novelraw Chapter 291: [Tang Song's Mask]
Chapter 291: [Tang Song's Mask]
The chic, brightly lit living room was filled with rhythmic music resonating through the space.
Tang Song's throat moved slightly as he locked eyes with Xiaoxue across from him. He was certain—her casual remark, "I'm okay with anything," was an intentional provocation.
After all, they had already done what needed to be done. Coupled with the experience from the [Lin Muxue's Whisper] instance, Tang Song could confidently say he knew Xiaoxue inside out.
In recent days, the companionship of the perceptive and considerate "big sister," Wen Ruan, had brought him immense satisfaction, broadening his perspective and expanding his mindset.
Tang Song gently wrapped his arm around the slender waist of his beautician friend, his gaze fixed on Xiaoxue's beautiful face. With a teasing tone, he said, "Actually, I'm okay with anything too. The master bedroom's bed is two meters wide—how about all three of us sleep there together?"
Zhao Yaqian, seated next to him, was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. Resting her head on Tang Song's shoulder, she winked at Lin Muxue and joked, "Want to join us, Xiaoxue? That way, we can even discuss work plans later at night."
The 19-year-old beautician appeared adorably innocent, even when joking. To her, Xiaoxue was now as close as Ting Ting—a best friend she could trust completely. As a result, she spoke without reservation.
"O~" Lin Muxue's rosy lips parted slightly. While she maintained a composed expression, her heart raced wildly.
Beautician friend, do you have any idea how serious this could get?
If we really do this, there’s no way we’d end up talking about work! Tang Song is my boss. If he asks for help, how could I refuse? In the end, you'd be the one paying the price!
Biting her lower lip gently, Lin Muxue let her hands hang in front of her as she blinked, then smiled gracefully. "Maybe next time. Tang Song just got back; he needs some rest."
She believed her persona in front of Zhao Yaqian and Tang Song was steady—an elegant and refined professional elite. This image was essential to maintaining her dignity, so she avoided exposing her true thoughts or stepping into risky situations.
Even when she had wanted something to happen with Tang Song in the past, she used the pretext of a one-night stand. As a mature and independent woman, she felt she had every reason to indulge occasionally.
But she was determined to make this connection genuine. This content belongs to Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
Her high school friend, Chen Siyue, had recently uploaded a "mystery box" video featuring Lin Muxue, drawing significant traffic her way. However, because she didn't live-stream and only accepted sponsorships aligned with her persona, her monetization was modest—though still a decent income.
What thrilled her most was the fact that, on the 5th of this month—just two days away—she would receive her first paycheck. Things were only going to improve.
She was confident that in a few months, as her abilities grew, she could achieve the life she had always dreamed of.
"Alright, next time it is. Brother Song, let me take your clothes inside," Zhao Yaqian said, letting go of Tang Song’s arm. She playfully slapped Xiaoxue’s firm backside and added with a laugh, "Xiaoxue, why don’t you cut some fruit for Brother Song? I’m going to take a shower."
With that, she shot Tang Song a seductive glance, then pushed his suitcase toward the master bedroom, swaying her hips as she walked.
Today had been a busy day—an hour-long workout at the gym in the afternoon followed by continuous cardio in the evening. Now, her entire body was sticky with sweat, hardly suitable for the "battle" ahead.
...
As the beautician disappeared from the living room, the atmosphere grew subtly charged.
"Wait for me," Lin Muxue murmured, pursing her lips. She turned toward the open kitchen. Without suitable sneakers, she had been barefoot earlier, instinctively walking on tiptoes as she moved, her body swaying slightly.
From behind, her silky long hair swayed side to side, and her fitted workout outfit perfectly outlined her slim waist, shapely hips, and long, toned legs—a mesmerizing figure.
It was no surprise; she had undergone professional flight attendant training. In terms of elegance, Xiaoxue surpassed even the older sister.
Soon, she returned with a meticulously arranged fruit platter and placed it on the coffee table. Several small wooden forks were stuck into the fruit.
