Full charm points, inherit game assets

Chapter 588 Holding Hands

It's her. Zhang Yan.

As Tang Song watched the familiar yet unfamiliar figure stagger out of the building entrance, his grip on the cat tightened slightly.

Although I had seen photos of her in Hanfu photoshoots before, it was still incredibly moving to see her alive, breathing, and warm right in front of me.

An indescribable sense of intimacy and familiarity instantly overwhelmed him.

It was as if she had never left, and had always been that quiet friend by his side.

In his memory, she always had the most standard student hairstyle, short hair that didn't reach her shoulders, and she did everything with an almost clumsy earnestness.

Her eyes were always timid, and her cheeks would turn red whenever she spoke. She was the most typical quiet and introverted girl from my student days.

Now, she has matured and her baby fat has long since disappeared, revealing a clear and clean jawline.

She has soft, collarbone-length hair, and her figure is more robust than before; she is no longer so thin that she looks like she could be blown away by the wind.

Actually, my junior high school deskmate was always quite pretty.

Her features are delicate and refined, possessing a gentle and graceful temperament reminiscent of the water towns of Jiangnan.

Their gazes met in the humid air.

On a late autumn night in the south, he held her cat, and in this direct, sudden, and unprepared way, they reunited.

Tang and Song were not as composed as they appeared; inwardly, they were somewhat flustered.

He didn't even know what to say as his first words.

As Zhang Yan wrote in her letter: "I don't know what salutation to use that sounds both formal and sincere; I also don't know what opening line to use that doesn't seem abrupt or presumptuous."

He realized that his feelings at that moment were exactly the same as when she wrote the letter.

"Tap tap tap——"

In the midst of this breathtaking silence, a series of hurried footsteps came from the stairwell.

"Yan Yan! Slow down!"

"Did you find it?!"

Lulu and Li Chao rushed out one after the other, their faces showing anxiety and tension.

Then, I saw a man standing directly opposite me, under the lights, looking out of place in the old environment, and an orange cat in his arms.

Lulu was stunned the moment she saw Tang Song clearly.

Wait… this person… looks familiar…

Then it suddenly occurred to them that just last Saturday, on the platform of the Shenzhen high-speed rail station, there was that "super handsome guy" who brushed past them!
Although it was just a fleeting glimpse and I couldn't see his face clearly, I was absolutely certain of his unique and outstanding temperament and upright figure!

It's hard not to remember such an outstanding person.

In particular, he was wearing a well-tailored, high-quality casual suit today, which perfectly highlighted his innate calm and dignified temperament.

It's like a male lead who stepped straight out of a well-made urban idol drama.

"Phew—thank goodness, Orange!" Li Chao was the first to breathe a sigh of relief and walked over somewhat awkwardly. "Thank you, buddy. This cat belongs to my friend. I'm really sorry to have troubled you."

He was quite nervous, mainly because the man in front of him had such a strong presence.

His clothes were obviously expensive, and coupled with his indescribable aura, made this ordinary office worker feel inferior.

He had never been this nervous, not even when facing his company boss.

Tang Song's lips moved, but he didn't say anything. He just nodded slightly and then looked back at Zhang Yan, who was still in a daze.

Lulu gradually realized something was wrong. She moved closer to Zhang Yan, blushing, and said, "Zhang Yan, the orange is right here. It didn't run away. Don't worry."

Seeing Zhang Yan staring intently at the other person, she thought she was infatuated.

This is actually quite normal. She has seen many outstanding handsome men, but which woman wouldn't be smitten by someone this outstanding?
She never imagined that her usually quiet, introverted, and even somewhat timid colleague would have such a side.

A loud "buzz" sounded in my mind.

Zhang Yan blinked hard, then her lips moved, and an incredulous, faint sound escaped her throat.

She could never mistake him for someone else.

From junior high school to the capital, after so many years of silently gazing into the distance, the familiar features of his eyebrows and eyes have long been etched into my soul.

But now, compared to when he was in the capital more than two years ago, he is much more outstanding, like that passionate and clear-minded "boy" from his middle school days who has gradually grown up from his dreams.

"Boom, boom, boom—"

Her heart was pounding so hard she could barely breathe.

She couldn't understand what was happening right now.

He might have been drinking and fallen asleep on the sofa?
But... what kind of dream could be so real?

Dragon Ball?
Could it be that my wish really came true?

