Chapter 519: Regrets of Time, Helplessness of Reality

The night was deep, and the lights on both sides of Victoria Harbour were as bright as the galaxy.

The bustling crowd flowed past them like moving light and shadow, and the surrounding noise seemed to be isolated.

Tang Song’s fingers gently brushed over her warm neck, feeling the breath between Shen Yuyan’s lips, and examining this face that was both familiar and strange.

His hand couldn't help but exert a little force, and accompanied by Shen Yuyan’s low "hum," her teeth parted slightly.

A strange heartbeat, mixed with conquest and palpitation, exploded slowly in his mind.

Immediately after, their lips parted.

Shen Yuyan took a small step back.

She didn't look at Tang Song immediately, just turned her face away and let out a light laugh with a hint of self-mockery.

Then she lowered her head to tidy up her hair blown messy by the wind, and reached out to pull her shirt forward, covering the snow-white of her chest.

A moment later, she acted as if nothing had happened, saying in a relaxed tone: "Well... this is my first kiss, and it was won by you just like that. But well, I admit defeat, I, Shen Yuyan, accept it."

Tang Song looked at her, the corners of his mouth lifting, "You’re quite good at following the rules."

Shen Yuyan’s eyes didn't dodge, "Of course, we agreed on one kiss, so it’s one kiss, not a bit more."

"Is that so?"

"Mhm." Shen Yuyan stood on tiptoe and whispered: "By the way, let’s agree first, our 'bet' tonight, absolutely cannot tell Qingqing."

Her tone was like an intimate tease, and also like drawing a boundary.

Combined with those peach blossom eyes that looked exceptionally alluring at the moment, it was the ultimate tug-of-war.

Their gazes intertwined in the humid air for a moment, Tang Song’s Adam’s apple rolled, "Okay, as you wish."

But in his heart, he silently felt injustice for his coser girlfriend.

Shen school beauty, oh Shen school beauty! This is your best friend of more than ten years!

And you just used her as a wingman!

See how I teach you a lesson later!

Shen Yuyan chuckled, winked playfully at him, and then suddenly turned and walked forward.

"We haven't been to the Avenue of Stars yet, we have to take more photos later, otherwise it’s a wasted trip."

She didn't look back, just waved at him with her back turned.

Tang Song stood in place, looking at her slender back, disappearing into the crowd in the flickering light.

At that moment, he seemed to see the encounters in the university campus.

It was the brushing past her while she was talking and laughing with classmates on the forest path;

It was the stunning glance when she turned her head while holding a tray in the noisy canteen;

It was the heart-pounding heartbeat when walking toward each other in the empty corridor of the quiet teaching building.

Although he had obtained many fragments of lost memories, for Tang Song, his university days still had many pasts worth savoring repeatedly.

Youth really only happens once.

During those days, a group of classmates of similar age surrounded him, chatting about games, commenting on school beauties, arguing about TV dramas—

Everyone carried a vigorous spirit, full of infinite expectations for the future, and the purest longing for the opposite sex.

Whether it was the high-spirited school beauty Shen Yuyan or the cute and adorable coser Xu Qing, they were all a part of it.

Rosewood Hotel, LVMH Asia Pacific Elite Gathering scene.

Inside the banquet hall, the ceiling lights were soft and brilliant, and limited-edition art pieces from the LVMH collection hung on the walls.

Minimalist French lines and champagne gold tones intertwined, presenting a low-key luxurious atmosphere.

The amber liquid in the high-footed glass had delicate bubbles, rising slowly.

On the long table, cold snacks custom-made by a three-Michelin-starred chef were displayed.

Lin Muxue held a wine glass, her makeup exquisite, her red lips cold and glamorous.

She wore a Louis Vuitton haute couture backless evening gown, with shimmering beads dotted on her chest, light shimmering as she walked.

"Clink~~"

The high-footed glasses collided lightly, the sound crisp and pleasant.

"Ms. Lin, I’ve heard of Confluent Capital for a long time. I heard that your company’s layout in the technology and consumer fields in recent years is very forward-looking. An executive like you who possesses both a financial background and aesthetic vision is truly rare." LVMH Asia President Mason smiled, his tone sincere and polite.

