Dream Flower Seed
As darkness fell, the city lights gradually came on.
Neon lights, streetlights, and decorative lights on the exterior walls of high-rise buildings intertwine, reflecting a colorful halo off the body of the Rolls-Royce.
The tires made a slight rustling sound as they rubbed against the ground, and the car slowly came to a stop in the drop-off area.
The uniformed doorman quickly stepped forward and respectfully opened the car door.
Tang Song slowly stood up and walked into the hotel.
The leather shoes made a crisp sound as they stepped on the marble floor.
"Chairman Tang!" "Chairman Tang!"...
The hotel staff held their breath, watching his figure disappear into the elevator, a sense of awe rising in their hearts.
Walk through the magnificent hotel lobby and take the elevator directly to the 5th floor.
The door, gleaming with a metallic sheen, slowly opened. Tang Song straightened his cuffs slightly, then stepped outside, his movements clean, efficient, elegant, and casual.
Before long, led by a waiter, Tang Song stood in front of a carved wooden door.
"Chairman Tang, Mr. Zheng is already waiting for you inside."
Tang Song nodded slightly.
Even in silence, he naturally exuded an aura of awe under the blessing of the [Dress-Success and Fame].
But at this moment, his heart was not at peace.
The game has become a reality. After meeting Mo Xiangwan, Su Yu, and Luo Bin, he is finally about to meet the fourth character.
Zheng Qiudong, an SSR character with a growth rate of 90, is 40 years old.
Push open the door to the private room.
A faint aroma of cigars and the rich scent of whiskey wafted towards me.
The wooden decorations and warm yellow lighting complement each other, creating a cozy yet dignified atmosphere.
Tang Song glanced around the room, his gaze quickly settling on the figure sitting on the leather sofa.
He held a glass of whiskey in his hand, his expression calm and his face handsome. His dark clothing accentuated his mature and steady demeanor, while also subtly revealing a sharp edge ready to be unleashed.
Noticing the commotion at the door, Zheng Qiudong put down his whiskey and turned to look in his direction.
Their eyes met.
His figure gradually overlapped with the character portrait in the game.
Where virtuality and reality intersect, where light and shadow intertwine, a name naturally comes to mind for Tang Song.
Zheng Qiudong!
Scenes from the game that were related to him flashed through Tang Song's mind, causing his gaze to momentarily become dazed.
This headhunter, who has an excellent relationship with the player "Tang Song" in the game, has a strong desire for success and career aspirations. He is ambitious and a Leader with great personal charisma.
With the help of player "Tang Song", Zheng Qiudong and his De Ju Ren He achieved unprecedented success.
He himself has become a business IP with his unique personal charm as a "comeback hero", and his personal biography "Hunting Ground Without Borders" is a bestseller at home and abroad.
"Mr. Tang, it's been a long time." Zheng Qiudong stood up, his tone filled with emotion and respect.
Although his appearance had changed, Zheng Qiudong could still clearly see the figure of the aloof, rational, and unfathomable "Mr. Tang" in him.
"Long time no see, Lao Zheng." Tang Song smiled broadly and opened his arms wide.
Zheng Qiudong was slightly taken aback, then laughed twice, strode forward, and gave Tang Song a big hug.
He casually handed his suit jacket to the bowing waiter, and the two sat facing each other on the sofa.
On the table in front of me are several exquisite dishes.
Seeing Tang Song's gentle and reserved demeanor across from him, Zheng Qiudong's expression also relaxed.
He tapped the deep red bottle with his fingers, a contagious smile spreading across his face. "Single malt, Macallan 25-year-old Sherry Oak Cask, your favorite. It's been almost a year since we last met, you have to drink a lot with me today."
As he spoke, Zheng Qiudong raised his shimmering wine glass and swirled it at him.
"No problem." Tang Song smiled and raised his glass to clink with his.
Although Tang Song didn't know when he started to like drinking this kind of wine, he still consciously kept calm in front of his friend in the game.
The slightly cool liquid glides into the mouth, full and rich, with the sweet aroma of dried fruit bursting in the mouth instantly, bringing joy to the mind and spirit.
It really tastes great.
The two exchanged a few casual words and began to eat and chat.
Having not seen each other for more than half a year, Zheng Qiudong was somewhat excited.
They chatted about all sorts of things, from Tang Song.
