novelraw Chapter 357: A Glance Back
Chapter 357: A Glance Back
Jiang Yourong took several deep breaths, trying to calm the excitement in her heart.
She had officially resigned from Smile Investments in May 2017.
As a computer science master's graduate, she had been one of Director Jin’s six assistants, primarily assisting with strategic planning for internet investment projects, as well as project screening and evaluation.
Back then, this was a key sector for Smile Investments, making the job both demanding and exhausting.
At the same time, it gave her more opportunities to interact with the people around Director Jin—
Including Liu Jiayi, the sharp-witted, cool-headed woman from Northeast China, a national martial arts champion.
Of course, the reason Liu Jiayi remained so memorable wasn’t just because of her competence.
She wasn’t a traditional beauty, but her striking androgynous looks appealed strongly to many women.
Jiang Yourong licked her slightly dry lips and stepped forward.
Liu Jiayi remained composed, hands in her pockets, gazing at the sign of a small bar across the street.Sensing someone approaching, her keen, piercing eyes flicked over immediately.
Their eyes met.
Liu Jiayi’s face remained unreadable—calm, distant.
But Jiang Yourong’s heart pounded uncontrollably.
After more than six years, she was crossing paths with them again.
Except… Liu Jiayi didn’t seem to remember her at all.
"Tap, tap—" Her footsteps came to a stop.
Jiang Yourong hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Jiayi, long time no see. Haha, I never expected to run into you in Quancheng. But… you probably don’t remember my name anymore, do you?"
Liu Jiayi took her hands out of her pockets and said evenly, "Long time no see, Assistant Jiang."
"Hiss—" Jiang Yourong sucked in a sharp breath, goosebumps rising all over her body.
She… she still remembered her?!
Who would understand this feeling?!
Who would understand the sheer weight behind the words ‘Assistant Jiang’?!
Jiang Yourong took another step forward, looking up at her, eyes sparkling.
"Haha, I can’t believe you still remember me, Jiayi. I’m honestly a little flattered."
"My memory is excellent." Liu Jiayi’s lips curved slightly. "Besides, you were Director Jin’s assistant. Even with non-compete and confidentiality agreements, former assistants are still closely monitored for a few years after leaving, to prevent corporate leaks."
Jiang Yourong felt a twinge of awkwardness.
"Uh… I see. Haha, haha..."
The conversation stalled, and silence settled between them.
Liu Jiayi said nothing further, simply watching her with a natural but undeniable air of authority.
After all, in her years as Director Jin’s driver, she had encountered countless high-profile figures—some even in the political sphere.
She had long since learned to maintain an unshakable composure.
Jiang Yourong tentatively asked, "Are you in Quancheng for business? I have some friends here. Do you need any help?"
"No."
Jiang Yourong’s mouth twitched. As expected, she wasn’t going to get much out of her.
"Um… how is Director Jin doing?" she asked cautiously. "She used to work insane hours, pulling all-nighters all the time. Is her health okay?"
She quickly added, "I mean, I was her assistant for quite a while. I still care about her well-being."
At those words, Liu Jiayi’s icy expression softened slightly, losing some of its previous sharpness.
She nodded. "Director Jin is in excellent health. The group has stabilized now, and there’s much less work that requires her personal attention."
"That’s wonderful," Jiang Yourong murmured, her emotions stirring.
"I still dream about my days at Smile Holdings a lot. I’m really grateful for everything Director Jin taught me."
Reminiscing about the past, Jiang Yourong became a little sentimental.
She gently took hold of Liu Jiayi’s forearm and started chatting about her experiences at Smile Holdings—funny stories from work, her impressions of the other assistants…
—
Meanwhile, in the Parking Lot
A white Mercedes-Benz C200L slowly pulled into the lot.
A young man and woman stepped out, both in their mid-twenties.
The woman wore a chiffon dress, her makeup delicate and refined, exuding a demure, ladylike charm.
The man sported an oversized T-shirt, ripped jeans, and a baseball cap worn backward. His hair was streaked with blonde highlights—trendy, fashionable.
"Shasha, Zhang Lei didn’t tell you who the old classmate is? I just want to know if it’s a guy or a girl, haha," Zhang Yunpeng said as he locked the car.
