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Chapter 590 An Embrace, Devastating News

3 pm.

Building T5, No. 1 Shencheng Bay.

The heavy double armored doors were gently opened, revealing a cute and pretty face.

"Please come in."

"Tap, tap, tap..." The crisp sound of high heels rang out.

"Here are your slippers, try them on and see if they're comfortable."

Liu Qingning took a pair of brand-new pink slippers from the entryway cabinet and handed them over.

"Thank you, Lime. These slippers perfectly match my aesthetic."

Wenruan changed into slippers and her gaze swept over the large apartment without making a sound.

A typical modern minimalist style, with a black, white and gray color scheme and clean, crisp lines, yet meticulous attention to detail is evident in the lighting, soft furnishings and other aspects.

The most eye-catching feature is the huge floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, which offers a panoramic view of the entire Shenzhen Bay and the city skyline on the opposite shore.

“This house is really nice,” Wenruan exclaimed sincerely. “The decoration is very tasteful.”

Liu Qingning's eyes flickered, and she said softly, "It belongs to a friend of Tang Song."

Wen Ruan smiled gently, her tone carrying just the right amount of teasing: "Hmm, the moment you walk in, you feel a sense of warmth. It's clear that the person living here is a kind and interesting beauty."

Liu Qingning chuckled softly, amused by her. "Please sit down first, I'll go get some fruit. By the way, what's your favorite drink?"

"Anything is fine. We won't be picky if it's from a beautiful lady." Wen Ruan winked playfully at her.

Liu Qingning chuckled again and walked briskly towards the kitchen.

As he watched her figure disappear around the corner, the smile on his gentle face faded.

I couldn't help but sigh softly to myself.

Since last night, Tang Song has been acting strangely, as if he has fallen into some kind of emotional predicament.

With her experience, she naturally knew that the best course of action in this situation was to give him some independent space to handle it.

Since she had no urgent work this weekend, she simply came to Shenzhen to "appease" Liu Qingning on his behalf.

This "white moonlight" is not someone you can easily get along with.

Through chatting on WeChat for a while, she could sense that Liu Qingning wanted to marry Tang Song, and she was very determined about it.

With Director Jin and Su Yu added to the mix, the days to come will likely be filled with endless palace intrigue dramas.

Tang Song will have to face this problem sooner or later. There's not much she can do to help; at most, she can give Liu Qingning a "precautionary shot" and do some ideological work in advance.

In short, it's all that jerk's fault!

The sound of footsteps rang out again.

Liu Qingning walked over carrying a large tray with a platter of freshly cut fruit, chilled sparkling water, and a few delicate snacks.

Wenruan stepped forward and took the two glasses of sparkling water.

The two sat down on the large sofa.

Liu Qingning offered her some fruit.

Wen Ruan greeted her with a gentle smile, her gaze subtly observing Liu Qingning across from her.

During this meeting, it was obvious that Liu Qingning was in much better condition than last time.

She has a soft oval face, bright and sparkling eyes, fair skin with a healthy pink hue, and a naturally upturned smile.

She possesses an unadorned purity and cleanliness, the kind that can instantly evoke a man's most primal protective instincts.

No wonder she became the unshakable white moonlight in the hearts of Tang and Song.

The two sat on the soft sofa, eating small pieces of honeydew melon.

The conversation naturally shifted from the rapid urban changes in Shenzhen over the years to the future trends of AI.

Seeing that the time was right, Wen Ruan used a toothpick to pick up a piece of honeydew melon and offered it to Liu Qingning's lips.

They subtly steered the conversation toward the "Xuanji Light Realm" project.

"By the way, Qingning, Qingning Technology will also be deeply involved in the Xuanji Light Realm project, right?"

She came here mainly for this matter.

She was about to enter the eye of the storm in the Tang Jin family office, and she was already terrified.

Now that there's the "Xuanji Light Realm" project targeting Director Jin, I'm really starting to panic.

Liu Qingning is the breakthrough point.

As we all know, a triangle is the most stable structure.

Qingning Technology, a top-tier company destined for great success, is named after her, and its future is self-evident.

She really hoped that Liu Qingning could stand up and help her withstand the pressure.

Zhuangzhuang has been burdened with too many accusations; she simply can't take it anymore.

If that scoundrel tries to shove me again, she swears she'll make him suffer a huge loss!

“Hmm,” Liu Qingning nodded and naturally ate the melon. “Since the cooperation with Xuanji Light Realm is mainly at the software application level, our Qingmi AI team will provide support throughout the process.”

