Chapter 443: A Panicked Night

In the lobby, the atmosphere grew even more delicate.

Watching Tang Song's attire, Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling's gaze gradually softened.

He came to pick her up after work and had specifically changed into this outfit; this was likely the romance coming from Senior Brother Tang Song.

However, seeing Lin Mu standing nearby, also in professional wear, with fair skin, beautiful features, and long legs, her eyes dimmed again.

Even if she transformed into "Fake Ling," when facing a woman like Lin Mu, she still felt inferior.

Xiao Mingxuan took a deep breath, tugged Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue's arm, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Have you made enough of a scene, Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue! Come with me!"

"Get lost!" Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue shook off his hand, looked at Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling, and said with a mocking tone, "Heh, I really underestimated you. You're such a scheming girl, stringing along Xiao Mingxuan while being ambiguous with other men."

Immediately after, she looked at Tang Song's handsome face, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Let me advise you: you must look at people carefully."

If she had met Tang Song under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have minded having a pleasant chat.

But given today's situation, the anger in her heart simply wouldn't subside.

Even knowing she was somewhat in the wrong now, she still had to vent the pent-up frustration in her chest.

Moreover, Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling had indeed done many things that crossed her bottom line.

Such as going to KTV with Xiao Mingxuan, eating alone together, receiving promotions and special care, and having an intimate relationship...

Just these things alone were enough!

Having finished speaking, Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue was just about to turn around when her arm was suddenly yanked hard by someone.

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling, with red-rimmed eyes, glared furiously: "On what grounds do you slander me based on your own assumptions?"

Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue flung her hand away, saying, "You know very well whether it's true or not; don't think I don't know your little schemes."

Watching the scene before him, Xiao Mingxuan's brow twitched repeatedly; he grabbed Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue's wrist again, pulled her back slightly, and said, "I'm sorry, Yao Yao Yao Lingling."

The words had barely left his mouth when Tang Song's figure suddenly appeared in front of Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling, separating them.

Now that he was close, Tang Song naturally saw Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue's appearance clearly, and previous memories naturally surfaced in his mind.

He had seen this woman before; previously, after helping Zhang Zhang Zhang Jiahong move, inside Shenghao KTV.

He had witnessed with his own eyes Xiao Mingxuan and this woman pulling and shoving each other, arguing in the hallway.

With his emotional intelligence and way of thinking, he could naturally guess the messy affairs between the two.

Last time at the KTV, this woman had probably come to "catch them in the act."

Looking at Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue and Xiao Mingxuan, Tang Song said, "Yao Yao Yao Lingling is my friend; I know her better than you do. As for the matters between you and Xiao Mingxuan, I have absolutely no interest."

His voice carried an unquestionable authority, and a powerful aura naturally emanated from him.

Briefly suppressed by Tang Song's imposing manner, Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue clenched her fists tightly, her voice suddenly rising: "You..."

"I have no interest in hearing what you have to say next." Tang Song directly raised his hand to cut off her unspoken words, then looked at Xiao Mingxuan and said, "Manage your own private affairs; don't let others get implicated. Yao Yao Yao Lingling is merely your colleague; she has no obligation to bear baseless accusations on your behalf."

Xiao Mingxuan froze for a moment, lowered his gaze, and said, "I understand."

Tonight, he had indeed behaved extremely like a coward.

Given his true personality, if it weren't for the complicated relationship between him and Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue, he would have dragged her away long ago.

Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue's expression changed drastically; she clenched her fists tightly, momentarily at a loss for words.

Although she was arrogant, domineering, and unreasonable, she wasn't a fool.

As a second-generation rich kid running a company, she had her own way of handling matters.

No matter how willfully she behaved in private, basic decency still had to be maintained.

She dared to bully Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling because she had the capital for it; her father was a shareholder of Shangya Fashion Design.

Even when making things difficult for Xiao Mingxuan, she hadn't rushed directly into his company but waited downstairs for him, choosing a time slot when very few people were around.

In fact, if Lin Mu hadn't started cursing her immediately, Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue wouldn't have directly traded insults with her.

And facing this young man wearing a Patek Philippe watch worth over a million, possessing outstanding temperament and a powerful aura...

Unless she was truly insane, she wouldn't directly go up to mock and curse him.

Looking at Tang Song standing before her and listening to his words, Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling's eyes blurred slightly.