Lin Muxue wore a proper smile, her tone soft: "You flatter me. LVMH not only represents the top level of luxury goods but is also a leader in contemporary lifestyle and cultural taste. Being able to communicate with everyone here tonight is very beneficial."

Based on her in-depth understanding of luxury goods and the fashion circle knowledge she had crammed,

Lin Muxue’s performance was effortless and composed.

When she intentionally or unintentionally revealed her interest in the brand advisory group, Mason immediately invited her.

Lin Muxue smiled lightly, clinking glasses with him in a cloud-like manner, "If there is an opportunity for cooperation, I would naturally be very happy to participate."

"Okay, we’ll contact you after the meeting."

Mason nodded, the two exchanged pleasantries for a moment, and swapped contact information.

The atmosphere was just right.

Mason had just left when several other attendees took the initiative to surround her, handing over business cards, their tone enthusiastic.

Lin Muxue tilted her head slightly, inevitably feeling a bit floaty in her heart.

At the same time, she also had many inexplicable emotions in her heart.

This place was not what she had imagined.

The guests were not the kind of flashy "vanity fair" she had assumed.

No one showed off famous watches, and almost no one talked about entertainment gossip.

Even stars from Xiangjiang and the mainland, including Bei Yuwei, were just foils here.

Her outfit tonight was carefully prepared according to the standards of stars and socialites, and initially didn't attract much attention.

It wasn't until her identity as "Assistant to the Chairman of Confluent Capital" was revealed that a real chemical reaction occurred.

Standing in the center of the banquet hall where lights intersected, she felt like she had truly stepped into another world.

She also realized some of her past vanity.

10:00 PM.

A black and silver two-tone Bentley slowly drove out of the hotel entrance, the rear window rising, merging into the endless neon traffic. Lin Muxue sat in the back seat, adjusting her skirt elegantly, rubbing her ankles that were aching slightly.

Bei Yuwei, sitting beside her, was looking down at a message, and suddenly looked up at her, her tone soft: "Muxue, I plan to post a few photos of tonight’s event on Weibo, you’re in them, you don't mind, right?"

Lin Muxue was slightly stunned, her originally somewhat tired body straightening up subconsciously.

"Of course I don't mind."

"Then I’ll have my assistant post it."

"Hmm." Lin Muxue nodded lightly, responding reservedly, but a flush that was hard to suppress quietly appeared on her cheeks.

In fact, for this kind of opportunity to appear in the public eye and stand alongside stars and celebrities, she had absolutely no resistance deep in her heart.

After a while, she finally couldn't help it, unlocked her phone nonchalantly, opened Weibo, and refreshed the page quietly.

In the photos, she was surrounded by several stars and artists from Tang Zong Entertainment, smiling properly, her expression confident, looking exactly like the heroine surrounded by starlight.

In the comment section below, many people were also discussing her, guessing which star she was.

Lin Muxue licked her somewhat dry lips lightly, subconsciously adjusting her sitting posture on the leather seat, twisting her waist and hips.

An indescribable sense of satisfaction and vanity, like a warm spring, wrapped around her, making her body and mind feel extremely comfortable at this moment.

Bei Yuwei’s eyes flickered.

She opened WeChat and reported the interaction with Lin Muxue tonight, as well as the Weibo posting effect, to Mo Xiangwan in a concise manner.

After sending it, she let out a long sigh of relief.

Her mind couldn't help but recall the scene from 5 days ago, which still made her feel lingering fear.

In that empty office, Su Yu’s cold eyes, without a trace of temperature, looked down at her, calmly asking about the relationship between her and Tang Song.

That invisible but powerful pressure and queen aura made Bei Yuwei’s psychological defense collapse in an instant,

shivering, she confessed everything one by one.

It was precisely because of this that she confirmed from the side the unusual and inseparable relationship between Su Yu and Tang Song.

This realization scared her so much that she hadn't fully recovered yet.

These past few days, even though she clearly knew that Tang Song was staying at the same Four Seasons Hotel, she didn't dare to sneak a look at him, let alone contact him.

And then, she was directly arranged to Xiangjiang by Mo Xiangwan, with the only task of being responsible for contacting Lin Muxue and getting along with her at all costs.

And according to instructions, "spread" the photos of her and the Tang Zong Entertainment staff to the internet.

