cursive script... Xianyue... has benefited greatly and needs some time to digest and comprehend."
She avoided his scorching gaze, her eyes falling on the messy desk. "Moreover, there is much serious business to attend to tomorrow. We... have plenty of time ahead."
She said the last four words very softly.
"Hmm, alright." Tang Song smiled meaningfully, obligingly taking a step back. "Then rest early. Plenty of time ahead."
Ouyang Xianyue pressed her slightly swollen lips together and said softly:
"I... will arrange for someone to clean up here. Sir, you should also rest early. Goodnight."
Having said that, she did not linger, turning and walking towards the study door.
Her gait still maintained its usual elegant rhythm, only her steps were somewhat hurried.
Watching the noble lady's full, graceful figure disappear behind the door,
Tang Song slowly let out a breath.
He relaxed completely, leaning against the edge of the desk, scenes flashing through his mind.
His mood took a long time to settle.
This Ms. Ouyang...
Was truly too charming.
Soft jade, warm fragrance, perfectly rounded.
Just right, plump yet not appearing bloated.
Every curve exuded vitality nurtured by a top-tier lifestyle and strict self-discipline.
Restrained yet luxurious.
This encounter.
Brought not only sensory pleasure but also a complex psychological satisfaction from breaking taboos and crossing status boundaries.
And what he truly looked forward to was,
waiting for the [Desire's Echo] countdown to end, which would open a new dungeon.
He wondered what kind of surprises awaited.
Second-floor master bedroom suite.
The heavy solid wood door closed gently behind her, cutting off all light and sound.
Ouyang Xianyue staggered to the bedside and collapsed onto the soft bedding.
The composure she had been forcing onto her face completely fell away.
Her eyes shifted violently.
Shame, fear of consequences, reminiscence.
Too impulsive!
She hardly recognized herself.
Just now in the study, beside that ink-splattered rice paper,
if that Duan inkstone hadn't been accidentally knocked over, making a noise that startled the last shred of her rationality,
she might have truly immersed herself completely.
But reason told her.
No.
At least not now, absolutely not.
Not only because this suddenly changed relationship needed time to settle and digest.
But also because, at this very moment, Jin Meixiao and others must already know about her leaving with Tang Song and coming to the hillside villa.
They were all watching this place.
On the eve of Tang Song's birthday, before the inauguration ceremony of the new [Xuanji Optical World] headquarters, at the sensitive juncture of Liu Qingning accepting the [Moonlight Trust].
Moreover, Mo Xiangwan was downstairs.
If she really threw caution to the wind with Tang Song tonight, that would be completely tearing away all dignity, placing herself in an irreparable position.
That set of logic she used internally for self-persuasion, to maintain the "correctness" of her actions, would also completely collapse, becoming untenable.
She still bore the glory and shackles of the "Ouyang" surname, as well as the unresolved ties with her late husband's family.
Even though she now practically controlled much, within this system, she still had to consider many constraints.
What should she do?
That desire forcibly suppressed by rationality was scorching and unfamiliar.
Abroad...
A thought, like a phosphorescent flame in the dark night, suddenly emerged.
Go abroad.
Go to sea.
If she left behind all these complicated gazes domestically, all these family entanglements, in a place where there was only the vast sea and sky, where laws and morals became blurred...
Would it be possible then?
She remembered that dream that had haunted her repeatedly, about a yacht at sea.
The self in that dream, completely unrestrained and uninhibited.
Once this thought arose, the restlessness surged again.
She closed her eyes.
Her fingers unconsciously gripped the bedsheet...
Yes! That's the place!
But... how could she possibly bring it up?
This completely violated her consistent persona of "prioritizing the grand scheme" and "being dignified and proper."
She couldn't find a plausible, high-sounding reason that could simultaneously convince herself and others.
This hypocritical yet necessary veil had now become the most difficult obstacle to voice before her boldest desire.
Tang Song going to inspect the custom-made yacht ordered in the family office's name, but then having him take her along?
