Maxing Out Charisma, Inheriting Game Assets Chapter 534: “I’ll Hand You the Knife — Will You Stab Back?”

Inside the main venue.

The spotlight remained fixed on them.

Applause surged like waves, the very air trembling under an invisible pressure.

Shen Yuyan wore a beautiful, composed smile—every nuance of her expression meticulously crafted, striving to show her most perfect self.

Yet, the hand at her side trembled ever so slightly.

This was one of the most important moments of her life—her first true step into the circle of her dreams.

Her gaze briefly swept past Tang Song and Annie Kate, then quickly darted away. She didn’t dare linger.

【They’re just too dazzling, like the sun.】

【Maybe... one day I can become a leading role like that too.】

Shen Yuyan scanned the crowd.

Memories of her past kept flashing in her mind.

No one could understand how she felt at this moment—

A cocktail of intoxication, excitement, nerves, inferiority, and longing all stirred violently inside her.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this way please,” a senior executive from the organizers gestured.

At the center of the VIP section, a round table had been specially reserved for them.

This table sat at the very heart of the venue, right next to the stage and directly facing the large curved LED screen.

Seated around it were heavyweights from tonight’s event—representatives from top-tier firms like Sequoia, IDG, Temasek, and some famed entrepreneurs and industry leaders.

Many of them Shen Yuyan had only ever seen in news articles or magazines.

Those names were once far-off stars, and now, she stood only a few steps away.

As they arrived at the round table, several representatives from elite firms stood up and initiated greetings.

“Mr. Mingjian, such a pleasure to see you again. That project we discussed at your last summit in Silicon Valley has been making great progress—I hope we get the chance to work together.”

“Good evening, Ms. Bian Di, I’ve long admired your name. You’re Zhao Wen...”

Annie nodded slightly, a graceful smile on her face.

With a naturally elegant demeanor, she raised her hand and promptly turned to introduce the man beside her—

Her tone was no longer lazy or casual, but solemn and dignified: “Everyone, allow me to introduce someone important.

This is Mr. Bian Di, the newly appointed Chairman and CEO of TangSong Capital. The Tangjin Family Office is a shareholder of both his firm and your Mingjian Trust.”

Just one sentence—but it dropped into the crowd like a stone into water, stirring countless ripples.

The group that had gathered around Annie instantly turned their attention toward Tang Song.

All eyes locked onto him.

TangSong Capital, registered in Hong Kong, wasn’t yet a household name domestically, but it was already making waves internationally—especially thanks to its formidable background.

As a private equity firm managing over $2 billion in assets, its leader naturally drew attention wherever he went.

But what truly shocked people wasn’t just Tang Song’s identity or youth—

It was Annie Kate’s attitude toward him.

A woman born into the illustrious Kate family, known for her pride and aloofness—

Now, she was personally accompanying him, introducing him, publicly elevating his status, and unabashedly expressing her admiration for his capabilities.

This made one thing abundantly clear: this man was no ordinary player.

After the initial shock wore off, the guests quickly adjusted their expressions. Smiles bloomed across their faces as they eagerly stepped forward to introduce themselves to Tang Song.

Some handed over business cards; others extended invitations for further collaboration. The atmosphere turned vibrant and orderly.

Shen Yuyan quickly stepped up, standing firmly at Tang Song’s side. Her hands were neatly folded in front of her, her posture poised and elegant.

She listened intently to every exchange, sharply noting each face, name, and distinguishing detail.

This was the kind of opportunity she’d dreamed of but never dared believe she’d have.

【I, Shen Yuyan, am really standing here...】

【What is this position worth?】

【Stay calm! You have to look composed and capable!】

【These are industry giants—every word counts!】

【Tang Song is watching me. I have to handle this effortlessly.】

Tang Song wore a calm smile, his expression composed—neither distant nor ingratiating.

His gaze occasionally swept past Shen Yuyan’s profile, eyes filled with thought.

