After breakfast, Tang Song opened his wardrobe and started rummaging through it. He didn't have many clothes, so he quickly found what he needed: a white loose-base shirt, black Anta sweatpants, and a gray-black Toread windbreaker. He sniffed them; they were clean and had no odor. Since he didn't have canvas shoes, Tang Song chose a pair of light-colored suede sneakers to see the effect.

After changing into the clothes, he stood in front of the mirror. The overall look was relaxed, with his body fat well-covered, making him look much slimmer. Very nice! He put on a mask and took a few photos, feeling more satisfied with each shot. Especially the windbreaker, which suited him better than the one in the outfit picture posted by the netizen.

Touching the well-crafted windbreaker, Tang Song couldn't help but sigh. This three-in-one windbreaker was a birthday gift from her last year, and he had hardly worn it. Time flies; he wondered if she had adapted to life in Deep City and if her startup was going well. Every time he thought of his "white moonlight" from his student days, Tang Song felt a wave of melancholy.

She was a true genius, always shining brightly. She consistently ranked in the top three of her high school grades and easily got into one of the top two universities in China, Capital University. During her time at university, she won a gold medal in the "Internet+" Entrepreneurship Competition. After graduation, instead of joining a major company, she formed a team with classmates to start a business based on that project and successfully secured funding.

She had a clear and precise life plan, mature, rational, thoughtful, and full of curiosity and a desire to explore. Compared to her, Tang Song was much more ordinary. His studies were decent, and after high school, he got into Yan City University of Science and Technology, a non-elite university. Despite working very hard during university, mastering his professional knowledge, and winning several scholarships, when he went to the capital and saw her work, life, and social circle, he realized the gap between them was widening, so much so that no amount of effort could bridge it. This was the main reason he eventually let go of that relationship.

Shaking his head vigorously, Tang Song stopped dwelling on it. His current priority was to improve himself. Only by truly growing could he have the power to make up for past regrets.

...

Qingxin Homestead was located in the center of Huaxin District, with complete amenities, including hospitals, supermarkets, and parks. About a kilometer away was a large commercial complex, Yunsheng Plaza, which housed various high-end beauty salons. Tang Song searched on a review app and chose the best-rated one based on reviews.

As he approached the salon, he saw it was packed with people. It was a weekend, and the salon's good reputation probably explained the long queue even at 9:30 a.m. With only a little over two hours left before his lunch appointment with Xie Shuyu at noon, he still needed to buy a pair of canvas shoes, so time was tight. He decided to try a less popular salon nearby, reasoning that any salon in this area must be competent.

Upon entering, a pretty young lady greeted him warmly, "Welcome! Are you here for a haircut or skincare?"

Tang Song glanced inside and saw only a few scattered customers, with no need to queue. "I want a haircut and an eyebrow trim."

The young lady pointed to the price list on the wall, "Eyebrow trimming is a flat rate of 79 yuan. We have three levels of stylists: 88 yuan for regular stylists, 188 yuan for senior designers, and 288 yuan for our technical director. Which one would you prefer? I'll arrange it for you right away!"

Without hesitation, Tang Song chose the best, "I'll go with your technical director."

Since the quality of his hairstyle affected his charisma score, he opted for the best service. He no longer needed to save money for a house; vast assets awaited unlocking, so there was no need to scrimp.

"Got it, handsome! Please put your coat in the locker, and I'll take you to wash your hair!"

He lay on a soft, comfortable shampoo bed in the shampoo room. The young lady kindly wrapped a towel around him and adjusted the water to a comfortable temperature. As his hair quickly got wet, a faint fragrance filled the air, and her slender fingers, covered in shampoo foam, gently massaged his scalp and occasionally his neck, sending waves of comfort from head to toe.

He had to admit, the service was excellent.

After washing his hair, Tang Song was led to a luxurious private room. The technical director followed—a stylishly dressed, tattooed man in his forties with earrings. He approached Tang Song, warmly placing a hand on his shoulder, "Good morning, handsome. I'm Li Wen, the technical director here. Tell me your hairstyle preferences."

Tang Song looked at himself in the mirror and nervously asked, "Mr. Li, you're the expert. What hairstyle do you think suits me? Someone recommended an undercut with fringe. What do you think?"

Li Wen fixed his head in place, studying it carefully, "No problem. Your face shape can handle an undercut with fringe. Your hair is a bit dry and frizzy, but a hair mask can fix that. I'll redesign it based on your features to add more layers, definitely boosting your looks!" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novelFirｅ.net

"You're truly a professional, Mr. Li!" Tang Song gave a thumbs up, feeling relieved. Everything was going according to plan smoothly!

Li Wen confidently raised an eyebrow and tied a barber's cape around Tang Song. He picked up scissors with one hand and brushed Tang Song's hair with the other, beginning his work. His movements were relaxed, flowing smoothly, showcasing his skill level.

Tang Song took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and anticipated his "new look." As the netizen said, a hairstyle significantly impacts one's appearance, as important as facial features. A suitable hairstyle would undoubtedly increase his charisma score.

As the scissors clicked, strands of hair fell. Over half an hour later, Li Wen stopped, wiped the loose hair from Tang Song's face, and said, "All done, handsome. Check if there's anything you want to adjust."

Tang Song licked his lips and slowly opened his eyes. Bright light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the room. He stared at himself in the mirror... and felt utterly ridiculous.

Panic-stricken, Tang Song raised his hand to grasp his hair, trying to confirm something. Due to his hair quality, the strands fell naturally without the expected volume. The sides were thinned and shortened, with the bangs just above his eyebrows, overall resembling a large bowl cut. His brows twitched uncontrollably as he quickly opened the system interface.

[Charisma: 24]

"Holy shit!" Tang Song's eyes turned red. The 1-point increase he had worked so hard for had vanished!