Liu Shasha smoothed her bangs. "Come on, Yunpeng. In our class, I was the school beauty. What other girl are you thinking about?"
Zhang Yunpeng rolled his eyes. "Can we not rewrite history? If you were talking about Zhang Yan, I’d believe it."
"Haha, well, if you like her, why didn’t you go after her?"
"That was all back in school. Now, I’m a full-fledged local influencer with a great life—plenty of girls are into me." Zhang Yunpeng smirked smugly. "Honestly, among our old classmates, not many are doing better than me."
Back in school, he had been a lousy student, never able to focus. He used to tease the girls he liked just to get their attention—looking back, it was pretty idiotic.
Liu Shasha nudged him playfully. "Hey, weren’t you gonna do a live shop review? Start the stream already! I want to learn from you—maybe I’ll give it a shot myself."
She had arranged for Zhang Lei to meet her at Snail Bar partly because Zhang Yunpeng had taken a sponsored gig to review the place.
These days, Zhang Yunpeng was a well-known local influencer in Quancheng, with the nickname "Yunpeng’s Got Style" and a following of 450,000 fans—many of them locals.
He frequently landed paid promotions for bars and restaurants, making serious money.
Now he drove a Mercedes and had an apartment in the city center.
Liu Shasha, confident in her own looks, wanted to see if she could break into the industry and make some quick cash.
"Alright, I’ll start streaming. Help me film some clips later."
Taking out his phone, Zhang Yunpeng clipped on a mic, adjusted the camera, and began his livestream.
While waiting for viewers to join, he chatted animatedly, sharing urban stories and making exaggerated facial expressions for entertainment.
"Shoutout to Yoyo for the two hot air balloons! Thanks, gorgeous!"
"Thanks to Sister Yun for the three sunglasses gifts!"
He was a naturally energetic talker, and since he had never been great at academics, diving into short videos and livestreaming turned his weaknesses into strengths.
He thrived in this industry.
His looks were decent, too, and with Douyin’s powerful beauty filters, he barely passed as a "handsome streamer."
A few of his big-spending female fans—like Yoyo and Breeze Is Not Yun—frequently sent him gifts.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of something gleaming.
He squinted and turned his head in surprise.
Not far away, parked under the streetlights, was an awe-inspiring black luxury car.
It gleamed under the lights, radiating an air of mystery and prestige.
"Holy sh*t! A Rolls-Royce Phantom!" Zhang Yunpeng’s face lit up.
"Guys, I just stumbled upon my dream car—a Rolls-Royce Phantom! This is insane! Let’s go check it out!"
While he was genuinely excited, he also knew this was content gold.
A Phantom in the middle of Quancheng? That was a guaranteed way to draw attention and boost engagement.
Sure enough, as soon as he said it, his chat exploded with comments.
Switching to his rear camera, he zoomed in on the Rolls-Royce and began spouting facts about it as he walked toward it—
But then, someone stepped into frame, blocking the camera.
Zhang Yunpeng looked up and met a chilling gaze.
Sharp, ice-cold eyes.
Tall, imposing posture.
A powerfully built figure dressed in a sleek, fitted suit.
The tiny livestream chat erupted.
Feeling an inexplicable pressure, Zhang Yunpeng instinctively stepped back.
Beside him, Liu Shasha tugged at his sleeve.
A calm but firm voice sounded.
"Please refrain from filming or livestreaming in this area. Thank you."
Jiang Yourong walked over and waved a hand dismissively.
Zhang Yunpeng sneaked a glance at her—a poised, sophisticated beauty.
"Sorry, my bad! We’ll leave right away," he stammered, hastily cutting the stream and backing away.
That scene just now—absolutely cinematic.
The perfect kind of viral moment.
In fact, his livestream’s viewer count had just broken past 200—a lucky turn of events despite the earlier scare.
"Wow! Huge thanks to Yoyo for the sports car gift! Yoyo, you’re amazing!"
【Yoyo: "That woman looked like an assassin! So cool, I love her! Yunpeng, can you film her again?"】
Before long, other female viewers started chiming in with gifts and messages.
"Ah, I’d love to, but her aura was at least ten meters tall—I didn’t even dare get closer."