Did the "dragon" hear my heart's desire and grant me a miracle?
She could no longer distinguish whether this was reality or a hallucination conjured up by her overwhelming sense of loss.

All her longing, fear, shame, and desire intertwined in that moment, forming a vast net that bound her firmly in place, unable to move.

Looking at Zhang Yan, who was still in a daze, Lulu and Li Chao both felt a little awkward.

Lulu coughed lightly and took the initiative to smooth things over, saying, "Sorry, handsome, my friend was so nervous about her cat that she hasn't recovered yet."

Even she herself felt that this explanation was far-fetched.

After all, Zhang Yan was looking at her idol, not a cat!
Tang Song took a light breath and finally slowly stepped forward, coming to a distance of less than a meter from Zhang Yan.

He could clearly sense that she was trembling.

He pursed his lips, gently rubbed the orange cat's head in his arms, his gaze and expression warm and sincere.

"It's like the orange knows me. I just called its name and it came running over."

He spoke softly, as if sharing a wonderful discovery, his voice clear and magnetic.

Upon hearing this, Lulu and Li Chao were both taken aback.

Zhang Yan's eyelashes fluttered suddenly, and she subconsciously reached out to take the orange, but the moment her fingertips touched his sleeve, she quickly withdrew as if burned.

"Meow~" Orange meowed in front of her, as if urging her.

Tang Song smiled gently and handed the heavy orange cat in his arms to her. "It is indeed very smart and well-behaved, just like you said, Zhang Yan."

The four words "Zhang Yan" were like a needle, gently piercing Zhang Yan's hazy dream.

Those wide, shocked eyes instantly welled up with tears.

She finally realized that everything she was seeing was real.

Tang Song was really standing right here, right in front of her.

At first, she couldn't believe it, and then she was overwhelmed by a huge sense of shame.

Although he didn't know if it was the "dragon's" magic, he saw the letter and learned about his humble secrets shared on QQ...

It even appeared before her in such a peculiar way.

Lulu and Li Chao looked at Zhang Yan in surprise, completely dumbfounded.

They... actually know each other?
Lulu and Zhang Yan have known each other for almost a year, but Lulu has never heard Zhang Yan mention that she has such an extraordinary friend.

"Meow~" Orange meowed and jumped into its owner's arms impatiently.

Zhang Yan instinctively hugged it tightly, shrank back, and bit her lip hard to keep her tears from falling.

She wanted to say something, but found that her throat was blocked by something, and she couldn't utter a single word.

Looking at her like this, Tang Song felt a pang of indescribable heartache in his eyes.

He turned around and faced Lulu and Li Chao, who were equally shocked.

With a warm smile on his face, he extended his hand and said, "Hello, I am Zhang Yan's... good friend, Tang Song. It's a pleasure to meet you both."

Lulu looked at Tang Song, her cheeks slightly flushed, and gently shook his hand, trying to make her voice as ladylike as possible: "Hello, I'm Zhang Yan's colleague, Zhang Lu."

"Oh?" Tang Song raised his eyebrows slightly, a clear smile spreading across his eyes. "Lulu, right? I know you. Zhang Yan often mentions you."

"Ah!" Lulu suddenly became so nervous that she stammered, "This...is that so...haha..."

Li Chao quickly wiped his greasy hands on his pants and stepped forward to shake hands: "Hello, hello, I'm Zhang Yan's former colleague, Li Chao."

Tang Song's gaze fell on him, and she said gently, "Li Chao, hello. Zhang Yan said that you helped her change the broken light bulb in the hallway a while ago. Thank you."

As I looked at the people mentioned in the letter, they seemed to appear vividly before my eyes.

Tang Song felt a strange mix of emotions and gradually relaxed.

Li Chao scratched his head sheepishly: "Ah... those are all minor matters, minor matters."

He couldn't understand why Zhang Yan would mention something as trivial as changing a light bulb to a friend who seemed to be from a wealthy and influential family.

After Tang Song greeted Li Chao and Lulu, a strange silence fell over the scene.

The glow of the streetlights shone brightly in the night, casting clear shadows of the group on the ground.

Lulu couldn't help but gently nudge Zhang Yan, who was still in a daze, and asked in a low voice, with curiosity and shyness, "Zhang Yan, how come I've never heard you mention this person before?"

