Chapter 581

It is well known that one should not spend too long in a hot spring at one time.

Otherwise, it is very easy to experience a series of "hot spring intoxication" reactions, such as dizziness, a racing heartbeat, and weak limbs, due to the high water temperature and accelerated blood circulation.

Take, for example, Yao Lingling at this very moment.

Her face, which was already flushed, was now even redder, her lips were slightly swollen, and her eyes were somewhat unfocused.

She felt dizzy all over, as if she were walking on cotton.

Lowering her head, she crawled out of the hot spring pool using both hands and feet, and haphazardly wrapped her still-trembling body in a bathrobe.

She cast a quick, wary glance in Tang Song’s direction.

"Um, Senior," she whispered, "I... I'm not feeling very well. I'm going inside to rehydrate."

With that, she didn't even bother to put on her slippers before darting into the warm light of the villa.

Watching her panicked retreat, Tang Song let out a long breath and stood up from the hot spring.

Because of the water temperature, his cold-white skin was flushed with a healthy red glow.

He looked down at his right hand.

His heartbeat just wouldn't slow down.

Unlike the hourglass-shaped, voluptuous figures of the older sisters and the foreign beauties, the little junior sister had a standard pear-shaped figure.

Her upper body was extremely slender and delicate, while her lower body was exceptionally full.

From slender to voluptuous, this intense contrast in both sight and touch—

the impact it created had an indescribable beauty.

Tang Song’s throat bobbed involuntarily.

He returned to his bedroom on the first floor, walked quickly into the bathroom, and rinsed his body with warm water.

He changed into a loose, comfortable casual outfit.

Picking up his phone, he saw that there were already quite a few unread messages.

It is worth mentioning that Xiao Jing’s trip to the Imperial Capital was coming to an end, and she had now officially taken over [Jingyi Asset Management].

Next, she would represent [Jingyi Asset Management] in meetings with the [Tang Jin Family Office] to complete the handover of the agency rights for the first property asset.

As for the person she would be meeting, it was Tina Spencer, a committee member at Tang Jin responsible for managing this sector, and a genuine old-money European aristocrat.

In Xiao Xue’s briefing, this name had been highlighted.

But in Tang Song’s current memories, he had not yet actually met this Ms. Spencer.

After replying to Xiao Jing’s message,

Tang Song was just about to put his phone down.

"~~"

The notification sound for a WeChat video call suddenly rang out in the quiet room.

[Qiuqiu]

Tang Song was slightly stunned, then smiled and answered the video call.

The next second, Qiuqiu’s cold and beautiful face filled the entire screen.

She seemed to have just finished her evening home workout.

She was wearing a simple blue long-sleeved yoga top and black tight-fitting yoga pants.

Her long, jet-black hair was pinned up, revealing her smooth, full forehead and exquisite, slender swan-like neck.

Under the soft indoor lighting, she looked exceptionally clean and elegant, like a quiet camellia flower stained with evening dew.

Only, at this moment, there was an imperceptible hint of unease in her eyes.

"Tang Song, did I disturb you?" Qiuqiu spoke first, her voice lower than usual.

"Not at all. What’s wrong? My designer friend, calling so late—did you miss me?"

Qiuqiu let out a soft gasp, her expression instantly becoming unnatural. "No—um—that—"

She seemed not to know how to organize her words, and finally just said, "It snowed today, and it’s very dark. Lingling went home and won't be here this weekend. I’m home alone, and because I need to take time off, I’m finishing next week’s work in advance."

Hearing her words, Tang Song understood instantly.

He and Qiuqiu had had many deep interactions in his dreams, so he naturally knew her personality and past.

Although this girl looked very cold and aloof on the outside, she was actually very timid and extremely lacking in a sense of security.

She was especially afraid of the dark and being alone.

That was why, even though she didn't get along with her classmates, she had never moved out of the dormitory.

After graduation, she had taken the initiative to rent an apartment with Gao Mengting, a senior she wasn't very close to, and later moved to North City Garden with Lingling.

Now that she was in a brand-new, still-unfamiliar environment, and had encountered a dark, snowy night,

being home alone, she must be feeling immense loneliness and anxiety.