Hearing this, Wen Ruan's eyes lit up. "That's great! I will also continue to follow up with Nebula International Group and be responsible for publicity and marketing. Our cooperation will definitely be very pleasant."

Liu Qingning's eyes flickered, and she suddenly asked, "Tangzong Entertainment will also be deeply involved in this collaboration. Wen Ruan, Nebula International, and Tangzong Entertainment have always had a close relationship. You should be quite familiar with their executives, right?"

"We've only had contact with most of them so far, and we're not that close, but I have a very good relationship with CEO Mo."

Liu Qingning looked at her and tentatively asked, "Then, what about the big star Su Yu? What's your relationship with her? She's also a board member of Tangzong Entertainment."

Wen Ruan's hand holding the water glass tightened almost imperceptibly. "It's fine, we're friends. Actually, Su Yu is very easy to get along with, she's not pretentious at all."

"Wow, really? I'm one of her fans..."

Liu Qingning immediately transformed into an excited fan, chatting enthusiastically with Wen Ruan about Su Yu's movies and songs.

The two chatted amicably for a long time.

Liu Qingning had a sweet smile and clear eyes, but her heart sank little by little.

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

No wonder she was so willing to stay by Tang Song's side, no wonder she was so generous in taking the initiative to befriend him.

Liu Qingning lowered her gaze for a moment, and when she raised it again, the complex emotions in her eyes had completely disappeared, and she had regained her usual clarity.

She stood up with a smile and invited, "Sitting and chatting is so boring. I have a professional karaoke room here, with recording studio-level equipment. Shall we go and have some fun?"

"Okay!" Wen Ruan stood up readily.

The two sang a wide range of songs, from classic oldies to popular hits, in the spacious karaoke room, having a great time.

It was almost 6 p.m.

The nanny, Aunt Mei, had prepared a sumptuous dinner and knocked on the door to remind them.

The two went to the bathroom to wash up quickly.

Standing in front of the large mirror in front of the washbasin.

Looking at Wen Ruan in the mirror, Liu Qingning suddenly said, "Wen Ruan, if you don't have anything urgent to do in Yangcheng, why don't you stay here with me tonight? We can go to the media room to watch a movie tonight."

Wen Ruan paused for a moment, then immediately nodded, "Yes, it would be my honor."

This was a major breakthrough in their relationship, and she was very happy.

Liu Qingning smiled and continued, "Also, I'm actually quite nervous about the upcoming collaboration on the Xuanji Light Realm. This is the first time I've been in charge of such a heavyweight project on my own. I heard that I'll really be running into Su Yu. Wen Ruan, you have to help me! That big star's aura is definitely very strong, and I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it."

Her words were natural and sincere, with a touch of vulnerability that she used perfectly.

Wen Ruan's eyes twitched, as if she understood something, and her gaze towards Liu Qingning instantly changed.

……

November 5, 2023, Sunday, cloudy turning to light rain, 22~29°C.

It was a little after six in the morning, before dawn.

Four Seasons Hotel Fitness Center.

The intense exercise caused Tang Song's body to heat up.

Sweat had already soaked through his black training uniform, clinging tightly to the contours of his well-defined muscles, shimmering faintly under the lights.

"Huchi - Huchi -"

After completing today's exercise.

Tang Song returned to the suite, panting, and picked up his phone to check it.

There are already several unread messages on the screen.

One of them was just sent by Wenruan.

In the photo, she and Liu Qingning are wearing sportswear and making peace signs for the camera in the morning mist of Shenzhen Bay.

The other one is the weather forecast and good morning greeting from my junior schoolmate Yao Lingling, which she never misses.

Tang Song replied to the two women with an emoji in turn, then opened the group photo sent by the older sister and carefully observed and compared the differences between the two "big E"s.

I feel excited, and it's another day full of energy.

"Buzz buzz buzz—" The phone vibrated.

[Lingling: "Boss! My first creation, that windbreaker, will officially go on sale next week during the Double Eleven pre-sale! I'm so nervous! (>﹏<) Don't forget our bet!"]

With only 6 days left until Singles' Day, Tang Song is filled with anticipation, as it relates to his "growth plan tasks."

He gave Lingling a few words of encouragement, put away his phone, and walked into the bathroom.

After a quick shower, I went into the dressing room, changed into some comfortable casual clothes, and went downstairs with light steps.

