Full charm points, inherit game assets

Chapter 721 Drifting North
4 o'clock in the afternoon.

Shenzhen, Qianhai Free Trade Zone.

Tangyi Precision Innovation Center.

The winter sun slanted in, casting a golden hue over the spacious and serene room.

Ouyang Xian Yue sat with his head on the table, on which were scattered the technology roadmap of [Xuanji Light Realm], the global supply chain compliance report, and a board memo.

However, at this moment, she did not look at the screen, but lowered her eyes and wrote a line of flowing cursive characters on the A4 paper with a fountain pen.

“…Colorful threads lightly entwine her red jade arms, a small charm hangs askew from her green cloud-like hair. A beauty is seen once every thousand years.”

As she wrote the last sentence, her wrist paused slightly.

Behind me, it felt as if that warm, broad chest was pressing against me again.

His hot breath sprayed onto her neck, and his large hands enveloped her wrists, guiding her freely across the rice paper…

My heart was beating slightly faster.

The lady's lips unconsciously curved into a gentle smile that she herself was unaware of.

She even showed signs of a young girl's barely suppressed first love.

But the next moment, she immediately came to her senses, her smile vanished instantly, and she regained her usual composure.

She frowned slightly, realizing that she had been daydreaming too often today.

Since being forced to confront Su Yu last night, she has subtly and accurately conveyed her decision to take the stage through Zheng Qiudong's pervasive tongue.

Jin Weixiao, Mo Xiangwan, Wu Kezhi...

They probably already know.

Right now, people are probably frantically speculating about her motives and urgently assessing the potential ripple effects of this power shift.

This was exactly the result she wanted.

The initiative has been taken.

Now, let's see how Kim Mi-so responds.

Anyway, it seems that she has already accepted it.

This means that I can now openly do things that I couldn't do before.

"Ding--"

The landline on the table rang, interrupting her thoughts.

Press the answer button.

Secretary Chen Jing's calm voice came through: "Ms. Ouyang, Qin Yingxue from [Smile Holdings] and Ms. Anne Kate from [Kate Trust] have arrived and are waiting in the VIP lounge downstairs."

Ouyang Xian Yue gently closed the file and said in a steady voice, "Please invite them up."

A few minutes later.

There was a gentle knock on the office door.

Secretary Chen led two figures with completely different auras into the room.

Anne Kate was walking at the very front.

Today she was dressed in a well-fitting light gray business suit with a white silk shirt underneath, but the top two buttons of her collar were still casually undone, revealing her ample, dazzling white cleavage.

Her dazzling blonde hair cascaded down like seaweed, and her emerald green eyes shone brightly, filled with undisguised aggression.

Qin Yingxue followed closely behind, her steps calm and her expression gentle.

“Ouyang,” Annie spoke first, her voice slightly husky and sexy, “I’m so glad to finally see you. You’re such a busy person. I wanted to ask you out for a drink yesterday, but you were too busy.”

“I’m sorry.” Ouyang Xian Yue rose to greet her, a graceful smile on her face. “I was very busy with trivial matters during the summit, I’m truly sorry, Annie.”

"Good afternoon, Ms. Ouyang." Qin Yingxue nodded politely.

Good afternoon, Yingxue. Please have a seat.

After exchanging pleasantries, the three of them sat down on the sofa in the reception area.

Secretary Chen personally served the three of them top-grade Lapsang Souchong black tea, then bowed and withdrew, gently closing the door behind him.

Anne picked up her teacup, blew on it to cool it down, but didn't drink it.

His sharp eyes were fixed on the noblewoman opposite him, as if trying to see through her clothes.

"What's wrong?" Ouyang Xian Yue chuckled. "Is there something on my face?"

“No.” Annie put down her teacup and leaned forward. “I just suddenly heard that you’ve found your second spring because of Su Yu? I always thought that an Eastern noblewoman like you would have long lost interest in romantic relationships.”

Hearing her blunt and rude words, Ouyang Xian Yue's legs, encased in stockings, tensed slightly, but she remained outwardly calm.

He smiled faintly and said, "Sometimes, people are simply not in control of their own lives."

"Heh." Annie let out a soft laugh, making no attempt to hide her sarcasm, directly pointing to the hypocrisy in the other person's bones.

After all those interactions, Ouyang Xian Yue always appeared as aloof and detached, like a saintly maiden, making people think she would never be tempted by worldly desires.