She didn't know the real reason behind this, and didn't dare to ask a word more.

Outside the window was the night scene of Xiangjiang, neon lights reflecting on the Bentley’s glass, casting layers of light and shadow on half of her face, making her look both cold and charming.

Bei Yuwei sighed deeply, and Tang Song’s figure appeared in her mind involuntarily.

She never expected.

That man who made her heart flutter, that Tang Song who made her experience the taste of love for the first time, was actually Su Yu’s man.

Although her feelings for Tang Song were not pure, after several contacts, she truly fell for him.

That feeling, perhaps it could also be called love.

And, it was her first love.

But with this relationship like a chasm between them, she naturally didn't dare to have any extravagant thoughts.

Every time she thought of this, her heart felt like it was being gripped by something, and even breathing became difficult.

Bei Yuwei bit her lip hard, looking out the window in a daze, a thick sense of loneliness rising in her eyes.

"Buzz buzz buzz—"

The vibration of the phone in her hand interrupted her thoughts.

Bei Yuwei glanced at the screen, her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly opened the message.

[Mo Zong: "Well done, continue to maintain a good relationship with Muxue and deepen private contact."]

Glancing at Lin Muxue beside her, she quickly typed a reply: "Okay, Mo Zong!"

[Mo Zong: "I have already notified your agent. Next, you will receive the domestic endorsement contract for Bulgari, as well as the film contract for an S-level movie heroine."]

Seeing this message, Bei Yuwei’s heart jumped violently, but it didn't surge with the wild joy she had imagined.

These were indeed the top resources she had always dreamed of, but the deep-seated sense of loss just now didn't dissipate much because of this.

That feeling was even more intense than she had imagined.

"Buzz buzz buzz—" The phone vibrated again.

[Mo Zong: "In addition, from now on, there will be no unspoken rules in the company that will touch you, and all resources and conditions will be tilted in your favor. Also, one last reminder, when filming in the future, there cannot be any intimate scenes, especially pay attention to private contact with men. Of course, except for Tang Song. Yuwei, I won't say much, but you should know the weight behind this and the possible consequences, don't let me down."]

Seeing this message, Bei Yuwei’s eyes widened instantly, feeling her mouth dry, her heart beating wildly as if it were about to jump out of her chest.

The mind that was occupied by loss and despair a second ago was completely detonated by an unbelievable, huge joy at this moment!

Her emotional intelligence was extremely high, and she understood the rules of the circle very well.

She almost instantly understood the real, astonishing subtext behind Mo Xiangwan’s words.

This meant that the company tacitly approved, or could even be said to encourage, the relationship between her and Tang Song!

"Are you okay? Yuwei." Lin Muxue turned slightly, looking at the trembling Bei Yuwei, and asked with concern.

Bei Yuwei looked up suddenly, her face full of excited flush.

"It’s okay, it’s okay!" Her voice carried a tremor that couldn't be hidden, "I, I just received a notice from the company, I got, I got the heroine of the movie I’ve been dreaming of!"

Lin Muxue, upon hearing this, immediately bloomed with a sincere smile: "Really? Congratulations! I said it, you are so beautiful, and your acting is so good, you will become a first-line superstar sooner or later. When that time comes, don't forget your friend here."

"Naturally not!" Bei Yuwei looked at Lin Muxue beside her, couldn't help but step forward and hug her hard, excitedly kissing her on the cheek, "Thank you Muxue, I’m so happy!"

For her, two short messages directly changed her life.

Four Seasons Hotel.

"Ding—" The elevator stopped on the 41st floor, the lights quiet and soft.

Shen Yuyan looked at Tang Song beside her and waved her hand hard, "Tang Song, I’m going back."

"Bye, rest early."

Seeing Tang Song still in that unconcerned manner, Shen Yuyan pursed her lips and took the initiative to step forward and hug him.

Her body tilted slightly, the full curves of her C+ cup pressing against his arm, her movements intimate but grasped just right.

"I had a great time tonight, thank you." Her tone was low and soft, the tail sound trembling, "Good night."

The elevator door closed slowly, and Tang Song’s figure gradually disappeared.

Shen Yuyan held her handbag and walked back to the suite lightly, her footsteps falling into the thick and soft carpet.

"Click." The door closed.

"Phew—" Shen Yuyan let out a long breath.

