Chapter 588

The message was very simple, only 6 short characters.

But it made the teacup in Ouyang Xianyue's hand ripple with circles of waves.

Her mother opposite immediately noticed her intense 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 and looking at the gentle expression on her face.

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

"Hmm." 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 a bit. "He is coming to the house? Oh my, I have to prepare immediately!

Do I need to tidy up the east wing? The one next to you, it faces well and is quiet—"

Her tone was full of undisguised joy and anticipation.

Ouyang Xianyue was stunned, then laughed and shook her head: "Mom, you're overthinking it; that's not what I meant. It's mainly because grandfather has been talking about him and wants to see him one last time before he goes. You know, 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 said cautiously: "Xiaoxiong, actually, it's not just your grandfather; your father and I—also appreciate him very much. We all feel that this young man is truly remarkable in terms of pattern, ability, and character. We are also very relieved that you can have such a—good friend."

"Hehe." Ouyang Xianyue was amused. "You guys can really 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? Besides, the relationship between us is not what you think."

As she spoke, she tapped the screen with her fingertips 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, this direct contact from him felt 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 from about a year ago, which was before Christmas 2022.

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

However, that message was like a stone sinking into the sea, receiving no reply.

Just as he said when he left, he wanted to be more resolute than 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 quickly typed: "Of course, as you wish."

Her mother sipped her tea, watching her expressions and movements, her eyes showing contemplation.

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

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

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

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

When they learned from their daughter Ouyang Xianyue that there was 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 let go of their worries.

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

From three generations of ancestors 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.

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

He single-handedly created enterprises that would later become famous, such as [Tang Yi Precision], [Smile Investment] (the predecessor of Smile Holdings), and [Jingwu Capital].

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

So important that Ouyang Xianyue, in order to ensure his absolute safety in the country, even spared no effort to use all the connections and sentiments of the Ouyang family and her ex-husband's family.

At the same time, this was also the only opposite-sex person 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 about to say something.

But she suddenly stopped.

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

What relationship?

She really hadn't seriously considered this question.

★￠O

Calling it elder and younger? That's nonsense. Although Tang Song respected her, he never had the slightest bit of awe in front of her. Their interaction was also dominated by him.

Calling it friends? But it seemed to be far more than that.

Perhaps—it could 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—[Xinkaihang].

It 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, [Xinkaihang] was on the verge of bankruptcy and was once her husband's biggest heart disease.

Although the feelings between the two were 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 drops in customer orders still came like a tide.

For two whole years, it almost pushed 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 in front of her.

That young man, only 19 years old, had clear and clean eyes, but also 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 hadn't seen for many years.

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

And forged the broken "Xinkaihang" 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 had always been indifferent, lacking the warmth of emotion.

In fact, deep 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.

Over the years, she had wanted to bring it up countless times, but Tang Song when getting along with her was too "cold," too "self-centered," and too "inviolable."

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

There were many things she couldn't say.

And now that he has returned from "training," it seems he has 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, got up, and walked slowly into the courtyard alone.

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

The air carried a hint of sweetness and coolness left 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 out.

She vaguely remembered that the little Ouyang bear back then used to tirelessly circle around this big tree, picking up ginkgo leaves.

She looked up at the high, clear sky with clouds rolling and relaxing.

In the interlacing of light and shadow, it seemed to gradually weave into a high-spirited, radiant figure.

At 19, he was destined to amaze her for the rest of her life from the very beginning.

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

The night grew deeper.

In a high-rise apartment in Qingyang District.

The lights were bright, and the atmosphere was warm.

On the wide white sofa in the living room, Xie Shu 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 moist luster like ivory.

She was holding a cartoon pillow of Chibi Maruko-chan in her arms, 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 had a lot of common topics with her.

The two had agreed that once they made money, they would go to Shizuoka City in the Sakura Country together.

Visit the prototype school of Chibi Maruko-chan.

It's just that now, they no longer had the original state of mind and mood.

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

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

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

"She not only made [Tang Yi Precision] global top-tier with her own strength but also made great contributions to our country's sci-tech industry—"

Xie Shu listened quietly, occasionally echoing with a smile.

She knew that her good friend of many years had always regarded Ouyang Xianyue as her ultimate idol.

Even her hairstyle was deliberately imitating Ms. Ouyang's most classic short-to-medium hair style.

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

Of course, if she had to compare, deep in Xie Shu's heart, she actually appreciated that Director Jin more.

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

Her path to success certainly had her own efforts and talent, but she must have also received the protection and support of the family.

Director Jin, on the other hand, was more legendary, younger, and even more daunting.

She seemed to be a true self-made person, creating the huge and mysterious empire of [Smile Holdings] in just a few years with her own strength.

Just at this moment.

"Ding-a-ling—" The phone Xie Shu placed on the coffee table suddenly rang.

[Zhao Ying]

Meng Ran immediately stopped talking, her body leaned forward slightly, and her eyes became focused, asking in a low voice: "Is that the Deputy Secretary-General of the Catering Association?"

