Maxing Out Charisma, Inheriting Game Assets Chapter 368: Qiuqiu and Lingling, Xiaojing Teases Qingqing

Wednesday, August 9, 2023. Cloudy. 24~32°C.

Shangya Fashion Design Company.

The desk was covered with various fabric samples, and stacks of design sketches were piled neatly on a nearby shelf.

Yao Lingling, dressed in a simple white blouse and casual pants, held a soft graphite pencil, sketching and jotting down notes. Her hair was casually tied up, with a few loose strands falling around her face, giving her a focused yet carefree look.

After finishing the sketches, she let out a long breath and smiled with satisfaction.

Turning her head slightly, she said softly, "Minmin, the sketches are done. Help me prepare the fabric and accessories, we— Eh? Mingxuan? No, I mean, Director Xiao, when did you get here?"

"Haha." Xiao Mingxuan chuckled and blinked playfully. "Minmin is off handling some data work for me. I've been sitting here for half an hour already. I've even processed seven or eight OA applications."

"Ah..." Yao Lingling felt a little embarrassed. "I really didn’t notice. Sorry, Director Xiao."

Xiao Mingxuan shook his head. "No worries. Seeing you so focused on work is something I, as a leader, quite enjoy."

With the company's internal restructuring complete, Xiao Mingxuan had officially taken over as the Director of the Qimeng Brand Business Unit.

The brand focused on professional women with spending power, aiming to create high-quality products tailored to their needs.

As one of the department’s first recruits—and the most junior designer—Yao Lingling felt immense pressure and was constantly striving to prove herself.

Xiao Mingxuan carefully reviewed the sketch and shared his thoughts.

Although his formal education was in management, having grown up immersed in the industry, combined with his intense post-graduation studies, he had developed a solid understanding of fashion design.

They chatted for a few minutes.

Xiao Mingxuan then smiled and said, "Since your designs are done, you shouldn’t have to work overtime tonight, right? There’s still half an hour until we’re off—how about some crayfish and barbecue at the food stalls?"

"Uh..." Yao Lingling hesitated. "Sorry, I already made plans with a friend a few days ago. I’m meeting her tonight to buy a secondhand riding suit in Qiaoxi District. It’s a bit far."

After getting her scooter, she found that wearing proper riding gear was crucial for safety, especially for long trips or visits home.

But given her current financial situation, she couldn’t justify buying new gear.

Like her scooter, she had posted a wanted ad in the university’s secondhand trading group.

Coincidentally, a girl was selling one, and their height and weight were almost identical.

It was a rare opportunity—one she didn’t want to miss.

"Alright, we’ll go tomorrow then." Xiao Mingxuan shrugged, unconcerned. Then he suddenly grinned. "Lingling, let me tell you a secret."

"What secret?" Yao Lingling immediately perked up, her face lighting up with curiosity as she leaned in.

Xiao Mingxuan lowered his voice. "I just realized—when you're focused on drawing, you look absolutely stunning."

Yao Lingling blinked, then laughed. "Thanks for the compliment, Director Xiao! Keep those truths coming—I love hearing them!"

"Haha." Xiao Mingxuan chuckled, glancing at her fresh, natural face. Then, picking up a pencil from the desk, he carefully wrote on the back of her sketch: "I really like it."

Placing the sketch back in front of her, he winked and strode away.

Yao Lingling lowered her gaze, staring at the four bold words, feeling a swirl of emotions.

At that moment, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed.

"Lingling."

Li Shumin walked over and asked curiously, "What were you and Director Xiao chatting about? You both seemed to be having fun, so I didn’t want to interrupt."

Yao Lingling shook her head. "Nothing much, just discussing the sketches. Oh, by the way, Director Xiao was thinking of grabbing some street food downstairs tonight. You could ask him if he’s still up for it."

Li Shumin nodded, then caught sight of the words on the paper.

She seemed to understand something.

With a sigh, she looked at Yao Lingling enviously. "Lingling, you don’t realize how lucky you are. A man this outstanding, this successful, with such a great personality—missing out on him would be a lifetime regret. Do you even know how many people in the company have their eyes on him?"