Zhang Yan looked flustered, her cheeks burning with shame and excitement, and her head still spinning.

She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, and looked at the figure she had longed for in her heart for so long.

Her voice was barely audible, trembling almost imperceptibly: "Tang... Tang Song... classmate, you... how did you get here?"

Looking at her nervous yet adorable expression, Tang Song blinked and said in a half-joking, gentle tone, "Didn't you say you were going to give me a set of the 2009 edition of 'Dragon Ball'? You're not going to be reluctant to part with it, are you?"

"No, no, I..." Zhang Yan quickly waved her hand and looked up at Tang Song.

The moment her gaze met his eyes, she felt as if she had been burned and quickly lowered her head.

I wish I could bury my whole face in the orange's warm fur.

Lulu, who was standing to the side, suddenly realized!

It turns out that Zhang Yan worked so hard to collect that set of Dragon Ball for him!

So, he was the one with the "smile"!
No wonder... my God!
Lulu was amazed. Zhang Yan actually knew such an awesome male god, and their relationship seemed so good, while she hadn't known anything about it before!
No wonder she wasn't interested in colleagues who pursued her before.

This was hidden so well!
The orange in the owner's arms let out an uncomfortable protest because of the excessive force applied to it.

Zhang Yan hurriedly let go of her arm, and the orange slipped from her arms and fell to the ground with a "whoosh".

"Oh! Orange!" she exclaimed softly, quickly crouching down and reaching out to hug her cat.

Tang Song also squatted down at the same time, moving faster than her, and steadily hugged the orange ball of fur.

Zhang Yan's hand accidentally landed on the back of his hand.

The warm, firm touch sent a jolt through her face, her cheeks instantly turning bright red as if they were about to explode. She recoiled as if she'd been electrocuted.

She whispered, "I'm sorry..."

Tang Song shook his head, but his gaze did not leave her. His voice was clear and gentle as he said, "I really like oranges. Can I hold it?"

Zhang Yan had completely lost the ability to think at this moment, and could only respond incoherently, "Okay, okay, oh."

Lulu and Li Chao exchanged a glance at the ambiguous scene before them, and wisely kept quiet.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway.

The four of them started going upstairs together.

Zhang Yan felt as if she were walking on clouds, her every step unsteady and dizzy.

Upon reaching the sixth floor, a tantalizing aroma of roasted meat wafted out from the half-open door.

Tang Song took a light sniff. "Eating barbecue? Looks like I've come at just the right time."

Lulu said somewhat embarrassedly, "No, there's not much left. Should I go downstairs and buy some more?"

Li Chao immediately volunteered: "I'll go! I'll go!"

"No need, I've already had dinner. Just a bite is fine." Tang Song turned to Zhang Yan, his eyes smiling. "You don't mind, do you, Zhang Yan?"

Zhang Yan shook her head stiffly: "No, I don't mind."

Enter the room.

Zhang Yan seemed to suddenly remember something, her expression changed drastically, and she stood at the door with her head down, as if she wanted to shrink into the wall.

"What's wrong?" Tang Song stopped and looked at her gently.

"The house...the house is a mess, um..."

Her rented room was really terrible.

The room didn't even have the most basic floor tiles; it was covered with the cheapest kind of linoleum.

The walls were simply painted with a layer of white paint, and various mottled marks remained on them;
All the furniture is from over twenty years ago;
The kitchen and bathroom were so rudimentary that it was unbearable to look at; they didn't even have basic tiles. She was afraid, afraid to see even the slightest, unintentional hint of disgust in his eyes.

The deep-seated shame and inferiority almost overwhelmed her at that moment.

"It's quite tidy." Tang Song smiled and stroked the orange in his arms. "It's a very cozy little home, so nice."

His face showed no unusual expression.

With genuine joy and curiosity in his eyes, he looked at the little house that Zhang Yan had described countless times in her comments.

He saw the tenacious pothos on the windowsill, the old desktop computer on the desk, and the small, yet neatly organized little orange grove...

Zhang Yan secretly raised her eyes and looked at the gentle smile on his face. At that moment, the shame and inferiority in her heart seemed to lessen considerably.

"boom--"

The door was gently closed, shutting out the coolness of the hallway.

On the coffee table, the electric grill still emitted residual heat, with a few skewers of ingredients waiting to be grilled scattered on it, and three cans of RIO cocktails next to it.