The car travels through the streets of Guangzhou on a weekend morning.

Steam rises from breakfast stalls, elderly people relax in teahouses, and men and women cycle along the riverside greenway…

Looking out the window at the picturesque scene filled with the texture of life, Tang Song's gaze unconsciously drifted into a daze.

His time with Zhang Yan these past two days had given him a feeling of sudden attraction.

This junior high school classmate possessed an unadorned purity, and a gentleness hidden beneath her timidity and inferiority complex.

They were like pebbles thrown into the lake of his heart, creating ripples upon ripples.

Before you knew it, the black Rolls-Royce stopped outside the old neighborhood gate.

Seeing Tang Song get out of the car, some young women and wives passing by instantly brightened up.

Tang Song calmly walked into the gate of the residential area and turned a corner as if he knew the way well.

From afar, a familiar figure could be seen standing at the intersection leading to Building 4.

She seemed to have seen him from afar, and instinctively moved closer to the wall, lowering her head and pretending to look at her toes.

Tang Song's lips unconsciously curled up slightly, and he quickened his pace, eventually jogging to reach her.

Good morning, Zhang Yan.

Zhang Yan looked up, still shy, but much more natural than yesterday. "Good morning, Tang Song."

"Have you got a meal yet?"

"not yet."

"Let's go to that place you mentioned yesterday, the best boat congee."

“It’s shorter if we go through the east gate.” Zhang Yan unconsciously wiped her hands on her pants, her eyes lowered.

Soon, that familiar, heart-pounding feeling returned.

Her hand was taken by that warm, large hand.

Amidst the thunderous pounding of her heart, she boldly raised her head and looked at Tang Song's profile in the morning light.

After having a hot and delicious breakfast, the two went straight back to room 602.

Tang Song pulled out the third volume of "The World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament Begins!" from the bookshelf.

Holding the oranges, he beckoned Zhang Yan to sit down on the two small wooden stools on the balcony.

The walls of the balcony were painted yesterday and are now clean and tidy, making the whole space seem much brighter.

As Tang Song flipped through the comics, he would occasionally offer his opinions on the plot, sharing his childhood fondness for characters such as Master Roshi, Krillin, and Tien Shinhan.

They were very close, and he could clearly breathe in her pure, warm scent, a mixture of soap and sunshine.

It smells good.

A breeze blew in through the open window, causing a few soft strands of hair to flutter and gently brush against Tang Song's nose, tickling her.

Zhang Yan quickly reached out her fingers and tucked those few strands of hair behind her ear.

His delicate profile and slightly flushed, small ears were then fully exposed to his eyes.

Noticing Tang Song's gaze, her cheeks flushed instantly. She let her hair down, then, as if feeling it was inappropriate, she pulled it back up.

Seeing that Tang Song was still looking at her ears, she shyly put them down again.

Then, feeling conflicted, I whispered, "I'm sorry."

Tang Song chuckled and looked at her, saying, "I just noticed, you actually have pierced ears." "I..." Zhang Yan blushed and whispered, "I got them when I graduated from high school."

In order to "bump into" Tang Song at university and to make herself more "outstanding", she actually did a lot of preparation.

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

She started growing her collarbone-length hair around that time, and it's still the same style she has now.

Tang Song said, "Your ears are beautiful; they are suitable for wearing earrings."

Zhang Yan subconsciously touched her burning ears.

"Alright, let's get back to reading."

"Ah."

The balcony became quiet.

Finished reading Volume 3.

Tang Song gently closed the book and said with a smile, "Alright, time to get to work. Let's try to finish it as soon as possible."

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

The newly painted bathroom is much cleaner and brighter.

Zhang Yan watched, and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh, her eyebrows curving into a smile.

As Tang Song prepared his tools, he spoke like a seasoned craftsman, "When applying the second coat of paint, you need to be especially careful, as it's easy for 'runs' to occur, which are tear-like streaks on the wall..."

He spoke eloquently, but when he actually started working on it, he was so focused on looking at the girl next to him that he accidentally applied too much paint to the roller.

A clear white "tear stain" immediately and slowly flowed down the wall.

"Uh... Oops, Oops..." Tang Song awkwardly tried to fix it with a brush, but only made it worse.

Ultimately, he was just an amateur.

With a girl sitting next to him looking at him with admiration and listening attentively, who was also his junior high school classmate whom he had secretly admired for many years, he couldn't help but feel a little smug. As a result, he messed up.

His image as a male god was immediately somewhat diminished.

