CHAPTER 673: [THE DIVA'S BIRTHDAY INVITATION]

Rongcheng Second People's Hospital.

The sky outside the window gradually took on an orange-red hue.

After completing the discharge procedures, Cheng Qiuqiu returned to the hospital room in a daze.

"Miss Cheng!" "Miss Cheng!"

The Shengtang Security special guards stationed at the door bowed slightly.

Cheng Qiuqiu hurriedly bowed back before quickly entering the room.

Lawyer Luo Bin had left almost an hour ago, but she still felt somewhat disoriented.

It felt like she was dreaming.

Of course she knew Tang Song was impressive—she had witnessed his grandeur during the team-building event in Wushan.

But she never imagined Tang Song would care about her to this extent.

Rongcheng and Yancheng were separated by 1,300 kilometers.

Despite his busy schedule, he had been silently keeping track of her situation.

He had even arranged for lawyers and security in advance.

For Cheng Qiuqiu, who had always lacked a sense of security and belonging since childhood, the emotions she felt were beyond words.

She didn't even know how to say "thank you" to Tang Song.

That's why she still hadn't dared to call him.

Seeing her daughter enter, Li Meihua, who had been restless, immediately approached and grabbed her hand.

She first cautiously glanced at the black-suited guards outside the door, then pulled Qiuqiu to the innermost part of the room.

In a voice only the two of them could hear, she urgently asked, "Qiuqiu, that... that President Tang, who exactly is he?"

She had been holding back this question for three whole hours.

Earlier, with many people in the room, she didn't dare ask too much.

Now, finally, it was just the two of them.

The impact on Li Meihua was immense—the top lawyers who only existed in news reports, the black-clad bodyguards seen only in TV dramas, and the fearful, respectful attitudes of the two people from Xuyuan Real Estate and Lion Security. ṘÂNɵ𝖇Е𝐒

After a moment of silence, Qiuqiu whispered, "He's the boss of my current company."

"Boss?" Li Meihua was stunned. "The new company you mentioned, with a monthly salary over ten thousand? Why would he help us so much?"

Qiuqiu bit her lip, her expression becoming somewhat unnatural, and didn't answer her mother's question.

Li Meihua's heart skipped a beat as she stared intently into her daughter's eyes. "He couldn't... have some intentions toward you, could he?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Qiuqiu lowered her head and sat on a stool in the corner. "My affairs are none of your business."

Seeing her daughter like this, Li Meihua instantly understood.

This was her own flesh and blood;

even if they lacked communication, she knew what Qiuqiu was like.

If nothing was really going on, given her cold and stubborn nature, she would have immediately refuted it, not remained silent like this.

In other words, she really did have an unclear relationship with this mysterious boss.

That made sense—without this special intimate connection, why would he help them so much?

Mobilize such significant resources? Would he do it for no reason?

She grabbed her daughter's arm, her face full of panic. "Qiuqiu... what exactly is going on?! I heard from Xiao Gao that you got a boyfriend in Yancheng, and he's a scumbag who's dating several people at once! Now, suddenly there's your boss? What's really happening?!"

Cheng Qiuqiu looked at her mother, pressed her lips together, and finally spoke, "The two people you mentioned are actually the same person."

Hearing this, Li Meihua was completely stunned: "What... this..."

She never expected that the "damn scumbag" and "daughter's boyfriend" she had been cursing behind his back was actually this incredibly powerful boss.

This situation completely exceeded her understanding.

Just then, Qiuqiu added something even more incomprehensible: "Moreover, he's not my boyfriend. Stop spreading rumors."

Li Meihua's grip tightened sharply.

A terrible thought emerged from the depths of her heart.

Not a boyfriend?

Then was he keeping her as a mistress?

Once this thought arose, she couldn't suppress it.

Having struggled at the bottom of society for half her life, working in restaurant kitchens and mingling with all sorts of people, what shady things hadn't she seen?

What dirty talk hadn't she heard?