Tang Song’s gaze softened significantly, and he said in a joking tone:

"Alone, huh? Do you want me to come over and sleep with you?"

"Uh!" Qiuqiu’s expression instantly tightened, and she waved her hands hurriedly. "No, no, I—I just wanted to talk to you."

Tang Song chuckled, not teasing her further, and began to chat with her.

The two chatted quietly like this, from the beautiful first snow in Yancheng to the environment of her new home, and then to her childhood life in Rongcheng.

Gradually, a relaxed smile appeared on Qiuqiu’s face.

After a full twenty minutes or so,

Qiuqiu said in a low voice, "I’m fine now. I just wanted to talk to you. Um, I’m hanging up now."

"Wait a second."

Qiuqiu looked at him in confusion.

A brilliant smile appeared on the corners of Tang Song’s mouth. "You still haven't told me—did you miss me?"

Qiuqiu hesitated, and after a long while, she nodded slowly. "—Mm."

"Goodnight, Qiuqiu."

"Goodnight."

He hung up the phone.

Tang Song shook his head and put the phone down.

The pity he felt for Qiuqiu lingered for a long time.

This time when he went to Rongcheng, he had to solve her problems.

For Qiuqiu, her grandmother, her mother, and even her deceased father were hurdles she couldn't overcome.

It wasn't just a simple childhood trauma; one could even say it had developed into a psychological disorder.

After pondering for a while, Tang Song’s gaze uncontrollably drifted toward the ceiling—

which was the little junior sister’s bedroom on the second floor.

A faint smile curled the corners of his mouth.

As a standard lecher,

in an environment with such perfect timing (a night of first snow), location (a private hot spring villa), and people (a little junior sister who took the initiative to kiss him),

if he could still remain calm, he really wouldn't be human.

Meanwhile, inside the bedroom on the second floor,

Yao Lingling, having finished her shower, had half-dry hair, and her bikini had been replaced by a small camisole and leggings.

Her mind was still filled with the passionate kiss that had almost suffocated her, as well as Tang Song’s scorching hot hands.

She subconsciously licked her slightly swollen lips, as if the senior’s scent still lingered on them.

[I—I actually took the initiative to kiss the senior and even used my tongue!]

[Ahhhhh! Yao Lingling! You bad woman!]

[Who am I? Who is Yao Lingling?]

She covered her burning cheeks and jumped in place several times before she could barely calm her boiling brain.

She walked to the full-length mirror.

The person in the mirror had flushed cheeks and eyes veiled in a layer of mist, looking so shy that even she felt like a stranger.

Her gaze moved downward, and looking at her own unremarkable chest, she couldn't help but sigh.

"Sigh, if only this part were as competitive as my butt..."

Immediately, she picked up a bottle of peach-scented body lotion, squeezed it into her palm, and began to apply it carefully.

Her fair palms glided over her collarbones, arms, and thighs...

Every stroke reminded her of the temperature of Tang Song’s palms just now, and his perfect body, like a Greek sculpture.

Yao Lingling’s face began to turn red uncontrollably again.

Honestly, the senior really lives up to his reputation as a player.

His hands are truly amazing and skilled; even though he only kneaded her a few times casually, it still made her heart race even now.

However, this at least proved that she was indeed attractive to him.

After all, she had clearly felt the senior’s "impulse."

These months of squats hadn't been in vain.

Thinking of the senior just downstairs,

Yao Lingling pressed her full, toned thighs together tightly, feeling a bit restless.

Having had a crush for so long, the intertwining of physical and psychological attraction made it impossible for her to stay calm.

Being bold and reckless, she couldn't control the primal power within her.

However... the forced kiss just now was already quite excessive.

Since returning from the hot spring, the senior hadn't sent her a message.

Nor had he come to find her.

She didn't know what he was thinking right now.

If she really couldn't help but "raid him at night"—

would the senior think she was a shameless hussy?

[Oh my! Oh my!]

[Yao Lingling! How could you be like this!?]

"Smack, smack~~"

Yao Lingling patted her own thighs.

But the more she tried to restrain herself, the itchier her heart became.

It made her whole body feel hot, and her hand subconsciously fell to her lower abdomen.

Her eyes became moist.

