Chapter 547: We who are about to cross paths

November 11, 2023, Saturday, Sunny, -1°C to 7°C.

Yanjing Huating, large flat floor.

8:30 AM.

Sunlight passed through the thin gauze curtains, filtering out the morning chill and plating the whole room in a layer of gold.

On the pink velvet round bed.

Xiao Jing’s long eyelashes trembled lightly, and she slowly opened her eyes, her gaze still somewhat hazy.

Last night, she personally picked up the high-end couture gown and jewelry accessories she had reserved for the birthday party.

She also arranged for them to be delivered to the presidential suite at the Lanfeng International Hotel.

Afterward, she tried on the clothes there for a long time and took many photos of her "battle outfits" in the mirror.

She was so excited that she didn't fall asleep until very late.

After a good while, her thoughts gradually returned.

She picked up the phone by the pillow, lit up the screen, and entered the "Beautiful Two-Dimensional" WeChat group.

She turned on her side, her smooth, white calves stretching out from the silky quilt, kicking lightly.

Her large eyes sparkled as she flipped through the chat history from last night.

Qingqing was bragging in the group again, but the difference was that this time there was Su Su as a "witness."

Under Su Su’s flattery, Qingqing had become a novel heroine, the kind that is wild, cool, and heaven-defying.

Laughter of "hehehe" rang out in the bedroom.

Xiao Jing found it more interesting the more she looked.

When she was accidentally pulled into this group, she thought it was just ordinary two-dimensional fans, but she didn't expect everyone to be talented and speak well, and she loved it here.

Especially Qingqing; she had liked this group member from the very beginning.

Her imagination was very big, the story details were rich, and the plot was ups and downs; it was her daily pastime.

Later, when she found out that their boyfriends were actually the same person, she was quite happy.

In recent investigations, she had also roughly figured out the real identities of the "female supporting characters" in Xu Qing’s stories.

For example, the "green tea bitch" with beautiful legs who always wanted to get ahead should be Lin Muxue.

The mature and charming female salesperson at the luxury car 4S shop, Xu Qing’s "cousin," was Wen Ruan.

There was another one, Tang Zong’s business partner, who should be the Vice President of Songmei Apparel, Gao Mengting.

Thinking of Gao Mengting.

Xiao Jing exited the group chat and opened Douyin.

She directly entered the four words "Songmei Apparel" in the search box at the top.

Soon, an official flagship store account with a blue V certification jumped out.

The avatar was a black and white LOGO of "HEYISTUDIO" with a great sense of design.

Clicked in.

In the main page’s showcase, various styles of clothing were displayed, each shot with great texture, and the models were also bloggers who were somewhat famous in the fashion circle.

And the one with the highest sales, pinned in the most prominent position, was a city windbreaker that looked full of design.

The sold quantity below showed a staggering number: 20,000+.

Xiao Jing’s eyes widened slightly.

A windbreaker with an original price of 1299 and a Double 11 discount price of 599, which was also Songmei Apparel’s own new brand, could actually sell more than 20,000 pieces in just three days of pre-heating activities!

This meant a sales volume of over 12 million!

Too exaggerated!

She continued to flip down, and the more she looked, the more surprised she became.

The data was a bit ridiculously good, and the anchor named "He Yiyi" actually had nearly three million fans.

After all, she had worked at Jinxiu Trading for a long time, and later, because Tang Zong started a live-streaming e-commerce business, she specifically studied this industry.

She knew very well that in the fiercely competitive clothing track, for a new brand to reach this magnitude in such a short time, it required precise manipulation and powerful operational capabilities.

Speaking of which, at the very beginning, she didn't know that her boyfriend also owned the Lanfeng International Hotel, nor did she know that he had an unusual relationship with figures of Shangguan Qiuya’s level.

At that time, she was full of thoughts on how to use her father’s connections and Jinxiu Trading’s channel resources to help his small company grow bigger and stronger in the future.

But later, because of her father’s accident and her own emergency transfer to Tangyi Precision, she hadn't paid much attention to Songmei Apparel during this time.

Unexpectedly, in just a few months, it had grown to such an astonishing level.

Although currently, this live-streaming e-commerce company wasn't considered very awesome, the most terrifying thing about the live-streaming e-commerce industry is the growth rate; maybe in a while, it could become a big company with a valuation of several hundred million.

Xiao Jing exhaled lightly, her expression becoming more solemn.

It seems that this woman named Gao Mengting is also a tough nut to crack in the future.

Of course, compared to the current "Big Demon King" Wen Ruan, she was still a bit behind. Recently, the Xingyun International Group has had big movements, and it is said that it will apply for an IPO soon, and by then, Wen Ruan’s net worth will skyrocket.

