Songmei Fashion

Employees were performing their final checks.

Gao Mengting sat on the couch in the General Manager’s office, reviewing the livestream script while mumbling softly to herself. With her hair pulled back, full makeup, and dressed in a fitted cropped top and shorts, she looked radiant and stylish.

Since this was their debut livestream and she knew the specifications and selling points of the clothing line best, she would be the main host, with Wang Qingya and He Liting as the deputy hosts. Gao Mengting was well-versed in livestreaming, having built up the Meiting channel from scratch in the early days.

"Fifteen minutes till we go live." Tang Song glanced at his watch, reassuring her, "Don’t worry. With our skills, the first stream will go perfectly."

“Mm.” Gao Mengting took a deep breath and walked to the desk, extending her right hand.

Seeing her gesture, Tang Song stood up from his chair with a smile.

“Clap!” A crisp high-five echoed.

“Let’s do this!” Gao Mengting winked at him.

As she walked out of the office, the nervousness and anxiety on her face vanished, replaced by a confident, poised, and fashionable look.

---

The livestream room was fully prepared.

While not large, it was meticulously designed with a modern, minimalist style that emphasized space and the beauty of the clothing. Rows of carefully curated seasonal outfits hung on elegant racks. The curtains were drawn, and two soft lightboxes illuminated the space. Numerous light strips wrapped around the corners to enhance the ambiance.

In front of a clothing rack, He Liting, fully touched up, meticulously checked each item’s selling points and specifications. As a deputy host, she needed to keep an eye on viewer comments throughout the stream, interacting actively to enhance engagement. Additionally, if the main host had to step away or got stuck, she’d jump in to maintain the stream’s flow.

This debut livestream was a big opportunity for her. A solid performance would leave a good impression on management, possibly securing her future roles as a main host for other company accounts.

“President Tang, Manager Gao.”

As Tang Song and Gao Mengting exited the office, the employees greeted them warmly.

He Liting couldn’t help but glance at the handsome and upright President Tang. Remembering what Yaqian had shared last night, her heart raced wildly. Who would’ve thought that such a serious boss could be so… different?

She sneaked a look at his mouth, admiring his rosy lips and bright teeth—a smile that was undeniably charming.

Just then, Liu Renjie, who was monitoring data, suddenly stood up and shouted excitedly, “Everyone, big news! Our short video metrics have skyrocketed!” Updates are released by n0velfire.net

“Let me see, let me see!”

“Holy crap! It really blew up! I remember it was just under 2,000 views earlier, and now it’s over 7,000!”

“Our followers increased by over 900! The ad campaign on Douyin is working wonders!”

“Check the comment section—it’s all female users. Tang’s hand did a fantastic job!”

A burst of excited chatter filled the room. A sudden spike in the teaser video’s popularity was a huge blessing, filling everyone with confidence for the upcoming stream.

Tang Song raised an eyebrow, pulling out his phone. Amid the comments about the clothing, there were many discussing his “beautiful hand” in the video. It looked like the Luck Buff was kicking in—the video’s appeal had reached the exact target audience.

Thinking it over, Tang Song said to Liu Renjie, “Keep up the ad spend. Boost it as much as possible, and use Qianchuan as well. We don’t mind losing money; we need to maximize viewership right as we go live.”

In recent weeks, Tang Song had been learning the ins and outs of livestreaming, getting familiar with basic strategies. Livestreaming is all about engagement. High viewership attracts more viewers due to herd mentality, increasing interaction and building audience loyalty.

With the Luck Buff active, this was the perfect chance to grow the brand, and if they capitalized on it, Songmei Fashion could take off instantly.

“Got it, President Tang. I’ll get right on it.” Liu Renjie responded and began working.

“Let’s get ready to go live!” Tang Song called to his coworkers nearby. “Xiaoyu, you all head to the stockroom and prepare additional products. Youguang, Zhang Ying, go help too. If anything sells out, we’ll restock immediately.”

“Yes, President Tang!” “Roger that!” “Ready to go live!”

The livestream area buzzed with energy, and the employees’ faces glowed with excitement.

“3, 2, 1, we’re live!”

---

The Luck Buff continued to take effect.

Oasis Garden Community

Packing a change of clothes, skincare items, a makeup bag, IDs, keys, and a charger, Wen Ruan checked her bag one last time. Satisfied, she zipped it up and slung it over her shoulder.

She glanced in the mirror, giving herself a once-over. She had to admit, the LV Speedy 35 suited her perfectly. The size and style were exactly her taste, whether hand-held or worn over the shoulder—a single bag that could carry all she needed for travel.

“Mom, I’m heading out now. I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.”

Stepping out of her bedroom, she called to her mom, who was tidying up the living room.

Just as she reached for the door, a knock sounded.