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

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

Xie Shu said in a gentle tone: "Secretary-General Zhao is too polite; whenever you look for me, I always have time."

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

"It's like this, Manager Xie. Our association recently received feedback from several member units, saying that [Glimmer Coffee] has some new stores whose fire safety and food safety permits seem to still be in the process? So I wanted to confirm with you if you need the association to come forward and help coordinate?"

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

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

They chatted for a few more sentences.

After hanging up the phone.

Xie Shu sighed helplessly and rubbed her sore eyebrows.

This was not 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.

The influence of [Zhongshu Group] 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 heavy.

"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 difficult.

If you don't want to be messed with by Zhongshu Group, you must introduce a more powerful capital party, a capital with a complete ecosystem and absolute strength that can cover for you.

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

Xie Shu 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 would still take the initiative to accept financing.

Often, they even introduced 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 low voices 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 is not 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 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 they each had independent space.

She had never taken the initiative to explore Tang Song's privacy, such as his real 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?"

"Should be a hotel."

"Why don't—let him come stay here for a night? Just share a room with 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 Xie Shu mentioned, but her biggest concern was [Glimmer Coffee]

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 good friend's proposal, Xie Shu's cheeks turned red instantly, and she was a bit hesitant.

Meng Ran looked at her like this, 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?!"

Xie Shu's eyes twitched, and she picked up the 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? Such a stunning beauty like you, 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 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-man!" Meng Ran exclaimed for a long time.

Then she said excitedly: "My dear Xiaoyu, that's your boyfriend! You two haven't even chatted properly for a single day, and you don't even sleep together when you go on business trips to other places. Do you think this is normal?"

Xie Shu's expression paused slightly.

What Meng Ran said indeed made sense.

The relationship between her and Tang Song was indeed not like a normal couple at all.

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

Thinking of this, although there was no big 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's phone rang again.

[Inspiration Design - Cheng Qiuqiu]

"I'll go answer the phone."

Xie Shu greeted Meng Ran and picked up the phone.

While walking toward the bedroom, she answered the phone.

"Hello? Qiuqiu."

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

"Lawyer? Did you encounter any problems?"

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

Rongcheng Second People's Hospital.

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

Outside the window was the pitch-black night sky and the messy, intertwined roof lights of the city below.

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

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

"Hello? Is this Lawyer Wang? Hello, I am Cheng Qiuqiu, introduced by Manager Xie Shu. 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 whole process of her mother buying the house, the project becoming unfinished, and getting injured while defending rights as calmly and objectively as possible.

Then, she pressed the receiver tightly against her ear.

Listening quietly to the lawyer's professional reply, occasionally answering a few questions with "Hmm," "Yes," and "Right."

As an unfinished project this year, Lawyer Wang clearly 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 but 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 shrewishly refusing to be discharged.

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

Qiuqiu really had no way to deal with this mother, and was also afraid she would do something wrong that couldn't be ended.

Therefore, she had to bite the bullet and ask Manager 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 collective rights defense 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 the court ruled that the developer should return the money.

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

The worst, and most likely result is.

Once the developer really goes bankrupt, the liquidation order will make things even messier—

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

She sat dryly 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 shrewish, were particularly turbid and bloodshot at this moment.

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?"

"Can't get it back."

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

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

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

She slapped the wall violently. "Damn those ancestors! Those thousand-cut 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 the god-damned developer.

As she cursed, her tears became more and more.

Her voice also changed from anger to sobbing.

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

Their gazes were either sympathetic, impatient, or disdainful.

Qiuqiu shrank her neck subconsciously, her body trembling slightly due to 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 kept repeating:

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

"They were going to build a subway next to it, and there was a park! I saw the effect drawing! People and cars separated, good greening, and there was a small garden inside!"

"Five certificates are complete! 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 became more and more, like needles pricking Qiuqiu's body.

She seemed unable to bear it anymore.

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

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

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

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

"Doing it for me again?! Doing it for me again!" Qiuqiu's expression was a bit manic. "You've had enough! From small to big, everything you do is for me?!"

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

In junior high, you brought me to Rongcheng and let me be bullied in that strange environment, it was for me too!

Grandma was sick and needed money to save her life, you held the money tightly and wouldn't take it out, it was for me too!

Now, you've lost all your life 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.

She cried and defended herself: "Who didn't do it for you? Do you know how I've lived these years since your dad died? We are orphans and widows, we don't even have our own house, and we have to look at other people's faces every day! I was afraid you would suffer the same crimes as me in the future!!"

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

"Your old man died falling from a scaffold when he was building a house in Rongcheng back then. His biggest wish in his life was to have a house in the city and bring you to the city to enjoy happiness. I have no ability, I couldn't keep him, I can't—I can't even keep you! This house was bought for you, and the house book also has your name, Cheng Qiuqiu, written on it. Where did I think—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; she couldn't say a single word.