A wealthy boss, a young and beautiful female subordinate—

What else needed guessing about what went on behind the scenes?

Their family owed him such a huge favor. What could a powerful boss who could overturn clouds and rain possibly want?

Nothing but her daughter's naturally beautiful appearance.

No wonder... no wonder Qiuqiu, just after graduation, could earn such a high salary.

A sense of humiliation, mixed with anger at her daughter's "disappointing choices," instantly surged into her heart.

How could the daughter she had placed all her hopes in, the one she was so proud of, take such a path?

She opened her mouth, looking at her daughter's stubborn face, but the prepared accusations wouldn't come out.

Because she knew it was her own incompetence that had made her daughter suffer so many years of hardship with her.

It was her own foolishness that had lost the family's last bit of money.

And now, this President Tang was spending money and effort to pull her and her daughter out of this muddy pit, hiring the best lawyers in the country and bodyguards to protect them.

What right did she have to scold?

Thinking of the "boss" who might be older than herself, and her flower-like daughter.

Li Meihua felt so heartbroken she could barely breathe.

Just then.

"Knock knock knock—"

The knocking sound came again.

Su Wenxuan walked in wearing a white coat, holding a document.

"Dr. Su, you're here."

"Auntie Li, this is your final injury assessment report and discharge summary, already stamped by the hospital office. Please keep it safe."

"Ah, thank you, thank you so much, Dr. Su." Li Meihua hurriedly received it with both hands.

"Don't mention it, it's my duty."

Su Wenxuan stood there, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward Qiuqiu by the window, creating an awkward atmosphere.

He couldn't help but recall again the shocked expression of his classmate who had visited earlier when seeing Luo Bin and the "legal dream team"—almost kneeling on the spot.

That scene was truly something.

Although he was very curious about the background of the mysterious "President Tang" and his real relationship with Qiuqiu.

He also had self-awareness, knowing he and she were from different worlds.

He was someone who could accept things as they were.

Ultimately, his feelings for this aloof girl were more of a momentary infatuation—after all, she was extremely beautiful.

But in terms of personality, she wasn't really suitable as a wife.

After chatting briefly for a couple more sentences, Su Wenxuan excused himself to make rounds and left.

Watching his tall, elegant figure retreating, Li Meihua felt an indescribable sense of regret.

In her view, this Dr. Su was truly a once-in-a-lifetime good match.

Whether in profession, family background, or personality, he was flawless.

He was good-looking and very compatible with her daughter.

She didn't know what the mysterious "President Tang" was really like, but subconsciously, she felt such an immensely powerful boss should be an older, serious middle-aged man.

She wanted to ask but worried the security outside might hear.

They packed their few belongings, and everything was ready.

The Shengtang Security personnel were highly efficient, one person easily carrying all the items.

Accompanied by four burly men in black suits, they walked out.

In the corridor, whether it was the usually busy doctors and nurses or other patients' families, upon seeing them, they instinctively stepped aside, casting looks mixed with awe and curiosity.

Downstairs, they saw a solemn black Mercedes V-Class business vehicle quietly parked at the entrance.

The bodyguard opened the door, and the mother and daughter somewhat awkwardly got in.

The interior was spacious and luxurious, so quiet you could almost hear breathing.

Li Meihua sat stiffly on the wide aviation seat, her fingers gently stroking the soft, fine Nappa leather.

Experiencing this unprecedented special treatment belonging only to important figures, she felt a mix of emotions.

The two business vehicles drove along the main road for a while.

Slowly entering an old resettlement housing complex filled with strong neighborhood atmosphere.

When the car reached the entrance, the guard who usually ignored her or even gave her trouble immediately ran out of the security booth, bowing and scraping as he personally raised the barrier for them.

The brand-new, luxurious Mercedes business vehicle stood in stark, jarring contrast to the mottled buildings and messy surroundings.

Cheng Qiuqiu lowered her head, clutching her phone, the screen showing her chat with Tang Song.

She typed and deleted, hesitating about what to send.