"Thanks." Leaning back on the couch, Tang Song used a fork to pick up a piece of watermelon and popped it into his mouth. Its sweet, juicy coolness was incredibly refreshing.
As he savored a few pieces, a familiar fragrance wafted toward him—the scent of Jo Malone’s Sage & Sea Salt.
Ever since Tang Song had complimented her on it during a trip to the Marriott in Shanghai, Xiaoxue had been wearing this perfume. Mixed with the faint aroma of her skincare products, it exuded a delicate, refreshing scent akin to a gentle sea breeze.
The fabric of the sofa gave slightly as Lin Muxue sat down beside him. Her slender, fair fingers picked up a grape, which she offered to him with a soft, intellectual smile. "Try this Victoria grape. I bought it today—it’s sweet and tangy, with plump flesh and great quality."
Tang Song raised an eyebrow, knowing this faux socialite friend was up to something again.
Of course, he didn’t mind. Their last one-night stand, though not without minor hiccups, had been satisfying overall.
Still, he chose not to expose the delicate relationship between them. After all, as the system often reminded him:
As an independent individual, Lin Muxue was a quintessential woman—self-driven, goal-oriented, confident yet insecure, vain, and prone to comparison and showmanship.
With Her in Life and Work
Every interaction with Lin Muxue, whether in life or work, brought Tang Song new insights. Now that his Charm Score had exceeded 60, each subsequent improvement became increasingly difficult.
He couldn’t help but look forward to the next time she might trigger a new mission—something like a “[+1 Charm].”
"This is really good, try it." Lin Muxue's voice held a hint of expectation as she pressed the green grape against his lips.
Tang Song parted his lips slightly, and as the grape entered his mouth, her fingers followed. Lin Muxue casually brushed his tongue, teeth, and lips as she withdrew her hand.
Crunch—
The refreshing, tangy juice burst in his mouth. Tang Song's gaze darkened as he stared straight at Xiaoxue.
Feeling his intent gaze, Lin Muxue's heart raced wildly, and her expression faltered as she lowered her head. She had gotten carried away. It had been too long since they last met, and her actions had unintentionally crossed the line.
These were tricks she had picked up from her "socialite group," yet she knew Tang Song wasn’t just anyone—he was highly likely the man behind Su Yu and deeply tied to Tang Zong Entertainment.
Would he be upset?
Her nerves got the better of her, and she glanced up timidly, whispering, "Um... sorry, my hand slipped. But I washed them thoroughly!"
Tang Song chuckled lightly, his expression returning to normal. He picked up another grape and said in a clear, magnetic voice, "Open your mouth."
Lin Muxue froze, her face lighting up with surprise as she quickly opened her rosy lips.
However, Tang Song’s hand stopped about ten centimeters from her mouth. He held the grape there, gazing at her calmly.
Meeting his eyes, Lin Muxue's expression turned flustered. Slowly, she leaned forward, lifting slightly off her seat to bite the grape.
Tang Song smirked and gently pushed the grape into her mouth, letting his fingers playfully linger on her lips. Lin Muxue remained in place, like a cat nibbling on a treat, her eyes relaxing while her cheeks grew increasingly flushed.
"Xiaoxue, I just got back from Beijing. I haven’t washed my hands yet," Tang Song remarked, his tone calm.
Lin Muxue’s eye twitched slightly before she leaned in even closer.
Though she had a mild obsession with cleanliness and usually kept herself spotless, when it came to Tang Song, she felt willing to let go of such habits.
Tang Song’s grin widened at her reaction. Sliding an arm around her slender waist, he pulled Lin Muxue onto his lap. Leaning forward, he took in the scent of her neck while his hand shifted slightly.
Lin Muxue’s body stiffened momentarily, her cheeks turning bright red. After a moment, she gradually relaxed.
After all, they were already well-acquainted in every sense, sharing a friendship that extended deep beneath the surface.
