Chapter 459: The three of them together?

Under the brilliant lights, their two hands held each other gently.

Then came a brief silence.

A trace of indescribable tension filled the air, as if even the surrounding noise had been isolated.

Liu Liu Qingning took a light breath, suppressing the restlessness in her heart.

No matter how rational she was, facing Tang Song's girlfriend, she couldn't remain calm.

Liu Liu Qingning's gaze lingered on Wen Wen Ruan's face for a moment, then she showed a faint smile: "The dinner will start in a few minutes; let's chat with others first."

Wen Wen Ruan nodded, her tone gentle: "Alright, it just so happens I also want to get to know more friends in the technology industry."

Following that, the two walked side by side into the crowd.

Although Liu Qingning Technology was not an old-fashioned tech giant like Alibaba, Baidu, or Tencent, it was backed by Smile Holdings and many top investment institutions, possessing sufficient funds and talent, and had caused a huge stir domestically and internationally in the last two years.

It had also become a unicorn company in the domestic AI field today, and apart from the top giants, it was the most watched AI

technology enterprise.

Especially the new generation large model (LLM) to be released tomorrow, which the industry valued highly.

Although there were not many guests present today, they covered top executives from top enterprises in finance, manufacturing, medical, education, and other industries, as well as heads of domestic top media.

As a director of Nebula International Group, Wen Wen Ruan was not a small figure among them, plus her outstanding appearance and temperament.

After contacting a few small circles, news about her identity naturally spread.

Soon, other members of the 3 group chats she had been pulled into earlier began to come forward to socialize one after another.

"Hello Director Wen, I am Zhu Wenshan from CICC Wealth. We are all in the 【PE/VC Investment Elite】 group chat; I wonder if you have any impression."

"Hello Director Zhu, very happy to meet you."

"Director Wen, I am Zhao Zhuoya from Huanfang Media; we have chatted in the group."

"Hello Director Wen, I am Chen Shi from 'First Financial Daily'; this is my business card."

After a round of pleasantries and socializing.

Liu Liu Qingning turned slightly and said in a low voice: "Wen Wen Ruan, shall we go over there and chat alone? There are some details about cooperation I want to hear your opinion on."

Hearing her words, Wen Wen Ruan's heart moved slightly, knowing the real business had arrived.

She nodded gently and walked to follow her.

The rest area on one side of the banquet hall.

The two sat down on the soft sofa, and outside the floor-to-ceiling window beside them was the brilliant night view of Shenzhen.

The lights reflected on the glass, stretching their figures long.

Liu Liu Qingning looked at her and said softly: "You are not quite the same as I imagined."

"Oh?" Wen Wen Ruan said with some curiosity: "I want to know what kind of person you thought I was before."

Liu Liu Qingning lowered her gaze for a moment, then raised her head and said: "I actually mean your attitude; you seem to have no hostility toward me, and even protected me and blocked wine for me at the dinner."

In all fairness, if it were her.

As Tang Song's girlfriend, facing a woman with a deep relationship with him, she absolutely couldn't remain calm, let alone be friendly.

Wen Wen Ruan smiled, looking at her fresh and cute face, and said warmly: "Believe it or not, I actually quite like you, whether it's your appearance or your personality and temper, I like them very much."

"Uh—" Liu Liu Qingning froze, her expression somewhat wrong.

Wen Wen Ruan's eye twitched, and she said awkwardly: "Don't misunderstand, I have no problems with my sexual orientation; I am referring to subjective feelings. Of course, this has a lot to do with the story you told me on WeChat."

Speaking of this, she couldn't help but sigh, "I really envy you; the ambiguity, friendship, and distance of young men and women are truly the most wonderful taste in the world."

"I told you those things because I hope you don't blame me." Liu Liu Qingning's voice was a bit low, "I can't let him go, and I can't bear to let him go."

Knowing each other since childhood, the chance encounter in junior high, the liking in high school, and the joint efforts in college and after graduation.

She had long since placed Tang Song into the plan of her future life.

Wen Wen Ruan deliberated on her words and said: "I understand the feelings between you two, otherwise I wouldn't have appeared here today."

Liu Liu Qingning said seriously: "Thank you."

Wen Wen Ruan took a light sip of red wine, her gaze gentle yet carrying a trace of deep meaning: "Then can you accept Tang Song's current situation?"

She knew that the women around this dog of a man were not just one or two.

Xie Xie Shu Yu, Xu Qing, Lin Empress Mu Xue, Yao Yao Lingling, Su Yu—she knew 5 or 6 of them herself, and she was just the unlucky one pushed out to take the blame.

Liu Liu Qingning pursed her lips tightly and said in a low voice: "I don't know. At least for now, I still can't accept it; this is also the reason why I haven't gone to Yancheng to see him for so long."

Just like she had never thought about getting married and having children with another man in her future.

She was afraid of seeing the bits and pieces of his life with another woman, afraid of seeing them being affectionate.