The corners of her mouth lifted, humming a light tune, taking off her high heels and changing into soft slippers.

Tonight was a perfect fulfillment of her expectations.

She could feel that Tang Song’s gaze toward her carried intense emotions.

He was moved.

The tug-of-war between men and women is truly wonderful.

Recalling the scenes of the night, especially his kisses and sucking.

Shen Yuyan couldn't help but tremble, her legs quietly closing and tightening.

She had to take a shower and change clothes as soon as possible.

Walking into the living room, her footsteps paused.

On the sofa, a figure sat quietly. Lin Muxue wore a high-luxury custom evening gown, her makeup exquisite, her face beautiful, her long, moist legs crossed, her eyes carrying thick sarcasm and coldness.

Their gazes met.

Shen Yuyan greeted with a smile, "Hello, Luna, when did you get back?"

Lin Muxue narrowed her eyes and said indifferently: "It seems that you had a great time playing with Mr. Tang?"

Shen Yuyan walked over, gathered her long hair casually, and said lazily: "Not bad, the night view of Victoria Harbour is very romantic. Tang Song—hmm, is also very sweet."

Lin Muxue’s mouth twitched, she slowly stood up, stepped on her eight-centimeter high heels, and looked down at Shen Yuyan from above, "Our Shirley really doesn't let go of any opportunity. I thought you would be more enterprising and go straight upstairs..."

"Haha," Shen Yuyan chuckled, "Isn't that what you are better at, Luna? Or are you not planning to go up tonight? Want to spend a good night with me?"

The air suddenly became a bit colder.

Lin Muxue leaned down slowly, her red lips almost touching Shen Yuyan’s cheek, her voice aggressive: "Dream. On."

Shen Yuyan’s chest rose and fell slightly, but she still maintained her smile, "Luna is really dedicated, even on a business trip, she doesn't forget to help the boss 'relax'."

"Likewise." Lin Muxue’s mouth hooked slightly, leaning to her ear and saying: "By the way, don't put your phone on silent tonight. In case Mr. Tang needs some special supplies, for the sake of confidentiality, I’ll have to trouble his 'special assistant' to run errands, right?"

After saying this, she patted Shen Yuyan’s shoulder not too lightly, and turned to leave.

Her long skirt dragged on the floor, her waist thin and hips round, her steps alluring.

"Bang—" The door was closed heavily, the lamp shadows trembling.

The smile on Shen Yuyan’s face instantly froze, "!"

October 29, 2023, Sunday.

Autumn in Yangcheng is not as distinct as in the north, but there was already a hint of coolness in the morning breeze.

Liwan District, Lanxinyuan Residential Quarter.

This is an old-fashioned multi-story residential area built in the 90s, and the trees around it grow extremely lush.

Although the environment is old, it is maintained well enough.

"Morning, Auntie Wang."

"Oh my, going to buy groceries so early?" Auntie Wang asked with a smile: "What good things are you buying today?"

"Buying some Chinese kale and tofu." Zhang Yan raised the bag a bit, "Also bought chicken breast for Orange."

"You, you treat that cat better than yourself." Auntie Wang shook her head and smiled, "It’s almost fat into a ball!"

Zhang Yan smiled somewhat embarrassedly, lowered her head, didn't say anything more, and carried the bag as she turned and walked into the stairwell.

She lived on the top floor, the 6th floor, without an elevator, so every time she went up and down, she had to spend some extra effort.

Pushing open the door, a forty-square-meter studio was her entire world.

There was almost no decoration to speak of, the wall skin was slightly yellowed, the floor was covered with cheap floor leather, and the furniture also carried the simple and clumsy atmosphere of the previous era.

Besides an old sofa and coffee table in the living room, a small office area was squeezed into the corner, with a computer and a few books occupying the desk.

The only advantage was that the rent was cheap.

A ten-minute walk from Fangcun Subway Station, 1,000 yuan a month, in this first-tier city, it was a rare place to breathe.

"Meow—" A fat orange cat drilled out from under the sofa, rubbing its body intimately against her trouser legs.

"I’ll make you a big meal right away." Zhang Yan put down the things and rubbed its head dotingly.

The wall in the kitchen was not clean, and the range hood was also quite old. It could be seen that she had tried hard to clean it, but the thick, old grime was clearly difficult to deal with.

