Full charm points, inherit game assets

Chapter 595 Burning
"...Her mother's illness came on so suddenly, it was a huge blow to her. And because of the complicated family relationships, she was forced to take on responsibilities..."

Tang Song's hands massaged the older sister's peach-shaped buttocks, his voice deep and full of emotion.

Wenruan twisted her body slightly, a look of emotion appearing in her eyes.

She is a very emotional person and can empathize with the female protagonists described in Tang and Song dynasty texts.

The despair of an introverted, sensitive, and timid girl facing a major family upheaval and the heavy burden of reality, a feeling of utter isolation and helplessness.

"This girl has really had a tough time. With her personality, she's bound to be bullied."

Tang Song sighed, "Yes, it's very pitiful."

Hearing his words and seeing his expression, Wen Ruan's heart stirred slightly, and she quickly sensed that something was amiss.

She narrowed her almond-shaped eyes slightly and leaned forward. "Wait a minute, Tang Song. How do you know so much about her family's affairs? Do you know her?"

Tang Song's gaze flickered for a moment, then he nodded and said, "She was my deskmate for all three years of junior high school."

"What? My middle school deskmate?" Wen Ruan's eyes widened, and she suddenly stood up from him. "You've been acting all mysterious these past few days, it's not because of her, is it?!"

Tang Song's voice softened considerably, "That's indeed...that's how it is."

Wen Ruan took a step back warily, her gaze somewhat dangerous. "So, don't tell me this is another 'Liu Qingning'!"

"No, that's not it." Tang Song smiled awkwardly, and then tried to recount Zhang Yan's story over the years in an objective and calm manner.

High school, Liu Qingning, QQ messages, Yancheng Agricultural University, Tiantongyuan semi-basement...

Wen Ruan listened quietly, her expression gradually shifting from initial annoyance to surprise, and then to complexity and silence.

This is no longer a simple crush; it's a kind of... almost religious, self-constructed emotional attachment.

In this respect, she is more empathetic.

Her story with Tang and Song was not smooth sailing either; it was filled with many twists and turns and heartache.

Because of the age gap, wealth gap, and social status gap, she also experienced avoidance, inferiority, and anticipation.

She was just much braver and bolder, and much stronger.

However, she quickly regained her guard, looked at Tang Song with piercing eyes, and said, "So, buddy, what exactly do you mean by all this build-up?"

“She currently works as a copy editor in book marketing,” Tang Song finally revealed his purpose. “Moreover, her company is a secondary agent of Nebula International Group, and I want her to work for Nebula International.”

“It’s just arranging a job, a piece of cake.” Wen Ruan’s eyes twitched. “You’re in charge of Nebula International now. I’m just a ‘worker’ holding shares on your behalf. You can decide this yourself. Um, I have a video conference to attend later. We can talk about these mundane topics when we have time.”

"Wait a minute, Ruanruan." Tang Song quickly grabbed her arm and kissed her on the cheek. "Besides this, we also need you to guide her, help her...do some ideological work."

Zhang Yan was too fragile; there were many things he dared not let the other person know.

However, it's impossible to keep it a secret forever. If it really comes to light, she really won't be able to handle it given her personality.

Of course, the main reason was also because Zhang Yan had suffered so much over the years, and he couldn't bear to let his junior high school classmate suffer again.

He needed a "buffer zone," someone who could gently, patiently, and subtly help Zhang Yan build a strong psychological defense.

In this regard, Wenruan, who is mature, steady, loves life, and has many friends, is undoubtedly the best choice.

He even hoped that Zhang Yan could grow up slowly under the gentle protection of Nebula International in the future.

However, there is another problem: Zhang Yan may be somewhat resistant to this and will need a long period of mental preparation.

"What the hell! Don't tell me you're trying to make me take the blame again?!" Wen's soft voice suddenly rose, staring at him incredulously, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Are you kidding me? !

A sensitive and introverted "pure and innocent girl" with a ten-year history of unrequited love; a "princess in distress" who has just experienced a major family upheaval and sees you as her only lifeline; plus a "hero saves the beauty" kind of unexpected romance orchestrated by you!
This buff is almost fully stacked!
Girls like this have absolutely no resistance to Tang Song, who is a walking embodiment of hormones!

But he's a complete scumbag! If that girl finds out the truth, she'll be a walking time bomb!

Zhuangzhuang has already been blamed for Liu Qingning's actions, as well as for Director Jin and Su Yu's, and now she has to take the blame for "first love, white moonlight (reverse version)" as well?
Does she even want to live?!

