Full charm points, inherit game assets

Chapter 662 Another Girlfriend, Difficulties

"Thank you... Mr. Xie."

Qiuqiu quickly greeted him, her voice tinged with a hint of nervousness.

"It really is you. I thought I was seeing things." Xie Shuyu's face showed a genuine smile, with the joy of reuniting with an old friend. "Long time no see. What a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into you here."

She was deeply impressed by the inspirational design designer she had worked with before.

It's not just because of Cheng Qiuqiu's outstanding figure and appearance, but also because of her talent and intelligence.

She was responsible for the website redesign, mini-program UI, and poster design for [Weiguang Coffee].

Not only did they do an excellent job, but they were also incredibly efficient.

When Xie Shuyu heard that she had left Inspiration Design, she felt quite sorry for her, but she never expected to meet her here again.

"Long time no see, Mr. Xie." Qiuqiu smoothed her hair a little shyly. "Are you... going on a business trip?"

"Yeah, I'm going to Chengdu. What about you?"

"Me too, my family is from Chengdu."

"Oh, right, I vaguely remember you mentioning it before."

The two exchanged a few words briefly before the train's arrival announcement came on.

Ticket check, board the train.

The first-class carriage features a 2+2 seating layout, with ample legroom between the spacious leather seats.

It was Qiuqiu's first time sitting in first class, and she couldn't help but look around with some curiosity.

When she found her seat according to the ticket information, she realized that she and Mr. Xie were sitting next to each other.

Seeing this, Xie Shuyu smiled and went in first, sitting down by the window.

Qiuqiu sat down next to her, becoming awkward and nervous.

She was never good at socializing, especially in such a confined space.

In the past, when we met and spent time together, we could at least talk about work.

But now... this train journey will take a full seven hours, which is a long and arduous ordeal for her.

Seemingly sensing her unease and the unusual atmosphere, Xie Shuyu took the initiative to start a conversation with her about the food and weather in Chengdu.

As a self-made businesswoman, Xie Shuyu naturally possesses exceptional social skills.

When facing Cheng Qiuqiu, an introverted and quiet "i-person," she didn't talk about any tense topics, but simply shared her experiences in a relaxed manner, like a friend.

The train slowly started moving, and the familiar winter scenery of Yancheng outside the window began to rush past.

After chatting for a while, the atmosphere in the carriage eased considerably.

Xie Shuyu took out a tablet with a keyboard from her handbag and put on her headphones.

Chao Chengqiu said softly, "I'll take care of some work first," and then began to work diligently.

Qiuqiu breathed a sigh of relief, lowered her head, and began to stare blankly.

This time when she returned to Chengdu, she did not contact her mother in advance, nor did she know how to face that woman.

In fact, after starting university, she rarely returned to that cold "home".

Choosing to stay in Yancheng after graduation was largely a desire to escape completely.

As noon approached, the calls of food truck vendors could be heard.

Cheng Qiuqiu opened the 12306 app, ready to order lunch.

Looking at Xie Shuyu, who was still busy beside her, she hesitated for a long time before finally asking politely in a low voice, "Mr. Xie, would you like something to eat? Let me order for you?"

Xie Shuyu's gaze didn't leave the screen; she simply said, "One eel and beef combo rice bowl, please."

"Okay." Cheng Qiuqiu breathed a sigh of relief, added the eel and beef combo rice, and also ordered her favorite chili fried pork rice.

Soon, Xie Shuyu sent him 40 yuan for the meal via WeChat.

The flight attendant brought over a steaming hot meal.

Xie Shuyu didn't stop working; she just took off one earphone and ate her meal in small bites while making a phone call.

"I don't want to hear any excuses, I only want results."

"...No, we cannot accept a 3% increase; that's our bottom line. Tell General Manager Li that if they can't come up with a new plan by the end of the day, we will immediately activate the backup contract with the factory in Jiangcheng..."

Looking at her decisive and capable businesswoman demeanor, Qiuqiu sighed inwardly.

She had always known that Mr. Xie was a workaholic, very meticulous, and very concerned about cost control.

Many projects in the company are outsourced, including design, development, and even the coffee shop staff, many of whom are part-time.

From the perspective of the service provider, this type of client is actually quite difficult to deal with.

The original, experienced employees at the design firm were reluctant to take on this task, which is why they assigned it to me, the newcomer.

However, she liked it very much.

Because Xie Shuyu never beats around the bush, she can clearly point out even the slightest dissatisfaction with a design draft.

We handle official business strictly and never engage in superficial social niceties.

