Full charm points, inherit game assets

Chapter 572 Dragon Ball

"Crash-"

The sound of the toilet flushing was particularly clear in the quiet bathroom.

Liu Qingning came out of the cubicle, stood in front of the sink, and turned on the tap.

While washing her hands carefully, she looked at her own face in the mirror, her cheeks flushed.

She lowered her head slightly and gently combed her temples with her wet fingertips.

My heartbeat finally slowed down.

Then, she couldn't help but look down at her chest.

There seems to still linger the warm touch of Tang and Song dynasty fingers.

Even though it was through clothes, the indescribable tingling and itching sensation was exceptionally clear and intense.

It's like it's been imprinted directly on your nerve endings, and you can't erase it no matter what.

Unlike that scumbag Tang Song, she didn't have other girlfriends taking turns with her in Yancheng.

Living far away in Shenzhen, she had very little contact with Tang Song since they started dating.

The relationship had just transitioned from friendship to romance, but it felt like going back to the innocent and fragile days of high school.

They are in the most wonderful early stages of their relationship.

Every intimate contact, interaction, test, and tug-of-war would make her nerves tense and her heart race.

Even a simple hand-holding makes her blush.

If it weren't for the intense trauma they experienced earlier, their relationship definitely wouldn't have developed so quickly.

Take a deep breath.

Liu Qingning looked up at herself in the mirror, and the image of Qin Yingxue, whom she had just met in the corridor, came to mind.

There were some things she never told Tang Song, but she had been doing them herself.

That is to fill the "gap" between the two of them over the past few years.

She reviewed a large amount of internal information from Qingning Technology and also used various channels to research the founding history of Tangzong Entertainment.

Finally, a clear and understandable outline was revealed.

In the first half of 2017, Tangzong Entertainment was officially registered and established, and its first signed artist was the later superstar Su Yu.

From that year onward, Su Yu seemed to have been given a "cheat code" mode, releasing one hit song after another with extremely high popularity, quickly becoming a phenomenon in the entertainment industry.

In the credits for many songs, one name appears repeatedly—

【Song】

Almost every song he/she creates becomes a hit, and his/her style is diverse, including pop, folk, rock... he/she seems to be able to do it all.

According to public speculation within the industry, this is likely a mysterious creative team within Tangzong Entertainment; otherwise, its astonishingly high output and ever-changing style would be inexplicable.

Of course, some rumors insist that Song is actually a top-tier independent musician who is just aloof and unwilling to show his face in public.

Liu Qingning has always loved music and is considered a half-fan of Su Yu, so she is familiar with these songs.

My past life was filled with studies and entrepreneurship, and I never really looked back to trace the creators behind it.

Even now, after she has personally pieced together all the information, a bold idea has quietly emerged in her mind.

This mysterious song is very likely from the Tang and Song dynasties.

Tangzong Entertainment was founded by him personally.

He was the one who made Su Yu famous and completed the initial accumulation of entertainment capital.

In 2018, she officially began to devote herself to the field of artificial intelligence; and around the same time, Qingning Technology was born.

In the years after graduating from university, she was competing, doing scientific research, and starting her own business.

Tang and Song, however, completed their initial accumulation of wealth and career transformation in a different way, almost simultaneously, or even more rapidly.

Although he didn't know how his childhood sweetheart suddenly became so insightful, transforming into a behind-the-scenes "hidden master" who manipulated music and capital.

In addition, one more thing can be confirmed: Tang Song knew Kim Mi-so 100%.

Qingning Technology is backed by Smile Holdings.

After graduating from university, Tang Song's first company was Meigou Technology, whose chairman at the time was Jin Meixiao.

What alarmed her most was Qin Yingxue's attitude.

This woman is not simple.

She used to be Jin Meixiao's assistant, and is now a director of Qingning Technology. Yet she always seems to be trying to get closer to me, even as if she's guiding me to see things more clearly.

There must be a secret hidden behind this that she doesn't yet know.

All the clues intertwine to create a more three-dimensional and unfathomable picture of the Tang and Song dynasties.

One, a "Tang and Song" completely different from what she remembered.

If she hadn't personally interacted with him so many times, feeling his real body temperature, heartbeat, and soul, she wouldn't have realized it.