“Who is it?” Wen Ruan peered through the peephole and then opened the door. “Auntie, you’re here.”

Her aunt, Qian Guimei, stepped in cheerfully. “Ruan Ruan, Guixiang, good morning!”

Her mom, Qian Guixiang, quickly put down her mop to greet her sister. The two started chatting immediately, their voices filling the house with lively conversation.

Noticing the bag on Wen Ruan’s shoulder, her aunt asked with a smile, “Ruan Ruan, heading out?”

“Yeah, company outing. We’re going to Taiping River for a couple of days.”

“Nice, great company perks.” Her aunt nodded approvingly, then changed the subject, “I heard from Gu Cheng that you’ve stopped responding to his WeChat. What’s up? Do you have a problem with him?”

At this, her mom frowned. “Ruan Ruan, every time I ask, you say it’s going well. So, you were just fooling your dad and me?”

Her aunt chimed in, “Not to nag, but you’re almost 31, Ruan Ruan. You’ve still got some options, but soon, it’ll be others picking you instead of the other way around!”

“Auntie, I’m 29!” Wen Ruan corrected her quickly, sighing. “I just don’t think it’s a match, and I don’t want to waste his time.”

Twenty-something and thirty—it sounded completely different.

Her mom grumbled, “If this one doesn’t work, that one doesn’t work. Just what kind of guy are you looking for?”

Her aunt added, “What’s wrong with Gu Cheng? He’s tall, good-looking, comes from a wealthy family, and is an investment manager at a top firm. We’re an ordinary family; it’s a blessing he even likes you.”

“If you don’t know how to treasure such a good man, don’t come crying later when it’s too late! Look at your cousin Xiaoya; she’s already expecting her second child.”

---

Wen Ruan felt dizzy from their talking and quickly waved them off. “I need to get going for the company outing. Bye!”

Her mom grabbed her arm, speaking seriously, “If you’re still single by the end of the year, then move out. Your dad and I can’t stand the sight of you wasting away.”

“Mom! For the record, I’m the one paying off this place! If anyone’s moving, it’s you two.” Wen Ruan teased her with a wink.

Years ago, their previous home was demolished, but the developer vanished, leaving their promised house as a mere pit in the ground. Her parents had been staying with her grandparents, but she found it too cramped with little privacy, so she rented a place with her colleague Hu Mingli. After switching jobs to Light and Shadow Media, her salary increased enough to buy this condo together with her parents. She’d put up 100,000 RMB for the down payment and was covering the 3,300 RMB monthly mortgage, with the property registered in her name.

“You cheeky girl! You’ll be the death of me!” Her mom smacked her lightly on the rear, making Wen Ruan yelp as she darted out the door.

As she waited for the elevator, she could hear her mom’s sighs from inside. She opened the door a crack and called back, “Mom, stop worrying about me. I’m actually talking to someone. Once it’s serious, I’ll bring him over.”

Her mom’s face lit up. “Really? Who is he? Do I know him? How old is he? What’s his job? Is he local? You’re our only daughter; we don’t want you moving far.”

Her aunt chimed in, “Does he have a house? What’s his family like?”

“Geez, it’s just a possibility. I’ll handle it, okay?” she said quickly as the elevator arrived, and Wen Ruan dashed inside.

In truth, she and Tang Song were still in a flirtatious phase. She hadn’t even thought about introducing him to her parents yet. They hadn’t known each other long, and her understanding

of him was largely based on Hu Mingli’s stories. She hadn’t seen his personal life or social circle yet. She took choosing a lifelong partner very seriously, which was why she had stayed single for so long.

---

Underground Garage

Wen Ruan opened her car door and slipped into the driver’s seat, placing her bag on the passenger side. She opened her map app, inputting “Huaying Riverside Creative Park,” and started navigation. Stepping on the brake, she pressed the ignition, and the engine purred to life.

Just as she was about to set off, the engine warning light came on.

After trying a few restarts, the light remained.

Her Lynk & Co 06 was three years old and always serviced on time; this was its first issue. Unfortunately, she was on a tight schedule for the outing and couldn’t stop at a service center.

Checking the time—9:40. It was too late to go to the dealership. She looked up the weather: cloudy with mild temperatures and low UV index. The creative park was only about 13 kilometers away, a 30-minute bike ride. She’d been needing exercise anyway.

With a shrug, she turned off the car and got out, heading to the trunk. She took out her prized Giant TCR-Adv3 bike, along with a helmet and gloves. Thankfully, her LV Speedy bag worked well as a crossbody and would be comfortable to carry while biking.

Adjusting the strap, she rode the elevator to the ground floor.

Once outside, she mounted her road bike. The tires rolled smoothly over the asphalt, producing a steady, rhythmic hum.