As a result, as soon as Tang Song mentioned going to the [Xuanji Light Realm], she immediately revealed her true colors and started trying to steal him away.

For Anne Kate, who has an outspoken personality and never hides her desires.

She really couldn't stand this kind of Eastern-style reserve and hypocrisy.

However, she is also aware of the bigger picture and will not actually bring things to light.

Ouyang Xian Yue took an elegant sip of tea, ignoring Annie's provocation, and turned her gaze to the person who was actually delivering the message.

"Yingxue, Director Jin must have something important to tell you. Just say it. I have an international online meeting later."

Anne leaned back, her stunningly long legs, encased in her suit trousers, casually crossed over each other.

He adopted a "watching the show" posture and looked at Qin Yingxue beside him.

Seeing this, Qin Yingxue opened her briefcase, took out a beautifully bound document, and gently placed it on the coffee table.

Her voice remained as steady as ever: "Ms. Ouyang, I am here today on behalf of Director Jin to inform you of an intention to dispose of the equity of [Qingning Technology]."

"Oh? Shares in [Qingning Technology]?" Ouyang Xianyue raised her eyebrows and reached for the document.

Qin Yingxue continued, "Director Jin has decided to inject all of her 7% stake in Qingning Technology into a special trust fund she initiated free of charge. The sole beneficiary of this fund is Ms. Liu Qingning. She hopes to hear your opinion as a major shareholder before the formal implementation."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Xian Yue's pupils contracted slightly.

It's important to know that Qingning Technology is no longer a startup; it is now one of the world's highest-valued super unicorns in the AI ​​field.

Tangyi Precision's development strategy over the past two years has also revolved around the in-depth development of the AI ​​technology industry.

This 7% stake represents an astronomical amount of profit, or even an extremely large one.

Kim Mi-so actually agreed to let go on her own?

And it was given to her rival, Liu Qingning?
This was completely different from the Kim Mi-so she remembered as someone with an extremely strong desire for control.

Ouyang Xian Yue's mind raced, and she instantly guessed part of the other party's intentions.

But she still asked calmly, "I'm quite surprised that Director Jin did this. Yingxue, do you know why?"

Qin Yingxue answered frankly, "Director Jin feels deeply remorseful for some of the past actions, especially the wrong things Ms. Su Yu did to Ms. Liu under his provocation. Now, Ms. Liu has gradually begun to take control of the operation of [Qingning Technology] and has been making many moves recently, which Ms. Ouyang must have heard about. Therefore, Director Jin has decided to simply do her a favor, which can be considered as some compensation to Ms. Liu."

Ouyang Xian Yue's fingertips gently twirled on the warm teacup, her eyes flashing slightly.

What a "mistake by Su Yu"!
This statement directly shifts all the blame onto Su Yu, while Jin Meixiao portrays herself as someone who "used the wrong method due to being provoked" and is now "deeply ashamed."

If we're talking about who owes whom, Su Yu's actions towards Liu Qingning back then certainly bear the brunt of the blame.

But Jin Meixiao is definitely not lacking in any way. For example, Professor Wang Chang and some of Liu Qingning's college classmates all have her shadow behind them.

This is why, when Su Yu met Liu Qingning last time, she deliberately portrayed Jin Meixiao as the mastermind behind everything.

If Jin Meixiao establishes a compensation trust in a high-profile manner this time, then when the truth comes out in the future, Su Yu will suffer the consequences and completely lose his moral compass.

And I... just yesterday formed an "alliance" with Su Yu.

Now, wouldn't both he and Su Yu be considered as the ones indebted?

At least in Liu Qingning's emotional balance, Jin Meixiao has already gained the upper hand.

Ouyang Xian Yue took a deep breath, and a graceful smile returned to her face: "I understand. Chairman Jin is very thoughtful. This is a good thing for Qing Ning, and of course I have no objection."

Anne-Kate, who hadn't said a word, took in the subtle changes in her expression over those few seconds.

A knowing smile curved his lips.

He added at the appropriate time, "Now, let me introduce this trust institution."

"We, the Kate Trust, will be the sole manager of this special fund. Registered in Guernsey, this trust employs the most sophisticated VISTA structure to ensure absolute separation and confidentiality of beneficial ownership and management rights."

“I’ve even come up with a very fitting name for it – ‘Moonlight Trust’.”

