At 9:30 PM, as the last cup of sour plum juice was sold, Qian Lele wrapped up her street stall for the day.
Packing the price board, QR code sign, and other items into her backpack, she pushed her cart and waved goodbye to Sister Wen.
“Bye-bye, take care on the way ho.”
“Bye-bye~” “Bye-bye.”
The crowd on the pedestrian street had thinned out significantly. As Qian Lele walked ahead, she keenly felt the subtle glances coming from all around.
Most of them were from girls, and their target was naturally Tang Song, who was following slightly behind her.
This was the first ti Qian Lele realized how much a change in soone’s deanor and style could enhance their attractiveness.
Back when Tang Song was studying in the faculty apartnt, he was already handso and charming, but not to the point of being this captivating.
Now, he radiated sharpness, confidence, composure, and depth.
Leaving the bustling night market behind, Qian Lele turned her head and cheerfully began discussing her next street stall plans.
“Brother Song, fruit tea is really a great business. In a few days, the temperature will rise sharply. I’m planning to introduce so new products with higher profit margins, like passion fruit tea…”
The birthday gift she bought for Ding Yao had left her with a 1,200-yuan debt on her Huabei credit account, plus that 750-yuan little black dress.
This ant she had essentially used up the money she’d set aside for a new laptop.
Through her conversations with Tang Song, however, she had now gained a clearer vision for her career developnt.
To learn and apply new technologies, replacing her old laptop had beco a necessity.
Lemon tea and sour plum juice were simple to make, but each cup only yielded a four-yuan profit. On a good night, she’d earn at most 100 yuan.
Switching to more complex fruit teas, however, would allow her to slightly raise the price and profits.
This way, she could pay off her debts before sumr vacation ended.
As Tang Song listened to Qian Lele’s positive and optimistic plans and saw the hopeful smile on her face, he once again marveled at her inner strength.
The reason he ca to see Qian Lele tonight was, in part, a nostalgic sentint.
Her budding fondness for him reminded him of his own feelings for his White Moonlight during his high school years.
eting this simple, kindhearted, and pure young woman also felt like a way to reflect on his own youthful past.
Before they knew it, they had arrived at the entrance of Building 2, Unit 2.
Tang Song helped Qian Lele lift her cart up the steps and said, “Lele, to be honest, the best side gig for you would be sothing that utilizes your technical skills. It would benefit your personal growth a lot more.”
“Yes, I understand, Brother Song,” Qian Lele replied, her clear and bright eyes looking up at him. “But with my current level of skill, I’m not yet at the point where I can make money with it. Finding a suitable part-ti job is also pretty difficult.”
It wasn’t just her. Among the many students in her field, those who could actually earn money with programming were very few.
The industry’s current environnt was tough and competitive.
Tang Song pondered for a mont before saying, “If an opportunity arises, I’ll help you find so part-ti gigs. Just simple tasks like page-building or writing interactions—you should be able to handle that. This way, you can reduce the frequency of setting up your stall.”
The sumr nights in Yan City were sweltering, like sitting in a stear. Although selling fruit tea was profitable, it was undeniably exhausting.
He also understood Qian Lele’s personality well enough to know that offering direct financial assistance would likely hurt her sensitive pride.
With his current capabilities, he could easily provide help in a more subtle way.
Hearing this, Qian Lele was montarily stunned. She bit her full lips gently and bowed, saying, “Thank you, Brother Song. If such opportunities do co up, I’ll do my best.”
“Good. Focus on strengthening your front-end skills for now. I’ll get in touch later.” Tang Song patted her shoulder affectionately and smiled. “Alright then, get so rest. Sleep early tonight, Qian Lele.”
“Take care on your way ho, Brother Song. Goodbye!” Qian Lele waved and smiled brightly as she said farewell.
Watching Tang Song’s tall and upright figure disappear into the distance, she exhaled deeply and pushed her cart upstairs.
She knew that with Tang Song’s abilities, his promise to help her find freelance work was practically a certainty.
It was clear he was giving her special attention.
Yet, for reasons she couldn’t quite articulate, she didn’t refuse.
In the dimly lit living room, she turned on the light.
The house was silent—she was the only one there.
Sitting on the sofa, staring at the large television, she zoned out for a while.
Was this loneliness? Perhaps it was.
Clenching her fists, Qian Lele snapped out of her daze and got busy.