That would be blatantly "shameless."
Deep in her heart, there was actually an even more stubborn concern.
That was the fact that she had been married, that she had had a husband.
Compared to women like Jin Meixiao, Su Yu, and Liu Qingning, whose emotional histories were relatively uncomplicated, she felt she was naturally at a disadvantage.
If she appeared too eager, like some wanton woman, he might misunderstand her, even look down on her.
The more one desires something, the more one fears losing it.
Especially for someone like her.
...
After calming herself alone in the darkness for a long time,
Ouyang Xianyue finally let out a long, deep sigh, her emotions somewhat settled.
But she had to get through tonight first.
She had to find the most perfect protective talisman for herself.
Ouyang Xianyue finally stood up and walked into the walk-in closet.
Looking at the woman in the mirror with a face like peach blossoms,
she smiled self-deprecatingly, carefully folded the cheongsam, and placed it in a deep storage bag.
It was like sealing away the absurd and impulsive self of tonight.
Afterwards, she changed into a set of soft, conservative, cream-colored silk loungewear.
Long pants, long sleeves. While it still hinted at her full, graceful curves, it no longer carried that aggressive sensuality.
Facing the mirror, she re-combed her disheveled hair, tying it into a loose, elegant low bun at the nape of her neck.
After confirming that the person in the mirror had regained her usual impeccable, gentle, and elegant appearance, she took a deep breath and opened the door.
She walked down the stairs with measured steps.
Arriving at the guest room door on the first floor.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
She raised her hand and gently knocked on the door.
"Xiangwan, not asleep yet?"
"No, Ms. Ouyang."
The door opened quickly.
Mo Xiangwan, wearing a shirt and seemingly still working, stood at the door. The laptop on the desk behind her still emitted a blue glow.
"Pardon the intrusion."
Ouyang Xianyue wore an amiable, appropriate smile and walked in with natural poise:
"Just now upstairs, I remembered some things about the [Pan-Entertainment Industry Fund] and the [Nebula International] IPO timeline. There are a few key policy risk points; I'd like to confirm the details with you again. After all, the family office team is coming tomorrow; we need to be on the same page and have a unified stance."
Mo Xiangwan's eyes flickered slightly. Her gaze lingered on Ouyang Xianyue's slightly reddened neck for a moment, then seemed to understand something, smiling as she said, "No problem."
For the next ten-plus minutes,
the two engaged in a seemingly serious, rigorous late-night work discussion regarding the screening criteria for several specific investment targets.
To make it appear more authentic, Ouyang Xianyue even sent a few voice messages in the work group chat in front of Mo Xiangwan, indicating she was working overtime at the moment.
Just then,
Secretary Chen's figure appeared at the open door, holding two glasses of warm water, her expression respectful. "Ms. Ouyang, President Mo."
Ouyang Xianyue took the water glass, took a large sip, and then, as if on a sudden whim or quite naturally, turned and instructed Secretary Chen:
"Secretary Chen, you came just in time."
"Xiangwan and I are having a good chat; many ideas aren't sorted out yet. Tonight, I'll sleep in this room."
She pointed to Mo Xiangwan's wide double bed:
"Go, bring down my set of spare bedding and pillows."
Having said that, she turned to Mo Xiangwan, her smile gentle and elegant, carrying a trace of intimate, noble familiarity that was hard to refuse:
"Xiangwan, you don't mind sharing a bed with me, do you? We've known each other for many years. Now that you've entered the family office, we should have a good heart-to-heart talk."
"How could I mind? It's my honor."
Mo Xiangwan looked at this noble lady who, even while doing such an act of covering her ears to steal a bell, could still maintain such elegant dignity.
A complex feeling of admiration, even awe, couldn't help but rise in her heart.
This was the caliber of a top-tier family helmsman.
She and Su Yu were still too straightforward.
Hearing this, Ouyang Xianyue's red lips curved slightly, a satisfied smile appearing in her phoenix eyes.
