novelraw Chapter 818: Secretary Jin VS Noble Lady
Chapter 818: Secretary Jin VS Noble Lady
The living room on the villa’s first floor felt as if an invisible force had pressed the air down a few degrees.
“Tap, tap, tap—”
The sound of high heels hitting the wooden floor was clear and rhythmic.
Warm winter sunlight inexplicably took on a cooler tone at that moment,
as Secretary Jin stepped out of the elevator.
Her stride neither rushed nor slow, shoulders straight, gaze steady.
It was as if she had come to her own stage.
Secretary Chen Jing followed closely behind, her face pale, seemingly wanting to say something, but under that overwhelming aura she ultimately did not dare to speak.
Lin Muxue and Shangguan Qiuyas obediently lowered their heads, shrinking into the background.
“Pfft—”Tang Song clenched and relaxed his fingers, quickly calming the violent flutter in his chest.
He had actually mentally prepared for this kind of scene.
After all, he chose to be a playboy.
With the system permissions gradually opening, as women at the top of the pyramid—like Jin Meixiao, Ouyang Xianyue, and Su Yu—converged toward him, a collision of stars and earth was inevitable.
The only reason for the current fluster
was that the plot was just too dramatic.
A few minutes ago he was on the third-floor study telling Ms. Ouyang he “trusted her most,” secretly apologizing to Secretary Jin in his heart.
The next second, the person he was apologizing to had, without warning, descended right in front of him.
Who wouldn’t panic?
Moreover, Secretary Jin and Ouyang Xianyue were at a delicate stage of mutual checks and contestation,
“Smile.” Tang Song spoke first, breaking the silence in the living room, his voice clear and steady.
A look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face at the right moment, his eyes focused on her.
“Good morning, President Tang. Good morning, Xianyue.” Secretary Jin stopped three meters away from the two of them, nodding with a smile, “I hope I haven’t come too early and disturbed your rest.”
The phrase “disturbed your rest” carried weight.
“How could that be? You’re more than welcome.” Ouyang Xianyue’s stiffness lasted only a moment; she stepped forward with hostessly composure and warmth. “If I’d known you were coming, I would have personally come down to meet you. Come, come have a seat.”
Yet Secretary Jin did not move.
“I was briefed by the Family Office staff that, Xianyue, you wanted to hold a closed-door meeting in your private villa to discuss the Pan-Entertainment Fund. Since Xiang Wan is here and President Tang is here as well, as the person responsible for that fund, of course I should attend.”
As she spoke, she tilted her head slightly and pointed at the gift boxes Lin Muxue and Shangguan Qiuyas were holding:
“Also, I brought President Tang’s birthday present in advance.”
Ouyang Xianyue’s eyelid twitched; she let out a small “ah” of apology and concern:
“That’s my oversight. I mainly considered that you just got back from London yesterday and haven’t adjusted to the time difference yet; your health comes first. So I purposely didn’t dare disturb you immediately. I planned to wait until we had a preliminary plan organized, then email it to you for review.”
“Hmph.”
Secretary Jin gave a light, controlled laugh and took a half step forward, closing the distance to Ouyang Xianyue.
“Xianyue, you were in Dongguan hosting events yesterday, handling complicated social engagements, personally receiving President Tang, busy all day. Even so, you stayed up through the night to return to Shen City with President Tang to handle this matter.”
“I feel that if you’ve gone to such lengths for this, and I forgo showing up due to a little jet lag, it would look irresponsible on my part.”
“After all... some details and risks need someone present to see more clearly, don’t you think?”
The surrounding air grew tense.
Beads of sweat had already formed on Chen Jing’s forehead; Shangguan Qiuyas stared straight ahead, breathing shallowly; Lin Muxue minimized every inhalation, afraid of being affected.
Ouyang Xianyue’s composed expression finally showed a crack she couldn’t hide.
Given her identity, status, and usual social restraint with Jin Meixiao,
for someone to speak so bluntly like that was no ordinary repartee or probe.
It was an unrelenting taunt and warning.
The implication was almost equivalent to laying bare her schemes—using public duty as cover, acting rashly, putting out a metaphorical house fire—in the morning light and repeatedly exposing them to heat.
For Ouyang Xianyue, who always regarded dignity, restraint, and subtlety as life itself, this was a particularly cutting humiliation.
Her fingers curled slightly, fingertips pressing into her palm, a prick of pain helping her maintain the last traces of composure and clarity.
