Chapter 2145 - 698: Reunion, Breaking Defenses_3

"Hello, Shirley, good evening."

"Luna, what’s up calling me so late?"

"Just missing you," Lin Muxue feigned nonchalance as she turned the phone camera towards the splendid Lujiazui night view outside the window, "I remember you saying you loved this city of Shanghai, and really liked the Lujiazui atmosphere. The weather’s nice tonight, and this nightscape is indeed charming."

Shen Yuyan on the other end of the call was visibly stunned for a moment.

Lin Muxue’s smile lifted even higher, "President Tang helped me buy a small apartment here, right at IFC Mall, close to all the major financial institutions. It’s not big, but it’s enough for one person."

"President Tang gave it to you...?" Shen Yuyan’s unrestrained chest heaved.

"Yes indeed."

Lin Muxue slowly panned the camera around the room, capturing the expensive furniture and appliances, and the small bar filled with top-notch wines, all "accidentally" included in the shot.

Finally, she turned the camera back to her face and said in an extremely affectionate tone, "Shirley, when you come to Shanghai on a business trip, just stay over at my place."

Shen Yuyan said with a forced smile, "Sure. Then... thanks in advance, Luna, you’re really good to me. Staying up sharing your joy with me at such a late hour."

"Of course, we are not just colleagues, but also good sisters."

"Yeah, that’s true." Shen Yuyan suddenly changed the subject, "I haven’t had the chance to tell you, I’m also on a business trip, currently in Rong City."

"Rong City?" Lin Muxue’s exquisitely shaped eyebrows raised.

"Yes," Shen Yuyan mimicked her with a very "green tea"-esque tone, speaking softly, "President Tang assigned some private investment business to me the past few days. First, there were several online meetings, then he specifically called me to Rong City today to handle it in person. See, I am still working overtime right now, President Tang is really exhausting me to the bone. Alright, won’t talk anymore, I need to get back to work, bye-bye."

Immediately, before Lin Muxue could react, the video call was directly hung up.

Lin Muxue held the phone, and the smug smile on her face gradually froze.

A strong sense of crisis uncontrollably surged up again.

She casually tossed away the phone and stood up from the sofa.

Walking to the desk, she opened the laptop, forcing herself to enter a study mode.

Darn scheming witch!

Always scaring me from behind!

Also, there’s an even more important and dangerous matter about to happen.

In the middle of this month, Tang Song will personally fly to New York to attend the annual most important global shareholder meeting of [Smile Holding].

She can well imagine, by then, what a terrifying scene of dragons gathering and deities clashing it will be!

As Tang Song’s only "personal assistant," she is bound to accompany throughout the process.

This means she must frantically catch up on the company’s financial reports, global macroeconomics, and background information on each top partner.

Just can’t afford to embarrass herself and disgrace Tang Song then.

...

December 6, 2023, Wednesday, Imperial City.

A bit past 7 in the morning, inside a suite at the Wangjing Hyatt Hotel.

Jiang Yourong slowly awoke from the soft bed.

She didn’t immediately get up but reached out to press the bedside electric switch.

Her gaze passed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting towards the city skyline gradually waking up in the dawn.

After a long time.

She exhaled deeply, sat up from bed.

Threw on a jacket, walked out of the room, heading to the hotel’s buffet restaurant.

Hot cocoa, croissant, strawberry tart.

A rich and delicious breakfast slightly calmed the tension in her heart.

Return to the room.

She dug out from the bottom of her luggage the set of professional attire that had been prepared for a long time.

Taking off her casual wear, revealing a plump mature fair body.

She couldn’t help standing in front of the dressing mirror, carefully examining herself in the mirror.

Her eyes filled with unease.

Compared to eight years ago, when she was still the "Assistant Jiang" at [Smile Investment], with a slim and lean figure.

She now weighed nearly twenty pounds more!

Her bust and hips had grown a full circle, and the once proud slender waistline had thickened noticeably.

There was even a layer of soft fat visible on her abdomen.

Jiang Yourong worriedly pinched her waist’s soft flesh.

Ever since she started "lying flat," her naturally lazy nature had become increasingly uncontrollable.

9-to-5 routine, three delicious meals at the staff cafeteria, an afternoon tea with a cup of coffee milk tea paired with a small cake each day...

It’s hard not to gain weight.

As for losing weight, to her, it’s simply the cruelest torture in the world.

But each time she tried to diet, the first day, she was defeated by the aroma of food.

Weight is an "reality" she cannot face.

It’s also a subtle "mark of decline" left after leaving Jin Mei.

She laughed bitterly in a low voice, putting on the slightly tight professional attire.

Reapplying makeup, defining brows, tidying hair in front of the mirror.

Each movement carried restraint and ceremonial feeling.

With everything ready, she picked up her bag, set out.

...

At nine-thirty in the morning.

A black chauffeured car slowly entered the headquarters campus of [Smile Holding].

Jiang Yourong sat in the back seat, curiously gazing at this futuristic architectural complex.

The winter morning’s sunshine cast on the giant glass curtain wall, reflecting cold and dazzling lights.

This is the [Smile Holding] headquarters, the "complete form" evolved from the [Smile Investment] where she once worked.

Everything has become more magnificent, cooler, and more awe-inspiring.