The fruit platter before them was filled with premium selections, all exceptionally fresh. Peaches, for instance, were plump, vibrant in color, and bursting with sweet, juicy flavor.
Rain pattered steadily against the windows, cascading down the smooth glass in winding trails. Outside, the rainy night painted a hazy scene. Cars splashed through puddles, their headlights forming blurred halos in the misty downpour. Pedestrians hurried along under umbrellas, their forms flickering in and out of view.
Click.
The door of a white Wuling Hongguang creaked open.
Thump.
A purple umbrella unfurled as He Liting stepped out from the passenger seat, bag in hand.
"Thanks, Director Gao! You’ve got to pick someone else up, right? I won’t hold you up. Drive safely!"
“Bye, Yiyi!”
“Bye!”
Watching the white Wuling Hongguang S disappear around the corner, He Liting hummed a tune as she headed into the residential complex.
Unlike names like "Lili" or "Xiaoli," which she found tacky, she now had a professional stage name—He Yiyi—chosen personally by President Tang.
She smiled to herself. Now, everyone in the company affectionately called her “Yiyi.”
Her account had been growing smoothly over the past half month. By using videos to attract traffic and carefully selecting products, she was now capable of handling a two-hour live stream solo.
Moreover, today marked the arrival of new talent that President Tang had recruited from Beijing, with half of them specifically allocated to her team.
Sure, her relationship with Qianqian might have played a part, but Tang Song must also have seen her potential, right?
Though it felt a little shameless to admit, He Yiyi couldn’t help but feel proud of herself.
She licked her lips, her mood soaring as she recalled President Tang’s commanding presence during this morning's video conference.
Rain draped the world in misty veils, while He Liting's cheerful mood brightened the dreary weather. Holding up her skirt with one hand and her umbrella with the other, she twirled and danced lightly along the path, humming as she went.
Through the grand entrance lobby and up the elevator to the sixth floor, the soft chime announced her arrival.
He Liting stepped into the hallway, placed her umbrella aside, and unlocked the smart door lock.
Beep beep beep.
“Qianqian, Xiaoxue, I’m home! Still doing aerobics? The music is so lively. Wait for me to join!”
Slipping into her slippers, she strode quickly into the living room.
Her expression froze as she exclaimed, "President Tang!"
In the living room, Tang Song sat quietly on the sofa.
"Evening, Ting Ting," greeted Xiaoxue casually, standing near the floor-to-ceiling window in her snug workout attire. She tugged slightly at her pants, pretending nothing was out of the ordinary.
"Good evening, Yiyi. Thanks for your hard work," Tang Song replied, crossing his legs to conceal his awkwardness. Summer pants were thin, and after playing around with Xiaoxue earlier, standing up now would be... noticeable. For the sake of his image, he chose to endure.
"It's no trouble, no trouble at all! I didn't work overtime today. Mostly, we welcomed a few new colleagues, had dinner, and chatted," He Liting said cheerfully as she placed her bag aside and stepped to the coffee table. She picked up a slice of peach and took a bite, her face lighting up.
"Delicious! So juicy and sweet! Hey, Xiaoxue, why’s your face so red? That aerobics routine must’ve been tough!"
Nearby, Lin Muxue pressed her legs tightly together, her expression slightly stiff. "It sure was."
He Liting reached for a slice of watermelon and, after taking a bite, curiously pointed at Xiaoxue's damp workout shorts. "Xiaoxue, why are your shorts wet?"
"Uh..." Lin Muxue turned to face the window and said, "Oh, I opened the window earlier. Some rain must’ve splashed in."
"Ah, makes sense. Summer rains can get pretty wild."
Lin Muxue forced a smile. "I’ll just go change."
On the surface, she appeared calm, but internally, she was panicking. Oh my goodness, Ting Ting, could you just stop? If you keep talking, my carefully crafted persona will collapse!
Without waiting for a response, Lin Muxue sashayed quickly out of the room.
She had left some older, nearly discarded clothes in the guest room closet after her recent move, just in case she needed them during a stay. Thankfully, this included a few pieces of underwear—convenient now.