Tang Song gently placed the oranges he was holding on the ground.

The little guy immediately took light steps and ran to his owner's feet, rubbing his furry body against her ankles affectionately.

It was as if he was apologizing for his "running away from home" earlier.

Lulu enthusiastically called out, "There's still some beef, green peppers, and prawns left, I'll grill them! But... we're out of alcohol. Zhang Yan, do you have any drinks at home?"

Zhang Yan, whose name was called, stiffened instantly, a look of embarrassment appearing on her face. Her voice was so low it was almost inaudible: "N-no, there are just a few packs of milk. I'll go downstairs to buy some!"

“It’s alright,” Tang Song said gently, breaking her awkwardness. “Milk is fine too. I drank some wine with dinner tonight and now I want some milk.”

Zhang Yan lowered her head and ran into the kitchen as if fleeing. She rummaged through a cardboard box, pulled out a bag of milk, and quickly came out, handing it to Tang Song with both hands.

I didn't dare to look up at him the whole time.

Tang Song's gaze fell on the walnut milk in her hand, and his eyes glazed over again.

In a previous QQ message to Zhang Yan, he mentioned the "walnut milk" he gave her in the second semester of her third year of junior high school.

Surprisingly, she has maintained this habit to this day.

It turns out that some seemingly insignificant little things can be treasured by another person for so long.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the pounding in his heart.

He carefully took the bag of milk, tore it open in front of her, and took a big gulp.

Zhang Yan pursed her lips, twisting her fingers together.

The four of them sat down again at the coffee table in the living room.

The aroma of roasted meat filled the small space once again. Tang Song ate with relish and chatted with them about their respective jobs.

He was like an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time, filled with genuine curiosity about their lives.

Witty and insightful.

Whether it's Li Chao complaining about the cutthroat competition in the self-media industry or Lulu envisioning the future of AI marketing, he can always easily pick up on the topic and offer his insights in a simple, humorous, and engaging way.

Gradually, Lulu and Li Chao's initial awkwardness and tension disappeared.

The atmosphere became incredibly relaxed and lively.

Zhang Yan simply sat quietly to the side, sipping her cocktail and occasionally glancing at Tang Song, who was very close to her.

She was still dizzy and somewhat disoriented.

Dragon Ball... Shenron...

The ritual she regarded as the ultimate fantasy seemed to have actually summoned an unimaginable miracle for her in reality.

More than twenty minutes later.

The food on the baking tray was completely emptied.

Lulu stood up, a mischievous smile on her face. "It's getting late. Li Chao has his electric scooter, so he can take me to the subway station. We'll be going now, so we won't disturb your old classmates' reunion!"

Zhang Yan quickly stood up, intending to see them downstairs.

"Don't bother seeing us off! You've come so many times already, don't be so polite!"

Lulu and Li Chao walked to the door, waved vigorously at them, and then quickly left.

The door clicked shut again.

This time, there were truly only the two of them left in this small rented room.

Zhang Yan's cheeks flushed bright red instantly, and she found it difficult to breathe.

I feel like I could faint at any moment due to lack of oxygen.

Tang Song felt a little tense and also a bit awkward.

He exhaled softly.

He went to the simple little bookshelf on the desk.

My fingers gently stroked the spines of the 34 volumes of Dragon Ball, one by one.

His lips moved slightly, and a faint mist of warm tears rose in his eyes.

He turned around and said solemnly and sincerely, "This is the most meaningful gift I have ever received. Thank you, Zhang Yan."

Zhang Yan froze, then looked down at the oranges at her feet, completely at a loss.

Then, Tang Song suddenly pulled out the first volume of "Dragon Ball" from the bookshelf, and the familiar retro cover warmed his heart.

He turned around, his smile as bright as when he was a boy, his eyes sparkling with a pure and innocent light.

"Zhang Yan, would you like to... take a look together?"

This suggestion struck Zhang Yan like an electric current.

She looked up blankly, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of her chest.

Scenes from junior high school flooded my mind like a tidal wave.

The classmate who would excitedly explain the plot to her during breaks; the boy who would lend her his beloved, brand-new comic book without hesitation…

Without waiting for her reply, Tang Song moved two small wooden stools over and placed them side by side, then smiled and waved to her.

"Come on, it's been so long since I've read comics. I really miss the feeling of reading comics with you in junior high school."

