Outstanding Beyond Compare

Friday, August 18, 2023, cloudy to overcast, 27~31℃.

The gradually brightening sky seeped into the bedroom through the curtains.

Liu Qingning slowly woke up from her sleep, but Tang Song was nowhere to be seen.

After a moment of blankness, my thoughts gradually cleared.

I picked up my Mobile Phone and checked the time.

[7:41]

Then I saw another WeChat message.

[Tang Song: "I saw you were sleeping soundly this morning, so I didn't wake you. I bought breakfast and put it in the refrigerator. Get up and heat it up before you eat. I have to go out for a bit."]

Turning off the air conditioner and lifting the summer blanket, Liu Qingning gave a simple reply and got up to walk outside.

Recalling the events of last night, a complex expression appeared on her face.

Tang Song's sudden assertiveness and the act of groping her breasts unsurprisingly caused her to have insomnia last night, and she didn't even know when she fell asleep.

She originally wanted to use a nostalgic trip down memory lane and a sexy outfit to win him back, but she ultimately failed.

From her heart and values, she could not accept Tang Song's promiscuity, nor could she accept sharing him with other women.

But she really didn't want to give him up.

She didn't know what had happened to Tang Song during this time, and even his experiences since university began to seem shrouded in mystery.

Tang Song was no longer the silly boy she remembered.

She realized that she needed to get to know her childhood sweetheart again.

Once you have a good enough understanding of him, then you can try to win him back or make a choice.

After washing up and wiping my face, I just stepped out of the bathroom.

Then I saw Liu Shuang coming out of the bedroom.

"Huh? Qing Ning, why are you still here so late? It's almost 8:30."

Tang Yi Precision has a flexible work schedule, usually starting work at 10 am and finishing at 7 pm. Liu Shuang gets up very late every day.

"I overslept today, it's fine, I've already handed over all my work here anyway." Liu Qingning smiled and pointed to the breakfast on the table, "Look, Tang Song bought it, I just finished eating, it's still warm."

"Thank you, darling." Liu Shuang smiled as she sat down at the coffee table, took a bite of a shrimp dumpling, and a satisfied look appeared on her face.

"By the way, Qing Ning! You don't seem to have a bag for a catering or banquet. Let me recommend a few for you, and we can go to the mall to buy them this afternoon."

As Liu Qingning changed her clothes, she shook her head and said, "No need, Tang Song just gave me a handbag a couple of days ago."

"Oh? The bag Tang Song gave you?" Liu Shuang, forgetting all about her meal, stood up curiously and asked, "What brand is it? Where is it? Let me see."

"Wait a minute." Liu Qingning pulled up her pants, opened the wardrobe, and tiptoed to take out an orange gift box from the top shelf.

Because she had been thinking about Tang Song these past few days, she hadn't used it yet.

Seeing the familiar packaging, Liu Shuang exclaimed in surprise, "LV? Which one is this?"

"Cap mini".

"Wow, the classic handbag series, your favorite one, even the basic version costs 50,000 to 60,000 yuan! Tang Song really went all out!"

Liu Qingning opened the lid, took out the bag, and a big smile appeared on her lips.

The bag that Tang Song bought perfectly suited her taste.

She really loves the LV Capucines Mini and had wanted to buy one before, but she had been suppressing her desire because she was busy with work and needed to save money.

"Uh... wait a minute..." Liu Shuang's eyes widened. "Good heavens, this looks like a crocodile skin item worth over 200,000 yuan, right? Really?"

Although rare leather and regular leather are the same style, the exquisiteness, luxury and price of rare leather are far superior. In their eyes, they are completely different things.

"Of course it's genuine." Liu Qingning pouted and said, "Tang Song wouldn't lie to me."

She was absolutely confident about this.

Having known each other for so many years, aside from joking and teasing, Tang Song had never lied to her.

He was the same way in matters of the heart.

She could actually understand why Tang Song readily admitted to his scumbag behavior.

Their relationship is complex, encompassing not only love but also deep friendship.

If Tang Song really deceived her, the consequences would be devastating when she discovered the truth.

The friendship and feelings they have built up over a long period of time will be damaged beyond repair.

Tang Song didn't want this relationship to change, so he had no choice but to be honest with her.

"Honey, this is my Dream Bag! Let me see it!" Liu Shuang excitedly leaned closer.

She just graduated with a master's degree this year and has only been a full-time employee for two months. Although she earns 40,000 yuan a month, she has no savings and simply cannot afford this level of luxury goods.

