Maxing Out Charisma, Inheriting Game Assets Chapter 586: Zhang Yan! Zhang Yan!

Friday, November 3, 2023, cloudy.

6:00 AM, Shenzhen Bay No. 1.

With the pleasant sound of the alarm clock, Liu Qingning propped herself up from the soft bed and used voice control to turn on the room lights. The gentle light instantly filled the space.

She tidied her messy hair and instinctively touched the smooth Green Gourd Pendant hanging on her chest, whispering, "Good morning."

Throwing off the covers, she got out of bed. The cool air quickly woke her up.

Stretching lazily, she grabbed her phone and checked for messages—none unread.

Her eyes flickered subtly as she changed into her workout clothes and headed outside.

"Good morning, Miss Qing Ning," Auntie Mei greeted softly from the kitchen where she was preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, Auntie Mei."

She knew that at this moment, Tang Song was most likely still asleep with Wen Ruan.

In fact, before Wen Ruan left for Yangcheng, she had deliberately called Liu Qingning, speaking with a tone both tentative and intimate, even arranging to visit her alone in Shenzhen when she had time.

If it were before, Liu Qingning would have instinctively refused.

The thought of another woman sharing a night with Tang Song and then coming to see her made her deeply uncomfortable.

But now, the matter with Su Yu weighed heavily on her chest like a massive mountain, suffocating and overwhelming.

Compared to that, Wen Ruan's presence seemed somewhat more bearable.

The treadmill’s speed gradually increased, and her heart rate quickly reached the optimal fat-burning zone.

Liu Qingning glanced out at the city still asleep and breathed harder as sweat dripped down her temple.

Her thoughts surged like a raging torrent, unceasing.

The Xuanji Optical World financing project was about to launch, and she would represent Qingmi AI traveling to Modu.

Soon, she would officially meet the legendary "top beauty."

Not on TV, not at a concert, not in the news,

but in real life, in Tang Song’s world.

Face to face, with no retreat.

Liu Qingning felt an unprecedented tension and fear.

No one could ignore Su Yu’s beauty and talent; even women admired such a beauty, let alone men.

At the same time, waves of regret surged up from her heart again.

She had grown up basking in the spotlight, gifted, top of her class, and stunning—this had shaped a nearly arrogant rationality and independence.

But this environment also caused some blind spots in her emotional understanding.

She couldn’t fully empathize with Tang Song’s feelings for her.

She always believed that as long as she was good enough, excellent enough, he would always follow her, meeting her at her peak.

She took his pursuit for granted but never truly valued the exhaustion and longing in his eyes.

She never imagined she would come to this point, unable to accept a future that was a failure without Tang Song.

Over the years since meeting Tang Song, there had been other girls around him.

Whether classmates or cute underclassmates.

Back in high school, Tang Song was tall, slim, sunny, and very likable.

But because of her presence, those girls had tacitly and voluntarily stepped back.

Tang Song’s gaze had never left her.

Of course, apart from them, Liu Qingning remembered one girl deeply from the second high school.

She was also Tang Song’s junior high school classmate.

Her name was Zhang Yan.

Starting from first year of high school, she occasionally saw her on campus at Yancheng No. 1 High School, always with Tang Song.

A woman’s sixth sense plus natural intelligence made her realize this girl was after Tang Song.

The reason she still remembered was because over two years ago, she met her in the Imperial Capital as well.

Once at Tiantongyuan South subway station,

another time at the headquarters building of Gaosi Education.

Her university startup, Century Zhixue, was itself an AI-driven intelligent education technology company serving educational training institutions.

When she represented the company for cooperation talks, she had a chance encounter with Zhang Yan.

She vaguely guessed some things but, out of selfishness, never told Tang Song.

Later, as policies tightened, Gaosi Education’s business sharply shrank and was even publicly reprimanded by the education committee, so cooperation talks naturally failed.

While she was lost in such thoughts,

“Ding ding~~” a WeChat video call popped up.

