novelraw Chapter 197: Tang Song’s Charms
Chapter 197: Tang Song’s Charms
Yanjing Tiancheng.
In a luxurious home theater, the decor leaned towards a deep black and elegant gray, complemented by soft, hidden lighting that created a warm, non-distracting ambiance.
Tang Song lounged on a comfortable L-shaped sofa, gripping a game controller. Beside him, a small movable tea table held a Coke and some snacks.
Directly ahead, an oversized projection screen was embedded into the wall. A PS5 was hooked up to a laser short-throw projector, displaying the game interface for Elden Ring. The thrilling background music resonated through BOSE speakers, delivering an exceptional audio-visual experience. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novel⚑fire.net
He glanced at the clock. 20:21.
Setting the controller down, Tang Song stood up. He’d been gaming for an hour without realizing it.
The PS5 really was the GOAT of consoles, offering an experience far superior to any PC he’d used before. It had reignited his love for gaming. He decided to draft a build list later and set up a desktop with a 4090 GPU to enjoy some AAA titles.
Games had been a childhood passion, but high school studies had left him little time for them. Once in university, he was too focused on academics to indulge. Now, with financial freedom, he aimed to enrich his life by rekindling hobbies.
Spending so much time gaming alone felt a bit dull, though. Maybe he could invite Wen Ruan and Little Jing over—they both enjoyed video games. Wen Ruan, in particular, often posted gaming screenshots on her WeChat moments: PUBG expert, King’s Glory rank 2300...
As he walked out, Tang Song opened the system interface and navigated to the [Outfit Center] to check the details.---
#### [Outfit: Summer Whisper]
- Description: A summer-exclusive outfit that adds +2 to physique and +1 to insight, with a bonus heat-resistance effect.
- Components: Short-sleeved white shirt, light blue skinny jeans, and white sneakers.
- Special Effect: Summer Whisper (Enhances the player’s voice, making it more pleasing when speaking or singing).
- Exclusive Effect: Gentle Breeze, Clear Moon (Prevents sweat from ruining hairstyles, makeup, or appearance while maintaining a fresh and bright look).
---
This was a reward from completing the hidden mission [My First Time]. Although some time had passed since then, Tang Song had commissioned Yao Lingling to custom-make the outfit and hadn’t yet bought the matching clothes, opting only for the shoes. Now it was finally time to see the results.
The sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was a deep gray, with low-hanging clouds. In the distance, brightly lit skyscrapers stood tall, while car lights and street lamps formed flowing rivers of light, weaving through the night.
Smiling to himself, Tang Song turned and walked into the independent wardrobe area near the entrance.
Changing into white casual shoes and grabbing his helmet and car keys, he headed downstairs.
The rumble of the engine echoed as the black Ninja 400 shot into the night.
His plain T-shirt flapped in the cool evening breeze.
---
Star Garden Community.
“Bye-bye~ Drive safe!”
“Bye-bye~”
As the white Civic disappeared from view, two girls slowly lowered their waving arms.
Li Shumin sighed regretfully. “It’s a shame. Little Manager Xiao didn’t drive his Porsche Cayenne today. I’ve never had the chance to ride in a luxury car.”
“Stop daydreaming!” Yao Lingling tapped her on the head. “Let’s go home! Tonight, I’m binging dramas, gaming, and snacking all night!”
Recently, her work routine had been a 9-9-7 grind. Now that her promotion and raise were finalized, she planned to reward herself properly.
Li Shumin giggled and linked arms with her. “I’ll join you, Designer Lingling. Make sure to say nice things about me to Manager Xiao!”
“My words don’t carry much weight; it’s all up to you.” Yao Lingling pinched her cheek playfully.
Shangya Fashion Design had its own internal metrics for promotions. To officially become a designer, one needed strong personal skills, a portfolio, and solid performance.
Yao Lingling, as one of the best-performing assistants, already had a good shot. With Xiao Mingxuan’s help, she secured the opportunity and, with Tang Song’s assistance, presented an outstanding work that impressed the review panel.
This smooth success earned her a 3K salary increase.
---
“Jiahong~, we’re back!”
Li Shumin’s accented voice called out as they entered.
Zhang Jiahong, sweating from head to toe, emerged from her room, spreading her arms wide.
“Congratulations, Lingling!” she beamed.
Yao Lingling smiled and hugged her. “Thank you, Jiahong.”
Seeing the piles of bags in the living room, Li Shumin sighed. “Jiahong, I’ll really miss you.”
“Come on, I’m not leaving Yan City. We’ll only be twenty kilometers apart, and we can still meet on weekends. I’m focusing on developing my skills and earning more so I can transfer to a city-based job sooner.”
“Good luck! Lingling’s promotion has motivated me. I’m cutting an hour of drama and gaming daily to study more.”
---
The three friends chatted excitedly about their dreams before Li Shumin animatedly began recounting the day’s events at work.
She finished with Xiao Mingxuan’s stunning transformation and nudged Yao Lingling with a teasing smile. “Be honest, Lingling! Weren’t you dazzled by Manager Xiao today? A standard tall, rich, and handsome man like him won’t make the first move. You’ve got to act fast!”