For her, who was not good at socializing, this was the best customer.

This is also the main reason why she genuinely respects Xie Shuyu.

After finishing my meal, drowsiness gradually washed over me like a tide.

She hadn't slept well last night, and now that she was relaxed, she couldn't hold on any longer.

Leaning back in the soft chair, I thought about all the troubles that had happened during this trip home.

Before I knew it, I had fallen into a deep sleep.

……

It's about four o'clock in the afternoon.

When Cheng Qiuqiu woke up amidst a slight jolt.

I discovered that I was wearing a warm cashmere coat with a faint fragrance.

She was taken aback and turned to look. Xie Shuyu was closing her iPad, her face showing a hint of fatigue.

"woke up?"

"Mr. Xie..." Qiuqiu's cheeks flushed instantly. She quickly picked up her coat and handed it over. "Thank you, I'm so sorry, I..."

"It's alright." Xie Shuyu took the coat, put it aside, and smiled gently, "You were sleeping so soundly, I was afraid you'd catch a cold."

She looked at Qiuqiu, as if she finally had some free time, and started chatting with her: "By the way, I've never asked you before, where did you go after you left Linggan Design?"

She really admired Cheng Qiuqiu.

Today, [Weiguang Coffee] has completed the first step in its nationwide expansion.

The upcoming upgrade of the brand visual system will be very important, and it will no longer be appropriate to outsource it. A team is already being assembled.

If she could, she wouldn't mind personally poaching this talented and hardworking designer and bringing him directly under her wing.

In fact, she has always had a good eye for people.

The three long-term outsourcing partners of Weiguang Coffee at the beginning—

Tang Song was in charge of technology development, Wen Ruan was in charge of marketing planning, and Cheng Qiuqiu was in charge of visual design.

They are all top-notch talents.

However, there's definitely no need to dig into the Tang and Song Dynasties and the Wenruan region anymore.

However, Cheng Qiuqiu in front of me might still be worth trying to win over.

“At an e-commerce company specializing in apparel,” Qiuqiu answered softly, “still doing visual design.”

Xie Shuyu immediately became interested. "E-commerce for apparel? That's a good industry. For designers, there's a lot of room for growth in this sector. The feedback cycle is short, and you can directly access the most authentic user data."

"Yes, that's true." Qiuqiu nodded.

The two chatted for a while about the topic of e-commerce in the apparel industry.

Xie Shuyu casually asked, "What's the name of your company?"

Qiuqiu answered seriously, "Songmei Apparel Trading Co., Ltd. is over at Yunxi Building."

Xie Shuyu was taken aback upon hearing this, and asked with a look of surprise, "Songmei Clothing?"

"Hmm, Mr. Xie, you know him?" Qiuqiu suddenly realized after saying that, "Oh right! Mr. Xie, you also know our General Manager Tang!"

She was in a really bad state today, and kept thinking about family matters. She forgot that Tang Song used to be an outsourced programmer at Weiguang Coffee.

She and Tang Song met at the headquarters of Weiguang Coffee, introduced by Xie Shuyu.

Recalling their first meeting, she couldn't help but smile.

That day, Xie Shuyu called her to the Huayun Center and said he wanted to work with the developers on the visual design.

I ran into Tang Song downstairs, who was wearing Under Armour sportswear.

He saw her riding over from downstairs and kept staring at her, even secretly taking pictures of her with his phone.

Therefore, her first impression of him was not good.

Who would have thought that so many things would happen later?

Xie Shuyu chuckled, her tone carrying just the right amount of teasing, "Well, so Tang Song poached him. He's really underhanded, poaching someone I had my eye on without even telling me beforehand. I'm the one who introduced you two."

Upon hearing this, Qiuqiu immediately and instinctively defended Tang Song: "No, President Xie! I encountered a problem at the company and was recruited by a senior from my university. President Tang... he only found out about my joining the company later..."

Xie Shuyu looked at her tense and protective appearance, her eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, and her eyes flickered.

It seemed that he had guessed something.

"Hehe, you misunderstood. I didn't mean to blame him. You may not know this, but he is now a major shareholder of [Weiguang Coffee] and participated in our Series A financing."

"Oh? Is that so..."

Xie Shuyu nodded, took a sip of water, looked into her eyes and said, "Besides, I'm his girlfriend now."

boom--

Cheng Qiuqiu's head was buzzing.

Another girlfriend?!
Or...Mr. Xie?!

In her heart, Xie Shuyu was almost like an elder.

