Wen Ruan Returns to Light and Shadow Media

Yanjing Huating.

The text on the System Light Screen slowly faded away.

Tang Song sat up straight instinctively, a smile of surprise and delight spreading across his face.

With a charm score exceeding 60, every improvement is difficult.

This was an unexpected surprise.

In fact, since the "Cognitive Awakening" task was triggered, reading has been retained as a good habit.

With the added benefits of the [Ginkgo Bookmark] and [Tang Song's Glasses], his personal qualities and cognition have been steadily improving.

This Charm +1 is probably related to these things, a kind of subtle self-upgrade.

But it is precisely because of this that he is afraid.

In fact, this is not a bad thing.

People should maintain a fear of the unknown. This fear is not a negative emotion that makes people hesitate, but a kind of awe of the world and a clear understanding of one's own limitations.

Tang Song vigorously ruffled the beautician's long, wine-red hair and let out a long sigh.

"Ugh—" Zhao Yachian let out a soft groan, then swallowed hard.

After a while, she looked up, her face beaming, and said, "Brother, don't you think I've improved a lot?"

"You're so great, baby," Tang Song said sincerely.

Zhao Yachian licked her lips. "I'll go wash up first and be right back."

After saying that, she swayed her shapely hips and strode towards the bathroom with her long legs.

Open the [Warehouse] to view the details of the rewards you just received.

[Tang Song's Mask]: In the game, this is an item that allows the player, Tang Song, to conceal their true self. After use, it will allow you to immerse yourself in a disguised role according to your wishes, helping you to understand your complex and multifaceted self (Comprehension +1).

[Note: Life is like a painting. The background color is the foundation, determining the overall tone of the painting. The mask, on the other hand, is the filter, determining how the painting appears.]

After reading the item description, Tang Song pursed his lips and his eyes flickered slightly.

The Comprehension +1 already determined the rarity of this item, but what truly concerned him was the phrase "concealing one's true self".

As his charm rating increased, he seemed to gain more authority.

For example, "The Feather of Memory" and "The Tang Song's Mask".

I'm getting closer and closer to knowing the truth.

"Ding-dong—" WeChat notification sound rang out.

[Wen Ruan: "Are you free this Friday at noon? My cousin is moving. Would you like to come have lunch with me if you're free?"]

[Wen Ruan: "Don't be troubled. Go if you want to, don't go if you don't want to. It's okay."]

Upon seeing this message, Tang Song couldn't help but smile and quickly replied, "No problem."

This older sister has truly opened up; she's ready to introduce herself to her relatives and friends.

Wen Ruan: "Okay, then come to Oasis View Residential Complex first, sit at my place for a while, and then we'll go together."

It's finally time to meet the parents!

Tang Song was a little nervous, as it was his first time experiencing something like this.

I chatted with Wen Ruan for a few more minutes, then exited the chat window.

Tang Song checked the unread messages on WeChat.

Most of them are from work groups, including Brocade Business, Songmei Clothing, and Juqing Huijin.

Speaking of which, the due diligence process at Fanfu Suzi Media Company is starting the day after tomorrow.

The other party has already prepared all the materials related to finance, business, assets, and human resources.

Because he had drawn on elite talents from Juqing Huijin, and with the full cooperation of Quan Jing Law Firm.

This top-notch Due Diligence Team is sufficient even for large corporations.

A small media company can be set up in four or five days at most.

It does seem like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

However, this is his first overseas investment after all, and a smooth and perfect start will give him more confidence.

After thinking for a moment, Tang Song opened the WeChat account of Zhang Chengyuan, the person in charge of Juqinghui Jinyan City, sent Wen Ruan's message, typed a message, and began to arrange the next trust signing matters.

Following this asset inheritance, Juqing Huijin received another $50 million in investment.

Correspondingly, the beneficiaries will receive more comprehensive and abundant benefits.

For example, when the beneficiary reaches a certain stage in life (such as marriage, childbirth, home purchase, education, etc.), they may receive additional property distribution.

It even includes some terms of service for the beneficiary's parents.

Just as I finished sending the message and was about to put my Mobile Phone down, a new message popped up.

