"Tap—" Qian Lele's footsteps ca to an abrupt halt as she stared blankly at the young man beside her.
For so reason, her nose tingled, a sour warmth welling up inside.
"What's wrong, Lele? Don't recognize ?" Tang Song reached out and grabbed the strap of her backpack, giving it a slight lift. "You're carrying your laptop and books, right? Must be heavy. I'll take it for you."
With that, he exerted a little force and lifted her backpack off her shoulder.
Her laptop was a second-hand model from 2016—heavy, bulky, and with diocre specs.
On top of that, she had books and other miscellaneous items inside, making the whole thing quite hefty.
"Song-ge, why are you here?" Qian Lele's lips moved slightly, her heart pounding erratically.
"Ca to check on you." Tang Song patted her shoulder with a smile. "I rember you told before to visit you at the faculty apartnts when I had ti. You guys are starting school soon, right?"
Qian Lele lowered her head slightly and gently bit her lip. "Yeah, officially starting on September 1st. I'll move back to the girls' dorm two days earlier."
"I've been busy lately—just got back from a business trip in Shenzhen. But I'll be staying in Yan City for now, so if you’re free, co find . You still rember where I live, right?"
"I do." Qian Lele whispered, "Yanjing Tiancheng Residence. From the south gate of Normal University, take the No. 31 bus—13 stops."
She had looked it up countless tis before.
She had even taken the No. 31 bus there during her free ti.
But she had only wandered around the area before heading back.
The upscale environnt left a deep impression on her.
Tang Song chuckled, holding her backpack in one hand and gently taking her hand in the other. "Co on, it's been a while since I had a al made by you. I'm counting on you tonight."
In that instant, a jolt of electricity shot through her, leaving Qian Lele's body tingling. "O-okay."
Their two shadows stretched forward together.
Feeling Tang Song holding her hand, Qian Lele felt lightheaded, almost dizzy.
After a while, as if suddenly rembering sothing, she quickly pulled her hand back and pointed ahead. "Song-ge... There's not much food at ho. How about we stop by the supermarket first?"
Because she did a lot of housework, her hands were actually quite rough—not delicate or soft at all.
Compared to Tang Song’s beautiful hands, hers looked… "ugly."
A budding teenage heart was prone to self-doubt and sensitivity.
"Then let's go to Fuqiang Supermarket." A nostalgic look crossed Tang Song's face, the corners of his mouth lifting. "And let’s grab so stead buns and spicy strips while we’re at it."
Hearing his words, Qian Lele froze for a mont before nodding firmly. "Mhm."
Looking at Tang Song beside her, Qian Lele's thoughts drifted back to July 15th—the second day after she moved into the faculty apartnts.
That day, she had run into Tang Song at Fuqiang Supermarket, and the two of them ended up living together for half a month.
The bustling streets, the endless flow of people and traffic…
Her world suddenly seed so much more vibrant and lively.
At Fuqiang Supermarket,
Qian Lele didn’t settle for discounted produce. Instead, she carefully selected fresh vegetables from the fresh food section—even opting for organic tomatoes.
Then, she picked up so stead buns, spicy strips, and spicy chips.
At checkout, when she saw Tang Song pulling out his phone, she imdiately squeezed in front of him without hesitation, holding up her prepared QR code.
Her silky ponytail brushed against Tang Song’s chin.
Because of Lele’s naturally perky backside, their bodies inevitably bumped against each other.
Feeling the warmth of her youthful, energetic body and the subtle friction between them,
Tang Song couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
The scent of Head & Shoulders shampoo and soap mixed with the faint fragrance unique to a young girl, flooding his senses in an instant.
It wasn’t until they finished paying that Qian Lele realized sothing was off. Her face instantly turned crimson, burning hot.
She quickly stepped aside, grabbed the plastic bags from the cashier, and lowered her head as she packed up their groceries.
"All done, Song-ge. Let’s go." Qian Lele spoke softly, grabbing the shopping bags and walking briskly toward the exit.
"Click—" The key turned in the lock, and Qian Lele gently pushed open the door. "Song-ge, you go in first."
As they entered the entryway, Tang Song’s gaze paused for a mont.
He noticed that his slippers, socks, and the pair of cheap running shoes he had bought at Fuqiang Supermarket for 29.9 yuan were neatly placed on the top shelf of the shoe rack.
All freshly cleaned.
Especially those running shoes—cheap quality, worn every day for exercise—when he left, the toe cap was already splitting, and they were covered in dirt.
Now, not only were they spotless, but even the damaged part had been carefully glued back together.
The door slowly closed.
