All the goddesses in the world are lusting after my body.

Jiang Tang absolutely had to find an opportunity to correct her.

Of course, for now, I can only dream about it. In the foreseeable future, I will have to endure being disliked by Liu Qingqing for a long time.

After all, he and she didn't have many opportunities to interact. He couldn't let this woman haunt him every time he came to Liu Chuyun's house for a date.

It's already outrageous enough that she's had a second marriage. In the future, even if Liu Qingqing wants to visit her aunt, she'll probably be very careful and ask her first beforehand.

Jiang Tang waited for dinner to be served and took the opportunity to check his phone, only to find that there were two messages.

Not many people actually have his real contact information. Most girls add him on his alternate account, and then it just sits in his contact list gathering dust. Jiang Tang almost never logs into his alternate account; when he does, 99+ people are flirting with him.

Ugh, what a hassle.

Jiang Tang, that Versailles guy, is really asking for a beating...

The message came from Cheng Diemeng, a maid whom Jiang Tang hadn't seen since the comic convention ended.

Looking back now, I still feel a bit nostalgic.

She was a petite and delicate girl with eyes like a timid kitten, and she owned a dog named Cream.

So the title of the poem that Han Ying chose is quite fitting: Ru Meng Ling, meaning as ethereal and sorrowful as a dream.

Just like Shi Xue's "Nian Nu Jiao," of course, Shi Xue's ci title seems to be only suitable for Jiang Tang.

Jiang Tang had previously helped Cheng Diemeng find her dog, which resulted in him having an unforgettable hotel night with Lilith.

It was on that very night that Jiang Tang cleared up his long-standing misunderstanding and realized his own worth, but... the joy didn't last long before he faced the ups and downs of life.

Or perhaps it's the existence of so-called "fate," something that people can't change. Even if there's only a one-day difference, once you miss it, it's gone.

An Qianxi left Rongcheng with her family, and their whereabouts are unknown.

Her phone number was canceled, and her online account lay quietly in Jiang Tang's contact list, seemingly forever grayed out and never lit up.

Jiang Tang felt a slight tingling in his nose, but he quickly composed himself and decided it was best not to think about such things now.

He opened the message sent by Cheng Diemeng and the first thing he saw was a picture of a puppy.

Accompanying this was Cheng Diemeng's cheerful addition of a "smiling emoji" message.

Cheng Diemeng: Brother Jiang Tang, the cream is ready!

Oh, so that's what it was about. She even came all the way here to tell me. How adorable.

Looking at the cheerful and lively white Bichon Frise in the photo, Jiang Tang couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

But the smile quickly froze and eventually disappeared as Jiang Tang thought of something else.

Cheng Diemeng is a very pitiful girl. She ran away from home because of family reasons and has been living alone and working to support herself and Cream ever since. Nobody knows how she is doing these days.

But it's already the start of the school year, so she should be at school now, right?

Cheng Diemeng is not very old; she should be in high school.

If she were to drop out of school due to financial difficulties or something similar, Jiang Tang would feel very sorry for her.

If she were willing to ask him, Jiang Tang would be very willing to become her benefactor.

With that in mind, Jiang Tang started typing a reply to her message on his phone, while subtly hinting at his intentions.

Jiang Tang: The cream is so cute.

Jiang Tang: How have you been lately? Are you living a good life?

Cheng Diemeng: I'm fine! Thank you, Brother Jiang Tang!

Judging from her quick reply, she was genuinely surprised that Jiang Tang would respond to her at this time.

Or rather, she didn't even expect to get a reply from Jiang Tang in the first place. She even found it incredible that her friend hadn't been deleted by her brother Jiang Tang.

Because she was such a self-conscious girl, while Jiang Tang was so brilliant and radiant.

Jiang Tang: Has school started yet?

Jiang Tang then typed out the text.

This time, however, Cheng Diemeng did not reply to the message for a long time.

"..."

Now Jiang Tang was basically certain that Cheng Diemeng really did intend to give up her studies for the sake of making a living.

Or rather, she is already quietly putting it into practice.

Therefore, his brows furrowed deeply.

Just as he was about to type something, the words "typing" appeared above the chat box with Cheng Diemeng, making Jiang Tang decide to wait.

But Cheng Diemeng still lingered for a long time, perhaps because she was also thinking about how to phrase it and how to tell Brother Jiang Tang about this matter...

Finally, the message was sent.