Yao Lingling lightly kicked her. “Why don’t you go for it?”
“I’d love to! But I’m not his type,” Li Shumin lamented.
While her looks were decent—about 5 or 6 out of 10 with makeup—Yao Lingling’s subtle, classic beauty stood out more.
---
The lighthearted exchange continued, but soon their conversation shifted to Tang Song’s arrival, sparking surprises and playful banter about his gifts and charm.
Zhang Jiahong suddenly chimed in, her smile teasing. “And what about Tang Song? Didn’t he gift you a top-of-the-line Find X6 Pro? That’s six or seven thousand yuan, not exactly a small expense!”
Yao Lingling’s cheeks flushed red. “He’s just a good buddy! A close friend!”
“Hah, I don’t believe in pure friendships between men and women,” Li Shumin said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Well, I still think Manager Xiao is the better catch. Shangya’s future heir! If you date him, Lingling, you get a handsome, rich man and your designer dream.”
“No, no, no! Senior Tang Song is more genuine. He’s kind, self-disciplined, and ambitious,” Zhang Jiahong interjected.
The conversation devolved into a spirited debate over “Ling-Song” versus “Ling-Xiao” as potential couples, with both sides passionately defending their ship.
Yao Lingling slumped on the couch in exasperation just as her phone vibrated with a WeChat voice call.
Seeing the name on the screen, she quickly answered.
“Lingling, I’m downstairs at your building. Is it convenient for me to come up now?” Tang Song’s warm and magnetic voice resonated through the speaker.
“Of course! 502, Unit 1. Just come straight up!”
“Alright, see you in a moment.”
After hanging up, Li Shumin and Zhang Jiahong let out a synchronized “Ooooh~” of mock surprise.
“He’s just picking up the custom clothes I made for him!” Yao Lingling insisted, flustered.
“Explanations are just cover-ups!” Li Shumin teased.
Before long, a knock sounded at the door.
“I’ll get it!” Yao Lingling darted to the entrance.
When she opened the door, Tang Song stood there in a fitted plain T-shirt, exuding a refreshing yet magnetic aura. His straight posture and relaxed demeanor gave him an undeniable charm.
“Good evening, Lingling, Jiahong, Shumin.” His smile was as gentle as a cool evening breeze, effortlessly lighting up the modest three-bedroom apartment.
Yao Lingling’s face turned a shade redder as she playfully stuck out her tongue. “Come on in, handsome!”
“Good evening, Senior!” the other two greeted in unison, their eyes scanning Tang Song with open admiration.
Having followed him on Little Red Book and seen his photos, they were still unprepared for the sheer impact of his presence in person. His tall, broad-shouldered, slim-waisted figure and clear-cut features were a sight to behold.
Tang Song stepped into the living room, placing a bag of fruit on the coffee table. “Just a little something for you all.”
“Thank you, Senior!” the trio chorused with smiles.
As they made him comfortable on the couch, offering snacks and drinks, Tang Song scanned the room, taking in the dated but cozy decor.
“Senior, you’ve gotten so much more handsome!” Li Shumin gushed. “Your skin’s glowing, and your posture is on another level!”
Tang Song chuckled humbly as the group exchanged pleasantries, the room filled with laughter and chatter.
After a while, Yao Lingling handed him a neatly packed outfit. “Here’s your custom attire! I made it myself. Try it on and see if it fits!”
Tang Song inspected the garment—a white short-sleeved shirt and light blue jeans. The craftsmanship was impeccable, with clean stitches and soft, breathable material.
“Thank you, Lingling. It’s incredible!” he said earnestly.
“It’s nothing!” Yao Lingling grinned. “Actually, I should be thanking you. Your sketch helped me secure my promotion to designer today! If you need anything like this in the future, just ask!”
As the others teased her, Tang Song laughed along. His gaze landed on several packed boxes in the corner. “Are you all moving?”
“No, just me.” Zhang Jiahong explained that her new job provided accommodation, which made the long commute unnecessary.
Tang Song offered to help with the move the next day, mentioning his trusty Wuling Hongguang. After some lighthearted banter, they accepted his kind gesture.
As the evening wore on, Tang Song excused himself to try on the outfit. He emerged moments later, stunning everyone.
Dressed in the outfit, he exuded a unique charisma. The [Exclusive Effect - Gentle Breeze, Clear Moon] was clearly in effect, amplifying his natural charm.
“Wow!” Li Shumin clapped her hands in awe. “Senior, if you looked like this back in university, every girl would have had your photo in their album!”
Tang Song, amused, jokingly struck a pose. “Thanks! Don’t forget to use this as your WeChat cover photo.”
After a warm send-off and some playful exchanges, Yao Lingling walked him to his motorbike.
The two shared an impromptu ride around the neighborhood, with Yao Lingling’s excitement lighting up the quiet night.
The evening ended on a high note for both, cementing another layer of their growing bond.
When Tang Song returned home, he unlocked and used the rewards from a side quest. With his stats boosted and new experiences gained, he drifted off to sleep, ready to face another day.