Seeing the older sister's intense reaction, Tang Song could only smile awkwardly and said with a forced smile, "Um... Ruan Ruan, you can't go back on your promise."

Wen Ruan was immediately confused, "When did I ever agree to something like that?!"

“I have evidence.” Tang Song calmly took out his phone from his pocket.

I opened a recording and pressed play.

A languid, dreamy female voice, accompanied by suppressed breathing, came from the phone:

[“Mmm…**…What? What kind of talent…Oh, Zhang Yan…you decide…Mmm…No…hurry up…”]

Wenruan's charming face instantly flushed red.

She stared wide-eyed at the innocent-looking man in front of her, hardly believing her ears.

She grabbed a document and slammed it at Tang Song, her voice a mixture of shame and anger, "You set me up like this?! And you...you even recorded it?! Shameless! Vulgar! Perverted!"

Tang Song caught the folder, then stepped forward and hugged the older sister's ample body, pinning her against the wall.

He said confidently, "You promised it yourself, the evidence is conclusive, and there's no denying it."

"You bastard!" Wen Ruan began to resist fiercely.

However, all the struggles seemed weak and powerless in the face of Tang and Song's robust physique, and instead resembled a kind of playful push and pull.

Tang Song kissed her directly and began his attack.

……

Inside the hospital's rest area.

"Zhang Yan? Zhang Yan! What's wrong? Why is your face so pale?"

Lulu finally realized that something was wrong with her best friend and anxiously shook her arm.

"I...I'm fine..." Zhang Yan suddenly came to her senses, her body trembling as if she had been electrocuted.

Then, in a panic, she turned off her phone screen, as if she were terrified.

Lulu took her phone with concern, put it aside, and then touched her forehead with the back of her hand. "Are you too tired? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Don't scare me."

"No, I'm really fine." Zhang Yan lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the ground.

Seeing her so distraught, Lulu assumed she was scared again because of her mother's situation, so she gently comforted her.

After a while.

Zhang Yan suddenly stood up and whispered, "My mom is about to have a check-up, I'll go with her."

"Okay, then I'll head back now."

Lulu got up as well, and before leaving, she couldn't help but continue to encourage him: "There's also the matter of work. With Tang Song's connection, you really should come to Nebula International Group."

That Chairman Wen seems like a very nice person, and he has a strong presence.

If we could go to the new company together, not only would we be free from the workplace pressure of that fat guy, but we could also make a lot of money, and then…”

Like Zhang Yan, she was a lowly office worker struggling to survive in this huge city.

They know all too well what a good job means.

I never imagined in my life that I would meet someone of Tang Song's caliber. It's like a gift from heaven, a chance to change my destiny.

Of course, Zhang Yan is at the heart of all this.

If she could come with him, their lives would be turned upside down thanks to that connection.

However, Zhang Yan remained silent.

After a long silence, she gently shook her head. "No, Lulu... I... I want to try a different industry..."

"Huh?" Lulu was stunned. "You—"

This is Nebula International! It's going public soon!

Previously, people would change industries out of fear of not finding a suitable job or being laid off.

But now, with a golden road right in front of her, she actually chose to give it up?
She simply couldn't understand it.

However, seeing Zhang Yan's expression, she swallowed back what she was about to say.

Let's wait until this matter concerning her mother is settled.

The rest of the afternoon.

Zhang Yan was like a wound-up robot, following her mother around blankly as she went through the check-up.

Fortunately, Zhao Fei had already arranged everything.

From the CT scan room to the ultrasound department, from MRI to blood tests…

Every step was seamlessly connected and operated smoothly.

All she needed to do was wait.

This leisure time, enveloped by "privilege," was more agonizing to her than any physical exertion at this moment.

Because it gave her plenty of time to think, to daydream, and to confront the most fundamental question that she had been deliberately avoiding.

—Liu Qingning.

From the moment she reunited with Tang Song until now, she has been trying her best to avoid, even subconsciously avoiding thinking about his name.

Sitting on a bench outside the CT room, Zhang Yan remained silent for a long time before finally taking out her phone.

My fingertips trembled as I typed "Liu Qingning - Qingning Technology" into the search box.

Soon, some scattered news reports appeared on the screen, and there were even a few photos.

It was Liu Qingning, the one she knew.

Most of these were in reports related to "Qingmi AI".

The "Qingmi AI" app is a household name, and many of her friends even know it.

Released just six months ago, it has already surpassed 50 million registered users, making it Qingning Technology's most important product. Now, it is said that the App's user base is about to exceed 100 million.

And Liu Qingning is actually the person in charge of this product.

She's the same age as me.

And what about yourself?

