Chapter 516

October 28, 2023, Saturday, cloudy turning to light rain.

Six o'clock in the morning, before dawn, the sky outside was a faint gray-blue.

Tang Zong slowly opened his eyes in the familiar scent, his nose surrounded by the fragrance of gardenias, crisp and gentle.

He turned his head slightly, and in the dimness, a sleeping face appeared in his sight.

Liu Qingning was lying on her side, her hair scattered messily between the pillow and his shoulder.

Her breathing was thin, slow, and even, like the tide on the coastline of Shencheng Bay.

Her cheeks still retained a lingering flush, and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, as if she were having some beautiful dream.

The scenes from last night surged into his heart, making Tang Zong’s heart surge.

The tight hugs, the intimate whispers—both of their bodies were as hot as flames, on the edge of testing and merging, drawing closer.

They had known each other for nearly 20 years, and had been good friends for over 10 years.

They had never been so intimate before.

Unlike him, Liu Qingning always maintained an instinctive purity between emotion and body.

Every close contact allowed him to feel her green longing and cautious restraint from her expressions and physical reactions.

But precisely because of this, the passion on her body was exceptionally real.

Tang Zong could feel it.

The reason Liu Qingning didn't want to go so fast, besides the hurdle in her heart not yet being crossed, was also because she hoped to have a clean, pure love that drew closer bit by bit.

And this simplicity of his white moonlight was also what made his heart flutter the most.

Tang Zong took a light breath and kissed Liu Qingning’s rosy cheek.

Then he carefully pulled out his arm, got up, and tucked the quilt in for her.

October in Shencheng was already starting to feel a bit chilly.

On the room’s carpet, the phone screen lit up.

Just then, a crisp system prompt sounded in his ear.

"Ding! Congratulations to the player, the aura effect has taken effect, you have triggered an extra critical hit reward."

"Ding! You have obtained the special item [Advanced Body Optimization Potion]."

Tang Zong was slightly stunned, a surprised smile appearing on his face.

After holding back for so long, he finally won the lottery again! And it was a precious advanced potion!

Even in the game, this kind of prop was extremely rare.

Tang Zong walked into the walk-in closet on tiptoe.

He opened the system warehouse to check the reward details.

【Advanced Body Optimization Potion】: After use, your body will enter a "Golden Adaptation Period," from the skeletal system to the muscle network, from the nervous system to the metabolic mechanism, hormone secretion will tend toward balance, body control ability will be strengthened, you can precisely control subtle movements, and increase the trigger frequency of the "flow" state: (Physique +3, Stamina +3, Agility +3).

【Note: During the activation period of the potion, it is recommended to perform at least 60 minutes of moderate-intensity training or higher daily to maximize the absorption effect.】

Tang Zong shouted "Awesome" in his heart!

As expected of an advanced potion, it was an all-around improvement, and all 3 basic attributes were +3.

It was simply about shaping a "God-like body."

As he was now, his appearance and charm were already hard to improve, but with the blessing of this potion, he might be able to go a step further.

Mermaid lines, V-taper—bring it on!

He selected [Advanced Body Optimization Potion] and used it immediately.

In his mouth, a mass of liquid suddenly appeared, refreshing and sweet.

"Gulp—"

The liquid slid down his throat, Tang Zong’s nerve endings twitched, and his heart began to accelerate.

However, after just over ten seconds, his body gradually returned to calm.

At the same time, Tang Zong felt an indescribable clarity and energy.

The potion’s power began to take effect!

He quickly changed into [Outfit - Infinite Vitality] and walked into the living room with high spirits.

First, he warmed up on the treadmill for ten minutes, then stood on the yoga mat and started high-intensity fat-burning training.

Sweat slid down his temples, and his muscles were ignited by the heat.

His body began to turn red and hot.

Tang Zong, however, felt extremely refreshed.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

A reproachful voice suddenly came from behind: "Hey, are you really okay doing this to your body?"

Tang Zong slowly stopped his movements, turned his head, and saw Liu Qingning, who had changed into fitness gear, looking at him with some worry.

"Up so early?"

Liu Qingning came to him, "My biological clock is very healthy now."

"I know, but didn't you go to sleep very late last night? And you were at that time—" Tang Zong blinked.

"Don't say it!" Liu Qingning’s face turned red, and she patted his chest lightly.

Her palm was immediately stained by the sweat on his body, making her subconsciously recall her own loss of composure last night, and she couldn't help but kick him again.