Liu Shuang lovingly stroked the LV clasp covered in diamonds, then gently opened the flip cover, exclaiming in surprise, "Oh, how come there's something else inside?"

"What is this?" Liu Qingning was stunned and opened her bag to look inside.

Besides a shoulder strap, there were some other items neatly placed inside the bag.

I took them out and looked at them; there were three things in total.

A shrink-wrapped black and gold watch, a bottle of perfume, and a folded piece of paper.

"This is... Chanel Black Gold Sugar Cube Watch, and Hermès Un Jardin sur le Nil perfume." Liu Shuang looked at the logo on the watch and said with envy, "Wearing a Cap Mini in rare leather and a Chanel watch, your style is instantly elevated."

Although they are highly educated, they come from ordinary backgrounds and have not been able to improve their social class.

It's impossible not to feel nervous when facing such a high-level banquet and those celebrities and dignitaries.

Having these luxury items on hand can certainly boost one's confidence and self-esteem, and also adds some social value.

Liu Qingning licked her lips and placed the watch box and perfume on the bed.

Pick up the folded piece of paper and gently unfold it.

Above is a sketch of her, drawn during her high school years.

Wearing a school uniform, sitting by the window, with headphones on, and a playful and cute smile on her face.

Below the sketch, there is a line of text written in Pencil.

Only your Qian Qian smile brings spring to the entire land.

Liu Qingning's eyes welled up with tears, and her vision gradually blurred.

This is not the content of any photograph; it is a scene that exists only in the memories of the Tang Song dynasties.

Liu Shuang said with a complicated expression, "I have to admit, Tang Song has been very good to you. This whole set of things costs 300,000, which is no small amount for him."

She used to firmly believe that Tang Song was not good enough for Liu Qingning, and she often advised her to choose the more outstanding Cheng Qingfeng or Xiang Kai.

However, the completely new image the other person presented after this meeting greatly overturned her preconceived notions.

Liu Qingning, this seemingly "ordinary" childhood sweetheart, does indeed possess qualities that make her worth the effort.

If we disregard economic conditions, he is in no way inferior to Xiang Kai.

Looking at the sketch in her hand and the gifts, Liu Qingning took a deep breath, overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

11:00 AM.

Kexing Science Park, Century Zhixue.

The HR director handed over the termination certificate. "That's fine, Ms. Liu. It's all done. You can keep your access control and employee ID. We might contact you about work-related issues in the coming days."

"Okay, I understand. Bye-bye." Liu Qingning nodded, turned around and walked out of the HR office.

As soon as I returned to my workstation, Li Ziying came over.

He patted her shoulder and said softly, "Qing Ning, Qingfeng has something to do and won't be able to attend the exchange dinner tonight."

Liu Qingning paused for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully, "Oh, okay."

"By the way, you're going shopping for clothes with Liu Shuang this afternoon, right?"

"Okay, I'll take a taxi to meet her later, have a meal together, and then go shopping."

"OK, let's all go together then." Li Ziying pinched her cute cheek and smiled, "After we finish shopping, I'll take you to a really good beauty salon. The makeup artists there are top-notch. I just got a VIP card."

You can do a treatment first to make your skin brighter.

We'll have a professional makeup artist do a full makeover for us, matching our new clothes.

When attending such a formal occasion, one should always dress elegantly and presentably.

A girl as pretty as you, if you take good care of yourself, you could definitely be just as good as those celebrities.

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingning's eyes lit up instantly. "Okay, thank you, Zi Ying."

They are all Development Engineer, and their makeup skills are not very good. They don't usually have much time to study makeup.

No woman doesn't love beauty, and this is especially true for someone like her who has been beautiful since childhood.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been afraid to let Tang Song see her face up close because of her acne.

She hasn't taken care of herself properly in far too long.

Imagine yourself having a facial, putting on beautiful makeup, and changing into brand new clothes, appearing before Tang Song in a new light.

Liu Qingning clenched her little fist tightly, a happy smile spreading across her face.

Building T8, Shenzhen Bay No. 1.

"Ding-dong—" The doorbell rang.

Tang Song put down his laptop and got up to go to the Entrance Hall hall.

The LED display showed a live feed of the outside world. After confirming that it was property management staff, Tang Song opened the armored door.

"Mr. Tang, your clothes have been ironed. Please check if there are any problems."

Tang Song took the entire Kiton suit, quickly checked it over, and Wei Xiao, saying, "No problem, thank you."

"It was an honor to serve you. Have a nice day, goodbye."

"Goodbye."

After closing the armored door, Tang Song removed the dust bag and hung the clothes in the master bedroom's walk-in closet.

