Zhang Yan's Hard Work, Xiao Xue's Enemy

Imperial Capital, Hesheng Xiaoyun Road No. 8.

Building 3, a 520-square-meter flat, with an independent executive office.

The computer screen was filled with densely packed data charts and documents.

On the video conference screen, overseas team members appeared Yi Yi, giving clear and powerful reports on their work progress.

"Knock knock knock!" A somewhat urgent knocking sound rang out.

Secretary Jin frowned slightly, whispered something, and muted the video conference.

"Enter."

Immediately afterwards, personal assistant Shangguan Qiuya walked in quickly, holding a tablet computer in both hands, and stood in front of the desk.

"Speak, what is it?"

"Director Jin, Mr. Tang just sent me an Email about the security issues you mentioned earlier, and I think it's necessary to report this to you."

"Oh?" Secretary Jin looked slightly taken aback, her full breasts heaving gently. She stood up from behind her desk and walked out.

Shangguan quickly handed over the tablet computer.

Secretary Jin took the tablet and gently adjusted the glasses on her nose.

His eyes quickly scanned the messages.

Where is Liu Jiayi now?

"I have been staying in Yancheng as you arranged, and I am currently mainly responsible for security services in communities such as Yanjing Sky City and Shengyuan Jiajing."

"Then let her be the driver. Go to Quancheng now and have the Golden Shield people take over the security services for Yunjing Terrace. You handle the specific details; I don't want to see any accidents happen."

"Okay, I'll arrange it right away." Shangguan Qiuya's heart skipped a beat.

"And one more thing!" Secretary Jin paused, then continued, "From now on, you don't need to inform me of any news about Liu Jiayi. Tell her to focus on serving Mr. Tang well and keep all of his information and movements confidential, including mine."

"Receive."

The office door closed gently, and Secretary Jin returned to her desk.

He casually picked up the steaming black coffee next to him, took a sip, and continued the video conference.

However, the team elites on the other side of the ocean noticed that Director Jin seemed to have suddenly become cheerful.

His tone was gentle, his posture relaxed, and his speaking speed slowed down.

The corridor of Huajing Grand Hotel was somewhat noisy.

"Wow, Tang Song! It really is you! You've changed so much! I almost didn't recognize you." Zhang Lei stared wide-eyed at the handsome guy in front of him.

He was tall and upright, full of energy, with smooth and delicate skin, and his clothes looked expensive.

She has a great presence and looks like a big star.

In his memory, Tang Song was always quite handsome, but he was never nearly as dazzling as he is now.

Tang Song smiled brightly and stepped forward to put his arm around Zhang Lei's shoulder.

"I saw a photo of our junior high school yesterday, and I ran into it today. I'm so lucky."

When luck was mentioned, his heart stirred slightly.

Could it be that the [Luck +1] I just got has taken effect?

Zhang Lei sighed, "Sigh, I've moved several times, and I don't even know where I lost my junior high school photos."

"Then I'll take a picture and send it to you digitally later."

"Come on, come on, it's so rare to run into you, let's add each other on WeChat. QQ used to be the most popular, but I've forgotten my QQ password."

Zhang Lei touched his beer belly and then looked at Tang Song's well-proportioned and muscular physique.

He clicked his tongue and said, "I used to think we were equally good-looking, but so many years have passed. I've gotten worse, while you've become more and more handsome. I'm so envious."

"I used to be quite overweight, but I got better after starting to work out."

The two chatted and reminisced, and then added each other as WeChat friends.

When Zhang Lei was in junior high school, he was the most popular "Second-Generation Rich" in his class.

Calling him a "Second-Generation Rich" is actually a bit of an exaggeration.

His father was a contractor. Because of the favorable national policies and environment in those years, he made a lot of money through construction projects and was indeed considered a wealthy man in the town at that time.

Zhang Lei also lived a very good life, spending money lavishly and owning the latest Mobile Phone, as well as various game consoles and handheld devices.

He was the most popular boy in school.