To Li Shumin, Xiao Mingxuan was the perfect man.

Handsome, charismatic, and the future president of the company...

A workplace romance with him would be like stepping into the pages of a novel—pure romance brought to life.

She had tried everything—texting him first, finding reasons to interact with him at work—but nothing worked.

No matter what, she still felt an undeniable distance between them.

Since she couldn’t have him herself, she genuinely wished her best friend, Lingling, could be with him instead.

Yao Lingling shook her head. "We’re just colleagues and friends. It’s not as complicated as you think."

Li Shumin scoffed. "Ha! You used to say the same about Senior Tang Song, calling him your ‘good bro’ and ‘best friend.’ And now look—practicing squats for him, huh?"

"Ahh!" Yao Lingling’s face turned bright red. "Minmin, you’re the worst! Stop talking nonsense!"

"You know whether it’s nonsense or not."

After some playful teasing, they discussed the sketch details a bit more.

Soon, it was time to clock out.

Yao Lingling opened WeChat, pulled up a contact, and sent a message:

"Hey girl, I’m off work now. I should be at your complex by 7 PM. That's okay?"

A moment later, her phone vibrated.

[Linggan Design - Cheng Qiuqiu: "I’ll be home before 7. Just call me when you arrive."]

Replying with an "OK" emoji, Yao Lingling grabbed her backpack and helmet, bid farewell to her colleagues, and headed downstairs.

She mounted her beloved scooter, set up the GPS, and navigated through the streets of Yan City toward her destination.

About half an hour later, she arrived at Zhuxi Residential Complex in Qiaoxi District.

Parking her scooter, she pulled out a wet wipe and freshened up a bit.

August in Yan City was peak summer.

Even at dusk, the air was thick and suffocating.

The ride had left her hair damp with sweat.

She took out her phone and called Cheng Qiuqiu, keeping it brief.

Leaning against her scooter, she wiped off sweat while waiting.

The secondhand trading group she was in had a lot of members—mostly students from several universities in Yan City.

It was a great way to exchange information and help each other out.

She had furnished her apartment and even bought her scooter through the group.

Compared to dealing with strangers in the real world, she found students far more trustworthy.

Cheng Qiuqiu was from Yan City University, just like her, and also an art major.

But she had a much colder personality.

She had added Yao Lingling on her work WeChat but had restricted her from seeing her Moments.

She also spoke very distantly, a complete contrast to Yao Lingling’s warm and cheerful nature.

A soft sounded as the unit door clicked open.

A tall figure stepped out.

Her outfit was simple—a light-colored top and jeans.

With striking features and a cool expression, she exuded a mature, commanding aura despite her young age.

Especially her well-endowed chest, emphasized by her slender waist, making for an eye-catching contrast.

Yao Lingling’s gaze paused briefly, admiration flashing in her eyes.

She looked oddly familiar, though Yao Lingling couldn’t place where she’d seen her before.

The girl glanced at her and nodded. "Hey, are you Lingling?"

"Oh! Yeah!" Yao Lingling quickly stood up, holding her helmet as she stepped forward. She extended her hand confidently. "Nice to meet you! You must be Cheng Qiuqiu. Wow, you look amazing in real life!"

Cheng Qiuqiu hesitated briefly, then shook her hand. "Hey. The riding suit is upstairs. Come try it on and see if it fits."

"Cool, let’s go!" Yao Lingling grinned, following her inside.

Yao Lingling had always dreamed of having a figure like that.

Cheng Qiuqiu's face turned slightly red as she averted her gaze. "You can slip the jacket on right here, but for the pants, you can change in my room—it’s over there."

"OK!" Yao Lingling nodded, grabbed the pants, and headed inside.

The first thing she noticed was a collection of Su Yu posters, pencil sketches, and a guitar and bass hanging on the wall.

Out of respect for personal privacy, Yao Lingling didn’t linger on them. She kept her head down and quickly changed into pants.

She could feel the tightness around her hips as she pulled them up, but luckily, the riding pants had some stretch, and she managed to squeeze into them.

She stepped out of the bedroom and slipped on the jacket.

Standing in front of the full-length mirror, she turned side to side to check the fit. The outfit looked great against her complexion, and the fabric felt breathable.