Seeing his embarrassed look, Zhang Yan, whose face had been tense, finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, blushed, and said, "I'm sorry."

But those beautiful almond-shaped eyes were already brimming with a bright, irrepressible smile.

Tang Song looked at her expression and laughed along with her.

This small, endearing mistake acted like a magic switch, breaking down the subtle, somewhat unreal barrier between the two.

Zhang Yan finally felt completely relaxed.

The gaze directed at Tang and Song carried a trace of intimacy and naturalness.

She mustered her courage and suggested softly, "I...I'll give it a try too. You can brush the higher parts, and I'll brush the lower parts. That should be faster."

"Great, girls should be more careful when doing this kind of work."

"Wait for me," Zhang Yan said, and quickly ran to the bedroom to change into a set of old clothes that she wasn't afraid of getting dirty, and also put on a hat.

Then, he picked up another brush and carefully began his "work".

Her movements were clumsy, but she was exceptionally focused.

Tang Song would occasionally say a few words to her, correcting her painting technique.

The atmosphere in this small bathroom is so cozy it feels like time has turned back.

When their eyes occasionally met, Zhang Yan would still look away first, like a startled little rabbit.

But after a while, she would shyly look up at him and give him a bashful smile.

This sense of participation and solid connection in working together gave her an unprecedented and peaceful joy.

...

At noon, Zhang Yan personally prepared a "sumptuous" home-style meal.

Although the ingredients are ordinary, under her skillful hands, each dish exudes an enticing aroma.

The two sat around the coffee table, enjoying their meal with great relish.

After dinner, they leaned back on the sofa and opened the fourth volume of "Dragon Ball".

This time, it wasn't just Tang Song who was talking; Zhang Yan would also occasionally whisper her opinions on the plot.

The two began to have a discussion.

Over the years, she has actually read the Dragon Ball manga several times and is very familiar with the plot.

Finished reading Volume 4.

The two worked together again to begin the second painting of the kitchen and balcony.

By the time everything was settled, it was getting dark outside the window.

The two began to pack up their tools and clean up the trash.

Tang Song stood in front of the bathroom sink and casually said, "Zhang Yan, could you hand me that little shovel from the balcony? I forgot to bring it."

"Okay." Zhang Yan responded and quickly ran to the balcony, picked up the spatula with some paint on it, and said, "Here you go, it's quite sharp, be careful when you wash it."

As she spoke, she quickly walked into the damp bathroom.

He accidentally stepped on a slippery patch of paint on the ground, stumbled, and leaned forward.

Tang Song just turned around to take the shovel.

Because the space was so cramped, her forehead bumped directly into his shoulder, and the brush in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

"Ouch!" Zhang Yan cried out in pain, her body swaying backward from the force of the impact.

Tang Song reacted extremely quickly, almost instinctively dropping what he was holding, grabbing her slender back with one hand in a flash, and instinctively protecting the back of her head with the other.

"Are you alright, Zhang Yan?"

"No...it's okay..."

Zhang Yan suddenly came to her senses and found herself being held tightly in Tang Song's arms, and she froze instantly.

His chest was firm and warm, and through the thin clothing, she could clearly feel his strong and powerful heartbeat.

One blow after another, as if hitting her eardrums directly.

At the same time, her heart rate reached an unprecedented level.

"Your forehead is all red, it must hurt a lot. Luckily, it didn't hit your eyes." Tang Song looked at her forehead and gently blew on the skin.

The warm breath brushed against her forehead and through her hair.

Zhang Yan's lips trembled, but she dared not move her body.

She was afraid that even the slightest movement of her body would accidentally bump into him.

Tang Song looked down at her panicked face and felt the soft, warm body in his arms, but did not immediately let go.

"No, it doesn't hurt, it's okay, thank you, I..."

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

Finally, she simply shut her mouth tightly, but due to excessive tension, she even forgot to breathe.

After a while, until her face was flushed red from holding her breath, she finally began to breathe slowly and carefully, with nervousness.

Her warm breath sprayed onto Tang Song's neck, like a feather carrying an electric current, causing him to unconsciously tighten his arms around her.

The air in the bathroom seemed to thicken, and time itself felt like a stretched sugar thread, each second filled with an ambiguous and anxious tension.

Zhang Yan looked like she was lacking oxygen.

Tang Song slowly released her, but his hand remained loosely behind her, as if to protect her from losing her balance again.