As her figure disappeared, He Liting casually ate fruit while sneaking glances at her "godfather," Tang Song, seated across from her.
He’s still as dashing as ever. What a charismatic man!
They exchanged a few casual words about work, and Tang Song gradually relaxed, finally able to rise without issue.
"Tomorrow, I’ll have a meeting with your K3 live-streaming team to discuss IP development," Tang Song said.
"Thank you, President Tang!" He Liting replied sweetly.
Tang Song’s tone softened. "Haha, no need to use titles at home. It feels awkward."
After all, He Liting was Qianqian's cousin and practically family. Constantly hearing formalities like "President" in such a setting felt out of place.
He Liting’s excitement shone through as she whispered, "Then... can I call you Brother Song?"
"Whatever feels natural to you is fine."
"Okay, Brother Song!" she called out sweetly.
At 23, two years out of college, He Liting was just two years younger than Tang Song. Calling him "Brother Song" like Qianqian did was perfectly acceptable.
Of course, if Tang Song truly meant anything casual, she secretly wished she could call him "godfather."
"Qianqian’s probably done with her shower. I’ll head to the master bedroom," Tang Song said, gesturing toward the hallway.
"Wait, Brother Song!"
Tang Song looked at her, puzzled.
He Liting smiled and plucked two long strands of hair from his white shirt. "Nothing, just this!"
"Alright, see you," Tang Song said, waving as he walked out of the living room.
He Liting watched his tall, elegant figure disappear, her expression briefly stunned.
A familiar scent lingered on Tang Song—the perfume wasn’t Qianqian’s usual one.
She paused, recalling the fragrance. Her eyes widened.
Xiaoxue?! That’s Xiaoxue’s signature scent!
Well... maybe it’s just a coincidence. The two of them have been inseparable lately; sharing perfume wouldn’t be unusual.
Her gaze shifted to the strands of hair in her hand. Against her fair skin, the strands were dark brown, smooth, and sturdy.
The color was unmistakable—it was Lin Muxue’s hair.
Oh no... oh no... I’ve uncovered another secret!
This is bad! They’ve already hooked up?!
Her thoughts spiraled. Qianqian! I told you long ago—you’re inviting a wolf into the house! Now what do we do?!
Beneath the Surface
This Xiaoxue, stealing her best friend’s man—there’s no way she’s as sophisticated and elegant as she seems on the surface!
What if she was a scheming, manipulative woman?
No, as Qianqian’s cousin, He Yiyi felt it was her duty to fend off external threats. She had to stand alongside Qianqian and protect her!
The bedroom door creaked open.
The cozy room was filled with a faint, pleasant fragrance. Tang Song shut the door behind him and took a few steps forward. He immediately spotted Zhao Yaqian by the bed, changing her clothes.
She had just slipped into a pair of workout pants and wore nothing but her bra on top.
Hearing the sound from the doorway, Zhao Yaqian looked up quickly. "Brother! I just finished showering."
She stood up and twirled in front of him. "This is the workout outfit I just bought. Does it look good?"
“It’s beautiful,” Tang Song replied with a smile.
Her sparkling eyes, fair and delicate skin, shapely curves, flowing wine-red hair, and the snug pants perfectly framing her long legs—Zhao Yaqian radiated youthful energy and charm.
Tang Song stepped forward and embraced her tall, graceful figure, unabashedly reveling in her fiery vitality.
Leaning against him, Zhao Yaqian sniffed lightly, a fleeting unease flashing across her face before she quickly masked it and responded enthusiastically.
The temperature in the room rose steadily.
The usually shy beautician surprised him—her tongue moved deftly, showing obvious improvement.
After some time, Tang Song leaned close to her ear and whispered a shameless request, mixing it with sweet nothings.
“I’ll do whatever you say, Brother,” Zhao Yaqian replied, both excited and shy as she knelt.
She began with loving kisses for her boyfriend, then poured out her feelings of affection.