She even began to suspect that her "Tang and Song" persona had been possessed by someone else.

Liu Qingning closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again.

In the mirror, she appeared calmer and more determined.

She could only pretend not to know.

Because she really couldn't afford to gamble.

Once Tang Song exposes all of this, she will have no choice but to confront Su Yu head-on.

Face to face, with no way out.

Recalling the figure she had encountered last night, Liu Qingning bit her lip hard.

She has no confidence.

She was scared; she was timid.

"Click——"

The bathroom door was pushed open, and a female colleague walked in.

"Mr. Liu."

Liu Qingning quickly composed herself and responded with a smile.

He turned and left calmly.

When they returned to the door of the general manager's office, the two were still standing in the same spot, seemingly having a pleasant conversation.

Qin Yingxue turned her body slightly to the side, her posture elegant, her gaze fixed on Tang Song's face.

Liu Qingning's heart tightened almost imperceptibly.

But soon, a faint smile appeared on her face, and she quickened her pace.

"Are you done talking?"

Tang Song glanced at her, his eyes full of affection, and said, "Yes, it's all over now. By the way, it's almost noon, shall we go and have lunch?"

"Okay."

Qin Yingxue tactfully said, "Then you two go ahead with your work. I have other things to take care of. Goodbye, President Tang and Qingning."

"Goodbye."

He watched Qin Yingxue's figure disappear.

Liu Qingning blinked her big, bright eyes and gently nudged Tang Song's shoulder: "Let's go, I'll treat you to something delicious today."

"Hehe, let's go."

The two went downstairs in tacit agreement.

Tang Song followed Liu Qingning through the alley behind the office building and into a low-key but lively little restaurant.

The storefront is small, and its name is "Rongji Food Shop".

The menu was written on a blackboard at the entrance, featuring authentic Cantonese home-style dishes, with the aroma of scallions, ginger, garlic, and stir-fried dishes wafting in the air.

According to Liu Qingning, the owner is a retired chef who is particular about ingredients and has mastered the art of cooking. Because the restaurant has only been open for a short time and has not done any advertising, there are not many customers yet.

The two sat close together by the window and whispered their discussion for a while.

Finally, we ordered poached chicken, steamed eggplant with shrimp paste, and spare ribs with dried tangerine peel.

After waiting for a while, the food was served one after another, and it looked and smelled delicious.

The locust tree outside the window swayed gently in the autumn wind, and the sunlight slanted in.

The two ate slowly, feeding each other a bite every now and then.

They talked about work, the past, and Qingmi AI's recent product development pace.

This meal lasted for more than an hour.

After dinner, the two took an impromptu city walk.

The autumn climate in Shenzhen Bay is pleasant, with a gentle breeze carrying a slightly salty aroma.

Liu Qingning would sometimes hold his arm, and sometimes run ahead to look back at him, smiling like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl.

...

Today is Thursday, which is also Qingmi AI's usual day for version feature iterations and launches.

Liu Qingning's entire day was packed with work.

Tang Song also wanted to see what her daily work was like, so he simply followed her back to the 42nd floor.

The general manager's office is not large, but it is well-organized and tidy.

The atmosphere was neat and orderly, reflecting her consistent sense of order and discipline.

As soon as Liu Qingning sat back down at her computer, she immediately switched to "high-efficiency work mode".

Tang Song sat beside her, his long legs crossed, leaning back in his chair, quietly watching her rapidly type on the keyboard and approve documents.

Occasionally, she would look up and say a few words to him, her lips would curve into a slight smile, and her eyes would sparkle.

Tang Song's gaze softened involuntarily.

This scene is all too familiar.

Back when she was in Beijing, Liu Qingning often worked overtime writing code in her rented apartment.

Sometimes, he would sit next to her and keep her company, watching her work and listening to her explain AI-related knowledge, sometimes for hours at a time.

At 5:30 in the evening, the sky outside the window gradually darkened.

The neon lights of Shenzhen lit up one after another.

Liu Qingning finally closed her laptop, turned to look at him, and said with a smile, "Alright, get out of class is over, Tang Song. Let's go back and change our clothes first, and I'll take you out for a meal tonight!"