[Tang Song]

Liu Qingning couldn’t help but smile first, then her expression tightened as she slowed the treadmill speed.

After a few seconds, she answered the video call.

“What’s up? Exhausted from last night? Getting up so late today? Don’t let Wen Ruan drain you dry!”

Tang Song said as he walked over to some gym equipment to warm up.

As expected, when he started talking about work and AI, Liu Qingning’s attention instantly snapped back.

Tang Song quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Because in the afternoon, he had a high-intensity ball game with the big sister, and before sleeping, both were very “calm.”

But at two in the morning, the big sister launched a night raid and bit him.

Tang Song was groggy and caught off guard.

He struggled hard to defeat Wen Ruan.

They tossed and turned until three in the morning before finally falling asleep, which explained the late rising.

An hour later.

Tang Song, drenched in sweat, walked out of the hotel gym and returned to the suite.

Wen Ruan was still sound asleep, curled up in soft bedding, only a smooth, pale shoulder exposed.

Tang Song stepped lightly into the bathroom.

After a shower, he changed into a semi-formal outfit.

He used the room’s tablet to order a breakfast with strong Yangcheng characteristics.

Soon, the doorbell rang, and a delicate breakfast cart was delivered.

Tang Song glanced at the time and stepped to the master bedroom bed.

Leaning down, he whispered softly near Wen Ruan’s ear, “Zhuangzhuang, time to get up for breakfast.”

Wen Ruan’s long eyelashes fluttered, emitting a lazy hum with a nasal undertone.

She slowly opened her eyes, her peach blossom-shaped eyes hazy.

She stretched seductively, and the LaPerla silk nightgown clung tightly to her body, revealing her breathtaking E-cup figure.

Then she hugged Tang Song’s waist, lifted the hem of his shirt, and pressed her face against his firm lower abdomen, gently rubbing.

The kiss traveled from his eight-pack abs down to his mermaid line, lingering there.

Tang Song’s breathing immediately became heavy. He ran his hand through her silky hair, feeling the delicate touch on his scalp.

His other hand traced the edge of her nightgown, savoring the warmth and fullness unique to the big sister.

Wen Ruan licked her plump lips and said in a husky dominatrix tone, “Your figure is so tempting. If I had to be with you every day, I wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

Tang Song’s appearance perfectly matched her preferences.

Now with mermaid lines, a dog’s waist, and chocolate abs...

It was deadly—he simply couldn’t resist.

Tang Song blinked and leaned close to whisper in her ear, “Then find a teammate.”

“Hehe, I knew you had that in mind.” Wen Ruan bit his lower abdomen and then gave him a flirtatious glance. “Actually, it’s not impossible.”

“Ah? Really?” Tang Song swallowed hard and gripped her hand tightly.

Wen Ruan nodded, panting, “Liu Qingning is right here in Shenzhen. Tomorrow’s the weekend. Invite her over. The presidential suite bed is huge—three of us sleeping won’t be a problem.”

Hearing this, Tang Song’s eyelid twitched, “Th-That’s better not...”

Playing that kind of game with Liu Qingning?

Just thinking about it made him want to explode.

With Bai Yueguang’s personality, she might really use scissors to cut him “off.”

“Ting!” Wen Ruan hummed lightly and rolled her eyes. “You just think I’m easy to bully. If it were Qing Ning, you’d be soft immediately.”

“That’s because you’re too tempting.”

“Get lost.”

They bantered a bit.

At the dining room, seated by the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the entire Yangcheng cityscape, they enjoyed a leisurely and delicious breakfast.

Dim sum, wonton noodles, ginkgo, scallop, and abalone congee...

Both ate to their heart’s content.

After breakfast, Wen Ruan went into the walk-in closet. When she came out, she had changed into a bespoke professional suit.

Elegant and capable, with exquisite makeup and confident eyes.

A stark contrast to the previous lazy and alluring enchantress.

Wen Ruan raised her chin slightly and said calmly, “Let’s go, President Tang. It’s time to work.”

Just as she turned to get her bag, Tang Song pulled her into his arms for a wet kiss.