He was an inconspicuous ordinary person who couldn't even keep his job, lived in a dilapidated rented room, and needed Tang Song's help to save his mother's life.

Given Tang Song's close relationship with Nebula International Group, it's impossible that he didn't know Liu Qingning had joined Qingning Technology.

It's even possible that they've always stayed in touch, and their relationship has remained constant.

He thought that Liu Qingning had abandoned Tang Song and come to Shenzhen, but that was just wishful thinking.

Tang Song, Liu Qingning.

They are the people of the world.

A deep-seated sense of inferiority, like icy water, poured down from the top of my head.

She suddenly realized that the past two days had felt like a dream.

She was like a shameful thief, stealing the sunlight that didn't belong to her while the moon wasn't looking.

Tears unknowingly slid down her cheeks, dripping onto the phone screen and blurring the dazzling name.

I don’t know how much time has passed.

The heavy lead door of the CT room slowly opened, and the caregiver pushed the mother out.

Zhou Hui's face was pale and she looked somewhat listless because she had been injected with sedatives and contrast agents.

Zhang Yan immediately put away her phone, rushed forward, and tightly grasped her mother's cold hand.

Back in the quiet VIP ward.

The caregiver skillfully adjusted the bed and covered the mother with a blanket.

Soon, their attending physician also came in, holding a test schedule.

"The enhanced CT scan and ultrasound examination are complete today. Based on the preliminary images, the situation is roughly as we predicted..."

Zhang Yan nodded vigorously, memorizing every word the doctor said.

The doctor gave a few more words of advice, such as to get some rest and relax, and then turned and left.

The ward fell silent again, with only the faint, regular beeping of the medical equipment.

The sky gradually darkened.

Zhou Hui soon fell into a deep sleep.

Zhang Yan sat on the edge of the bed, watching her mother without moving.

"Thump, thump thump".

There was a soft knock on the door.

Zhang Yan raised her head, her eyes suddenly trembled, and she stood up almost subconsciously.

Tang Song carried a large bag and walked in quietly.

Then he gave her a warm smile and mouthed, "Dinner's ready."

Next, the two went to the quiet lounge next door.

The lunchboxes were opened one by one, each containing the foods she had casually mentioned as her favorites during a previous chat—honey-glazed char siu, steaming hot wonton noodles, and a chilled mango pomelo sago dessert…

"I didn't know what you wanted to eat, so I bought a little bit of everything." Tang Song handed her chopsticks. "Thank you." Zhang Yan lowered her head, her eyes slightly moist, trying hard not to show anything unusual.

The dinner was unusually quiet.

When Tang Song put food on her plate, her body would involuntarily tense up, and she would whisper "thank you," but she didn't put the food back on his plate like she did yesterday.

That budding intimacy and ambiguity seemed to vanish without a trace.

A hint of confusion flashed in Tang Song's eyes, but he didn't ask any further questions.

They simply slowed down their eating pace to prevent the silence from becoming too awkward.

After dinner, the two of them packed their things together.

Tang Song spoke in a lighthearted, joking tone: "Nebula International Group is currently building a new AI marketing content team, and they are desperately short of talent, especially editors like you with traditional media experience and excellent writing skills. The combination of AI and content creation is the biggest trend right now. Lulu has already seized the opportunity, so you, my good friend, can't fall behind."

He finally managed to "convince" the older sister, and now he just needed to figure out how to get Zhang Yan to agree.

"Tang Song, you...you must be very busy, right?" Her voice was soft, with a hint of cautious probing. "Someone like you must have a lot of important things to deal with every day."

Tang Song was taken aback, wondering why she suddenly brought this up.

Zhang Yan lowered her head and continued, "I'll take good care of my mother. As for work... I'll try my best to find one myself. You... you don't need to worry about me, really, I can't always make you worry about me. I'm sorry."

She spoke very slowly, as if every word was spoken with great effort.

"Zhang Yan." Tang Song sat up straight and looked at her. "Have you forgotten what I told you at noon?"

Upon hearing his words, Zhang Yan trembled, her long eyelashes fluttered, and tears almost welled up in her eyes.

"…Remember."

"So, don't apologize to me anymore."

She bit her lower lip hard, slowly stood up, and said, "Um... my mom should be waking up soon, I have to go take care of her. You... you're going back to Yancheng the day after tomorrow, you must have a lot of things to take care of, you just go ahead and do your thing."

Tang Song frowned, wanting to say something, but looking into her pleading and evasive eyes, he ultimately remained silent.

He could clearly sense that Zhang Yan's emotions were very strange.

It wasn't just simple inferiority or shyness, but a deeper kind of fear.

