If Lin Muxue had to pick the event that impacted her life the most, it would definitely be accompanying Zhao Yaqian to sign the Beneficiary Agreent at Slover Trust.
At first, she went with curiosity and skepticism, plus a little bit of vanity to take pictures and show off. She never expected that step would completely change her life.
A one-hundred-million-dollar family trust. A ten-million-a-year beneficiary contract.
Just like that, the fake heiress who was struggling to make ends et had her entire worldview shattered beyond recognition.
That’s why she was left with soul-crushing regret—and why she shalessly kept trying to cling to Tang Song.
And the person who left the deepest impression on her that day was Qin Yingxue.
She had a unique aura, reminiscent of the woman she had seen in the elevator during her very first modeling audition.
Of course, what Lin Muxue admired the most was her outfit.
A Richard Mille RM07-01 Snowflake Diamond, a Hermès Birkin 25, Chanel’s latest haute couture by Virginie Viard, and Bulgari’s Serpenti earrings and necklace…
Every single piece Qin Yingxue wore was sothing Lin Muxue had obsessed over countless tis—top-tier luxury items she adored but could never afford.
She still rembered that playful smile, that elegant aura, and the crushing pressure Qin Yingxue exuded.
Lin Muxue could feel it—Qin Yingxue definitely saw through her façade.
Like an ugly duckling, she didn’t even dare to et her gaze, drowning in sha and inferiority.
Back then, Qin Yingxue, as an investnt consultant at Slover Trust, was the epito of Lin Muxue’s dream self.
Especially when Qin Yingxue casually ntioned that she had interacted with their company’s chairman a few tis—
That level of prestige? It was like she was a freaking empress!
She had effortlessly crushed the fake heiress version of Lin Muxue into the dirt.
Ever since then, Lin Muxue had idolized Qin Yingxue, secretly imitating her every move.
Her aura, her mannerisms—she tried to emulate it all.
And now, after all this ti, she was finally seeing her "ideal self" again.
Lin Muxue’s heart pounded with excitent.
She turned gracefully, extended her hand confidently, and smiled brightly.
“Hello, Ms. Qin. It’s been a while! I’m so glad to see you here at Confluent Capital.”
Qin Yingxue’s lips curved into a friendly smile as she lightly shook her hand.
“It’s been a while indeed, Assistant Lin. You’re looking more stunning than ever.”
She chuckled softly. “And congratulations on becoming the Executive Assistant at Confluent Capital. I’m sure we’ll be working together often.”
“Thank you for the complint, Ms. Qin. You are as graceful as ever. And becoming part of Confluent Capital—I consider myself very lucky. I look forward to working with you,” Lin Muxue said, her lips slightly trembling with emotion.
Yes.
The fake heiress she used to be—Xiao Xue—was long gone.
Now, she was an Executive Assistant at a billion-dollar private equity firm, earning 1.5 million a year, with her own private office.
Even Qin Yingxue had to acknowledge her presence now.
Her growth, her rise in status—it was all tangible at this very mont.
Standing beside her, Zhang Chengyuan stepped forward with a warm smile.
“President Qin, when did you arrive?”
“Not long ago,” Qin Yingxue replied casually. “The receptionist told you were inside signing a contract, so I didn’t want to disturb you.”
Zhang Chengyuan chuckled. “We just finished. President Tang ssaged earlier—he should be arriving around 10 a.m..”
“Got it.” Qin Yingxue nodded slightly.
Then, she took out a business card from her purse and handed it over. Her sharp gaze fell once again on Lin Muxue.
“Let’s make it official—Qin Yingxue.”
Lin Muxue froze for a second before quickly reaching out to accept it.
Looking at Qin Yingxue’s friendly deanor, she hurriedly pulled out her own business card.
“Thank you. Here’s mine—though the details haven’t been updated yet.”
From this mont on, her title would officially change from ‘Senior Assistant at Slover Trust Committee’ to ‘Executive Assistant at Confluent Capital’.
