Maxing Out Charisma, Inheriting Game Assets Chapter 288: The Show-Off Mastermind, Little Xue

Feeling the astonished gazes and expressions of her two old friends, Zhao Yaqian couldn’t help but feel a bit smug.

In the past, her image in others’ eyes hadn’t been the best. However, over the past three months, she had undergone a complete transformation. Afraid of her relatives finding out, she hadn’t posted anything on her social media. Holding it all in, this moment was her little chance to revel in satisfaction.

Placing her bag next to Zhang Mengchu, Zhao Yaqian pursed her lips and smiled. “What’s the matter? Don’t recognize me anymore?”

Chen Yue’s gaze followed her bag as it landed, and she instinctively swallowed. “How could I not? Of course I recognize you.”

The Hermès Birkin—also known as the “King of Handbags”—is one of Hermès’ most iconic bags. Revered in the fashion world, it holds a high resale value on the second-hand market. Chen Yue had seen a similar sakura-pink model while visiting an Hermès boutique in Suzhou with her ex-boyfriend.

It was such a sought-after item that purchasing it required joining a lengthy queue, often paired with additional purchases worth up to 300,000 yuan. A Birkin 30 of similar condition would sell for no less than 150,000 yuan on the second-hand market.

Back then, Chen Yue had been captivated by the bag but understood her limits. Her ex-boyfriend would never have bought such an extravagant luxury for her. In the end, she only managed to coax him into buying her a scarf, which still left her thrilled for days.

Now, as she looked at the coveted Birkin 30 and then at the stunning, stylish Zhao Yaqian, her mind couldn’t process what she was seeing. Just a few months ago, this same Yaqian had borrowed money from her—so how had she transformed so drastically?

Although Chen Yue had been exposed to some luxury through her ex-boyfriend, her understanding was still limited. If not for the Hermès Birkin, she might not have been this shocked. But… could the bag be fake? A high-quality counterfeit?

“Yaqian,” Zhang Mengchu said as she stood up from her seat, eyeing Zhao Yaqian up and down. “You’ve changed so much. You look stunning now.”

It wasn’t that Zhao Yaqian hadn’t been attractive before, but a person’s aura and style greatly impact their overall charm. With her ten years of experience as a beautician, Zhang Mengchu had a keen eye.

The current Zhao Yaqian, with her “white rich beauty” appearance, radiated an air of refinement and elegance that was impossible to fake. It was a cultivated vibe, something that didn’t come naturally to someone as pure-minded as Zhao Yaqian.

By comparison, Chen Yue had always posted pictures of luxury goods, fancy cars, and five-star hotels on social media. Yet when meeting in person, her essence hadn’t fundamentally changed. She and Zhao Yaqian were now worlds apart.

“Thank you for the compliment, Ms. Zhang!” Zhao Yaqian beamed and gave Zhang Mengchu a warm hug. Then, turning to Chen Yue, she extended her arms for another hug. “It’s been so long, Yueyue. I’ve really missed you.”

“It’s been a while, Yaqian,” Chen Yue replied with a complicated tone.

Then Zhao Yaqian glanced at the nearby coffee shop employee and asked with a smile, “Were you chatting with a friend just now?”

“Yes, this is my high school classmate, Qian Lele. She’s currently studying at Yan City Normal University and working here part-time. I brought Ms. Zhang along for coffee and a chat,” Chen Yue explained briefly.

“Hi, Lele! A university student—how nice!” Zhao Yaqian’s eyes lit up, finding her name both amusing and memorable. “I’m Yaqian, Yueyue’s classmate from the Excellence Training School.”

“Hello,” Qian Lele responded quickly, sneaking a glance at Zhao Yaqian. Standing under the bright lights of the café, Yaqian looked radiant, with flawless, dewy skin and a wardrobe that screamed luxury.

Feeling self-conscious under her gaze, Qian Lele quickly lowered her head and hid her hands behind her back. “Um… I’ll get back to work. You guys carry on.” She then hurried off toward the workroom.

Pulling out her phone, Zhao Yaqian went to the counter and ordered a cup of cherry fruit tea before sitting down beside Zhang Mengchu. Eyeing the cake base on the table, she couldn’t resist licking her lips and pinching a piece to taste.