[Brocade Business - Li Junyi: "Mr. Tang, the weather's nice this weekend. Are you free? My friend and I opened a motorcycle club in the old city and are planning to invite everyone for a short ride and get together there. I've checked the numbers in the group chat, and there are tons of pretty girls this time."]

[Brocade Business - Li Junyi: Wind Chasing Motorcycle Club]

[Brocade Business - Li Junyi: Environment Photos. jpg]

I clicked on the club's photos and saw that the decor had a great atmosphere.

The leisure area is very large, spacious and comfortable, and also has coffee, desserts, entertainment facilities, etc.

In addition, there are workshops with a modern industrial style.

It is a very professional motorcycle club.

After thinking for a moment, Tang Song replied, "Sure, no problem."

This can be considered a new hobby that I've cultivated myself.

I've had the [Motorcycle Driving Experience Book] for a month now, but I haven't had much time to ride properly because I've been quite busy.

Get the work done in the next few days.

Grab your camera, hop on your motorcycle, and head out for a good break.

Relieve your recent tension.

"Buzzing—"

[Brocade Business - Li Junyi: "Okay, I'll arrange it!"]

The sound of footsteps rang out.

After washing up, Zhao Yachian walked over quickly and pounced on Tang Song onto the bed.

The full, well-proportioned stems of the wine glass rested on either side of him.

Zhao Yachian licked her lips with her nimble tongue, swaying her body expectantly, and said, "Brother, I brushed my teeth three times, they're already very clean. It's just that I have a terrible fever, can you help me treat it?"

Tang Song threw his Mobile Phone aside, grabbed the beautician's long legs, and stood up from the bed.

He patted her bottom and laughed, "The weather is quite cool today, let's go to the balcony and get some fresh air."

Zhao Yachian exclaimed excitedly and kissed his neck, saying, "Okay, brother."

Qiaoxi District, Zhu Xi Residential Area.

"Senior Schoolmate, wait a minute, I'm going to the supermarket to buy something."

"Squeak—" The Wuling Hongguang pulled over to the side of the road outside the South Gate.

"Hey, Qiu Qiu, grab the umbrella!"

"No need, it's just a short walk."

In the hazy rain and mist, Cheng Qiuqiu, wearing a T-shirt and jeans, waved to Gao Mengting with her back to her.

"Smash, smash, smash—" Her footsteps slid steadily through the rain, and she seemed to enjoy the feeling of being soaked in the rain.

Gao Mengting leaned back in her seat, watching the younger student's back as if deep in thought.

On the way from Yunxi Building to Bamboo Creek Garden, you actually pass by Chengjing Business Building, where Cheng Qiuqiu lives.

She had suggested before that, if the timing was right, I could pick her up after get off work and we could go home together.

However, the female student directly rejected him.

During the time we shared the apartment, she was very tactful and always did more than she said.

I deliberately staggered my time for washing up and going to the toilet.

If you eat the fruit and snacks you bought yourself, you'll definitely return them the next day.

Their relationship remained stuck in a familiar yet distant state, much like it was back in school.

However, this situation was completely shattered after Su Yu Concert.

She began to confide in herself about her work troubles, her social struggles, and her emotional doubts.

Especially in the past week, she has started reading every day.

Their relationship has become increasingly close.

That Li Jingzhong was the source of her troubles that she had mentioned many times.

As the General Manager of Yan City Inspiration Brand Design Co., Ltd.., Li Jingzhong, who is only 35 years old this year, is undoubtedly very outstanding.

From the moment Qiu Qiu started her internship, they took great care of her.

Initially, Qiu Qiu was somewhat oblivious to matters of the heart, did not notice anything unusual.

After she graduated and became a full-time employee, this Manager Li asked her to be his assistant and invited her to dinner and shopping together on several occasions.

Because of the kindness she received in the beginning, Cheng Qiuqiu couldn't refuse directly, so she could only make excuses.

It was raining today, so in order to refuse the other person's kindness, I moved myself out.

This also shows that the relationship between the two is getting better and better.

While she was deep in thought.

With a "click," the car door was pulled open.

Cheng Qiuqiu, her body soaked, sat down inside, carrying a shopping bag in her arms.

The car slowly started moving, drove into the gate of the residential area, and after wandering around for a while, it finally found a parking area in a narrow spot.

That's how it is in older residential areas; parking spaces are all on the ground, and they're public parking spaces.