A mature, sexy, thirty-year-old female tycoon holding great power—Xiao Jing, although confident, had to admit that she really couldn't compare.

This is also why she was so impatient to build that "birthday stage" for Tang Zong and herself.

If she didn't solve the crisis of her father’s new energy enterprise, her position as the "main palace" would really be completely suppressed!

Everything depends on tomorrow!

Xiao Jing’s eyes flickered, and a curve of unyieldingness hooked at the corner of her mouth.

She lifted the quilt and came to the bedside, stretching a big lazy stretch.

The white silk camisole nightdress with a cute panda print on her body also shrank upward, revealing a large area of snow-white, glowing skin and panties with strawberry patterns.

She sat there blankly, thinking for a while.

Barefoot, stepping on the soft long-pile carpet.

Walked into the cloakroom, put on a slim autumn outfit, perfectly outlining her sweet yet sexy body curves.

Simple washing, skincare, humming a song, walking out of the bedroom with light steps.

The nanny, Aunt Pei, who had been waiting in the living room, immediately greeted her.

"Miss, good morning. Breakfast is ready." Aunt Pei’s tone was respectful and carried a bit of an elder’s kindness.

"Thank you, Aunt Pei." Xiao Jing smiled sweetly and sat down in the dining room.

Rich and exquisite breakfast was served one by one, the plating as beautiful as a work of art.

Xiao Jing took out her phone, took a picture of the Eggs Benedict garnished with caviar and snow peas, and sent it to Tang Zong.

Left a message: "(”3) Good morning, Song. Today is Double 11, your company must be very busy, keep it up!"

While eating, she chatted with Tang Zong, occasionally letting out a few light laughs at being amused by herself.

Aunt Pei, who was watching this scene, hesitated for a moment, stepped forward and whispered: "Miss, yesterday I heard the Madam say that tomorrow at your birthday party, a very noble big shot is coming, so the Madam specially invited many of her girlfriends to support the scene."

"Ah?" Xiao Jing blinked, her movements pausing, "What big shot?"

(.)

Could it be that my secret leaked?

I kept the matter of Zheng Qiudong and Shangguan Qiuya completely hidden, just wanting to have a big shock to impact my parents and Qin Hua and the others.

Aunt Pei looked at the door, lowered her voice, and used a tone that was both awe-filled and somewhat uncomprehending:

"It seems to be from Singapore, saying he is a 'young master' of some big group, surnamed Meng. I heard the Madam tell her friends that his family is engaged in something called a 'family office,' which is specifically for managing that kind of money that is too much to count. Also said his family is preparing to take a lot of money to invest in new energy or something here. That person seems to be less than thirty years old, unmarried, and has released albums, published books, and is particularly famous."

Xiao Jing’s eyebrows instantly furrowed.

She naturally knew about family offices; many families in this circle were engaged in this.

However, most of them relied on domestic securities firms or trust companies to do some wealth management and inheritance businesses.

But, to be able to make her mother specially mention it with vocabulary like "Singapore" and "family office," it proved that the other party’s identity and background were absolutely extraordinary.

Coupled with information like "money that is too much to count" and "new energy" connected together.

A clear image emerged in her mind: a "young master" from an overseas top consortium who held huge capital and was looking for high-quality new energy assets to invest in.

This happened to accurately step on her father’s most urgent and vulnerable demand point.

Huineng Electronics had technical reserves; otherwise, her father wouldn't have sold Jinxiu Trading to save it.

Maybe if it survives this disaster, it can really rise.

This is a bit troublesome.

What she needed was a shock, to let her parents see Tang Zong’s "power" (the actual controller of Lanfeng International), and see the top connection standing behind him—Shangguan Qiuya.

Then, borrowing Shangguan Qiuya’s energy, she would pry the resources of Tangyi Precision and try to revitalize Huineng Electronics in the technical route.

In this way, Tang Zong would become the "savior" of the Tian family.

Later, even if her parents knew about other women around Tang Zong, looking at this huge favor and the potential Tang Zong displayed, they would only have to pinch their noses and accept it.

She could also play with Tang Zong with peace of mind, and could also pull in Qingqing, Xiaoxue, and others.

But now, the sudden appearance of this person surnamed Meng would likely make the script of the whole show go completely astray.

After all, no matter how powerful Shangguan Qiuya is, she is only an assistant to Director Jin.

What she can mobilize are industrial resources and connections, which is a relatively long process that requires careful cultivation.

And this person surnamed Meng, what he can bring is likely the simplest, most brutal, and most direct—capital.

He can directly use "money power" to solve the capital chain problem of Huineng Electronics, or even initiate an acquisition directly.