January 11, 2024, Thursday.
Early morning, 5:30 AM.
The sky was not yet light, the sea breeze desolate.
Inside the third-floor guest bedroom of the villa, Tang Song woke up on time from his sleep.
His mind regained clarity the moment he opened his eyes.
Accompanied by the notification sound of a bank deposit, he sat up.
Immediately after.
"Whoosh—" The system interface suddenly appeared.
A magnificent dynamic scene slowly unfolded:
The boundless deep blue sea, a white yacht cutting through the waves, the golden-red horizon ignited by the rising sun, a noble lady in a bikini...
And amidst these elements symbolizing freedom and vastness,
deep red light surged, intertwined, and coiled violently.
Lines of text shimmering with an eerie glow jumped out accordingly:
[The "Desire's Echo" countdown has ended]
[Target: Precision Queen - Ouyang Xianyue]
[Generating exclusive dungeon based on character's fundamental nature, relationship structure, and deep subconscious desires...]
[Extreme restraint, impeccable dignity, textbook-like grace. She is accustomed to compressing all her emotions and desires with high intensity within a "framework of rationality." She is adept at explaining all actions as responsibility, grand scheme, family, order.]
[For her—the more she cares about, the more constraints she has; the higher her status, the heavier the shackles she bears.]
[She is both a crucial cornerstone of your domestic business empire and a core figure you must deeply understand and establish a higher level of trust with.]
[Under the reverberations of "Desire's Echo," you have touched upon part of her true essence.]
[The exterior is impeccable dignity and grace, but internally she has long endured the tug-of-war between "must be self-consistent" and "true desire."]
[After the Spring Festival, [Crown Bank] will formally initiate its strategic layout to enter the Huaxia market, which requires extremely deep local political and business resources for endorsement. Using this as an opportunity, invite her to participate in the high-level meeting in Morocco.]
[Seamlessly propose inspecting that custom superyacht stored at the Port Hercule in Monaco, giving the sea voyage a reasonable, realistic motive.]
[During daily interactions before departure, utilize your charm and emotional intelligence to the utmost to stir her emotional tides, to discern and manipulate her complex psychology oscillating between "calculation" and "desire."]
[When the environment shifts from land to sea]
[Away from public scrutiny, family reputation, and the constraints of social structures, she will release her true self to you, blurring psychological boundaries.]
[Enhance player's ability to handle and dominate high-level emotional relationships.]
[Special Desire Dungeon—「String Moon Drifting」, has been created.]
[Upon clearing, Charm +1]
In the darkness,
Tang Song quietly looked at the system interface, the light in his eyes flickering uncertainly.
So that's how it was.
As the most secretive Swiss private bank in his possession, completely independent of the Tang Jin System,
[Crown Bank] would inevitably intersect deeply with the Tang Jin System eventually.
Capital chains, overseas channels, gray asset liquidation, cross-border transfers...
Such business is inherently gray.
And with Ouyang Xianyue's background, mindset, and core values, she could never truly feel at ease with such an institution.
She possessed a heart of intricate political acumen.
She was actually smarter and more clear-headed than anyone.
Tang Song even suspected that she wasn't completely unaware of some of his current secretive overseas arrangements.
After all, her identity was too special.
The family network behind her could even directly access national-level information channels.
But she had never mentioned it, never asked.
That was a form of tolerance, trust.
It was also a form of observation, caution.
She might not oppose it.
But she would definitely be vigilant, assess, keep a backup plan.
Perhaps even at some critical future juncture, in the name of "for your own good," enact some form of soft restraint.
This wasn't betrayal.
This was her nature.
Therefore, dominating the emotional relationship with Ouyang Xianyue was necessary.
Tang Song lowered his head, his gaze seeming to penetrate the walls, looking towards the noble lady sleeping downstairs.
She herself was like a deep sea.
The surface calm and restrained, but beneath, undercurrents constantly moved.
Only by stirring up the most violent waves could one see what truly lay hidden at the bottom.