Chapter 607: School Anniversary

The bedroom light was turned back on, and the warm yellow halo enveloped Tang Song.

He did not immediately check the newly triggered task, but clicked on the rough-quality, era-filled video again.

Quietly watching the familiar yet strange self in the video.

The eighteen-year-old him was high-spirited, his eyes full of undisguised longing for the future.

Beside him were noisy classmates full of good-natured teasing;

Outside the window was the bright, blindingly brilliant sunshine of midsummer;

In his heart, he was fantasizing about the beautiful life of college.

At that time, he firmly believed that he would get better and better, firmly believing that one day, he would meet his "White Moonlight" at the agreed peak.

It was precisely because that memory was too beautiful that when he later left the Imperial Capital, said goodbye to the "White Moonlight," and his life completely fell to the bottom, seeing that graduation photo on Deng Deng Yazi's Moments again, he felt such bone-chilling pain.

That kind of powerlessness of having dreams completely crushed by reality almost swallowed him whole.

Fortunately, dreams came true, and game assets descended into reality.

Now—

The once unreachable "White Moonlight" had returned to his side.

Those seemingly unrealistic youthful wild words were also turning into reality one by one.

He had even far exceeded the boldest expectations of that self back then.

Tang Song let out a long breath, a huge, almost burning emotion and passion surging in his heart.

"Buzz buzz buzz—"

[Deng Deng Yazi: "These years I've always wanted to see our old friends again, to see how they are doing. But everyone is very busy, and the world is vast, so meeting isn't easy. Seeing you now, I'm really full of emotion, that little Song from back then became so excellent without knowing it. Really happy for you! Worthy of being the person I favored!"]

Tang Song looked at her still straightforward and honest words, and a warm smile appeared on his face.

He typed and replied: "Thank you, Duck, very surprised to meet you today, and very grateful that you can keep these precious photos and videos."

[Deng Deng Yazi: "I often flip through our stuff from back then, really miss it, really miss it. Oh, not chatting anymore, our director is urging for the manuscript again, I have to hurry up and work. You rest early, see you tomorrow."]

Tang Song: "See you tomorrow."

Putting down his phone, Tang Song leaned back on the head of the bed, dazed.

After a long time, his eyes returned to calm and depth.

He opened the system interface to view the task details.

This branch task was not as simple as it looked on the surface.

In the task description, it used "implement a strategic investment intention" and "shake the local industrial pattern."

This was no longer something that could be completed by simply signing an investment contract or donating a teaching building.

No matter what, Quancheng was an independent economic entity with a population of millions.

To truly "shake" its industrial pattern, what was needed was not just massive funds, but top-level strategic design, huge resource integration capabilities, and the political wisdom to engage in deep games with local governments.

Every link in this was full of challenges and variables.

But precisely because of this, it could better improve his ability and pattern.

The current him was standing at the critical threshold of the "Charm 90" transformation.

And he indeed needed such a real, heavyweight "political-business actual combat" to improve his ability and pattern.

Moreover, "repaying the hometown" was probably the ultimate romance that every man with ambition had fantasized about.

The huge sense of accomplishment brought by changing the face of his hometown with his own hands must also be unparalleled.

This was not just completing a task, but fulfilling a dream of his past self.

The corners of Tang Song's mouth rose slightly, and vigorous energy ignited in his eyes.

He picked up his phone again and dialed Shen Shen Yuyan's number directly.

"Beep beep beep—" The phone rang a few times and was quickly answered.

From the receiver, Shen Shen Yuyan's sweet voice, deliberately lowered, came immediately: "Hello... Chairman Tang, calling me so late, is it because you need me to handle some 'special' private affairs for you?"

Tang Song chuckled, did not respond to her teasing, and said directly: "Shirley, notify Chen Chen Weitian of Rongliu Investment, and have him organize an investment team of about five people, focusing on semiconductor materials and new energy hardware. The team members are required to have relevant industrial backgrounds and experience in docking with government guidance funds, and have them arrive in Quancheng tomorrow afternoon to report to me in person."