If at tomorrow’s birthday party, the person standing beside her father is such a "gold daddy," then the "shock effect" brought by Tang Zong and the Shangguan Qiuya behind him will be greatly reduced.

Although Tang Zong is also very unusual, owning 80% of Lanfeng International’s equity and having a live-streaming e-commerce company with rapid growth.

But these industries are indeed not on the same track as a family office that can mobilize hundreds of millions of dollars in capital.

After all, Tang Zong started from scratch, and his family is just an ordinary rural family; the gap in foundation is too big.

This "future son-in-law strength display meeting" originally led by her will likely evolve into a "high-quality potential son-in-law PK competition" led by her father.

This made her feel a wave of irritability.

"Miss, what the Madam meant, is it that she wants to introduce the other party to you?" Aunt Pei’s face was somewhat worried.

She knew that Xiao Jing had a boyfriend and that he would be there.

If at that time, the Master and Madam were accompanied by such a person, and the relatives and friends around were all revolving around the other party, then Xiao Jing and her boyfriend would definitely have problems.

She was a senior housekeeper who had been employed by the Tian family for more than ten years and had almost watched Xiao Jing grow up.

Xiao Jing pursed her lips, "It’s okay, Aunt Pei."

However, one good point is that Zheng Qiudong will also come this time. The chairman of Dejurenhe is a real big shot, and his status and energy should be able to suppress that person surnamed Meng in the country.

Unfortunately—Zheng Qiudong and Shangguan Qiuya are different; he hasn't developed that kind of special intimate relationship with Brother Tang Zong.

Ah... pei huai huai...

Xiao Jing’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she gave herself a bite in her heart.

Brother Tang Zong certainly cannot have an intimate relationship with him, wouldn't that make him Gay!

She although has some perverted little hobbies, she is not a fujoshi!

However...

Her eyeballs rolled cunningly, and an idea quietly formed in the bottom of her heart.

She must find a way, at tomorrow’s birthday party, to cleverly use Shangguan Qiuya’s little thoughts, and pull Zheng Qiudong, this big shot, into the game together.

Together to stand for Brother Tang Zong!

10:00 AM.

The door lock made a "click" sound.

Xiao Jing, who was chatting in the living room, raised her head and said immediately: "Dad, you’re back!"

Tian Chengye gave an "mm," took off his suit jacket, and threw it on the sofa casually.

His whole person sank heavily into it.

His tie was pulled crookedly, and his face was full of undisguised haggardness and exhaustion.

For the past half month, he had almost been soaked in Huineng Electronics in Hangzhou.

On one hand, he had to appease the technical team on the verge of collapse, and on the other hand, he had to circle among various investment institutions, hoping to pull in life-saving funds.

His whole person had lost a big circle.

Xiao Jing hurriedly put down her phone, her eyebrows pressed, "What’s going on? There are bloodshot eyes, did you not sleep well last night?"

Tian Chengye rubbed his swollen eyebrows, his voice hoarse: "Didn't sleep all night—regret, regret so much that I couldn't sleep. Jingjing, Dad did a heaven-defying stupid thing."

"What happened?" Xiao Jing’s heart also hung up.

Tian Chengye looked at the ceiling with unfocused eyes, his voice full of irrepressible annoyance, "Yesterday—Jinxiu Trading, there was a major positive news."

Xiao Jing reacted immediately, "Valuation rose?"

Last month, in order to plug the capital hole of Huineng Electronics, her father painfully sold 7.5% of the Jinxiu Trading equity he held.

At that time, it was calculated based on an overall valuation of 1.8 billion.

Because everyone was optimistic about Jinxiu’s future appreciation space, an enterprise from the Imperial Capital named "Jingyi Asset Management Company" soon took over.

It is said that although this company was just established, it has a strong overseas capital background and is extremely generous in its shots.

Directly used 135 million in cash for the acquisition, easing her father’s debt crisis.

Tian Chengye was silent for a long time before opening his mouth with difficulty in a voice like a dream:

"Meigou Technology has internal news leaked, its 'Global Speed Pass' plan has been jointly approved by the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, and other departments, and it has reached cooperation agreements with more than a dozen countries along the 'Belt and Road,' and in a series of channel memorandums, there is the name of Jinxiu Trading—"

Hearing this, Xiao Jing understood instantly.

Because of Weixiao Capital, Jinxiu Trading had already had deep cooperation with Meigou Technology in cross-border e-commerce business, and even possessed some internal priority channels.

However, previously because Meigou’s overseas business model had been finalized, Jinxiu Trading was considered a late entrant; although it also shared a cup of soup, it never managed to eat the most core piece of cake.