Still, Zhang Yunpeng sneakily panned his camera toward the Rolls-Royce one last time.
"Alright, alright, let’s get back on track. Today, I’m bringing you all to a super atmospheric theme bar! If you’re in Quancheng, stick around and check it out with me!"
Pushing open the glass doors, he stepped inside.
Warm, cozy lighting greeted him, paired with a relaxed, inviting atmosphere.
"This place is full of handsome guys and pretty girls, and the prices are super affordable! I’m gonna show you all around—locals, you better not miss this!"
Right on cue, the bartender he had coordinated with earlier walked over, giving a brief introduction to the bar and its promotions.
Adjusting his camera angle, Zhang Yunpeng grinned.
"Actually, there’s another big reason I’m here today—I’m reuniting with an old middle school classmate! But I have no idea who it is, not even if they’re male or female. So, let’s open this mystery box together!"
His livestream instincts were excellent.
Smooth-talking narration, exaggerated but entertaining expressions, decent looks—all of it kept the audience engaged. Read full story at Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
His top female fans immediately jumped in to tease him.
【Yoyo: "Could it be your middle school crush? Is this the start of a new romantic storyline?"】
【Breeze Is Not Yun: "If you find a girlfriend, you’ll lose us!"】
"Aww, now that you mention it, I am kinda excited!"
Turning to Liu Shasha, he asked, "Shasha, which booth is Zhang Lei at?"
Liu Shasha, who had been quietly observing his streaming techniques, quickly pointed. "W21, in the northwest corner."
"Alright, let’s go check it out, fam!" Zhang Yunpeng switched his camera view, pointing it toward the bar’s interior.
"Look at this place, guys! Pretty solid vibe, right? And it’s only 60 yuan per person on average!"
【"Yunpeng, there’s a really good-looking guy to your left—zoom in on him!"】
【"Yeah! He’s got that 'salt-bro' vibe!"】
"Come on, your taste is terrible! What does he have that I don’t? Yoyo and Breeze, you two have good eyes."
As he bantered with the chat, he kept moving forward.
Meanwhile, Liu Shasha’s gaze drifted toward W21.
From afar, she spotted two men clinking their glasses.
One of them was unmistakably Zhang Lei.
Liu Shasha giggled. "Yunpeng, you’re gonna be disappointed. It’s a guy."
"What?!" Zhang Yunpeng exaggerated his reaction. "Well, looks like all the ladies crushing on me can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Now, let’s see which old friend it is—been years since I last saw them!"
With all eyes in the livestream now locked in, he steadied his camera and quickly walked over.
"Hey, Lei! We’re here!" Zhang Yunpeng greeted as he zoomed in on the booth.
Under the soft glow of a vintage chandelier, a man lifted his glass, taking a slow sip of his drink.
Then, he set the glass down and looked up.
A sharp, chiseled face was revealed beneath the dim lighting.
Dark, slightly tousled hair shifted with his movements, brushing against his deep, intense eyes.
He leaned back casually against the plush sofa, long legs effortlessly crossed, exuding a natural elegance.
His silk dress shirt shimmered faintly under the light, the slightly unbuttoned collar revealing a glimpse of his toned physique.
The minimalist yet refined outfit, paired with his relaxed posture, emanated a subtle yet undeniable aura of wealth and class.
It was as if an invisible barrier surrounded him, separating him from the noise and chaos of the bar.
Both Zhang Yunpeng and Liu Shasha froze on the spot.
A name from the depths of their memory surfaced—
Tang Song?!
The features were unmistakable.
But his aura—this presence—was like he had transformed into an entirely different person.
Especially in the dim, moody atmosphere of the bar, he looked like a leading man straight out of a novel.
—
Meanwhile, in the livestream chat:
【"Ahhh!!!"】
【"HOLY SH*T!!"】
【"HE’S SO HOT!!"】
—
Zhang Lei chuckled and waved them over.
"Yunpeng, Shasha, we’ve been waiting for over 40 minutes. Tang Song and I are almost full from drinking already."
Liu Shasha snapped out of it, her face instantly flushing red.
Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, she nervously pinched the hem of her dress and softly murmured,
"Tang… Tang Song, long time no see. I’m Liu Shasha—do you remember me? You’ve changed so much. If I saw you outside, I don’t think I’d even recognize you."
Tang Song set his glass down and smiled faintly.
"Of course, I remember. Hello, Shasha. It’s been almost ten years, hasn’t it?"
"Yeah… ever since middle school, we pretty much lost touch," Liu Shasha took a deep breath and gathered her courage, sliding into the booth beside him.
Zhang Yunpeng hesitated for a moment, then forced a grin.
"Tang Song, long time no see."
"Long time no see." Tang Song nodded with a friendly smile before turning back to Liu Shasha.
"Zhang Lei and I have been drinking beer. Feel free to order whatever you’d like."
His voice was smooth, clear, and magnetic.
—
Zhang Yunpeng discreetly glanced at his phone—the viewer count had just broken 500.
Unprecedented!
In all his streaming career, the highest he had ever hit was 300 viewers.
As his camera panned away from Tang Song, the chat exploded.
【"Turn the camera back! We want to see him!"】
【"Yunpeng, don’t be dense! We need more of the god-tier hottie!"】
【"Streamer, hurry up! I NEED to see more!!"】
Zhang Yunpeng felt a headache coming on.
Just as he was about to say something, the screen was flooded with bright, dazzling gift effects—
Carnival, Douyin One…
His jaw dropped.
"Whoa, huge thanks to Yoyo for the Carnival! You’re incredible!"
"Thank you, Breeze, for the Douyin One!"
His top two donors—always reliable, always supporting him.
Receiving such high-value gifts was rare.
But then… his expression stiffened.
【Yoyo: "Streamer, go get his WeChat for me! If you succeed, I’ll send another Hua Zi!"】
【Breeze Is Not Yun: "Me too! If you get it, I’ll send one as well! Hurry up!"】
—
Wait a damn second.
Now they weren’t even calling him Yunpeng?!
Just "Streamer"?!
WTF! You guys are so damn FAITHLESS!
A Hua Zi meant a 3,000 yuan gift—just for a WeChat contact?!
What was this—some kind of escort gig?!
—
Zhang Yunpeng glanced at Tang Song again, his mind buzzing.
Damn.
This guy really did look like a movie star.
—
"Still streaming?" Zhang Lei chuckled and nudged him. "Come on, let’s drink first."
"Yeah, yeah." Zhang Yunpeng nodded, adjusting his camera angle before clinking his bottle of Wusu beer with them.
"Clink—"
As he set his bottle down, he glanced at his chat again—
And his eyelid twitches violently.
【"Holy crap, now that we’re closer, I just realized—he’s wearing a Vacheron Constantin Overseas 4300V! That’s a 700,000 yuan watch! Is it real?!"】
【"No wonder he has such a high-class aura—he’s a true top-tier rich and handsome man!"】
【"I know watches. Yunpeng, you’re at Snail Bar in downtown Quancheng, right? I’m coming over to check for myself!"】
"Fck! You guys—"
Looking at the flood of messages, Zhang Yunpeng suddenly felt a deep sense of crisis.
—
This was his livestream!
His carefully cultivated fanbase!
And now, they were about to switch sides?!
"Zhang Yan?"
Liu Shasha froze for a moment, staring at Tang Song’s strikingly handsome face at such close range. She hesitated before answering nervously,
"I haven’t been in touch with her much… actually, none of our high school classmates really kept in touch with her. She was always quiet, a total study fanatic. It was like she vanished after getting into university."
"But I did hear from a former dorm mate that after she graduated from Agricultural University, she worked in Beijing for about half a year. She was living in a semi-basement apartment in Tiantongyuan."
"Then, I think she got laid off and couldn’t find a good job, so she moved south. She’s probably in Yang City now."
Liu Shasha’s scattered recollections made Tang Song pause, his fingers tightening slightly around his glass.
Tiantongyuan?
That name was far too familiar.
He had lived in Tiantongyuan West Area 1 for three years during his time in Beijing. A 13-square-meter bedroom, rented with the help of Liu Qingning.
First Yan City University, then a home in Beijing…
They had been closer than he had ever realized.