It wasn't just that the other person was 10 years older than her, but also because of Xie Shuyu's mature and capable aura, as well as the aura of a self-made, admirable female entrepreneur.

In her eyes, he was an elder worthy of her respect, and even a little fear.

Who would have thought she was Tang Song's girlfriend?

She looked at the elegant and impeccable "female CEO" in front of her, and then thought of her senior, Tian Jing, and Xu Qing.

My mind was a mess.

How many girlfriends does he have?
Why aren't you saying anything? Is that strange?

Xie Shuyu's voice rang out again, pulling her back to reality from her chaotic thoughts.

Her tone remained gentle, but her bright eyes held a subtle scrutiny as she quietly looked at her.

"N-nothing..." Qiuqiu subconsciously avoided the other person's gaze, her voice flustered as she said, "It was just a little unexpected. Congratulations, Mr. Xie."

"Thank you." Xie Shuyu nodded slightly, leaned back in her chair, and subtly began to observe the young female designer beside her.

Her delicate, flawless face is full of collagen.

She has a curvaceous figure, making her extremely sexy.

She has a cool and aloof appearance, but she also exudes a youthful charm.

He looks somewhat like the famous actor Su Yu.

This was the first time Xie Shuyu had examined Cheng Qiuqiu's appearance so directly, and she was filled with many emotions.

Young is so good.

After all, some things, once lost, can never be regained.

She subconsciously touched the corner of her eye and sighed inwardly.

She's been incredibly busy lately.

A new round of nationwide expansion, strategic cooperation with coffee suppliers under Smile Holdings, and an upcoming trip to Chengdu…

She was overwhelmed with everything.

Although she and Tang Song were nominally boyfriend and girlfriend, they rarely saw each other.

She felt deeply guilty and uneasy about this.

Therefore, we never interfere with his private life, which was agreed upon from the beginning.

At this moment, seeing Cheng Qiuqiu, the designer whom he once regarded as a "junior," revealing a girlish affection for Tang and Song.

A subtle sense of crisis and possessiveness, characteristic of women, led her to unconsciously utter the phrase "declare sovereignty."

Perhaps... she really should put her work on hold for a while.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a surge of inexplicable tension.

She actually lacked confidence in this kind of intimate relationship that required emotional connection to maintain.

……

5:17 PM.

After a smooth journey of more than seven hours, the high-speed train finally slowly pulled into Rongcheng East Station.

The sky outside the window was still bright, with the winter sun hanging in the western sky.

It casts a soft golden halo over the capital city of this "Land of Abundance".

The train came to a complete stop.

The two walked out of the train car one after the other, and followed the flow of people towards the exit. Chengdu East Station is extremely large, and its design is full of modernity and technology.

Under the enormous glass dome, crowds surged, creating an atmosphere unique to the southwest region—a mix of leisure and vitality.

After exiting the ticket gates, I arrived at the spacious exit hall.

Xie Shuyu stopped and turned to ask, "Qiuqiu, which district do you live in? My friend is picking me up by car. If it's not too much trouble, I can give you a ride."

Cheng Qiuqiu quickly waved her hand, "No need, President Xie, I can take the subway myself, it's very convenient."

"Alright." Xie Shuyu didn't insist any further. She looked at Qiuqiu, her bright eyes revealing a gentle warmth. "I'll be staying in Rongcheng for a while. If anything happens, feel free to call me anytime."

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Xie. You should also... take care and get some rest."

After a brief farewell, Cheng Qiuqiu picked up her suitcase and headed towards the subway entrance.

They quickly merged into the surging crowd.

Xie Shuyu stood there, watching her figure disappear around the corner before slowly turning her gaze away.

Turn around and walk towards the other exit.

As soon as she stepped out of the passage, a familiar figure came into her view.

"Light rain!"

A woman wearing a khaki trench coat and sporting a neat short haircut was leaning against a black Audi A6L, smiling and waving at her.

"Dye".

Xie Shuyu finally showed a truly relaxed smile.

The visitor was none other than Meng Ran, a longtime friend.

She was also her best friend who shared a bunk bed with her in college.

"I thought you'd be later." Xie Shuyu stepped forward and gave her a light hug. "How's it going? Any progress on the matter I asked you to investigate?"

"Don't worry," Meng Ran said as she helped her put her suitcase in the trunk and closed the car door. "That Mr. Chen from [Shuxian Cold Chain] has a very complicated situation. Let's go, get in the car and we'll talk. I'll also take you to try some of the most authentic private dishes in Chengdu."

The two smiled at each other and got into the car.