She tidied up the kitchen, prepared items for her stall the next day, and studied front-end developnt…
Life might be dull, but if you keep running, you’ll feel the wind.
Qian Lele, keep working hard to make money, but don’t forget to stay happy.
Yanjing Tiancheng – Luxury Flat.
After a quick rinse, Tang Song changed into sothing comfortable and settled into a single sofa.
He opened his system interface and navigated to his inventory.
A new item appeared there, emanating a faint red glow.
Selecting it, he claid the item imdiately.
In his hand appeared a small pendant in the shape of a wheat ear.
Its surface was smooth and warm, radiating a fine golden hue. Under the light, it sparkled brilliantly.
Each grain of wheat was intricately sculpted—slender and upright, with fluid, natural lines.
The plump wheat grains were perfectly rounded and closely connected, exuding a subtle sense of luxury.
Judging by the material, it seed to be made of pure gold.
Its size was just right, suitable as either a necklace pendant or a decorative charm. It would suit anyone, regardless of gender.
As for whom he’d gift it to, Tang Song didn’t have to think twice. The source of this content ɪs ⓝovelFire
His parents were aging, and their peace and happiness were his top priority.
With Songi Fashion now firmly established, and with He Yiyi as a prominent influencer, it had beco one of the leading livestream e-comrce companies in Yan City.
The booming livestreaming trend had created countless wealth myths, providing him with a legitimate explanation for his assets.
It was ti to gradually reveal his wealth and let his parents accept this new version of him.
Of course, before returning to his hotown, there were other matters to address—like executing Songi Fashion’s upcoming plans and preparing for his investnt in Shimr Coffee.
With the resources and connections at his disposal, not to ntion the vast assets waiting to be inherited, Shimr Coffee was destined to grow rapidly, with limitless potential.
To secure his and Xie Shuyu’s interests, Tang Song planned to first et with the other two shareholders of Shimr Coffee and negotiate a share acquisition deal.
Additionally, there was the preliminary investigation for the “Yannan Short Drama Film Base” project.
This was a billion-yuan project involving nurous parties, including governnt departnts.
Tang Song had no intention of becoming a scapegoat or a fool.
Standing up from the sofa, Tang Song walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window.
The sky was overcast with dense clouds, making the city’s glittering nightscape even more vivid by contrast.
The past four months flashed before his eyes like a slideshow—along with the faces of various remarkable won.
Zhao Yaqian, Wen Ruan, Lin Muxue, Gao ngting, Little Jing, Xu Qing, Shen Yuyan…
These four months had been incredibly eventful, filled with gains and realizations.
According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, human desires follow five levels.
From the bottom to the top, they are physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs.
Before the “Heartthrob Growth Plan” ga beca reality, Tang Song was just an ordinary person struggling with the first three levels.
He had accepted harsh realities and let life smooth his edges.
Dejected, he left Beijing, said goodbye to his White Moonlight, and reluctantly blended into a group, enduring unfairness.
Physiologically, he needed an ideal partner. For safety, he sought a stable career, good health, and decent housing.
In front of the glamorous CEO Xie Shuyu, he could only shrink back in insecurity, yearning for approval.
But when the ga turned real, unimaginable wealth fell into his lap.
In satisfying those basic needs, his mindset beca unbalanced and inflated, leading to his wild escapades and absurd actions.
Now, through personal growth, enhanced abilities, and especially the “Scholar” instance, Tang Song had successfully navigated this transitional phase.
He had begun pursuing higher-level needs, aiming for greater fulfillnt.
August 2, 2023. Wednesday. Scattered showers, 25–33°C.
Lanfeng International – Luxury Apartnt.
Amidst rolling thunder and the sound of raindrops tapping against the windows, Lin Muxue woke up early.
She brewed a cup of black coffee to fully awaken herself.
Styling her hair into a neat bun, she took off her pajamas and donned her workout gear: a Lululemon Energy sports bra, Maza fitness wear, matching sneakers, and an Apple Watch.
She then took the elevator down to the third floor.
The Gym at Lanfeng International – Yan City’s Premier Apartnt Complex
As one of the most luxurious residential gyms in Yan City, Lanfeng’s facility was nothing short of top-tier. It boasted a massive area, refined interior design, a fresh air system, well-organized functional zones, and over a hundred pieces of professional gym equipnt, all available 24/7.
At 7:00 AM, only a handful of people were present in the gym.