Shen Shen Yuyan on the other end of the phone was obviously stunned for a moment, her voice becoming professional and capable instantly: "Okay, Chairman Tang! I've noted it down!"

"Hmm." Tang Song paused and continued: "Also, for the meeting with Mayor Li tomorrow, I plan to take the lead in establishing an industrial fund in Quancheng. Shirley, prepare for it, this project will also be handed over to you to be responsible for the preliminary docking work in the future."

"...Yes, thank you for your trust, Chairman Tang, I will not let you down."

Tang Song could clearly hear Shen Shen Yuyan's rapid and disordered breathing.

Zhende Hotel, Room 706.

The room was brightly lit, and the air was filled with a unique scent of "overtime dog" mixed with coffee and instant noodles.

Deng Deng Yazi rubbed her sore eyes, her fingertips tapping rapidly on the laptop keyboard.

On the screen was the news draft for tomorrow's First High School anniversary celebration.

She was making final deliberations on the paragraph about "outstanding alumni returning home."

"Deng Yazi, I can't do it anymore!" In the seat next to her, a girl with a bun hairstyle let out a wail, "This is the nth draft, what else does he want to change!"

Deng Deng Yazi didn't raise her head, while staring at the "Report Core Points" document from the Municipal Propaganda Department on the screen.

While comforting: "Sun Xiaonan, hold on a little longer, Director Liu has that style, famous for 'first draft allergy.' You record his opinions first, and when I finish this draft, I'll help you change it together."

She had long been used to this high-intensity torture.

From a contract worker from another place to passing the career establishment exam for the Quancheng TV Station she had been longing for, she cherished this hard-won job more than anyone else.

"Okay..." Sun Sun Xiaonan sighed.

Time passed bit by bit in the sound of keyboard tapping and occasional sighs.

11:30 PM.

The two finally sent the revised news draft and special film script to Director Liu's mailbox.

Deng Deng Yazi slumped in her chair with relief, stretching a big stretch.

Sun Sun Xiaonan, who had finished washing up in the bathroom, paused abruptly when passing by Deng Deng Yazi's computer.

"Deng Yazi! Who is this handsome guy?! A newly debuted star? This temperament is too absolute! Broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, wow wow wow,

is my dish! Wait, is this him in high school? Also so handsome! But now is even more absolute!"

As she spoke, she almost put her face on the screen.

Deng Deng Yazi looked at the "fangirl" look of her colleague, and an incomparably proud look appeared on her face instantly, raising her chin proudly: "Handsome, right? My high school classmate, Tang Song. This photo on the right is what I just took for him downstairs tonight."

"Your classmate?!" Sun Sun Xiaonan's eyes widened instantly, "Really?! Quick quick quick, push his WeChat to me! I want his contact information!"

Deng Deng Yazi smiled and pushed away her head that was leaning over, "Don't even think about it, he's already taken, back in high school, he and the super top student in our class were a couple."

"Ah? Are they boyfriend and girlfriend now?"

Deng Deng Yazi hesitated for a moment, but still told the truth, "I'm not clear about that."

She had been developing in another province before, and only passed the exam to the city TV station this year, returning to her hometown Quancheng.

At that time, she was full of emotion and specifically posted that high school graduation photo she had treasured for many years on Moments.

Thinking she must take time to see these old classmates and see what everyone had become.

Even wanting to take a photo for them again and make it into an interesting comparison photo.

But because work was really too busy, this plan had been shelved.

So, she really wasn't clear about what the situation was between Tang Song and Liu Liu Qingning now.

Sun Sun Xiaonan's eyes lit up "brush," and she continued to ask: "Then isn't there still a chance? By the way, by the way, what does he do for work? Is he also developing in Quancheng?"

Deng Deng Yazi shook her head, "He is a computer major, a programmer. He was at a big factory in the Imperial Capital before, later returned to Yancheng, and should still be in Yancheng now."

