Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

After Shen Nian left, Jiang Fan returned to his office, made himself a cup of tea, and sat down at his computer to start working on his tasks.

The debt is too high.

Preparations for Hsu Ching-ya's concert have begun, and the new songs need to be delivered to her as soon as possible.

Shen Nian's second episode, "Invisible Wings," is still in the polishing stage.

There's still no news about the next two songs for Su Yuyan.

With three lines pressing down at the same time, there wasn't enough time.

Jiang Fan prioritized them.

Shen Nian's song has already been given to her; the rest is up to her to practice.

Su Yuyan isn't in a hurry; she just released a new song, which should last at least two weeks.

Xu Qingya was the most anxious.

The concert setlist needs to be decided in advance, and time needs to be allocated for recording and rehearsing new songs.

Jiang Fan opened the system store and found a song he had previously liked—"As You Wish".

The song is grand and affectionate, with a melody that suits Xu Qingya's vocal range, and the emotional outburst in the chorus perfectly showcases her strengths.

[Exchange for "Wish Fulfilled"? Consumes 300 Life Points]

confirm.

[Exchange successful. Current lifespan: 33800 points]

The lyrics and melody flooded my mind.

Jiang Fan closed his eyes and went through it once, then nodded.

Great song.

The chorus, "If you have ever tasted my bitterness, I am willing to live as your wish," is so beautifully sung by Hsu Ching-ya that it can bring people to tears.

Jiang Fan picked up his pen, spread out his musical score, and began to write.

I can be busy for an entire afternoon.

Li Cheng came in twice during that time.

This is the first time we've discussed the release of Shen Nian's "The Wind Rises" tomorrow.

The three-piece package—the Penguin homepage banner, the pinned new song chart, and the splash screen—has been confirmed by Zhang Lei.

The second time was when they asked if I wanted to have dinner together that evening.

"No, I have something to do tonight."

Li Cheng stood at the door, opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Don't look at me like that.

"What kind of look am I giving you?" Li Cheng shrugged. "I just wanted to ask which night you're free so I can make an appointment in advance."

"...Close the door behind you when you leave."

Li Cheng turned and left, and a sigh echoed down the corridor.

Jiang Fan shook his head and continued writing.

At 5:40, the musical score was finished.

The direction of the arrangement is clear, and the orchestration ideas are outlined.

I'll tidy it up tomorrow, and I can give it to Xu Qingya the day after tomorrow.

He stood up and stretched his neck, his shoulder blades cracking twice.

Pack your things and get ready to leave.

-

7 PM.

Jiang Fan stood at the door of Shen Nian's apartment, entered the password, and opened the door.

The light in the entryway was on, and there was an extra pair of men's slippers on the shoe cabinet.

There was a noise coming from the direction of the kitchen.

Shen Nian stood in front of the stove wearing an apron. Noodles were cooking in the pot, and scallions and tomatoes were chopped on the cutting board.

The apron was tied crookedly, with the straps knotted tightly at the back of the waist.

"You really make noodles?"

Shen Nian didn't reply: "I said I'd make noodles for you, so I'll make noodles."

Jiang Fan placed the food on the table and leaned over to take a look at the pot.

The water boiled, and the noodles were tumbling inside.

The stir-fried tomatoes and eggs in the small pot next to me were steaming hot and looked quite appetizing.

"Tomato and egg noodles?"

"Hmm." Shen Nian stirred the noodles with her chopsticks. "Don't stand here staring at me, it's making me feel pressured."

Jiang Fan leaned against the refrigerator and didn't leave.

Shen Nian hurriedly scooped out the noodles, poured on some tomato and egg, sprinkled on some chopped green onions, and brought them to the table.

Two bowls, one large and one small.

Jiang Fan sat down, picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, and tasted it.

The noodles were slightly overcooked, but the seasoning was fine, and the tomatoes were stir-fried to a perfect balance of sweet and sour.

"How is it?" Shen Nian sat opposite him, resting her chin on her hands and staring at him.

"good."

"What do you mean 'okay'? Does it taste good?"

"tasty."

Shen Nian's lips curled up slightly, and she lowered her head to start eating her own bowl.

