Maxing Out Charisma, Inheriting Game Assets Chapter 871: Dou Dizhu

East Ring Road, Binhu Mingshu.

A little after 9 PM.

Inside the master bedroom on the second floor, the light was gentle and bright.

Secretary Jin was leaning back in a single armchair by the window, wearing a taro-purple silk nightgown. The soft hem of the gown spread over her knees like a small patch of water soaked through by moonlight.

She held a Yeats poetry collection in her hands, its corners slightly curled from being turned, her expression relaxed.

To spend this Spring Festival peacefully and steadily, she had already arranged all her core work well in advance, finally allowing her to completely detach herself from the high-intensity, non-stop whirlwind of affairs.

These were rare, completely her own, leisurely moments in these past years.

No need to think about meetings, no need to think about reports, and no one frequently knocking on her door, waiting for her decisions.

She picked up the water glass beside her, lowered her head, and took a small sip.

Outside was a whole lake surface soaked through by the winter night.

The wind rustled through the tree shadows along the water's edge, making a vast, low, rustling sound.

How long had it been since she came here?

Probably since after October 2022.

Before that, she would occasionally come here to stay for a day or two.

Most of the time, it was for work.

Of course, not entirely for work.

This small northern city, for her, also held many traces of memories.

Thinking of this, the corners of her lips lifted slightly.

But soon, the smile was suppressed again.

That stunningly beautiful, provocative, excessively pretty face from the daytime seemed to float before her eyes again.

She had already gotten what she wanted, yet she still had to provoke her,

just like before.

From 2017 to 2018, and all the years after that, she would always pop up from time to time, using a seemingly gentle but actually precise way to remind her of her presence.

The most annoying thing was, this woman's insight was exceptionally sharp.

She knew all too well how to step on landmines.

Secretary Jin closed her eyes, softly let out a breath, and pushed down the wave of irritation in her heart again.

Now was different from the past.

Many methods could no longer be used on Su Yu like before.

On the contrary, she herself, at this time, in this place, had more concerns and restrictions, and had to rein in her sharp edges.

But precisely because of this, when she and Su Yu were truly standing on the same level,

Secretary Jin realized for the first time, so clearly,

This little star was really asking for a beating!

"Knock, knock, knock—"

A knocking sound came from the door.

"Come in."

Lin Tiantian pushed the door open and walked in, her footsteps very light.

"Director Jin." She walked to the front of the sofa, slightly bowed, and reported in a low voice, "The arrangements for Miss Qing Ning have been reconfirmed. Tomorrow, she will go to the Quancheng Broadcasting and Television Station with her parents to participate in the discussion and interview before the Spring Festival special program recording."

"Mm, I know." Secretary Jin nodded gently, her gaze returning to the book page.

But Lin Tiantian didn't leave immediately.

She lowered her eyes and spoke softly, her tone full of guilt, "Director Jin, about Miss Zhang Yan's matter today... I didn't handle it well."

Secretary Jin raised her hand slightly, her tone calm, "It's fine, it's not your problem."

Lin Tiantian pursed her lips and cautiously asked, "Then what should I do next...?"

"Go follow Qing Ning." Secretary Jin turned a page of poetry. "Take good care of her, don't let anything go wrong."

"...Yes."

Lin Tiantian acknowledged, a trace of unconcealable disappointment flashing in her eyes, but she didn't dare say another word, quietly retreating.

The door closed again.

Secretary Jin lowered her head again to look at the book page.

Right at that moment.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz—"

The phone placed to the side vibrated softly.

She turned her head to look, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

[President Tang]

She immediately picked up the phone and answered the call.

"Hello? President Tang, calling so late, is there something urgent?"

On the other end of the line, Tang Song's voice came through the night, low, "Can't I call you if there's nothing urgent?"

Secretary Jin closed the book, the corners of her lips lifting, "Of course not. It's just that before, every time you looked for me, President Tang, it was usually for something urgent."

"Emm..." The other end paused. "Smile, you're on vacation now, right?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Then can you change how you address me? You keep calling me President Tang, it's weird."

Secretary Jin's fingertips curled slightly, then she shifted to a more comfortable position, leaning deeper into the sofa.