Ouyang Xianyue shook her head lightly, then suddenly smiled, her tone intimate but helpless, as if chiding a sister who took things too seriously:
“You’re always like this, doing everything personally, chasing perfection.”
“However, ‘going to so much trouble’ is an exaggeration. I simply invited Tang Song and Xiang Wan over to my place to chat because it’s quieter here and more convenient and comfortable to speak freely. You know how some ideas don’t come out in formal meeting rooms.”
“Oh? Really?” Secretary Jin lightly tapped the noblewoman’s arm, her smile deepening. “Then later, I must hear these ideas of yours that require such a special environment.”
Ouyang Xianyue could read the clear sarcasm in those eyes.
She almost lost her defenses on the spot.
Her chest heaved violently, that sensation of exposed shame threatening to drown her.
Because she had indeed done something shameful.
Especially the reckless abandon in the study last night, and having just been intimate with Tang Song again—there might even still be traces of his scent on her.
For a moment, facing this woman with an overpowering aura of legitimacy, she instinctively felt guilty and out of breath.
“All right.”
She could only force a smile and agree through gritted teeth.
To cover her embarrassment, she quickly turned and instructed, “Secretary Chen, you and Assistant Shangguan take the materials to the side-room office area and prepare them. Xiang Wan is already over there. Since Director Jin is here, this is a major matter—don’t make any mistakes.”
“Yes!”
Chen Jing and Shangguan Qiuyas immediately responded and bowed before leaving.
The living room suddenly contained only those who were staying behind.
That slightly eased Ouyang Xianyue’s shame.
Just as she adjusted her breathing and prepared to speak to regain control of the topic,
Tang Song stepped forward and directly cut into the tense aura between the two women.
His light swept over Ouyang Xianyue, then he naturally stood beside Secretary Jin, his hand gently resting on the slim, upright curve of her lower back—measured, but intimate.
“Stop standing around, sit down and talk. Have you eaten breakfast?”
“I have already, thank you for your concern, President Tang.” Secretary Jin answered crisply, but her previously tense body visibly relaxed under that touch.
“Rested well after coming back to Shen City?” Tang Song guided her toward the sofa as he spoke naturally. “Tomorrow will be a long ceremony. I assumed you’d stay home today to recover from the time difference, so I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Fine.” Secretary Jin smiled faintly and, matching his lead, sat close to him as if it were the most natural thing, her gaze softening. “I didn’t expect President Tang to be so considerate; I feel honored. How was yesterday’s golf event? You didn’t get too tired, I hope?”
They whispered to each other as if no one else existed, their tone natural and affectionate.
It was as though the huge living room held only the two of them, reverting to their private moments.
Seeing this, Ouyang Xianyue pressed her lips together and sat on the single sofa to the side.
She did not interrupt.
After all, her relationship with Tang Song had only crossed the line last night and was still something that could not be brought into the light.
Being caught in an affair inevitably forced her to be humble.
The villa’s atmosphere relaxed slightly.
Secretary Jin angled her body a little and looked toward the corner where Lin Muxue had been standing. “Luna.”
“Here, here.” Lin Muxue hurried forward, placing the dust covers beside the coffee table, finally getting a chance to greet them. “Good morning, President Tang, Ms. Ouyang.”
Secretary Jin pointed at the suit and looked at Tang Song.
“This is a double-breasted peaked-lapel suit I ordered for you on Savile Row in London.
The fabric is from the pinnacle series of the house; I was personally involved in the design, specifically narrowing the waistline and using a cut that better suits your build...
I think it’s very suitable for your appearance at tomorrow’s show.”
“Thank you.”
Tang Song looked at her, a smile spreading at the corner of his eyes.
He didn’t bother with polite talk; instead he leaned in and kissed that exquisitely regal, untouchable face hard.
“Smack—”
A crisp, loud sound.
The action made Ouyang Xianyue, who had been maintaining her poise, blink uncontrollably and tighten her grip on her sleeve.
Sour jealousy hummed and twisted in her chest.
Secretary Jin blinked too, apparently not expecting him to be so direct.
But the smile at the corner of her mouth brightened a fraction.
She turned her head and instructed Lin Muxue, “Luna, take President Tang to the room to try on the suit.”
Clearly she intended to sideline Tang Song and have a private conversation with this noblewoman.
Ouyang Xianyue maintained her hostess composure, her smile graceful and polite. “President Tang stayed in a room on the east side of the third floor last night. You go ahead; I’ll personally serve Smile here.”
