novelraw Chapter 330: Tiramisu Cake, Cinderella’s Wish
Chapter 330: Tiramisu Cake, Cinderella’s Wish
3 PM.
The city streets were shrouded in a misty veil of rain. Droplets tapped against the glass curtain walls in an almost unbroken rhythm, creating a crisp, soothing sound.
Inside the spacious Shimmer Coffee, there were only seven or eight patrons scattered about, mostly white-collar workers from nearby office towers. Morning Star Tower, just about a kilometer away from the university campus, was surrounded by office buildings and commercial centers. On a normal weekend, the café would be bustling with activity. However, the sudden downpour had clearly disrupted their usual business flow.
Qian Lele sat on a small stool in the baking room, holding a computer science textbook in her hands.
A conversation she had with Tang Song about career planning had left a deep impression on her recently. At Yan City Normal University, the computer science program wasn’t particularly strong, and the professors’ lectures were broad but lacked depth. Their primary goal was to expose students to a variety of programming languages and technologies so they could find their own paths.
But to secure an offer from a top company right after graduation, she knew she had to master at least one area in depth.
So, following Tang Song’s advice, she had started to dive deep into front-end development. The deeper she went, the more she realized her own lack of knowledge. There was so much to learn: new syntax, closures, prototype chains, asynchronous programming, various frameworks, and build tools. Yet, she had to spend a large chunk of her time working part-time.
This left her with an overwhelming sense of urgency and a fear of being left behind in the fierce competition after graduation.
“Hello, Lele! Studying hard again, I see?” A voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
Startled, Qian Lele quickly closed her book and stood up, a bit embarrassed. “Brother Yang, I’ve already finished my work, so I thought…”The man, Yang Hongwei, was the shift manager of the Morning Star Tower branch, essentially the second-in-command at the café.
He was always considerate towards her, arranging her shifts to accommodate her class schedule. While she worked full-time hours and earned a decent salary, she felt uneasy taking advantage of her free moments to study.
“It’s fine,” Yang Hongwei said with a friendly wave. “Studying during your downtime is a good thing. Even our General Manager Xie often encourages employees to keep learning. You might even qualify for a bonus if you pursue higher education.”
“Thank you, Brother Yang.” Qian Lele bowed sincerely in gratitude.
They chatted briefly about the weather and her school. Then, Yang Hongwei’s phone started vibrating incessantly in his pocket.
He glanced at the screen and shook his head with a wry smile. “The company’s other two shareholders are at it again in the group chat. Based on their conversation, it looks like this round of funding is going to fall through.”
The group he referred to was the company’s management chat, which included not only the main office leadership but also store managers and shift supervisors from all branches.
Hearing this, Qian Lele’s heart skipped a beat. She asked nervously, “Is General Manager Xie upset? Will this affect the café?”
Employees like her were somewhat aware of the shareholders’ disputes, and there were plenty of rumors circulating in private.
Yang casually grabbed a leftover piece of cake trimmings and ate it while replying, “The café won’t be affected. At worst, the funding falls through, and things just stay the same. Anyway, it’s not something we should worry about. Let’s focus on doing our own jobs well.”
“Understood, Brother Yang.” Qian Lele nodded slightly, though she still felt uneasy inside.
She admired and was deeply grateful to Xie Shuyu, the elegant, decisive, and capable female CEO. She hoped everything would go smoothly for her. But as a mere part-time student worker, there was nothing she could do to help, leaving her with a sense of helplessness.
“Alright, I’m heading back to the front.” Yang Hongwei clapped his hands and casually added, “Oh, by the way, you’re off around five, right? The rain’s still heavy, so I’ll give you, Nana, and Xiao Shuo a ride home later.”
With that, Yang Hongwei smiled and left the baking room.
Watching his retreating figure, Qian Lele whispered softly, “Thank you.”
She always felt there were more good people than bad around her, and those moments of kindness often warmed her heart.