Her tone carried a hint of teasing, "Then... Little Tang, good evening."

"Pfft— cough, cough, cough—" A fit of choking coughs came from the other end. "That address feels kind of strange."

"Then... Little Song, hello?"

"I'm telling you, Ms. Smile." Tang Song said helplessly. "I'm your boyfriend now. If you call me that in front of my parents, I'd be very embarrassed."

Secretary Jin finally couldn't hold back, raising her hand to cover her mouth, her shoulders trembling slightly.

The corners of her eyes crinkled, and fine, soft light spilled into her eyes.

After several seconds, she put her hand down. "Alright... Song."

Tang Song's breathing hitched for a moment, the laughter in his voice growing stronger, "Sounds good. You're already in Jing County, right?"

"Yeah, of course." Secretary Jin regained her surface composure. "After all, a certain little star caused such a scene, I had no choice but to come early. I hope you have time to keep an eye on her a bit. Don't be too indulgent. Some people, like cats, need to be disciplined from time to time to know their place."

"Emm..." Tang Song wisely didn't continue on this topic, instead shifting to talk about Jing County's night scenery, the local atmosphere, and some places they had visited before.

The winter night's wind gradually lightened.

Warm light wrapped around the low murmurs on the phone.

The atmosphere in the room also softened bit by bit.

The two of them chatted like this, one sentence after another, for a long time.

On the other end of the phone, Tang Song suddenly said, "Actually, calling also has another important thing to tell you."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Tomorrow morning at 8:50, I booked the presidential suite at Quanfu · Yunzhen. Come find me."

"...Huh?" Secretary Jin blinked, immediately sensing something off about this sentence.

But Tang Song didn't give her much time to react, directly throwing out his bargaining chip.

"After we leave the hotel, I'll drive you home. By then, the family should also be almost ready to start preparing the New Year's Eve dinner. I'll let you taste my cooking while we're at it."

Secretary Jin's attention was instantly diverted, her voice gentle and laced with laughter, "I didn't expect President Tang to personally cook, I'm truly flattered. I'll be there on time."

"Address." Tang Song reminded.

Secretary Jin opened her mouth slightly, her earlobes feeling a bit warm, and whispered, "Sorry... I'm used to it."

"Then kiss me, and I'll forgive you."

Secretary Jin was slightly stunned, silently biting her lower lip.

"What's wrong?" Tang Song laughed through the receiver. "Shy? I really want to see your expression right now."

Secretary Jin lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly. She pressed the phone closer and gently kissed the receiver.

"Goodnight, Song."

"Goodnight, see you in my dreams. Mua~"

A laugh filled with extreme pleasure came through the receiver, then the call ended.

The room fell quiet again.

Secretary Jin held the darkened phone, leaning back in the sofa, not moving for a long time.

Her cheeks were warm, even the tips of her ears tinged with a light pink.

He really didn't seem to treat her as "Secretary Jin" anymore.

Even the way he addressed her and his tone had changed completely.

This change felt unfamiliar to her, and she found it hard to resist.

An ordinary girlfriend going to meet her boyfriend's parents.

She put down the phone, turned off the light, and slowly lay back in the soft, large bed.

The darkness of the winter night silently rose, wrapping around the warmth surrounding her.

After who knows how long, her consciousness gradually blurred, and she fell into a dream.

In the dream, she seemed to be standing in that suite at the Yunhao Hotel again.

Su Yu stood opposite her, long hair loose, eyes rimmed red, a watery glint of grievance in her eyes, looking like a pitiful, innocent little white flower.

Seeing her like that, Secretary Jin didn't even think, raising her hand and slapping her.

"Smack—"

In reality, lying under the covers, the corners of her lips also gradually curved up, sleeping peacefully and sweetly.

...

February 9, 2024, New Year's Eve, Friday.

Early morning, 7:30 AM.

Quancheng, Yuxiu Garden Residential Area.

The freshly cooked millet porridge in the kitchen was still steaming. A white porcelain plate held neatly arranged pickled vegetables, braised meats, and freshly fried eggs. The air was mixed with the fragrance of rice, meat, and the wok aroma released by hot oil.