Tang Zong chuckled and brushed her bangs, his fingers stroking her cute face and slowly moving downward.

Liu Qingning subconsciously wanted to dodge, but was pulled directly into his arms.

The scent of male sweat mixed with hormones rushed toward her.

She bit her lower lip, her body trembled slightly, and even her voice became much thinner, "I'm serious—you were exercising too intensely just now; it's not good for your body."

Changing the subject, she said: "I'm asking you, I just watched you exercise for more than twenty minutes; that's too intense, it's not good for your body."

"It's okay, your boyfriend’s body is even better than you think."

"Isn't that why I'm worried about you!"

Tang Zong lowered his head and kissed her, then suddenly lay on the yoga mat, pointed his finger at his back, and said in a relaxed tone: "Come on,

come up and try, let you feel the strength of your man!"

Liu Qingning was stunned, but soon understood what he meant.

She laughed "pfft," her eyes curved as she walked over and carefully sat on his back.

Her warm, soft buttocks pressed against his hot spine, steam rising—it was actually quite comfortable.

Immediately after, Tang Zong’s shoulder blades stretched powerfully like a tiger leaping, moving up and down.

Liu Qingning’s hands rested on his shoulders, feeling the explosive power surging under his muscles.

A kind of near-primitive instinct rose quietly, making her heart surge with an indescribable touch.

After a long while.

She got off his back with some heartache, "Alright, alright, stop for a second, hurry up and drink some water to rest, don't push yourself."

Tang Zong slowed his movements, chuckled, and stood up.

The next second, amidst Liu Qingning’s cry of surprise, he suddenly pressed her onto the sofa.

His arms supported him on both sides, his gaze burning.

"What are you doing—" Liu Qingning was pressed under him, her gaze dodging, her voice softening a lot.

"Drinking, some water." Tang Zong blinked and lowered his head to block her lips.

The sky outside the window was gradually brightening.

Amber morning light passed through the floor-to-ceiling window, falling on the intertwined silhouettes of the two.

The whole world was immersed in a gentle halo.

9:30 AM.

A black Maybach S-Class stopped slowly in front of Shencheng Bay No. 1.

The driver, wearing a well-tailored suit, got out of the car neatly, put the suitcase into the trunk, and quickly opened the rear door.

Tang Zong looked down at her, "Aren't you getting in? I'll give you a ride."

Liu Qingning shook her head, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, "How old am I, still needing someone to send me? I asked for leave yesterday, and I still have work to finish."

Tang Zong looked at her deeply, but in the end, he didn't insist, just gently pinched her fingers and let go.

"Take care of yourself, come to Yancheng whenever you miss me. I'll come to see you when I have time too."

Liu Qingning smiled and took a step back, her hands behind her back, looking like she did when she used to play hide-and-seek with him.

"Alright, don't make it sound like a life-and-death separation; it's just Yancheng and Shencheng, the plane takes a few hours. Hurry up and go, don't miss your time. Send me a message when you get on the car, and report in when you arrive in Xiangjiang."

Tang Zong bent down and got into the car, looking back at her before closing the door.

Liu Qingning stood outside the window, waving her hand vigorously, her eyes curved into two cute little crescents.

"Bye-bye."

"Bye-bye."

The car drove away slowly until a turn finally swallowed his figure completely into the streetscape of Shencheng.

Liu Qingning still stood motionless until her vision blurred and her eyes turned red.

She stubbornly raised her head, gently wiped away the wetness at the corners of her eyes, and turned back to the empty large flat.

The slippers he wore were still casually placed by the edge of the carpet; on the island counter was the half-drunk black coffee; in the corner of the sofa, the book he had read lay quietly there...

Tears finally couldn't be controlled and gushed out of her eyes, falling onto the floor tiles with "pitter-patter" sounds.

A long time later.

She walked over, wiping her tears while earnestly cleaning up these traces.

Standing in front of the north-facing floor-to-ceiling window, her gaze swept across the Coastal Avenue, the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway, and Shenyun Road, as if silently estimating where he had reached by now.

"Ding-a-ling—" the phone ringtone broke the quiet atmosphere.

Liu Qingning looked down at the screen.

【CEO - Ye Hanwen】

She quickly put away her emotions and answered the phone: "Hello, President Ye."

The president of Qingning Technology, Ye Hanwen, was a famous figure in the field of artificial intelligence and also a scientist.

He had made remarkable achievements in AI large models, multimodal systems, and intelligent search, and was a core figure in promoting the R&D and commercial landing of Lime 3.0.

