Chapter 658: For You!

The message was very simple, only a short 6 characters.

Yet it caused ripples to spread in the teacup in Ouyang Xianyue's hand.

Her mother opposite immediately noticed her drastic emotional change and asked with concern: "Xiaoxiong, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Ouyang Xianyue shook her head gently, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, "Someone—very important, is back."

Hearing her daughter's words, looking at the soft expression on her face.

Her mother seemed to understand something, her eyes flickered, and she tentatively asked: "Is it that—Tang Song?"

"Mm." Ouyang Xianyue nodded, "And, he is coming to Rongcheng at the end of the month to accompany me to visit grandfather."

"This—" Her mother's eyes widened slightly, "He is coming to the house? Oh my, I must prepare immediately!

Do I need to tidy up the east wing room? The one next to yours, it has a good orientation and is quiet—"

Her tone was full of uncontrollable joy and anticipation.

Ouyang Xianyue was stunned upon hearing this, then laughed and shook her head: "Mom, you're overthinking it; that's not what I meant. It's mainly because grandfather has always been thinking of him and wants to see him one more time before he passes. You also know that he is considered the young man grandfather has appreciated the most in all these years."

"Ah?" A hint of disappointment appeared on her mother's face, then she cautiously said: "Xiaoxiong, actually it's not just your grandfather; your father and I—also appreciate him very much. We all feel that this young man, whether in terms of pattern, ability, or character, is truly remarkable. We are also very relieved that you can have such a—good friend."

"Hehe." Ouyang Xianyue was amused, "You guys really can let your imaginations run wild. I am already 36 years old this year, and he is only 26

years old; do you think it's possible? And, the relationship between us is not what you think."

As she spoke, she tapped the screen with her fingertip and replied earnestly and solemnly: "Long time no see, Tang Song."

After sending the message, she let out a light breath.

Even though she had already received a clear answer from Wen Ruan, the feeling of this direct contact from him personally was completely different.

She gently put down the teacup in her hand and picked up her phone.

Her fingertips slid slowly across the cold screen.

The previous message was still stuck at about a year ago, which was before Christmas 2022.

At that time, she was entrusted by Su Yu to send a message to Tang Song, asking if he would go to Shanghai for Su Yu's birthday.

However, that message sank like a stone in the ocean and did not receive any reply.

Just as he said when he left, he wanted to do it even more resolutely than she imagined.

Speaking of which, she herself hadn't seen Tang Song for a year either.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz—"

The phone vibrated.

【Tang Song: "I'll arrive in Rongcheng tomorrow afternoon, come pick me up?"】

Seeing this message, Ouyang Xianyue couldn't help but smile, and she typed quickly: "Of course, as you wish."

Her mother took a light sip of tea, watching her expressions and movements, her eyes showing contemplation.

Their family only started to learn of the existence of the name "Tang Song" five years ago.

At that time, 【Tang Yi Precision】 had already completed its most critical round of financing and technological innovation, and even aggressively acquired a German optical lens company.

It also captured the core foundry business of three well-known overseas technology companies in one fell swoop.

It became the "dark horse" with the most momentum in the domestic technology manufacturing industry.

When they learned from their daughter Ouyang Xianyue that there was actually a mysterious young man behind all this, they were naturally extremely shocked.

However, after using the family's power to conduct the deepest background investigation on Tang Song, they put down their worries.

Tang Song's background was extremely clean, clean to the point of being almost unbelievable.

From his ancestors three generations back to himself, all information was clearly verifiable.

He was just a young man from an ordinary rural family in Yan Province without any special background.

Yet it was such a seemingly inconspicuous young man who could stir up bloody storms in the unpredictable domestic and foreign financial markets.

He single-handedly created 【Tang Yi Precision】, 【Smile Investment】 (the predecessor of Smile Holdings), and 【Jingwu Capital】, these enterprises that became famous later on.

More importantly, this young man was extremely important to her daughter, who had always been high-minded.

Important to the point that Ouyang Xianyue, in order to ensure his absolute safety in the country, did not hesitate to use all the connections and sentiments of the Ouyang family and her late husband's family.

At the same time, this was also the only male Ouyang Xianyue had been close to for so many years.

As a mother, she inevitably had some expectations.

After pondering for a moment, she couldn't help but ask the question that had been lingering in her heart for a long time: "Xiaoxiong, then—what is your relationship now?"

Ouyang Xianyue was stunned and was just about to say something.