At 9:00 AM,

They arrived at Xingyun International Group’s Yangcheng branch in the Tianhe District’s R& F Yingkai Plaza.

This location was on the west side of the Zhujiang New Town CBD central axis, right next to the IFC Four Seasons Hotel where they stayed.

As the core branch of South China, the company occupied the 39th floor of the building, leasing half a floor—1200 square meters of office space with high-end reception halls, meeting rooms, and live broadcast studios, employing over 120 people.

It covered nearly all business sectors.

Wen Ruan’s arrival attracted great attention from the branch.

As she and Tang Song entered the 39th floor branch side by side, all the executives waiting in the reception hall immediately approached with professional and warm smiles.

“Director Wen!”

“Director Wen, good morning!”

“Welcome, Director Wen, for your guidance!”

Amidst a flurry of respectful greetings, Wen Ruan smiled gracefully and scanned the crowd, pausing briefly on a few familiar faces.

She had come to the branch multiple times before and was somewhat an “old acquaintance.”

But times had changed—what used to be ordinary marketing planners had now become group leaders.

Her mood was indescribable.

Wen Ruan introduced some of the branch’s key leaders to Tang Song.

Then she turned slightly and elegantly said, “This is Tang Song, chairman of Rongliu Capital. He will join Xingyun International Group in a joint investment in Smart Chain Future.”

Branch general manager Wang Chongxian’s smile instantly froze upon hearing “Rongliu Capital.” His pupils visibly contracted.

Several other senior executives’ faces also turned shockingly pale.

As media and marketing industry executives, their sensitivity to information far exceeded ordinary people.

Just last week, the name that stirred the entire Hong Kong capital market and exploded countless financial headlines was no stranger!

They never expected the chairman of that company to be so young and handsome.

They had even speculated whether he was Director Wen’s “boyfriend.”

“Chairman Tang! Long time no see, it’s an honor!” Wang Chongxian almost immediately stepped forward, grasping Tang Song’s hands and bowing slightly.

Others quickly surrounded them, enthusiasm bordering on flattery.

Wen Ruan playfully winked at her man, eyes full of pride.

After a warm and grand greeting, Wang Chongxian personally led the group into the conference room.

A temporary due diligence team composed of Xingyun International’s Yangcheng branch elites was already waiting, and both sides quickly got to work.

Half an hour later,

The convoy set off toward the Smart Chain Future headquarters in the Tianyu Business Building, Yuexiu District.

...

At noon,

Shucheng Technology.

“Let’s go, Zhang Yan,” Lulu tapped her cubicle partition. “Time to eat! Time to eat!”

“Oh, coming.” Zhang Yan quickly saved the article she had just finished writing, tidied her desk, and stood up.

The two squeezed into the slow-moving elevator and went downstairs.

They walked down the street for a while, then entered a cramped nearby fast-food restaurant they knew well.

The air was filled with a mixture of cooking fumes and the aroma of rice.

Zhang Yan ordered the usual 12-yuan boxed meal with one meat and one vegetable dish.

Lulu was more generous, ordering an 18-yuan combo with two meat dishes and one vegetable.

They sat at a greasy small table.

Lulu excitedly dug into her rice. “Zhang Yan, you don’t know—my worst-performing fund has fully recovered! Including a few others, I’ve made 2,200 yuan this month!”

Zhang Yan widened her eyes in surprise. “That much?”

“Yep! Too bad I didn’t dare to buy stocks back then, or I’d have made even more.”

Zhang Yan silently ate her fried dried tofu with pork and shredded kidney beans, listening to Lulu casually dropping professional terms she’d picked up from forums like “hundred-billion-dollar mother fund,” “market sentiment reversal,” and “geopolitical benefits.”

She felt these things were like clouds drifting high above, far removed from her own life.

She didn’t have as much savings as Lulu—only 17,000 yuan in her account.

By the end of the month, she had to pay three months’ rent in one lump sum and feed a very hungry cat named Juzi.