This was an unavoidable head-to-head confrontation.
It was also the first time she had to represent herself and stand on stage.
She didn’t fear a game of strategy; she just didn’t know how to retain dignity after being caught.
However,
just as Lin Muxue reached to lift the dust bag,
Tang Song suddenly reached out and grasped Secretary Jin’s white, slender wrist.
“Since it’s a birthday gift you personally designed, come upstairs with me and see how it looks.”
Secretary Jin did not pull away. Instead, matching his motion, she leaned close to his ear and said, “President Tang, go upstairs and take a quick shower first, then put the suit on for me to see.”
After she spoke, she unexpectedly kissed Tang Song on the face.
“You seem to have another woman’s scent on you, especially on your hands. I don’t like that.”
Although spoken as a whisper, in the quiet living room Ouyang Xianyue, only a meter away, heard every word clearly.
Her breathing wavered immediately; she instinctively crossed her legs and straightened her back.
Her fingers unconsciously curled as if trying to hide something.
The remark felt like a resounding slap, striking her hard.
Lin Muxue’s eyes widened.
Damn! Director Jin is fierce! She’s launching full force right in his face!
She couldn’t help but glance at the mature, voluptuous noblewoman, feeling a chill and shock.
She had received favors from Ouyang Xianyue before—apartments in Modu and help with her parents back home.
But she never expected Ms. Ouyang to also have gone after Tang Song!
No wonder Empress Muxue had earlier borne the brunt of Director Jin’s anger—unwittingly pulled into a top-tier war!
From now on she must tread extremely carefully!
Tang Song took a deep breath, released his hold, and stood up.
“All right, I’ll be quick. Ten minutes in the shower.”
“Mm, go ahead.” Secretary Jin’s mouth curved but showed no change; she gracefully raised a hand in a gesture. “Luna, please go upstairs and help President Tang prepare the suit.”
“All right, Director Jin!”
Lin Muxue hastily grabbed the dust bag and followed Tang Song to the elevator.
As Tang Song’s figure disappeared behind the closing elevator doors, Ouyang Xianyue’s pupils flickered violently.
A misplaced mix of fear of loss and suppressed humiliation stuck to her chest, refusing to leave.
From the moment Jin Meixiao arrived, Tang Song’s attitude toward her changed subtly.
Not only did the physical distance shift, but there was a transfer of “ownership.”
In front of Ouyang Xianyue he openly displayed intimacy with Secretary Jin—even kissing her without shame.
Rationally she told herself his behavior was understandable;
in this battleground-like situation he had to balance the two.
And by timeline, shared experiences, and positions in the system... Secretary Jin was indeed closer to him than she was.
But...
As a woman who had crossed that red line with him just last night and whose body and heart still trembled for him,
she couldn’t help feeling unsettled and bitter.
What was he thinking?
Was he unwilling to acknowledge their relationship in front of Secretary Jin?
Or in his heart, was she—a woman with a past marriage—doomed to live in the shadows?
The elevator chimed faintly as it rose.
The sprawling villa’s first-floor living room returned to quiet.
Ouyang Xianyue looked across; her smile remained graceful, but all warmth had gone from her eyes.
“Would you like a drink? I have a fresh batch of Zhengshan Xiaozhong, or your usual hand-brewed coffee?”
“No, thank you.” Jin Meixiao lightly shook her head, reclining elegantly into the sofa, legs crossed, her gaze calm as she looked back with a relaxed sense of turning an away venue into her own: “I’m not thirsty. There’s no need to rush.”
“Mm.” Ouyang Xianyue withdrew her hand, no longer insisting on a false courtesy.
They sat opposite each other in silence, the air feeling as if it had frozen.
A moment later, Secretary Jin suddenly opened her mouth and tossed out an apparently unrelated topic: “How’s Su Yu doing lately?”
Ouyang Xianyue’s pupils shifted; she kept a measured calm in her voice: “Quite well. She’s much more relaxed. I heard she’s quietly preparing a new song—probably as a gift for a special occasion.”
Jin Meixiao smiled and tapped the sofa armrest with her finger. “Her Paris birthday event succeeded as she hoped. Not only did that day’s spotlight belong to her, she also forced Tang Song to show up early, giving her the security she wanted. I wonder if, after all this, her opinion of me has changed.”
Ouyang Xianyue’s voice carried a faint note: “I don’t know. Su Yu’s thoughts are always hard to read.”