You can park anywhere as long as you've registered, but parking spaces become very scarce on rainy days.

Lock the car.

Take the elevator directly to the 12th floor.

Gao Mengting took out her keys from her bag and was about to open the door to room 1202.

The door next to them was suddenly pushed open.

Immediately afterwards, Moli, wearing a tank top, came out from inside.

He patted Cheng Qiuqiu on the shoulder with a smile and said, "QQ, you're finally back."

Good evening, Moli.

Moli pointed to the door of room 1203, "Want to come in and play for a while? Wen Ning and Dong Bing are writing a new song in there, and I think the melody is amazing."

"No, I don't think so. You guys have fun." Cheng Qiuqiu calmly shook her head.

Seemingly sensing her low spirits, Moli didn't say anything more, instead saying, "This Saturday, the group is organizing a cycling trip to a club in the ancient city. Our White Knight Band is coming! The atmosphere at the club is great, and the owner even invited us to perform live—we'll get double the usual fee!"

As she spoke, Moli's eyes became Jing Jing.

Cheng Qiuqiu was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, let's go together then."

"OK, it's decided then!" Moli snapped her fingers, said goodbye to the two of them, and turned to go back into the house.

"Squeak—" The door to 1202 was opened.

The living room was completely dark.

The lights were turned on, and the two changed their shoes in the Entrance Hall.

Cheng Qiuqiu suddenly held up the red shopping bag in her hand and said with a smile, "Senior Schoolmate, want to have a drink with me?"

"Sure," Gao Mengting nudged Cheng Qiuqiu. "Go change your clothes first, so you don't catch a cold."

"Mm." Cheng Qiuqiu nodded and walked into her small bedroom.

A few minutes later.

There were quite a few things on the small coffee table in the living room.

Pickled chicken feet, potato chips, spicy strips, peanuts, dried fruit...

Several bottles of different flavored cocktails were also placed on both sides.

I opened the window, and a cool breeze, carrying the scent of rain, seeped in.

The two moved the coffee table to the edge of the balcony and sat down on small stools.

"Clink—" The glass bottle bumped against itself.

Soft lighting casts a warm and dreamy atmosphere over the surrounding space.

Neither of them spoke much.

They just sat there, enjoying the breeze, drinking, and eating random snacks.

I don't know how much time passed.

Slightly drunk, Cheng Qiuqiu stood up from the stool and took a wooden guitar out of the room.

I sat in the corner of the balcony, leaning my body against the wall.

He casually plucked the strings and began to play and sing.

"BGM: Hold on tight to what you can hold on to, embrace what you can embrace, time is rushing by..."

Listening to my junior sing "The Thief of Time" while watching her figure amidst the interplay of light and shadow.

Gao Mengting was filled with mixed emotions.

She is a very emotional and empathetic person.

For some reason, she could always sense a faint sadness and loneliness from this junior.

It seems that she harbors many things in her heart that she is unwilling to express to others.

"BGM: Who made it so~, time is something that catches you off guard, sometimes sunny, sometimes windy, sometimes cloudy, sometimes rainy..."

Cheng Qiuqiu has a very delicate voice and sings very beautifully.

Gao Mengting sat quietly on the small stool and listened to her sing three songs.

10 p. m.

The two tidied up the living room briefly, washed up, and went to bed.

Gao Mengting had just taken off her pants.

A knocking sound rang out on the door.

Cheng Qiuqiu's voice came from outside the door. "Senior Schoolmate, I want to have a chat with you."

"Come in." Gao Mengting gently opened the door.

Cheng Qiuqiu walked in, clutching a pillow. "Thank you, Senior Schoolmate."

The lights were turned off, and the two slightly tipsy people collapsed onto the bed.

Cheng Qiuqiu stared at the ceiling in the darkness and said in a complicated tone, "My mother said she's coming to Yancheng to see me."

"Hmm?" Gao Mengting blinked. "Isn't this a good thing? Why don't you stay here for a few days? You can take time off and accompany me to look around, and let yourself relax a bit."

Cheng Qiuqiu sighed, "I hate her and don't want to see her. That's why I chose Yancheng for university and stayed there after graduation."

"Why?" Gao Mengting turned around to look at her, realizing the problem with this junior.