Upon hearing the nickname she used during high school, Tang Song was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and gently lifted the bangs from her forehead.

"Hey, stop messing with my hair!"

"Smack~" The crisp sound of a kiss echoed in the office.

Liu Qingning blushed slightly, kissed him back, and her eyes flashed with a hint of smugness and playfulness.

……

Inside a high-end restaurant in Huaxin District, Yancheng.

"Okay, that's all." Tian Jing handed the menu to the waiter, her tone languid, and she even gave a small yawn.

Across from her, Qin Hua asked with concern, "Didn't you sleep well last night? You look so tired."

"It's alright. I've been quite busy lately, it's almost the end of the month, so things are all happening in quick succession."

"Yeah, that's true, your HR department is busiest right now," Qin Hua remarked, looking at her best friend across from her. "You're becoming more and more like a professional HR person." Tian Jing smiled nonchalantly, her gaze fixed on her friend's face. "Alright, just tell me, what's the matter that you asked me out?"

Qin Hua lowered her voice and leaned forward slightly: "Xiao Jing, I have a question for you. Have you broken up with your boyfriend recently?"

"Hmm?" Tian Jing frowned slightly. "Of course not, we have a very good relationship, why are you suddenly asking this?"

She thought Qin Hua was going to bring up her cousin Tian Guowen, but unexpectedly, the conversation turned to Tang Song.

Qin Hua took a deep breath and her tone became serious, "I have a friend who knows a girl who has been getting very close to your boyfriend recently, and there's...something ambiguous between them."

"So?" Tian Jing blinked, her expression calm, unlike someone who had just been exposed for a bombshell.

“Uh…” Qin Hua was taken aback, and added somewhat anxiously, “This is a big deal! I’ve already confirmed it, the ‘Tang Song’ he mentioned is the CTO of Jinxiu Trading, and that should be your boyfriend.”

"Oh, I see." Tian Jing nodded calmly, her tone impassive, but a hint of something deeper flashed in her eyes. "Who is this 'friend' you're talking about?"

Qin Hua's eye twitched. "You don't know him. He just happened to know about this. He found out by accident."

"Then why are you telling me all this?"

Qin Hua paused, then gritted her teeth and said, "I wanted to remind you, Xiao Jing, this is your first time dating, don't get fooled. There are plenty of good men out there these days, why get hung up on a jerk?"

Tian Jing's expression turned serious, and she sat up straight. "Huahua, I'll say it again! He's my boyfriend. Whether he's good or bad, only I can say for sure. Only I have the right to speak about what kind of person he is."

Qin Hua's lips trembled slightly: "But he's cheating on you! Shouldn't you find out the truth?"

“That’s my own business,” Tian Jing said calmly. “Also, don’t stand up for me without my permission. If you use my name to cause trouble for him, I won’t forgive you.”

"You...you!" Qin Hua was so angry she almost slammed her hand on the table and stood up, her face full of disbelief. "You love-struck fool! I really don't know what's gotten into you!"

She always felt that with Tian Jing's background and qualifications, she could easily find a suitable partner in the political and business circles.

As it turned out, she chose a "phoenix man" (a man from a poor background who achieves success).

She was a clever and resourceful person since childhood, but she became so "obedient" when she was in a relationship.

It was as if they had been cursed.

Tian Jing remained unmoved, picked up her water glass, took a sip, and looked at Qin Hua, who was sitting opposite her, who was agitated. Suddenly, she asked, "Hua Hua, is there something else you want to tell me?"

"Huh?" Qin Hua was stunned, her eyes flashing clearly. "No, it's about this."

"you are lying."

"I..." Qin Hua bit her lip, a struggle flashing in her eyes, and finally sighed softly, "Okay, your cousin has been pursuing me recently, and my dad is trying to set us up, but I haven't agreed yet."

"Will you agree to that in the future?" Tian Jing looked at her quietly, her gaze piercing.

Her cousin, Tian Guowen, who is the vice president in charge of finance, is eager to take over the resources and connections left behind by her father after his departure, in preparation for his future promotion to CEO.

If we can get Qin Dechang's help and support, things will naturally go much more smoothly.

At this level, Tian Guowen and Qin Hua are indeed extremely "compatible" candidates.