When he came to Shencheng, he happened to bring a suit with him, which he left at Shenzhen Bay No. 1.

I'm going to a banquet tonight, so I should dress more formally.

After being pressed, the suit has regained its original drape and crispness.

Tang Song took off his casual clothes and put Yi Yi his clothes properly.

Navy blue suit jacket and trousers, white shirt, and dark brown casual leather shoes.

It has both a casual and comfortable feel, as well as a touch of business style.

Wear Vacheron Constantin Overseas.

I stood in front of the mirror and looked at myself.

Excellent body proportions, a tall and strong physique, high-quality clothing, and handsome features.

Overall, he's undeniably a top-tier handsome guy.

Tang Song feels he could become a popular young male celebrity now, and he definitely has a good market presence.

I admired myself in the mirror for quite a while.

Tang Song picked up his Mobile Phone and dialed Liu Qingning's number. "Hey, are you done shopping?"

"Yeah, I just got back to my Rental House with Shuangshuang. We're going to the beauty salon for makeup and styling now, it'll probably take a while. I'll send you the location, just come over there and we'll go to the Raffles Hotel together."

"Okay baby."

"Hey, how can you talk like that!" Liu Qingning's voice was a little shy.

Tang Song smiled, kissed the microphone, and whispered, "Bye-bye, I'll pick you up tonight."

"Bye-Bye."

After hanging up the phone, Tang Song strolled to the balcony and gazed into the distance.

Unlike the Imperial Capital, which has weathered many historical storms, or the bustling metropolis, it is different from the Magic City that is prosperous to the core.

Shencheng is a very young metropolis, full of vitality and high spirits.

This includes Alibaba, Tencent, Huawei ...

His companies also include Smiling Holdings, Tang Yi Precision, and Qingning Technology ...

Leaving the White Moonlight here is actually a very good choice.

Relp Beauty Salon.

Facial care, hand care, makeup...

After completing the entire process, it was already close to 6 p. m.

Liu Qingning stood in front of the full-length mirror for a long time, a joyful smile appearing on her face.

The light blue summer suit dress, with its cinched waist, perfectly accentuated her curves, highlighting her hourglass figure.

The black and gold Chanel Sugar Cube watch on her wrist perfectly complemented her outfit, adding a touch of style.

Her hair had soft waves, and her carefully cared-for skin was white and tender.

Add a pair of 6cm high heels, and she looks radiant, sexy, and beautiful.

Thinking of Tang Song, whom she was about to meet, Liu Qingning's eyes flashed with excitement and pride.

In any case, she was once the undisputed school beauty of Jing County No. 1 High School.

I've just been too busy with work to take care of it.

She's been properly groomed this time and has regained 80-90% of her peak charm.

I'm going to really impress that brat later!

"Qing Ning, you're so beautiful," Liu Shuang exclaimed sincerely, then looked at herself in the mirror and couldn't help but feel a little deflated.

She has a decent figure and pretty looks, and is actually quite popular in her department.

But standing in front of Liu Qingning, he seemed insignificant.

The worst thing is comparison.

Li Ziying chuckled and leaned closer, clicking her tongue a few times in admiration. She then picked up Liu Qingning's LV Bag and handed it to her, saying, "This outfit makes you look like a pure and innocent heroine straight out of a romance novel!"

Liu Qingning smiled and exchanged a few playful words with her.

"Ring ring—" A Mobile Phone rang urgently.

Liu Shuang quickly picked up her Mobile Phone and answered the call, "Hello, Xiang Kai."

"Oh, we're all done. We'll head to the hotel in a bit."

"Ah? You're here? This..." Liu Shuang glanced at Liu Qingning furtively and said, "Okay, let's go out right away."

I hung up the phone.

Liu Qingning asked, "What's wrong, Shuangshuang?"

Liu Shuang said somewhat embarrassedly, "I told Xiang Kai on WeChat that we were coming here to get our makeup done, and I told him the approximate end time. He said he happens to live nearby and would drive over to pick us up so we could go to the Raffles Hotel together. We're already in the Rest Area on the first floor of the beauty salon."

She and Xiang Kai were classmates for four years in college and had a very good relationship. Moreover, he even helped her get Autographed photo of Bei Weiwei.

So during the chat, she didn't hide her whereabouts at all, and also told others that Tang Song was coming to pick up Liu Qingning.

However, she did not expect Xiang Kai to act so decisively and come straight over.

Tang Song has been staying at their Rental House in Shencheng for the past few days, and Liu Qingning has officially resigned. Xiang Kai is starting to lose his temper.