That's true. She's been living here for so long, and I've never seen her video chat or call her parents.

Besides work, she spends her days painting, playing guitar, and reading. Cheng Qiuqiu turned to the side, closed her eyes, and said in a somewhat melancholy tone, "I grew up with my grandmother in the countryside, and I went to elementary school in the village..."

Through her intermittent narration, Gao Mengting gradually understood what had happened.

When she was 3 years old, her father fell to his death from the 30th floor while working on a construction site.

Her mother left her with her grandmother in the countryside while she stayed in the city to work and live, only coming back to visit her occasionally.

Cheng Qiuqiu, a left-behind child who lacked parental companionship from a young age, developed an unparalleled and profound bond with her grandmother.

It wasn't until the year she graduated from elementary school that her mother took her to Rong City to study.

It was there that she fell in love with Su Yu, who was still in the Echo Band.

In my third year of junior high school, my grandmother suddenly fell seriously ill and needed a lot of money for surgery because of her advanced age.

The surgery carries significant risks, and there's no guarantee it will be successful.

My uncle was unwilling to contribute money, and my grandmother didn't have any savings.

When Qiu Qiu learned that her father had died, the company had paid her family a large sum of money in compensation.

So she begged her mother to pay for it, promising to repay her when she started working and earning money.

But in the end, no one cared about her opinion.

Grandma closed her eyes in pain.

From then on, she fell into depression and pain, and became increasingly withdrawn.

It was also during that time that Su Yu became embroiled in the Black Sea Controversy.

As her idol Su Yu emerged from the mire and shone brightly, she gradually recovered somewhat.

However, a deep and irreparable rift still developed between him and his mother.

Her mother wanted her to go to a prestigious university so she could make a name for herself and earn a lot of money.

She chose the arts, by sheer chance.

Her mother wanted her to stay in Chuan Province, in Rong City.

She chose Yancheng was very far away.

During her university years, she did not take a single penny from her family.

All tuition and living expenses were earned by myself.

Now that she has graduated, she doesn't want to go back to Rong City. Her biggest goal now is to make money.

Once I've earned enough money, I'll pack my bag and travel alone.

Listen to Su Yu's concert and visit the places from your grandmother's childhood stories.

Perhaps it was the effects of the alcohol, or perhaps she was sleepy, but Cheng Qiuqiu murmured in Chuan Province dialect with her eyes closed, "Grandma, I miss you so much."

Gao Mengting breathed a sigh of relief, and couldn't help but reach out and gently hug the junior, whispering words of comfort to her.

Tuesday, July 4, 2023, sunny, 23~32℃.

After a rain, the air in Yancheng was fresh and cool.

"It itches..." Gao Mengting frowned and opened her hazy eyes.

What comes into view is a head of long, orange-brown hair.

Gao Mengting gradually regained consciousness.

The scenes from last night kept flashing through my mind.

He glanced down at it, and his expression immediately turned somewhat strange.

She always sleeps naked, but last night she felt uncomfortable while sleeping, and since she'd been drinking, she just took off all her clothes. Seeing her junior's ample D-cup breasts, she couldn't help but feel a little envious; the difference was quite significant.

Sensing the movement, Cheng Qiuqiu slowly woke up from her dream.

I yawned, opened my eyes, and saw a B-cup right in front of me.

"Uh..." She quickly let go of Gao Mengting's hand, looked at her, and said with a little blush, "Good morning, Senior Schoolmate."

She was wearing a T-shirt last night, but when she woke up, Senior Schoolmate was completely naked.

Could it be that the Senior Schoolmate also has a problem?

"Good morning, Qiu Qiu." Gao Mengting patted her head with a smile. "I'm used to sleeping naked, don't mind me."

"It's okay, it's okay. I'll go cook. Senior Schoolmate, you go wash up first." Cheng Qiuqiu said, then slipped out with her pillow and slammed the door shut.

She hadn't had many close friends growing up, especially after that incident; she had never been this close to anyone before. She felt a strange mix of happiness and unease.

Gao Mengting shook her head, picked up the clothes from the bedside table, and started to put them on.

Washing up, putting on makeup, eating.

Before leaving, Gao Mengting patted her junior classmate, "Qiu Qiu, I think you should have a good talk with your mother."