Today had originally been perfect: cycling together in the morning, and now her senior brother coming to pick her up after work; her mood had reached an extreme high.

As a result, Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue suddenly popped up, spewing abuse without distinguishing right from wrong, and slandering her right in front of Tang Song.

Her heart was filled with too much grievance and sadness.

Tang Song's appearance and defense were like an invisible wall, protecting her within, making her heart feel warm and deeply moved.

Li Li Li Shumin swallowed hard, her eyes becoming bright and sparkling.

She suddenly felt as though Senior Brother Tang Song was enveloped in a layer of colorful rosy clouds, so dazzling they made it hard to open one's eyes.

So handsome!

Moreover, that Lin Mu, who also had a huge background, was so respectful toward Senior Brother Tang Song, even addressing him as "Tang Zong."

It gave her a feeling of having her worldview refreshed.

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling boldly grabbed Tang Song's arm and whispered, "I'm sorry, Senior Brother; I caused you trouble today. I'm truly sorry."

"It's nothing; this isn't your fault." Tang Song shook his head gently. "Let's go then; don't waste time here."

"Mm-hmm." Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling nodded vigorously, casting a glance at Li Li Li Shumin.

Li Li Li Shumin quickly said, "President Xiao, we'll be leaving now. Bye-bye."

Xiao Mingxuan opened his mouth, struggling to say, "Bye-bye."

Tang Song turned around and said in a gentle tone, "Goodbye, Seeing Xiao Xue."

Their eyes met; Lin Mu gently brought her legs together and said, "Goodbye, Tang Zong. Stay safe on the road."

"Mm." Tang Song nodded, then led Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling and Li Li Li Shumin forward.

They had walked only a few steps when...

Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue's cold and arrogant voice rang out again: "Lin Mu, I won't forget a single word you said today. Just you wait; it won't be long! I will speak face-to-face with the person in charge of Lanfeng International Hotel. I'm waiting for you to apologize to me, but I will absolutely never forgive you."

Her tone was full of threats and hatred, as if she could already see the scene of Lin Mu bowing her head and admitting fault before her.

From childhood until now, no one had ever dared to speak to her like this.

No matter how troublesome it might be, she would mobilize all her resources to make the other party pay a heavy price.

Jiaxin Group was not a simple fashion design company like Shangya; it was a comprehensive apparel group with products sold domestically and internationally, its scale even larger than Huachang Apparel.

Counting its predecessor as a state-owned enterprise, it had existed for over 50 years, possessing a rich network of connections and partner enterprises, definitely capable of influencing the Lanfeng International Hotel.

She would definitely make Lin Mu regret offending her!

As her words spread through the lobby, a look of panic appeared on Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling's face.

Lin Mu had offended Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue only because she was helping her.

If this truly affected the other party's career, she would die of guilt.

One person should bear responsibility for their own actions; perhaps only by apologizing to Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue herself could she see if the situation could be salvaged somewhat.

She bit her lip, suddenly halted her steps, and whispered, "Senior Brother..."

The words had barely left her mouth when Tang Song, who was ahead, suddenly turned around.

His gaze fell upon Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue, and he said calmly and indifferently, "If you have something to say, you can say it to me now."

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling and Li Li Li Shumin both froze, unable to react to why their senior brother would suddenly say this.

Lin Mu, who had been observing Tang Song all along, showed an excited blush on her face, her bladder contracting sharply.

He turned around! He turned around for me!

Tang Song truly does love me!

After a moment, Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue curled the corners of her mouth, her expression ugly as she said, "What do you mean by this?! Now you're sticking up for Lin Mu again? This is our grudge; on what grounds do you interfere in our affairs?"

Li Li Li Shumin and Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling's hearts instantly lifted to their throats.

Tenderness surged in Lin Mu's eyes as she watched Tang Song motionlessly.

Although she also loved showing off and slapping faces, she loved even more the sight of Tang Song standing up for her; just one glance could make her wet.

Tang Song's eyebrows rose slightly, his gaze carrying a sense of oppression as he said, "Didn't you say you wanted to have a face-to-face chat with me?"

"You..." Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue's eye twitched; she stared blankly for a moment, her expression shocked as she said, "Do you mean... you are the person in charge of Lanfeng International Hotel?"

Lin Mu licked her lips, lifted her chin, and said in a cold tone laced with mockery: "Tang Zong is the major shareholder and executive director of Lanfeng International Hotel. If you have something to say, you can say it now. His word is definitely much more effective than that of a mere person in charge."