This middle-aged shift manager, in addition to overseeing the café, was also an excellent barista and a kind-hearted individual. He was among the earliest employees who had joined General Manager Xie’s entrepreneurial journey.
5 PM.
“Buzz, buzz, buzz—”
The phone in Qian Lele’s pocket vibrated suddenly. She quickly pulled it out to check. It was Ding Yao.
Answering the call, she greeted, “Hello, Yao Yao. What’s up?”
A crisp, lively voice came through the receiver. “Lele! You’re done for the day, right?”
“Yeah, almost.”
“I just checked the weather forecast. It’s going to rain heavily again tomorrow, and it won’t be light either. It’ll be such a hassle for you to get here.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take a cab.”
She had already planned to do so since she’d need to change into her new outfit and carry a beautifully wrapped gift. The short distance meant the fare would only cost around ten yuan, which was manageable.
“Hehe, no need to waste money. I’ve already made arrangements! I’ll have Zhang Haoyu pick you up and bring you straight to the X-STAT Party House. I’ve rented the entire place. It’ll be all friends, with tons of food and fun!”
Ding Yao grew more excited as she described the party setup and activities.
Once she was done, Qian Lele replied gently but firmly, “Yao Yao, really, it’s not necessary. I’ll go on my own.”
“Ugh…” Ding Yao sighed in resignation. “Alright, I guess I can’t convince you. Just get here early tomorrow, okay? I’ll introduce you to some new friends.”
“Thank you, Yao Yao. I’m just worried I might not fit in…”
“Oh, come on! It’s settled then, Lele. See you tomorrow!” Ding Yao paused before adding softly, “Actually, Zhang Haoyu is a great guy. We’re too close, so I don’t see him that way. His dad’s a senior executive at Yan Provincial Bank, and his mom is a deputy chief physician at the provincial hospital—they’re even colleagues with my dad.”
With that, Ding Yao hung up, leaving Qian Lele staring at her phone. A moment later, a WeChat notification appeared.
[Ding Yao]: "Lele, I think you just lack confidence. You’re incredibly amazing—diligent, sincere, humble, and hardworking. You have so many wonderful qualities, and I truly believe that one day, you’ll become a real princess! Keep it up!”
Sighing softly, Qian Lele put away her phone.
She understood her friend’s intentions. Ding Yao knew she had it tough and genuinely wanted to help. But with her family situation being a bottomless pit, Lele had no intention of dating and only wanted to work hard to improve her life.
Speaking of dating, for some reason, Tang Song came to mind.
Flashes of recent memories crossed her mind, and she couldn’t help but smile sweetly. When she thought of his warm hand earlier that morning, her cheeks flushed red.
“Lele, Brother Yang asked me to remind you—it’s almost time to clock out,” called Nana, a fellow server, snapping her out of her daydream.
“Got it! Coming now!” Qian Lele replied quickly.
She changed into her casual clothes in the locker room, slung her bag over her shoulder, and stepped out of the baking room.
As Qian Lele stepped out of the baking room, she noticed a few employees gathered by the café counter near the display window, whispering among themselves. With just a bit of eavesdropping, she quickly understood the situation.
Due to the heavy rain, it was certain that the café’s light meals and desserts would go unsold today. However, General Manager Xie had established a reasonable policy for such situations: unsold items could be offered to premium café members for tasting, or employees could purchase them at a steep discount.
Lele’s gaze swept across the brightly lit display case, finally landing on a 5-inch tiramisu mousse cake. It was something she had made herself that morning, crafted with high-quality ingredients and a focus on health and flavor.
A memory flashed in her mind—when Tang Song helped her recover the deleted data from the backend, she had promised to treat him to a cake she had made herself, if he ever had time to visit Shimmer Coffee.
“Hey, Lele, ready to go?” Yang Hongwei called out to her with a wave.
Biting her lip slightly, Qian Lele walked up to the display case and said softly, “Brother Yang, can I buy this tiramisu cake?”
Yang Hongwei paused in surprise before agreeing cheerfully. “Of course you can. Nana, help Lele pack it up.”