She looked at Ouyang Xian Yue and smiled like a golden fox: "How about it? Isn't the name great? After all, Lime and Moonlight sound like a perfect match, don't they?"

"If others also have this desire to make amends, we at Kate Trust would be happy to offer you the same packaged services."

Ouyang Xian Yue chuckled, picked up his teacup, and looked at her, saying, "Oh? Annie, what about you? Do you want to include your 3% stake in [Lime Technology] in the deal?"

Anne's eyes twitched slightly, and she shrugged nonchalantly: "I don't feel like I owe anything. I've never had any boring love affairs; I'm just a businessman who gets paid to do things."

“Is that so?” Ouyang Xian Yue’s tone was meaningful.

“Of course,” Anne answered frankly, but her crossed legs unconsciously shifted position, and her gaze lost some of its sharpness.

Ouyang Xian Yue didn't press her any further, and instead looked down at the document.

Her movements were slow, slow enough for her to suppress all the turmoil in her heart.

Jin Meixiao was clearly forcing herself and Su Yu to make up for what they owed her.

Especially Su Yu.

It's worth noting that when Qingning Technology was first established in early 2018, Su Yu was in a state of being the most favored.

Tang Song not only gifted her 4% of the shares personally, but also allowed her to hold 3% of the shares through [Juxing Huicui], totaling 7%, which is equivalent to the share held by Jin Meixiao.

Even Ouyang Xianyue himself only holds 5% of the shares.

Furthermore, before Tang Song's company, Tangzong Entertainment, went public, he had Su Yu hold 18% of the shares on his behalf. In addition, Su Yu also held shares in many other scattered businesses on Tang Song's behalf.

Su Yu's true net worth far exceeds the apparent 50 billion.

This is why, even though Su Yu is just a celebrity, her status within the core circle is exceptionally detached.

As for whether to follow or not, Ouyang Xian Yue had no other choice.

Because her public image is that of a well-mannered, trustworthy, and dignified lady.

Jin Meixiao did it. Since she had just admitted yesterday that she also had feelings for Tang Song, she had to acknowledge this debt.

As for Su Yu, she might resist in her heart, but she will definitely follow in the end.

This effectively weakens her and Su Yu's influence on the AI ​​industry within the home office system, while greatly enhancing Liu Qingning's strength.

This is a completely open and aboveboard scheme.

It was magnificent and grand, quite in line with her own style of doing things.

It seems that this smiling lady knows herself quite well.

A good move is to retreat in order to advance.

After a while, she raised her head:

"This [Moonlight Trust] looks very good. Yingxue, go back and tell Director Jin that my personal 5% stake should also be transferred in. As for Su Yu, I will communicate with her personally, but it will only be her personal 4%. The 3% held by [Juxing Huicui] is not included; that is company assets."

"Of course," Qin Yingxue nodded in agreement.

Annie immediately chimed in excitedly, beginning to discuss the complex asset injection process with Ouyang Xian Yue in her capacity as trustee.

After a full half hour, the details were finalized, and the meeting seemed to be nearing its end.

Just as Qin Yingxue was about to put the documents away.

Ouyang Xian Yue, however, took the initiative to start a new topic:

"Now that Director Jin has reviewed the past plans, I also have something I'd like you to pass on to her."

Qin Yingxue's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately sat up straight, her expression focused: "Ms. Ouyang, please speak."

"With the support of the Pan-Entertainment Fund, Nebula International Group will soon launch a new round of overseas expansion and listing process."

"In order to facilitate the listing, the group needs to thoroughly sort out and consolidate its equity structure. As you know, in the early years, in order to avoid risks, the equity of Nebula International was scattered in the hands of many individuals and institutions, which was very detrimental to the management of modern enterprises and future capital operations."

Qin Yingxue nodded and said, "Understood."

Ouyang Xian Yue smiled and continued, "Wen Ruan has now officially entered the core sequence of the [Tang Jin Family Office], and there will inevitably be more important arrangements for her in the future."

What I mean is, instead of letting these shares be scattered around, why not consolidate them all and transfer them to her name before the IPO?

I have already initiated the acquisition process and transferred the 5.1% stake that I control.

Su Yu also agreed to transfer the 8% stake she controlled.

This way, the equity structure will be clearer, and it will be more conducive to future market capitalization management and globalization development, right?

Qin Yingxue's mind raced.