Noticing Tang Song’s gaze, Qian Lele hesitated and said awkwardly, "I wasn’t sure if you still wanted them, so I didn’t send them over."
The truth was, she had taken the No. 31 bus to Yanjing Tiancheng just to deliver these things, along with the pickled radish she had made.
But when she saw the grand, luxurious entrance of the high-end residential complex, she lost the courage to step in.
At the end of the day, she knew deep down…
She just wanted to see him.
"Thank you, Lele." Tang Song gently patted her head.
"It’s nothing." Qian Lele took back her backpack from his hand and whispered, "I’ll go make dinner. Song-ge, you can rest in the living room for a bit. It won’t take long."
"I’ll help you."
"No, no, it’s not a big deal. Besides, the kitchen is tiny—it’s hard for two people to move around in there."
With that, Qian Lele quickly carried the groceries into the kitchen.
A mont later, she ca rushing back out,
quickly gathering the underwear and lingerie she had hung to dry on the balcony.
Watching her shy yet flustered movents, Tang Song felt a faint tug at his heartstrings.
He settled onto the familiar couch.
Looking around, everything was exactly as he had left it.
Still clean, tidy, and cozy.
"Ding-dong—" A WeChat notification popped up.
Tang Song glanced at his phone, his expression pausing for a second.
[Qingning: "Just finished work. Going out for dinner with colleagues later—it’s a little welco gathering for , just to get to know everyone."]
[Qingning: "By the way, Director Jin ca to the office this afternoon. She was in an unusually good mood today, and we chatted a bit. She’s nothing like the cold, strict person people make her out to be. In person, she’s gorgeous and incredibly gentle."]
[Qingning: (Photo of Director Jin)]
Tang Song tapped on the photo, montarily lost in thought.
Even though he had seen the female 3D model of [Couple's Outfit – Floating Clouds and Drifting Rain] in the system before,
it was nothing compared to seeing Jin Secretary wearing it in real life.
The flowing hemline cascaded like drifting clouds and flowing water, light and ethereal.
Gold and silver embroidery shimred under the sunlight, perfectly accentuating her flawless figure.
Her breathtakingly beautiful face, long brown hair elegantly pinned up with a wooden hairpin, and her slender, porcelain-white neck…
There was an indescribable aura about her.
Like a classical beauty stepping out of an ink painting—stunningly gorgeous, otherworldly.
Looking at the photo, a strong sense of possession and conquest surged within Tang Song.
This is the fully realized Secretary Jin.
A UR character, molded under his guidance into the perfect woman—his ideal type.
For Tang Song, one of the biggest reasons he was so obsessed with Heartthrob Growth Plan was because he was obsessed with Secretary Jin.
She carried the majority of his emotional investnt in the ga.
Essentially, she was the paper wife he had cultivated.
Maybe tonight, through the dream instance, he’d finally get to et her in this perfected form for the first ti—
perhaps even engage in deeper interactions with her.
"Thump-thump-thump—" His heart pounded wildly.
The surge of desire sent a wave of exhilaration through him.
6:00 PM
Shangya Fashion Design
Li Shumin quickly shut down her computer, then ran over to Yao Lingling, who was busy sewing.
She patted her enthusiastically, exclaiming, “It’s ti to clock out! Let’s go already, birthday girl! I’ve already booked the cake and KTV room—let’s go, go, go!"
Yao Lingling put down her work. "Seriously, can you not slap my butt every ti?"
"Hehe," Li Shumin giggled sneakily. "Can’t help it—your butt is just so round and perky. It’s got a great feel to it!"
"You’re such a perv, Min!" Yao Lingling rolled her eyes at her, exasperated, before starting to pack up.
A few minutes later—
Yao Lingling slung her tote bag over her shoulder and waved goodbye to her colleagues.
The Qing Business Division had just been established, and everyone was still getting to know each other,
so nobody had really made an effort to celebrate her birthday.
At lunch, they had casually wished her a happy birthday,
but that was about it.
Stepping out of the office building—
"Bzzz—" Her phone vibrated in her pocket.
Yao Lingling pulled it out and answered, “Hey, Jiahong.”
“Mhm, mhm, mhm. Minmin and I just got off work. We’re about to grab a cab to Minghui Plaza.”
“Oh, I haven’t asked yet—how did your interview go this afternoon?”
“…I see. Don’t worry about it. A lot of fresh graduates are still job-hunting, so companies are being extra picky right now. It’s just a numbers ga—you’ll find the right one eventually.”
“Mhm, okay. See you soon.”
After hanging up, Li Shumin imdiately asked, “Lingling, how did Jiahong’s interview go?”