But she suddenly stopped.

Her fair fingers swept lightly across the cold phone screen unconsciously, her gaze slightly lost.

What relationship?

She really hadn't considered this question seriously.

★￠O

Call it elder and junior? That's nonsense. Tang Song, in front of her, although respectful, had never shown a trace of awe. The two got along with him as the main one.

Call it friends, but it seems to be far more than that.

Perhaps—it can be called soulmates?

This word made even her feel a bit pretentious.

Her thoughts drifted back to nine years ago involuntarily.

That year, she was less than 27 years old, just newly married, when her husband passed away due to an accident.

In order to avoid those complicated and suffocating disputes within the family, and also to find an outlet for herself to devote her whole heart to.

She took the initiative to take over the mess her husband left behind—【New Kaihang】.

That was a precision instrument company that was once brilliant but now heavily in debt.

Due to backward technology, broken capital chains, and intensified market competition, 【New Kaihang】 was on the verge of bankruptcy and was once her husband's biggest heart disease.

Although the affection between the two was not deep, as a wife, she still hoped to fulfill her husband's last wish.

But even though she tried her best and mobilized all her resources to rescue it, problems like factory shutdowns, employee riots, and sharp declines in customer orders still surged in like a tide.

For two full years, it almost forced her into a dead end.

At that time, she was like a string pulled to the limit, about to snap.

And it was under such circumstances that Tang Song appeared before her.

That young man, only 19 years old, had clear and clean eyes, yet carried a profound wisdom and calmness completely inconsistent with his age.

Upon first meeting, he gave her an indescribable sense of closeness, as if he were an old friend she had been separated from for many years.

Under his support and guidance, she pulled herself out of the abyss step by step.

And she personally forged the broken "New Kaihang" into the huge and awe-inspiring "Tang Yi Precision" technology empire it is today.

They had too many stories between them.

Now, she is already 36 years old.

Seven years have passed, looking back, it seems to be in a flash.

The Tang Song of the past was always indifferent, lacking the warmth of emotion.

Actually, in her heart, she very much hoped to have a frank exchange with this "confidant."

For example, about Jin Meixiao, about Annie Kate, about his future, true plans.

Remind him to guard against certain people.

She had too many doubts and worries.

All these years, she had wanted to bring them up countless times, but Tang Song when getting along with her was too "aloof," too "self-centered," and too "inviolable."

And Jin Meixiao herself was the person closest to him, much closer than her.

Many words, she couldn't say.

And now, the "tempered" him seems to have undergone earth-shaking changes.

Will the relationship between them change?

Ouyang Xianyue ultimately didn't answer her mother's question.

She put down the teacup, stood up, and walked slowly into the courtyard alone.

In November in Rongcheng, the summer heat was long gone.

The air carried a trace of sweetness and coolness remaining after the osmanthus flowers burned out.

In the courtyard, the leaves of that century-old ginkgo tree had turned completely yellow, like a huge golden canopy spread open.

She vaguely remembered that the Ouyang Xiaoxiong of that year used to tirelessly circle around this big tree, picking up ginkgo leaves.

She looked up at the sky, where clouds rolled and relaxed, high and clear.

Between the interlacing light and shadow, it seemed to gradually weave into a high-spirited, brilliant figure.

At 19, he was destined to amaze her entire remaining life from the beginning.

"Tang Song, you don't know how much I look forward to meeting you tomorrow, the brand-new you."

Night deepened.

In a high-rise apartment in Qingyang District.

The lights were bright, and the atmosphere was warm.

On the large white sofa in the living room, Xie Shu Yu leaned lazily, barefoot with a pair of glistening white beautiful feet, her posture casual and relaxed.

She was wearing a simple white silk shirt dress, and a pair of straight, slender supermodel legs were particularly eye-catching.

Under the cool-toned lights, they shone with a delicate and warm luster like ivory.

She was also holding a cartoon pillow of Chibi Maruko-chan, forming a wonderful contrast with her mature and sexy temperament at this moment.

In fact, born in '91, she was once an animation fan too.

Especially liked "Chibi Maruko-chan" and "Inuyasha."

On this point, Meng Ran and she had many common topics.

The two once promised that when they made money, they would go to Shizuoka City in Japan together.

To visit the prototype school of Chibi Maruko-chan.

But now, they no longer had the original state of mind and mood.

Meng Ran held a bottle of cocktail and sat opposite Xie Shu Yu.

