Charm point maxed out, inheriting game assets

Then, she actually nodded, "Okay."

Soon, two cocktails of different colors were placed in front of them.

"Please enjoy," the bartender elegantly bowed.

Xie Shuyu thanked him, picked up the amber-colored "Old Fashioned," and then placed the slightly lighter-colored "Penicillin" in front of Tang Song.

She gently swirled the glass.

"Ding~" The two clinked glasses.

Tang Song took a small sip.

Sweet, spicy, sour, bitter, smoky, a mix of flavors.

Very complex taste.

Not something he particularly liked, but it had its unique charm.

Jazz music played in the background.

Light and shadow danced on the bar, reflecting the amber liquid, also reflecting Xie Shuyu’s fair face.

"Song." She suddenly spoke, her voice lower and more magnetic than usual, "In your eyes, what kind of person am I?"

Tang Song looked at the lady CEO under the light, sincerely said: "Mature, excellent, resilient, decisive, and of course, most importantly, beautiful. From the first moment I saw you, I liked you."

Xie Shuyu smiled lightly, "I know, back then, you couldn’t hide anything in your eyes."

With her experience and acumen, she saw right through Tang Song the first time they met.

His little thoughts couldn’t escape her eyes at all.

It was because she found him to be honest and reliable, with decent skills, and because they were from the same hometown.

So she chose to let Tang Song work part-time.

But unexpectedly, in less than a year, he went through such a transformation.

Tang Song gently nudged her with his shoulder, deliberately asked: "If someone told you back then that I would be your future partner, what would you think?"

Xie Shuyu pondered for a moment.

Frankly said: "I wouldn’t believe it and would find it hard to accept. Being an employee or friend is fine, but as a couple... you know, I don’t want my emotions to affect me. And honestly, back then you were quite a mess, I mean your state."

"Alright, I thought you already saw my potential charm back then."

"Pfft—" Xie Shuyu couldn’t help but laugh softly, but her eyes softened: "You were being overly confident, Song."

"What about now? Sister Shuyu." Tang Song looked into her eyes.

Xie Shuyu didn’t answer immediately, instead took a sip of her drink, then suddenly leaned in, her lips barely brushing against his.

Brief but enough to be intimate.

Tang Song felt the whiskey-scented kiss, his gaze slightly lowered.

If... if he were still his former self.

Probably, he would still just be a part-time programmer under Xie Shuyu.

Faced with this decisive, intelligent, and elegant lady CEO, he would only look up with inferiority.

Dreams come true, games and reality intertwine, he is making amends for all his past regrets, step by step.

"Ding~" The glasses clinked again crisply.

They chatted idly, sometimes pausing, starting from the initial small program development requirements, to all the experiences along the way.

The light was dim, the music leisurely.

Xie Shuyu swirled the crystal-clear ice ball in her glass, her gaze somewhat distant.

Her voice lowered, as if recounting a story she’s keeping at arm’s length.

In high school, she was a typical exam-taker.

Considered the college entrance exam the most important "question" in her life.

Analyzed her strengths and weaknesses, made detailed plans down to each day...

After smoothly getting into a prestigious school, she realized how big the world really was.

She began to take an interest in many things, bartending, coffee, music...

Tried out everything she wanted to experience.

After a brief indulgence, her mind finally settled completely, starting to plan her career.

Studied hard, continuously improved herself, entered the headquarters of a publicly listed group.

Worked day and night, quickly rose to the position of department manager.

She built connections, secured resources, did everything to the utmost.

But soon after, an invisible "ceiling" stood in her way.

She realized clearly that gender and environment shackled her, making it difficult to break through no matter how hard she worked.

Her strong sense of pride wouldn’t allow her to accept being confined.

Her natural competitiveness wouldn’t let her stop.

So she began to calmly consider the possibilities of entrepreneurship.

Found an industry she was interested in, with potential, then resolutely quit.

With all her savings and resources accumulated over the years, she returned to Yan City and opened the first [Glimmer Coffee].

Of course, reality was far more brutal than imagined.

The initial stages of entrepreneurship were tough; she barely slept four hours a day for a month at the most difficult times, relying on coffee to push through.

...

"By 2021, I had opened eight directly-operated stores in Yan City, finally achieving some success."

"But the market is merciless and irrational. The rapid expansion of Luckin, Kudi, and the cross-border raids by major food and beverage groups nearly squeezed the survival space of small independent brands like ours."

"Capital, scale, price wars... if you don’t rush forward, you’ll be left to be eliminated."

...

"You know the rest of the story."

"This, is me."

Xie Shuyu lifted her glass, downed the remaining drink.

Under the light, her bright eyes once again shone with the pride and sharpness of a "lady CEO."

Tang Song leaned in and kissed her slightly flushed cheek.

"I like you as you are."