But now it’s different!

This is a brand-new strategic cooperation promoted at the national level!

Jinxiu Trading will undoubtedly be able to ride this east wind in the first batch!

Tian Chengye painfully grabbed his hair, his voice full of remorse: "One wrong step, every step wrong! If I could have waited a little longer, even if it was just a month before selling, the valuation might have been 2.5 billion, or even 3 billion! This—this loss is almost one hundred million!"

Looking at her father’s face full of decadence and unwillingness, Xiao Jing also sighed in her heart.

She knew better than anyone how heavy this mistake was for her father, who was now in a critical situation.

But there is no regret medicine in the world.

Jinxiu Trading’s shares cannot come back.

"Dad, it’s okay, business matters, there are gains and losses, there will be other opportunities in the future."

Tian Chengye looked at the sweet and obedient daughter in front of him, wanting to say something several times, and finally turned it into a heavy sigh.

The current him can be called besieged on all sides.

Zhongcheng Group is in decline, and personal assets have shrunk significantly.

Personally carrying huge loans.

Selling Jinxiu Trading’s equity to support Huineng Electronics, resulting in missing major positive news.

One wrong step, every step wrong.

He is really scared. Scared that he will suddenly explode one day, and lose the whole family, and the stable and affluent life of his daughter.

And precisely because of this, he is more urgent than ever, wanting his daughter to have a future that is strong enough and reliable enough.

Yancheng Normal University, School of Computer Science and Technology, Room 412.

The teaching building on the weekend is much quieter than on weekdays.

Jiang Yourong sat in her office, wearing anti-blue light glasses on the bridge of her nose, focusing on revising an application report for the National Natural Science Foundation.

"Ding-a-ling—" A somewhat abrupt phone ring broke the silence in the room.

She picked up the phone, her heart jumped, and she almost subconsciously stood up from the chair, walked quickly to the corner by the window, and pressed the answer button.

"Hello, Assistant Shangguan." Her voice couldn't help but carry a trace of respect.

"Yourong, didn't disturb your weekend rest, did I?" The voice of Shangguan Qiuya came from the other end of the phone, cold and pleasant, but carrying a few smiles of closeness.

"No, no, I just happened to be in the office organizing some materials."

"That’s good," Shangguan Qiuya’s tone was light and natural, "I just came over from the Imperial Capital, and I’m near your Normal University. Thinking that it’s not easy to come here once, I want to invite you to have lunch together, I don't know if it’s convenient? I’ve already booked the restaurant."

This sudden invitation made Jiang Yourong’s heart jump.

She knew that a figure like Shangguan Qiuya would never really just "pass by" or "casually" invite someone to a meal.

"Convenient! Of course convenient!"

"I’ll be downstairs at your teaching building soon."

"Okay, I’ll be down immediately!"

Hanging up the phone, Jiang Yourong took a deep breath, walked to the mirror, and quickly tidied up her makeup and clothes.

After confirming that everything was appropriate, she put on her coat, took her handbag, and walked out of the office quickly.

Coming downstairs to the teaching building, she saw the black Maybach with a strong aura parked on the side of the road at a glance.

Beside the car, a tall and slender figure was standing elegantly.

Wearing a well-tailored beige long windbreaker, with a turtleneck cashmere sweater of the same color inside, her whole body exuded a powerful aura that was calm but impossible to ignore.

"Assistant Shangguan." Jiang Yourong stepped forward quickly.

"Yourong, you’re here." Shangguan Qiuya raised her head, a smile of just the right amount appearing on her face, and she personally opened the rear door for her.

The two exchanged pleasantries and got into the back seat of the car one after another. "—" The car door closed.

The Maybach started steadily, isolating the noise of the campus.

Because they had met not long ago, Jiang Yourong wasn't as nervous as she was at the first meeting.

But looking at Assistant Shangguan beside her, whose temperament was outstanding, she couldn't help but feel a wave of complicated emotion in her heart.

Fate is sometimes so wonderful. If she hadn't left back then.

Perhaps at this moment, there would be a place for her beside Director Jin.

Smiled self-deprecatingly in her heart.

Jiang Yourong took the initiative to speak: "Is Assistant Shangguan here in Yancheng for important work this time?"

Shangguan Qiuya smiled, her tone casual: "You could say that, I’m here to attend a friend’s birthday party."

Jiang Yourong was somewhat stunned; she couldn't imagine that with Shangguan Qiuya’s status, she would have a friend in Yancheng who needed her to come in person to attend a birthday party.

Shangguan Qiuya didn't linger on this topic, but instead started chatting with her.