However, judging from Zhang Lei today, he has probably not had a very happy life these past few years.

"By the way, Tang Song, are you still working in the Imperial Capital? You seem to be doing quite well. Those clothes must be expensive!"

Zhang Lei had previously contacted some old classmates, including one from the same village as Tang Song, and knew roughly what Tang Song had been up to in recent years.

I went to a top-tier university and then got a job at a major Internet Plus company.

Tang Song gently shook his head and said, "He left last November and is currently starting a business in Yancheng doing live-streaming e-commerce."

"Oh? Starting a business doing live-streaming e-commerce? Holy crap! That's awesome!" Zhang Lei patted his arm, his face full of envy, and said, "You're really amazing! No wonder you're all dressed up so grandly and smartly."

Do you remember Zhang Yunpeng from our class? That kid used to be like someone with ADHD; he just messed around after graduating from junior high.

Now he's become a minor Internet Celebrity by making short videos, and he was even driving Mercedes-Benz around the Lunar New Year!

It has to be said that, among the channels available to ordinary people to turn their lives around, Internet Celebrity streaming offers the highest probability of success.

Tang Song thought about it carefully, but his memory was vague.

I can vaguely recall someone like that, but I can't remember what he looked like.

I vaguely remember that he was a poor student, often yelled in class, and liked to verbally harass female classmates.

He had even had a conflict with his deskmate Zhang Yan.

Thinking of Zhang Yan, Tang Song felt a slight pang in her heart and asked, "By the way Zhang Lei, do you know how Zhang Yan is doing now? Where is she working?"

After the high school entrance exam, Zhang Lei and Zhang Yan both studied at No. 2 High School, so they should have more contact with each other than I do.

Zhang Lei thought for a moment and said, "Zhang Yan, I really don't know the specifics of her current situation. I haven't seen her for two or three years. Wait a minute, you should know more than I do, right?"

Tang Song asked in surprise, "Huh? What do you mean?"

"She went to Yancheng Agricultural University, wasn't that in the same city as you? I thought you two had been in contact all along."

Tang Song was slightly taken aback. "Yancheng Agricultural University?"

"Yes." Scratching his slightly messy hair, Zhang Lei briefly explained what he knew.

After entering high school, Zhang Yan suddenly became extremely diligent, even more so than in junior high.

I have virtually no social life; I spend every day studying.

Moreover, she is very frugal. She will eat half of the food she gets at noon and then get a free egg drop soup to eat with it in the afternoon.

Because of her good looks and her "nerdy" personality, she was actually quite famous at No. 2 High School.

Zhang Yan barely made it to the second-tier university cutoff score in the 2016 College Entrance Examination. She could have easily gotten into a local undergraduate program, but she still chose to retake the exam.

However, she didn't have much academic talent and ultimately didn't reach the first-tier university admission score, ending up in a second-tier agricultural university.

Hearing this, Tang Song felt somewhat uncomfortable.

It was probably because he heard that his former good friend had worked so hard but had not received any reward.

However, that's the reality; it's really hard to make up for the gap in talent through hard work alone.

"Hey Tang Song, why did you suddenly start asking about Zhang Yan? You don't actually have feelings for her, do you?" Zhang Lei said with a teasing smile. "But then again, Zhang Yan is actually quite pretty. She's a bit slow-witted, but she's very innocent. Quite a few guys used to chase after her at No. 2 High School."

"It's not as sordid as you think." Tang Song shook his head. "I just happened to see her picture these past two days since I got home, and I wanted to learn a little about her."

"Haha, okay. If you really want to know, I'll ask Liu Shasha for you later. She was in the same dormitory as Zhang Yan at No. 2 High School, so they should have been in contact quite a bit."

"Thanks, Zhang Lei." Tang Song patted him on the shoulder and asked, "What about you now? Where are you working?"

Zhang Lei's expression was somewhat awkward. "I'm just hanging around in Quancheng, I can't make much money in a month, I can't compare to you guys."

"Ring ring—" Just then, the Mobile Phone rang suddenly.