For her, this was something she couldn't accept.

Looking at Liu Liu Qingning's pitiful appearance, Wen Wen Ruan cursed "scumbag Tang Song" in her heart, changed the subject and said: "I remember you were a student in the class of '16 at the Imperial Capital University, graduating in '20."

"Mm, yes."

"I entered the Imperial Capital Normal University in '11, and after graduating in '15, I worked in the Imperial Capital for 5 years, returning to Yancheng in '20—"

Following that, Wen Wen Ruan roughly talked about things since her college and work days.

Both were from top schools in the Imperial Capital and had stayed there for many years, so naturally, they had many topics to discuss.

After all, Wen Wen Ruan was a mature woman of 30, and she was well-informed, had contacted many people, and knew how to grasp the measure of her words.

The atmosphere between the two gradually became gentle, occasionally clinking glasses lightly.

The lights were soft, and the music was melodious.

The reception dinner didn't last long, and because the press conference was tomorrow morning, everyone didn't drink too much.

The people in the banquet hall gradually became sparse, with only a few scattered groups of guests still chatting in low voices.

After seeing off a few important guests, Liu Liu Qingning returned to the rest area.

Looking at Wen Wen Ruan, who was overlooking the night view, she suddenly asked: "Wen Wen Ruan, what kind of person do you think Tang Song is?"

Wen Wen Ruan turned back, thought for a moment, and a happy smile rose at the corners of her mouth, "For me, he is a nearly perfect person: handsome, smart, self-disciplined, gentle, reliable—"

She listed more than ten advantages in one breath, her eyes shining with brilliant light.

Liu Liu Qingning's voice was slightly dry: "You love him very much?"

"Of course, this is beyond doubt!"

"What if he goes bankrupt and becomes penniless?"

Wen Wen Ruan looked directly into her eyes and said somewhat emotionally: "I know what you are worried about, but I can tell you clearly that I still love him. In fact, when I fell in love with him, I didn't know he had so much money."

Liu Liu Qingning bit her lip and asked seriously: "Then why can you accept that he still has someone else in his heart?"

She invited Wen Wen Ruan over this time to see with her own eyes what kind of person the other party was.

After the chat and contact just now.

She had basically been able to determine that the other party's quality, character, and talent were very outstanding in all aspects.

She was only trying to suppress her own values because of the foundation of so many years of feelings with Tang Song, letting herself try to understand him, know him, and accept him.

But Wen Wen Ruan was different.

Love is selfish; why could such an excellent woman endure Tang Song's philandering?

This was the place she couldn't understand the most.

Hearing Liu Liu Qingning's words, past memories rushed in again.

Wen Wen Ruan took a deep breath, her voice low: "I am almost 30 years old; before choosing to be with him, I knew that it was impossible for me to walk into the marriage hall with him."

Since I was a child, I wanted to be a bride, wanted to wear a wedding dress, hold flowers, receive the blessings of my family, and have a happy family.

I went through a lot of struggle, tried to escape, tried to retreat.

But I found that I really couldn't leave him, and even more couldn't accept a future without him."

Tears slid down from the corners of her eyes unknowingly.

Wen Wen Ruan wiped her tears, her expression stubborn: "So even if it means being a mistress, even if it means falling out with my family, I have no regrets!"

"Mis—mistress?" Liu Liu Qingning's eye twitched, and she said incredulously: "You mean—"

Wen Wen Ruan said seriously and firmly: "Yes, I have never thought about monopolizing him; as long as it is him, I am willing to accept it."

When she first chose to be with Tang Song, she didn't know she would get so much.

At that time, she had truly made up her mind to be his little mistress.

Even if he didn't give her any material security, she would still be "loyal to the end."

She had even prepared for the day when his wife would come to the door to "catch them in the act."

She didn't feel there was any flaw in her feelings for Tang Song.

Facing Liu Liu Qingning, Wen Wen Ruan's mentality was completely leveled, and she frankly stated her true thoughts.

Liu Liu Qingning's breathing gradually became rapid, her head lowered, looking blankly at the ground, a trace of shock and complexity flashing in her eyes.

Wen Wen Ruan suddenly raised her wine glass, "Chatting with you so much tonight, we can be considered friends. Liu Qingning, I toast you."

Liu Liu Qingning raised her head, her gaze somewhat dazed, but she still subconsciously clinked glasses with Wen Wen Ruan.

The crisp sound of the wine glasses colliding was exceptionally clear in the quiet rest area.

The cool wine slid into her throat, and Liu Liu Qingning's heart was in a mess.

The lights in the banquet hall gradually dimmed.

At the time of parting, Liu Liu Qingning took the initiative to open her arms, gently hugged Wen Wen Ruan, and said: "Thank you."

Wen Wen Ruan hesitated slightly, then returned a gentle hug.

After the two separated, Liu Liu Qingning turned and walked out of the hotel with big strides.

The night wind was cool, blowing her hair apart, as if also trying to blow away the confusion in her heart.