“I…I’m fine,” Zhang Yan’s voice was barely audible. She quickly took a step back to create a safe distance between them, then immediately turned around as if to escape this dangerous place. “I…I’ll go clean up the trash on the balcony.”

After saying that, she practically fled.

Watching her hasty retreating figure, a hint of a smile and a flutter of excitement appeared in Tang Song's eyes.

By the time he came out after thoroughly cleaning the bathroom, Zhang Yan had already packed up all the waste from the living room and balcony.

She stood awkwardly in the corner of the room, holding an orange.

Tang Song picked up two heavy garbage bags and said with a smile, "I'm going downstairs to throw out the trash, and then I'll buy something nearby. It'll probably take a while. You can take a shower first."

"Ah...okay, okay." Zhang Yan lowered her head, tightening her grip on the oranges slightly.

Because she had helped with the work, she was naturally not clean; there were even traces of latex paint on her face and arms.

This made her feel uneasy. Had Tang Song smelled her sweat and reminded her to take a shower?

"I'm leaving, bye-bye." Tang Song casually opened the door and stepped outside.

"Bye-bye," Zhang Yan whispered, leaning out of the door to watch his figure disappear into the stairwell.

Close the door.

Zhang Yan's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her chest.

My mind is filled with the hug and the breath I just took...

Scenes kept replaying in her mind.

"Meow~"

The orange in my arms protested because it was being held too tightly.

Zhang Yan whispered "I'm sorry," quickly let go of it, and then rushed into her bedroom as if she were running away.

I took a clean and nice change of clothes from the closet and went into the bathroom.

Because Tang Song bought high-quality odorless latex paint, it didn't have any pungent odor after drying.

Looking at the walls, which had become much neater and cleaner, she smiled foolishly again.

I quickly took a hot shower, dried myself off, and changed my clothes.

I had just returned to my bedroom and picked up my phone when I saw a missed call from an unknown number on the screen. The caller ID showed a local number from Guangzhou.

She paused for a moment, hesitated, and then called back.

"Beep beep—" The call was quickly connected.

"Hello? Who is this? I'm sorry, I wasn't with my phone just now."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, then a slightly hoarse, girlish voice, filled with suppressed emotion, rang out: "It's me, Chen Shuangshuang."

Zhang Yan's hand holding the phone trembled violently, and her throat bobbed, "Shuangshuang..."

Chen Shuangshuang is her half-sister, who is only fifteen years old and in the second year of junior high school.

Their relationship has always been complicated.

Chen Shuangshuang has always felt a strong sense of rejection towards this "older sister" who suddenly appeared in her life.

The two rarely communicated, and even when Zhang Yan visited her at school, Chen Shuangshuang remained indifferent.
This was the first time she had called me on her own initiative.

"Mom is sick." Chen Shuangshuang's voice was direct and without any preamble: "It's 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 of the phone trembled with a sob, "I was downstairs at noon... I overheard my parents arguing. I heard them talking about getting a divorce, and my mother said, 'We don't have money, we're not going to get treatment...'"

Zhang Yan felt a buzzing in her head, as if she had been struck hard by a hammer. Her face turned pale. "This...this...how could this be..."

She remembered the rainy night her mother had come to see her a few days ago, her mother's suddenly thinner body, her violent and suppressed cough, and the inexplicable, forceful hug she had given her before leaving…

Chen Shuangshuang's voice choked up, "They're going to the hospital for a follow-up check-up on Monday. Could you...could you come to the school and ask for leave for me...I want to go to the hospital with you."

Because of the significant age difference, she also had a poor relationship with her two half-brothers and sisters.

Moreover, her mother's current illness is clearly due to a lack of money for medical treatment and the fear of burdening the family, leading to her parents' impending divorce.

She subconsciously placed her hopes on her older sister, who shared the same mother.

Ultimately, she's still just a child.

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

"The first class in the morning ends at 8:40." Chen Shuangshuang's voice had a strong nasal tone.

"it is good!"

There was another silence on the other end of the phone, as if they didn't know what else to say.

After a long while, Chen Shuangshuang finally spoke in a very complicated tone, a mixture of resentment and dependence, and said softly, "You... don't be late."

After saying that, he hung up the phone in a hurry.

"Dududu-"

The busy signal rang in my ears.

Zhang Yan remained in the position of answering the phone, tears welling up in her eyes.

The beautiful fantasies about the future that had just been born in my heart were blown away by the cold reality.

Life always seems to be like this.

(End of this chapter)