“It’s so good!” she exclaimed with a sweet smile.

“Try the red velvet cake,” Zhang Mengchu offered, pushing her dessert forward.

Zhao Yaqian’s eyes sparkled but she firmly shook her head. “No, thanks, Ms. Zhang. I’ve gained a bit of weight and I’m trying hard to lose it.”

Though her current weight wasn’t apparent given her height, Tang Song was returning to Yan City tomorrow. She wanted to present herself in the best possible state.

“Alright then,” Zhang Mengchu said, letting it go.

Chen Yue couldn’t hold back anymore. Glancing at the Hermès bag on the table, she spoke first. “Yaqian, what kind of work are you doing now? And is this Hermès Birkin real?”

Zhao Yaqian froze momentarily but decided to answer honestly. “I left my job at the beauty salon a while ago and haven’t been working since.” Then, hesitating slightly, she added, “As for the bag… a friend gave it to me.”

She wasn’t sure how to explain it properly—especially since her relationship with "Ms. Su" was rather unique.

Hearing this, Chen Yue’s eye twitched. “Uh…”

What kind of answer was that? A second-hand Hermès bag valued at 150,000 yuan, gifted by a ? Where do people find friends like that?

If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable!

It seemed she was still the same naïve and gullible Zhao Yaqian. While today’s outfit was impressive, it could just as easily be the result of her vanity—splurging on high-quality knockoffs to make a statement.

Zhang Mengchu didn’t know what to say either. She believed Zhao Yaqian, but even she found the explanation a little far-fetched.

Chen Yue pointed to the Hermès bag sitting by the table. “I’ve always loved this bag in the black-and-silver color combo. Can I take a closer look?”

“Sure!” Zhao Yaqian agreed generously—she still trusted her old friends.

Chen Yue picked up the Hermès bag, running her fingers over its smooth leather, examining the detailed hardware, and checking the intricate patterns. Her jaw dropped the more she looked.

Having seen the sakura-pink Birkin in person before, its craftsmanship was etched in her memory. This one… looked exactly like the real deal. Was counterfeit craftsmanship this advanced now?

“Yaqian,” Chen Yue reluctantly placed the bag back down, “this bag retails for over 100,000 yuan, and with the purchase requirements, it’s nearly 300,000. What kind of friend is this—your boyfriend? Someone pursuing you?”

The mention of “boyfriend” instantly brought a warm smile to Zhao Yaqian’s face. “No, no, it’s just a female friend—a close sister who gifted it to me. But yes, I do have a boyfriend.”

Having received so much, Zhao Yaqian couldn’t muster even the smallest grievance against Tang Song. Since they were both women under “Brother Song,” calling her a sister felt entirely fitting. If she ever ran into her in the future, she’d know to step aside gracefully.

Zhang Mengchu seemed to recall something and asked, “Is it the guy you posted a shadowed photo of on your social media?”

She remembered seeing a vague photo but hadn’t asked much since she and Zhao Yaqian weren’t in frequent contact.

“Yup!” Zhao Yaqian nodded enthusiastically.

Chen Yue grinned. “Let’s see a picture of your boyfriend. You’ve never posted one on social media.”

“Yueyue, you’re one to talk! You haven’t posted any pictures of your boyfriend either!” Zhao Yaqian teased as she pulled out her phone and started scrolling through her gallery.

Her sudden wealth made her wary of drawing attention, so she had deliberately kept a low profile. But with her friends, there was no reason to hide. In fact, she was eager to introduce Tang Song to them.

As she wore a joyful and content expression, her words unexpectedly stung Chen Yue.

Chen Yue had always been attractive and pursued by many boys growing up. In her school days, she’d experienced moments of heart-fluttering crushes and ambiguous relationships with male classmates. One of them had even visited Yan City last year, and when she saw him, she’d worn the same expression as Zhao Yaqian now.

But after choosing her current partner—Guo, a man in his 40s—she had cut off ties with that classmate entirely. Their relationship was complicated, not to mention the fact that Guo was married. She wouldn’t dare post anything about him on her social media.