Soon, the car approached the familiar Building 7.

Li Meihua looked out the window at the old neighbors gathered near the mahjong parlor entrance, pointing and whispering about them.

She instinctively straightened her back.

Somewhat unfamiliarly pressing the electric window button, the smooth window slid down silently.

She casually rested her elbow on the window frame, wearing an extremely bright smile, saying with full confidence:

"Oh, Sister Wang, Sister Liu, still 'fighting to the end' here? Wait until I'm less busy these couple of days, I'll come play a few rounds with you too!"

Her voice was neither loud nor soft but enough for everyone to hear clearly.

Seeing their stunned expressions, jaws nearly dropping to the ground.

A huge sense of vanity, mixed with revengeful satisfaction, instantly overwhelmed Li Meihua.

Having lived here so many years, as "a widow with her child" from out of town running a small food shop nearby.

She had often been pointed at and gossiped about behind her back.

Especially with this stalled housing project and injury during rights defense, she could easily imagine.

This group must have been spreading countless nasty rumors behind her back, waiting to see her fail.

They might have been mocking her just moments ago.

But today, Li Meihua returned in a luxury car with bodyguards.

Finally able to hold her head high.

And now, this President Tang was spending money and effort to pull her and her mother out of this muddy pit, hiring the best lawyers in the country and bodyguards to protect them.

Waving to the neighbors.

Li Meihua closed the window again, her gaze turning to the familiar unit door ahead.

Then, her expression froze.

Right at the unit entrance, a young man was getting out of a two-toned Bentley.

He wore a simple white shirt paired with an excellent quality camel-gray suit.

His figure was tall and straight, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.

The twilight glow from between the western buildings cast slanting rays, outlining him in a soft golden silhouette.

Just his silhouette exuded an undeniable powerful aura, noble and calm.

Then, he turned and looked directly toward their direction.

The evening breeze gently stirred the hair on his forehead, revealing a handsome face.

A high nose bridge, clear lip lines, deep eyes shifting in the light and shadow.

This was the most outstanding young man Li Meihua had ever seen in her life.

And judging by that Bentley, he was clearly wealthy or noble.

She instinctively looked at her daughter beside her;

Qiuqiu was still lowering her head, staring blankly at her phone.

Li Meihua sighed inwardly;

if only her daughter could find a boyfriend like this, then...

But she knew this was just wishful thinking.

The Mercedes business vehicle slowly came to a stop.

The bodyguard got out first and respectfully opened the door for them.

Li Meihua tugged at her still-dazed daughter, and they began getting out one after the other.

Then, she saw Wang Kui, the leader of the four bodyguards, pass in front of the car and almost jog to the young man's side.

Bowing respectfully.

His voice steady and filled with awe: "Mr. Tang!"

"Mr. Tang!" The other three bodyguards also bowed, remaining bent for a long time.

Li Meihua stood frozen in place, completely stunned.

"Thank you for your hard work." The young man nodded slightly.

Qiuqiu's body trembled violently.

She sharply raised her head, looking in the direction of the voice.

"—" Her mind felt dizzy.

He had appeared before her so suddenly, traversing thousands of kilometers.

In this early winter dusk of Rongcheng, under the building of this complex that held so many gray memories for her.

It felt unreal.

"Qiuqiu." Tang Song walked through the dusky light to her front, looking at the pale designer.

"Ding! Congratulations, player, the third bloom of the Dream Flower Seed has succeeded!"

Then, the camellia blooming above her head turned into a starlight and entered his body.

[Comprehension +1]

Tang Song's mind felt clear.

However, there was no [Planting Complete] prompt, indicating Qiuqiu still had potential to tap into, her desire to nourish him back was extremely strong.

Qiuqiu stared blankly into his eyes. "Tang Song... why are you here?"

"Of course because I was worried about you," his voice filled with obvious tenderness and concern. "How are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Qiuqiu opened her dry lips, glistening tears welling in her eyes.