"Programmer? Not bad! Earns a lot!" Sun Sun Xiaonan was excited, "Is he coming to the school anniversary tomorrow too?"

"Forget it, he's very dedicated, you'd better not mess around."

"Oh, don't worry about it, tell me quickly, what exactly is the situation with this Tang Song? Let me master the enemy situation in advance."

Deng Deng Yazi smiled, a color of memory flashing in her eyes, and narrated the Tang Song in her eyes in a low voice.

She was only in the same class as Tang Song after the liberal arts and science streaming in the second half of the first year of high school.

At that time, Tang Song was sunny, cheerful, and handsome, full of youthful feeling, the type that would make girls couldn't help but look at him a few more times.

Starting from the third year of high school, in order to be in the same city as Liu Liu Qingning, he seemed to have become a different person, studying desperately.

Unfortunately, the gap in talent was ultimately difficult to overcome, and he was still a big chunk behind in the end, going to Yancheng University of Technology, missing his dream with regret.

During college, he seemed to have become a different person, silent, introverted, unkempt, and lost contact with many classmates.

At that time, Deng Deng Yazi was worried about the mental health of this old classmate and visited him a few times.

Later, after starting work, the two basically rarely contacted each other.

But she also knew that Tang Song still followed Liu Liu Qingning's footsteps and ran to the Imperial Capital.

While talking, she clicked on the "interview video" from seven years ago in the cloud drive.

In the picture, the green teenager was sitting at his desk, being egged on by classmates to answer his expectations for the future.

Deng Deng Yazi looked at the screen and sighed lightly.

Over the years, she had also intermittently known some recent situations of high school classmates.

Except for that "pervert" Liu Liu Qingning who had been opening up all the way, the best among everyone was probably Sun Sun Jiayue, who worked in the fundraising department of a good financial company in Shanghai.

And more...

Some stepped into society directly after failing the college entrance exam, and now they were tossing about on various construction sites, their skin tanned black, long ago losing their appearance from back then;

Some passed a good university, but after graduation, they were still ordinary corporate slaves, struggling in big cities;

There were also some who had long been married and had children, and their Moments were only left with links to baby photos and Pinduoduo.

"Remember the teenager's ambition, once promised to be the first-class in the world."

At the age of seventeen or eighteen, it was exactly when they were most youthful and frivolous.

Who hadn't made those seemingly unrealistic, magnificent promises to the future?

But looking back now, there was more of the sigh and helplessness after being smoothed out by reality.

After all, ideals are plump, and reality is skinny.

How many people can truly live into the appearance they most wanted to become when they were teenagers?

For example, herself, although she pretended to be relaxed and bragged in front of Tang Song that she was a reporter for the city TV station, in fact, following the column group here this time, she mainly did some miscellaneous work like docking and running errands.

Currently at the station, she was also just an inconspicuous little character.

November 20, 2023, Monday, sunny, 4~19°C.

Six o'clock in the morning.

Outside the window was a thick fog, gray-white fog wrapping the entire county town.

Deng Deng Yazi and Sun Sun Xiaonan woke up in a harsh alarm sound, struggling to sit up from the bed.

Washing up, changing into the prepared black women's formal suit, and taking their bags downstairs.

After finishing breakfast in the hotel restaurant in a hurry, they immediately rushed to the school.

Banners were hung outside the campus, the red carpet for welcoming guests was laid to the school gate, and security and etiquette teams were lined up in an orderly manner.

Signing in, receiving media passes, shooting empty lens materials at the school gate, randomly interviewing several students and retired old teachers already arranged by the school...

After finishing the work tasks.

Deng Deng Yazi took her SLR camera and began to shoot casually on campus.

Returning to her alma mater, the familiar yet strange environment made her seem to see herself wearing a school uniform and running in the sunshine again, couldn't help but feel some emotion.

Eight o'clock in the morning sharp.