The room was warm and cozy.

Everywhere was filled with the uniquely bustling, lively atmosphere before the Spring Festival.

Tang Song sat at the dining table, lowering his head to drink porridge.

Xie Shuyu sat beside him, wearing a soft, homely sweater, her long hair loosely tied at the back of her head. She was lowering her head, carefully peeling a tea egg for him.

Xie Shuyu's father and mother both wore unconcealable smiles on their faces, their gazes occasionally falling on the two of them, looking more and more satisfied.

"Uncle, Auntie, no need to fuss, there's enough to eat."

"Eat more, eat more. When you're here, it's just like being at your own home, don't be polite." Xie's mother said, picking up a piece of sliced cured sausage and putting it in his bowl. "Try this, we made it ourselves."

"Song, alright, thank you, Auntie. ...Mm! It's really delicious."

Seeing this, Xie's father also laughed, taking the opportunity to ask, "Little Tang, can you drink?"

"I can, my alcohol tolerance is okay." Tang Song smiled. "But I have things to do today, and I drove here."

Xie's father let out a somewhat regretful "Oh" upon hearing this.

"Then let's wait until after New Year's. See when you're free after the holiday, come back here, and we two men will have a good drink."

"Dad." Xie Shuyu immediately looked up. "Your high blood pressure isn't completely stable yet."

Xie's father's expression froze, looking a bit embarrassed. "We could drink a little..."

"No!" Xie Shuyu said sternly.

"Alright." Xie's father sighed and lowered his head to continue drinking porridge.

Tang Song gently nudged the female CEO's shoulder. "Drinking occasionally is fine. It's the New Year, time to be happy."

As he spoke, he looked at Xie's father again. "After the New Year when I'm done with my work, I'll find a time to come over and have a good drink with you, Uncle."

Xie Shuyu pursed her lips, finally nodding.

"Alright."

Xie's father and mother exchanged a glance, their eyes carrying a subtle sense of relief and satisfaction.

Their daughter had been strong-willed since childhood, decisive and unwavering.

But now, in front of Tang Song, she unexpectedly seemed very obedient.

Without the domineering and stubbornness they had originally worried about.

This finally allowed the stone hanging in the hearts of the two elders to slowly settle down.

The breakfast was eaten in a lively, bustling atmosphere.

After eating, the few of them sat and chatted for a while about everyday matters.

The entire atmosphere in the house radiated warmth and closeness.

Early this morning, a little after six, they had set off from Yancheng, driving directly to the Yuxiu Garden Residential Area to formally visit Xie Shuyu's parents before the New Year.

After all, the two of them had been together for so long, and Xie's parents had known for a while.

Plus, they were both locals of Quancheng.

Not making this trip before the New Year just wouldn't do.

Of course, to achieve this "perfectly reasonable home visit," the female CEO had also agreed to quite a few shameless demands from Tang Song last night.

When Tang Song got up to leave, Xie's father had already brought out the things prepared in advance, bag by bag.

"These are all homemade, clean. Take them back to eat, don't look down on them."

There were sliced cured sausages, homemade sausages, self-pickled side dishes, several boxes of pastries, and a few snacks for him to take back.

In the end, the trunk was packed full.

The silver Mercedes S-Class slowly drove out of the Yuxiu Garden Residential Area, passing through the city's main roads, heading straight to the Quanfu · Yunzhen Hotel.

Inside the top-floor presidential suite, it was excessively quiet.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the winter city of Quancheng was gradually becoming lively.

Tang Song stood by the window, his gaze looking outside, but his heartbeat was getting faster and faster.

The real showdown was about to begin.

Those accidental encounters and collisions before, strictly speaking, weren't really anything.

Because most of the time, he was in the more dominant position.

Even during that direct clash between Secretary Jin and Ouyang Xianyue, due to their respective statuses and positions, they still maintained a considerable degree of restraint and decorum.

They could ultimately maintain a certain superficial balance.

But this time was different. Secretary Jin and the female star had a long-standing grudge.

Especially the female star, it could almost be called a deep-seated hatred.

To be honest, Tang Song himself didn't know what the next six hours would turn into.