After taking a moment to assess it, she noticed that the pants were slightly tight, while the jacket was a bit loose. Overall, though, it was a fantastic fit.

Glancing at Cheng Qiuqiu in the mirror, Yao Lingling suddenly realized something.

They were about the same height and weighed roughly the same—around 58 kilograms.

The difference? Cheng Qiuqiu carried her weight in her chest, while Yao Lingling’s was concentrated in her hips and thighs.

Who wouldn’t want a pair of ?

Life just wasn’t fair!

She wallowed in self-pity for a moment before turning around. "By the way, Qiuqiu, are you studying music or fine arts?"

"Fine arts."

"What a coincidence! Me too!" Yao Lingling grinned. "I guessed from the sketches on your wall. I majored in fashion design. What about you?"

"Visual communication design."

"Wow, I’m so jealous! Your field must be a lot easier. Unlike us—every day, it’s just fabric, patterns, and more fabric. I’m telling you, back in college—"

And just like that, Yao Lingling launched into an enthusiastic conversation.

She jumped from discussing college courses to internships, from sketching techniques to fashion trends.

She spoke with such warmth and familiarity that it felt as if they had been old friends for years.

Cheng Qiuqiu, on the other hand, seemed a bit overwhelmed. She kept a straight face, occasionally nodding in response.

As a classic introvert, she wasn’t used to this level of high-energy social interaction.

After a while, Yao Lingling sweetly asked, "The outfit is great—I’ll take it. But… can you lower the price a bit? Money’s a little tight right now, hehe."

Cheng Qiuqiu hesitated for a moment. After chatting so much, she felt bad about refusing.

After a brief pause, she said, "270 yuan. That’s the lowest I can go."

"Deal! Thanks, Qiuqiu! You’re the best!" Yao Lingling beamed.

She had expected to haggle for a while, but Cheng Qiuqiu had just knocked 50 yuan off right away. That was generous!

Yao Lingling had grown up watching her mom bargain in wet markets, so she was quite skilled at negotiating. But this was the first time she had met someone so easy going about it.

She suddenly felt that this girl wasn’t as cold as she seemed.

"Oh, by the way! I saw your Su Yu sketches just now—they’re amazing! I’m a fan of hers too. I’ve drawn portraits of her before, but they don’t compare to yours."

At the mention of Su Yu, Cheng Qiuqiu's eyes lit up. "Thanks! I’m a hardcore fan of hers. I guess I’ve just gotten better at drawing her over time. But really, the main reason is that Su Yu is beautiful."

"That, I argue with. Absolutely agree!" Yao Lingling grabbed her arm and nodded fervently. "I went to her live event in Yan City once—she was in person!"

She pulled out her phone and started scrolling through her album.

Cheng Qiuqiu, intrigued, asked, "Which concert did you attend?"

"The concert in Yan City." Yao Lingling tapped on a photo and handed her the phone. "Look! I was in the VIP section—super close to the stage!"

As Cheng Qiuqiu looked at the picture, her mouth slowly fell open.

Then she pointed at a spot in the bottom right corner, dumbfounded. "That’s me…"

"Wait—?!" Yao Lingling gasped and zoomed in on the photo.

She looked back and forth between Cheng Qiuqiu and the image, a realization dawning on her.

"It you! No wonder you looked so familiar!"

She finally remembered.

During the concert, her friend Zhang Jiahong had pointed out a hardcore fan in the crowd—crying her eyes out, hands raised high, sobbing so much that her voice had gone hoarse.

That fan was Cheng Qiuqiu.

At the time, the scene had been so dramatic that Yao Lingling hadn’t paid much attention to the person’s face.

But one thing had stood out—

And yep— matched up perfectly.

Cheng Qiuqiu’s face turned crimson. "Yeah… I got too emotional. It was my first time seeing Su Yu in person, and she was to me."

And just like that, their conversation took off.

The once-quiet apartment filled with lively chatter as they excitedly discussed Su Yu’s concerts, new songs, and rumors.

Outside, the sky darkened.

A sudden from Yao Lingling’s stomach brought them both back to reality.

Checking the time, she realized it was already 8 PM.