This younger female student clearly has some psychological issues, but if possible, she still hopes that the other person can find happiness.

"Senior Schoolmate, I understand what you mean, but things are very complicated, I..." Cheng Qiuqiu pursed her lips and lowered her head in silence.

"Okay, we can talk about it later. I'm leaving now, and remember not to be late."

"Bye-Bye."

Bye-bye~

The door was closed gently.

Gao Mengting shook her head and quickly went downstairs.

Soon, the spirited Wuling Hongguang S drove out of Zhu Yuan Residential Area, facing the rising sun.

Yunxi Building.

Good morning President Gao!

"Morning."

Good morning, President Gao!

Gao Mengting greeted every colleague she encountered with a gentle and beautiful smile.

With the end of its expansion phase, Songmei Clothing now has nearly 70 employees.

The once quiet and deserted office area has become lively.

"Meng Ting, over here!" Suddenly, a magnetic male voice came from one direction.

Gao Mengting turned her head at the sound and saw a leisure area.

Tang Song was leaning back in the sofa, chatting with several new colleagues.

He was dressed in business-style summer clothes, his hair was fluffy, he was full of energy, and he wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses on his nose.

His slightly raised chin and smiling thin lips made him look upright and confident.

Even after not seeing each other for more than a week, this partner is still as charming as ever.

Seeing the smile on his face and feeling his vibrant energy made me feel much better.

It seemed that no difficulty could stop them from moving forward.

Perhaps we could introduce Qiu Qiu to our business partner later, which might help her overcome her past trauma.

Gao Mengting smiled brightly.

I walked over with light steps and first greeted a few new colleagues who had been recruited from the Imperial Capital.

Then he patted Tang Song on the shoulder, sat down next to him, and joined their conversation.

With the company restructuring complete, new work tasks are about to begin.

In addition to integrating the team, it is also necessary to adjust the department setup, optimize the division of functions, and reallocate authority according to their specific business.

To keep the company as efficient as possible and reduce unnecessary friction and internal friction.

The Tang Song had already prepared contingency plans; the next step was the specific implementation phase.

Because he also has to participate in due diligence Ordinary People, his work will be quite busy, so the specific tasks will still need to be assigned to Gao Mengting.

After all, this partner is very reliable and has never let me down.

Around 9 a. m., company employees started clocking in for work.

Sunlight streamed in through the large floor-to-ceiling windows on the east side, making the entire office area vibrant and energetic.

Huayun Center, Building B, Guangying Media.

"Tap tap tap—" came the sound of hurried footsteps.

Zhang Xintong ran quickly into the company gate.

After a "beep," the attendance machine successfully clocked in.

Looking at the numbers above, I let out a long sigh of relief.

9:30 sharp, not late!

Arriving at the Marketing Planning Department's office area, I took out meat buns and soy milk from my bag and began to eat them with relish.

Recently, the company has undergone a series of major changes, and all employees have become extremely cautious, creating a very delicate atmosphere in the office.

However, in private, various WeChat groups are filled with all sorts of wild speculations.

Some people say the company is finished and is about to lay off a large number of employees.

Some say that a new investment institution has emerged that wants to acquire the company, and negotiations are still ongoing.

Everyone was on edge, fearing the company would completely collapse.

There's no way around it; as the leading media company in Yancheng, Guangying Media offers the best salaries and benefits.

Flexible working hours, Five Insurances and One Fund, paid annual leave, overtime pay...

Besides, with the current environment being so bad, nobody wants to leave.

However, none of this mattered to Zhang Xintong, since she had already received Wen Ruan Ruan's promise.

I'm about to switch jobs to the Yancheng branch of Xingyun International Group.

"Tap tap tap—" The sound of high heels clicking on the ground rang out.

Dressed in a flamboyant manner and carrying a coffee, Li Meiling walked into her workstation.

He glanced at Wen Ruan's location first, then turned to Zhang Xintong and said, "Isn't Wen Ruan coming to hand over the work yet? What's wrong? Is she trying to keep us hanging?"

Zhang Xintong patiently explained again, "Sister Meiling, Sister Wen Ruan only returned to Yancheng yesterday, and she had already handed over most of the materials before that."

