Charm 30, Unlocking Rewards

April 17, 2023, Monday, cloudy, 12–23°C.

Three major events took place at Brocade Business today.

The first was that the Human Resources Department underwent an organizational restructuring, adding several new divisions, including the Human Resources Planning and Development Department, Training Department, Employee Relations Department, Salary and Benefits Department, and more.

The second was that HR specialist Tian Jing was officially promoted to Salary Supervisor, and everyone in the company received the notification.

The third was that Tang Song took leave to buy a car—and it was a Wuling Hongguang.

Of course, that third major event only mattered to the small circle of the Technical Support Department.

"Old Song is seriously one of a kind. Even picking up a car has to be this different! That kid must've been provoked by someone, hahaha!" Du Shaokai laughed until tears came out.

"Wuling Hongguang? Isn't that a minivan? What was Tang Song thinking?"

"Brother Song isn't planning to take up a side job, is he? Huolala?"

"You girls don't get it. It's an MPV! Driving that thing out would make us brothers look damn cool!"

"I think it's pretty good. It can carry people and haul goods—practical!"

"True. I feel like all seventeen people in our tech department could squeeze into it. If we have a team-building event later, one of those would be enough."

"And if it flips over, we'd all get wiped out together."

It was still work hours, after all, so everyone kept their discussion relatively restrained.

But the WeChat group was already exploding, with all kinds of terrible memes and stickers flying around.

Gradually, no one knew who started it, but the group began discussing the Human Resources Department's restructuring again.

Some well-informed people revealed that the company was about to secure funding, saying outright that this restructuring might only be the beginning.

Next, the Finance Department, Sales Department, Channels Department, and even their Technical Support Department would all undergo adjustments.

Hearing that, everyone became excited.

A restructuring meant there would be more management positions.

Wasn't working hard at a company all about getting promoted and earning more money?

Zhao Yue, sitting in the corner, looked rather gloomy. Her mind was still on the news of Tian Jing's promotion.

After receiving that message early in the morning, she had not even been in the mood to drink the coffee she had bought.

In her eyes, she and Tian Jing were competitors. They had joined in the same batch, and both were popular beauties in the company.

Tian Jing was even younger than her, only twenty-two, and had graduated from college less than a year ago.

Yet now, the other party had become a Salary Supervisor, two ranks above Zhao Yue.

From now on, Tian Jing would control Zhao Yue's salary and benefits. Any pay raise needed her approval, birthday gifts required her signature, and expense reimbursements had to pass her review.

To some extent, she was already Zhao Yue's superior.

Zhao Yue found that blow hard to accept, and her chest hurt with anger.

Gritting her teeth, Zhao Yue directly sent a message in the department girls' small group: "Xiao Jing from HR is amazing. She's been here less than a year, right? She jumped two levels and is already a supervisor! She's practically a role model and goal for us girls!"

Although the technical department had been established relatively recently, there were still several female employees who had worked there for around three years without ever receiving a promotion.

Hearing that made them feel a little bitter.

They followed up with a few sarcastic comments in the group.

"Maybe she has some special talent. What do we know?"

"She's so pretty, and she knows how to act cute and coquettish. Hehe, of course getting promoted and getting a raise is only natural."

After mocking her a few times in the group, Zhao Yue finally felt a little better.

Then she thought of Tang Song's secondhand car and could not help pouting.

She lived not far from Tang Song. She had originally planned to hitch a ride with him to and from work every day, but she had not expected him to go straight for the kill.

Just imagining herself arriving at the Underground Parking Lot in Tang Song's Wuling minivan, getting out, and running into Tian Jing driving an Audi A5—

Zhao Yue shuddered all over.

That scene would be absolutely unbearable. Who would understand?!

The vehicle administration office was packed with people on Monday.

The transfer requests that had accumulated over the weekend were basically all concentrated on this day.

Tang Song and Li Mingjun arrived early in the morning, lining up for vehicle inspection, VIN rubbing, plate removal, application forms, plate selection, transfer registration...

By the time they received the new license plates, it was nearly noon.

Li Mingjun shook the plates in his hand and smiled. "That's just how it is now. Pure number plates are rare. Yours is pretty decent too—one letter and four numbers."

"Mm, I understand." Tang Song nodded.

Then Li Mingjun took a toolbox from the car and began installing the plates.

His movements were extremely practiced. With a few clanks, he finished in three to five minutes.

After clapping his hands and putting away the tools, Li Mingjun smiled. "Don't worry about transferring the insurance. I'll go to the insurance company this afternoon and make a phone call once it's done. Also, there's the remaining payment. Gao Mengting has been messaging me all morning asking about the progress. She seems pretty anxious to get the money."

"Alright, I'll transfer it to her now." Tang Song quickly took out his Mobile Phone, nearly forgetting about that.

Since all his cash was tied up in the Betting Agreement, he had borrowed this money through Weili Loan.

He did have friends he was close enough with to borrow from, but things like this could damage relationships if handled poorly. It was better not to ask lightly.

After Tang Song transferred the remaining 22,500 yuan, Li Mingjun made another phone call to Gao Mengting. Once everything was confirmed, the transaction was completely settled.

"If anything happens with the car, just contact me directly. I'm heading out. See you." Li Mingjun waved at him and got into his buddy's car.

"See you." Tang Song withdrew his gaze and looked at the Wuling Hongguang waiting for him in its parking space.

From this moment on, the car belonged entirely to him.

Its sleek, fresh body lines, hexagonal grille, simple taillights, and rugged luggage rack.

The more he looked at it, the more he liked it.

He could not help taking out his Mobile Phone and taking a few photos.

At that moment, Tang Song deeply understood how Brother Guo had felt back then.

Putting away his Mobile Phone, he opened the door and climbed into the driver's seat.

The moment his hands gripped the steering wheel, the System Light Screen suddenly unfolded before his eyes, lines of text jumping out.

April 17, 2023: You have acquired your first car. Your ride has been upgraded from "Yade Electric Vehicle" to "Wuling Hongguang S."

You now have your own private mobile space. You can leave whenever you want, unafraid of sun or rain. You will appear more presentable in social settings, and you can calmly pick up the girl you like for a meal...

Your charm has reached 30. You have successfully unlocked this stage's assets and permissions.

Then, a brilliant progress bar appeared before him.

24 (Starting Charm)...30...40...50...60...70...80...90...100

The small treasure chest above the node marked 30 pulsed with red light, indicating that it could be claimed.

Tang Song's hands tightened sharply around the steering wheel. His body leaned forward instinctively, and endless delight burst from his eyes.

After his weight dropped into the normal range, his charm had remained at 29 for several days. Now, with the upgrade to his ride, it had finally broken through to 30.

That was only reasonable. One's residence, vehicle, partner, and career were all part of personal charm.

Tang Song took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

His excellent lung capacity allowed him to calm down quickly.

He touched the treasure chest with his consciousness and claimed it immediately.

His vision blurred for an instant before returning to normal, accompanied by a crisp System Prompt Sound.

"Ding! You have obtained a Skill Upgrade Card (LV1)."

"Ding! You have obtained one million yuan in startup capital."

"Ding! You have obtained corporate office space."

"Ding! You have unlocked the new functional module, Dress-up Center."

"Ding! You have obtained the outfit—Slightly Cool Night."

"Ding! Growth Plan Task has been activated. Please proceed to the Mission Center to check it."