The black Audi A6L merged into the congested evening rush hour traffic and headed deeper into the city.

Dusk is slowly descending upon this bustling city.

……

The subway line 7 travels smoothly through the underground tunnel.

Looking out the window at the familiar station names flashing by, and listening to the sounds of Sichuan and Chongqing dialects rising and falling around me.

Cheng Qiuqiu had an indescribable, surreal feeling.

Her home, or rather, where her mother now lives, is in an old resettlement housing complex near Shanbanqiao.

That area belongs to the East Second Ring Road of Chengdu, a place full of local flavor and a mix of old and new buildings.

It was also the place where she spent her entire repressive adolescence, starting from junior high school.

Every alleyway, every banyan tree, even the smell of hot pot broth mixed with dampness in the air, was a past she desperately wanted to escape.

And now, she's back.

The subway stopped at the "Polytechnic University" station.

With her bag on her back, Cheng Qiuqiu got off the bus with the crowd, transferred to another bus, and rode for four or five more stops before finally getting off at that familiar yet unfamiliar stop.

The sky had completely darkened, and the streetlights cast a dim yellow light, stretching her shadow long.

We walked through a noisy, bustling street.

Her figure stopped in front of a red brick apartment building that looked quite old.

Step by step, we climbed the stairs.

Finally, it stopped in front of a dilapidated security door on the fourth floor.

Take out the key, insert it into the lock, and turn it gently.

"Click——"

The door was pushed open.

Everything before my eyes was so familiar, yet so strange.

Stepping into her small room, she placed her suitcase in the corner and looked around.

The room was very small, less than ten square meters.

A single bed, an old wardrobe, and a desk filled with various books and art supplies—that's almost all there is.

There are many posters of Su Yu on the wall.

Here, time seems to have stood still; everything remains exactly as it was when she left.

A mixture of nostalgia and resistance involuntarily surfaced in her eyes.

After putting her luggage away, Qiuqiu didn't linger for long.

He took out his toiletries and change of clothes, put them in his backpack, lowered his head, and walked out without saying a word.

……

After leaving the residential area, Qiuqiu hailed a taxi on the roadside and headed straight for the Second People's Hospital of Rongcheng.

The sixth floor of the inpatient building.

The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant alcohol.

The corridor was quiet, with only occasional conversations and the beeping of medical equipment coming from the nurses' station.

She walked to the door of ward 603 and looked through the glass window on the door.

I immediately spotted the weak figure lying on the bed, eyes closed, receiving an IV drip.

At this moment.

A familiar voice came from beside me: "Oh, Qiuqiu! You've finally arrived!"

Qiuqiu turned her head and saw Aunt Wang Aijuan walking over from the hot water area with a water cup in her hand.

"Aunt Wang, thank you for your hard work. My... Mom, how is she?"

"The doctor said it's nothing serious, just a mild concussion. I'll stay in the hospital for observation for a few days, and I can be discharged if everything is fine." Wang Aijuan put the thermos on the ground and said, "I've already used the money you transferred before to pay the hospital deposit. The extra money will be refunded to you when you are discharged."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it, we're old neighbors." Aunt Wang patted her shoulder. "I'm relieved to see you. Your mother is asleep. I have to hurry back; I have a lot of things to do at home."

After a brief farewell, Aunt Wang left in a hurry.

Qiuqiu stood at the door for a long time before finally mustering up the courage to push it open.

This is a standard large ward with five beds arranged side by side, all occupied.

The air was thick with the smells of medicine, food, and the distinctive odor of patients, creating a somewhat oppressive atmosphere.

I walked to the bed at the far end and sat down on the plastic stool.

She looked at the woman whose head was wrapped in thick bandages and whose face was pale.

In my memory, this woman was always shrewd and shrewish, with her back ramrod straight and her words coming out in rapid, loud bursts.

For her as a child, it was an oppressive presence.

But at this moment, she looked much older than I remembered, as if all her energy had been completely drained by this accident.

Yes, she loves money so much.

They value money more than their own lives.

To make money, he left his hometown for Chengdu to open a small snack shop, working from dawn till dusk, barely able to take care of himself.

Now, a lifetime's savings have vanished, and the person is lying here.

Time, in this silence, slipped away little by little.

Qiuqiu just sat there blankly, without saying a word.

I don’t know how much time has passed.

Li Meihua's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

She was taken aback at first, seemingly not quite understanding.

"Qiuqiu, why...did you suddenly come back...?"