Lin Muxue stepped onto a treadmill and began with six minutes of brisk walking. As her body ward up, her muscles started to loosen, and a faint heat coursed through her body.
After finishing her warm-up, she moved to the weight machines and started high-pull lat exercises, focusing on her latissimus dorsi.
Soon, beads of sweat ford on her forehead, and her breathing beca heavier.
“Excuse , miss, your arm lines are amazing. How do you train them? I’m really curious.”
A cheerful male voice interrupted her from the side.
Lin Muxue stopped her movent and raised her eyes slightly.
Standing before her was a muscular man in a gym tank top, his sunny smile aid directly at her.
Their eyes t for a brief mont.
Her gaze remained indifferent, as if the person before her was nothing more than air. Without saying a word, she resud her exercise.
The man’s smile faltered, his lips twitching awkwardly. Letting out an embarrassed chuckle, he turned and walked away.
With his good looks and physique, he was used to his advances being t with enthusiasm or, at worst, polite refusals. A cold shoulder like this was a first.
40 Minutes Later
After her workout, a sweat-soaked Lin Muxue snapped a few pictures and walked out of the gym with a light step.
Maintaining such a perfect figure wasn’t easy.
But soone like Lin Muxue—polished and ticulous—viewed her body as her greatest asset, an investnt worth every effort.
As she exited the gym, fiery gazes followed her every move.
The snug fit of her workout clothes highlighted her flawless curves, while her aloof and cold expression projected an untouchable aura that made people hesitate to approach.
Often, it was precisely this kind of icy deanor that heightened n’s desire to conquer.
Unknowingly, Lin Muxue had beco sothing of a “celebrity” at the apartnt gym.
Word of her being a high-ranking executive at a financial firm, as well as her status as a “White Rich Beauty,” had spread among the gym-goers.
Back in Her Apartnt
Lin Muxue set up her phone and began filming her latest vlog: “173cm/53kg – A Day in the Life of a Financial Executive”.
Opening the fridge, she combined yogurt, blueberries, and mixed nuts into a simple but satisfying breakfast.
She had recently accepted a sponsored post from a nut brand through the Dandelion platform. With her 25,000 followers, her rate was 3,200 yuan per post—a very respectable inco.
As a verified KOC (Key Opinion Consur), Lin Muxue now earned over 20,000 yuan monthly from her social dia accounts.
Though her annual salary exceeded one million yuan, her frugal past had instilled a hunger for more inco.
Besides, she had a passion for luxury goods, a bold personality, and a penchant for indulging in shopping sprees.
Her beloved Porsche 911 also demanded fuel and maintenance costs.
After showering, changing clothes, applying makeup, and organizing her things—all while taking multiple photos and videos—it was already past 8:00 AM.
Grabbing her Chanel handbag, Lin Muxue stepped into the elevator and descended to Basent 2.
Her recently detailed Porsche 911, now adorned with an expensive car wrap, glead under the lights.
Sliding into the car, she noted the new accessories she’d added: limited-edition Pop Mart figurines, Hermès car diffusers, LV keychains, leather tissue boxes, and even a Dyson portable car vacuum.
She adored her car, pampering it with the best items she could find.
After shooting a quick video inside the car, Lin Muxue put her phone away and started the engine.
“Vroom—”
The matte gray Porsche 911 roared to life and soon exited the parking lot.
At the Office
“Hey, good morning.”
“Morning.”
“Happy Hump Day.”
Wearing heels and a work badge, Lin Muxue greeted her colleagues with a confident and radiant smile as she made her way to her desk.
With closer associates, she even paused to chat about recent projects in fluent English.
Lin Muxue was no longer the timid “Little Snow” of the past.
After hours of relentless practice, her conversational English was smoother than silk.
9:00 AM
Seated in her private office, Lin Muxue began her day’s tasks.
In addition to compiling data for Lanfeng International Hotel, she had been assigned two new research tasks:
Collecting information on Yan City Shimr Coffee Co., Ltd.Investigating the Yannan Short Drama Film Base.
Of course, her role was limited to relaying Tang Song’s requirents. The actual operations were handled by other team mbers.
As her gaze fell on the na “Xie Shuyu” displayed on her screen, Lin Muxue’s eyes flickered with determination.
Sure enough, Tang Song had set his sights on her!
What a formidable rival, she thought to herself.
At Youjie Dostic Services
“Good morning, President Shen!”
“Morning, President Shen!”