Zhang Yan's lips moved slightly, and as if possessed, she walked over step by step.

I sat down carefully next to him.

Very close, very close.

She was so close that she could clearly smell his fresh and pleasant scent, which made her blush, her heart race, and she feel dizzy.

Orange came over at just the right moment and nuzzled affectionately against her feet.

Zhang Yan felt like she had found a savior and quickly hugged the orange into her arms, using its soft and warm body to hide her panic and helplessness.

Tang and Song spread the comic book between them and began to read it with great interest, starting from the first page.

As he watched, he quietly chatted with Zhang Yan about the story's plot.

Many years have passed, and many details have become blurred. But picking them up again now brings a unique feeling.

Zhang Yan's cheeks and ears remained burning hot.

She didn't dare look directly at his profile; her gaze mostly fell on the open comic book.

Before I knew it, the sky outside the window grew darker and darker.

Tang Song stopped reading after flipping through half of a comic book.

He glanced at the time and said, "It's late, I should go."

Zhang Yan's breath hitched suddenly, and her chest felt tight and heavy, as if something was blocking it.

But he could only stammer, "I...I'll take you."

Tang Song gently closed the comic book and carefully placed it back on the simple bookshelf.

He turned around, his gaze falling on her face. "By the way, what about the letter? A paper letter is definitely more meaningful than an electronic one."

Zhang Yan froze on the spot.

After a moment, she said in a trembling voice, "It's in the drawer on the right."

Tang Song gently pulled open the drawer, and inside lay an exquisite light blue envelope, with a stamp actually affixed to it.

His breathing quickened for a moment as he carefully picked up the letter, his gaze fixed blankly.

After a long time.

He carefully placed the letter into his pocket, saying, "I will keep it safe!"

After saying that, he nodded to Zhang Yan and walked outside.

Zhang Yan took two steps, but just before leaving the house, she realized something.

He whispered, "And...and that Dragon Ball set."

Tang Song turned to look at her, his smile full of warmth and confidence. "I'll leave it here for now. I haven't finished reading the first volume yet. I'll come back to read it tomorrow."

Hearing his words, Zhang Yan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'll come find you tomorrow and we'll finish reading the comics together."

"oh oh."

Zhang Yan followed Tang Song out the door and downstairs, feeling dizzy.

I walked silently forward along the dimly lit cement road in the neighborhood.

She kept her head down, occasionally stealing a quick glance at Tang Song, but because she felt guilty and didn't dare to, she could only see his shoulder each time.

But even so, she was already very satisfied.

To her, what happened tonight felt like an unreal, overly beautiful dream.

Even now, she still can't be completely sure that all of this is real.

As I stepped out of the residential compound, the night wind carried the sounds of traffic past my ears.

Zhang Yan pointed in a direction and said instinctively, "The subway station is over there."

She commutes by subway every day, and it has become a habit.

Tang Song was taken aback for a moment, but did not refute it. He simply smiled and walked in the direction she pointed.

Soon, the two arrived at the intersection outside the residential area.

The red light was on, and they stood quietly waiting.

Zhang Yan subconsciously took half a step back, standing awkwardly and nervously in his shadow, like a child who had done something wrong.

Cars sped past, their headlights flashing across the vehicles before disappearing into the endless darkness.

"The light's green," Tang Song reminded him, his voice exceptionally clear in the night.

Zhang Yan hummed in agreement and was about to step forward.

A warm, slender hand suddenly reached out and gently took her left hand in its grasp.

boom--

A flush of blood rushed to her head instantly, burning from her slender neck all the way to her ears, incredibly hot.

Zhang Yan's mind went blank.

The only thing they could feel was the constant warmth and excitement emanating from their clasped hands.

He took her hand and started walking.

All the sounds, all the images, all the thoughts were slowed down in a frame-by-frame manner at this moment.

She couldn't hear the noise of the traffic, nor could she feel her own breathing.

His soul seemed to be detached, floating in mid-air, staring blankly at Tang Song's hand.

The dazzling night light gently rippled in her peripheral vision.

The silhouettes of skyscrapers softened, the figures of passersby melted into shimmering blocks of color, the halos of traffic lights swirled in the humid air, and neon lights and streetlights transformed into a flowing, colorful galaxy.

Nearby, far away; clear, blurry.

The night in Guangzhou has completely lost its focus.

(End of this chapter)