The spatula and iron pot collided with a crisp sound, and the fresh fragrance of Chinese kale and the bean fragrance of tofu blended in the oily smoke.

Before long, a plate of stir-fried Chinese kale with tofu and a freshly steamed bun were placed on the table.

Then, she carefully tore the boiled chicken breast into thin strips and put them into the cat bowl.

"Orange, dinner time."

The orange cat immediately jumped off the sofa, its four short legs kicking out a rapid drumbeat on the floor, and plunged its head into the bowl, eating without even lifting its head.

Zhang Yan watched it eat with relish, couldn't help but show a silly smile, her heart full of satisfaction.

After breakfast and cleaning up the kitchen, Zhang Yan sat at the desk and turned on the computer.

The boot was slow, the operation was laggy; it was the compensation calculated for her by the company that had gone bankrupt and owed her three months of salary.

Orange jumped onto the desk lightly, curled into a ball and lay in front of her, accompanying her quietly.

Just back from a business trip, there were still a few drafts that needed to be carefully organized.

After more than half an hour.

"Ding ding—" The WeChat video call ringtone rang abruptly.

[Zhang Lu]

Zhang Yan answered quickly, "Lu Lu."

"Yan Yan! I just woke up and saw an interview invitation on Boss Zhipin! You absolutely won't guess which company!" The voice on the other end of the phone was raised because of excitement.

"Which company is so amazing?"

"Star Cloud International Group!"

Zhang Yan whispered, "Really?!"

"Absolutely true! Although it’s just the Yangcheng branch, it’s an interview opportunity! I’ll go pray to the gods later, if I’m lucky, I might be able to get into a big factory!" Lu Lu’s voice was full of longing that couldn't be hidden.

The company they were in, Shuocheng Technology, had "technology" in its name, but it did traditional business of book publishing and marketing.

And the so-called marketing promotion was largely acting as a second-tier agent for Star Cloud International, earning some hard-earned money downstream. Every soft article they wrote and every plan they made had to be placed through Star Cloud International’s channels.

In their field, Star Cloud International Group was the top of the pyramid, a big factory that was out of reach.

After chatting with Lu Lu for a long time and hanging up the phone, Zhang Yan stared at the screen for a while.

Sitting up straight again, moving the mouse.

On the computer screen, first appeared some recruitment information for Yangcheng.

Then appeared rental information for Yancheng.

Zhang Yan looked at it seriously, stopping from time to time to think about something.

For things like resigning and looking for a job, she was actually already used to it.

It’s just that now there was an extra cat named Orange, so there was an extra heavy concern in her heart.

She felt that she had also become a "parent," and had to plan for the "child" first in everything.

Actually, thinking about it carefully, it was already very good now.

At least she could support herself and keep a cat.

It was also better than when she just graduated; at that time, there were student loans to pay back, and she could only live in a semi-basement in Tiantongyuan, damp and dark.

Compared to that time, the room in front of her that could see the sun was already heaven.

She lay on the table, her fingertips unconsciously twisting Orange’s warm ears, and what flashed before her eyes was the short but profound half-year time in the capital.

Interning, becoming a full-time employee, working day and night in that training institution.

And, the familiar yet strange figure in the sixth carriage of Subway Line 5 at 8:10 every morning.

It’s just that, in the end, he didn't remember her.

Her thoughts drifted away, and Zhang Yan’s gaze finally landed on the 32 volumes of "Dragon Ball" on the bookshelf.

She took a deep breath.

Took out the letter paper with "Yancheng Agricultural University" printed on it from the drawer, and pulled out the carbon pen she was used to holding.

The pen tip hovered, fell.

Stroke by stroke, she wrote solemnly: "Hello, classmate—"

Just four words, but it seemed to have exhausted all her strength.

She stopped writing, buried her face deep in her arms, and her shoulders rose and fell slightly.

Regrets of time, helplessness of reality.

Orange, lying on the side, let out a low meow, and carefully pressed its furry head against her arm.

She stopped her pen, buried her face deep into the crook of her arm, and her shoulders rose and fell slightly.

The regrets of time, the helplessness of reality.

Orange, lying to the side, let out a low meow and carefully pressed its furry head against her arm.