Chapter 422: Xu Qing Fears Nothing!

Tang Song read the message over and over again, a complicated expression in his eyes.

There was a lot to unpack in this 200-word message from Zhang Yan.

She was currently in Fengcheng, had a former landlord with mental issues, and had just moved to a new place recently.

She had built a social circle in Yangcheng, and her life was busy.

Most importantly—she had been leaving messages on his QQ, knowing he wouldn’t see them.

Considering her decade-long streak of sending holiday wishes, her occasional appearances in his dreamscape memories of No.1 High School, and that semi-basement room in Tiantongyuan, Tang Song quickly arrived at a conclusion.

Zhang Yan liked him.

His middle school memories were already fuzzy, but as her deskmate for three years, his impression of her remained somewhat intact.

Back then, Zhang Yan was introverted and silent, always keeping her head down, hesitant to interact with others, and struggling with her studies.

At 14 or 15, he had been immature, naive, and constantly joking around, yet somehow, he had become her closest friend in class.

Though he never knew much about her home life, it was clear from her clothing and their village gossip that her family was struggling financially.

Occasionally, when buying snacks or breakfast, he would bring her some too, using the excuse of needing a partner for Gomoku.

Middle school had been a carefree, lively time for him, a period where his personality and values began to take shape.

Reading this message from Zhang Yan, Tang Song suddenly saw a thread—

A thread that stretched across ten years, fragile yet unbroken.

He couldn’t understand what kind of mindset had driven her to keep leaving messages all these years, knowing he wouldn’t read them.

But one thing was certain—it left a huge impact on him.

He clicked into the chat window, wanting to type a reply.

But in the end, he didn’t.

Ten years had passed. From 15 to 25, he had undergone drastic changes.

He was no longer the naive, carefree Tang Rong she remembered.

And he knew nothing about the Zhang Yan of today.

Maybe he should log into this alternate account more often.

Maybe he should try to understand how she had changed over the years.

"Hah..."

Leaning back into the couch, Tang Song closed his eyes briefly.

There was something strangely moving about realizing that someone had been watching over him all these years.

But high school had been all about Liu Qingning and his studies, and later, he had drowned himself in his "dreamscape".

He had missed so many details.

And Zhang Yan—she was one of those overlooked details.

Tang Song sat in silence for a while.

Then, heading to the bar counter, he poured himself a glass of red wine, casually plucking his guitar as he sipped.

Outside, the night deepened, the cityscape shifting from bustling traffic to a tranquil glow of distant high-rises.

The lights of the skyline merged seamlessly with the stars above.

September 2, 2023 — Saturday — Cloudy — 22~30°C

Beicheng Garden Complex.

"Smack!"

A blue Durex box landed squarely on Xu Qing’s head.

"You… You… Tang Song, what do you think you’re doing?!"

Xu Qing huddled against the corner of the wall, looking up at his tall, muscular frame with wide, terrified eyes—

Small. Weak. Helpless.

"Qingqing. Come here."

Tang Song’s expression was blank as he stared down at her.

"Put it on for me."

Xu Qing stared at the box in front of her, her face flushing deep red.

"H-How do I even put this on?"

"What do you think?"

Tang Song’s gaze dropped to her lips.

"I won’t say it a third time. Come here and put it on."

The morning sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden glow on his sculpted figure.

His features were sharp and defined, his brows carrying an aura of cold dominance.

"Why are you being so aggressive?!" Xu Qing mustering up her courage, shot back, "When my bestie gets here, she’s going to beat you up!"

"Heh. You mean Shen Yuyan?"

Tang Song gestured toward the side.

"She’s right next door. In fact, she was the one I ordered to buy these for me."

Just then, the door next to them swung open.

A tall, stunning figure stepped inside—

Lin Muxue, clad in a sleek secretary outfit.

Her flawless makeup, her hair neatly tied back, her black pencil skirt and blouse hugging every curve—

She was exuding the aura of a refined yet dangerous woman.

And at her feet, Shen Yuyan was collapsed on the ground, looking utterly defeated.

Lin Muxue shot her a glance, full of disdain.

Clearly, Shen Yuyan had been utterly crushed by this villainous femme fatale.

