The two sat down on the spacious sofa.

Liu Qingning offered her some fruit.

Wen Ruan smiled and exchanged greetings, her eyes subtly sizing up Liu Qingning across from her.

This time, it was obvious that Liu Qingning’s condition had improved a lot compared to the last meeting.

Her gentle oval face, sparkling big eyes, and fair skin glowing with a healthy pink hue, along with the natural upward curve of her lips,

gave off a pure and unpolished vibe that instantly stirred a man’s most primal protective instincts.

No wonder she was Tang Song’s unwavering first love in his heart.

Sitting on the soft sofa, they ate small pieces of kiwano melon.

Their conversation naturally shifted from the rapid urban changes in Shencheng over the years to the future prospects of AI technology.

Wen Ruan, sensing the right moment, picked up a piece of honeydew with a toothpick and brought it to Liu Qingning’s lips,

calmly steering the topic toward the “Xuanji Optical World” project.

“By the way, Qingning, your Qingning Technology will be deeply involved in the Xuanji Optical World project this time, right?”

Her main reason for coming this time was this matter.

She was about to enter the eye of the storm at the Tangjin Family Office, already trembling with fear.

Now, with the “Xuanji Optical World” project aimed at Director Jin, she felt even more uneasy.

And Liu Qingning was the breakthrough point.

It is well known that the triangle is the most stable structure.

Qingning Technology, a top-tier company destined for greatness and named after her, clearly showed where its future belonged.

She sincerely hoped Liu Qingning could stand up and help bear the pressure.

Wen Ruan herself carried too much blame and just couldn’t handle it anymore.

If that despicable man were to add another burden, she swore she would make him pay dearly!

“Mm,” Liu Qingning nodded and naturally ate the honeydew, “Since the cooperation with Xuanji Optical World mainly involves software applications, our Qingmi AI team will provide full support.”

Hearing this, Wen Ruan’s eyes lit up. “That’s great. I’ll continue following up on the publicity and marketing at Xingyun International Group. Our cooperation will definitely be very pleasant.”

Liu Qingning’s eyes flickered slightly, then suddenly asked, “Tang Entertainment will also be deeply involved in this collaboration. Wen Ruan, you should be quite familiar with their executives since Xingyun International and Tang Entertainment have a close relationship, right?”

“Most of my contacts are just casual, not very close, but I have a good relationship with CEO Mo.”

Liu Qingning looked at her and cautiously asked, “What about the big star Su Yu? How is your relationship with her? She is also a member of Tang Entertainment’s board.”

Wen Ruan’s hand holding the cup tightened ever so slightly. “Pretty good. We consider ourselves friends. Actually, Su Yu is very easy to get along with, no airs.”

“Wow, really? I’m a fan of hers…”

Liu Qingning immediately switched to an excited fan mode, eagerly chatting with Wen Ruan about Su Yu’s movies and songs.

The two chatted harmoniously for a long time.

On the surface, Liu Qingning smiled sweetly with clear eyes, but her heart sank little by little.

She was now certain that Wen Ruan knew everything between Su Yu and Tang Song.

No wonder she could stay so willingly by Tang Song’s side, no wonder she so generously took the initiative to befriend her.

Liu Qingning’s gaze lowered for a moment, but when she lifted it again, the complex emotions had all faded away, returning to her usual clarity.

She smiled and stood up, inviting, “Sitting here chatting is boring. I have a professional karaoke room here with studio-level equipment. Shall we go have some fun?”

“Sure!” Wen Ruan readily stood up.

In the spacious karaoke room, they sang everything from classic old songs to popular hits, enjoying themselves immensely.

By nearly six o’clock in the evening, Aunt Mei had prepared a sumptuous dinner and knocked to remind them.

They went to the bathroom to freshen up.

Standing in front of the large mirror by the washbasin,

Liu Qingning looked at Wen Ruan in the reflection and suddenly said, “Wen Ruan, if you don’t have urgent matters in Yangcheng, why not stay here with me tonight? We can watch a movie in the home theater.”

Wen Ruan hesitated for a moment, then nodded immediately, “Sure, it would be an honor.”

This marked a significant breakthrough in their relationship, and she was quite happy inside.

Liu Qingning smiled and continued, “Also, regarding the upcoming cooperation on Xuanji Optical World, I’m pretty anxious. This is my first time solely responsible for such a heavyweight project. I heard we’ll really meet Su Yu then. Wen Ruan, you have to help me! That big star definitely has a strong aura, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to handle it.”

Her words were natural and sincere, with just the right hint of vulnerability.

Wen Ruan’s eyes twitched slightly, as if understanding something, and her gaze toward Liu Qingning changed instantly.

......

November 5, 2023, Sunday, cloudy turning to light rain, 22 to 29 degrees Celsius.

Early morning, just after six o’clock, before dawn.