“Do you remember when I first moved against her?” Secretary Jin asked.
Ouyang Xianyue furrowed her brows, thought for a moment, then gave a precise answer: “Around July 2020. She was indeed acting without boundaries then, but it was mainly because she loved Tang Song so much. I could understand that.”
“Hm, you remember clearly. Come to think of it, your relationship with Su Yu began to become truly close from that time as well.” Secretary Jin nodded slightly; her tone showed neither praise nor scorn.
Ouyang Xianyue’s eye twitch betrayed her.
Secretary Jin watched her and continued in a tone that stated facts calmly:
“The reason I suppressed her back then was because she secretly went to Jing County and contacted some of Tang Song’s hometown acquaintances and relatives, even attempting to influence him through those connections, to prove something.”
“In fact, she succeeded—on June 20, 2020 she met Tang Song. But... that was also the last time she saw Tang Song.” (Chapter 261)
“You know as well as I do that such behavior is extremely dangerous and intolerable. Otherwise Tang Song could not have developed so steadily to now; that seemed to be our previous consensus.”
Ouyang Xianyue inhaled deeply, her chest rising noticeably.
The light in her eyes shifted violently and then settled into a deep, bottomless dark.
“Smile.” Her voice dropped, carrying a coldness like being backed into a corner, “What exactly... do you mean?”
“Xianyue, don’t be anxious.” Secretary Jin’s tone remained light, even soothing. “I don’t mean anything special; I’m just suddenly feeling reflective.”
She leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them.
“I always thought that within this system you were the most rule-abiding, the most discreet, and the most mindful of the overall situation. I didn’t expect you to turn into the same person as Su Yu. You’re trying the same impulsive maneuvers.”
“What I’ve done was naturally for Tang Song’s own good.” Ouyang Xianyue’s voice rose a little. “He’s about to stand under the world’s spotlight. His family background, ancestral ties, and hometown connections are the foundation of his public image and must be stable without the slightest slip. This matter is best handled by me. It’s proper and reasonable!”
Secretary Jin watched her slightly reddened cheeks in silence, her tone calm but not avoiding its edge: “So you mean—you have no thoughts of love or desire for him?”
“.....”
Ouyang Xianyue’s throat tightened abruptly.
Shame, anger, and the humiliation of being seen through interwove, making her carefully maintained dignity wobble.
She drew two sharp breaths; her voice was low and hoarse: “Smile, did you have to put it so harshly?”
Secretary Jin looked at her for a long time; the smile on her face slowly faded until only a cold, near-supercilious scrutiny remained.
From above.
“I’m merely stating facts. Ouyang, you can fool strangers, but don’t fool yourself. Your so-called personal involvement—was it really for Su Yu? For the bigger picture?”
“.....”
“All the events from last night to this morning—did you truly intend them only as official discussions and simply get crossed by his boundaries, passively enduring?”
“.....”
Ouyang Xianyue tightened her lips; the light in her phoenix eyes flickered and struggled.
After a long moment, she finally raised her eyes slowly, no longer dodging.
“That’s right.” Her voice was low but clear. “I did grow closer to Tang Song. But the morality or immorality of it, even you have no right to judge.”
“I’m not interested in judging you.” Secretary Jin’s tone remained cool. “You’ve always been like this, Ms. Ouyang—finding the most self-justifying, noble-sounding rationale for every action and every transgression. From the day we met, you’ve been like this. That is—hypocritical self-justification.”
Exposed so nakedly, Ouyang Xianyue finally flew into a rage from shame. “What are you trying to say?”
Secretary Jin leaned in slightly, her gaze sharp, giving her no more room to retreat.
“You know better than anyone that he has returned from another dimension into reality. You know better than anyone that the core of him is still the Tang Song of old. You know he can be soft, influenced, and will yield. That is the part that truly moves you.”
“But he has never been just one person.”
“No matter if you try to bind him through offspring, family, or any other form of ties to influence him, it will be impossible.”
“As for his family matters, I will handle them.”
“This Spring Festival, I will personally go to Jing County and spend it with him and his family.”
Ouyang Xianyue’s pupils constricted abruptly; she froze on the sofa.
Secretary Jin’s voice regained absolute calm, each word crisp and clear: “In other matters and other fields, I can tolerate concessions. In the development of Tang Yi Precision, I’ve tolerated. In constructing the Tangjin System’s power balance, I’ve tolerated.”
“But regarding Tang Song himself, there will be no concessions.”
“He must be mine first.”