Based on her personality, Tang Song had some guesses in his mind.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, feeling somewhat helpless.

"Okay, then you should go quickly. Auntie really needs someone to keep her company right now."

Tang Song stood up and watched Zhang Yan's fleeing figure disappear.

……

The lighting in the VIP ward was soft.

As Zhou Hui sat up, the caregiver meticulously laid out dinner on the small table. After an afternoon of professional care and rest, her complexion had improved significantly, no longer appearing ashen.

"Ayan, have you eaten?"

"……have eaten."

"Did Tang Song bring you this food?"

Zhang Yan was silent for a moment, then softly hummed in agreement and sat down in the chair next to her mother.

Begin repeating the doctor's previous instructions.

Seeing her daughter's distracted state, a barely perceptible worry flashed in Zhou Hui's eyes.

More than 8 o'clock in the evening.

Zhou Hui has finished her IV drip for the day.

Zhang Yan stood up and said, "Mom, I have to go home. Ju Zi needs to be settled in, and there are some things at the company that I need to take care of."

"Yes, it's alright, don't worry. Xiao Li and Xiao Zhang are here with you, they're very professional." Zhou Hui nodded, then cautiously asked, "Will Tang Song come to pick you up?"

Zhang Yan's expression tightened, and she took a deep breath and said, "Mom, Tang Song is very busy. We've already troubled him enough, and besides... besides, he's only in Guangzhou on a business trip and will be leaving soon."

"Ah? This..." Zhou Hui's heart skipped a beat, and that ominous premonition surged up again. "Then what about you guys afterwards..."

"Mom," Zhang Yan said softly, her lips pressed tightly together, "I'm going back now."

Seeing her daughter's obviously evasive expression and hearing her feigned strength in her tone, Zhou Hui instantly understood.

The thing I feared most still happened.

"Ayan," Zhou Hui suddenly reached out and grabbed her daughter's hand, "I have something I want to tell you."

That rough, calloused hand, worn from years of hard work, was unusually warm and strong.

The familiar temperature brought tears to Zhang Yan's eyes, and she sat down again.

Zhou Hui politely said something to the two caregivers beside her, and they immediately understood and left the ward, gently closing the door behind them.

Only the mother and daughter remained in the room.

Zhou Hui held Zhang Yan's hand and gently rubbed it repeatedly.

“Ayan,” she looked at her daughter, a clear light shining through her cloudy eyes, “Mom is not well-educated and has lived a very unsuccessful life. I have no life experience worth learning from you. To put it bluntly, I am a useless person.”

"Mom...that's not how it is." Zhang Yan's lips moved, as if she wanted to refute.

Zhou Hui shook her head, interrupting her, and began to talk about her two marriages.

“When I was young, I had a falling out with your maternal grandparents' family in order to marry your father, and I traveled all the way to the countryside in Yan Province. I thought that as long as I took good care of the family, farmed the land, and looked after him, that would be the greatest support I could give him…”

"Later, I followed your Uncle Chen... I worked like crazy, treating his children no worse than Shuangshuang, and letting them have their way in everything, big or small..."

As Zhou Hui finished speaking, she wiped her eyes, gave a self-deprecating laugh, full of bitterness and desolation.

Zhang Yan also learned about her mother's stories in their entirety for the first time.

Zhou Hui is indeed very unfortunate.

In one marriage, she gave everything for love, only to be left heartbroken; in another marriage, she poured everything into her family and children, only to be defeated by the cold reality.

Her entire life was filled with hardship, forbearance, and retreat.

After a long while, Zhou Hui stopped narrating.

His gaze fell on his daughter's face, which was brighter than ever before.

"Ayan, Mom doesn't want you to follow in my footsteps. I hope you can be happy and that someone will truly love and protect you in the future."

"It's really not easy for a woman to meet a man in her lifetime who is both sincere to her and capable of protecting her!"

She gripped her daughter's hand tightly, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"A steaming bowl of delicious rice is right there on the table. If you don't hurry up and pick up your chopsticks to eat, do you expect anyone to leave you a bite? Don't be so silly!"

"You're so lucky to have met Tang Song, especially since he's been a classmate since junior high! It's like God couldn't bear to see you suffer all these years and is taking pity on you. You deserve this!"

...

Tears blurred Zhang Yan's vision. She could no longer control herself and threw herself into her mother's arms, bursting into tears.

Just like when I was a child, and I was wronged at school, I would run into my mother's arms when I got home.

She cried and choked out, "But... I'm not good enough for him. He has other girls he likes, girls who are a hundred times, a thousand times better than me..."

Holding her daughter's trembling body, listening to her heartbreaking cries, Zhou Hui's own eyes welled up with tears.