Four Seasons Hotel Fitness Center.

Intense exercise made Tang Song’s body radiate steaming heat.

Sweat had long soaked through his black training clothes, clinging tightly to his well-defined muscles, shimmering faintly under the lights.

“Huff—huff—”

After finishing today’s workout,

Tang Song gasped for breath and returned to his suite, checking his phone.

Several unread messages were already on the screen.

One was just sent by Wen Ruan.

The photo showed her and Liu Qingning in sportswear, posing with a peace sign through the morning mist at Shencheng Bay.

Another was from junior sister Yao Lingling, unfailingly sending the weather forecast and a morning greeting.

Tang Song replied with emojis to both, then carefully examined the photo sent by the older sister, studying the differences between the two “big Es.”

He felt a surge of emotion, ready for another energetic day.

“Buzz buzz buzz—” his phone vibrated.

[Lingling: “Boss! My first work, that jacket, will officially be on sale next week in the pre-Double Eleven promotion! I’m so nervous! (

) Don’t forget our bet!”]

With only six days left until Double Eleven and it related to his Growth Plan task, Tang Song was full of anticipation.

He encouraged Lingling a bit, put away the phone, and stepped into the bathroom.

After a quick shower, he entered the walk-in closet, changed into comfortable casual clothes, and walked downstairs with a light step.

The car drove through the weekend morning streets of Yangcheng.

Steam rose from breakfast stalls, leisurely elders relaxed in tea houses, men and women cycled along the riverside greenway...

Looking out at this lively, textured scene, Tang Song’s gaze became somewhat absent-minded.

His recent time with Zhang Yan stirred a fluttering feeling in his heart.

The pure, unrefined nature in this middle school deskmate and the gentle warmth hidden beneath her shyness and insecurity

were like stones thrown into the lake of his heart, causing ripple after ripple.

Unconsciously, the black Rolls-Royce stopped outside an old residential community.

Seeing Tang Song get out of the car, passing young women’s eyes lit up instantly.

Tang Song calmly entered the community gate, familiar with the route, turning a corner.

From afar, he saw a familiar figure standing at the entrance to Building 4.

She seemed to have spotted him from a distance and instinctively stepped closer to the wall, lowering her head to pretend to look at her toes.

Tang Song’s lips curled into a slight smile as he quickened his pace, then broke into a light jog, arriving quickly in front of her.

“Good morning, Zhang Yan.”

Zhang Yan lifted her head, still shy but much more natural than yesterday. “Good morning, Tang Song.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“Let’s go, to that boat congee place you mentioned yesterday. It’s the best.”

“Going from the east gate is closer.” Zhang Yan’s hands rubbed nervously on her pants as her eyes lowered.

Soon, that familiar, heart-pounding feeling returned.

Her hand was caught by that warm large hand.

With a pounding heart like drums, she boldly raised her head to look at Tang Song’s profile in the morning light.

After finishing a steaming, delicious breakfast, the two returned straight to Room 602.

Tang Song pulled out Volume 3 of “The World’s Number One Martial Arts Tournament Begins!” from the bookshelf.

Holding Juzi, he invited Zhang Yan to sit on two small wooden stools on the balcony.

The balcony wall had been freshly painted yesterday and looked clean and tidy, brightening the whole space.

Tang Song flipped through the manga, occasionally commenting on the plot, sharing his childhood fondness for characters like Master Roshi, Krillin, and Tien Shinhan.

They sat close;

he could clearly smell her pure, warm scent mixed with soap and sunlight,

very pleasant.

The wind blew softly through the open window, stirring strands of hair that brushed lightly against Tang Song’s nose, tickling him.

Zhang Yan quickly reached out to tuck the strands behind her ear.

Her delicate profile and slightly flushed, petite ear were fully revealed before his eyes.

Noticing Tang Song’s gaze, her cheeks flushed bright red again;

she let her hair fall down, then tucked it back, feeling a bit awkward.

Seeing him still looking at her ear, she shyly dropped her head.

Feeling conflicted with herself, she quietly apologized, “Sorry.”

Tang Song chuckled softly, looking at her, “I just noticed you have pierced ears.”

“I…” Zhang Yan whispered, blushing, “I got them done after high school.”

To “accidentally meet” Tang Song in college and be a bit more “outstanding,” she had actually prepared a lot.

Not only clothes and skincare, but also got her hair done, pierced her ears, and bought some accessories.

Her collarbone-length hair also started growing then and has continued until now.

Tang Song said, “Your ears are beautiful, perfect for earrings.”

Zhang Yan instinctively touched her warm ears.

“Alright, let’s continue reading.”

“Mm.”

The balcony fell silent.

They finished Volume 3.

Tang Song gently closed the book and smiled, “Okay, time to get to work. Let’s try to finish early.”

Zhang Yan obediently nodded, shyly stood up, and followed Tang Song step by step into the bathroom.