Standing inside this “instance,” as the Observer, he seemed to possess a transcendent quality—a sharp insight, a lofty vantage point, an unhurried gaze over everything.

It mirrored how he appeared in the dream world.

Every word he said, every move he made, exuded the presence of someone in command.

Even Annie, once a lioness, now seemed more like a tame cat by his side.

This vibe had started to take shape back in the previous instance, “Lin Muxue’s Whisper.”

Otherwise, with someone like Lin Muxue, who’d mentally labeled him things like “my god” and “mine,” he would’ve long since cracked up or acted out.

But now, in “Shen Yuyan’s Whisper,” his aura was even stronger—clearly thanks to his boosted charm stats and refined overall presence.

“This is my special assistant, Shirley—Shen Yuyan,” Tang Song said casually, passing over a business card.

“Nice to meet you, Assistant Shen,” said Zhao Wen, Director of Investments for Temasek Asia-Pacific, nodding politely.

The others also smiled in greeting.

【He’s introducing me! He’s personally introducing me!】

【I’m no longer that overlooked nobody!】

【‘Special assistant’—this title is a double-edged sword. It’s invisible support—but also a launchpad within reach.】

【Don’t flinch! I must leave a strong impression!】

A faint blush rose on Shen Yuyan’s cheeks as she received the card with steady hands.

Her voice was soft and clear: “Hello, Director Zhao. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve long admired Temasek’s forward-looking investment strategy in the Asia-Pacific, especially in tech innovation. Truly admirable.”

Zhao Wen looked pleasantly surprised and replied with a smile, “Haha, Assistant Shen, you flatter me.”

Shen Yuyan smiled graciously, carefully stored the card, and stepped back behind Tang Song.

【He looked at me just now... was he pleased with me?】

【This moment—it really feels like a dream come true!】

【So... this is what it feels like.】

Suppressing the rush of emotions, Shen Yuyan slightly tilted her head, her gaze sweeping across the VIP section.

It soon landed on a particular area—

Mingjian Capital. Gongying Technology.

She recognized nearly all of them.

Just days ago, she’d stood in a conference room, pleading humbly with them for a second round of funding.

Back then, they’d sat in judgment, coldly criticizing her efforts and dismissing her work.

As someone who never forgets a grudge, she remembered every detail—

Especially the CEO and President of Gongying Tech, Zhao Hongkai.

His condescending remark still echoed in her ears:

“Remember—this is a problem with Youjie Home Services! You need to recognize your own shortcomings first!”

That line had stabbed deep into her pride.

But more than anything—Wang Yubo and Ren Mingyuan.

Their eyes met.

From their gaze, she could see avoidance, retreat, and even... a trace of fear.

【Hahaha! Wang Yubo, Ren Mingyuan—you’re finally getting a taste of it!】

【Just wait! It won’t be long! I’ll be the one to push you off the cliff!】

【Gongying Tech, Yuanjian Holdings—you’ll all pay for what you did!】

【I’ll see you on your knees!】

【Tang Song, thank you for this chance. I’ll remember this moment for the rest of my life.】

Shen Yuyan’s fists clenched with excitement, yet her posture grew even straighter.

The ones who had once humiliated her could now only sit in the shadows and watch—

While she stood at the center of the spotlight.

......

“President Wang,” one Mingjian Capital executive lowered his voice in confusion. “Isn’t that the GM from Youjie Home Services you introduced to us earlier? How did she end up over there?”

“Oh?” Another board member’s eyes lit up, leaning closer. “Yubo, you know her? Let’s go say hi! That Ms. Kate seems like a big deal—anyone standing with her can’t be just anyone.”

The Mingjian execs clearly didn’t know the full story and were genuinely curious.

Meanwhile, Gongying Tech’s President Zhao Hongkai and VP Ren Mingyuan sat stone-faced, eyes shifty and grim.

Youjie Home Services was strapped for cash—on the brink of life or death.