He had basically done all the preparations he could.

For Secretary Jin's side, he had laid out the most crucial bargaining chips in advance: "girlfriend status," "going home together for New Year," "eating New Year's Eve dinner."

As for the female star's side...

He could only say sorry in his heart first.

He'd find a way to slowly make it up to her later.

Actually, Tang Song had also thought about cheating.

Like subtly giving them a heads-up in advance, indicating he had other purposes, hoping they would cooperate a little.

But just thinking about that little raincoat, that shameless thing that knew everything,

He felt that such small tricks would most likely be counted as cheating.

And once the task failed, whether the little raincoat would issue another round of tasks was anyone's guess.

He didn't want to take that risk.

Tang Song raised his wrist to check the time.

It was about time; Secretary Jin should be arriving soon.

He deliberately staggered their times, wanting to leave a buffer.

When they met, he'd talk to Secretary Jin first, giving her some psychological preparation.

"Hoo—"

Tang Song let out a long breath, his heart filled with unease.

...

Underground parking garage.

A low-key business car slowly drove into a dedicated parking spot.

"Sister Yu, we're here." In the front seat, Cheng Xiaoxi lowered her voice to remind.

Su Yu, who had been listening to music in a daze, snapped back to attention and looked up to ask, "What time is it?"

"Eight forty, there's still time. You can rest in the car for a bit."

"Early?" Su Yu curved her lips, her gaze falling on the elevator entrance outside the window. "I think it's already very late."

Today, she had woken up before dawn.

Her makeup and hair were specially redone, the clothes on her body carefully chosen, even her perfume changed to the one most suitable for today.

She had endured until it was time to set off, but the car still arrived twenty minutes early.

She couldn't wait any longer.

Moreover, she seemed to no longer need to always be the obedient, passively waiting female star like before.

Being a little willful, arriving a bit early, giving him a little surprise,

Didn't seem so bad either.

Thinking of this, Su Yu reached out, put on her hat, and pushed the car door open.

"I'll go up first." She casually straightened her clothes and instructed, "You don't need to follow. Find a place to stay, go shopping at the mall or something. I'll probably be here for a long time, wait for my call."

Cheng Xiaoxi was stunned for a moment, then immediately replied, "Okay."

"Click—"

The car door gently closed.

High heels stepped on the smooth concrete floor of the underground garage, making crisp, rhythmic "tap, tap" sounds.

Beautiful, elegant, yet with a hint of unconcealable excitement.

Like dancing.

She walked all the way into the exclusive elevator lobby the hotel had set up separately for presidential suite guests.

A female concierge wearing a name tag had already come forward to greet her.

"Hello, may I ask you are—"

Su Yu didn't take off her sunglasses, just slightly lifted her chin. "I'm going to the presidential suite, to see Mr. Tang. My surname is Su."

The female concierge's eyes immediately changed.

Clearly, she had received instructions in advance.

She didn't ask further, nor did she show any extra expression, just immediately stepped aside, making a respectful gesture of invitation.

"Okay, Ms. Su. Mr. Tang has already given instructions. I'll take you up."

"Mm."

Su Yu casually smoothed her hair and followed her into the elevator.

The elevator doors slowly closed, the numbers beginning to jump.

Looking at her reflection in the mirrored surface, thinking about him whom she was about to meet, her whole body began to feel slightly warm, her heartbeat fast and out of control.

Right at that moment—

"Ding."

The elevator suddenly stopped on the first floor.

Su Yu was slightly stunned, instinctively turning sideways. Her gaze, through the cold, polished mirror surface to the side, looked toward the elevator entrance.

"Ms. Jin, please come in." A voice from another concierge came from outside the door.

Footsteps, neither hurried nor slow, stepped on the marble floor at the elevator entrance, carrying a familiar, composed rhythm.

A familiar surname.

A familiar pace.

Su Yu's breathing instantly became rapid, her eyes turning sharp as knives.

Through the mirror's reflection, she saw a graceful figure slowly walking in.

A dark gray overcoat, the brim of the hat pressed low, only revealing a section of chin and slightly pursed red lips.

That feeling emanating from her bones, even if turned to ashes, Su Yu