She was already planning to order a new batch of more high-end business cards.
“I’ll keep it safe.” Qin Yingxue raised the card slightly and said warmly, “Let’s add each other on WeChat later. I have a feeling we’ll be in touch quite often.”
Lin Muxue nodded excitedly.
“Of course, Ms. Qin.”
She wasn’t the smartest person, but she had sharp social instincts—she could clearly tell that Qin Yingxue’s attitude towards her had changed.
In fact, it felt like Qin Yingxue was genuinely interested in befriending her.
Qin Yingxue smiled softly. “Alright, you’re still new here. I’m sure you have a lot on your plate. Let’s chat again later.”
“Of course. Bye-bye.”
“Bye-bye.”
After exchanging goodbyes, Lin Muxue turned away, clutching Qin Yingxue’s business card tightly.
As she followed Zhang Chengyuan further inside, she couldn’t resist glancing down at it again.
The card was stunning—low-key yet luxurious, with matte black cardstock as the base. It had just the right thickness—solid yet slightly flexible in hand.
There were no job titles or company nas—just Qin Yingxue’s na and phone number.
And yet, that minimalism exuded a distinct prestige.
She didn’t even need extra credentials to prove who she was.
Now, that was true class.
Lin Muxue made a ntal note.
She was no longer the fake heiress who had to put up a front.
She had to follow suit!
Zhang Chengyuan stopped.
“We’re here. This is your office—right next to President Tang’s.”
“Alright, thank you.” Lin Muxue’s heart skipped a beat as she looked up.
The deep-colored wooden door was polished to perfection. Its edges were lined with matte stainless steel, sleek and modern.
A small black acrylic naplate was affixed to it, with gold lettering that read:
Assistant To President
The typography was bold yet refined, accompanied by the Confluent Capital logo, subtly reinforcing her status.
She reached out, grasping the curved handle—and suddenly, her heart pounded wildly.
She even felt a sudden urge to pee.
"Click—"
A warm glow seeped through as the door slowly opened.
The faint scent of woodsy essential oils drifted through the air—fresh yet not overpowering.
Lin Muxue’s eyes widened.
She quickened her steps into the room.
A full-length glass window lined one wall.
A deep-gray wool carpet covered the floor.
A sleek bookshelf wall, a plush sofa set, a mini bar stocked with coffee, tea, and fresh plants.
At the center, a walnut wood desk glead, topped with an iMac, a MacBook Pro, and wireless accessories.
It was cozy yet high-tech—a perfect blend of style and function.
“Luna, take your ti getting used to everything. Let admin know if you need anything.”
“Got it. Thank you.” Lin Muxue’s voice quivered slightly.
“No problem.” Zhang Chengyuan nodded and stepped out.
As the heavy door clicked shut—
“AHHH!!”
Lin Muxue let out a stifled scream, then imdiately pulled out her phone—
"Snap, snap, snap!"
She touched everything, inspected every detail, even rolled around on the leather sofa.
After a long while, she finally cald down.
Standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, nearly 200 ters above ground, she gazed at the cityscape below.
Lin Muxue was on cloud nine, her face flushed with excitent.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
A light tapping sounded on the office door.
Lin Muxue quickly wiped the overjoyed expression off her face, cleared her throat, and said, "Co in."
The door opened gently, and Zhang Lili walked in, dressed in professional attire.
"Good morning, Luna. Congratulations! We get to work together again—this is really exciting."
She had just found out that Lin Muxue was now the Executive Assistant at Confluent Capital.
Unlike Slover Trust, Confluent Capital had far greater upward mobility. Having a friend in a senior position ant a solid career safety net.
Although her family was wealthy, Zhang Lili valued this job for its financial influence and extensive networking opportunities.
"It really is exciting." Lin Muxue took a deep breath, savoring the mont before gesturing, "Have a seat, let’s chat."
"Thanks."
The two of them sat facing each other on the lounge sofas, casually discussing the office setup.