It was realized that Ms. Ouyang was kicking Director Jin's influence out of Nebula International Group.

Everyone knows that [Nebula International] is essentially a downstream industry of [Tangzong Entertainment], and falls under Su Yu's sphere of influence.

Over the years, Director Jin has been trying to infiltrate the organization in order to suppress and monitor Su Yu from the flank.

As far as she knows, Director Kim controls more than 11% of Nebula International's shares through personal funds and nominee shareholding.

Ms. Ouyang's purpose was far more than simply paving the way for Wen Ruan.

Next, they'll probably have to target the newly established [Pan-Entertainment Fund].

That fund is where Director Jin's interests are most deeply intertwined with those of Su Yu, Wen Ruan, and others.

The original intention was probably to bring Su Yu into the household office.

She raised her head, looked at the elegant and beautiful woman opposite her, and nodded, saying, "Yes, Ms. Ouyang, I will inform Director Jin about this immediately."

“Mm.” Ouyang Xian Yue nodded.

……

Yancheng, Shengyuan Jiajing, townhouses.

In the basement gym area, a thoroughly enjoyable strength training session has just concluded.

The air was still filled with the scent of hormones from evaporated sweat.

Wenruan took a hot shower and changed into comfortable loungewear.

A pure white tight-fitting T-shirt paired with gray high-waisted sweatpants perfectly accentuated her hourglass figure, which had been honed through countless trials.

She took a bottle of chilled sugar-free electrolyte water from the refrigerator and gulped down two large mouthfuls.

Then, with a satisfied sigh, he let out an "Ah—".

He slumped into the soft sofa.

Then, she picked up the massage gun, turned it on, and began to massage her taut muscles.

"Buzzing—"

She squinted, her eyes sliding from her shoulder to her arm, then aimlessly landing on the inside of her round, firm thighs.

It moved slowly.

The soreness and numbness after training were relieved, mixed with the pleasure of a surge in dopamine, which made her feel relaxed all over.

At this moment.

"Jingle Bell--"

The cell phone, which was lying on the other side of the sofa, suddenly rang.

Wen Ruan quickly put down the massage gun, leaned forward with her ample body, and picked up her phone.

[Su Yu]

She quickly answered the phone, "Hello? Su Yu."

"Good evening, Wenruan, I hope I didn't disturb your rest?" Su Yu's sexy and languid voice came through the receiver.

"No, no, just hearing your voice is a pleasure for me," she said with a gentle smile. "By the way, big star, your room is all ready, and the sheets and duvet covers have all been changed to your favorite silk style. We look forward to welcoming you anytime!"

"Great, I can't wait!"

"Me too, hehe," Wen Ruan's voice unconsciously took on a slightly lewd tone, "After all, there aren't many people in this world who have the good fortune to be able to sleep with a big star like you."

To be honest, Su Yu does possess a top-tier allure that transcends gender; even a straight woman like herself would find it hard not to be tempted.

It's a pity I'm also a girl, otherwise if we slept together that night, I definitely would have just forced myself on her.

Su Yu chuckled and said, "Thank you for letting me stay at your house. To repay your generosity, I have prepared a gift for you as well."

"Oh? What kind of gift?" Wen Ruan became interested and joked, "Let's make this clear first, I don't want anything too cheap."

"Don't worry, it's more than enough. I plan to transfer all of my 8% stake in Nebula International Group to your name." Wen Ruan, who was about to put water in her mouth, suddenly froze.

She blinked her alluring peach blossom eyes, then burst into laughter: "Haha! Alright! Then I won't hold back. Based on Nebula's current valuation, this 8% is worth at least a billion, right? Thanks for the big star's generosity, from now on I'm yours. To hell with Little Songzi, I'm with you!"

She didn't take it seriously at all, thinking Su Yu was joking with her, after all, the amount was too outrageous.

However, Su Yu on the other end of the phone suddenly became serious: "Wen Ruan, I'm serious. Lawyer Luo Bin will personally arrange for you to handle this matter. Not only me, but Ms. Ouyang will also transfer her 5.1% stake to you. Remember to call her and thank her when you get back. If possible, it would be even better to meet her in person and thank her in person."

Su Yu paused, a hint of amusement in her voice: "As for Jin Meixiao, she has quite a bit, about 11%. I guess, for the sake of appearances, she'll definitely give it to you willingly."