"Heh, still have the mind to play around in the Imperial Capital?" Li Meiling put the coffee on the table, crossed her legs and sat down. "Meigou Technology wanted her to come over to discuss cooperation before, but she didn't even give our boss face, which directly led to the cancellation of the cooperation. If you ask me, the reason why our company is in this state is also inseparable from her."

"I heard that because of the cancellation of this cooperation, the previous investment institutions simply gave up."

"I still can't understand why Meigou Technology insisted on negotiating a partnership with Wen Ruan?"

"Tch~, that's just an excuse. To be honest, it's the competitors' doing."

"However, Wen Ruan is really ruthless. After all, she worked at the company for two years and didn't show any sentimentality whatsoever."

"You've seen her Moments, haven't you? She's having a blast in Imperial Capital, with all sorts of delicious food, movies, and beautiful scenery."

Following Li Meiling's provocative words, several colleagues began to discuss it in hushed tones.

There was some dissatisfaction with Wen Ruan in their words.

In any case, the company's crisis started with her.

Faced with an unpredictable future, they subconsciously shift the blame to a single goal, exchanging collective complaints for a meager sense of belonging and recognition, and huddling together for warmth.

In short, it all comes down to fear.

Zhong Ying, sitting in the corner, looked gloomy and didn't complain.

All her grudges against Wen Ruan stemmed from Director Wang Liyu.

However, even after Director Wang gave up pursuing Wen Ruan, his attitude towards her did not change.

This gradually brought her to her senses, and she no longer had any objections to Wen Ruan.

Now I'm more worried about my future and whether I'll ever see Director Wang again after I leave the company.

Hearing their discussion, Zhang Xintong's face flushed red, and she couldn't help but say, "Wen Ruan Ruan's resignation was also caused by that President Liu from the Imperial Capital, wasn't it? According to you guys, it's his fault too!"

Li Meiling's face darkened.

She had worked so hard to please the other party, only to end up empty-handed. Now, she was facing the crisis of her company potentially going bankrupt, and she felt extremely distressed.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached.

The company's HR director and two administrative staff jogged into the office area.

"Clap clap clap—" The HR director clapped his hands loudly and shouted, "Quiet! Everyone, get to work immediately! An important leader is coming over soon! It's a matter of life and death for our company!"

As she spoke, she walked directly through the Marketing Planning Department's office area and headed inwards.

Guangying Media's Yancheng headquarters has a large number of employees, occupying most of the 15th floor office area.

Immediately afterwards, similar notifications were received in WeChat groups.

Everyone in the office area immediately perked up.

There was no longer any thought of complaining Wen Ruan.

While maintaining a facade of quiet, various small groups have already begun to engage in frenzied discussions.

Soon, a well-informed colleague revealed the "leader's" identity.

The investor representative negotiating the acquisition agreement with the company.

Everyone's eyes shone with anticipation and excitement, and the keyboards clattered and clicked.

If a company is willing to acquire them, it means that their company has value, and they still have a good chance of staying.

Zhang Xintong's eyes darted around, and she quickly sent the message to Wen Ruan.

Given the current atmosphere in the company, even if I came today, I wouldn't be able to complete the handover work.

Everyone is watching this negotiation that will determine their fate.

A tense and uneasy atmosphere gradually spread within Guangying Media.

10:00 AM.

A message quickly spread through various WeChat groups. "They're here! The chairman himself went down to pick them up!"

In an instant, the office was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and everyone started pretending to work seriously.

A few more minutes passed.

A series of rapid, rhythmic footsteps came from the doorway.

It was as if it had stepped on the hearts of all of them, "thump thump—".

"They're coming in!" someone whispered.

Everyone couldn't help but steal glances towards the doorway.

Immediately afterwards, a series of surprised gasps rang out.

Leading the way were two women.

One of them was tall and thin, with a cold and stern face, and walked with a decisive and efficient manner.

Beside her was a tall, voluptuous, sexy woman wearing a shirt and pencil skirt.

Behind and beside them, in addition to familiar executives such as Chairman Zhang Shun and Vice President Xu Feiyu, there were more than 10 unfamiliar men and women, dressed in suits and exuding composure.

Compared to these people, the two women seemed to have an exceptionally strong presence.

However, everyone's eyes were fixed on Wen Ruan, who was standing on the left, and they were all dumbfounded.