"Ahh! You wicked Liu Ruyan! Let go of my bestie!"

Xu Qing screamed at the top of her lungs.

And then—

She bolted upright in bed.

Blinking groggily, she took in her surroundings.

Slowly, her dazed expression turned back to normal.

Oh.

She had been dreaming.

Last night, she had been way too excited.

She had tossed and turned until dawn, her mind filled with all sorts of absurd dreams.

Some about reality, some about novels.

Some about Xu Yanqing, some about Xu Qing.

There was even a scene where Little Jing tied her up and whipped her.

Just thinking about it was terrifying.

Xu Qing grabbed her phone—

It was already almost 8 AM?!

"Crap!"

She hurriedly changed into her workout clothes.

After a brief warm-up on the elliptical, she switched on the TV and mirrored a high-intensity weight-loss workout.

Standing barefoot on her yoga mat, she began moving with full concentration.

She deeply regretted her excessive snacking.

At 166cm/54.5kg, she had always thought she looked fine.

But now, facing reality, she was starting to panic.

The real problem?

She only had a measly B-cup.

Meanwhile, Wen Ruan was an unstoppable E-cup force of nature.

Even the others—Little Jing, Lin Muxue—were at least solid Cs.

And she knew for a fact that Tang Song’s physique was insane.

According to Little Jing, he even had eight-pack abs.

What if that scumbag mocked her for being "chubby and flat-chested"?!

That would be the ultimate humiliation.

Desperate times called for desperate measures.

She had already decided to skip breakfast and lunch today.

She had to slim down as much as possible.

Just then—

The front door swung open.

Shen Yuyan walked in, raising a plastic bag with a grin.

"Got you your favorite—freshly steamed pork dumplings. Hurry and eat them while they’re hot."

"I’m on a diet. Not eating!"

Shen Yuyan casually placed the dumplings on the dining table, her tone full of mocking amusement.

"Oh, please. With how inconsistent you are, I’d be shocked if you actually lost weight."

Xu Qing pouted in protest.

"You haven’t noticed? I’ve totally slimmed down! Look closely!"

Feeling her best friend’s scrutinizing gaze, Xu Qing straightened her back, subtly sucking in her stomach to make herself look slimmer and her chest fuller.

Shen Yuyan examined her for a moment—then burst into laughter.

"Nope. Don’t see it."

"That just means you need glasses!" Xu Qing’s face turned bright red.

Shen Yuyan’s expression was playful.

"Relax. Tang Song doesn’t like you for your body. Breakfast is important—skipping meals is bad for your stomach."

"So you’re saying my body isn’t good enough?!"

"Oh? Want to compare?"

Shen Yuyan leaned forward slightly, tugging down her top a bit.

The C+ cup pressure was overwhelming, radiating an undeniable presence.

Xu Qing instinctively shrank back, muttering curses under her breath.

Reluctantly giving up the fight, she sat at the dining table and started devouring the dumplings.

She had to admit—her bestie had been a C-cup queen since high school, on the verge of breaking into D territory.

She couldn’t win this battle. Better to retreat for now.

As Xu Qing chewed angrily, Shen Yuyan pinched her cheek.

"I’ve got client meetings today—probably gonna be super busy. If anything comes up, call me, and I’ll guide you through it."

She knew Xu Qing too well.

Her best friend’s biggest charm was her personality—she could brighten any room and was genuinely sincere.

Otherwise, Shen Yuyan wouldn’t be this close to her, treating her like a real sister.

"Got it." Xu Qing mumbled, stuffing the last dumpling into her mouth.

Then, she leaped into action.

First—a hot shower.

Then—hair removal, skincare, makeup, colored contacts, styling...

As a professional cosplayer, she had perfected every step of the process.

Once she put on her cosplay outfit, she was guaranteed to make Tang Song's jaw drop.

He’d be so mesmerized he wouldn’t be able to look away!

Mwahaha!

CYⅡ)/"

"Doo… Doo… Doo—"

"Hello, Qingqing."

Tang Song’s deep, smooth voice came through the receiver.

Xu Qing put on her most aloof, arrogant tone.

"Weren’t we going to the hotel? When are you picking me up? I’ve already bought the outfits."

"Oh? Did you get the ones I like?"