Yao Lingling shrugged. “They’re willing to give her an offer, but it’s single rest day, only 4K a month, and she’ll probably have to work overti frequently without extra pay.”
“…Damn, that’s rough.” Li Shumin grimaced. “It wasn’t this bad when we were job-hunting last year.”
“Maybe she’s just had bad luck.” Yao Lingling sighed.
Ever since she quit that clothing factory, Zhang Jiahong had been hoping to land a job at a bigger, more stable company.
But she wasn’t exactly top-tier talent, and she had taken over half a year off to study for exams.
Her resu wasn’t great, and she didn’t have any outstanding work to showcase.
Most of the ti, she didn’t even make it to the interview stage.
And when she did, the offers were insultingly low.
For soone who urgently needed to make money, that just wasn’t going to cut it.
After getting into a cab, Li Shumin hesitated for a mont before saying,
“Lingling, should we ask Mingxuan to help Jiahong get an internal referral sowhere?
It doesn’t have to be our company—
but like, Huashang Fashion is nearby, and Jiahong really wants to work there.
I rember Mingxuan ntioning before that he knows soone at Huashang.
It shouldn’t be a problem to at least get her an interview, right?”
Yao Lingling clenched her hands tightly. “…Let’s wait until he gets back from his business trip first.”
Li Shumin grinned. “Alright, then let’s have him over for dinner this weekend. We’ll casually bring it up then.”
“Yeah.” Yao Lingling nodded, gazing at the bustling streets outside the window, letting out a deep breath.
This was about her best friend’s future—of course she had to help.
She knew that if she asked, Xiao Mingxuan would probably say yes right away.
But then… she’d owe him another favor.
From assistant to designer, then getting transferred to Qing Business Division…
Now, she’d be asking him to help a friend land a job.
Yao Lingling was the type of person who always felt the need to repay any kindness she received.
If soone did her one favor, she’d want to return two.
And yet, she had already stacked up so many favors from Xiao Mingxuan…
She had no idea how to even the score anymore.
It was rush hour in Yan City.
The cab moved in stops and starts, inching through traffic.
Yao Lingling’s phone kept ringing—it was mostly friends calling to check in.
So were already at the venue since they worked nearby.
Finally, after about ten more minutes, they arrived at Minghui Plaza.
Minghui Plaza was the largest comrcial complex in Yuhua District, Yan City.
It had five high-rise buildings, housing:
brand-na clothing stores, restaurants, a cinema, bars, office spaces, KTV lounges, and even serviced apartnts.
After getting out of the cab, the two of them headed towards Building C’s entrance.
As soon as they stepped into the spacious lobby—
A young man and woman sitting in the lounge area imdiately stood up.
“Lingling, over here!”
“Lingling!”
“Wanwan! Ruizi!” Yao Lingling’s face lit up with a brilliant smile as she ran over excitedly.
These two were her high school friends—both of whom had also settled in Yan City.
Grinning, she imdiately scooped up the skinny girl in a tight hug and spun her around in a full circle.
After a few rounds of giggling and goofing around, they finally cald down.
Zhang Guorui adjusted his glasses and chuckled, “Happy birthday, gorgeous.”
“Thanks!” Yao Lingling stretched out her hand toward him. “Now, where’s my gift?”
“Here.” Zhang Guorui pulled a one-yuan coin out of his pocket and placed it in her palm.
“Don’t lose it—it’s a one-of-a-kind coin in this entire world.”
“…Wow, thanks.” Yao Lingling shot him a mock punch, but still pocketed the coin with a laugh.
They had been friends for years.
They knew each other well enough to joke around like this.
The four of them waited in the lobby for barely two minutes before Zhang Jiahong arrived.
Because of Yao Lingling, they had all t before—though they weren’t super familiar. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel⚑fire
After a quick round of greetings, the group headed toward the elevators.
While waiting—
Chen Wan pulled Yao Lingling aside and said curiously,
“It’s only been a little over a month, but you look… prettier sohow. Your figure’s improved too.”
Zhang Jiahong covered her mouth with a chuckle.
“Of course. Girls dress up for the ones they like. She’s been all about skincare and working out lately.”
"Oh? Sothing’s up!" Chen Wan widened her eyes. "Wait a minute… Lingling, don’t tell you’re off the market?"
Yao Lingling’s face instantly flushed. "No, no! Still proudly single, don’t listen to her nonsense."
Seeing her reaction, Zhang Guorui raised a brow in surprise. "Whoa, hold up. I’ve known you for years, and I’ve never seen you blush over a topic like this before. Lingling, who’s the legendary figure that managed to ta you?"