That face, which always carried a bit of capability and decisiveness, was full of fan-like worship and yearning.

"—Really, Xiaoyu, I sincerely feel that Ms. Ouyang is the true idol for all female entrepreneurs of our era."

"She not only made 【Tang Yi Precision】 top-tier globally by her own strength but also made a huge contribution to our country's sci-tech innovation industry—"

Xie Shu Yu listened quietly, occasionally smiling and echoing.

She knew that her long-time friend had always regarded Ouyang Xianyue as her ultimate idol.

Even her hairstyle was deliberately imitating the classic short-to-medium hair style Ouyang once had.

Such a woman was indeed worthy of everyone's respect.

Of course, if they had to compare, Xie Shu Yu actually admired that Jin Dongshi more in her heart.

After all, Ms. Ouyang's family background was too prominent; for example, her uncle was the current big leader of Sichuan Province.

On her road to success, there was certainly her own effort and talent, but she must have also received the protection and support of the family.

Jin Dongshi, on the other hand, was more legendary, younger, and even more awe-inspiring.

She seemed to be truly self-made, and with her own strength alone, she created the huge and mysterious empire of 【Smile Holdings】 in just a few years.

Just at this moment.

"Ding-a-ling—" Xie Shu Yu's phone on the coffee table rang suddenly.

【Zhao Ying】

Meng Ran stopped talking immediately, her body leaned forward slightly, and her eyes became focused as she lowered her voice and asked: "Is it that Deputy Secretary-General of the Catering Association?"

"Mm." Xie Shu Yu responded, answered the phone, and pressed the speakerphone.

An enthusiastic middle-aged woman's voice came from the speaker: "Oh my, Mr. Xie! I didn't disturb your rest, did I?"

Xie Shu Yu said in a gentle tone: "Secretary-General Zhao is too polite, you can find me anytime."

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhao Ying finally cut to the chase, her tone becoming "official."

"It's like this, Mr. Xie. Our association recently received feedback from several member units, saying that several new stores of our 【Glimmer Coffee】 have fire and food safety permits that seem to be still in the process? So I want to confirm with you, do you need the association to come forward and help coordinate?"

Xie Shu Yu's expression didn't change, and she still responded with a smile: "Thank you for your concern, Secretary-General Zhao. Our 【Glimmer Coffee】

has always been operating legally and compliantly, and all store licenses are being processed in sync according to the strictest standards. However, since the association is so concerned, I will have my legal colleagues send you the relevant progress documents for your records later."

They chatted for a few more sentences.

After hanging up the phone.

Xie Shu Yu sighed helplessly and rubbed her sore brow.

This wasn't the first one.

Just an hour ago, a sales manager from New Hope Dairy, whom 【Glimmer Coffee】 had contacted before, also contacted her personally, hinting about Zhongshu Group and Coffee Time, his words full of implications.

【Zhongshu Group】's influence was like an invisible web, having long permeated every corner of this region.

And Chen Hao was using this web to exert pressure on her.

Meng Ran's expression also became serious.

"Xiaoyu, it seems now that if you want 【Glimmer Coffee】 to develop smoothly in the Southwest region, relying only on your own strength is probably very difficult.

If you don't want to be stirred up by Zhongshu Group, you must introduce a stronger capital party, a capital that possesses a complete ecosystem and absolute strength and can cover for you.

Otherwise, as Glimmer grows bigger in the future, there will still be all kinds of trouble coming to your door."

Xie Shu Yu nodded.

This situation was actually very common in business, which was why many companies that were clearly not short of money and had healthy cash flow still actively accepted financing.

Often, it was even introducing multiple investment institutions with different backgrounds at the same time.

This was not just for money, but also to introduce the resources, connections, and "protective umbrellas" behind the shareholders.

Forming a community of interests to jointly resist external risks.

The two exchanged ideas for a while.

Meng Ran looked at her and suddenly asked: "What about that mysterious boyfriend of yours? When is he coming?"

"The specific time isn't certain yet, but he will definitely arrive before the 2nd."

"I think you should have a good talk with him this time. This is no small matter," Meng Ran's tone became serious, "He can take out 40 million in cash at once to support you; he must have a background, right?"

Xie Shu Yu shook her head, "I have never asked about this topic."

She was an extremely independent person and also enjoyed the mode of getting along where both had independent space.

She had never actively explored Tang Song's privacy, such as his true assets.