As her words fell, the surroundings instantly fell silent.

As a locally renowned comprehensive luxury five-star hotel and a landmark building, Lanfeng International Hotel enjoyed immense fame.

Suddenly hearing that the owner of this hotel was right before their eyes, and that it was Tang Song, everyone's minds were shaken, buzzing with shock.

Xiao Mingxuan, who reacted first, had his pupils dilate, an expression of disbelief spreading across his face.

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling's body trembled; she stared blankly at the senior brother beside her. Her mind went blank, as if all her thoughts had been extracted.

Li Li Li Shumin was dumbfounded, her breathing becoming increasingly rapid, as if she were about to faint.

Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue's face instantly turned pale; her fingers tightly gripped her bag strap, her knuckles turning white.

At this moment, it could be called her most awkward and most humiliating moment.

The threats she had made against Lin Mu earlier now seemed exceptionally ridiculous.

Even her accusations and mockery directed at Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling appeared pale and powerless.

Looking at Tang Song's handsome and upright figure, then thinking of his identity, Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue ground her silver teeth, her mood complex and inexplicable.

Xiao Mingxuan might be excellent, but he was merely a second-generation rich kid waiting to inherit the family business, and Shangya was just a fashion design company with some local reputation.

Compared to Tang Song, who was the owner of Lanfeng International Hotel, they were simply not on the same level.

A person like Tang Song could communicate directly as equals with their fathers' generation.

"If you have nothing else to say, then I will be leaving." Tang Song's voice remained calm, seemingly without any fluctuation.

Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue's lips moved, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Tang Song glanced at Lin Empress Mu Xue, nodded gently, patted Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling on the back, and said, "Let's go, Yao Yao Yao Lingling."

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling turned around in a daze and followed Tang Song as he walked outside.

Li Li Li Shumin, her face flushed, took several deep breaths and quickly hurried after them.

Watching their departing figures, Xiao Mingxuan's throat felt parched.

Suddenly, Lin Empress Mu Xue's earlier words floated into his mind: "To be honest, I simply don't believe Yao Yao Yao Lingling could take a liking to him."

The corner of Lin Empress Mu Xue's mouth curled upward; her gaze carried unmasked aggression as she said coldly, "Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue, I won't forget a single word you said either. Just you wait; it won't be long!"

She spoke these words with genuine emotion, high-spirited and triumphant.

Her coming here today was never truly about doing anything; Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling had merely crossed paths with her by chance.

Her true stage was next Wednesday. She looked forward to seeing what expression would appear on Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue's face when she saw her appear in another identity.

The sound of "click-clack" footsteps echoed through the empty lobby of the office building.

Lin Empress Mu Xue turned with a flourish and waved to Xu Ning, who was huddled in the corner.

Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue's chest heaved violently; her eyes flashed with hatred and ferocity as she gritted her teeth and spat, "You bitch!"

Xiao Mingxuan said in a low voice, "Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue! Don't you think you're going too far? Look at what you've done today! You're acting like a madwoman!"

"Get lost!" Wen Wen Wen Qiuyue shoved him. "Xiao Mingxuan, I know exactly what you're thinking. I could overlook those messy affairs of yours from when we were abroad. But now that we're engaged, if you dare betray me, I absolutely will not let you off!"

Xiao Mingxuan clenched his fists tightly and pressed his lips together with force.

A cool early autumn evening breeze blew against their faces.

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling's bewildered mind gradually cleared; looking at the "familiar yet strange" Senior Brother Tang Song beside her, she couldn't help but pat her chest.

!

Lowering her brows and casting down her eyes, she said, "Senior Brother, are you really the... owner of Lanfeng International Hotel? Could I be dreaming?"

That was just her personality; aside from this secret crush, she was always cheerful, generous, and straightforward.

"Slap—" Her buttocks were suddenly slapped.

"You dead Damn Damn Minmin! What are you doing!" Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling covered her butt and glared at Li Li Li Shumin.

"Does it hurt? Then it definitely isn't a dream!" Li Li Li Shumin swallowed hard, then said weakly, "Senior Brother, what's the situation here? Are you playing 'Super Saiyan transformation' with us?"

Seeing the expressions of the two junior sisters, Tang Song couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth.