Zhang Lei quickly pulled out his Mobile Phone, a nervous look on his face. "Hello, General Lin, I'm coming right back!"

"Okay, okay, sorry, I had something urgent to attend to."

I hung up the phone.

Zhang Lei said awkwardly, "Well, I'm currently entertaining a very important client, so I can't leave for too long. How about this, I'll treat you to drinks tonight after I'm done here."

When he suddenly ran into his old classmate whom he hadn't seen for six or seven years, he was filled with emotion and really wanted to have a good chat with Tang Song.

But I really can't leave, and there's nothing I can do.

Tang Song nodded and said, "Okay, I'll be in Jing County for the next two days."

"Bye-bye, wait for my call!" Zhang Lei patted Tang Song on the shoulder and jogged away.

Licking his slightly dry lips, Tang Song chuckled and shook his head before opening the door to the private room and going inside.

Since starting university, I've devoted myself entirely to my studies and work, and I've lost contact with my former classmates.

Even close classmates and friends like Zhang Yan and Zhang Lei are now unaware of their current situations.

For example, Zhang Lei, a former Second-Generation Rich, has now had his edges smoothed out by life.

"Boom!" The roar of the engine rang out.

The Porsche 911 accelerated and merged into the afternoon traffic in Yancheng.

Inside the quiet, luxurious carriage, both remained silent, neither uttering a word.

Xu Ning lowered her head, tears streaming down her face, and kept stealing glances at Lin Mu Xue in the driver's seat, like a child who had done something wrong.

A while later.

"Xiao Xue, what are you doing now..."

"Shut up!" Lin Mu Xue gripped the steering wheel tightly, her gaze sharp. "I'm driving right now, don't bother me!"

Xu Ning's lips trembled a few times, and she stammered, "I was wrong, I'm sorry."

"Phew—" Lin Mu Xue exhaled and turned up the air conditioner's fan speed.

Although she is materialistic, vain, and has many minor flaws, at least she is sincere to her friends.

Especially Xu Ning, who helped him many times when he was in dire straits.

When she first graduated, her income was actually very low, and Xu Ning, who was a live streamer, took the initiative to help her pay part of the rent.

Xu Ning also gave me all the toiletries I use in my daily life.

The two often went to the barbecue stall next to Yan City Vocational and Technical College together, drinking and eating skewers while dreaming about their wonderful future.

For her, who was ridiculed and isolated by her classmates at school, it was a very warm memory.

However warm the atmosphere was at the time, the more painful the subsequent breakup was.

Soon, the car entered the underground parking garage of the Lanfeng International Luxury Apartment and came to a smooth stop in its parking space.

"Get off."

"Oh, okay, I'll take the luggage... Thank you, Xiao Xue."

"Bang!" The headlights flashed, and the car was locked.

Lin Mu Xue pulled one of her suitcases and strode toward the elevator.

Xu Ning quickly jogged to catch up, curiously looking at the surrounding environment.

This is probably where Xiao Xue lives now.

She naturally knew about the Lanfeng International Luxury Apartment.

Having lived in Yancheng for several years, and sharing her love for luxury goods and showing off, she had also visited restaurants here.

Stepping into the spacious and luxurious elevator, Lin Mu Xue swiped her Access Card, and the button for the 20th floor lit up automatically.

"Ding—" The elevator stopped on the first floor.

Immediately afterwards, several well-dressed men and women walked in, including two foreigners with high noses and wide eyes.

Upon seeing Lin Mu Xue standing there, a big smile immediately appeared on his face.

He took the initiative to greet them:

"Hi Luna!!"

"Good afternoon, Luna! How are you enjoying your weekend so far?"

Upon seeing several familiar colleagues, Lin Mu Xue Wei Xiao and responded in English, sharing her wonderful weekend with them.

Xu Ning beside her, looked astonished. She opened her mouth as if to ask something, but didn't dare to speak.

To her surprise, Xiao Xue's English is now so good.

And I also know these friends who look really impressive.

She seemed to have changed a lot in the year she was gone.