Exchanging greetings with her coworkers, Shen Yuyan walked into her managerial office.
She poured herself a cup of hot water and reclined comfortably in her chair.
Youjie Dostic Services’ office was located in a small comrcial building in Qiaoxi District.
The building had only seven floors but housed over a hundred small businesses. Each company occupied a modest space.
Previously, as the deputy general manager, Shen Yuyan had shared an office with the finance team.
Only after Zhang Tianqi’s departure did she finally get her own office—a modest 10-square-ter space with glass partitions. But even so, she was content.
After a brief rest, she opened her laptop and began reviewing contracts, reports, and proposals.
The partnership agreent with Gongying Technology had been signed after several rounds of disputes and negotiations.
The 3 million yuan investnt had already been credited to their account, with 1 million quickly returning to Gongying Technology for operational expenses. Additionally, Youjie Dostic Services had to share revenue from app-generated orders as part of the deal.
Every day felt like a drain on her energy, as she juggled Gongying Technology’s chaotic finances and business oversight while managing internal team issues.
Her enthusiasm for Youjie Dostic Services, the company she had built from scratch, had waned.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that even if the company succeeded, it would rely serve as a stepping stone for others.
For soone who had experienced smooth sailing from the start of her entrepreneurial journey, this bitter lesson left a deep sense of frustration.
Facing external capital forces, she realized just how small and vulnerable she truly was.
10:00 AM
The sudden ring of her phone broke her thoughts.
Answering the call, Shen Yuyan said softly, “Hello, ng Li.”
“Yuyan, are you free to talk right now?”
“Yes, I am. Is this about the ‘Create & Connect Exchange Conference’?”
“Exactly!” ng Li replied cheerfully. “The leadership asked to confirm with you again—you must attend tonight! Your company, having erged from the incubation base and successfully completed a financing round, is one of the star examples!
“Plus, there will be many institutions attending, including Tiancheng Capital. Oh, and Lu Ziming will be there too!”
“Don’t worry, I won’t miss it.”
“Great! I’ll see you at the event. Also, please help share our latest post and boost the engagent.”
“Got it. Bye.”
After ending the call, Shen Yuyan leaned back in her chair, her full chest rising and falling as she stared at the ceiling in a daze.
Her college classmate and roommate, ng Li, now worked at the Yan City Startup Employnt Services Center, mainly handling dia and promotions—a stable governnt-affiliated position.
The "Create & Connect Exchange Conference" hosted by the Yan City Startup Incubation Base aid to bring together local investors and promising startups.
While officially frad as a discussion of industry trends and resource sharing, it was really just an opportunity to network and build relationships.
Institutions like Tiancheng Capital, a prominent local investor in Yan City, would be in attendance.
For companies like Youjie Dostic Services, which had erged from the incubation base and achieved profitability with a completed angel investnt round, this was a chance to shine.
Over the past two years of her entrepreneurial journey, Shen Yuyan had worked tirelessly to expand her social circle.
Through connections like Lu Ziming and other classmates, she had attended nurous banquets and networking events. However, she had never received much attention at these gatherings and always felt like an outsider.
After being burned by Gongying Technology, her apprehension about engaging with powerful capital forces had only grown.
Taking a deep breath, Shen Yuyan gave herself a silent pep talk.
If I want to climb higher, I’ll inevitably have to face these things head-on. There’s no choice but to press forward with courage.
“Ding-dong—” Her WeChat notification chid.
[Hou Shaoyuan]: “Yuyan, I heard about tonight’s networking event from ng Li. Let’s go together—I’ll swing by to pick you up after work.”
After sending a brief acknowledgnt, Shen Yuyan’s gaze drifted to another chat window.
For the past two weeks, she had been ssaging Tang Song on WeChat, but his responses were slow. He only seed interested in engaging when the topics were about investnts, policies, or economics.
Invitations to als were invariably t with replies like “busy,” “studying,” or “not free.”
It was eerily similar to how a goddess might half-heartedly respond to a persistent admirer.
Smiling wryly at herself, Shen Yuyan couldn’t help but feel self-deprecating.
She never thought she’d stoop to such a lowly posture, chatting with a college acquaintance who clearly didn’t care about her.
But her self-respect eventually kicked in. After enduring Tang Song’s “cold shoulder” treatnt multiple tis, she stopped chasing after him.
Stretching her arms, Shen Yuyan opened her Monts and reposted ng Li’s promotional article for the “2023 Yan City Create & Connect Exchange Conference.”