Lin Muxue casually asked, "Kylie, I just ran into Ms. Qin Yingxue outside. Is she our colleague? What’s her position?"
Judging by Zhang Chengyuan’s attitude, Qin Yingxue was definitely soone important.
Her natural competitive streak made her eager to find out—was Qin Yingxue above her or below her in rank?
Zhang Lili froze for a mont, her expression turning serious.
"Ms. Qin isn’t an employee of Confluent Capital—she’s a mber of the Investnt Committee at Tang Jin Family Office.
And Tang Jin is one of our shareholders, holding 15% equity. Ms. Qin is here as their representative."
"...Oh." Lin Muxue’s smile stiffened slightly.
She had hoped she could go toe-to-toe with Qin Yingxue, but it turned out Qin was still leagues ahead.
"Yeah, Luna," Zhang Lili nodded. "If possible, build a good relationship with her—there’s a chance Ms. Qin might join Confluent Capital’s board in the future."
Lin Muxue nodded seriously, then blinked curiously.
"Tang Jin Family Office... whose family office is that? The na sounds like it might be related to President Tang?"
Her finance knowledge was limited, mainly focused on business English, so she had never heard of it before.
But she did understand the concept of family offices—high-net-worth wealth managent firms dedicated to serving ultra-rich families.
Zhang Lili, knowing Lin Muxue’s background, wasn’t surprised at her lack of knowledge.
She patiently explained, "In the financial world, Tang Jin is a na you can’t avoid.
Not only do they hold equity in our company, but they also own stakes in Smile Holdings, PDD, igou Tech, ByteDance, CATL, NVIDIA, and many other dostic and international firms you might not even recognize.
Their investnt portfolio spans across global assets, covering a wide range of industries.
They are one of the top family offices worldwide—a true financial powerhouse."
"Damn, that’s insane!" Lin Muxue took a deep breath, feeling her heart tremble.
Tang Jin Family Office’s Investnt Committee?
She had never imagined Qin Yingxue’s background was this powerful!
"Of course it’s insane," Zhang Lili nodded. "But this firm has nothing to do with our President Tang.
The reason it’s called Tang Jin is because of its two founders."
"Who are they?"
"Ouyang Xianyue from Tangyi Precision and Jin ixiao from Smile Holdings."
Lin Muxue’s lips twitched, and she instinctively squeezed her thighs together.
"Oh... I get it now."
So the "Tang" in Tang Jin ca from Tangyi Precision, and the "Jin" ca from Jin ixiao.
No wonder it was so damn powerful.
"Of course, this family office doesn’t just manage their wealth—it also has several billionaires as participants.
For example, Kate from Slover Trust and Zheng Qiudong from Deju Renhe, one of our business partners."
"Oh." Lin Muxue numbly nodded.
She had just joined Confluent Capital, thinking she was already crazy impressive—
Only to have an entire wave of big-shot bosses pop up, each overshadowing her existence.
At least they weren’t part of Confluent Capital, so she could still act like a big shot inside the company.
Zhang Lili’s eyes sparkled.
"Luna, as the Executive Assistant, you should have direct contact with Ms. Qin.
She’s not just anyone—she was once Jin ixiao’s assistant and is still her most trusted confidante."
Hearing that, Lin Muxue felt like her soul left her body.
Great. Just great.
She definitely needed to stay low-key—
After all, she was just Tang Song’s assistant, while Qin Yingxue had worked for Jin ixiao!
"I got it," Lin Muxue mumbled. "Kylie, I was placed here by President Tang on short notice, so I don’t know much about the company.
Can you give a detailed overview?"
"Of course." Zhang Lili readily agreed and began explaining.
As a major shareholder, Tang Song personally holds 60% of the company’s shares.
In addition, he also controls CFL Partnership, the employee equity platform, which holds another 10%.
aning, he effectively owns 70% of the company.
This platform structure not only enhances company value but also reduces managent costs and diversifies risk.
Lin Muxue took ntal notes as she nodded along, occasionally asking questions.
