novelraw Chapter 224: The Growing Canary
Chapter 224: The Growing Canary
In the taxi.
“Ding-dong—” The WeChat notification sound chimed.
[Li Zhixi: "I’m on the subway now. I should be there in about 20 minutes. Let’s meet in front of the restaurant."]
Tang Song quickly replied: "I’m taking a cab, should be there around the same time."
Putting his phone away, Tang Song leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes lightly. His mind wandered to scenes of Su Yu from the film.
Just then, a crisp system prompt echoed in his ears.
“Ding! Congratulations, player! Challenge mission [Shanghai Film Festival] has been completed.”
A faint light screen appeared before him, with lines of text unfolding one by one.
[Reward settlement in progress...]
[Today, you immersed yourself fully as a Su Yu fan, attending the film festival and sincerely watching all her competition entries.]*[You have received: Random Gift Pack 1]
Returning to the main menu, he navigated to his inventory and selected the [Random Gift Pack] to open it immediately.
“Ding! You have received [Song - Dream Echo].”
A stream of information flowed into his mind.
Tang Song leaned back further into his seat, closing his eyes and carefully processing the details.
“The wind brushes softly through the night’s curtain, caressing my face. Gentle moonlight weaves a veil of dreams...”
It was a heartfelt ballad, complete with lyrics, melody, and arrangement.
The song painted a story of a woman who, after getting drunk, finally meets the one she misses so dearly—in her dreams. There, she pours out her feelings and longing, pleading for the dream to never end.
The lyrics were tender and poignant, the melody ethereal and haunting. It vividly captured a swirl of complex emotions.
Tang Song sighed softly, as if catching a glimpse of Su Yu’s shadow within the song.
The taxi came to a stop by the roadside. Tang Song pushed open the door and stepped out.
Neon signs blinked brightly, the streets bustling with life. Shops lined both sides, showcasing endless goods.
Weaving through the crowd, Tang Song soon spotted the sign for Dongjiang Food Stalls, one of the three restaurant options Li Zhixi had sent him earlier. Since it was closest to the Bulgari Hotel where their beautician friend lived, they settled on this spot.
A familiar yet slightly unfamiliar figure came into view.
Three years had passed, and this lively, cheerful university classmate, Li Zhixi, had matured a lot.
Standing about 177 cm tall, his build was lean, his features sharp, with thick eyebrows and big eyes—though his hair had thinned somewhat. His attire was neat and semi-formal: a shirt, slacks, and casual shoes.
As Tang Song approached, Li Zhixi, who had been scanning the area, noticed him. His face lit up in surprise and joy.
He jogged over and threw an arm around Tang Song’s shoulders.
“Wow, Brother Song! Look at you now! That hairstyle, that physique, those stylish little glasses—you’ve completely leveled up. Impressive!”
“Been waiting for you to say that. How’s work treating you these days?”
The two exchanged a few warm pleasantries before settling at a table outside the restaurant.
They ordered skewers, beer, and a few hearty local dishes, enjoying the evening breeze while catching up on the past few years.
Through their conversation, Tang Song got a sense of Li Zhixi’s journey.
In university, Li Zhixi hadn’t mastered his field deeply, making it hard to land a decent job after graduation. He finally managed to join a small gaming startup, enduring endless empty promises from the boss.
With little money, he rented a place on the outskirts of the city, enduring a daily commute of over three hours. His “room” was a kitchen-turned-bedroom that barely fit a bed.
He spent his days and nights watching tutorials, coding, and working on projects to slowly build experience.
Later, when Qiu Yu switched to a pre-sales technical support role, it freed up a technical position at her company, and she referred him. Seizing the opportunity, Li Zhixi switched jobs, and things started improving for him.
Reflecting on his three years in Shanghai, Li Zhixi sighed deeply.
“You know, I’m from Su Province. Even back in university, I always thought, ‘Someday, I have to take on Shanghai. Walk along the Bund, feel the breeze from the Huangpu River, gaze at the Oriental Pearl Tower, and admire the Lujiazui skyline across the water.’
But once I got here, I felt so small and lost.”
“I get it,” Tang Song nodded, looking at his classmate’s wistful expression.
In these three years, Li Zhixi had changed significantly—especially his mindset, which had grown far beyond what it once was.
It reminded Tang Song of his own time in Beijing—a journey of transformation through ambition, hardship, and growth.
In the Black Bentley Flying Spur
The thick, plush carpeting, luxuriously soft leather seats, and meticulously crafted interior created an unparalleled sense of comfort and prestige.
Leaning back in the rear seat, Lin Muxue turned on the seat’s ventilation and massage functions, narrowing her eyes slightly as she watched the bustling cityscape pass by outside the window.
A profound sense of luxury and indulgence washed over her.
Beside her, Zhao Yaqian was beaming, her fingers dancing across her phone as she typed away.
After a moment, Zhao Yaqian turned to Lin Muxue, her face alight with excitement. “Xiaoxue, Brother Song said he’s got a little surprise for me tonight. He’s arranging it now and told me to get ready for it.”
Her eyes sparkled with undisguised joy.
This trip away from Yan City had made her more aware of the weight of Tang Song’s promises.
He truly took care of her in every way, letting her enjoy life without any worries.
Hearing this, Lin Muxue couldn’t help but feel a slight pang of envy. “Qianqian, Tang Song is so good to you!”
“Yeah, I don’t even know how I could ever repay him,” Zhao Yaqian said, sticking out her pink tongue playfully.
“Don’t overthink it. If Tang Song had you sign the trust, it means he’s not expecting anything in return,” Lin Muxue said, pursing her lips. “By the way, Qianqian, I’m planning to meet up with some college classmates for a drink tonight. I’ll need the car for a bit—is that okay?”
“Sure, go ahead. I’ll be staying at the hotel tonight waiting for Brother Song’s gift. I’m not going out.”
“Great, thanks, Qianqian! Mua~” Lin Muxue hugged her and planted a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll come back early and share the excitement with you.”
The meetup spot was a small bistro on Imperial Road, not far from the Bulgari Hotel. The most update n0vels are published on novel·fire·net
Lin Muxue’s main goal wasn’t to linger but to subtly flaunt her success to those college classmates who had underestimated her.
After attending the Golden Phoenix Gala, participating in the Hermès event, and meeting so many impressive people, she felt it was time to elevate her style.
Meanwhile, Zhao Yaqian, feeling a bit tired, leaned back against her seat and stared blankly out the window as the car rolled on.
She didn’t know much. In the past, she could at least help Tang Song with skincare advice. But now that his skin was so well-maintained, her role seemed less significant.
The thought left her a little deflated.
Brother Song didn’t watch dramas, follow celebrities, or enjoy variety shows. Their shared interests seemed few and far between.
As Xiaoxue would put it, she struggled to provide him with emotional value.
Sigh... My dear programmer boyfriend, what should your Zhao Beauty learn next?
She sighed internally, her gaze fixed on the darkening sky outside as her thoughts turned to Tang Song. Her mind wandered to what she could do to grow alongside him.
This trip to Shanghai had been significant for her.
As a small-town girl from a modest background, she had witnessed the grandeur of the country’s most bustling metropolis. She had seen large-scale events, experienced a taste of decadence, and felt the undeniable allure of wealth.
Unconsciously, she too was evolving.
The process brought its fair share of frustrations, but it was accompanied by even greater joy and anticipation.