Compared to the Xiao Xue of yesteryear, there's a sense of something different about her.

Stepping out of the elevator, Lin Mu Xue's expression turned cold once again.

After turning a corner in the spacious and bright corridor, the two arrived at a large, dark brown door.

The word "2002" is written on it in gold.

Lin Mu Xue grasped the doorknob, used fingerprint recognition, and opened the heavy door.

"Gurgle—" "Da da da—"

Footsteps, mixed with the sound of suitcases rolling.

Xu Ning carefully observed her surroundings.

An elegant Entrance Hall, engineered wood flooring, multi-tiered ceiling, a magnificent crystal chandelier, Leather Sofa, wool rugs, large floor-to-ceiling windows, and high-end furniture and appliances...

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The sky was a deep gray, with thick, low-hanging clouds that seemed almost within reach.

Through the bright and spacious glass curtain wall, you can see skyscrapers and bustling traffic.

The hustle and bustle of the city is vividly presented before my eyes.

This apartment is decorated to the exact standards of a five-star hotel.

It's much better decorated than the Yanjing Huating I lived in before.

It's definitely Xiao Xue's favorite tune.

Xu Ning stood in the living room, somewhat timidly asking, "Xiao Xue, you... you live alone now?"

"Heh." Lin Mu Xue plopped down on the sofa, her tone sarcastic. "Don't tell me you want to share an apartment with me? Do you even have the money? This upscale apartment in the city center, with this standard of decoration, would normally rent for around 5600 yuan. How much money do you have right now?"

After Xu Ning left, she became depressed and worried that her online persona would be exposed by others.

She hasn't looked for a roommate for that 130-square-meter villa in Yanjing Huating. (Chapter 169)

The monthly rent of 4,600 yuan puts a lot of pressure on her.

To maintain a respectable appearance, she had to grit her teeth and save money in other ways, such as walking to work and skipping afternoon tea.

"I..." Xu Ning lowered her head, tears streaming down her face again. She sobbed, "Xiao Xue, I've been scammed. He said he'd use my money to invest, to prove something to his parents, and he even made me take out online loans for him, saying the returns would be extremely high..."

Lin Mu Xue's brow twitched. "Did you borrow it!?"

"I... I..." Xu Ning shrank back, "I was wrong..."

"Idiot!" Lin Mu Xue stood up and slapped her hard on the head. "Even if you were a gold digger and someone kept you, I would still respect you."

You're doing this to yourself, supporting them, earning money, lending them money to squander, and then getting freeloading off them.

Now you're drowning in debt, and you've rolled back to Yancheng? You remembered me? You're really something!"

Xu Ning hugged her tightly and burst into tears.

He kept saying things like "I'm sorry" and "I regret it so much".

Lin Mu Xue gritted her teeth, but ultimately did not push her away.

She felt disappointed, angry, heartbroken, and worried about Xu Ning.

Seeing her living such a miserable life now evokes truly complex feelings.

After a long while, exhausted from crying, Xu Ning slumped onto the sofa and recounted her experiences over the past year.

After leaving Yancheng, she and her "tall, rich, and handsome" boyfriend went to Hang City, a city with a high concentration of Internet Celebrity celebrities, to work full-time as live streamers.

My boyfriend is a big spender, and the apartment he rents is very expensive.

To support the two of them, Xu Ning streams for long periods every day and no longer buys any luxury goods.

Later, her boyfriend suddenly said that a good friend of his was going to help him get rich, but he needed some start-up capital.

Her boyfriend encouraged her to borrow money from online lending platforms and friends.

She had her doubts, but she never dared to confront them.

Her only motivation was to gain the Parents' Approval, get married, and live a comfortable life as a wealthy wife.

Like a gambler who has staked everything, she simply cannot afford to lose.

Until recently, my boyfriend suddenly said that he had lost all the money he had invested.

They told her to borrow money from her fans to tide her over, and even implied that she could use her body for transactions.

Xu Ning finally realized what was happening.