Back in high school, Zhang Guorui had really liked Yao Lingling. She had a great personality, was good-looking, and just had that effortless charm.
But Yao Lingling was completely oblivious to romance.
He had chased after her for a while, but eventually, his relentless pursuit just turned into a close friendship.
And he wasn’t the only one—several guys had the sa experience.
So now, seeing the usually carefree Yao Lingling get so easily flustered? It was unbelievable.
"Get lost!" Yao Lingling kicked him lightly. "Co on, the elevator’s here—let’s go."
With that, she darted inside.
The elevator ascended slowly, stopping at the 4th floor.
On their way to the KTV lounge, Chen Wan nudged Zhang Jiahong and whispered, "So? Who is it? Do I know him?"
Zhang Jiahong lowered her voice. "A senior from our university. Lingling t him on Little Red Book."
"Ohhh, now this I gotta hear—"
"Hey! Stop talking nonsense!" Yao Lingling’s face burned even hotter.
Zhang Jiahong smirked. "Heh, soone literally called themselves his girlfriend online. And yes, I have screenshots."
"That was just a joke! A !"
Yao Lingling’s A-cup chest rose and fell as she playfully wrestled with Zhang Jiahong.
Shunng KTV
At the front desk, Li Shumin checked in with her phone number and na.
Two attendants led them down a hallway.
Soon, they arrived at a private room.
The mont the heavy black-gold doors swung open—
A chorus of gasps filled the air.
Inside was a massive 30-square-ter luxury suite, styled with sleek, modern decor.
A giant HD screen played a looping slideshow of Yao Lingling’s photos.
The room was decked out with balloons, strears, and fresh flowers, all contributing to the festive birthday atmosphere.
At the center table sat a four-tiered birthday cake, crowned with a delicate crystal topper—inscribed with Yao Lingling’s na.
The table was also packed with an assortnt of drinks, snacks, and treats.
"So pretty!"
"Oh my god, Lingling, since when did you get this rich?!"
Yao Lingling’s eyes widened as she clutched Li Shumin’s arm. "Minmin, what is this?! You trying to bankrupt ?!"
Since she had been busy with work, Li Shumin—both her assistant and best friend—had taken charge of planning the party.
Their original plan was to book a ¥1588 mid-sized private room for about 10 people.
But sohow, this ended up being a ¥4588 luxury VIP suite, and with the cake included, the bill was easily over ¥5000.
It was just a birthday gathering—
She just wanted to have fun, sing so songs with her friends.
This was way too over the top.
Li Shumin simply smiled and pointed inside. "This was President Xiao’s arrangent. He originally promised to celebrate your birthday with you, but had to leave on a last-minute business trip. So, to make up for it, he upgraded my booking. The cake was custom-ordered a few days ago."
Hearing this, Yao Lingling froze for a mont.
When she first heard that Xiao Mingxuan wouldn’t be coming, she had felt a sense of relief.
Mainly because… she was worried he would gift her sothing way too extravagant.
And since it was her birthday, rejecting it would be impossible.
But owing soone such a huge favor, especially one she couldn’t easily repay… it made her uncomfortable.
Chen Wan gasped, "Wait, President Xiao? The sa guy you ntioned before? Your online romance? Wow, this is so romantic!"
Li Shumin laughed. "Nope, not him. Xiao Mingxuan is our company chairman’s son—he’s the Business Division Director. A super outstanding, overseas-educated second-gen rich guy. He and Lingling are really close."
There was a hint of envy in her eyes.
Besides all these arrangents, Xiao Mingxuan had also prepared a birthday gift for Lingling, which he had entrusted to Li Shumin to deliver later.
There was a ti when Li Shumin had fantasized about Xiao Mingxuan, too.
But after making a serious effort to get closer to him, she had completely given up.
At Su Yu’s concert, she had excitedly followed Xiao Mingxuan to the rooftop VIP bar,
where she finally t so of his real friends.
Every single one of them was incredibly well-connected.
Especially among the heiresses—she had never felt so out of place in her life.
For days, she had struggled with intense self-doubt.
The gap between them was staggering. They were simply not from the sa world.
But Lingling…
From the very start, her warmth and kindness had captivated this tall, rich, and handso man.
And that was why she was being treated so differently from everyone else.
Chen Wan latched onto Yao Lingling’s arm excitedly. "Lingling, you’re such a big deal now! Spill the details—what’s up with President Xiao? What’s the situation between you two?"
Yao Lingling pursed her lips, then shook her head. "Nothing. We’re just good friends. He’s always been generous—this is just his usual style."
