Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

Tang Yingxue went to great lengths, even enduring unspeakable humiliation at the hands of that madwoman Gu Qingqiu, in order to get Jiang Fan to write this poem, "Ten Thousand Frontiers," for her.

As it turned out, Xu Qingya didn't even need to compete; she had already secured her spot on the CCTV Spring Festival Gala.

I'm devastated.

But she is Tang Yingxue, and it's impossible for her to admit defeat.

Tang Yingxue forcibly suppressed the surging displeasure in her heart, turned around, and plopped back down on the leather sofa next to her.

With legs crossed and arms clasped in front of his chest, he struck a pose as if determined to fight to the bitter end.

Want to kick her out and leave those two scoundrels alone? Dream on.

Xu Qingya glanced at her, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

She picked up the lid of the thermos and ladled out another bowl of chicken soup.

Gently stir with a white porcelain spoon, scoop up a spoonful, and blow on it to your lips.

Then, she held the spoon to Jiang Fan's lips.

Their movements were fluid and natural, carrying an undisguised intimacy.

Jiang Fan leaned back in the boss's chair, shifting his gaze from the computer screen.

He didn't refuse and swallowed the rich chicken soup.

The two were oblivious to their surroundings, one feeding the other and the other drinking.

Tang Yingxue sat on the sofa watching this scene, her back teeth almost grinding to powder.

She suddenly stood up and walked behind Jiang Fan in her high heels.

He placed his hands directly on Jiang Fan's shoulders.

"Jiang Fan, your shoulders are a bit stiff." Tang Yingxue applied pressure with her ten fingers and began to massage them gently.

She leaned forward slightly, her chest brushing against the back of Jiang Fan's head, intentionally or unintentionally.

She leaned down, her red lips close to Jiang Fan's ear, her voice just loud enough for Xu Qingya on the other side to hear clearly.

"Did you go too far last night? You really wore me out last night, and my back is still sore."

Her coquettish tone was laced with blatant provocation.

Xu Qingya's hand, holding the spoon, froze in mid-air.

"Last night", "fuss".

These two words went straight into her ears.

Jiang Fan remained expressionless. He slowly swallowed the chicken soup in his mouth and turned his gaze back to the audio track on the computer screen.

Neither explaining nor denying, because the more you explain, the more confused things become.

Xu Qingya took a deep breath.

However, she did not break down.

She put the spoon back in the bowl and smiled.

She pulled a wet wipe from her bag, leaned down, and gently wiped the soup stains from the corner of Jiang Fan's mouth.

"Chairman Tang must have had a tough night," Xu Qingya said casually, tossing the used wet wipes into the trash can. "After all, he's getting on in years, so it's normal that his stamina isn't what it used to be."

She paused, her gaze meeting Tang Yingxue's eyes, which were practically spitting fire.

"I did a 'morning exercise' for more than an hour yesterday, and I'm still feeling pretty good."

crit.

The word "age" hit Tang Yingxue's Achilles' heel perfectly.

The humiliating scene of her last night at Gu Qingqiu's manor, where she couldn't even last a few seconds and collapsed with her eyes rolling back in her head, flashed through her mind instantly.

Tang Yingxue's face turned pale and then flushed.

The hand on Jiang Fan's shoulder unconsciously tightened its grip.

"Xu Qingya, I'm only two years older than you!" Tang Yingxue gritted her teeth.

Jiang Fan raised his hand and patted Tang Yingxue's hand.

"Alright, alright."

The sound wasn't loud, but the women on both sides simultaneously shut their mouths.

"The arrangement for 'Wanjiang' still needs final touches. You two, behave yourselves and don't disturb my work."

The boss's chair spun halfway around, and Jiang Fan put his monitoring headphones back on.

The two proud and arrogant women exchanged a glance, sparks flying.

But no one dared to speak again.

Tang Yingxue retreated to the left side of the sofa and sat down heavily.

Xu Qingya walked to the right side of the sofa and sat down gracefully.

The two occupied opposite ends of the sofa, separated by a dividing line.

Jiang Fan stared at the audio track on the screen, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents before him.

He needed to adjust the operatic parts of "Wanjiang" to the vocal range most suitable for Tang Yingxue.

As time passed, the clock on the wall pointed to six o'clock in the evening.

Jiang Fan took off his headphones and pressed save.

"The demo is done. Come record it tomorrow."

He stood up and picked up the black coat draped over the back of the chair.

The two women on the sofa got up at the same time.

"Jiang Fan, I've booked a table at Wangjiang Pavilion," Tang Yingxue said first. "After dinner, come to my place. I'd like you to give me some private coaching on the operatic singing of 'Wanjiang'."

"He's not free tonight." Xu Qingya stepped forward and naturally took Jiang Fan's arm. "I still have half a pot of chicken soup at home. I can heat it up when I get back."

The two clashed again.

Jiang Fan pulled his arm away from Xu Qingya's and put on his coat.

"I'm not going anywhere tonight." Jiang Fan picked up the car keys from the table. "I have some personal matters to take care of."

After saying that, he pushed open the office door and strode out.

Xu Qingya and Tang Yingxue were left standing there, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Half an hour later.

A black Mercedes-Benz G-Class was parked downstairs at a high-end apartment building.

Jiang Fan pushed open the car door, stepped into the elevator, and pressed the floor button.

Ding.

The elevator doors opened.

Jiang Fan walked to the door, entered the password, and pushed the door open to enter.

The apartment was lit with warm yellow lights.

Shen Nian was wearing a set of pink cotton pajamas, sitting cross-legged on the living room carpet, holding a script in her hand, and writing and drawing on it with a highlighter.

Hearing the door open, Shen Nian looked up.

When she saw it was Jiang Fan, her eyes lit up. She put down her pen, stood up from the carpet, and jogged over to greet him.

"You've arrived."

Jiang Fan changed into slippers and reached out to ruffle her hair.

Have you eaten?

Shen Nian shook her head and casually took the coat that Jiang Fan had taken off.

The clothes smelled of more than one expensive perfume.

Shen Nian paused for a moment.

Without asking any further questions, she obediently hung her coat on the hanger behind the door.

She turned around and looked up at Jiang Fan.

"What would you like to eat? There are tomatoes and eggs in the fridge, I'll make you some noodles, okay?"

Jiang Fan looked into her clear eyes.

After being bothered by those two women at the company all afternoon, the buzzing noise in my head was completely soothed by the quiet face in front of me.

"Okay." Jiang Fan put his arm around her waist and walked towards the living room.

Shen Nian blushed slightly as he held her.

She didn't have Xu Qingya's queenly aura, nor Tang Yingxue's domineering flamboyance, but she knew how to be the one who made a strong man let down his guard.

"How's it going with the Jade Rabbit's script?" Jiang Fan sat down on the sofa and glanced at the script covered in markings on the coffee table.

"I've memorized all the lines." Shen Nian walked into the open kitchen, tied on an apron, "It's just that there are a few scenes where I have to seduce Tang Sanzang, and I always feel that my eyes aren't quite there yet."

She took out tomatoes and eggs from the refrigerator and glanced back at Jiang Fan.

"Jiang Fan, could you... help me 'inspect' it again tonight?"

Jiang Fan leaned back on the sofa, a smile playing on his lips.

"Eat noodles first. You'll have the energy to do the inspection when you're full."