They had tried to use that to wrest control of the company.

But Gongying Tech itself wasn’t in great shape either.

That’s why they’d been scheming to drain traffic from Youjie, relying on it to keep their business afloat.

For them, fundraising and going public was their only way out—

A path to cash out, escape their current mess, and expand their future.

In short, this financing and IPO plan could make or break them.

And now, Shen Yuyan had entered the inner circle of both Sinsight and Confluent Capital—

That cast a dark shadow over all their plans.

Wang Yubo struggled to suppress his fury.

After a pause, he forced a smile. “Director Fei, that woman’s name is Shen Yuyan. She runs the home services company Gongying invested in. But due to their internal issues, we failed our performance clause. We’re currently in a standoff—not as friendly as it might seem.”

Fei Cheng frowned, his tone serious: “Yubo, you should know how sensitive things are right now. Don’t make unnecessary enemies.”

“I... I understand, Director Fei.” Wang Yubo replied, his tone filled with unwilling frustration.

But Fei Cheng was a Mingjian board director backed by state-owned capital. Even Wang Yubo’s father had to tread carefully around him.

......

Buzz— the lights in the main venue lit up again.

The large curved LED screen at the center flared brightly.

The host stepped back onto the stage.

The VIP section settled as the guests took their seats.

“Distinguished investors, entrepreneurs, and friends, good evening! Welcome to the 2023 ‘Investors’ Night: Leading the Future’...”

After a brief introduction, the large screen shifted to a dynamic infographic titled “Global Tech Investment Trends,” showing changes in funding across different sectors over the past year.

The event organizers took the stage for opening remarks.

Guest speakers followed one after another.

At the end of each speech, polite applause echoed through the hall, occasionally mixed with murmured discussions.

Shen Yuyan sat upright beside Tang Song, her fingers flying across her phone screen as she rapidly typed notes.

The moment she became his assistant, she had fully assumed the role, determined to do everything within her power to support him.

Her gaze kept darting toward Tang Song, studying his expressions. When he showed interest, she would highlight that part of the speech in her notes.

What especially caught her attention was the pitch from a company called Yimai Tech.

Tang Song seemed very focused during their segment—his posture straightened the moment their founder stepped onto the stage.

Shen Yuyan took note, quickly grasping the reason.

This was an AI tech company specializing in smart upgrades for the fashion industry.

Its core focus was AI-driven fashion design and supply chain optimization, and it had developed its own dedicated large model.

It was at the peak of a hot trend, clearly not short on funding. Their presence at the summit was more about brand exposure, securing strategic partnerships, and attracting investors with high-value resources.

Undoubtedly, this company could directly benefit Songmei Fashion’s growth.

A bitter feeling of jealousy crept into Shen Yuyan’s heart.

Gao Mengting really hit the jackpot.

If she had partnered with Tang Song back when she started her business... she might have been flying high by now.

Compared to Tang Song, people like Zhang Tianqi and Hou Shaoyuan weren’t even in the same league.

Onstage, the curved LED screen now slowly displayed the Gongying Tech logo.

At the sight of that familiar emblem, Shen Yuyan’s expression stiffened. She straightened in her seat, a flash of barely concealed loathing and resentment in her eyes.

It was no exaggeration to say that if not for Gongying Tech’s meddling, Youjie Home Services might still be a healthy, promising startup.

She might have already secured Tang Song’s investment and reached a completely different level.

But thanks to Gongying Tech’s disgusting tactics, she was now trapped in the mud, out of options and capital.

Yet now, seated in a place of honor, viewing them from a higher vantage, she felt a sliver of vindication.

Amidst the applause, the host smiled and announced,

“As a leader in smart home innovation, Gongying Tech has grown rapidly in recent years and attracted significant attention...”

“Let’s welcome Mr. Ren Mingyuan, Vice President of Gongying Tech!”

As the words fell, Ren Mingyuan rose calmly and walked to the stage.