Chatting about her teaching life at the university, and the scientific research projects she was tackling recently.

The atmosphere gradually became familiar.

More than ten minutes later.

The car stopped outside a high-end private restaurant.

Entering the private room, the two sat opposite each other.

Shangguan Qiuya seemed to have suddenly thought of something and asked seemingly casually: "By the way, Yourong, I remember you are a long-time friend of Ms. Xie Shuyu, the founder of Weiguang Coffee, right?"

"Yes!" Jiang Yourong’s heart moved, and she nodded immediately, "We are university alumni and have been in contact ever since. Now we are both in Yancheng, and our relationship is very good."

Shangguan Qiuya’s lips curled slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.

"Director Jin has always been very concerned about the new consumption field in China. Weixiao Holdings just fully acquired a boutique coffee bean supplier located in Yunnan Province some time ago. This company not only owns its own high-altitude planting manor and roasting factory, but also, with the support of Weixiao Holdings, has assembled a very strong beverage R&D team."

She paused, her gaze falling on Jiang Yourong’s face, and said slowly: "I hope to convey a cooperation intention to President Xie through you.

We can become the exclusive raw material supplier for Weiguang Coffee in the future. At the same time, our R&D team can also have deep cooperation with her,

to jointly develop new products suitable for the domestic market."

"This—this is of course a good thing!" Jiang Yourong suppressed the shock in her heart, trying hard to make her voice sound calm, "I believe Shuyu will definitely be very interested."

Shangguan Qiuya nodded, and then said: "Also, Director Jin mentioned that this supplier company will establish an 'AI Intelligent Quality Control and Flavor R&D Laboratory' in the future, which just happens to need technical support from a professional team from a university. She thinks that you and your team are very suitable."

At this, Jiang Yourong only felt a huge electric current shoot from her tailbone to the top of her head, and the blood in her whole body was boiling in an instant.

Lanfeng International High-end Apartment.

The door of Room 2002 was pushed open gently, and two beautiful figures walked out.

Lin Muxue carried an Hermes Birkin, talking to Xu Ning about the recent business expansion of Xuetang Culture, and walked toward the elevator.

With the official use of the Yannan Short Drama Film and Television Base, her artist brokerage business developed extremely rapidly.

In just three months, the company had initially achieved profitability.

However, what made her somewhat uncomfortable was that the company’s money was different from her own, and she couldn't take it out to spend directly; she had to wait for dividends or reimbursement through some compliant methods.

But this was not bad; at least she was now a "boss" in name and reality.

Just as her thoughts were flying.

A tall figure with great oppressive force appeared abruptly in the center of the corridor in front of them.

The corridor lighting was a carefully designed warm tone, and the light hit down diagonally from the ceiling, just covering that figure.

She was wearing a tight-fitting beige knitted dress, outlining a perfect curve with a protruding front and a warped back, and a high-quality black cashmere long coat was draped casually on the outside.

The simple color scheme was worn by her with a powerful aura that made people’s hearts palpitate.

Her features were three-dimensional and bright, like a Greek sculpture.

Golden wavy long hair was draped over her shoulders like a waterfall, making her skin look cold and white under the light as if it were glowing.

Lin Muxue’s heart jumped violently.

Anne Kate!

The reason she could recognize her quickly.

Not only because the other party was a member of the Jinhui Committee, but also because she had met her in that Lanfeng International apartment where Su Yu lived before Su Yu’s concert.

However, at that time, she was just an inconspicuous little Xue, and didn't even get to say much.

But she... how could she suddenly appear here?

Just as Lin Muxue was suspicious and uncertain in her heart.

Anne Kate stopped.

A pair of ice-blue eyes, as clear and cold as a Siberian ice lake, shot straight over.

That was a scrutiny from a higher dimension,

calm, indifferent, but carrying an oppressive force that seemed to penetrate the soul.

Lin Muxue stopped, her breathing somewhat nervous.

She knew some of the other party’s background: one of the heirs of the American Kate family, a true world-class white-rich-beautiful.

Their eyes met.

Lin Muxue forced herself to calm down, squeezing a decent smile on her face, "Hello, Ms. Kate, what a coincidence, I didn't expect to meet you here."

"Not at all, darling."

Anne’s voice was very light, carrying a trace of lazy American accent, the tail sound rising slightly.

Immediately, she took a step forward, leaned in front of Lin Muxue, and a playful, unfathomable smile hooked at the corner of her mouth.

"I’m here for you."

Lin Muxue’s legs tightened.

And why does this voice sound so familiar?!

And why is this voice so familiar?!

She subconsciously held her breath, trying hard to search in the fragments of memory.

A vague fragment flashed out abruptly.