He stepped in front of the two, cleared his throat lightly, and pretended to sigh with emotion, "Sigh, I originally planned to get along with you as an ordinary person. I won't pretend anymore; I'm a billionaire. I'm showing my hand."

As he spoke, Tang Song mimicked Wang Duoyu's gesture from the movie, spreading his hands and winking at Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling.

"Pfft—" Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling bent over laughing. "Do you want me to perform 'Three Bites, One Pig' for Tang Zong?"

"Oh? I didn't expect Little Yao to have such a talent; it seems you really want to advance."

"I'll need Tang Zong to guide me a lot in the future."

"That depends on whether you know how to be sensible." Tang Song smiled lightly as he looked her over.

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling's face turned red; she lightly patted his shoulder and said, "Senior Brother, you're so bad!"

Even though she said that, the tension and shock on her face had completely vanished, and she felt much more relaxed.

She was a local of Yancheng; although her home was in a town in the suburbs, she had a deep impression of Lanfeng International Hotel.

Suddenly learning that Tang Song was actually a shareholder and executive director of this hotel, it was inevitable that she would feel a huge sense of distance and unreality in her heart.

But after Tang Song's jokes and teasing, this sense of distance gradually disappeared.

Li Li Li Shumin, standing nearby, watched the two of them, her eyes full of envy.

For her, tonight felt just like a dream.

She never would have thought that the "Senior Brother Tang Song" she had always teased was actually the owner of Lanfeng International Hotel!

No wonder... no wonder someone as awesome as Lin Empress Mu Xue was so polite to him.

But he's only been graduated for a little over three years! How could he be so awesome!

Could it be that, just like Xiao Mingxuan, he is some kind of super-rich second generation hiding his identity?

And then online he "listened to advice and transformed," unexpectedly being captured by Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling as an "electronic pet."

In reality, Xiao Mingxuan; online, Senior Brother Tang Song.

Moreover, Senior Brother Tang Song was the Pro version of Xiao Mingxuan, coming with a fortune of hundreds of millions.

Oh my god! Yao Yao Yao Lingling is... she is truly a daughter of destiny!

"We're here." Tang Song stopped beside the car and grasped the door handle.

With a "click," the car lights flashed, and the vehicle unlocked.

"Gulp—" Li Li Li Shumin's throat moved; her eyes widened as she said, "Is this... a Bentley Continental? So beautiful!"

The glacier-white paint, under the night's gentle caress, looked as if covered in a thin layer of frost. The iconic four round headlights, the winged car emblem, the five-spoke alloy wheels...

The elegant and luxurious Bentley Continental, like an exquisite mechanical work of art, exuded a cold yet charming aura.

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling's heartbeat suddenly accelerated to its peak, as if it were about to jump right out of her throat.

It was only now that she suddenly remembered the agreement she had made with Senior Brother Tang Song before.

At the time, she had only thought the other party was teasing, so she played along with a joke; her purpose was actually just to hope he would pick her up once.

Could this... could this actually be for real?

But Senior Brother Tang Song is a very upright and reserved person; he was probably joking too.

Tang Song took the key out of his pocket, shook it, and smiled, "Yao Yao Yao Lingling, do you want to take it for a test drive now?"

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling quickly shook her head vigorously, "I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare! It's too valuable; if I scratched or bumped it, I couldn't afford to pay for it."

"You don't need to pay; catch!" Tang Song directly tossed the key over.

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling raised both hands, caught it precisely, and said with some anticipation, "Then... then I'll drive slowly."

She had obtained her driver's license right after graduating from high school; her family had an old Fit, and occasionally when going home she would drive it out to have some fun, so her driving skills were actually quite good.

Li Li Li Shumin, standing nearby, let out a breath and said softly, "Well, since you two are going for a joyride, I won't join the fun. I have things to do at home. There's a bus stop right next to us; I can take route 42 to get there. Bye-bye."

After speaking, Li Li Li Shumin waved to Tang Song and jogged away.

Tang Song smiled, pulled open the front passenger door, and said, "Get in, Yao Yao Yao Lingling."

"Oh, oh." Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling nodded quickly, excitedly opened the door, and sat in the driver's seat.

Under Tang Song's guidance, she figured out the buttons inside the car.

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling carefully adjusted the seat and rearview mirror, her hand gripping the steering wheel trembling slightly.

Tang Song couldn't help but laugh, "Don't be nervous; just treat it like your little Suzuki scooter."