Just at this moment,

"Knock, knock, knock—"

A soft, rhythmic knocking sounded suddenly.

Yao Lingling felt like she had been electrocuted; she quickly withdrew her left hand, feeling both panicked and happy.

Pretending not to know, she asked, "Who—who is it?"

"It’s me." Tang Song’s deep, magnetic voice came from outside the door. "You’re not asleep yet, right?"

"No! No!"

Yao Lingling immediately checked her appearance in the full-length mirror, haphazardly tidying up her still-damp hair.

Then, she took a deep breath and opened the door.

Tang Song, now in loose casual wear, appeared outside the door.

A simple solid-colored T-shirt and comfortable straight-leg pants perfectly accentuated his broad shoulders and tall, upright frame.

He looked fresh yet filled with a lazy, homey vibe, so handsome it made one’s legs go weak.

"Senior," Yao Lingling whispered.

"I heard you running so fast earlier, and I was worried you might be uncomfortable from staying in the hot spring too long, so I came to check on you."

"I’m fine, thank you for your concern, Senior."

"As long as you’re fine." Tang Song’s gaze fell on her toes, which were slightly curled from nervousness, and he walked in naturally,

closing the door behind him.

In the quiet bedroom, only the sound of their intertwined breathing remained.

As their eyes met, the air seemed to become thick and viscous.

Tang Song leaned forward slightly, a charming smile on his lips.

The little junior sister, having just bathed, had half-dry hair, and her body emitted a clean, sweet scent—a mixture of shower gel and the unique fragrance of a young girl.

"Thump, thump, thump—"

Yao Lingling felt as if she could clearly hear her own heartbeat, each beat louder than the last.

Her throat bobbed slightly, and her soft, pink lips parted unconsciously. "Senior—"

Tang Song reached out and placed his hand gently on the junior sister’s soft, slender waist. "Lingling."

"Mm—" Yao Lingling’s body shuddered violently, her cheeks turning bright red.

Tang Song’s gaze swept over her surprisingly curvy lower half, and he said with a serious expression, "After just soaking in the hot spring, your blood circulation has accelerated and your pores are open; it’s the best time for meridian clearing and body conditioning. I can feel that your lumbar spine and gluteus maximus are quite strained. Let me give you a massage to clear your meridians."

Yao Lingling was stunned, and her inner universe exploded.

[What, what, what?! The senior wants to give me a massage?!]

[Does he think I’m stupid? Isn't this just wanting to...]

Her ears turned red enough to drip blood. "This—this is so embarrassing..."

"It’s fine, who else would you be if not my girlfriend?"

Yao Lingling felt like she was about to burn up. "That’s true."

"Smack~~"

Tang Song patted her bouncy buttocks, his tone gentle. "Be good, lie down, and relax."

"—Oh."

Yao Lingling lowered her head and obediently lay on the soft bed, her heart a tangled mess.

Her white camisole and black athletic shorts outlined her slender waist and her perky, rounded curves.

Her pair of honey-thighs, under the warm yellow light, were filled with a unique charm.

Tang Song came to the bedside, his hand slowly landing on the small of her back.

His warm, dry palm, possessing a strange sense of perception, slowly pushed and pressed down along her spine.

The pressure went from light to heavy, as he felt the meridian flow and muscle state under every inch of the junior sister’s skin.

"Don’t be nervous, slow down your breathing."

"Mm—as expected, the sides of your lumbar spine are a bit tense; this is a side effect of carrying too much weight while working out."

"...The lower back muscles are prone to compensation, and over time, they will become sore."

His words were very natural, as if he were truly a virtuous and experienced traditional Chinese medicine doctor.

Tang Song’s hands, under the blessing of the [Imperial Hand Meridian Regulation] skill, seemed to possess life.

He focused on helping the junior sister condition her meridians, tendons, and bones.

His fingertips passed over every tense muscle on her waist, back, and legs, gradually loosening them.

His fingertips felt as if they were sinking into smooth silk, the touch supple and full of elasticity.

Tang Song’s breathing also slowly became heavy.

Yao Lingling buried her head in her arms, her heart beating so fast it felt like it was about to jump out of her throat.

She wasn't a fool, and she had watched some messy movies.