"You're really something." Meng Ran shrugged helplessly, then seemed to think of something and asked tentatively: "Hey, by the way, where is your boyfriend planning to stay when he comes to Rongcheng this time?"

"Probably a hotel."

"Why don't—let him stay here for a night? Just in the same room as you." Meng Ran's eyes rolled, "We've been good sisters for so many years, I really want to meet him formally, and by the way, help you understand him."

She was actually very tempted by the C00 invitation in Xie Shu Yu's mouth, but her biggest concern was 【Glimmer Coffee】's

current instability.

So, she hoped to meet this mysterious "Tang Song" in person, preferably to seriously evaluate his true strength.

In case she really changed jobs in the future, this could be considered her behind-the-scenes boss.

Hearing her friend's proposal, Xie Shu Yu's cheeks turned red instantly, and she hesitated.

Meng Ran looked at her appearance, as if she had discovered some earth-shattering secret: "No way?! No way, Xiaoyu! You guys wouldn't—haven't slept together yet, have you?!"

The corner of Xie Shu Yu's eye twitched, and she picked up her wine glass, trying to hide her embarrassment, "—Is this important?"

"Of course it's important!" Meng Ran's voice went up an octave, full of disbelief, "Didn't you say you've been together for several months? You're such a gorgeous beauty, and he can actually hold back? Could it be that there's some hidden illness in his body?"

"Go away! Don't talk nonsense!" Xie Shu Yu patted her lightly on the back, "We just don't have time."

"Tsk tsk, my god! I really want to see this Tang Song now, this is simply a god-like man!" Meng Ran sighed for a long time.

Then she said excitedly: "My dear Xiaoyu, that's your boyfriend! You two haven't had a serious conversation for a day, and you don't sleep together when you go on business trips to other places; do you think this is normal?"

Xie Shu Yu's expression paused slightly.

What Meng Ran said indeed made sense.

The relationship between her and Tang Song was indeed too unlike a normal couple.

Not to mention anything else, coming to Rongcheng together, under normal circumstances, they would definitely stay together.

Thinking of this, although she didn't have much change on the surface, her heart had already started to beat wildly.

"Then—when he arrives, I'll ask him what he thinks."

Just at this moment.

Xie Shu Yu's phone rang again.

【Inspiration Design - Cheng Qiuqiu】

"I'll go answer the phone."

Xie Shu Yu greeted Meng Ran and picked up her phone.

While walking toward the bedroom, she answered the phone.

"Hello? Qiuqiu."

"Mm, convenient, what's the matter, tell me."

"Lawyer? Did you encounter any problems?"

"Uh—okay, I'll help you find someone first, and I'll push the contact information to you later."

Rongcheng Second People's Hospital.

At the end of the hallway of the inpatient department on the sixth floor.

Outside the window was the pitch-black night sky and the chaotic, interlaced lights of the roofs below the city.

Qiuqiu stood by the window, holding the somewhat hot phone, her lips dry.

Taking a deep breath, she clicked on the phone number Xie Shu Yu sent, and dialed it.

"Hello? Is this Lawyer Wang? Hello, I am Cheng Qiuqiu, introduced by Mr. Xie Shu Yu. It's like this, two and a half years ago, my mother bought an 87-square-meter two-bedroom apartment in full at 'Harmony Residence' in Tianfu New Area—"

She narrated the entire process of her mother buying the house, the building project becoming unfinished, and being injured while defending her rights as calmly and objectively as possible.

Then, she pressed the receiver tightly against her ear.

Quietly listening to the lawyer's professional reply, occasionally answering a few questions with "Mm," "Yes," "Right."

As an unfinished building project this year, Lawyer Wang obviously knew about the situation of Harmony Residence, and the communication was very smooth. Ten minutes later, she hung up the phone silently.

She didn't return to the ward, just walked to the plastic rest chair in the hallway and sat down slowly.

Her mother's condition had basically stabilized, and she could have been discharged this afternoon.

But that woman was lying on the hospital bed, stubbornly and like a shrew, refusing to be discharged.

Yelling that it was the developer's security guards who beat her, they must pay, and they must return the house payment in full.

Qiuqiu really had no way to deal with this mother, and she was also afraid that she would do something irreparable again.

So, she had to bite the bullet and ask Mr. Xie for help, hoping to find hope for a solution from a legal perspective.

The result was cruel.

First, regarding personal injury compensation.