"I...I don't know." Qin Hua lowered her gaze slightly, then clenched her fists. "Xiao Jing, have you thought about the future of your family?"

Tian Jing frowned and looked at her. "What do you mean?"

After a moment's consideration, Qin Hua said firmly, "Xiao Jing, Uncle Tian has already sold his shares in Jinxiu Commerce to cover the losses of Huineng Electronics, but it's still not enough."

If the issue of Huineng Electronics is not resolved, Uncle Tian will continue to sell other high-quality assets.

It's very likely that Zhongcheng will be all that's left for your family in the future.

The Zhongcheng Group is currently in turmoil. Your cousin is very ambitious. If you want to compete, it's not too late!

Tian Jing calmly shook her head. "You should know that I have no interest in these things, nor do I want to work myself to death managing an industrial group."

“I knew you’d say that,” Qin Hua sighed. “But there’s another way.”

"Just say what you mean, don't beat around the bush with me."

"Since your boyfriend is a jerk, just dump him. With your qualifications, you can find a man with more power and influence, which will not only resolve your relationship crisis but also address the root cause of your family's current predicament."

Tian Jing's eyes turned slightly cold as she stared directly at her best friend and said, "Like the impulsive and fast-paced Lin Jingming? Or the son of some leader? Heh, did my dad send you to do some ideological work on me?"

Qin Hua waved her hands repeatedly: "No! Uncle Tian was just worried about you and told me to take better care of you."

A hint of sarcasm flashed in Tian Jing's eyes, "Huahua, you've really changed."

She had already guessed what had happened.

In fact, Qin Dechang's reason for bringing Qin Hua into Zhongcheng Group was not simply to give her a job, but also to test her abilities and skills.

As an industrial group with a valuation of nearly 3 billion.

Zhongcheng's shares are Qin Dechang's most important asset.

If Qin Huazhen can establish herself within the group and demonstrate sufficient ability and influence, she may very well become the heir to the family business.

Compared to her ambitious but crude cousin Tian Guowen, Qin Dechang was clearly more inclined to support his daughter.

Her father, Tian Chengye, had a close personal relationship with Qin Dechang, and she and Qin Hua were childhood friends who grew up together.

If Tian Chengye truly intends to promote Qin Hua within Zhongcheng, Qin Dechang will wholeheartedly support him.

It's only a matter of time before Qin Hua is promoted to CEO, and there's even a slight chance that he'll become the chairman.

In this situation, even if her younger brother returned to China, he would be sidelined.

Qin Hua bit her lip and said softly, "I admit, I did have selfish motives. But I was trying my best to see things from your perspective and consider things for you. Do you know that Zhongcheng is also going downhill, and your father's assets are depreciating! He has already sold his best assets, what can he sell next? Once the cash flow dries up, the consequences will be unimaginable! Tell me, can your current boyfriend help you?"

"How do you know he can't?" Tian Jing retorted.

"Uh..." Qin Hua choked for a moment, then laughed in exasperation, "Xiao Jing, sometimes I think you're pretty smart, but when it comes to your boyfriend, you become incredibly stupid."

Tian Jing stood up, looked down at her best friend, and said with a determined tone, "Then we'll see. Drawing. We've been betting on each other since fifth grade, and you've never won. I'm skipping dinner, bye."

After saying that, she turned around and strode out.

She was intelligent and quick-witted from a young age, and she studied psychology in college, so she actually has a very good understanding of human nature.

She simply didn't want to put in the effort to scheme and hoped to live happily as a rich second-generation heir.

But there are always people who think she's foolish, who worry about her, and who want to plan her life for her.

But her life can only be decided by herself.

……

8 pm.

A brightly lit pedestrian street in Luohu District, Shenzhen.

Neon lights intertwine, creating a dazzling display of light and shadow; the air is filled with the clamor of voices and the ceaseless flow of traffic.

The shouts of vendors rose and fell, mixed with popular music from the shops, and the air was filled with the aroma of takoyaki, grilled squid, and cheesy chicken cutlets.

Passionate and authentic.

"Don't buy any more, I really can't eat anymore." Tang Song helplessly tugged at Bai Yueguang's hand, his tone tinged with resignation.