As they chatted, the topic naturally returned to business travel reimbursements and salaries.

Lulu lowered her voice, complaining, “Our company’s getting worse. Recently, it’s all about attendance checks and discipline—petty things that drag us into meetings. I’m telling you, when a company is going downhill, the bosses love to torment employees. It’s a rule! They want to force us out ourselves!”

Zhang Yan nodded, worry and anxiety swirling in her eyes.

Even the rice tasted bland.

After lunch, they returned to the office.

The atmosphere inside was even more gloomy and oppressive than in the morning.

Zhang Yan sat at her desk feeling restless.

Her eyes kept drifting involuntarily toward the clock in the lower right corner.

Lulu nearby asked curiously, “What’s wrong, Zhang Yan? Not feeling well?”

Zhang Yan shook her head faintly and whispered, “I... want to request two hours of time off this afternoon.”

She had missed out on those two cherished manga books last night because of sudden overtime.

Today was Friday, and no matter what, she had to get them.

“Then just ask quickly! You have over 200 hours of time off accrued that can’t be cashed out and will expire by year-end. Better use it now!”

Zhang Yan softly responded, “Mm,” opened DingTalk, and clicked the “Request Time Off” button at the top right.

Staring at the familiar time-off request page, she hesitated.

Thinking of her manga books,

she took a deep breath, quickly selected the time and type of leave, and clicked “Submit.”

Immediately, the process status showed her request had reached her superior, Bai Rui, awaiting approval.

Time passed bit by bit.

Zhang Yan worked diligently but couldn’t help refreshing her DingTalk page occasionally.

The request had not been approved.

Anxiety crept in her heart. She opened the chat with Bai Rui, typed a reminder message, but before sending, deleted it word by word.

After 3 PM,

Zhang Yan lowered her gaze, mind heavy.

“Ding—”

A group message suddenly popped up.

[Content Director Bai Rong: “@Everyone, stay and work overtime tonight. The big boss is having a meeting outside but needs to be back by 7 PM. Try to stay until after 7.”]

A ripple of murmurs spread through the office.

Soon, their small coworkers’ group chat ignited fierce discussions.

[“No way? I already promised my girlfriend to go to the movies!”]

[“Whatever, just work overtime. The boss probably wants us to ‘show face’ to avoid layoffs.”]

[“I think Bai is just trying to ‘show face’ himself, scared he’ll be laid off first.”]

Zhang Yan bit her lip as her heart sank further.

Just as Lulu said, the company was cracking down on attendance and discipline to seize opportunities for layoffs without severance.

Everyone in the office had become cautious; even slackers were gone, and taking leave was rare.

Time ticked closer to 4 PM.

From the office entrance, a plump figure approached.

It was Content Director Bai Rong.

Zhang Yan, sitting at a cubicle near the corridor edge, began trembling uncontrollably.

Footsteps drew nearer.

Suddenly, she stood up quietly, whispering, “Brother Bai.”

Bai Rong, passing by her, glanced over impatiently. “What is it? Talk later.”

He waved her off, signaling her to sit as he prepared to continue walking.

Zhang Yan lifted her head. “I requested two hours of time off on DingTalk this afternoon. Please approve it.”

Bai Rui’s steps stopped, and his brows knitted tightly. “Didn’t you see the message I just sent in the group?”

“Swish swish swish—”

Colleagues nearby all looked over with varied expressions.

“I saw it,” Zhang Yan avoided his gaze, nervously clenching her fists at her sides, “but I have urgent matters and must leave by 4.”

Bai Rui’s tone turned angry, “You have to take leave today? Zhang Yan, are you deliberately making trouble for me?”

The company was having business problems and payment difficulties. The boss was tightening finance and HR—layoffs were imminent.

His position as content director was shaky.

At times like this, he wanted to show the boss his “effort” and “loyalty” by having everyone in his department work overtime.

But now, the usually obedient and honest Zhang Yan dared to undermine him in public!

Zhang Yan’s lips trembled, fingers tightening.

She was very introverted and, due to childhood experien