The main force of the column group finally rushed over from the urban area of Quancheng in a mighty way.

Leading them was the general producer and deputy director of the news center of the "Quancheng Observation" column group, Liu Liu Jianjun.

In his early fifties, slightly fat, with a serious expression, and dressed meticulously.

He first looked at the materials shot by Deng Deng Yazi and Sun Sun Xiaonan simply, lectured with a straight face for a few sentences,

then turned around and chatted with the host Xie Liu Xuan and the main cameraman about today's interview and shooting flow.

It was at this moment that Deng Deng Yazi captured a name that made her heart jump violently from their conversation with lowered voices.

Today, Mayor Li Li Jiping would actually visit the scene in person.

She and Sun Sun Xiaonan looked at each other, and both saw undisguised shock in each other's eyes.

No wonder the station was making such a big fuss this time, even Director Liu and the station pillar Xie Liu Xuan came out in person!

When they rushed to the square in front of the main venue, it was already bustling.

The etiquette students invited by the school were wearing bright red cheongsams, lined up neatly on both sides of the red carpet.

On the periphery of the square, one could even see some police officers in uniform and plainclothes security personnel patrolling quietly.

This obviously exceeded the security level that an ordinary middle school anniversary should have.

Accompanied by festive gongs and drums, luxury cars with local license plates began to drive into the open space in front of the venue one after another.

Soon, a commotion greater than before came, attracting her attention.

A black Bentley drove slowly.

The car door opened, and two figures walked down the car in high spirits, surrounded by school leaders.

Sun Sun Xiaonan sighed in a low voice on the side: "Is that Li Li Yunfan, the boss of Maixiangyuan? He looks like he has a great aura, who is that young handsome guy next to him? An assistant?"

"No." Deng Deng Yazi shook her head, "That is our senior, Zhao Rui, a top student from Tsinghua University. It is said that he was promoted to VP of the investment banking department of CICC this year, and led the IPO of a company."

"Really amazing! This is a true favored child of heaven, less than thirty years old, estimated annual salary is over two million, right?"

"Yeah, he is two years older than us, and also the top scorer in the college entrance exam that year."

Deng Deng Yazi's tone was full of complex emotion.

In their year, counting, it had only been three-plus years since college graduation, and very few had made it out, and the outstanding alumni invited back were even rarer.

Most of those grandly received were still commercial bigwigs like Li Li Yunfan who were forty or fifty years old.

On the contrary, it was Zhao Rui, this peer of similar age to them, whose height reached, gave her a greater shock.

That was a real gap that was difficult to overcome between peers.

Presumably, even Liu Liu Qingning, who was engaged in AI entrepreneurship, had some gap with the other party.

Sun Sun Xiaonan looked at Zhao Rui who was surrounded by stars, smacked her lips, "Sure enough, power and status are the best coats for men. Look at that Zhao Rui, looking at it this way, he feels tall and handsome again, a young and handsome financial elite, simply a novel male protagonist!"

Deng Deng Yazi couldn't help but laugh out loud when she heard this: "Heh, why? Suddenly changed your mind? Don't look down on our Tang Song?"

"Hehe, that's not the case." Sun Sun Xiaonan stuck out her tongue, "Just sighing."

They both worked within the system and had a deeper understanding of this halo brought by status.

She also knew that for such a character, she didn't even have the opportunity to deal with the other party, let alone talk about love.

Just as they were sighing secretly.

Two low-key black Magotans drove slowly into the square.

"The county leaders are here!"

A low reminder immediately came from the crowd.

A group of school leaders and local entrepreneurs immediately walked up quickly with nervous expressions.

Under Director Liu's arrangement, Xie Liu Xuan immediately entered a fighting state, taking the cameraman and sound engineer to meet them.

At this moment, Deng Deng Yazi and Sun Sun Xiaonan, these two "little transparents" responsible for "miscellaneous work," were completely idle instead.