She didn't speak immediately, but instead reached out her rough hand and patted her daughter's back again and again, letting her vent all her grievances and anxieties.

After a long while, Zhang Yan's crying gradually subsided.

She slowly said, "Silly girl."

"If he really didn't care about you, why would he do so many things for you?"

"Since he doesn't think you're 'not good enough' for him, why don't you try to win him over?"

"You have to understand, some people, if you avoid them, they're really gone."

……

On the way back, the night breeze was cool.

Zhang Yan sat by the bus window, outside which were the myriad lights of Guangzhou, like flowing rivers of light, flickering in her pupils.

My mother's words kept echoing in my mind—

"If you dodge it, it's really over."

In a daze, I returned to Lanxinyuan Community and climbed the familiar six-story staircase.

With a "click," the door was pushed open.

"Meow~" Orange, like a warm cannonball, immediately darted out of the darkness, affectionately rubbing against her ankle, using all its strength to act cute.

Zhang Yan bent down, picked it up, buried her face in its soft fur, and took a deep breath.

She turned on the lights in the room one by one.

She stood in the middle of the living room, looking around.

After a whole day of drying and ventilation, the walls that were once mottled, damp, and embarrassing to her were now spotless, gleaming with a soft, warm white glow under the lights.

She couldn't help but step forward and gently stroke it with her fingers.

Then, her gaze swept over the worn-out sofa, over the balcony, and over the Dragon Ball bookshelf.

Her mind was a complete mess. One moment it was Liu Qingning's confident and radiant face, so bright it was almost blinding; the next, it was Tang Song's smiling profile, smeared with white paint, as he helped her paint the walls, and his kisses and embraces…

All the images intertwined and collided, making her vision blurry.

I first heard the name "Liu Qingning" a little over a month after the start of my first year of high school, on a slightly chilly autumn day.

She was in No. 2 Middle School at that time.

In her heart, Tang Song was her best friend and her only friend.

He once said that even if they went to different high schools, they would always be friends.

She took it seriously and remembered it with exceptional care.

But his QQ avatar never lit up again, and she lost all ways to contact him.

Finally, on a Friday afternoon, she mustered the courage she had ever had and stepped into the gates of No. 1 High School for the first time, wanting to ask him if he had changed his QQ number.

But all she saw was him standing with that delicate and beautiful girl, like a porcelain doll, under the banyan tree bathed in golden sunlight, their smiles so radiant.

She instinctively ducked into the crowd. Then she heard the people around her talking, and heard the name "Liu Qingning".

After that, the name followed him everywhere and became increasingly well-known.

Every time she went to the school, whether it was on the playground, in the cafeteria, or on the pedestrian street and book cafe opposite the school gate.

She was by his side most of the time.

At that time, she overestimated her abilities and tried too hard to become a top student.

No matter how hard he tried, his grades could only be considered average.

It was precisely because of Liu Qingning, this dazzling and eye-catching figure, that she became increasingly self-conscious and timid as she looked up at her.

In the end, he completely hid himself away in that forgotten corner.

This hiding lasted for 10 years.

Finally, it was through ten years of waiting and her wish for Dragon Ball that she finally achieved this incredible "miracle".

A miracle is called a miracle precisely because it is incredible enough that it may only happen once in a lifetime.

"If you dodge it, it's really over... Tang Song... Tang Song..."

She hastily wiped away the tears that had fallen again without her noticing, repeatedly and unconsciously murmuring the name.

An unprecedented sense of resentment and impulse surged forth from the depths of my heart!

In those almond-shaped eyes that always carried a hint of timidity, it seemed as if a bright flame was slowly beginning to burn.

She took a deep breath, went to the bedroom, and hurriedly changed into her "most presentable" autumn clothes.

Then, she took out the gift box that she had carefully hidden from the bedside table.

Gently open it, and the pair of earrings, shimmering with tiny starlight under the light, lie quietly on the soft velvet.

With trembling hands, she awkwardly put the earrings on in front of the mirror.

The girl in the mirror also seemed to "shine" along with her earrings.

Then, she pulled a dusty cardboard box from under the bed and rummaged through it to find a beautiful hard-shell gift box that she had prepared beforehand.

She placed the 34 comic books inside one by one in order until the gift box was completely full.

I picked up the heavy box and said goodbye to the oranges.

I rushed out of the house.

Heavy footsteps echoed in the dilapidated stairwell.

She rushed out of the apartment building, into the cool night breeze, and flagged down a taxi on the roadside.

"Driver, to the Four Seasons Hotel."

(End of this chapter)