She had heard his name when she was in college and had always respected him very much.

"Hello? Qingning, did I disturb you?"

"No, please go ahead."

"I originally wanted to talk to you in person yesterday, but you asked for leave. Now things are a bit urgent, so I can only communicate with you on the weekend." He paused, his tone turning solemn: "Qingmi AI has now entered normal iteration, and there is an extremely important project next that requires you to personally lead the Qingmi AI team to dock."

"What project?"

"You know Xuanji Light World, right?"

Liu Qingning thought for a moment and said: "A holding subsidiary of Tang Yi Precision, focusing on AR glasses, quite famous in the industry."

The reason she knew so clearly was that Liu Shuang was an AI engineer at Tang Yi Precision.

She had also participated in some software support. "Correct. Their first-generation product is about to land, and Tang Yi intends to launch a new round of financing and also hopes to introduce deeper cooperation in more fields."

Ye Hanwen’s words continued.

Liu Qingning subconsciously turned on the phone’s recording button and listened intently.

Soon, her thinking was completely mobilized—smart glasses, as a new generation of smart terminals integrating artificial intelligence, AR, and IoT technology, were brewing to become the next technological outlet and the core node of interaction revolution.

And this was also one of the key directions for the application of Qingning Technology’s large models.

With Tang Yi Precision’s breakthroughs in MicroLED, chips, and computing power, Xuanji Light World already had a mature product form.

And this cooperation would be deeply empowered by AI to jointly create an epoch-making terminal product.

The more she listened, the more excited she became.

This was not only a key technical verification but possibly an opportunity for her to overtake in her career.

The reason she stayed in Shencheng and stayed at Qingning Technology certainly included considerations of protecting Tang Zong’s interests and understanding his past.

But deeper down, it was a kind of indescribable obsession and stubbornness.

She had been the best since she was a child, confident to the point of near-arrogance.

That was why she made the choice alone without informing Tang Zong.

Having agreed with him to "meet at the peak," she climbed at her own pace without stopping for a moment.

Now, she suddenly discovered that he was already standing at the peak, while she was still on the road of climbing.

That was why she stayed here alone, working hard without stopping, integrating into Qingning Technology, quickly building communication channels with the company’s senior management, and mastering more core resources.

Because she always longed to one day fulfill that promise and make up for the biggest regret in her heart.

At least she couldn't be worse than Su Yu.

And "Xuanji Light World" might just be that turning point.

However, Ye Hanwen’s next sentence made her heart beat suddenly faster.

"Also participating in this cooperation is Tang Zong Entertainment. They will jointly build content ecosystem barriers and scene landing capabilities, and this part of the integration work also needs you to coordinate."

Liu Qingning bit her lip.

Is it finally coming?

Su Yu.

Yancheng, Qiaoxi District, Glimmer Cafe.

The glass door was pushed open gently, and a tall, plump figure stepped in.

A camel-colored suit paired with wide-leg pants of the same color, the silhouette was clean, and her figure was full but not bloated.

Walking on the floor where light and shadow intertwined, she brought with her a relaxed atmosphere of charm.

"Hello, welcome, is there anything you need?"

The waiter’s tone was gentle, but his gaze couldn't help but linger for a few extra looks.

Wen Ruan’s soft lips raised slightly, she leaned over slightly to look at the handwritten menu on the counter, and her fingertips tapped the wooden edge, "Give me a Glimmer Cold Brew, half sugar."

At this time, there weren't many people in the cafe; occasionally, two or three tables were occupied by people from nearby companies talking about business, and there were couples whispering in the corners.

Wen Ruan walked slowly to the window seat and sat down.

The folds of the trench coat behind her fell naturally, her plump legs crossed, her posture lazy but extremely charming.

She picked up the cold brew coffee that had just been delivered and took a light sip.

The aroma of nuts and chocolate instantly diffused in her mouth, the sweetness of maple syrup twined around the sides of her tongue, thick but not greasy, with a faint coolness in the aftertaste.

Wen Ruan squinted her eyes comfortably.

Her gaze slowly swept across the entire cafe, examining this brand-new Glimmer Cafe with great interest.

After all, she was the one who did the marketing planning, and she used to be very familiar with the structure and atmosphere of the entire cafe.

Unlike the previous business cafes, this new Youxiang store opened in Qiaoxi District was only 60 square meters, but it was warm and bright enough.

A few minutes later.

The shop door was pushed open again.

"Manager Xie!" "Good morning, Manager Xie!"

Several employees stood up to greet her.