Blushing, she said, "Oops—sorry about that. I totally forgot to eat dinner. It’s getting late, so I won’t keep you up. I’ll send you the money on WeChat, and we’ll chat again later!"

She opened WeChat and was about to transfer the 270 yuan when—

A slender, fair-skinned hand suddenly covered her phone screen.

Cheng Qiuqiu shook her head. "No need. Just take it."

After all, they were both Su Yu fans, and this meeting felt like fate. A secondhand riding suit wasn’t worth much in comparison.

"Wait—really?" Yao Lingling’s eyes widened.

"Yeah."

"No, no, no—I can’t accept that!" Yao Lingling quickly shook her head.

Sure, she had tried to haggle, but she never actually intended to take it for free.

Cheng Qiuqiu shook her head again. "It’s fine. I just found it while cleaning up and wanted to clear some space in my closet."

Yao Lingling hesitated, then suddenly asked, "Have you eaten yet?"

"No."

"Perfect! Come on, I’ll treat you to dinner! Consider it a fair trade!"

Cheng Qiuqiu blinked in surprise. Before she could protest, she was already being pulled to her feet.

Still a little dazed, she found herself slipping on her shoes and heading out the door.

As they walked, Yao Lingling naturally linked arms with her, cheerfully chatting about all the great restaurants nearby.

The little scooter rumbled to life.

Warm night air rushed past them as Cheng Qiuqiu sat on the back, watching the lively girl in front of her.

A strange warmth filled her chest.

Clink— two glass bottles tapped together.

Yao Lingling chugged half a bottle of Beibingyang soda and grinned. "Don’t be shy, Qiuqiu—eat up!"

"That’s… a of food." Cheng Qiuqiu glanced at the overflowing table.

Grilled skewers, crayfish, stir-fried instant noodles, fruit platters…

"It’s fine! We can pack up whatever we don’t finish." Yao Lingling laughed. "Honestly, I eat a —probably as much as a guy."

Scoring a brand-name riding suit and making a new friend—Yao Lingling was in an amazing mood. She felt like she could eat a whole cow.

As her friends liked to joke, she was born with a —big frame, big appetite, not picky, pear-shaped, flat-chested, thick-thighed, and with a butt.

Cheng Qiuqiu nodded, taking a bite of grilled beef.

As they chatted about work, art, Su Yu, design, motorcycles, and riding, the atmosphere grew warmer.

For the first time that night, a genuine smile appeared on Cheng Qiuqiu’s face.

Cheng Qiuqiu walked out, carrying a delicate shopping bag. "Lingling, I bought this set of five protective gear pieces along with the outfit. They’re slightly worn, but still very safe. I don’t use them anymore, so you can have them."

"Uh..." Yao Lingling bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took the bag, placing it in her backpack. "Thanks, Qiuqiu."

She didn’t refuse the gesture.

She figured she could return the favor later—her paycheck was coming in two days, and she could get Qiuqiu a gift.

Yao Lingling was naturally cheerful and outgoing, with friends everywhere—both in real life and online.

But Cheng Qiuqiu was a first.

On the outside, she was a cold and aloof , but deep down, she was actually sincere and kind hearted.

She didn’t talk much, but once the topic turned to Su Yu, she could go on forever.

Cheng Qiuqiu was a contradiction—reserved yet passionate, distant yet warm.

A truly interesting person.

"You're welcome. Bye-bye."

"Bye-bye~!"

Yao Lingling waved, expertly turned her scooter around, and rode off.

The bright streetlights illuminated the road as the silver-gray UY125 disappeared around the corner.

Cheng Qiuqiu retracted her gaze and headed back into Room 1202.

After a moment of thought, she picked up her phone, opened WeChat, and sent a message to Yao Lingling:

[Cheng Qiuqiu: This is my work WeChat. I’ll add you with my other account later. Once the weather cools down, we can go for a ride together.]

After sending the message, she noticed another chat notification.

A memory surfaced—her last riding trip.

She glanced down at her legs and suddenly felt a bit awkward.

Hesitating for a few moments, she finally opened Tang Song’s chat window.

She typed, deleted, retyped, edited, and hesitated for several