Could only stand on the periphery of the crowd, watching this bustle belonging to successful people from afar.

After a long while, the scene gradually returned to calm.

Sun Sun Xiaonan suddenly remembered something and bumped Deng Deng Yazi's arm, "By the way, when is your classmate Tang Song coming?"

"Let me ask." Deng Deng Yazi said, taking out her phone from her pocket and sending a WeChat message to Tang Song.

In fact, after the school anniversary officially started, everyone would sit separately according to the arrangements, and after the meeting, as a reporter, she would be busy again.

She sincerely hoped that before that, she could chat with this old classmate she hadn't seen for a long time for a few sentences.

"Ding-dong—"

[Tang Song: "Just set off, it will take about ten minutes to arrive."]

Deng Deng Yazi replied quickly: "Okay, see you later."

Sun Sun Xiaonan, who was peeking, had eyes shining instantly: "Wow! Ten minutes! Can see the male god immediately! Deng Yazi, do you think I should touch up my makeup?"

"...Touch up your head." Deng Deng Yazi rolled her eyes at her.

Just at this moment, Director Liu's voice suddenly came from not far away: "The municipal government's motorcade is arriving soon, cheer up! Deng Deng Yazi,

you follow Xie Liu Xuan, pay attention to your standing position, don't mess up the lens!"

"Okay!"

Deng Deng Yazi's heart tightened, and she hurriedly ran over.

Sun Sun Xiaonan also hurriedly put away the fangirl expression of a little girl, followed behind her, pretending to be in a professional state.

Of course, the Mayor would not accept interviews casually on such occasions.

The goal of the TV station was more to shoot material of leaders visiting and guiding, and to conduct brief interviews with relevant leaders of the Municipal Propaganda Department who were accompanying.

But no matter what, the form on the scene must be the most grand.

As time passed minute by minute, the news that "municipal government leaders are about to arrive" soon spread among the crowd.

The chatting sound on the square, which still carried a bit of relaxation, gradually disappeared.

County officials Zhang Chengming, First High School Principal Liu Liu Zengyin, and local entrepreneurs who were powerful in the business world like Li Li Yunfan, all put away all their casualness at this moment, with nervous and expectant expressions on their faces, occasionally tidying up their collars.

Accompanied by the low roar of the engine, two black Audi A6Ls and a Buick GL8 drove slowly into the square.

Everyone's gaze fell squarely on the Audi "No. 1 car" in the middle.

"Click."

The sound of opening doors sounded one after another.

Deng Deng Yazi, not far in the crowd, couldn't help but hold her breath.

Immediately, she saw familiar figures appearing in her sight one after another.

Director of the Municipal Development and Reform Commission Chen Jianguo, Deputy Minister of the Propaganda Department Lin Haisheng, Government Office Secretary Wang Tao... and Mayor Li Li Jiping.

Mayor Li was wearing a dark administrative jacket, his figure steady.

There was no expression on his face, he just scanned the scene calmly, carrying a powerful aura that was not angry but prestigious.

At that moment, Deng Deng Yazi's heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably. Since joining the Quancheng TV Station, she had never seen so many core municipal government leaders at once.

Especially this famous Mayor Li, who was more oppressive than the rumors.

"Mayor! Welcome to guide us! All the cadres and masses of our Jingxian County have been looking forward to your coming..."

"Mayor Li, hello! I am Liu Liu Zengyin of Jingxian County First High School. That you could take time out of your busy schedule to attend our school anniversary, all our teachers and students are truly honored!"

"Hello Mayor Li, I am Li Li Yunfan of Maixiangyuan, also an alumnus of Jingxian County First High School, welcome!"

A series of humble and enthusiastic pleasantries sounded one after another.

Mayor Li Li Jiping just nodded slightly, reached out to shake hands with several main leaders one by one, and said a few words of encouragement in an unhurried tone, congratulating Jingxian County First High School on its 50th anniversary.