"boom--"

The soft drink bottle slipped from her hand and crashed heavily onto the carpet.

"Hey! Big star, you...you're not kidding, are you?!"

Her voice was shaking.

"of course it's true."

"This...this is too much! Let me calm down...no...why?" Wenruan instinctively shrank her neck. "You...you're not going to make me take the blame for something huge, are you?"

"Big pot?" Su Yu's sexy voice sounded a little puzzled, then she explained, "The internationalization strategy of [Nebula International Group] is about to be launched. In order to cope with the stricter compliance reviews and capital market requirements overseas, Ms. Ouyang proposed that it is necessary to sort out the equity and consolidate the scattered shares to the core management team. This will be beneficial to corporate governance..."

Su Yu's voice continued, but Wen Ruan's voice was becoming increasingly inaudible.

She certainly knew that Nebula International was about to start its listing process, and she also knew that the equity structure needed to be clarified.

But to her utter surprise, Su Yu and Ouyang Xian Yue were going to give her the shares for free.

8%...5.1%...plus Director Kim's 11%...

If all these shares are indeed concentrated in her hands, then she will hold more than 40% of the shares.

Even if her equity is diluted in the future due to the acquisition of overseas businesses and the introduction of strategic investors, she will still be the absolute controlling shareholder of this soon-to-be-listed company.

A major shareholder of a pan-entertainment media group with an estimated market value of tens of billions.

Wenruan felt her heart pounding wildly, her ample chest heaving violently.

The brain was thrown into a blank and confused state by the sudden influx of information.

She doesn't even remember how she hung up the phone.

She only vaguely remembered that Su Yu blew her a kiss over the receiver.

……

After some time, the phone rang again.

[Director Jin]

"Fuck!!!"

(ΩДΩ)
When she saw the two words flashing on the screen, she was jolted awake and sat up abruptly from the sofa.

Her eyelids started twitching wildly. She took several deep breaths and slapped her face hard before answering the phone.

"Hello? Director Jin, good evening."

"Good evening, Wenruan." Secretary Kim's voice carried a hint of amusement. "Have you eaten?"

"No, no, I just finished working out."

"Haha, no wonder you have such a great figure, you're very disciplined."

"You flatter me, it's just a habit."

The two exchanged pleasantries.

Secretary Kim said calmly, "Has anyone contacted you regarding the consolidation of shares in [Nebula International Group]?"

Wen Ruan's heart skipped a beat. "Um...yes, Su Yu just called me."

"Hehe, she's still as petty as ever, but she's quick on her feet." Secretary Jin commented casually, then added, "However, Ouyang is right this time. Since Tang Song intends to cultivate you into a core position in the media industry, the equity should naturally be more concentrated so that things can get done more smoothly."

"Director Kim...that's not necessary! I..."

"Alright, this matter is settled." Secretary Jin interrupted her directly, then changed her tone, "Oh, right, there's one more thing, consider it a surprise from Tang Song for you in advance."

"W-What surprise?" Wen Ruan's heart jumped again.

"As the future actual controller of Nebula International Group, your resume is still a bit thin, so he arranged a new identity for you: a visiting scholar at a prestigious university."

Upon hearing this, Wenruan's heart skipped a beat, and her mind went blank.

For ordinary people, "visiting scholar" may just be an academic title.

But Wenruan is well aware of its monetary value and symbolic significance.

Especially when it is associated with a world-renowned university.

That means...

Her name will henceforth appear in the databases of the world's top universities;

This means that in media reports, project resumes, and company annual reports, there will be an extra line of that shining title;

This means that no matter which international conference she attends or which financial magazine she is interviewed by, she can introduce herself as a "visiting scholar".

Secretary Jin's voice continued, "I called this time to ask for your opinion. Oxford or Cambridge? Harvard Business School has a stronger influence, so I wouldn't recommend it. My personal suggestion is Oxford University's Saïd Business School."

Our Tang King Education Foundation just donated a building to their Asian Studies Centre last year.

Using the guise of Sino-European business and cultural exchange, arranging a visiting scholar title is perfectly legitimate and can be done quickly.

"This...okay, thank you, Director Kim..."

“You’re welcome. And…” Secretary Kim added, as if suddenly remembering something, “The head of the college in charge of this project is an old friend of my father’s. I will have him equip you with a team of doctoral students specifically for ‘academic support.’ This will ensure that during your visiting scholar period, you can publish at least two substantial articles under your own name in either the Harvard Business Review or The Economist.”