Xu Qing hmphed.

"Why do you ask so many questions? You’ll see when we meet."

"Alright. Send me the location."

"Hmph! You better not keep me waiting."

She hung up immediately, then sent him her location pin.

Turning to her two "little underlings," she smirked.

"Done. He’s on his way. I’ll be heading out soon."

Ma Luoluo flashed a playful smile, waving her phone.

"We can go together. Actually, Zhang Xiao booked a hotel too—at Lanfeng International."

Xu Qing froze.

"Huh…? What a… coincidence."

She had no idea which hotel Tang Song had actually booked.

The only time he’d ever mentioned one, he had casually mentioned a presidential suite at Lanfeng International.

So earlier—just to show off—she had said the same thing.

But if it wasn’t the presidential suite…

She’d be totally exposed!

Ma Luoluo and Zhao Meimei exchanged knowing glances, covering their mouths to stifle laughter.

It was obvious—most of what Xu Qing had said was exaggerated.

Now, they were just waiting to see how this would unfold.

Oh, this was going to be good.

The Waiting Game

The three of them waited in the lounge area for over ten minutes.

Soon—

Ma Luoluo’s boyfriend, Zhang Xiao, walked in.

Beside him was a tall, slim guy wearing frameless glasses—looking very much like a quiet intellectual.

Zhang Xiao clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder.

"This is my buddy, Yu Chenguang. His family lives nearby."

Then, turning to the girls—

"This is Xu Qing and Zhao Meimei—Luoluo’s university friends."

Yu Chenguang’s gaze landed on Xu Qing—dressed in her pristine JK uniform.

For a moment, his eyes shone with interest.

"Hello, nice to meet you."

Xu Qing smiled politely.

"Hello."

Zhao Meimei grinned.

"Hi, Yu-ge!"

And so—

The stage was set.

Now, the real fun was about to begin.

Zhang Xiao smiled knowingly.

"Luoluo and I are heading straight to the hotel. Chenguang happens to be free, so he can drive you two home, Qingqing, Meimei."

Ma Luoluo quickly waved her hands.

"No need to trouble Yu-ge! Qingqing’s boyfriend is picking her up soon—he’s also going to Lanfeng International Hotel. Meimei can just take the subway home."

She had previously heard Zhang Xiao mention that a wealthy friend had seen Qingqing’s photos on her Moments and was interested in her.

That friend was most likely Yu Chenguang.

But now, Qingqing was clearly getting serious with her ‘crush’—basically at the 'almost dating' stage.

Given the situation, it was better not to introduce someone else.

Hearing this, both Zhang Xiao and Yu Chenguang stiffened slightly.

Zhang Xiao scratched his head, looking a bit awkward.

"Qingqing has a boyfriend?"

He had wanted to introduce his friend to her, but not only did she already have someone, she was literally heading to a hotel with him tonight.

Talk about bad timing.

Ma Luoluo leaned in and whispered to her boyfriend, "I think it happened around Qixi Festival—so it’s pretty recent."

She wasn’t entirely sure, but given how casually Qingqing had been throwing around ‘my boyfriend’, it was better to sell the story.

Yu Chenguang adjusted his glasses, maintaining a gentlemanly demeanor.

"No worries, I’ll just drive Meimei home then."

"Ring, ring—"

Xu Qing’s phone rang.

She picked it up immediately.

"Hello? Where are you?"

A brief pause.

"Oh, okay. Got it."

Hanging up, Xu Qing smiled faintly.

"My boyfriend’s here. He’s waiting for me outside."

With a swift motion, she grabbed her shopping bags and walked toward the exit with a light, confident stride.

Little Song might be a scumbag, but he’s flawless in every other way.

Whether it was for meeting people or showing off, he was the perfect accessory.

In a novel, he’d totally be a final boss-level character.

Since he had obediently come to pick her up, she supposed she could do him a favor and let him play the role of her ‘boyfriend’ for a bit.

Hmph. Consider this a rare privilege!

Ma Luoluo and Zhao Meimei hurried after her, helping carry some of the shopping bags.

As they walked away, Zhang Xiao patted Yu Chenguang’s shoulder.

"Sorry, bro."