She took a couple of bites, then glanced up at him to make sure he was really eating before continuing.

Jiang Fan's WeChat notification sounded.

Xu Qingya.

Hsu Ching-ya: How's the song?

Jiang Fan picked up his phone and replied with a message using one hand: "It's finished. I'll arrange the music tomorrow, and I'll come to Tianyu to find you the day after."

Xu Qingya: Okay.

Jiang Fan placed his phone face down on the table.

With noodles in her mouth, Shen Nian mumbled, "I practiced 'Invisible Wings' today, and I thought the chorus was pretty good—"

"Don't think about work while you're eating."

Shen Nian put her chopsticks down on the table: "Don't you reply to messages while eating every day too?"

"I'm the boss."

"..."

Shen Nian glared at him, then stopped talking and buried her head in her noodles.

We finished the soup at the end, leaving the bowl completely clean.

Jiang Fan glanced at her empty bowl.

"My appetite has improved now."

"It was fine to begin with." Shen Nian stood up to clear the bowls. "I just wasn't in the mood to eat before."

She soaked the bowls and chopsticks in the sink, but when she tried to untie her apron, she couldn't reach the knot at the back. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't untie it with both hands behind her back.

Jiang Fan walked over, pulled the knot open with two fingers.

He casually pinched her waist with his fingers.

Shen Nian shrank back, her shoulders hunching: "What!"

"Check if you've gained weight."

-

After finishing her meal, Shen Nian nestled on the sofa and scrolled through her phone.

"The comments on 'The Wind Rises' have gone up again." She held up her phone to show Jiang Fan, where a dense stream of comments stretched endlessly down the screen. "Some people are saying they want to hear the full version."

"It'll be online tomorrow, let them wait."

Shen Nian hummed in agreement and slid her fingers across the screen.

Jiang Fan sat down at the other end of the sofa.

Shen Nian's foot unconsciously rubbed against his thigh.

The toes, tucked inside the cotton socks, twitched slightly.

Jiang Fan didn't say anything, but placed one hand on her ankle, pressing it casually with his thumb.

The only light in the living room came from the faint glow of a phone screen and the streetlights streaming in from outside the window.

After a while, he reached out and took the phone from Shen Nian's hand, placing it on the coffee table.

"What?" Shen Nian looked up.

Jiang Fan removed her foot from his leg and moved closer to her.

"Eat noodles."

Shen Nian took two seconds to react.

He punched him in the chest.

"Jiang Fan, can't you be serious for once!"

"I'm very serious. You said it."

"I meant noodles!!!"

Shen Nian's voice rose eight octaves, her entire face burning hot enough to fry an egg.

Jiang Fan chuckled and stopped teasing her.

There was silence for a few seconds.

Shen Nian lifted her head from his shoulder, her ears turning bright red all the way down to her neck.

"...Then I'll go wash up."

The sound was so soft it was almost inaudible.

She stood up from the sofa and walked quickly toward the bathroom. As she passed the coffee table, her knee bumped against the corner, causing her to wince in pain, but she didn't stop.

The bathroom door was closed.

The sound of water rose

Jiang Fan sat on the sofa and stared at the direction of the bathroom for two seconds.

Then he stood up, walked over, and opened the bathroom door.

A mist of water hit my face.

Shen Nian stood under the showerhead, water streaming down her hair. Hearing the door open, she turned around abruptly, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"I haven't finished washing yet, who let you in—"

"Let's wash quickly together."

"you--"

-

About an hour later.

The bathroom mirror was completely fogged up, and the sound of running water had stopped sometime ago.

Shen Nian clung to Jiang Fan, her legs weak and unable to stand.

"You...you said we could shower together and it would be faster...?"

Jiang Fan wrapped her up in a bath towel.

Shen Nian leaned against his chest, panting, her hair dripping wet and clinging to her back in strands.

"My legs are weak."

"I'll carry you out."

"……Um."

Jiang Fan picked her up in his arms and pushed open the bathroom door.

The heat dissipated, and the cold air from the living room rushed in. Shen Nian shrank back and buried her face in his neck.

When he was put on the bed, Shen Nian's hand was still around his neck, and she didn't let go.

Jiang Fan looked down at her.

"Again?"