“Here, this is him!” Zhao Yaqian pushed her phone to the center of the table and continued nibbling on the edges of her cake while sneaking glances at her friends’ reactions.

Both Chen Yue and Zhang Mengchu leaned forward simultaneously to look at the screen. Their faces revealed a shared expression of awe.

The photo showed a man in his twenties sitting casually on a sofa. Behind him was a backdrop of luxurious, high-end furniture. He was dressed in a black shirt and trousers, with a faint, enigmatic smile on his face.

The young man in the photo had handsome, refined features and a tall, well-proportioned physique. His presence exuded a sense of sophistication and charm. He was the type of man who immediately gave off an impression of magnetism and grace.

Zhang Mengchu marveled, “He’s so handsome! Yaqian, you’re really lucky to have such an amazing boyfriend.”

“Thank you, Ms. Zhang,” Zhao Yaqian said, sticking out her pink tongue playfully. “But yes, my boyfriend really is outstanding.”

“Yaqian, is this your boyfriend?” Chen Yue couldn’t help but question again.

“Of course it is!” Zhao Yaqian replied confidently, sliding through her phone to pull up more photos. “Here’s one of us together.”

When she showed them a photo of the two, standing close and looking affectionate, Chen Yue felt a tightness in her chest. A complicated, sour feeling welled up within her.

Compared to her ex, the greasy and middle-aged Mr. Guo, this young man was nothing short of a heartthrob. His attire and demeanor hinted at someone of good standing. And even if he weren’t wealthy, dating someone like him would never feel like a loss.

Taking a sip of her cold coffee, Chen Yue pressed her lips tightly together. She had struggled with her decision before choosing Mr. Guo, but the repeated bank transfers and red envelopes he sent had eventually won her over. Still, she dreaded the possibility of future regret.

Now, as she gazed at Zhao Yaqian’s radiant smile, Chen Yue felt almost blinded. She couldn’t raise her head and instead found herself plagued with self-doubt.

Touching the LV bag worth 10,000 yuan that sat beside her, Chen Yue consoled herself internally:

The café’s air conditioning was set to a chilly level, and the aroma of coffee mingled with the scent of sweet desserts.

While sipping her sugary fruit tea, Zhao Yaqian chatted with Zhang Mengchu about future developments in the beauty industry. Tang Song had given her very clear tasks: figure out what she was interested in, conduct market research, identify a direction, and build a simple network within the industry.

Thanks to her older cousin’s help, she had nearly finished her market research. The next steps involved pinpointing her focus and leveraging Zhang Mengchu’s connections to establish a small circle of contacts. With over ten years of experience in the field and a year of teaching at the training school, Ms. Zhang was perfectly positioned to assist.

“Ring ring—”

Just as the conversation grew lively, Zhao Yaqian’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and immediately answered with enthusiasm. “Hello, Xiaoxue.”

“No, no, there’s no rush. I’m having coffee with Ms. Zhang right now. We’ll chat more once we’re at the restaurant.”

“Alright, I’ll send you the address.”

“Okay, let me check.”

Turning to Ms. Zhang, she asked, “Have you reserved a restaurant for lunch?”

Ms. Zhang shook her head. “No, I wasn’t sure what you wanted to eat, so I didn’t make a reservation.”

With a smile, Zhao Yaqian said, “One of my friends will be joining us later. Since we don’t have a reservation, I’ll let her handle it. It’s the weekend, and popular restaurants are bound to be packed. She has some connections that might help.”

“Sure, anything works for me. You decide,” Ms. Zhang replied.

Returning to her call, Zhao Yaqian said, “Then I’ll leave it to you, Xiaoxue.”

She ended the call.

Curious, Chen Yue asked, “Was that Wang Xue just now?” Wang Xue was another trainee from their group and a local of Yan City.

“No, it wasn’t her,” Zhao Yaqian said, smiling and shaking her head. “It’s a close friend of mine. You two don’t know her.” She glanced at the cake base on the table and couldn’t resist taking another bite.

Xingchen Garden, Building 8, Apartment 501

“Quick, quick! Mid-lane needs backup!”

“Ah! Minmin, you noob! Your healing ability is ready—why didn’t you use it?”