However, it was too late. Not only were all the savings accumulated over the years wiped out, but there were also hundreds of thousands of yuan in debt.

I am harassed and pressured by debt collectors every day.

She completely lost interest in live streaming, couldn't stay in Hangzhou any longer, and sheepishly returned to Yancheng.

Sitting opposite her Lin Mu Xue's breathing quickened and her blood pressure soared.

"Xu Ning".

"Oh, I'm here!" Xu Ning quickly sat up straight. "Xiao Xue, I didn't mean for you to pay off my debts. I know your situation. You just have nowhere to stay right now, and you're feeling really, really upset. You don't know how many times I've thought about ending it all."

Lin Mu Xue looked at her calmly, "Then go die."

"I..."

"Don't try to play the victim with me. If you wanted to die, you would have done it long ago. You brought this on yourself. I know you too well; you're just too greedy..."

Lin Mu Xue's words were particularly cold, each sentence piercing Xu Ning's heart.

Xu Ning's face grew paler and paler, and she bit her lip without refuting.

A few minutes later, Lin Mu Xue stood up and asked, "Have you eaten?"

"No, I haven't eaten all day. I took the train to Yancheng last night and sat at the train station for half a day before finally coming to Yanjing Huating to find you."

"The bathroom is over there. Go take a shower and change your clothes."

"Oh, okay." Xu Ning quickly stood up, opened a suitcase, took out a change of clothes and a towel, and walked quickly towards the bathroom.

"Click—" As the glass door was gently closed, she leaned against the wall and took a deep breath.

She had thoroughly disgusted her best friend because of that scumbag boyfriend, and she hated herself for it.

She came to find her former best friend, actually hoping to be scolded by her.

This actually made her feel better.

Her gaze swept across the entire bathroom, and her eyes trembled violently.

On the elegant shelves, high-end skincare products are readily available, Bulgari and Chanel ...

The bath towels are all from Morgan & Tina, costing 3,000 each.

Then, her gaze paused.

Next to the mirror, there was a set of men's skincare products and a razor, neatly arranged and clean.

On a shelf in the corner, there was also a Versace men's bathrobe.

Recalling everything that had happened since they met, Xu Ning seemed to understand something.

I took off my clothes and quickly took a shower.

Blow-dry your hair.

After a good cry, a scolding, and a nice hot bath, Xu Ning felt like she had finally come back to life.

Looking back on the past year, I feel as if I've been under a spell, completely bewildered.

As I stepped out of the bathroom, I saw Lin Mu Xue sitting on a single sofa.

"Xiao Xue, may I use your cosmetics? I came in such a hurry that I forgot to bring a lot of things."

Lin Mu Xue was silent for a moment before saying, "You can use my cosmetics in the bedroom walk-in closet, but don't touch my other things."

"Okay, sure."

Xu Ning tiptoed into the walk-in closet.

When she finally saw what was inside, she froze on the spot, her mouth agape in astonishment.

On the vertical shelves are Hermès Birkin, Chanel LeBoy Black Silver Calfskin cow bags, LV Cap Handbag, Wander Bag ...

Inside the wardrobe were rows of luxury fashion items, headbands, hats...

The dressing table is filled with all sorts of classic accessories, watches, and even a Vacheron Constantin Overseas.

This... isn't this the walk-in closet that the two of them imagined and sketched out together when they were drunk back then?

With her keen eye, she could naturally tell that these were genuine items.

The combined value of these things is unimaginable.

Xiao Xue actually fulfilled their long-held dream.

A strange sense of loss welled up inside her, almost engulfing her completely.

She chose to support Top Supporter so that one day she could live that kind of life.

She absentmindedly applied light makeup.

As Xu Ning walked out, she paused again.

Several items were quietly hanging on the rack at the exit.

There was a hairband, a room key, a Porsche car key, and an elegant blue and white employee badge.

Before she left Yanjing Huating, Lin Mu Xue had just started working as a receptionist at Rongxin Venture Capital.