If his memory was indeed altered, there was a very real chance that they had crossed paths—he just hadn’t known.
Could this be why Zhang Yan kept leaving comments on his social media?
—
The cloudy sky kept the evening cool.
By the black Rolls-Royce Phantom, Jiang Yourong and Liu Jiayi had been chatting for quite a while.
As the sky darkened, Jiang Yourong adjusted the strap of her bag and asked lightly,
"By the way, Jiayi, what’s your phone number? Let’s add each other on WeChat."
Liu Jiayi pursed her lips slightly, then pulled a business card from her pocket and handed it over.
Jiang Yourong took it with a smile. "Alright then, I won’t keep you any longer."
"Mm, goodbye."
For once, a faint smile appeared on Liu Jiayi’s face.
"Goodbye!" Jiang Yourong replied cheerfully, then turned and walked away.
—
This encounter had given her a deeper understanding of where her old colleagues had ended up.
For example, Qin Yingxue, the most outstanding assistant back in the day, was now a senior executive at Qingning Technology in Shenzhen while also holding a high-ranking position in Director Jin’s family office.
And Lin Tiantian, who had taken over Jiang Yourong’s former role—she was still Director Jin’s assistant, but she had also become President of the Group’s PR Department.
"Phew—"
Jiang Yourong exhaled long and deep.
She had always been a bit lazy, but she still had her pride and ambition—otherwise, she wouldn’t have pursued a PhD.
Yet, after reconnecting with these people, she once again felt the power of fate—how vastly different lives could be based on one decision, one encounter.
Her steps faltered.
She turned back, gazing at Liu Jiayi from a distance.
She was still standing silently in the same spot, her sharp eyes fixed on the entrance of a small bar as if she were waiting for someone.
Jiang Yourong’s heart skipped a beat.
A flash of realization struck her.
From the very beginning, Liu Jiayi had been looking toward that bar. Even while they were chatting, she had frequently glanced in that direction.
Which could only mean—
The person she was waiting for was inside the bar!
But who could make Liu Jiayi—a top-tier security officer, Director Jin’s personal driver—wait outside like this?
Jiang Yourong's imagination ran wild.
After all, we were talking about Jin Meixiao—the legendary Director Jin, the most successful female entrepreneur of their time.
The "Wonder Woman of the business world", her idol.
If she had the chance to see Director Jin again—wouldn’t that be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
—
Her heartbeat quickened.
Jiang Yourong quickly pulled out a compact mirror from her bag, fixing her hair and adjusting her collar.
After hyping herself up, she strode toward the bar with purpose.
—
Inside the Bar
It was almost 7 PM, and the place was filling up.
Soft music floated through the air.
A light mix of alcohol and sweet perfume drifted around the room.
Jiang Yourong walked straight to the bar counter, ordering a glass of Baileys Irish Cream.
She took small sips, casually scanning the crowd while keeping her presence low-key.
After a while, she let out a quiet sigh.
There were many women in the bar—
But none of them were her.
Someone like Director Jin—her presence was unmistakable.
If she were here, Jiang Yourong would have spotted her instantly.
—
Just then, a hurried set of footsteps entered the bar.
A young girl in a crop top rushed inside, looking no older than 20—probably a college student.
She scanned the room anxiously, stopping to ask a waiter something before dashing toward a booth in the back.
Jiang Yourong took a large sip of her Baileys, the creamy liqueur bursting with sweetness in her mouth.
Her eyes followed the rushing girl.
The girl had already stopped at a booth, standing obediently beside a seated man, speaking to him.
And then—
The man slowly stood up.
His figure was lean yet powerful, his posture naturally poised.
Under the warm lights, his side profile looked as if it had been carefully sculpted—every angle impossibly sharp, incredibly handsome.
His high-bridged nose exudes elegance, and the slight tilt of his head, coupled with the way his bangs fell over his eyes, gave him a sense of mystique.
—
Jiang Yourong’s breath hitched.
Her hand trembled slightly around her glass of Baileys.
A single phrase surfaced in her mind—
"I searched for you a thousand times… and in an instant, you appeared, under the glow of the lanterns."
—
Tang Song.
Tang Song.
—
So this was who Liu Jiayi had been waiting for!