"Clink, clink~" The clinking of wine glasses continued incessantly.
Zheng Qiudong has excellent eloquence and emotional intelligence, and is also knowledgeable and experienced.
They spoke wittily and eloquently, creating a very pleasant atmosphere.
Because the system rules prohibit actions that "affect charm ratings," Tang Song would consciously remain silent or change the subject whenever Zheng Qiudong talked about other characters or changes in related companies.
Zheng Qiudong seemed to have gotten used to Tang Song's "aloofness and composure," and quietly followed Tang Song's wishes, only talking about topics such as Huashang Apparel, policies and regulations, and industrial innovation.
However, during this process, he also truly understood what Mo Xiangwan meant by "Mr. Tang has changed."
For him, with his keen sense of smell, the warmth of human relationships was especially profound.
This gave him more confidence in his upcoming lobbying efforts.
Night was falling.
Listening to Zheng Qiudong's words and observing his demeanor and expressions, Tang Song was filled with emotion.
As expected of a game character that has reached its full potential through systematic training, its overall qualities are impeccable.
Whether it's the meticulous logic in their speech or the composure and confidence in their every move, they all exude an invisible sense of pressure.
If it weren't for the profound influence of the past "Tang Song" on him, which caused Zheng Qiudong to subconsciously still maintain a sense of awe and obsequiousness towards him, Tang Song might not have been able to fully connect with the other party's words.
On the contrary, Zheng Qiudong always understood his meaning accurately and agreed with him. His words were witty and full of insightful observations, and he spoke with ease and confidence.
In other words, Zheng Qiudong is unconsciously "inclusive" with him.
This was Tang Song's first real in-depth interaction with an [SSR-level] character.
My last interaction with Su Yu was just a fleeting glimpse, a brief moment of warmth, and I was unable to truly grasp her full character.
It is foreseeable that Su Yu's overall qualities are by no means inferior to Zheng Qiudong's.
The others, including Annie, Ouyang, Wu Kezhi, are not simple characters.
He is still some distance from their level, which is something he needs to work on.
When the topic of "domestic and international unicorn companies" came up, Zheng Qiudong keenly sensed Tang Song's interest.
He leaned forward slightly and said with a focused expression, "From the perspective of industry trends, the next few years will see a concentrated boom in the new generation of artificial intelligence technologies (such as multimodal models) and the field of intelligent hardware (such as AR/VR, wearable devices, etc.)."
According to our team's research and predictions, future unicorn companies will primarily emerge from these innovative enterprises that are deeply rooted in vertical industries.
"Yes." Tang Song nodded slightly. "You're right. The leaders in these niche markets will become the core force driving the transformation of the entire industry."
Zheng Qiudong smiled and added without missing the opportunity, "Of course, all of this development direction and potential must have already been in Mr. Tang's plan. Qingning Technology and Tang Yi Precision have gathered the world's top technical talents and scientific and technological innovation resources in both software ecosystem and hardware R&D."
These two platforms have not only established a solid competitive advantage, but also provided immeasurable strategic support for China's Industrial Upgrade and digital economy transformation.
Hearing Old Zheng Tou's subtle flattery, Tang Song's face flushed slightly, but he maintained his composure and Mo Mo accepted the praise.
Seeing the Tang Song dynasties made me feel good.
Zheng Qiudong spoke up at the opportune moment, "Mr. Tang, the reason I came to see you this time is to discuss a plan with you."
"Oh?" Tang Song raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.
"With the explosive growth of China's technology industry, a large number of companies will break out of Huaxia and flock to the world in the future. At that time, there will be a lot of cross-border mergers and acquisitions and compliance consulting." Zheng Qiudong's eyes were bright and sharp, flashing with ambition. He looked directly into Tang Song's eyes. "De Ju Ren He is now only one crucial leap away. I want to acquire SCG (Stonebridge Consulting) in London, break out of the Asia-Pacific- Pacific region, and officially enter the European and American markets."
Next, Zheng Qiudong explained the situation of SCG to Tang Song.
His tone was firm and confident, as if he had everything under control.
He has never been one to stand still, especially seeing the rapid development of other related companies, he has long been eager to follow suit.
He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
His goal is to make De Ren a top-tier consulting firm on par with McKinsey and Bain, turning the so-called "Big Four Consulting into the Big Five.