They said they wanted to change career paths, create a new self-media account, and switch to a persona of a financially savvy individual.

As her best friend, she naturally knew that Lin Mu Xue had always longed for respect and envy from others.

So even knowing that it's expensive and time-consuming, they still want to create this persona.

After hesitating for a moment, Xu Ning gently flipped the employee badge and saw the contents on it.

In the very center is Lin Mu Xue's ID photo; she is wearing a formal suit, with her long hair neatly combed, and she looks very beautiful.

Below is the specific job information.

Luna (Lin Mu Xue)

Senior Assistant to the Committee

Slover (HK) Trust

Xu Ning's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes glazed over for a moment.

Returning to the living room, feeling utterly lost, and looking at Xiao Xue standing there, elegant and stylish, a sense of déjà vu washed over me.

She's changed. She's really changed a lot.

It's no longer a bluff or a show of bravado, but a confident and powerful display of strength.

What exactly happened to her that year?

"Let's go," Lin Mu Xue said calmly, and strode out.

Xu Ning was stunned for a moment, then quickly followed.

The elevator slowly stopped on the third floor, and the two entered an elegantly decorated Hong Kong-style Tea Restaurant.

Lin Mu Xue casually ordered a few signature dishes, picked up the lemon water handed to her by the waiter, and sipped it elegantly.

Xu Ning gritted her teeth and asked, "Xiao Xue, you have a boyfriend? When did this happen?"

Lin Mu Xue put down her water glass and calmly said, "No."

"So what kind of work do you do now?"

Lin Mu Xue raised her head, a faint smile on her face, "The executive of the foreign financial company, the one I just ran into in the elevator, is my colleague."

"Ah!" Xu Ning exclaimed in surprise, her eyes filled with disbelief. "You... really?"

"Heh, you don't have to believe me, I don't need to explain to you." Lin Mu Xue shook her head, a faint reverie in her eyes.

This reunion with Xu Ning brought back memories of her past self.

For her, Xu Ning was like a constant coordinate.

Only when you look back at her can you realize how far you've gone.

This is why choices are so important.

Xu Ning decided to take a gamble and meet her so-called Top Supporter fan in real life, hoping to achieve great success.

During the time she worked as a self-media personality and model, many "Top Supporter" approached her, trying to lure her with promises of the future, financial prospects, and benefits.

Fortunately, she didn't act impulsively like Xu Ning, she held onto her principles, and she knew what she truly wanted.

If it weren't for the bombshell of the $100 million Family Trust, she wouldn't have fallen for it so quickly, shamelessly clinging to it.

Regarding Tang Song, she never denied the fact that she was greedy and materialistic.

But she also has principles. Since she chose him, she will rely on him wholeheartedly and try to please him.

Xu Ning remained silent for a while, then suddenly said, "Xiao Xue, do you still remember Wen Qiuyue? I ran into her again at an event in Hang City. She now has her own fashion brand, and I heard it's doing very well."

Upon hearing this name, Lin Mu Xue's pupils trembled.

Wen Qiuyue is the arrogant and domineering Bai Fumei who humiliated her at the event before. Her family is in the clothing business.

She came from a poor family. After learning during her university years that she couldn't become a flight attendant, she started working as a part-time model, going to auditions for events everywhere.

During the interview, the interviewer publicly mocked her for dressing unfashionably and having no taste.

This incident was ridiculed by many classmates.

Later, she gritted her teeth and swiped her credit card to buy a set of high-quality counterfeit clothes.

Wen Qiuyue mercilessly exposed her in public, saying that she was wearing counterfeit products and that it was an insult to their brand.

They even told her to go to the restroom to change her clothes, or else not to go to the event.

In order to earn that precious 1,000 yuan part-time job fee, she ventured into the stinky mall restroom amidst scornful and disdainful glances.

She changed her clothes while crying in the cramped cubicle.

This was the real trigger that led to her later transformation.

The more you lack something, the more you crave it.

It is precisely because of the shame and inferiority they have experienced that they want to prove themselves and make others envious and jealous of them.