At this moment, her sense of security reached its peak.

Watching his tall, elegant back, Li Meihua felt an indescribable sense of regret.

Then, Tang Song looked at the shocked middle-aged woman beside them.

Politely and gently saying, "Auntie, hello, I'm Tang Song, Qiuqiu's friend."

"Oh... oh... h-hello..."

Li Meihua instinctively replied, her mind blank.

Tang Song?

He was that "President Tang"?

He was her daughter's... boss?

How could he be such a... unbelievably young and handsome guy?!

The subversive cognitive impact, along with genuine surprise from the heart, made her body tremble slightly.

Then, she stepped forward half a step, her voice trembling with excitement:

"Oh, so you're the President Tang Qiuqiu mentioned!"

"President Tang! Thank you so much! If it weren't for you... we... we mother and daughter really wouldn't have known what to do this time!"

"Quick... come up to the house..."

She enthusiastically pulled Tang Song and tugged her still-dazed daughter, leading them upstairs to the second floor.

Entering the small apartment.

It was a typical old-style unit from the nineties, not very large, with long-outdated decor.

But every corner of the room was tidy and clean, full of the atmosphere of life.

Li Meihua flusteredly poured water, served melon seeds and peanuts, extremely enthusiastically.

After chatting with Tang Song for just a couple of sentences.

Downstairs, they saw a solemn black Mercedes V-Class business vehicle quietly parked at the entrance.

Tang Song quickly stood up: "Auntie, no need for trouble, we can eat out. You just got out of the hospital, you need to rest well."

"That won't do!" Li Meihua's cheeks flushed red with excitement. "You rarely visit our home and have helped us so much;

how can we let you eat outside! I used to run a food shop—my cooking skills aren't worse than those big restaurants!"

Saying this, she instructed her daughter: "Qiuqiu! Entertain Tang Song properly, chat with him!"

With that, she grabbed a bag and hurriedly pushed the door open and left.

The room instantly quieted down.

Li Meihua sat rigidly on the wide aviation seat, her fingers gently stroking the soft, fine Nappa leather.

Looking into the room.

His first [Dream] with Qiuqiu should have been in that room.

A strange sense of déjà vu instantly surged up.

The two business vehicles drove along the main road for a while.

The old wooden window that always creaked "creak" in the night wind had been replaced with a new aluminum alloy window;

the broken-drawer desk had become a stylish IKEA-like desk.

Many posters of Su Yu adorned the walls.

Tang Song clearly remembered, in the dream, the young Qiuqiu curled up on the bed, trembling with fear.

Thirteen-year-old her, suddenly moving from the Sichuan countryside to the bustling, unfamiliar metropolis of Rongcheng, losing all her former friends.

Because of her accent, family situation, and other reasons, she didn't fit in with everything around her, often being bullied.

The brand-new, luxurious Mercedes business vehicle stood in stark, jarringly out-of-place contrast to the mottled buildings and messy surroundings.

It was in such an environment that she developed her later cold, aloof, and deeply insecure personality.

Tang Song sighed inwardly, turning his gaze back to Qiuqiu sitting on the sofa with her head lowered.

It seemed he could still see the shadow of that little girl in her.

Ripples stirred in Tang Song's heart.

Noticing his gaze, Qiuqiu's expression instantly became somewhat unnatural, instinctively shrinking away.

"Why so distant all of a sudden? Or don't want to talk to me?"

"No!" Qiuqiu sharply raised her head, quickly explaining: "I... I just... thank you... for today..."

She stammered, too anxious to know what to say.

"Alright, no need to explain, I understand." Tang Song smiled and naturally sat down beside her.

Reaching out to gently hold her waist and back.

Qiuqiu's body stiffened, but breathing in his familiar scent, she quickly relaxed.

Feeling an indescribable sense of security, feeling dizzy.

In the silence, only her clear heartbeat could be heard.

Tang Song's hand gently patted her thin back.

Qiuqiu's body grew softer and softer.