Adding a caption:
“Grateful for the official invitation. This is such a aningful event. Everyone, please leave a comnt or give it a like!”
Hitting the post button, she set her phone aside, straightened her posture, and returned to her work.
11:50 AM – Slover Trust, Board Office
“Knock, knock, knock—”
The sound of knocking broke the silence. Lin Muxue quickly sat upright and replied in a crisp, clear voice, “Co in!”
In walked Zhang Lili, dressed in a smart business suit. “Hello, Luna.”
“Good afternoon, Kylie,” Lin Muxue greeted her with a faint smile, switching to English. “Are you here to ask out for lunch?”
As her closest colleague at work, their interactions were always relaxed and casual.
“Yes! The group al today is fantastic—your favorite Cantonese-style roast ats are on the nu.”
“Sounds great.” Lin Muxue’s eyes lit up. She closed her laptop and followed Zhang Lili out.
At the employee dining area, she picked up a al set.
Suddenly, as if rembering sothing, Zhang Lili said, “Oh, by the way, the company received an invitation from the Yan City Startup Incubation Base. There’s a Create & Connect Exchange Conference tonight. It’s a small-scale, informal event, and we usually turn down these invitations. But I found out that Zhao Chengjun, the venture capital director from Tiancheng Capital, will be attending. Are you interested in going?”
“Tiancheng Capital, Zhao Chengjun,” Lin Muxue murmured, her eyes lighting up. “I’m in!”
Previously, Lin Muxue had been a receptionist at Rongxin Venture Capital and had witnessed firsthand Tang Song and Xie Shuyu participating in an investnt roadshow.
According to the intel she had gathered over the past two days, it was during that roadshow that Tiancheng Capital’s Zhao Chengjun had initially taken an interest in Shimr Coffee.
However, they ultimately pulled out due to perceived risks.
This conference would be the perfect opportunity to chat with Zhao Chengjun and dig deeper into Shimr Coffee’s internal operations and the reasons behind the investnt withdrawal.
She planned to use this newfound information to report back to Tang Song, perhaps even securing an opportunity to impress him further.
Her thoughts drifted to the wild, intimate night from the past weekend—the intense collisions, the playful banter, the chaotic mix of teasing and affection.
A blush crept up her cheeks as her body grew warr, her legs subtly rubbing against each other.
Although she had suffered so “workplace injuries” from that encounter, she had recovered fully and was now craving another taste.
“Okay, I’ll forward the invitation to you later,” Zhang Lili said with a smile and a nod.
As an executive at Slover Trust, an international financial institution with a prestigious reputation, Lin Muxue often received nurous invitations to events. Most of the ti, the organizers extended these invitations to elevate the status of their gatherings.
If Lin Muxue chose to attend, the hosts would undoubtedly be thrilled.
As they sat down at the dining table, Lin Muxue took a mont to admire the elegant and high-end group al in front of her. Pulling out her phone, she snapped a few pictures and shared them on her Monts with a deliberately pretentious English caption.
She ate her lunch slowly and gracefully while scrolling through her feed.
Her finger froze mid-scroll.
[Shen Yuyan]: Grateful for the official invitation. This is such a aningful event…
Tapping on the link below the post, Lin Muxue handed her phone to Zhang Lili. “Kylie, is this the sa event you ntioned earlier?”
Zhang Lili glanced at it and nodded. “Yes, that’s the one.”
Taking a deep breath, Lin Muxue maintained a calm exterior as she said, “Kylie, let’s go together tonight. Bring Katia from the risk managent departnt as well. I rember she knows Zhao Chengjun.”
Zhang Lili was montarily stunned but then smiled. “Sure, no problem.”
Although she didn’t know why Luna suddenly wanted to rally a team for such a minor event, she had no reason to decline. Katia would likely agree as well.
It was worth noting that Katia, a reserved and aloof Brit, handled Slover Trust’s risk managent operations. Due to data-sharing concerns, she had previously interacted with several investnt institutions in Yan City and was considered the primary point of contact for external business.
Lowering her head, Lin Muxue’s eyes sparkled with determination.
Finally, you’ve fallen into my trap!
Before the almighty Lin Muxue, perfected in her Sacred Body, you’re nothing more than an isolated wild mob!
At most, you’re just a red or blue buff!
Hmph, tonight, I’ll dominate the wild zone and solo kill Shen Yuyan!
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