Li Ziying said with a smile, "We've just finished, let's go! I'm really benefiting from your help today. With Xiang Kai, an insider, leading the way, we can relax a bit, and maybe we can even make some celebrity friends."

Liu Qingning frowned slightly, but didn't say anything.

After leaving the VIP dressing room, I went down the marble staircase to the first floor.

Then they saw Xiang Kai sitting on the sofa in the Rest Area.

He was dressed in a tailor-made high-end formal suit, wearing a gleaming watch, and his hair was slicked back in a side part.

It possesses both the composure and solemnity of a financial elite and the carefree and unrestrained nature of a wealthy young man.

He looks handsome and has an outstanding presence.

Many beauty salon staff members who pass by will subconsciously cast their gazes at him.

Looking at Xiang Kai at this moment, Liu Shuang couldn't help but sigh, envying her good friend's good fortune.

If she really had to choose, she would most likely still choose Xiang Kai.

In terms of appearance, he was also a top-tier handsome man, not much worse than Tang Song.

Her father is the vice president of an entertainment company, her mother is a well-known actress, her family has extensive connections, and she herself is a financial elite.

Xiang Kai's future prospects are limitless.

Or rather, he was simply not in the same social class as them.

Liu Qingning's hard-earned savings from three years of entrepreneurship were barely enough to buy an apartment in Shencheng.

Ke Xiang Kai's family already owned two properties in Shencheng.

I heard footsteps coming from the stairwell.

Xiang Kai looked up and glanced over, his gaze landing on Liu Qingning in the middle, a hint of amazement and fervor in his eyes.

A cute and charming face, a sexy and hot body.

Dressed up in her finest attire, Liu Qingning possesses both innocence and maturity.

This contrasting combination is visually striking and is his favorite type.

She stood up, Xiang Kai Wei Xiao, and greeted Kai, "Good evening, three beautiful ladies."

"Good evening." "Thank you for coming all this way."

"It's okay, I'm nearby."

Xiang Kai the front of the three of them, looked at Liu Qingning, and said with bright eyes, "You look really beautiful today, I give you 100 points! I've told you before, you should get more skincare."

Li Ziying joked, "Hey, who only praises one person? Aren't Shuangshuang and I pretty?"

"Of course it's beautiful." Xiang Kai shrugged, a smile playing on his lips. "But to be honest, Qing Ning is prettier."

Liu Qingning nodded earnestly and said, "That's the absolute truth."

"Hermès Un Jardin sur le Nil?" Xiang Kai twitched his nose and laughed, "Rare indeed, Qing Ning, you're actually wearing perfume."

Liu Shuang covered her mouth and laughed, "Your nose is really sharp."

Liu Qingning chuckled lightly and explained casually, "The perfume was a gift from Tang Song."

Hearing her words, Xiang Kai raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh? Well, his taste is pretty good. This is a unisex fragrance that blends fruity, floral, and woody notes. It's fresh, elegant, gentle, and natural... perfect for a girl like you."

Xiang Kai is eloquent and knowledgeable. He speaks fluently, confidently, and with a unique charm.

Liu Shuang and Li Ziying both looked on with bright eyes.

After discussing the perfume, Xiang Kai said mysteriously, "I have some good news to tell you all. One of our famous Senior Schoolmate will be attending this banquet. Can you guess who it is?"

Liu Shuang grabbed his arm, her face full of curiosity, and said, "Just tell me! There are so many famous Senior Schoolmate in our school, how would we know which one it is!"

"Yes, Xiang Kai, tell me who it is!"

Xiang Kai shook his head and chuckled, "It's Qin Yingxue."

"Ah! It's her!" "Senior Schoolmate Yingxue!"

The three gasped in surprise, their eyes lighting up with delight.

The name Qin Yingxue may not be well-known to outsiders, but it is a household name among some students at Imperial Capital University, especially those in the Computer Science Department.

She once served as Jin Meixiao's work assistant and has also made a name for herself in the investment field. Currently, she is a board member of Qingning Technology and frequently appears in various news media.

It is said that because of her presence, Qingning Technology recruited many alumni of Imperial Capital University, and even formed a mutual help circle.

Li Ziying took a deep breath, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and said, "Xiang Kai, De Ren's headhunters have already contacted me for an interview at Qingning Technology. Do you think it's possible for us to toast with Senior Schoolmate Qin Yingxue and chat for a bit?"

She is a practitioner in the field of AI, holds a master's degree from Imperial Capital University, and is a member of a successful startup team.