She naturally knew what Tang Song was doing.

[Ahhhhhhh! Senior, you really know how to do this!]

[It’s over, it’s over, if this continues...]

After a long while,

after an intense internal struggle,

"Senior!"

Yao Lingling suddenly shouted, lifting her head abruptly. Her entire face was as red as a ripe apple, and her eyes were filled with moisture.

Tang Song’s hands didn't stop. "What’s wrong, Lingling?"

"I—I—I feel—"

Tang Song leaned down slightly, his voice low. "Feel what?"

"Senior—you—you’re so bad—"

Yao Lingling said one sentence.

Then she suddenly flipped over and grabbed Tang Song’s shoulders.

With a backhand, she forcefully pinned him down.

It had to be said, she truly lived up to being a natural fitness prodigy.

Large frame, good appetite, not a picky eater, pear-shaped figure.

It caught Tang Song off guard.

November 26, 2023, Sunday, foggy.

Early morning.

Cheng Qiuqiu slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing that came into view was the ceiling light, which was glaringly bright.

Not just the bedroom, but the lights in the living room, kitchen, and bathroom were all on.

Cheng Qiuqiu sat up, looked at the unfamiliar environment, and stared blankly.

Her fear of the dark and being alone also stemmed from a childhood memory.

Back then, she hadn't started school yet, her father had passed away two years prior, and her mother was still in their hometown.

That summer in her memory was exceptionally hot, and even the air felt sticky.

Because she had played too hard in the courtyard during the day, she lay down on a bamboo mat in the afternoon and fell asleep without realizing it.

By the time she woke up again, the sky was completely dark.

Not the kind of dusk with the lingering warmth of sunset, but a pure, pitch-black darkness without any light.

The power was out, her mother wasn't home, and the old wooden door was locked from the outside with a heavy bolt.

There were also stray dogs that had snuck into the courtyard from somewhere, rummaging for food outside the door, occasionally letting out hair-raising whimpers.

Not even 5 years old, she was so scared that she curled up in the corner of the bed, wrapping herself tightly in the quilt, crying incessantly.

It wasn't until late at night that her worried grandmother came over with a flashlight and found her, locked alone in the dark room, having cried until she was almost exhausted.

It was also on that day that her grandmother and mother had their most intense argument.

The next day, her mother packed her bags and left home without looking back, going to Rongcheng to work.

She naturally became a left-behind child.

The fear of being abandoned, intertwined with the darkness of that night, became a nightmare she couldn't escape.

If it hadn't been for the video chat with Tang Song before going to sleep last night, she definitely would have had a nightmare again.

Qiuqiu got out of bed, walked to the bedroom window, and pulled back the curtains.

Outside the window was a thick, gray fog.

She couldn't see the buildings in the distance, nor could she see the streets on the ground; there were only the halos of a few streetlights.

She let out a soft breath and picked up her fully charged phone.

She checked the time—soon.

Qiuqiu took a photo of the view outside the window and shared it with Tang Song.

Her fingertips hesitated over the input box for a long time before she carefully typed a line: "Good morning, the fog is so thick today. I’m wondering what’s good to have for breakfast."

This was a small communication habit between them, usually starting with breakfast.

However, this time, Tang Song didn't reply as quickly as usual.

Perhaps he was busy, or perhaps he was too tired from last night and hadn't woken up yet.

She stared at the phone screen, refreshing the WeChat list page over and over, waiting for that familiar avatar to light up.

After a long while,

"Buzz, buzz—" the phone finally vibrated.

[Tang Song: "(^_)/ Good morning, Qiuqiu. There’s a Fumin Breakfast shop diagonally across from the East Gate of North City Garden; their steamed buns are quite good, you could try them. It’s worth mentioning that their chili oil is very fragrant and should suit your taste."]

Qiuqiu’s heart jumped, and her cheeks quickly turned rosy.

How did he know that there was a good steamed bun shop here? He even specifically mentioned the chili oil.

Was it because of me? Did he... specifically pay attention?

A huge, flattered joy instantly enveloped her.

Qiuqiu replied quickly.

The smile on her face grew wider, and her mood became incomparably bright.

After chatting, she changed into her yoga clothes and finished her daily training in the spacious living room.