Most of these things were far beyond her current level.
But as the Executive Assistant, she needed to understand the company thoroughly—
So she could flex properly when the ti ca.
Chang’an District, ES Fitness Studio
Soft lighting reflected off the polished wooden floor, and the air was filled with the gentle notes of a piano lody.
At the center of the private training area—
Wen Ruan, dressed in sleek gymwear, was focused on her dumbbell shoulder press.
Her arms were toned, her shoulders slightly raised, each movent smooth and powerful.
Her personal trainer stood beside her, reminding her to control her breathing and maintain proper form.
Between sets, Wen Ruan walked over to the lounge area, grabbed a bottle of mineral water, and took a small sip.
"Tap, tap—"
Soft footsteps approached.
"Wen Ruan, your training today is excellent!"
Li Ran, her nutritionist, walked in, dressed in a simple white uniform, holding a printed al plan.
"I just updated your nutrition plan based on your latest body trics. I’d like to go over it with you."
"Sure." Wen Ruan wiped her sweat and casually sat on the plush sofa.
Li Ran flipped open her clipboard, pointing at the data while speaking in a warm and professional tone.
Wen Ruan listened attentively while occasionally checking her phone.
Maintaining a good figure wasn’t easy—especially for soone approaching thirty.
Because of her curvy physique, she had always preferred training during off-peak hours for privacy.
That’s why she loved this private studio—it had a strict appointnt system, ensuring one-on-one service.
Now that she was financially free, Wen Ruan never cut costs on self-care.
Besides her personal gym, she had also invested in luxury beauty treatnts, dietary plans, posture correction, and even ntal wellness services—
Everything had to be top-tier.
These expenses alone cost around 600,000 a year, but for soone like her, who makes over ten million annually, it was practically nothing.
As their conversation wrapped up, Li Ran, her nutritionist, smiled and said, "If you have no objections, I’ll go ahead and customize today’s lunch based on this plan."
"No problem," Wen Ruan nodded casually, then added, "Make an extra portion. I have a colleague coming over later."
"Got it. I’ll start preparing now." Li Ran nodded and quickly left.
12:00 PM
Assistant Zhang Xintong walked briskly into the studio’s dining area.
The mont she saw the exquisite, mouthwatering dishes on the table, her eyes lit up instantly.
"Thank you, President Wen! Good thing I skipped lunch."
"Oh, please," Wen Ruan took a bite of avocado, smirking.
"You rushed over at lunchti just to mooch a al, didn’t you?"
"President Wen, you’ve got laser vision—haha. I’ve gained weight recently, so I wanted to learn a thing or two from you," Zhang Xintong chuckled sheepishly.
Truthfully, it wasn’t just about the free al—she was also trying to strengthen her relationship with her boss.
Ever since Wen Ruan returned from her business trip in Shanghai, she had brought in a five-mber elite assistant team.
From daily life arrangents to schedule managent, HR matters, and strategic planning, everything was handled flawlessly.
This ant Wen Ruan could enjoy late starts, early finishes, gym ti, and skincare treatnts without a care in the world.
Even Zhang Xintong, who was originally her assistant, found herself with barely any work left to do.
This sense of job insecurity made her proactively seek ways to get closer to Wen Ruan, hoping to beco one of her trusted confidantes.
And, of course, she subtly kept Tang Song inford of Wen Ruan’s schedule as well.
Post-Lunch Business Updates
After finishing their healthy gourt al, Zhang Xintong began reporting on so important event invitations.
For example, the Yan Provincial International Fashion Exhibition—since igou Tech, one of their key partners, was one of the hosts, Wen Ruan had no choice but to attend.
Suddenly, a familiar na popped up.
Wen Ruan's expression shifted dramatically.
"Say that again?"
Zhang Xintong blinked in surprise before quickly repeating,
"Qingning Technology is hosting a press conference next month to launch their next-gen AI model and the latest version of their A-search software, Qingmi.