"Click, click, click—"

The sound of high heels hitting the wooden floor approached rhythmically.

Wen Ruan put down her coffee cup, looked up, and saw that familiar figure.

Dark knitted base layer, hip-hugging skirt, nude stockings, high heels.

Her figure was tall and slender, her aura sharp, her eyes bright.

The footsteps stopped in front of her.

Xie Shuyu pulled out a chair and sat down, her posture elegant, "Long time no see, Wen Ruan."

"Indeed long time no see, it's been almost a month, right."

Wen Ruan’s red lips curved, her gaze falling on her exquisite but somewhat tired makeup, examining her calmly.

She had long known that Xie Shuyu was a typical workaholic—the busier she was, the more excited she became, with no boundaries in life.

When they worked together in the past, she had been heavily suppressed by this "female devil," but fortunately, now that their positions had changed, this paranoia actually seemed very cute.

Being busy is good!

Both of them belonged to the "older sister" category, and she was really afraid that this female president would snatch her "food."

Xie Shuyu hesitated for a moment and said: "Tang Zong is on a business trip in Shencheng, right?"

"Mm." Wen Ruan raised her wrist to check the time and smiled: "He should be leaving for Xiangjiang by now, taking the high-speed rail,

arriving at 10:59."

Xie Shuyu’s movements paused, her expression a bit unnatural, "Mm."

She had never been a qualified lover; she wouldn't contact him frequently, nor could she be concerned at every moment. At most, she would report her itinerary every day,

and send a few greetings.

Of course, what really made her awkward was that she was now discussing the same "boyfriend" with another familiar woman.

After a brief silence, Wen Ruan took the initiative to break the quiet, saying softly: "The new cold brew is really good, very delicious. The national branch plan for Glimmer Cafe is almost finished, right?"

Xie Shuyu’s gaze instantly became bright, "Yes, publicity is critical, especially this time covering the whole country; I’ll have to trouble Xingyun International to come forward."

This was also the core reason she took the initiative to meet Wen Ruan.

The previous cooperation was a contract signed with Guangying Media, and although some resources could be mobilized, it was far less efficient than Wen Ruan coming forward personally.

Not to mention, Wen Ruan was Tang Zong’s girlfriend, and Tang Zong also held shares in Glimmer Cafe.

At this moment, nepotism became the most effective weapon.

While speaking, she had already quickly switched to work mode, talking endlessly about the entire plan.

She even had the waiter bring paper and pens to write and draw.

More than half an hour later.

The conversation came to a temporary end.

Wen Ruan suddenly asked: "Manager Xie, do you have any plans for lunch?"

Xie Shuyu shook her head and said: "No."

"How about we go to my place and have a meal together? We can talk slowly."

Xie Shuyu was slightly stunned, looking into Wen Ruan’s eyes, thoughtful.

They were both adults, and they were friends to begin with, so of course she understood what Wen Ruan meant.

This was wanting to get on good terms with her and build a "favorable connection."

After a moment of silence, she said softly: "Okay, then I'll disturb you. In the future, don't call me Manager Xie in private; just call me by my name."

"Okay, Manager Xie." Wen Ruan responded solemnly.

Xie Shuyu laughed instantly upon hearing her form of address.

The atmosphere became much more relaxed.

Wen Ruan was smiling on the surface, but couldn't help sighing in her heart.

She had no choice; she had to take the initiative.

She was about to enter the Tang Jin Family Office, and what followed was a direct "palace fight" with Director Jin and Su Yu.

If she didn't find some comrades to "resist the thunder" with her, she would really be a bit scared.

Up to now, she only had Lingling under her.

Although Manager Xie was a bit thin, her ability and character were beyond reproach.

Just then.

"Ding-a-ling—" the phone ringtone sounded.

【Administrative Assistant - Wang Dandan】

Wen Ruan nodded to Xie Shuyu and answered the phone, "Hello, Dandan."

"Director Wen, good morning." Wang Dandan’s voice was as clear and moist as ever, "Just received a notice from the Board Secretary; next Monday, the group will hold an extraordinary board meeting."

"Oh?" Wen Ruan raised her eyebrows, "Regarding what content?"

"It involves an important investment. Tang Yi Precision’s holding company 'Xuanji Light World' will open Series A financing, and our group has the opportunity to participate."

"Tang Yi Precision? Xuanji Light World?" Wen Ruan raised her eyebrows, "What other companies are there?"

"One moment." Wang Dandan looked through the documents and replied a moment later: "Rongliu Capital, Deju Renhe, Tang Zong Entertainment, and Qingning Technology."