Afterward, she couldn't wait to put on her thick down jacket, walk through the fog-filled residential area in the early morning, and arrive at that "Fumin Breakfast Shop."

She bought the steamed buns Tang Song had mentioned.

Dipping them in plenty of chili oil and fragrant vinegar, she ate them in small bites.

They were really delicious.

I wonder what Tang Song is doing right now?

Is he eating steamed buns too?

By the time she finished breakfast, the morning light had already dawned.

The fog had also become a bit thinner.

Just as she returned upstairs,

"Ring, ring—" the phone rang suddenly.

[Auntie Wang Aijuan]

Qiuqiu hurriedly answered the phone. "Hello? Auntie Wang."

Wang Aijuan was one of the few old neighbors her mother had a decent relationship with, and she was also Gao Junfeng’s mother.

Immediately after, Auntie Wang’s voice, filled with a hint of anxiety, came through the receiver: "Qiuqiu! There’s something I have to tell you—"

"What is it? Please tell me, Auntie Wang."

"Actually, your mother didn't want me to tell you, but I thought about it and felt you should know." Auntie Wang’s voice was hesitant. "Your mother is in the hospital now."

"What happened to her?"

Qiuqiu’s hand holding the phone trembled violently, but her voice remained strangely calm, or even cold.

Wang Aijuan continued: "Yesterday, yesterday when they went to protect their rights, they got into a fight with the people from the developer’s side. Your mother was pushed down, hit the back of her head on the ground, and lost a lot of blood. But don't worry, the doctor said they checked her and there’s no major problem, just a mild concussion."

Qiuqiu’s brow furrowed tightly, and she asked in confusion: "Protect their rights? What rights?"

"It’s all because of that apartment in Harmony Elegant Residence!"

"What apartment?"

"Oh my, your mother didn't tell you about this?" Wang Aijuan sighed and explained the whole story.

More than two years ago, when Qiuqiu was just a junior in college, her mother, Li Meihua, had used her life savings to buy a small new apartment in the new district of Rongcheng in full.

The house should have been delivered in March of this year, but the developer kept delaying it for various reasons.

It wasn't until a while ago that news suddenly came out.

The developer’s capital chain had broken, they had gone bankrupt, and the house had become a completely unfinished project.

Li Meihua and other owners had been trying to find ways to protect their rights.

Just yesterday, they went to the developer’s company together to hang banners and protest, and that’s when the accident happened.

Wang Aijuan paused, her tone becoming a bit awkward: "...Qiuqiu, look, I rushed over here temporarily, and I don't have much money on me. Could you—come back as soon as possible?"

Listening to the words on the other end of the phone, Qiuqiu was silent for a long time.

She said in a low voice: "Auntie Wang, I’ll transfer some money to you in a bit, and I’ll be back tomorrow."

"Hey, that’s not what I meant, there’s no need—"

"It’s okay, Auntie Wang, let’s leave it at that. I’m hanging up to check the train tickets."

She hung up the phone.

Qiuqiu pressed her lips together tightly, and with an expressionless face, she opened WeChat and transferred 20,000 yuan to Wang Aijuan.

Although she had only recently graduated, thanks to the income from her freelance work and the high salary from [Songmei Apparel], she had some savings.

She put down her phone.

Qiuqiu let out a breath, her gaze blank and lost.

The old, dilapidated small apartment they lived in in Rongcheng had always been rented.

Over the years, her mother had been stingy and never willing to buy a house.

As a result, when housing prices rose all the way up, she sold at the highest point and stepped into a trap.

What puzzled her was why that woman, who had been stingy her whole life, would suddenly be willing to take out so much money to buy a new house in the new district in full.

And as far as she knew, her father’s death compensation had always been kept in a fixed-term bank deposit by her mother.

In that case, that money had probably gone down the drain along with it.

Thinking of this, she felt a bit ironic.

Back when her grandmother was sick and hospitalized and needed medical expenses, her mother hadn't been willing to take out that money to try and save her.

Now, it’s better; she inexplicably threw it into an unfinished building, and it’s gone just like that.

Could this be considered retribution?

Tears slid down her cheeks before she knew it, feeling cold.