In all the time he’d known her, it was the first time he’d seen Qian Lele spend money on one of the café’s desserts. She usually took home scraps of cake or soon-to-expire croissants and bread.
After paying 40 yuan, she held a delicately wrapped gift bag containing the tiramisu. As she looked at the cake, dusted generously with cocoa powder, a big smile spread across her face. She couldn’t help but imagine Tang Song’s reaction to the surprise.
A Ride Home in the Rain
The white Sylphy pulled up outside the teacher’s apartment complex. The back door opened gently, and Qian Lele stepped out with her umbrella.
“Bye-bye, take care on the road.”
“Bye-bye, see you tomorrow.”
After watching the car drive off, Qian Lele carefully held the cake in front of her and made her way into the apartment building, protecting it as if it were a precious treasure. The night had fully fallen, and the streetlights refracted through the misty rain, creating soft, hazy halos.
Wearing sandals, she stepped lightly through puddles, her movements full of joy and energy. The rapid raindrops falling on the umbrella sounded like a melodious tune.
As the elevator ascended floor by floor, she looked down at the elegant tiramisu cake in her hands, feeling more and more delighted. A soft hum escaped her lips as she began singing to herself.
Stepping out of the elevator, she unlocked the door and stepped into the apartment. After changing into her slippers, she slowed her pace as she approached the master bedroom door. In a gentle voice, she called out, “Brother Song, I’m back! You haven’t eaten yet, right?”
“Not yet,” came a deep, magnetic voice from inside.
Through the slight crack in the door, she saw Tang Song completely absorbed in whatever was on his laptop screen.
“Perfect. I’ll cook dinner then.”
“Thanks, Lele.”
Beaming, Qian Lele walked into the kitchen. She took the cake out of the gift bag and placed it in the fridge before tying on an apron to start cooking.
Half an hour later, steaming hot dishes were laid out on the table: millet porridge, steamed buns, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and garlic stir-fried lettuce.
Dinner, as usual, was accompanied by their casual chatting, blending with the quiet comfort of the evening.
After cleaning up the kitchen, Qian Lele stepped out to see Tang Song waiting in the living room.
“Want to watch some TV together?” he asked suddenly.
Stunned for a moment, she nodded enthusiastically. “Sure!”
The balcony window was cracked open slightly, letting in a cool evening breeze. Tang Song reclined on the couch and turned on the TV, flipping to a popular comedy variety show.
Soon, the faint scent of laundry soap mixed with a subtle girlish fragrance wafted over. Qian Lele sat obediently beside him, her posture perfectly upright as she stared at the screen.
Tang Song chuckled at her stiffness and began casually chatting about front-end development and her career plans. In his “Scholar” state, his thoughts were exceptionally sharp, and he soon had Qian Lele completely at ease.
The two watched the show while talking, their laughter filling the living room. The atmosphere grew increasingly warm and cozy.
Time slipped by, and before they knew it, it was 9 PM. The variety show had ended.
As Qian Lele bit her lip and prepared to get the surprise cake from the fridge, Tang Song suddenly spoke up.
“By the way, Lele, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Oh, what is it, Brother Song?” She quickly sat back down, her expression attentive.
Looking into her bright eyes, Tang Song said gently, “I’ve been staying at the teacher’s apartment for half a month now. You’ve worked really hard during this time, cooking breakfast and dinner for me, even doing my laundry.”
Hearing his words, Qian Lele’s eyes trembled. She was sharp enough to guess what he would say next. She also recalled what Teacher Jiang had mentioned before leaving: Tang Song would only be staying here temporarily for two weeks.
Which meant that Tang Song was about to return to his normal routine, and they likely wouldn’t have many chances to meet anymore.
But that was only natural. This was Teacher Jiang’s apartment, and both she and Tang Song were merely borrowing it. They couldn’t stay here forever.
Biting her lip hard, she said in a slightly trembling voice, “It’s no trouble. After all, I had to eat too, so it was just convenient for me to cook. And the bread and desserts were all leftovers from the café.”