Tang Song was silent for a moment, then praised, "Old Zheng, you're still so bold and decisive. This is indeed a great opportunity."
The scene before him reminded him of many game storylines he had almost forgotten.
In those clips, Zheng Qiudong articulated his ideas and thoughts in this manner.
Zheng Qiudong's face lit up with surprise. "So, Mr. Tang supports me doing this?"
"Of course!" Tang Song raised his wine glass and clinked it with Zheng Qiudong's.
Zheng Qiudong tilted his head back and downed the whiskey in his glass in one gulp, then said with great confidence, "Thank you, Mr. Tang. I submitted this proposal to Director Jin last time, but it was rejected. Now that you have given your approval, I believe this matter will proceed smoothly."
Upon hearing his words, Tang Song paused, realizing that he had inadvertently interfered in a major matter.
However, the system did not issue a "violation" warning.
In other words, this will not affect the "charm rating".
Thinking of this, Tang Song nodded and encouraged him, "Keep it up, Lao Zheng!"
This can also be seen as an experiment to see what kind of feedback you will get from your actions.
He still thinks about "Secretary Jin's Dream" to this day; the secret rendezvous they had in the dream is still vivid in his mind.
He is always full of motivation whenever he thinks about the near-perfect woman waiting for him.
"Oh, right." Zheng Qiudong smiled slightly, his tone relaxed yet somewhat serious, "There's one more thing. Miss Kate will be returning from America this month. If possible, I hope Mr. Tang will mention this to Miss Kate when they meet. With her help, the acquisition process will be greatly accelerated."
Tang Song raised his eyebrows and nodded slightly, "Okay, no problem."
With 70 charm points, two SSR characters have been unlocked. Now that we've met [Headhunter - Zheng Qiudong], we naturally can't let go of the remaining [Advisor - Annie Kate].
In his memory, the complete process of how to recruit Annie Kate was already clearly visible.
He was actually quite curious about this "Tall Mare" with a distinguished background and extraordinary temperament, and really wanted to meet her in real life.
However, due to her long-term residence abroad, she was never able to find a suitable opportunity to meet.
With the problem solved, Zheng Qiudong felt much better. He became more composed and relaxed in his speech, exuding confidence and ease in his every move.
As toasts were exchanged, the atmosphere gradually reached its climax.
While savoring the fragrance of fine wine, Tang Song also experienced the unique "friendship from the game".
It was a little after 9 p. m.
The Rolls-Royce drove out of the Lanfeng International Hotel.
Tang Song leaned back in the back seat, gazing at the city lights flashing outside the window.
After a moment, he took out his Mobile Phone from his pocket and looked at the unread messages.
Besides the work and daily chats with the other members, there was another message from Zhang Lei, a classmate from junior high school.
[Zhang Lei: "Tang Song, I'll be officially transferred to the Yancheng headquarters after the Mid-Autumn Festival. I'll definitely find you for a few big drinks then!"]
Tang Song crossed his legs and replied with a smile, "Okay, I'll show you the bright lights and bustling nightlife of Yancheng when you arrive."
"Buzzing—"
[Zhang Lei: "Then I'll wait! Actually, I could have been transferred there last week, but unfortunately, our group's Zhongyun Dairy went bankrupt, and the whole company was in chaos. All administrative work in the food and beverage sector was put on hold."]
Tang Song raised his eyebrows, instantly understanding.
When he returned to his hometown more than a month ago, Zhang Lei said that because of his good performance and some connections, he was about to be transferred, but it has been delayed for so long.
I chatted briefly with Zhang Lei.
Tang Song's heart stirred, and he suddenly thought of Zhang Yan, who was also his junior high school classmate.
Because Songmei Clothing's work group is on QQ, he usually logs in with his main account.
I haven't logged into my alternate account for a week.
I opened QQ and successfully switched to my "April" alternate account. An unread message popped up.
I received it last night.
Zhang Yan: "Um... I'm bothering you again. I hope you don't find me annoying."
Today is the 12th, which should have been payday, but HR suddenly notified us that due to a problem with the bank system, salaries will be delayed for a while.
Lu Lu whispered to me that something might be wrong with the company. She didn't know if it was true, but she was a little panicked.
We had planned to eat at Xiabu Xiabu after work, but we didn't end up going.
I seem to have very bad luck; every company I've worked for has encountered operational problems for various reasons.