The newly painted bathroom was much cleaner and brighter.

Zhang Yan looked around and involuntarily sighed, her eyes curving with a smile.

Tang Song prepared the tools while talking like an experienced craftsman, “When applying the second coat of paint, be especially careful. It’s easy to get ‘runs’—that’s when streaks like tear marks appear on the wall…”

He spoke expertly but when he tried it himself, distracted by watching the girl beside him, he accidentally dipped the roller in too much paint.

A clear white “tear streak” slowly ran down the wall.

“Uh… mistake, mistake…” Tang Song awkwardly tried to fix it with the brush, but only made it worse.

After all, he was an amateur.

Besides, with such an admiring girl beside him, seriously listening, a middle school deskmate who had secretly liked him for years, it was inevitable he wanted to show off a little and ended up messing up.

The image of the male god took a hit.

Seeing his embarrassed look, Zhang Yan finally couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

She quickly covered her mouth, blushing, and said, “Sorry.”

But her beautiful eyes were already filled with sparkling, uncontrollable laughter.

Tang Song saw her expression and laughed along.

This small, cute mistake acted like a magical switch, breaking the subtle, somewhat unreal barrier between them.

Zhang Yan’s mood finally completely relaxed.

Her gaze toward Tang Song carried marks of intimate naturalness.

She mustered courage and quietly proposed, “I… I’ll try too. You paint the higher parts, I’ll do the lower, so we’ll be faster.”

“Sure, girls should be more careful with this kind of work.”

“Wait a moment.” Zhang Yan said and quickly ran to the bedroom, changed into some old clothes she didn’t mind getting dirty, and put on a hat.

Then she took another brush and cautiously started her “work.”

Her movements were clumsy but extremely focused.

Tang Song occasionally spoke to her, correcting her painting technique.

In this small bathroom, the atmosphere was warm as if time had reversed.

When their eyes met, Zhang Yan would shyly look away like a startled rabbit at first.

But after a moment, she would bashfully look up and smile at him.

This sense of working together made her feel an unprecedented, steady joy.

At noon, Zhang Yan personally prepared a “hearty” homemade meal.

Though the ingredients were ordinary, under her skillful hands, each dish gave off an enticing aroma.

They sat around the coffee table, eating heartily.

After the meal, they leaned back on the sofa and opened Volume 4 of “Dragon Ball.”

This time, it wasn’t just Tang Song commenting;

Zhang Yan occasionally shared her thoughts quietly.

Their conversation took on a more discussive tone.

Over the years, she had read “Dragon Ball” several times and was very familiar with the plot.

After finishing Volume 4,

the two worked together again to repaint the kitchen and balcony.

By the time everything was done, the sky outside had gradually darkened.

They began packing up tools and cleaning garbage.

Tang Song stood at the washbasin in the bathroom and casually said, “Zhang Yan, pass me that small scraper on the balcony. I forgot to bring it in.”

“Okay.” Zhang Yan replied and hurried to the balcony, picking up the scraper with some paint on it. “Here, it’s pretty sharp, be careful when washing it.”

She quickly stepped into the damp bathroom.

Her foot accidentally stepped on a slippery patch of paint on the floor, and she nearly knelt down, leaning forward.

Tang Song just turned to receive the scraper.

Because the space was too narrow, her forehead bumped directly into his shoulder, and the brush in her hand dropped to the floor with a “clack.”

“Ow!” Zhang Yan cried out in pain, swaying backward from the strong impact.

Tang Song reacted quickly, instinctively dropping what he held, and with one hand, lightning-fast, hugged her slender back, the other hand instinctively shielding the back of her head.

“Are you okay, Zhang Yan?”

“I'm... fine...”

Zhang Yan suddenly came to her senses and realized she was tightly held in Tang Song’s arms, her whole body stiffening.

His chest was solid and warm;

through the thin clothes, she could clearly feel his strong, steady heartbeat,

one beat after another, as if directly tapping on her eardrum.

At the same time, her own heartbeat surged to an unprecedented pace.

“You’re all red here. It must hurt a lot. Luckily, you didn’t hit your eye,” Tang Song said softly, gently blowing on the skin of her forehead.

His warm breath brushed over her brow and hair.

Zhang Yan’s lips trembled but she didn’t dare move.

She was afraid that even the slightest movement might accidentally touch him.

Tang Song lowered his head, watching her panicked face, feeling the soft, warm body in his arms, and did not immediately let go.

“No, it doesn’t hurt, it’s nothing. Thank you, I…”

Zhang Yan stammered, her mind blank, completely forgetting what she was saying.

Finally, she tightly shut her mouth, and from nervousness, even forgot to breathe.

After a moment, when her face turned bright red from holding her breath, she began to breathe nervously, slowly, and cautiously.