The soft rustling of movement filled the bedroom.
The once-tongue-tied beautician had changed. Although she still stuttered occasionally, her words now carried a natural charm, occasionally interspersed with eloquent expressions.
“Qianqian,” Tang Song’s voice trembled slightly.
“What’s wrong, Brother?” Zhao Yaqian looked up, unconsciously licking her lips.
Her soft pink tongue flicked across her full, moist lips in one smooth motion. Paired with her striking features and fiery figure, it was a visual shock that left Tang Song momentarily dazed.
They locked eyes for a long moment.
Looking at her familiar face, Tang Song felt an inexplicable surge of emotion. He pinched her cheek gently and said, “Keep going.”
Rain pattered against the windows. The light spilling out from the room refracted through the droplets, creating a dreamy, hazy glow.
Tang Song leaned back slightly, closing his eyes as memories of his time with Zhao Yaqian played in his mind.
The 19-year-old beautician, his unreserved girlfriend, was entirely his own.
Tang Song ran his fingers through her thick, wine-red hair.
Human nature, he reflected, was complex and far from simple. His rapid ascent in wealth and status brought immense joy and exhilaration but also a faint sense of fear—it was all happening too fast.
Especially now, with his Charm Score at 60, unlocking characters he’d previously recruited and gaining shares in the in-game company he’d founded, the impact was indescribable.
His ambitions and desires were swelling, his thought processes subtly shifting, and his perceptions gradually evolving.
He feared that this transformation might kill the person he once was, leaving behind only "Tang Song," the player in the game.
Though he didn’t fully understand how the game and reality intertwined, he hoped that when he finally met and connected with Secretary Jin, it would still be the “current him.”
In recent days, playing basketball with Wen Ruan had been a way to momentarily forget these anxieties.
Now, he needed more anchors, more connections, to help him retain his sense of self. That was why, after returning from Beijing, he had eagerly come to Yanjing Huating—to see his familiar beautician friend.
She was his first woman and, in a way, his first true love.
The rain outside gradually subsided, and the once-blurred view of Yan City became slightly clearer, mirroring his own feelings.
A glowing system screen appeared before him:
[July 3, 2023: In the villa at Yanjing Huating, while feeling the presence and love of your companion, Zhao Yaqian, and reflecting on your past and the process of transformation, you gained a clearer, deeper understanding of yourself.]
[Your state of mind has experienced significant growth. You have completed the hidden task “The Color of My Life.”]
[Charm +1. You have obtained the special item “Tang Song’s Mask.”]
Cityscape Business Tower
Screech!
A white Wuling Hongguang S came to a stop in the parking lot outside the tower.
A tall, graceful figure emerged from the vehicle.
“Qiuqiu! Over here!” Gao Mengting waved at Cheng Qiuqiu, who stood under the rain shelter.
The sound of footsteps approached.
“Senior, you’re here,” Cheng Qiuqiu said, walking over with an umbrella.
Gao Mengting smiled and took her arm. “Let’s go.”
Cheng Qiuqiu turned to the man accompanying her and said politely, “Director Li, my friend’s here to pick me up. No need to trouble yourself further.”
A deep male voice responded, “Alright then. Take care.”
Gao Mengting glanced up and saw a man in his mid-thirties with a mature and polished appearance.
Thick eyebrows, sharp features, and neatly combed hair—a classic and charming look.
Dressed in a coffee-colored printed shirt, straight-leg trousers, and casual shoes, the man exuded the polished vibe of a young executive in a design firm.
To be honest, his appearance was far from greasy—in fact, it was rather appealing.
“Alright then, goodbye, Director Li,” Cheng Qiuqiu said, waving.
As the man left, she let out a relieved sigh.
Gao Mengting raised an eyebrow and teased, “No wonder you insisted I come pick you up today. So, he’s the deputy general manager at your company?”
“Yeah, Li Jingzhong, the Deputy GM in charge of the design department,” Cheng Qiuqiu replied, climbing into the passenger seat with a smile of relief.