Fortunately, this time I managed to save some money.
Also, I've recently been considering whether I should try taking the civil service exam.
But my brain isn't working very well, and I don't dare quit my job to study full-time, so I don't know if I'll be able to pass... Anyway, I hope things will gradually get better.
After reading the message, Tang Song leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.
He suddenly remembered a dream he had once had about the future, in which he received a phone call from his mother when he was 30 years old, saying that she wanted to introduce him to a potential partner.
That girl is Zhang Yan. She just passed the exam and got a stable job in Public Institution Staff in Yancheng.
A complex mix of emotions welled up inside me.
Recalling the past.
Tang Song felt as if they were in a dream, and gradually became somewhat drunk.
Yesterday's events have shaped who I am today; today's events will shape who I am anew.
His life was changed by a dream and a game.
Zhang Yan seems to be moving forward diligently along her own path in life.
Tang Song's gaze seemed to pierce through layers of darkness, revealing his shy, introverted deskmate who dared not speak loudly and always quietly did his homework with his head down.
"No matter what the future holds, I hope you will get better and better and find your own happiness."
"Whoosh!" The System Light Screen unfolded before my eyes.
On September 12, 2023, after a long talk with your close friend Zheng Qiudong, and hearing about the recent situation of your junior high school classmate Zhang Yan, your heart is filled with a mix of emotions: friendship, blessings, and memories, radiating a strong sense of goodwill and warmth.
[You have undergone significant growth in your mindset; you have completed a hidden quest.]
You have obtained the special item "Dream Flower Seed"
Tang Song was stunned for a moment, and unexpectedly completed the hidden mission again.
Take a deep breath and check the item details.
[Dream Flower Seed]: When the player encounters a suitable scene and object, the item will be automatically triggered, locking the object as the "Grower". The "seed" falls into the "Grower's" dream, takes root and sprouts, absorbs the darkness and negative energy in the "Grower's" heart, and releases kindness and warmth through the dream.
[Note 1: Once the seed sprouts, a unique connection will form between the player and the "planter".]
[Note 2: After the seed blooms, the "planter" will reward the player. For each flower consumed, the player will gain 1 point of Enlightenment.]
[Note 3: The growth rate and number of flowers of the seeds depend on the energy provided by the "grower" and the desire to reciprocate.]
[Note 4: After completing the planting and raising process, the player will permanently gain 1 point of charm rating.]
After reading the introduction, Tang Song's eyes gleamed with thoughtful light.
This item is quite similar to [Whispers of Human Nature], both being passively triggered and creating a peculiar connection.
As for its effects, it's quite simple; it's basically like a "psychologist."
The rewards are very generous and tempting.
Each flower increases one point of enlightenment, and after the planting and nurturing is completed, you will also receive a reward of [Charm +1].
However, the problem is that it is not easy to find the right scenario and object.
After all, the "planter" who can trigger the item not only needs to be filled with negative energy, but also needs to have enough trust and reliance on the player.
After careful consideration, Tang Song realized that he didn't seem to have a suitable candidate around him.
Even the Fake Socialite of the past were actually quite positive in essence.
Under her own guidance, she has worked hard step by step and has now become a typical female financial intellectual who speaks fluent English.
Of course, she is also a Sprinkler Girl.
Shen Yuyan, who is similar to her, has a lot of ulterior motives, but they shouldn't be considered "dark" or "negative".
Thinking of Shen Yuyan, Tang Song couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.
This campus beauty is too smart and thinks too much, so she keeps wavering and hesitating.
Sometimes, she would send him photos and say ambiguous things, as if testing him for something;
Sometimes, she would fall silent for a while and then talk to him about topics such as investment and AI, appearing rational and restrained.
Tang Song could understand her dilemma.
After all, he is now with Xu Qing, and Shen Yuyan and Xu Qing are so close that they share the same underwear and are even closer than sisters.
According to Xu Qing, Shen Yuyan had excellent grades in high school and was originally a candidate for a top-tier university (985 or 211).
However, he suddenly fell ill before the College Entrance Examination and performed poorly on the exam.
Even so, her score was still more than ten points higher than the admission line of Yan City University of Science and Technology.
Her reason for choosing this university was purely to be with Xu Qing.
This shows that their sisterly bond is genuine and without any pretense.