Gradually, at some point, she leaned entirely into his embrace.

The tension and anxiety of these past days seemed to find a harbor to dock in at this moment.

Qiuqiu secretly raised her head, looking at Tang Song's close-up profile, an impulse she herself couldn't understand surging up.

Blurting out: "Ba..."

The sound was very soft, but in such quiet surroundings, it was exceptionally clear.

She quickly tightly closed her mouth, her body shaking violently with immense shame.

A huge sense of vanity, mixed with a vengeful kind of pleasure, instantly overwhelmed Li Meihua.

Tang Song was stunned, his expression somewhat strange. "What's wrong, Qiuqiu?"

"Nothing! Nothing!" Qiuqiu quickly shook her head, not daring to meet his eyes.

Tang Song took a deep breath;

the long-suppressed impulse within him, mixed with pity and possessiveness, could no longer be restrained.

His arm tightened slightly, directly lifting her up, making her sit sideways on his lap.

"Ah... mm—"

Qiuqiu let out a short gasp, and before she could react.

Tang Song leaned in and firmly kissed her cold, trembling lips.

Qiuqiu's eyes widened first, then closed.

Offering no resistance, letting him kiss and explore.

Gradually, she even began to respond clumsily and awkwardly.

Pouring all her dependence and affection into this kiss.

Feeling the designer's compliance, breathing in her subtle, cool fragrance.

A stronger impulse surged up.

His hand gradually disappeared into the air.

Then, he clearly felt Qiuqiu's frantic heartbeat.

The [Dream Flower Seed] above her head began to tremble and sway.

Qiuqiu was clearly startled, nearly biting Tang Song.

She sharply opened her eyes, just in time to meet Tang Song's burning gaze.

Feeling his irresistible actions.

She instinctively chose compliance, unable to muster any resistance in her heart.

The quiet room was left with only their increasingly rapid, interwoven breathing.

Tang Song watched as Qiuqiu's always cold, ice-queen face gradually became burning hot and flushed.

Immense sense of achievement and satisfaction instantly filled his entire heart.

An unknown amount of time passed.

"Buzz buzz—buzz buzz—"

A sharp phone vibration suddenly sounded from the coffee table.

Qiuqiu, like a startled rabbit, instantly woke up.

She glanced at the lit phone screen on the table and whispered, "It's... it's Lingling's call..."

"It's fine, answer it." Tang Song remained unmoved.

The twilight glow from between the western buildings cast slanting rays, outlining him in a soft golden silhouette.

As soon as she answered, Lingling's energetic, high-pitched voice came through the receiver:

"Qiuqiu! Qiuqiu! Quick, check Weibo! Check Su Yu's Weibo! Ahhh! Something huge! Something massive!"

Hearing it was about her idol Su Yu, Qiuqiu immediately asked nervously: "What about Su Yu?! What happened to her?!"

"She's holding a lottery!" Lingling's voice was filled with ecstasy. "Su Yu is holding a lottery to select two fans, one male and one female, to accompany her to Paris next month for her birthday! Flight and hotel all covered! Plus special custom gifts! Oh my god! What a heavenly idol! If I get chosen, I... I'll faint on the spot!"

"Accompany her for her birthday?!"

Qiuqiu exclaimed in surprise;

she even forgot her own "dangerous situation," her whole body trembling with excitement.

Hearing their conversation, Tang Song's subtle movements also stopped.

Su Yu... birthday lottery? Going to Paris?

Just then, a crisp system prompt sounded in his ear.

"Ding! You have triggered the character interaction task [The Diva's Birthday Invitation]. Please proceed to [Mission Center] to check."

[Mission Content: Su Yu has today launched a "birthday lottery" activity across the entire internet. Due to long-term emotional repression and insecurity, she is on the verge of emotional breakdown. Please repost this update and participate in the lottery to soothe her emotions through action. Ultimately, attend as the "winning fan" to accompany her in Paris for an unforgettable birthday.]

[Mission Reward: Character Interaction Package*1]