Tang Song paused before saying, “I’ll probably leave tomorrow. From now on, don’t overwork yourself. In these two weeks of studying here, making a friend like you has been an unexpected bonus.” The most update n0vels are published on ⓝovelFire.net
“I feel the same. I’m really happy to have become friends with you, Brother Song.” Her voice was soft and hoarse, her throat unusually dry.
Lowering her head, Qian Lele sniffled and tried hard to hold back the tears threatening to spill.
It wasn’t a big deal, she told herself. They were both still in Yan City, so they’d surely meet again. Plus, there was always WeChat—they could chat frequently. And if she ever ran into a problem, she could shamelessly ask him for advice.
But for some reason, her heart felt hollow, an indescribable ache settling within her.
Seeing her reaction, Tang Song smiled and gently patted her head. “What’s wrong, Lele? Are you going to miss me that much?”
As Qian Lele subconsciously shook her head, she hesitated for a moment before finally speaking with difficulty, “Thank you, Brother Song, for all your help during this time. You didn’t just clear the inventory of my bead bracelets but also guided me on how to sell fruit tea drinks. I’m really grateful.”
“I’m actually going to miss you too.” Tang Song turned slightly to face her, his expression serious. “Even though I won’t be living here anymore, I hope we can stay in touch. You’re always welcome to reach out for a chat, and if you run into any trouble, don’t hesitate to find me.”
Hearing his words, Qian Lele’s lowered eyes became moist. She responded softly, “I will, Brother Song.”
Suddenly, a warm and refreshing presence enveloped her.
“Ah!” she gasped, her eyes wide and unfocused as Tang Song unexpectedly pulled her into a hug.
“Alright, don’t make this so emotional. After all, we don’t live far apart—we can see each other anytime,” he said with a smile.
“I… I… I…” Qian Lele stammered, unable to form a complete sentence, her face growing redder by the second.
Tang Song chuckled and released her. Under the influence of his "Scholar" aura, his emotions remained calm and unaffected, making the hug purely platonic.
Of course, he had to admit—this pure and innocent college girl was indeed quite beautiful.
“Um…” Qian Lele stammered as she hurriedly stood up, turning her back to him. “I brought back a cake from the café. Please wait a moment, Brother Song.”
With that, she dashed into the kitchen. She wiped her damp eyes and splashed cold water onto her burning face.
Inside her chest, her heart felt like a restless deer bounding around, refusing to settle. However, most of her sadness about parting had dissipated.
Just as Tang Song had said, he saw her as a good friend. They lived close by and could see or chat with each other anytime.
I should be happy, she thought. After all, it’s not like we could really live together forever.
Shaking off her chaotic thoughts, she collected herself, retrieved the beautifully packaged cake, and returned to the living room.
“Brother Song, this is a tiramisu mousse cake I made myself. Please try it and see if it suits your taste.”
Qian Lele placed the cake in front of Tang Song and gently opened the box.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you, Lele,” Tang Song said with a smile as he reached under the coffee table to pull out a white paper bag.
The bag contained candles, utensils, birthday hats, and other accessories left behind by Jiang Yourong, who clearly loved cakes. Tang Song took out a pink candle and placed it in the center of the cake before lighting it with a match.
After everything was ready, he looked up at Qian Lele and said warmly, “Even though this isn’t a birthday cake, you can still make a wish. Say aloud the wish you most want to come true right now, then blow out the candle. Who knows? It might really come true. Just remember—don’t make the wish too far-fetched, or it won’t work.”
As a parting gesture, he wanted to give this college girl a small gift. In her, Tang Song saw many admirable qualities: simplicity, kindness, sincerity, frugality, and perseverance. She was someone who viewed the world with goodwill and deserved to be treated with gentleness in return.
“A wish…” Qian Lele murmured to herself.
She had so many wishes, and every birthday, she would close her eyes and wish for a long time. Most of them were unrealistic, more like hopeful aspirations for the future.