Yu Chenguang shrugged nonchalantly.

"No worries. As long as I keep trying, who knows? Nothing’s set in stone."

Who said a girl with a boyfriend was off-limits?

He was genuinely interested in Qingqing—so as long as he played his cards right, he believed he still had a chance.Xu Qing’s eyes darted around as she stepped outside.

She was secretly searching for Tang Song’s silver Mercedes S450L.

But instead, her gaze landed on a sleek black Rolls-Royce parked by the curb.

The car exuded an aura of power and wealth, its luxurious presence unmistakable.

Yu Chenguang walked over to a black Porsche Panamera, casually grabbing the handle as the car’s lights flashed, unlocking it.

He turned to Zhao Meimei.

"Come on, I’ll drive you home."

Zhao Meimei waved her hands frantically.

"No, no! It’s okay, Yu-ge! I’ll just take a taxi."

She was polite, but firm.

Yu Chenguang smiled slightly and didn’t insist.

Meanwhile, Ma Luoluo looked around curiously.

"Qingqing, where’s your boyfriend? Didn’t you say he was already here?"

At this, Zhang Xiao and Yu Chenguang also turned their attention to her.

Xu Qing’s heart skipped a beat.

Shit.

Don’t tell me Little Song is flaking at the last minute?!

Did he want me to beg him?!

Just as she was about to call him again—

"Click—"

The Rolls-Royce Phantom’s door slowly opened.

A deep, magnetic voice drifted out—

"Qingqing, over here."

Everyone’s heads snapped toward the source.

A tall, impeccably dressed figure stepped out.

His tailored suit fit perfectly, emphasizing his broad shoulders and slim waist.

The high-end fabric glimmered faintly under the fading daylight, accentuating his sharp features and striking presence.

Then, the driver’s door opened.

A tall, poised female chauffeur stepped out, walking briskly to stand beside him.

Tang Song’s gaze was deep, his lips curving into a faint, unreadable smile.

Under the golden glow of the evening, he carried an air of effortless elegance, detached yet commanding.

Xu Qing felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

Her body shuddered involuntarily.

Good job, Little Song! You actually pulled out the Rolls-Royce?!

This… This is straight out of my novels!ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel•fire.net

A male lead stepping into reality!

For a moment, her thoughts swirled chaotically.

Then, she completely transformed into ‘Xu Yanqing.’

With a calm, almost indifferent expression, she nodded slightly.

"You’re here, Tang Song."

Of course, she completely forgot she was standing there in a JK uniform—

The visual contrast was jarringly ridiculous.

Without hesitation, she handed over all her shopping bags.

The female chauffeur, Liu Jiayi, silently took them, swiftly placing them in the trunk.

Tang Song glanced at Xu Qing, clearly noticing her odd behavior.

Then, with an easy, natural motion, he acknowledged her two friends with a nod.

Zhang Xiao and Yu Chenguang exchanged looks—

Then grinned widely, both barely suppressing their laughter.

Ma Luoluo & Zhao Meimei: The Shock of a Lifetime

Ma Luoluo finally snapped out of her daze.

"Qingqing, we’ll see you at Lanfeng International Hotel, then!"

Zhao Meimei, still stunned, could only manage a delayed wave.

As Xu Qing stood before Tang Song, Ma Luoluo and Zhao Meimei finally processed what they had just witnessed.

Their eyes went wide with disbelief.

Wait. Hold on.

THIS was Qingqing’s ‘crush’?!

Are you FREAKING kidding me?!

Qingqing! You were serious?!

Tang Song’s smirk deepened as he watched the two girls struggle to comprehend reality.

He casually opened the car door for Xu Qing.

"Shall we?"

Xu Qing lifted her chin, stepping into the Rolls-Royce as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

Before closing the door, she flashed a glance at her two ‘little sisters’—full of smugness.

"See you later."

The door shut with a soft ‘click.’

And then—

The Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled away smoothly, disappearing into the evening.

Leaving Ma Luoluo and Zhao Meimei standing there, completely dumbfounded.

"...Did we just witness a real-life novel scene?"

"Forget that—DID SHE JUST LAND A GOD-TIER BOYFRIEND?!"

"QINGQING, EXPLAIN YOURSELF!"