Along the way, Liu Qingning wanted to try everything that looked delicious.

But he only tasted it once, and the rest went into his stomach.

In other words, his system has been optimized; most people really couldn't fit that much data in his system.

At this time of night in Shenzhen, the temperature was below 20 degrees Celsius, with low-hanging clouds and a cool night breeze.

Liu Qingning wore a white knitted sweater, paired with black pencil pants and clean sneakers, a simple yet youthful look.

The black and white color scheme accentuated her slender and graceful figure, making her stand out in the bustling crowd.

Holding a milk tea in her hand, she said in a tone that was both willful and coquettish: "But I just want to eat Bao Shifu's seaweed buns. I haven't had them for over a year."

"Okay, I'll go join the queue."

Faced with the unreasonable Bai Yueguang, Tang Song could only surrender and walk towards the end of the long line.

Liu Qingning watched his figure disappear into the crowd, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved up.

She lowered her head and took a sip of milk tea, her eyes as soft as a pool of spring water.

After waiting for a full ten minutes, Tang Song returned to her side carrying a steaming box of seaweed cakes.

"Thank you, Xiao Song, you're so kind," Liu Qingning said sweetly, then tiptoed and kissed him on the chin.

Tang Song beamed with joy, his heart inexplicably racing.

This was a scene he had fantasized about countless times during his high school and college years.

"Silly girl!" Liu Qingning smiled lightly.

"I'm not stupid, it's just that someone is so beautiful that I'm stunned."

Liu Qingning raised the corners of her mouth, her face flushed slightly, and tilted her head to scoff: "Glib tongue."

"It's not oil, it's sweet. Try it," he said, deliberately moving closer.

Liu Qingning chuckled and lightly slapped him, "You're so annoying!"

The two walked side by side, slowly moving forward with the flow of people.

I walk at a leisurely pace, occasionally stopping at a small stall to look at handicrafts and flip through small toys. I don't deliberately visit tourist attractions or take photos.

They simply let the lively atmosphere of the night market surround them.

It's just like the most ordinary yet touching date in your youth.

After walking through a dimly lit alley, they stopped in front of an old record stand.

As Liu Qingning flipped through the yellowed records, she softly told him the background stories of these albums.

This neighborhood has a nostalgic feel to it.

Old objects, old records, and old bookstores are like artistic corners hidden in modern cities.

Liu Qingning ultimately chose a Cantonese album from the 90s, with a yellowed cover but still well-preserved.

After paying the bill, she pointed to a bookstore not far away, "Want to go take a look?"

"Okay, let's go." Tang Song nodded and took her hand.

The two had just arrived at the bookstore entrance.

Liu Qingning suddenly cried out "Ouch!" and clutched her stomach.

"What's wrong?" Tang Song immediately stopped and asked anxiously.

"My stomach hurts a little..." She frowned, her voice soft and tinged with annoyance, "I ate too much junk food today."

Her health has never been very good, and she has only recently started to recover. However, she was so happy tonight that she completely forgot to control her diet.

"I told you not to eat random things, and you still drank iced milk tea."

"Okay, I was wrong, I won't do it again. I'm going to the restroom now."

Tang Song supported her arm and walked down the steps.

Meanwhile, inside the bookstore.

Near the entrance, the corner was dimly lit, and the air was filled with the faint scent of paper and wooden bookshelves.

A girl with freckles on her face gently patted her companion's arm and whispered, "Hey, Zhang Yan, haven't you chosen yet?"

"Wait a little longer." Zhang Yan squatted in front of the bookshelf, carefully flipping through a stack of comic books.

A few minutes later, she finally stood up, holding two worn-out comic books in her hand: "Okay, these two will do."

"You've been acting really strange lately, buying Dragon Ball every few days, even when you're on a business trip. Is this volume 31 and 32? You're almost finished with them?"

Zhang Yan nodded gently, her smile shy.

The complete edition of Dragon Ball consists of 34 volumes, published by Shueisha in 2004, and covers the entire storyline of the original 42 volumes.

That was the first comic book she read in junior high school. It was lent to her by her deskmate, but unfortunately, she later accidentally lost it, which was his favorite.

Now she only needs two more volumes to complete the whole set.

(End of this chapter)