Liu Liu Qingning didn't go directly back to the house at Shenzhen Bay T5, but walked aimlessly alone.

She knew that avoidance couldn't solve the problem.

She told their story on WeChat, invited Wen Wen Ruan to meet, and talked openly with her.

It was also to try to find a way to solve the 3-person relationship.

She had had many assumptions.

But she had never thought that Wen Wen Ruan could actually do this for Tang Song.

The night in Shenzhen was still bustling, but her heart felt like it was shrouded in a layer of thin mist.

After a long time, when she came back to her senses, she found that she had already sat in the elevator of T5.

The elevator door opened slowly.

Liu Liu Qingning pulled open the door and walked into the spacious and bright large open-plan apartment.

Hearing the movement, the nanny, Aunt Mei, walked out quickly, her face carrying concern: "Miss Liu Qingning, do you need me to prepare some food for you?"

Liu Liu Qingning shook her head, her tone gentle but carrying a trace of fatigue: "No need, Aunt Mei, I have already eaten."

Aunt Mei nodded and said in a low voice: "Then rest early; if you need anything, call me anytime."

"Okay, thank you, Aunt Mei." Liu Liu Qingning forced a smile and walked toward the master bedroom.

Sitting on the bed, her gaze fell on the photo frame on the bedside table; the photo was a group photo of her and Tang Song in high school.

Looking at that green face, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but start to rise.

After a while.

Liu Liu Qingning took out her phone and dialed a number: "Hello, Assistant Chen, sorry to bother you so late. Please help me book two tickets, from Shenzhen to Yancheng tomorrow at 5 PM, returning Sunday afternoon."

"Mm, confirmed for tomorrow."

"Okay, thank you."

After hanging up, Liu Liu Qingning held her knees with both hands, her long eyelashes fluttering.

"Since you returned to Yancheng, I have always said I would go to see if you were doing well, but I always broke my promise. If I had gone to see you earlier, maybe everything would be different."

She muttered a few words to herself and tucked her face between her legs.

Beicheng Garden Residential Area.

The door was gently pulled open, and Shen Shen Yu Yan walked in, exhaling a breath carrying the smell of alcohol.

Changing into slippers, she came to the living room, and her gaze paused slightly.

Beside the sofa in the living room, Xu Qing was sitting on the carpet, surrounded by all kinds of snacks, fruits, and drinks.

The TV was playing the "Crayon Shin-chan" theatrical version.

Xu Qing was eating and drinking while laughing loudly, looking as comfortable as a carefree child.

Shen Shen Yu Yan said irritably: "Are you completely letting yourself go? Aren't you afraid of getting fat?"

Hearing her best friend's voice, Xu Qing put on a proud look and said calmly: "Do you know I am about to be an Aston Martin DB11 owner? Call me Queen!"

"Big silly Qing, big silly Qing, big silly Qing." Shen Shen Yu Yan repeated deliberately, her tone carrying teasing.

"Hey hey hey, you scheming Yan!" Xu Qing instantly broke her defense, her face red and neck thick as she bickered with her best friend.

Shen Shen Yu Yan threw her bag aside and slumped lazily on the sofa, "Pour me a glass of water."

"Who cares about you! Go get it yourself!"

Shen Shen Yu Yan looked at her, her tone softening a bit: "I drank a lot of alcohol today, I'm dizzy."

Xu Qing muttered, but still stood up obediently and poured her a glass of warm water.

Seeing Shen Shen Yu Yan drink a large glass "gulp gulp," Xu Qing pinched her thigh, her tone carrying reproach: "I've told you so many times, drink less alcohol, but you just won't listen."

"This situation is special; I was entertaining the person in charge of the procurement department of Xucheng Property, which is the biggest client we have ever contacted. If the cooperation can proceed smoothly, our gambling agreement with Gongying Technology can be completed."

Xu Qing instantly perked up: "Then how is the situation now?"

Shen Shen Yu Yan said with emotion: "Very optimistic, the other party's willingness to cooperate is very strong."

"That's great! With the second investment of 3 million, Youjie Housekeeping can continue to expand! Everything will return to the right track."

Shen Shen Yu Yan nodded and suddenly said: "Sister Qingqing, let Tang Song come to Beicheng Garden tomorrow."

Xu Qing shook her head shyly: "No way, otherwise I'll have to be eavesdropped on by you again."

After Tang Song spanked her last time, her best friend had been using this to mock her.

Making her, Miss Xu Qing, lose all face!

"I'm not eavesdropping; the house is only 90 square meters, you guys make such a big noise, how could I not hear it?"

"Then you must have heard me calling you, why didn't you come to save me, hmph! Next time I'll have Tang Song grab you too!"

"What? Grab me and spank me with you? Do you want me to use a small whip?"

"Ah, you bad guy! Damn it!" Xu Qing instantly entered a red-hot state, pouncing with claws and teeth.

(>Blood