They’ve extended an official invitation through Xingyun International Group."
Wen Ruan’s eyes flickered sharply.
Her gut instinct scread that sothing was off.
According to Su Yu, Liu Qingning was currently working at Qingning Technology—
And she was the one leading the Qingmi project.
So how did she know about ?
It has to be Tang Song!
Then why the hell was he bringing her into this?
Forget it. She’d just ask him directly.
If sothing shady was going on, he wouldn’t get away with it!
At that thought, Wen Ruan suddenly burst into laughter.
If it ca to a fight, she definitely wouldn’t lose.
Even if there were five of them, she could take them all down.
Let’s see if he’d dare to ss around!
"By the way," Wen Ruan asked casually, "Do I have any important etings this afternoon?"
"Yes," Zhang Xintong checked her phone.
"President Xie from Shimr Coffee scheduled a collaboration eting with you this afternoon.
They recently completed their Series A funding and want to renegotiate the partnership agreent with us.
You know how ticulous President Xie is—her standards for marketing are incredibly high."
Wen Ruan rubbed her temples.
"Xie Shuyu..." she muttered, her eyelid twitching.
Damn. She had almost forgotten about her!
And on top of that, Tang Song was also Shimr Coffee’s chief technology officer.
She knew exactly what that bastard was up to.
There was a good chance Tang Song was behind their Series A investnt, too.
And on top of all that, Xie Shuyu also lived in Shengyuan Scenic Residence—
The sa complex Tang Song had arranged for her to move into.
Was he trying to get them to bond?
Was he planning so kind of multiplayer mode?!
Wen Ruan’s face flushed red, her teeth clenched.
She had been so pleased with herself for becoming a director at Xingyun International—
Now, she was starting to regret it.
As a dia group, Xingyun International had a wide range of business partners.
For example, both Qingning Technology and igou Tech were major clients.
Now it was Liu Qingning and Xie Shuyu.
Who knew how many more won would pop up in the future?
And worst of all, she had to keep dealing with them professionally!
Ugh! She should’ve chosen the first option back then—
Living like a carefree bum sounded way more appealing right now.
"Let’s go! Help pick out an outfit at ho!" Wen Ruan suddenly stood up and strode toward the dressing room.
Since she was about to et her ‘rival’, she had to dress to kill.
At the very least, she couldn’t lose in appearance.
Co to think of it, this was her first ti officially eting "the female CEO" in her capacity as President of Light and Shadow dia.
She had to get a photo with Xie Shuyu—
And send it straight to Tang Song.
Let’s see how that bastard reacts!
10 Minutes Later
"Vroom—"
A black Audi RS6 roared out of the underground parking lot and rged into the city’s busy traffic.
2:00 PM - President’s Office
"Ring, ring—"
The phone suddenly rang.
[Zhen Yu]
Wen Ruan’s heart stirred, and she answered imdiately.
"Hello, Zhen Yu."
"Good afternoon, Ms. Wen," Zhen Yu’s voice was warm and professional.
"The preliminary negotiations for the Yanbei Printing Factory acquisition are complete.
The only remaining issue is debt resolution terms.
Once you finalize the deal, we will provide the factory with a batch of long-term contracts to help them recover.
I’ve sent all the details to your email—please review them when you have ti."
"Got it. Thank you."
"Of course. I won’t take up more of your ti—contact anyti if you have questions."
"Will do. Goodbye."
After hanging up, Wen Ruan opened her email, downloaded the attachnts, and skimd through the acquisition agreent and operational plan.
She let out a long breath, her body finally relaxing.
At the end of the day, she was a sentintal person.
This printing factory wasn’t just a business deal—
It held cherished mories of her family and provided livelihoods for many relatives and friends.
With this acquisition, her family’s status would rise dramatically, and she could finally settle into a peaceful life.
After a mont’s thought, she sent a thank-you ssage to Su Yu on WeChat.
Acquiring a near-bankrupt printing factory was no easy feat.