After a moment, she smiled shyly and said softly, “Then I wish for everything to go smoothly tomorrow and to have a happy birthday party.”
Leaning forward, she blew out the candle with a soft “whoosh.”
“What birthday party?” Tang Song blinked in surprise. “Is it your birthday?”
“No, no!” Qian Lele quickly blushed and explained, “It’s my good friend Ding Yao’s birthday tomorrow. She rented out a party house to celebrate and invited me to join.
“But her friends are all really wealthy—the gifts they give, the clothes they wear, everything is so expensive. I feel like showing up will just make me embarrassed and uncomfortable. But she’s my good friend, so not going doesn’t feel right either.”
This had been her first major dilemma of the summer vacation, one that had troubled her for a long time.
“I think your wish will definitely come true,” Tang Song said with a light nod. His gaze passed through his glasses as he carefully took in Qian Lele’s height and figure, committing them to memory.
It was a simple wish, and from what he could see, Qian Lele was a practical and grounded person.
Suddenly, Qian Lele seemed to muster her courage and said softly, “By the way, Brother Song, I bought a black dress a week ago and planned to wear it tomorrow. How about I try it on now, and you tell me if it looks good?”
She had been too shy to try it on for him earlier.
Tang Song smiled and nodded. “Sure, go ahead.”
“Wait for me, it’ll be quick,” she said, dashing toward her bedroom.
Less than five minutes later, the sound of footsteps echoed through the apartment. Tang Song turned his head to see Qian Lele walking toward him in a fishtail black dress.
The soft, form-fitting fabric highlighted her curvaceous figure.
Noticing Tang Song’s gaze, Qian Lele blushed and asked shyly but expectantly, “Do you think it looks good?”
“It’s stunning. I didn’t expect you to have such a great figure, Lele,” Tang Song said with a smile, playfully winking at her.
Previously, Qian Lele had always dressed in loose, student-style clothing, which had hidden her natural beauty.
At this moment, the fitted long dress revealed Qian Lele’s previously hidden figure. Her excellent body proportions, perky chest, and slender waist exuded an enchanting youthful vitality.
Hearing Tang Song’s compliment, Qian Lele didn’t even know where to put her hands. Her gaze darted nervously, and her cheeks flushed a bright red.
Although she had been complimented on her good figure and pretty face many times before, hearing it from Tang Song made her feel a tingling warmth that left her flustered.
She stammered a few words before awkwardly changing the subject, inviting Tang Song to start cutting the cake.
Outside, the rain had stopped at some point, and a cool breeze laced with moisture passed through the room. The temperature in the living room felt just right.
The two of them held their plates and ate large mouthfuls of the cake.
10 PM That Night
Back in her room, Qian Lele carefully removed the black dress, folded it neatly, and placed it on the bedside table. She changed into a loose short-sleeved T-shirt, turned off the lights, and lay down on the bed.
After a long while, she sighed deeply, sat up again, hugged her knees, and leaned against the wall, lost in thought.
Though she usually had a regular sleep schedule, tonight, she found herself unable to fall asleep.
A mix of emotions kept her awake—both the reluctance and sadness over Tang Song’s departure, as well as the unease and nervousness about Ding Yao’s birthday party tomorrow.
In the darkness, her phone screen lit up on the bedside table.
Qian Lele picked it up, and her face instantly lit up with a smile.
[Tang Song]: "Goodnight, Lele. Your wish has been received. I’m sure tomorrow will be a happy and unforgettable birthday party.”
She stared at the message for a while, then replied softly with a voice message: “Thank you, Brother Song. Goodnight.”
After sending the message, Qian Lele lay back down on the bed, gently closed her eyes, and began counting sheep.
She didn’t know how much time had passed, but her breathing gradually grew steady.
In her dreams, her expression alternated between faint smiles and slight frowns.
During this summer vacation of her sophomore year, 20-year-old Qian Lele experienced for the first time the intertwined confusion of “love” and “friendship.”
It was just like the tiramisu mousse cake she had eaten tonight—sweet with a faint trace of bitterness.