Her warm breath brushed Tang Song’s neck like an electric feather, making his arms holding her tighten slightly.

The air in the bathroom seemed to thicken, and time stretched like melted sugar, every second filled with a warm and tense tension.

Seeing Zhang Yan looking a little short of breath,

Tang Song slowly loosened his hold, but his hand still hovered behind her, afraid she would lose balance again.

“I… I’m okay now,” Zhang Yan’s voice was barely audible like a mosquito, quickly stepping back to create a safe distance, then immediately turning as if to escape this place. “I… I’ll go take out the balcony trash.” Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novel_fіre.net

Saying this, she practically fled.

Watching her flustered back, a trace of a smile and a flutter appeared in Tang Song’s eyes.

By the time he finished cleaning the bathroom and came out, Zhang Yan had packed the living room and balcony waste.

She hugged Juzi and stood awkwardly by the corner nest.

Tang Song picked up two heavy trash bags and smiled, “I’ll go downstairs to throw out the trash and buy something nearby. It should take a while;

you can take a shower first.”

“Ah... okay.” Zhang Yan lowered her head, holding Juzi tightly.

Since she had helped with the work, she naturally wasn’t clean;

there were even latex paint stains on her face and arms.

This made her feel a bit shy, wondering if Tang Song smelled the sweat on her and reminded her to wash.

“Alright, I’m off. Bye-bye.” Tang Song casually opened the door and stepped out.

“Bye-bye,” Zhang Yan said quietly, leaning out to watch his figure disappear down the stairs.

Closing the door,

Zhang Yan’s heart raced as if it was about to jump out of her chest.

Her mind was filled with memories of the hug and the warm breath just now...

Scenes replayed repeatedly in her mind.

“Meow~”

Juzi, held too tightly, let out a dissatisfied protest.

Zhang Yan whispered “sorry,” loosened her grip, then hurried into her bedroom as if fleeing.

She grabbed clean, pretty clothes from the wardrobe and entered the bathroom.

Because Tang Song bought high-quality odorless latex paint, after drying, there was no pungent smell.

Looking at the now neat and clean walls, she smiled foolishly.

She quickly took a hot shower, dried off, and changed clothes.

Just as she returned to her bedroom and picked up her phone, she saw a missed call from an unfamiliar number local to Yangcheng.

She hesitated for a moment but still called back.

“Beep beep—” The call connected quickly.

“Hello? Who is this? Sorry, I wasn’t near my phone just now.”

After a brief silence, a somewhat hoarse young girl’s voice with obvious restrained emotion sounded: “It’s me, Chen Shuangshuang.”

Zhang Yan’s hand holding the phone trembled, her throat moving. “Shuangshuang…”

Chen Shuangshuang was her younger half-sister, only fifteen years old and in the second year of middle school.

Their relationship had always been complicated.

Chen Shuangshuang strongly rejected this “older sister” who suddenly appeared in her life.

They rarely communicated, and even when Zhang Yan visited her school, Chen Shuangshuang remained cold.

This was the first time she had taken the initiative to call.

“Mom is sick.” Chen Shuangshuang’s voice was blunt with no preamble. “Very serious.”

Zhang Yan’s heart skipped a beat, and she blurted out, “What illness?!”

“I don’t know,” the voice on the other end was tinged with sobbing, “At noon, I overheard my parents arguing downstairs. I heard them say they want to divorce. Mom said, ‘No money, no treatment.’”

Zhang Yan felt her mind go “buzz,” as if hammered hard. Her face turned pale. “How… how could this be...”

She recalled the rainy night a few days ago when her mother came to see her, her suddenly thin body, her harsh and suppressed coughing, and that inexplicable, forceful hug before leaving...

Chen Shuangshuang’s voice choked up, “They have a hospital recheck on Monday. Can you come to school? Help me get a leave... I want to go to the hospital with you.”

Because of the large age gap, her relationships with her other two half-brother and half-sister were also distant.

Now her mother was sick, obviously because of a lack of money for treatment and fear of burdening the family, and her parents wanted to divorce.

She subconsciously placed her hopes on her sister from the same mother.

After all, she was still a child who hadn’t grown up.

“Okay,” Zhang Yan’s voice trembled slightly, “I… I’ll come to school tomorrow. Tell me the exact time.”

“After the first class in the morning, 8:40.” Chen Shuangshuang’s voice was thick with nasal tone.

“Alright!”

There was another silence on the other end, as if unsure what else to say.

After a long pause, Chen Shuangshuang spoke in a complicated tone mixed with reluctance and dependence, quietly, “Don’t… be late.”

After saying this, she hung up hurriedly.

“Beep beep beep—”

The busy tone rang in Zhang Yan’s ear.

She still held the phone to her ear, tears streaming down.

The little hopeful visions of the future just born in her heart were instantly shattered by the cold reality.

Life always seemed to be like this.