"Ring, ring, ring—"
Her phone rang.
Yao Lingling checked the screen and quickly answered, "Hey, Qiuqiu, just got off work?"
"Mhm, mhm, alright, no rush. Be careful on the way."
"Okay, see you soon."
Hanging up, Yao Lingling’s bright smile returned as she led everyone inside.
Faculty Apartnts
Dinner, as usual, passed with lighthearted conversation.
After helping Qian Lele tidy up the kitchen, Tang Song checked the ti.
"Lele, I should get going. A friend is having a birthday party tonight, and I need to be there for the cake-cutting."
Zhang Jiahong had told him the party was at 7 PM, but he figured he should arrive a little early.
"I’ll walk you out."
"Sure." Tang Song smiled and nodded.
He still had a gift to give to this Cinderella.
And he hadn’t yet completed his "Magic Umbrella" task.
The setting sun wrapped them in a golden glow as they strolled down the clean, stone-paved paths of the neighborhood.
"Once school starts, you’ll be in your third year. The coursework will be tougher, so you should think about cutting back on your shifts at the café. I’ll arrange so frontend work for you instead."
"No need, I can manage—"
Tang Song shook his head, cutting her off. "Shimr Coffee’s funding round is complete. We’re setting up an in-house tech team, and this is your chance. For a university student, the best part-ti job is practicing what you’ve learned."
Qian Lele bit her lip, then nodded. "O-okay. I understand. Thanks, Song-ge."
She knew this was special treatnt, but she also knew it was for her own good.
To her, Tang Song wasn’t just a crush—
She admired him, relied on him.
His words carried even more weight than her parents’ or professors’.
Outside the neighborhood gates, they reached the paid parking lot.
Tang Song stopped next to his rcedes-Benz. "Here we are."
Qian Lele looked up at his tall, broad-shouldered figure, then hesitated before asking softly—
"Song-ge, can I… start calling you gege?"
Tang Song paused for a mont, then chuckled warmly. "Of course. Besides, gege sounds much better and more affectionate."
"Thank you, gege, for always looking out for and for coming to see today." Qian Lele took a deep breath, eting his gaze. "I’ll study hard and work diligently so I won’t disappoint your expectations."
"In my heart, you're an incredibly outstanding person—strong, understanding, a role model, and a guide. Just like a real older brother. I’ll treasure this bond."
She was innocent but also incredibly perceptive.
She understood her subtle feelings for Tang Song.
She was also well aware of the gap between them.
And given her family’s circumstances, she knew she had no right or energy to entertain fantasies.
So, she chose to transform this affection into friendship and kinship,
hoping they could be lifelong friends—soulmates, even.
She believed that Tang Song’s presence would always inspire her to keep moving forward.
That he brought color and vitality into her otherwise difficult life.
Their eyes t.
Tang Song smiled gently. "Wait here a second—I have sothing for you."
With that, he opened the trunk of his car, took out a white box, and handed it to Qian Lele.
"This is…" Qian Lele’s eyes widened. "A MacBook Pro?"
As a Computer Science student, she instantly recognized the model.
For programming, MacOS had undeniable advantages.
Plenty of wealthier classmates used this laptop.
"Yeah, I happened to have a spare one. 14-inch screen, great specs, lightweight, and easy to carry—perfect for you." Tang Song reached out and ruffled her hair. "It’s yours. Happy Qixi Festival."
With her personality, if he gifted her luxury goods, she’d never accept them.
She might even feel uncomfortable and self-conscious.
But a laptop was different—it was a tool.
A weapon to earn money and build her future.
"Q… Qixi…" Qian Lele’s voice trembled slightly.
"Yup. Your Qixi gift. You’re not planning on refusing, are you?" Tang Song placed the laptop firmly in her hands. "Keep pushing forward, ii!"
Qian Lele stared blankly at him, looking up at his handso, warm expression.
Her long lashes fluttered.
Her breathing beca uneven, flustered.
"I… I…" Her throat tightened, as if sothing was lodged there, making it impossible to speak.
"Bye-bye, ii."
Tang Song leaned in slightly—
And placed a soft kiss on her bright, delicate cheek.
Then, without hesitation, he turned and got into his car.
【Task Progress: 6/9】
Vroom—
The roar of the engine ignited.
The silver rcedes-Benz honked twice before slowly disappearing from her sight.
The warmth and dampness on her cheek still lingered.
All of her thoughts had been completely shattered by that gentle touch.
The bustling sounds around her faded into the background.
All she could hear was—
The wild pounding of her own heart.
Like thunder, echoing violently inside her chest.
User Comments
0 comments from readers