At that kind of chaotic mass rights-defending scene, gathering evidence was extremely difficult.

The best result would likely just be the other party paying 10,000 or 20,000 in medical expenses and lost wages out of "humanitarianism."

Secondly, and most fatally, regarding that unfinished house.

Even if they spent time and money to sue and won the lawsuit, and the court ordered the developer to return the money.

But the developer had no money, and they would ultimately only get a "legal blank check" that had no meaning, and forced execution would be useless.

The worst—and most likely—result was.

Once the developer really went bankrupt, the liquidation order would make things even more chaotic—

By then, let alone getting the money back, because of property disputes, that house might no longer belong to them legally.

She just sat there in the hallway for a long time.

A shout suddenly came from her ear: "Qiuqiu."

Qiuqiu looked up and saw her mother walking out of the ward.

Li Meihua's eyes, which were always shrewd and sharp, were now exceptionally turbid and full of bloodshot eyes.

She came to the seat and sat down heavily beside Qiuqiu.

"Did you ask that lawyer kid? Can we—can we still get the money for that house back?"

"We can't get it back."

Qiuqiu pursed her dry lips, as if stating a fact unrelated to herself.

Hearing these five crisp and neat words, Li Meihua was stunned for a moment.

Immediately, large, turbid tears surged uncontrollably from her eye sockets.

She slapped the wall violently, "Damn those ancestors! Those thousand-knife beasts! Turtle sons! Get hit by a car when you go out! Take all the money you ate and buy medicine! Buy a coffin!"

She used the most vicious dialect to curse that heaven-killing developer.

As she cursed, her tears flowed more and more.

Her voice also changed from anger to sobbing.

The surrounding patients' families and nurses looked over one after another.

Their gazes were either sympathetic, impatient, or disdainful.

Qiuqiu subconsciously shrank her neck, her body trembling slightly from shame and embarrassment.

Li Meihua didn't notice at all, using her fist to beat the wall over and over again.

Like Xianglin's wife, she repeated over and over:

"He told me it was so comfortable back then! Said Tianfu New Area is the future new center of Rongcheng, and it would be convenient for you to find a job later!"

"They were going to build a subway nearby, and there was a park! I saw the effect drawing, people and cars were separated, the greenery was good, and there was a small garden inside!"

"It had all five certificates! The building was almost topped out when I bought it!"

"How—how could it be gone just like that?! Why would it be like this?!"

The surrounding gazes increased, like needles pricking Qiuqiu's body.

She seemed unable to bear it any longer.

That disgust, incomprehension, and resentment toward this woman, which had accumulated for many years, erupted completely like a volcano at this moment.

She stood up violently from the chair, turned around, and shouted in a voice that was almost a roar:

"Why did you buy that house?! Who told you to buy a house?! Didn't you want to hold onto that little bit of money until you died?! Why did you go buy a house now?!"

"You dead girl! I did it for you!"

"It was for me again?! It was for me again!" Qiuqiu's expression was somewhat manic, "You've had enough! From childhood to adulthood, everything you do is for me?!"

"You went to work in other places, left me alone in the village as a left-behind child, that was for me!"

"In junior high, you brought me to Rongcheng, let me be bullied in that strange environment, that was also for me!"

"Grandma was sick, urgently waiting for money to save her life, you held the money tightly and wouldn't take it out, that was also for me!"

"Now, you've lost your life's savings, and it's still for me?!"

"This is two million! Inside—inside there is also my dad's death compensation!"

Li Meihua was stunned by her daughter's series of questions, looking at her blankly, her tears flowing even more fiercely.

Crying and defending herself: "Who did I do it for if not for you? Do you know how I've lived all these years after your dad died? We orphans and widows didn't even have our own house, and had to look at others' faces every day! I was just afraid you would suffer the same crimes as me later?!"

She wiped her tears, her voice carrying a crazy stubbornness:

"Your old man back then, it was when he was building a house in Rongcheng that he fell from the scaffolding and died. In his life, his biggest wish was to have a house in the city and bring you to the city to enjoy happiness. I have no ability, couldn't keep him, I can't—I can't even keep you! This house was bought for you, and the house deed also has your name, Cheng Qiuqiu, written on it. How could I have thought—it would become unfinished—"

Hearing her mother's words, Qiuqiu was stunned.

Her lips trembled slightly, and all her words were blocked in her throat, unable to say a single word. ===== CHAPTER 659 =====