Wenruan's heart was racing and her brain was completely shut down by these successive "super gift packages".

She couldn't even fathom the deeper meaning behind it, and could only blankly reply, "Thank you, Director Kim."

hang up the phone.

Her breathing was rapid and soft, her full breasts heaving violently.

Beneath the pure white, tight-fitting T-shirt, her curves were even more exaggerated.

She slowly sat back on the sofa, picked up the massage gun next to her, and placed it on her thigh.

"Buzzing—"

High-frequency, strong vibrations travel through the muscles to the nerve endings.

She squeezed her legs together, feeling the tingling sensation, and her face gradually flushed.

The intense physical stimulation finally restarted her brain, which had crashed due to the massive amount of information.

Good heavens, has this palace intrigue escalated?
Something must have happened that you don't know about!

A wide smile spread across her soft lips, revealing her neat, white teeth.

But then again, I, Zhuangzhuang, have taken the blame for so many things, and I've really suffered a huge loss!
(^▽^)
At this moment.

"Ring ring—" The phone rang for the third time.

Wenruan shuddered in fright, thinking it was some kind of powerful figure again, but upon closer inspection...

【Zhang Yan】.

She breathed a sigh of relief, turned off the massage gun, and answered the phone.

Her voice instantly regained the languid charm unique to that caring older sister.

"Hey? Yan Yan, what's wrong? Missing your sister?"

On the other end of the phone, Zhang Yan's shy and nervous voice came through: "Sister Wen... um... I... I wanted to ask, for our trip to Yancheng this time, is the accommodation arranged by the company, or... or should I book the hotel myself?"

"Hmm? Your place?" Wen Ruan blinked her charming peach blossom eyes and couldn't help but tease, "Weren't you going back to Yancheng to find Tang Song? Does the company have to reimburse you for this?"

"No, no, no, that's not what I meant!" Zhang Yan explained in a panic, "I... I was just asking. I booked the hotel myself, so I don't need the company to reimburse me!"

"Okay, okay, don't be nervous, I was just joking." Wen Ruan laughed, "Why book a hotel? It's a waste of money. Just call Tang Song, he'll definitely arrange it for you. If he doesn't care, I'll arrange it for you."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then Zhang Yan's voice became even softer: "I...I understand, thank you, Sister Wenruan."

She smiled gently and playfully, "Saying thank you is too formal. If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, you must help me out."

Zhang Yan immediately said earnestly, "If there's anything I can do to help you, Sister Wenruan, please don't hesitate to ask."

"Hehe, okay, it's a deal." Wen's tone softened. "Your flight is tomorrow, so remember to go to bed early tonight and get plenty of rest. I'll personally accompany you when you go from Yancheng to the capital."

"Ah."

……

Guangzhou, Liwan District, Lanxinyuan Residential Community.

Outside the window, the setting sun painted the sky a warm orange-red.

Zhang Yan nervously put down the phone.

The gentle, teasing voice of Wen Ruan seemed to still echo in her ears, making her delicate cheeks blush like ripe apples, and she didn't know where to put her hands.

She's leaving for Yancheng early tomorrow morning.

She spent the whole day preparing.

She had opened and closed the suitcase several times.

Her favorite Tang-style ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) was carefully folded and placed on top.

Next to it are several sets of winter clothes suitable for the workplace.

At the very bottom, she secretly hid a set of pure cotton pajamas with lace trim that she had bought online.

Besides clothes, she also prepared many gifts.

There were two poetry collections she carefully selected and beautifully bound for Tang and Song dynasties, with her favorite poems copied on the title page.

There was a gift for Sister Wenruan: a box of the most authentic Cantonese dim sum, which she specially went to a time-honored brand and queued for a long time to buy.

She even prepared imported cat treats for the cat named Snowball, whom she had never met before.

"Meow-"

Orange seemed to smell the canned food and kept rubbing against her feet, making disgruntled protesting noises.

Zhang Yan offered a few words of reassurance and stepped into the kitchen, which was filled with the rich aroma of soy sauce.

Mother Zhou Hui was standing in front of the stove, guarding a clay pot containing Cantonese roasted meats that she had braised with her secret sauce, glistening with oil.

"Mom, let me do it, there's too much smoke."

Zhang Yan walked over and tried to take the spatula from her mother's hand.