After leaving Century Zhixue, with a little effort, there's a high probability that I can get into Qingning Technology.

Of course, getting in this way means you're just an ordinary employee.

If she can gain Qin Yingxue's attention, then the future is uncertain.

Xiang Kai Wei Xiao and said, "Senior Qin's decision to attend was impromptu; she's unsure when she'll arrive or how long she'll stay. How about this: if she's still there during the reception, we can go and say hello together."

Li Ziying immediately replied, "Okay!"

Liu Qingning and Liu Shuang nodded in agreement, their faces showing anticipation.

My desire to meet Pei Yan Ke and Bei Weiwei was merely to join in the fun and have some interaction with the celebrities I'd seen on TV; it wasn't out of admiration for them.

In comparison, a strong woman like Qin Yingxue better fits their definition of an idol.

Xiang Kai raised his wrist to check his watch. "It's already 6 PM. Shuangshuang said Tang Song is coming too, hasn't he arrived yet?"

"They should be here soon. I'll make a call." Liu Qingning took her Mobile Phone out of her bag and dialed the number.

"Hey, Tang Song."

"Yes, we're out now, in the Rest Area on the first floor."

"Have you arrived yet?"

Liu Qingning quickly looked up at the entrance of the beauty salon.

Hearing what she was saying, Xiang Kai other two also looked over.

The greeter at the entrance bowed slightly.

The sound of footsteps "tap tap" rang out.

A tall, imposing figure suddenly appeared in the luxurious lobby of the beauty salon.

The well-tailored navy blue suit, with its delicate sheen, perfectly hugged his body lines.

His tailored trousers hung straight down, swaying gently with his steps, exuding a composed elegance.

The white shirt collar was slightly open, revealing the clear lines of the fabric.

Under the dazzling lights, on a fair wrist, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas shines brightly.

Wearing a dark suit with a white shirt, he looked sharp, elegant, and refined.

The moment he appeared, he instantly became the focus of the entire event.

He first politely glanced around, then his gaze lingered on Liu Qingning, and a charming Wei Xiao appeared on his lips.

Elegant, noble, and romantic.

His brilliance was fully revealed, and he was exceptionally outstanding.

Liu Qingning stared blankly at Tang Song, who had changed into a handsome suit and dressed like an adult.

Over the past few days, Tang Song, who has been by her side, has also changed a lot, but not so drastically in terms of temperament.

Especially when they play together, it's like he's turned back into the guy he was in high school.

At this moment, Tang Song reminded her of him grabbing her breasts last night.

It's somewhat unfamiliar, but incredibly charming.

Liu Shuang and Li Ziying swallowed hard, both noticing the difference between the Tang Song.

Looking at the familiar features, Xiang Kai's face flashed with disbelief.

Footsteps approached.

"Good evening." A clear and magnetic voice rang out.

"Good evening." "Good evening, Tang Song..."

Upon hearing the name Liu Shuang mentioned, Xiang Kai finally made up his mind, and his eyes twitched.

It really was him, the so-called childhood sweetheart who was always hanging around Liu Qingning.

Tang Song nodded slightly, walked straight to Liu Qingning's side, and took her hand.

Looking down at her beautifully made-up face, his eyes brightened, he said, "You look so beautiful today. Is this the surprise for me? I love it."

A blush instantly spread across Liu Qingning's face, and her rosy lips parted slightly as she said somewhat awkwardly, "It's getting late, we should head to the venue."

"Hmm." Tang Song nodded, then turned and asked, "Liu Shuang, how are you getting there?"

"Um..." Liu Shuang said in a low voice, "Xiang Kai drove here. There are exactly five of us, so we can go together."

Xiang Kai pursed his lips. "Long time no see, Tang Song. Do you still remember me?"

"Of course I remember, Xiang Kai." Tang Song said calmly. "Then the three of you will take one car, and Qing Ning and I will go together. My car is still waiting outside. We'll meet in the hotel lobby."

Seeing the competitor who had caused him so much frustration back then evoked little emotion in him.

Xiang Kai narrowed his eyes slightly, said nothing, and followed.

Stepping out of the beauty salon, a humid and stuffy atmosphere hits you.

The security driver waiting by the roadside immediately opened the rear door of the Bentley Mulsanne, bent down and gestured.

Tang Song squeezed Liu Qingning's soft hand and led her inside.

The car door was gently closed, and the driver, dressed in a suit and wearing sunglasses, nimbly got into the driver's seat.

A black Bentley Mulsanne merged into the traffic.