Wen Ruan took a deep breath, her chest heaving violently.

Good heavens.

She knew it, things weren't that simple.

Was this to expose more facts to Liu Qingning?

And by the way, form an "alliance" to force Director Jin?

Are you kidding me? Can I not participate?

(==)

Shencheng North Station.

In the business waiting room, the atmosphere was quiet and orderly, occasionally hearing a few whispers and the sound of suitcase wheels rubbing against the floor. Tang Zong sat in a leather seat in the corner, a copy of "National Geographic" spread out in his hands, reading with great interest.

A staff member in uniform approached, bent over slightly, and said in a gentle and polite tone: "Mr. Tang, the train is about to arrive, you can enter the station in advance."

"Okay, thank you."

Tang Zong nodded, picked up his suitcase, and under the guidance of the staff, walked through the exclusive passage and passed through the business ticket gate.

"Mr. Tang, your carriage is in the third one ahead, please walk this way."

"Please watch your step."

They walked to the platform area in an orderly manner.

"Rumble—"

A low thunder rolled across the sky.

Only then did Tang Zong notice that at some point, fine rain had begun to drift in the sky.

A breeze blew by, carrying some moisture and chill.

Tang Zong looked up at the sky, took out his Bluetooth headset from his pocket, and put it on.

He double-tapped the headset’s touch area.

"BGM: Just because I looked at you one more time in the crowd, I could never forget your face—"

Faye Wong’s unique ethereal voice slowly sounded, and "Legend" twined around his ears.

He lowered his head, lit up his phone screen, and began to reply to unread messages one by one.

The surrounding passengers entered the station one after another.

Fine rain fell lightly, and the prompt sound of the train about to arrive sounded in the distance.

Rain threads fell through the gaps in the steel structure roof, hitting the ground and making shallow water marks.

"Hey, Zhang Yan," Lulu hugged her backpack and muttered softly: "Do you think, besides doing this, what else can we do? Do you have any plans?"

"I, I haven't thought about it either."

"Sigh, forget it, when we get to Yangcheng later, let's have a hot pot first. Make it spicy, maybe it’ll clear our heads."

Zhang Yan hesitated for a moment and nodded: "Okay."

What she actually wanted to do most was to go back, pick up Orange first, and then cook a hot meal.

But she could feel Lulu’s expectation, so she didn't have the heart to refuse.

The two walked slowly along the edge of the platform and finally stopped in front of the tail carriage.

They stood leaning against a pillar and talked in low voices.

Rain and mist filled the sky, weaving a hazy halo in the air.

At some point, a few little girls speaking Cantonese came next to them.

They were whispering and chattering, their tones filled with irrepressible exclamation.

"Hey, is that a celebrity?"

"His profile is really handsome!"

"He has more charisma than a heavenly king—"

The gazes of several girls looked straight toward a certain direction on the opposite platform, and one of them was even secretly taking pictures with a phone with a telephoto lens.

Lulu was attracted by this movement and looked up curiously.

The next second, she almost held her breath.

In the rain and mist, a tall figure stood on the opposite platform.

He was wearing a caramel-colored sweater and dark gray suit pants, his figure straight, his shoulder and back lines clear.

His jet-black hair was gently moved by the wind, his silhouette blurred by the rain.

It was as if there was a thin film separating him from the surrounding noise, lazy and intellectual.

It looked just like a high-end promotional poster for an art film.

"Look!" Lulu poked Zhang Yan with her elbow, lowering her voice but unable to hide her excitement, "There’s a super handsome guy opposite! Look, really, the kind you can't even dream of, it’s absolutely amazing!"

Zhang Yan smiled shyly and didn't turn back to look.

Instead, she secretly touched the two "Dragon Ball" books in her backpack, seemingly thinking about something difficult.

"Oh, don't be shy, look! I’m not lying to you!" Lulu grabbed her arm.

Zhang Yan hesitated for a moment and turned around slowly.

"BGM: Dreaming that one day we can meet again by chance, from then on I began to miss you alone—"

Tang Zong put away his phone and slowly looked up.

"Rumble—"

A silver-gray high-speed train entered the platform.

The wind swept across the entire platform, carrying fine rain.

Zhang Yan subconsciously raised her hand to block the wet wind from entering her eyes.

Her gaze crossed the tracks, through the station sign and the rain and mist, only seeing the silhouette of a dark figure gradually blurring in the wind.

And then, disappeared behind the speeding train windows.