“I panicked! Arthur jumped out of the bushes and hit me with a combo—it scared me to death! Sister Wen Ruan, go get them!”

“

“”

“”

“Holy crap! Sister Wen Ruan, you’re an absolute god-tier jungler!”

As the game ended, a soaring dragon animation appeared on Yao Lingling’s phone screen. When it faded, she saw that she had finally reached the King rank. Overcome with excitement, she let out a series of delighted squeals.

Beside her, Li Shumin pouted enviously. She was still stuck at Glory III.

While waiting for the next match, Yao Lingling cheerfully said, “Sister Wen Ruan, why aren’t you on voice chat today? I wanted to ask you something. Is it inconvenient right now?”

After a moment, the microphone icon appeared next to the avatar labeled [171 Purehearted High School Girl]. A slightly dry yet sultry voice answered, “I’ve got a sore throat—feeling a bit under the weather. What’s up?”

The game queue popped, and Yao Lingling tapped to confirm. In a quieter tone, she said, “It’s like this—I was wondering if you know what Senior Tang Song likes? Or if there’s something he might want?”

With just one week until her salary and bonus came in—an estimated total of over 20,000 yuan—Yao Lingling was thrilled about this unprecedented sum. She had been contemplating how to use it wisely.

Her first priority was a gift for Tang Song, setting aside part of her budget for that. Afterward, she planned to buy something for Xiao Mingxuan, and whatever remained could go toward a 125cc scooter she’d been eyeing.

But choosing the right gift had her stumped. After much deliberation, she realized her only mutual acquaintance with Senior Tang Song was her in-game friend [171 Purehearted High School Girl].

Sister Wen Ruan was a mature and insightful woman, someone Yao Lingling deeply trusted on an intuitive level. She was eager for her advice.

Hearing Yao Lingling’s earnest question, [171 Purehearted High School Girl] abruptly turned off her microphone, and the game queue was canceled.

“What’s wrong, Sister Wen Ruan?” Yao Lingling asked, puzzled.

After a while, the microphone came back on, accompanied by the sound of someone gulping water. “I wasn’t feeling well just now,” Wen Ruan said after a pause. “As for Tang Song… I do know what he likes, but I’m not sure you’d be willing to give it.”

“I would!” Yao Lingling quickly replied. “I’ll do my best.”

Her budget was a full 10,000 yuan—an amount she’d never spent all at once in her life. Of course, it still couldn’t compare to the concert tickets Tang Song had gifted her, but it was a start.

“Ha.” Wen Ruan chuckled softly, her tone turning serious. “From what I know, his greatest desire is female companionship. You might want to play to his preferences in that regard.”

“Ah!” Yao Lingling exclaimed, her face flushing red. She stammered, unable to find the words to respond.

Next to her, Li Shumin smirked and teased, “Well, that aligns nicely with your own preferences, doesn’t it? Hurry up and go for it! Senior Tang Song is waiting for you!”

“Shut up, you little brat!” Yao Lingling, flustered and enraged, kicked at Li Shumin with her long legs.

Born with a naturally athletic physique, Yao Lingling had powerful legs, leaving Li Shumin no choice but to flee. She hopped onto the dining table, pulling faces at Yao Lingling while grabbing her microphone.

“Hey, Sister Wen Ruan,” Li Shumin called out loudly. “You have no idea—every time we talk about Senior Tang Song, Lingling’s eyes light up, and her hips start swaying…”

“Ahhh! You wretched Minmin!” Yao Lingling shouted, quitting the game entirely and chasing after her.

The two tussled playfully for a while before finally settling down.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Li Shumin shoved her friend aside, laughing as she skipped to answer it. “Welcome, Young Master Xiao, to our humble abode!”

Xiao Mingxuan entered, carrying several takeout bags. “Good afternoon, ladies. I heard from Shumin that you were planning to eat for lunch. The weather’s too hot today, so I decided to bring it over instead.”

“Wow! Thank you so much, Young Master Xiao. You’re so thoughtful!” Li Shumin eagerly took the bags and placed them on the dining table. She then fetched a fruit platter and some drinks from the fridge. “It’s 37 degrees out today. Have some fruit to cool down—there’s also iced Coke.”

Seeing this, Yao Lingling