"How can these be the same..." Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling took a deep breath.

"Vroom—" The engine's roar sounded; the dashboard lit up with dazzling animations, illuminating Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling's plain face.

The car started slowly, merged onto the city's main road, and headed south.

Although Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling was a bit nervous, her operation was fairly steady.

The night was as dark as ink; streetlights cast a soft glow, reflecting off the glacier-white car body, refracting into fine specks of light, like scattered starlight.

After a while, the Bentley Continental slowly drove out of Yancheng's South Second Ring Road.

The lights and tall buildings outside the car window gradually became sparse.

The road became wider and wider, and the traffic coming and going became less and less.

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling's heartbeat gradually steadied, replaced by an indescribable excitement.

"Stand firm and hold on; I'm going to drive a little faster!" Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling called out and lightly pressed the accelerator.

The engine's low growl penetrated the soundproofing layer into the cabin, carrying a sense of power that made one's heart race.

"Senior Brother, this car is really so stable! And the power and handling are simply invincible! It's so fun to drive!"

Tang Song looked at the cheerful and generous junior sister and said in a relaxed tone, "If you like it, you can drive it often in the future."

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling smiled playfully, "Na na na! You said it yourself! Don't you dare go back on your word then."

"Don't worry; I always keep my word."

"Wow! This push-back sensation!" Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling couldn't help but exclaim, "Senior Brother, it's really too awesome! Awesome, awesome, awesome!"

The speed of the Bentley Continental GT continued to increase; Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling devoted herself entirely to experiencing the joy of driving.

Her cheerfulness and generosity were displayed to the fullest in this moment; facing her dream car, she made no attempt to hide her excitement and joy.

The two chatted and laughed for a while.

Tang Song rolled down the car window a crack; facing the rustling autumn wind, he slightly narrowed his eyes.

He looked toward the southeast and said, "Yao Yao Yao Lingling, turn left at the intersection ahead."

"Got it!" Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling shouted excitedly, and the car steadily traced an arc.

A few minutes later, the car slowly approached a massive building.

Tang Song glanced at Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling beside him and smiled, "Let's rest here for a while and look at the night view."

"Oh, oh, right away." Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling lightly pressed the brake, pulled over slowly, looked around, and said, "This is the Yannan Short Drama Film and Television Base, right? It seems the owner changed recently; the first phase is already completed, it's just unknown when it will open for business. When it does, this place will definitely become lively."

Tang Song asked curiously, "How do you know so much?"

"Hehe, I have relatives working inside; this place only started construction at the beginning of last year..." Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling pointed out the window and began chatting with Tang Song about this film and television base.

Her crisp and melodious voice added a touch of moving vitality to the night.

Tang Song leaned back in the soft leather seat, smiling as he watched the bright-eyed junior sister.

When this topic ended, Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling turned her head and happened to meet Tang Song's gaze.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat ambiguous.

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling extended a finger to smooth the strands of hair at her temple, her gaze darting away as she said, "Senior, what did you eat for dinner?"

Tang Song blinked, pointed at her chest, and said with a hint of teasing, "Yao Yao Yao Lingling, now that we've taken the Bentley Continental out for a spin, isn't it time to fulfill our agreement?"

"Ah! This... Senior, you..." Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling's body straightened abruptly, her face burning hot as fire.

Tang Song's eyebrows lifted slightly. "What? Is someone going to break their promise again?"

"I'm not." Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling lowered her head, her voice as light as a wisp of wind, nearly melting into the night, "It's just... oh my... alright..."

She didn't even know what she was muttering to herself.

"Then I'll begin." Tang Song unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned forward slightly.

Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling shrank back, her cheeks red as a ripe apple.

Biting her lip, she lifted her chin and puffed out her chest, pretending not to care as she said, "Here, come over! It's just a cushion, it's no big deal."

Tang Song smiled, extended his right hand, and let his slender fingers gently rest upon her chest.

The moment his fingertips made contact, the night seemed to freeze, and the entire world fell silent.

In Yao Yao Yao Yao Lingling's ears, only the sound of her pounding heartbeat remained.

Her fingers tightly gripped the edge of the seat, her breathing becoming cautious and restrained.

Although there was a 4cm cushion between them, at this very moment, she actually felt as though she were being truly caressed.

Gentle yet scorching, as if it could pierce through layer upon layer of barriers to reach straight into the depths of her heart.

(End of Chapter)