Standing under the spotlight, he accepted the mic. His voice was low but powerful:

“Good evening, everyone. It’s an honor to be here to share Gongying Tech’s journey and our future vision.”

He gave a concise overview of the company’s history, from its early founding team to its upcoming Series C funding round, detailing product lines and user metrics.

He then shifted to the technical front, elaborating on the company’s progress in IoT infrastructure and AI algorithm optimization.

Ren had been one of the original founding team members and formerly served as the head of technology.

But as the company scaled, his abilities lagged behind the complexity of its growing needs.

Like many founders, he had faced the risk of being sidelined by capital.

Luckily, thanks to his strong communication skills and adaptability, he won the favor of minority shareholder Bian Di Cai and transitioned into his current role overseeing strategic investments and financial management.

His gaze flicked toward Wang Yubo seated behind him, then quickly turned away.

Despite a faint sense of unease, he knew that the key was delivering this pitch perfectly and ensuring a smooth round of funding.

In fact, several investors in this round had already expressed preliminary interest.

The real reason for presenting at this summit was to leverage the event’s spotlight, bolster Gongying Tech’s industry influence, and pave the way for its IPO.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Ren confidently delivered his closing line:

“We’ve built a comprehensive ecosystem that covers everything from tech development to commercial rollout!”

Polite applause followed, and the host announced the start of the Q&A session.

Hands began to rise across the hall. Most of the questions came from institutions participating in the Series C round.

The organizers had clearly planned this, as staff quickly and efficiently passed wireless mics to the questioners.

All of this was part of the event’s marketing choreography—designed to generate buzz for Gongying Tech’s funding round and impending IPO.

Shen Yuyan sat silently, watching Ren Mingyuan confidently speaking onstage.

Her fists slowly clenched, eyes glinting with cold fire.

She wanted to stand up and disrupt everything—

To give them a taste of their own medicine.

To make them feel the pressure they once crushed her with.

But she knew she couldn’t.

She was only Tang Song’s special assistant—

And even that was a temporary title for the event.

In this kind of setting, she had no right to stand, let alone shift the course of events.

Unless...

Her eyes slid to the man beside her—

Tang Song, looking as calm and indifferent as ever.

【Unless he’s willing to speak up for me... but how could that be possible?】

【He doesn’t know what I’ve been through. To him, I’m just some failed founder who couldn’t even survive the angel round.】

【If it weren’t for my connections as Qingqing’s bestie and a former campus beauty, he probably wouldn’t have given me any chances at all.】

A wave of bitterness surged in her chest.

She forced herself to bow her head and settle her thoughts.

【Shen Yuyan, you need to know your place. Know your role. Play it right.】

“Gongying Tech...”

A soft voice rang out beside her.

Shen Yuyan looked up—only to meet Tang Song’s eyes.

Those eyes were deep and unreadable, as if they could see straight through her.

Her breath caught, heart racing.

【He’s looking at me! I have to meet that gaze!】

“President Tang? Is there something you’d like to know? I’ve done some research on that company.”

Her voice was gentle, but carried quiet confidence.

Some research?

She had practically turned Gongying Tech inside out.

During the due diligence phase, when they’d audited Youjie Home Services as a potential investor, she’d been gathering her own intelligence—

Everything from corporate background and finances to internal dynamics rarely known outside the company.

Later, when Gongying forcibly required Youjie to connect to their SaaS system, she had taken the opportunity to uncover even more internal information.

Tang Song studied her familiar, beautiful face, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.

“Assistant Shen, if I’m not mistaken, Gongying Tech led Youjie’s angel round, didn’t they? And this Mr. Ren... I think he’s our senior from school.

But it seems like your partnership didn’t go so well. Did they screw you over?”

He remembered her briefly mentioning Gongying Tech after she turned down his offer before—

Now, with her thoughts exposed in her whispering bullet-screen messages, he could piece together the full picture.

Whoosh—

It felt l