The flashlights flashed urgently, the red lights of the cameras kept lighting up, and the scene was grand and enthusiastic.

The atmosphere on the scene also climbed to the peak at this moment.

Sun Sun Xiaonan behind her bumped Deng Deng Yazi's arm, whispering: "Why haven't the city leaders gone in yet? It's so cold outside. Also, calculate the time, your classmate Tang Song should be here soon."

Hearing this, Deng Deng Yazi was also stunned.

Indeed, logically speaking, since the municipal government leaders had already arrived, the host county committee and school should immediately welcome the distinguished guests into the VIP room of the main venue to rest.

Didn't everyone tacitly wait outside before just to welcome the Mayor?

Why haven't they gone in yet?

Just as she was full of doubts, Secretary Wang Tao walked quickly to Mayor Li and whispered a few words.

Immediately after, Mayor Li not only had no intention of moving, but turned around and cast his gaze towards the end of the red carpet, even revealing a hint of a warm smile on his face.

This abnormal move was like a silent command.

Everyone on the scene who "had eyes" turned around one after another.

For a time, in the eyes of Deng Deng Yazi, Sun Sun Xiaonan, and others, an extremely weird picture appeared on the square.

The leaders of the municipal government, county committee, and school actually stopped talking at the same time, as if waiting for the arrival of some important figure.

The crowd, which was still noisy, gradually became lower in conversation.

The atmosphere became tense at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Deng Deng Yazi was stunned, unable to react for a while.

Just at this moment, at the other end of the square, a slight commotion suddenly came from outside the cordon.

A pitch-black, solemn Rolls-Royce Phantom appeared silently at the end of the red carpet.

The heavy and smooth body shone with a cold luster in the early winter warm sun, and the Spirit of Ecstasy on the front of the car was shining brightly.

It drove steadily all the way, without any hesitation, and stopped precisely opposite Mayor Li and a group of leaders.

The passenger door opened first.

A tall and capable figure walked out from inside.

She was wearing a well-tailored gray women's suit today, her long hair was pinned behind her head meticulously, a flawless professional smile hung on her face, and she walked quickly to the back row, respectfully opening the opposite-opening car door in the back row.

A polished black leather shoe stepped out first.

Immediately after, a handsome and spirited figure appeared in everyone's sight.

He was wearing a custom-made dark blue suit, and the top-tier fabric presented a flowing luster in the sun.

The suit fit his figure perfectly, and the whole person was like a long sword out of its sheath in the sun, full of power and elegance.

He just raised his head slightly, without any extra movements, but exuded an aura that could not be ignored.

Everyone's attention was instantly attracted.

Even Mayor Li Li Jiping paused imperceptibly for a moment.

Immediately after, on the other side of the back door, Liu Liu Qingning wearing a beige professional suit walked down, but she didn't mean to steal the limelight, just standing there quietly looking at Tang Song.

Just at this moment, Shen Shen Yuyan stepped forward half a step at the right time, and her voice sounded just right: "Mayor Li, let me introduce you, this is the Chairman of our Rongliu Capital, Mr. Tang Song."

"Hello, Mayor Li." A confident and composed smile appeared on Tang Song's face, and he took the initiative to reach out his right hand.

Li Li Jiping stepped forward, gripped Tang Song's hand tightly, his voice loud and full of sincerity: "Hello, Chairman Tang! I have long been looking forward to meeting you! They all say our Jingxian County is a place of outstanding people, seeing you today, it really lives up to its reputation!"

"Click—click—"

The sound of taking pictures sounded all around.

Sun Sun Xiaonan's mouth opened into an "O" shape subconsciously, looking at this male god who walked down from the Rolls-Royce Phantom and was personally received by the Mayor, her face flushed, and her body trembled slightly.

Deng Deng Yazi stood in place in a daze, her hand just instinctively holding the SLR camera, but she completely forgot to press the shutter.

She felt her brain was struck by a thunderbolt on the spot.

This... this is... Tang Song?!