Cheng Diemeng: ...I'm sorry, Brother Jiang Tang, I can't afford the tuition with the money I earn from my part-time job, so now I can only spend each day with Cream...

Cheng Diemeng: And now that school has started, I no longer have the chance to go to high school...

Jiang Tang: What nonsense are you talking about!

Jiang Tang: Besides going to school, what else should a girl your age be doing!

Cheng Diemeng: I'm sorry... I'm so sorry! But I...

If Cheng Diemeng were standing in front of Jiang Tang right now, she probably would have already burst into tears.

But in reality, at this moment, Cheng Diemeng was also holding her Bichon Frise, Cream, in her small, dilapidated rented room, her shoulders trembling, looking like she was about to cry.

Because she was more afraid of making Jiang Tang worry or angry than of not being able to study.

Jiang Tang's tone in the message he sent had become very serious, and Cheng Diemeng could sense it.

So she was very scared and at a loss.

Jiang Tang: How much is the tuition? Why don't you come to Shi Xue or me? Or go to Han Ying, the manager of the maid shop. Don't be fooled by her miserly appearance; she's actually a good person.

Cheng Diemeng: I don't want to trouble everyone...

Jiang Tang: You, who don't want to trouble everyone, are the most troublesome one!

"Idiot..." Jiang Tang couldn't help but mutter under his breath, but his tone was still full of concern for Cheng Diemeng.

Jiang Tang: Give me your bank card number.

Cheng Diemeng: No, no, Brother Jiang Tang...

Jiang Tang: Are you disobeying your master?

Cheng Diemeng: ...

Cheng Diemeng: No, I wouldn't dare...

Jiang Tang: Then send it over. Stop talking nonsense. If you're free tomorrow, come over to my house for a meal. Shi Xue misses you a lot.

Cheng Diemeng: ...Why are you so good to me? I can't do anything about it...

If she had any so-called "use value," Cheng Diemeng might... no, it should be said that she would definitely hand over all her usefulness to Jiang Tang.

Let him do whatever he wants with his body and his life.

As a reward for saving the cream.

As a way of repaying him for saving him.

But... I am such a useless and fragile person.

There was nothing about him that Jiang Tang could possibly value, neither talent nor physical ability.

Clutching the "cream" and her phone, the girl's shoulders trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Jiang Tang: What use are you to me if I don't need you?

Jiang Tang: It's like picking up a stray cat or a stray dog. You have to clean up their poop and feed them every day. If they get sick, you have to take care of them. And maybe the house will be a mess. What are we doing this for?

Jiang Tang: But I don't want anything in return. It's like if you find some cream, would you expect it to repay you?

When Cheng Diemeng saw Jiang Tang's news in her eyes, for some reason, the original gloom gradually faded away, and light returned to her eyes.

Jiang Tang's words inspired her, and she did not feel insulted at all.

On the contrary, Jiang Tang's words gave her meaning in this relationship that was unequal from beginning to end.

She was just a stray cat or a stray dog ​​that Jiang Tang picked up on a whim, and then he took on the responsibility of taking care of her.

He asks for nothing in return, and he has no burden to bear.

As for dogs, it would be good if they could always remain loyal to their owners.

As a cat, you need to be well-behaved and occasionally affectionate...

Cheng Diemeng hugged her cream tightly, tears streaming down her face, yet a smile played on her lips, a complex mix of emotions surging within her.

It is the relief of loneliness, the breaking of clouds and the bright moon, the joy of finding belonging, and no longer being alone.

"Cream~ I've become someone else's 'cream' too..."

"Wang!"

"...Yes, he is a very, very good master."

"Woof woof!" It's unclear whether Cream understood or not, but its barking suddenly became louder.

It's like arguing that your own master is the best master.

Cheng Diemeng put it down, and the cream started running happily around her.

Cheng Diemeng tossed out a bone—a toy bone, of course—and Cream ran over happily, wagging her tail as she picked it up.

If it were Jiang Tang, what kind of backbone would he give himself?

Cheng Diemeng thought with curiosity and anticipation, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Cheng Diemeng: I understand, Brother Jiang Tang...

Cheng Diemeng: Tomorrow, I will come to visit Brother Jiang Tang and Sister Shixue!

Jiang Tang: Okay, my address is Unit 1, Building 10, Tianfu University Community, Room 2006 on the 20th floor. If you can't find it, you can contact me and I will come pick you up.

Jiang Tang: Also, don't forget your bank card.