"No need, no need, it'll be ready soon." Zhou Hui smiled and pushed her away. "Go get the food container over there and put it in later."

Zhang Yan lowered her head and took out food storage containers of different sizes from the cupboard.

They were all carefully scalded with boiling water and dried.

While teaching her the secrets of braising and roasting meats, her mother kept telling her that boys all like to eat meat, and that she would make it for Tang Song often if she had the chance.

She blushed, listened silently, studied diligently, and did not argue.

……

Pack your luggage for tomorrow and have dinner.

I watched a TV series about everyday family matters with my mother for a while, and before I knew it, it was past eight o'clock in the evening.

"Puff-puff--"

Zhang Yan felt like she had a little rabbit hiding in her heart, and she couldn't calm down no matter what.

She told her mother, picked up the household garbage bag, and went downstairs.

In early winter, the nights in Guangzhou are slightly chilly.

The streetlights in the neighborhood cast a dim, yellowish glow, stretching the shadows of the osmanthus trees along the roadside long.

Instead of going straight home, she walked slowly, circling the winding paths of the neighborhood.

She pressed her lips together tightly. Her cheeks flushed with the thought of their upcoming meeting, then paled slightly with feelings of inferiority and uncertainty.

After a long while, the evening breeze dispelled the heat from her face.

She let out a long sigh and turned back to her rented room.

I didn't watch TV with my mother anymore.

Instead, they went to the old, worn-out desk in the living room.

She took out a stack of simple letter paper and her most frequently used pen from the drawer.

Under the dim glow of the desk lamp, she unscrewed the pen cap, and the pen tip scratched across the paper.

She wrote down her expectations for tomorrow, her longing for the Tang and Song dynasties, and her nostalgia for Yancheng.

She was also looking forward to the snow in Yancheng, to the crisp, clean scent of snow that could only be smelled in the harsh winter air.

Having spent a long time in the humid and hot city of Guangzhou, her taste buds still stubbornly yearn for the coarse wheat aroma of northern-style flatbread.

And tomorrow, she will set off.

This is not a journey of wandering far from home, but more like a return journey.

I've finished writing this somewhat disorganized essay.

Zhang Yan carefully folded the letter and tucked it into her diary deep inside the drawer, with no intention of sending it to Tang Song.

This is her habit.

Besides QQ, she also wrote many letters, but she never sent them.

She didn't dare to openly tell Tang Song "I miss you" or "I like you" on WeChat.

She didn't even dare to ask him if he knew what time her flight was tomorrow, or if he would come to pick her up.

The night deepened little by little.

After washing up, Zhang Yan hugged the orange and lay down on the bed.

I opened my phone and tapped on Tang Song's chat window.

I have a feeling that if I don't say something, I'll definitely have trouble sleeping tonight.

She needs to go to bed early because she has to catch a flight tomorrow.

She tapped the input box, her finger hesitating on the screen.

Type, delete, type, delete again...

Finally, only the simplest, yet most anticipated question remained: "Will you pick me up tomorrow?"

She stared at the green "send" button, her heart filled with struggle and hesitation.

"Meow~"

The orange in her arms seemed a little uncomfortable from being weighed down, and it moved in dissatisfaction, stretching out its furry paw to pat her phone screen.

"Whoosh—" The message was sent out immediately.

"Ah!" Zhang Yan exclaimed softly, her mind went blank, and her face burned.

at this time.

"Buzz buzz buzz—" WeChat reply in an instant.

Tang Song: "Of course. I'll be waiting for you at Terminal 3 of Yancheng International Airport at 11:30 AM tomorrow."

[Tang Song: [A kissing and hugging emoji]]

Looking at the messages and emojis he sent.

Zhang Yan's cheeks were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

She frantically searched through her emoji collection for a while before replying with an emoji of a cat nodding obediently.

Then, she slammed her phone face down on the bed and buried herself in Orange's fur.

"It's all your fault! You stinky orange..."

Orange meowed pitifully, wriggling its chubby body as if trying to escape, but its owner held it even tighter.

Zhang Yan pulled the thin blanket over herself, hiding herself and her burning heart in the soft darkness.

She closed her eyes, but couldn't fall asleep.

Outside the window, the gentle, lingering night of the South unfolds.

But her heart drifted northward.

She seemed to... already hear the soft rustling of snowflakes falling to the ground.

(End of this chapter)