Qiuqiu retorted in a completely emotionless tone, "Didn't you call me every day urging me to come back?"

Li Meihua opened her chapped lips, as if she wanted to say something, but it seemed as if something was blocking her mouth.

Ultimately, she instinctively avoided looking into her daughter's eyes.

The fierceness of the past was gone from his eyes, replaced only by embarrassment and shame.

Qiuqiu didn't say anything more, and took an apple from the fruit basket on the bedside table.

The blade sliced ​​through the fruit peel, making a soft "shh" sound.

Li Meihua turned her head away, tears welling up in her eyes.

……

Chengdu, Yulin area, deep in a quiet alley.

Narrow Gate Private Kitchen.

Bamboo shadows sway in the courtyard, a stream murmurs, and the air is filled with the faint fragrance of gardenias.

Xie Shuyu and Meng Ran sat facing each other, with several authentic Sichuan home-style dishes in front of them.

Without the tension of working during the day, all identities and pretenses were shed.

They seemed to have transformed back into the inseparable best friends they were in college.

Looking at her friend across from her, Xie Shuyu's eyes were filled with the gentle glow of memories.

Once, she and Meng Ran walked out of university together and entered the magnificent and dazzling world of Shanghai.

In their youth, they wore ZARA clothes that they had only been able to afford after receiving their first paycheck, and drank hand-drip coffee at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery.

Carrying a CHANEL WOC bought on installment, I ate fine dining French food on the top floor of K11.

They would go to Galeries Lafayette on weekends, hand in hand, and even if they couldn't afford anything, they would still enjoy it immensely.

They would also shout out their dreams loudly on Huaihai Road late at night without any hesitation.

Naively believing that he could stay young in that city forever.

They are considered one of the more fortunate groups of post-90s who have been favored by the times.

However, they later chose different paths.

After keenly recognizing the commercial potential of the coffee industry, Xie Shuyu quit her job and returned to Yancheng to plunge into the arduous journey of entrepreneurship.

After struggling and experiencing ups and downs, we have finally achieved what we have today.

Meng Ran, on the other hand, chose a more stable path.

She has been working her way up within the giant Alibaba, and is now a senior operations executive at Hema Fresh in Southwest China.

In fact, if we only consider personal achievements, if Tang Song hadn't inflated the value of [Weiguang Coffee], she might not be able to compare with Meng Ran.

After all, the platform's enormous influence is something that individual efforts can hardly match.

"Ding~"

The plum wine glasses clinked lightly in the air, producing a crisp sound.

Meng Ran took a sip, put down her glass, and her expression became more serious. "We've had enough of catching up. Now, let's get down to business, which is what you're most interested in."

"Mm." Xie Shuyu immediately sat up straight.

"Xiaoyu, you need to be very careful about Chen Hao from [Shuxian Supply Chain]. It's virtually impossible to bypass him and the Chen family behind him in the Southwest region..."

Xie Shuyu listened quietly, her eyes flickering, her heart gradually sinking.

Today, the upstream coffee bean production and roasting process for [Weiguang Coffee] is fully handled by [Yuntongzhicui], a top supplier under Smile Holdings, ensuring impeccable quality and supply.

This also fueled her greater ambition to integrate the logistics system.

After all, to maintain the consistency of flavor to the greatest extent, these roasted coffee beans with extremely short shelf life, along with high-quality dairy products and freshly roasted semi-finished products, need to be delivered to every store across the country in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

A complete cold chain logistics system is of paramount importance.

The 【Weiguang Coffee】 store in Southwest China was established as a temporary measure, through a partnership with 【Shuxian Supply Chain】 introduced by the local catering association.

However, after two months of cooperation, she was extremely dissatisfied with the other party's inflated prices, inefficient delivery, and frequent product damage.

She has always had an almost obsessive pursuit of cost control.

To cut costs, she rarely travels in business class when on business trips, and most of the company's non-core business is outsourced.

The Southwest is also the next most important strategic expansion area for Weiguang, besides North China.

Xie Shuyu naturally wanted to do her best.

This trip to Chengdu was made with the intention of confronting them directly and changing suppliers.

But now it seems that things are far more difficult than she imagined.

【Shuxian Supply Chain】is a subsidiary of Zhongshu Group, a local logistics giant.

General Manager Chen Hao's father is not only the chairman of Zhongshu Group, but also the vice president of the Provincial Catering Association.

It is said that there is official backing behind it.

If we were to bite the bullet and replace it, it would mean completely offending this local tyrant.

This could trigger a series of chain reactions.

(End of this chapter)