Even with Su Yu’s professional acquisition team, it had taken almost two months to complete.
Just as she was about to take another look at the docunts—
"Knock, knock—"
A knock on the door interrupted her.
Zhang Xintong walked in.
"President Wen, President Xie from Shimr Coffee has arrived in the guest lounge."
"Alright, I got it."
Wen Ruan stood up, adjusted her outfit slightly, and walked out.
She took half a lap around the hallway before pushing open the conference room door.
The mont she entered, her gaze locked onto Xie Shuyu.
A sleek yet professional outfit, exuding elegance and confidence.
Sharp, striking features, flawless porcelain skin, and a tall, sultry figure.
At the sound of the door opening, Xie Shuyu uncrossed her legs, turned her head, and flashed a radiant smile.
She stood up proactively and greeted, "Wen Ruan."
Eyes t.
Wen Ruan couldn't help but internally marvel once again at Xie Shuyu’s beauty and aura.
Though they were both around thirty and CEOs of their respective companies, Xie Shuyu's presence felt even more commanding.
Her eyes were sharp, intense, exuding the energy of a powerful, ambitious woman.
No wonder Tang Song had specifically gone over to work part-ti for her.
"President Xie, long ti no see."
Wen Ruan stepped forward and shook hands with her.
Xie Shuyu’s voice was gentle yet firm.
"I’ve always wanted to et you, but you’re quite the busy woman these days. It’s not easy to get a hold of you.
To be honest, when I first heard you had beco President of Light and Shadow dia, I was shocked.
But I’m glad we’ve always had a good relationship. Having a friend like you as President makes even more confident about working with Light and Shadow dia."
Wen Ruan’s eyes glead as she let out a small smile.
"President Xie is absolutely right—we’ve always been good friends, and we’ll definitely be seeing a lot more of each other in the future."
Xie Shuyu ignored the playful undertone in her words. Newest update provided by novel{f}ire
Instead, she actually seed pleased with the friendliness.
After so cordial small talk, they took their seats opposite each other in the lounge.
Wen Ruan, acting nonchalant, casually asked,
"I heard Shimr Coffee recently completed its Series A round.
President Xie, would you mind sharing who your investor is?"
Xie Shuyu crossed her legs slightly, her smile graceful.
"You’ve actually t him before—over at Shimr Coffee."
"Oh? Who?"
"Tang Song—our company’s external tech consultant."
She added lightly,
"You might rember him from the ti we all had that mini-program campaign eting together."
At that mont, Zhang Xintong froze, her entire body tensing up, face filled with shock.
anwhile, Wen Ruan’s smile grew even brighter.
With a aningful glint in her eyes, she replied,
"Of course, I rember.
What President Xie may not know is that Tang Song and I have always kept in touch… and we have a very good relationship."
Xie Shuyu’s expression stiffened slightly.
She was sharp—she imdiately sensed sothing off.
Tang Song had never ntioned this to her before.
And now, looking at Wen Ruan, she took a more detailed look.
A stunning, curvaceous figure, radiant skin, and an effortlessly sensual charm.
From a man’s perspective, she was irresistibly attractive.
And Tang Song frequently interacted with her?
And they had a "very good relationship"?
For a split second, Xie Shuyu’s gaze toward Wen Ruan subtly shifted.
But her first reaction wasn’t anger—it was excitent.
If Tang Song and Wen Ruan had a good relationship, that ant Shimr Coffee could potentially gain stronger support from Light and Shadow dia—
And even backing from Xingyun International Group.
For Shimr Coffee, which was about to embark on brand expansion, this was an unbelievable advantage.
Of course, after the excitent, there was also a slight sense of discomfort.
anwhile, Zhang Xintong sat there, glancing back and forth between the two.
The tension in the air was palpable.
Not wanting to witness an all-out battlefield, she quickly pulled out her phone.
She opened Tang Song’s chat and frantically typed a ssage—
"Sh*t just hit the fan! Wen Ruan and Xie Shuyu are about to go at it!!"
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