novelraw Chapter 376: Sleeping Together Tonight
Chapter 376: Sleeping Together Tonight
The darkening street was filled with the honking of cars and the roar of engines. Just a meter away, several colleagues from Century Zhixue stood frozen in place, staring straight at the two people tightly embracing. They weren’t stupid; it was obvious that the relationship between them was anything but ordinary. She was the type of woman who was independent and emotionally stable, someone who wouldn’t even react like this over a major project bug. But now, she was truly emotional, with tears in her eyes, laughing and crying at the same time.
Yet according to old colleagues who had transferred from Beijing, Liu Qingning didn’t have a boyfriend. The only person she was close to was Cheng Qingfeng. As the founding duo of the company, colleagues often teased them about their relationship, and most assumed they would end up together in the future. But no one expected that President Liu already had such an outstanding boyfriend.
A few of the female colleagues were drowning in envy. This guy had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and was overwhelmingly attractive, completely effortless in his charm. He wasn’t effeminate, nor was he excessively masculine, and his clothing and demeanor exuded an elite aura—it was obvious he wasn’t an ordinary person. The scene before them looked like something straight out of an idol drama, except they were all just the background characters.
A colleague whispered, "We should probably leave before we end up as third wheels."
"Yeah, I’m already full from all this PDA. Good thing we didn’t interrupt earlier; otherwise, this would be so awkward right now."
Muttering among themselves, the group exchanged knowing glances before quickly lowering their heads and making their way around the two.
Since it was Saturday, there were only a few pedestrians passing by on the sidewalk.
Tang Song held Bai Yueguang tightly in his arms, breathing in the familiar scent of shampoo in her hair, his heart filled with overwhelming joy and satisfaction.
Childhood sweethearts, Bai Yueguang, meeting again at the peak, secret admiration—she carried too many elements and memories he couldn’t let go of.
When they weren’t together, these emotions lay dormant in his heart, surfacing occasionally but never causing too much turbulence. When he left Beijing and bid farewell to Bai Yueguang, he thought he had moved on.But after regaining his memories from 2016, after experiencing the transformation of making his game a reality, after seeing her again, he realized—it was all just self-deception.
If given the chance, who wouldn’t want to make up for past regrets?
He never denied that he had become a heartless player, but every man has that one time when he becomes hopelessly devoted, that one time when he throws caution to the wind. For him, Liu Qingning was that person, the one who held a unique significance in his life.
Tang Song looked down at Bai Yueguang in his arms. The stark contrast between past and present, the vivid memories rushing in like a tidal wave, completely drowning him.
"Ah! What are you doing?!" A sharp cry rang out.
A pair of hands suddenly gripped Liu Qingning’s waist, and the next second, she was lifted into the air.
Tang Song laughed loudly as he spun her around twice in place, holding onto her soft waist.
When she finally landed safely, Liu Qingning’s ample chest heaved violently.
Pretending to be angry, she shouted, "Are you trying to kill me?!"
Then she took a step forward and buried her face into his clothes, rubbing against him vigorously.
Looking at the damp spot on his shirt, she pouted and patted his chest. "Hmph, it’s all your fault. You disappeared to Shenzhen in an instant, and I ended up crying because of you."
Tang Song looked down at her and grinned. "Then should I leave again?"
"You try it and see!" Liu Qingning pouted and grabbed his wrist.
Tang Song flipped his hand over and firmly clasped her soft, warm fingers, a tingling sensation spreading through both their palms.
This wasn’t the first time they had held hands, yet the feeling was still intense.
They fell into a silent understanding, their gazes locked. A soft blush crept up Liu Qingning’s face.
After a moment, she lifted her head and seriously studied Tang Song’s face.
She reached out and traced his prominent nose bridge, his sharp jawline, his rosy lips, his smooth skin…
A wide smile spread across her face. "This is amazing! I can tell you’ve worked really hard on losing weight and getting fit. The changes are huge—you look so healthy now. You’ve slimmed down so much, and your skin looks incredible. Even your hands seem prettier."
She knew Tang Song too well. Seeing his transformation now, she could easily guess the effort he had put in.
Beyond his appearance, she found countless admirable qualities in him—his persistence, his diligence, his focus.
If it weren’t for limitations in talent, with the way he had studied so intensely in his senior year of high school, he probably could have made it to Beijing University.
All these qualities had slowly carved themselves into her heart over the years.
Tang Song raised an eyebrow smugly. "Of course! I’ve been training hard. Am I handsome? More handsome than in high school, right? Are you surprised?"
Hearing his words, Liu Qingning froze, a flicker of panic flashing through her eyes as she quickly lowered her head.
Her face nearly touched the swell of her own chest.
"What’s wrong, Qingning?" Sensing her change in mood, Tang Song squeezed her hand and asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"
"I’m fine," Liu Qingning muttered gloomily.
She immediately let go of his hand and slipped behind him.
Tang Song turned around, puzzled. "Something’s definitely wrong. Tell me."
Liu Qingning quickly cupped his chin, tilting his face to the side. "I look ugly and fat right now. Don’t look at me."
"Uh…" Tang Song instantly understood her thoughts.
Liu Qingning’s peak beauty was probably when she graduated high school—her skin was so dewy it looked like you could squeeze water out of it.
With her baby face and big eyes, she was truly youthful, unbelievably cute.
Throughout college, she maintained herself well.
But after graduating, the heavy workload and irregular lifestyle started taking a toll. Her skin and figure weren’t what they used to be.
In the ten months she had been in Shenzhen, the brutal 996 work schedule and immense stress had sent her condition plummeting. Even her hair was barely styled.
She really did look "less polished" now.
And standing next to Tang Song, who had drastically improved himself, her pride naturally took a hit.
She didn’t want him to see her at her worst.
But so what?
Tang Song cupped her delicate face, his fingers gently stroking her soft cheeks. With a warm voice, he said, "You’re not ugly or fat at all. Every change you’ve gone through is unique, and all the weight you gained landed perfectly within my aesthetic."
"Ah!" Liu Qingning slapped his hand away, her face flushing. "You—why are you talking like this today? Where did you learn to be so flirty? You’re not allowed to talk like this again!"
In all the years she had known Tang Song, she had never heard him say something so cheesy before.
It gave her goosebumps, yet strangely, she didn’t dislike it at all.
Tang Song chuckled, saying nothing, just watching her with a teasing smile.
Liu Qingning smoothed her hair and quickly walked ahead of him, her back turned. "How long were you waiting downstairs?"
"Not long, I timed it to match when you got off work."
"Have you eaten?"
"No."
A gentle push came from the side, and Liu Qingning giggled. "Come on, big sis will take you for something delicious!"
Her birthday was on October 13, making her nearly two months older than Tang Song. She would occasionally tease him with this "older sister-younger brother" dynamic.
"Alright, thank you, Sister Qingning." Tang Song smiled and blinked at her, reaching out to ruffle her hair roughly.
Her hair was instantly a mess.
"Can’t you just talk without using your hands? Hmph! My hairstyle was already bad enough, and now you made it even worse."
With a 20-centimeter height difference, Liu Qingning had no power to resist.
"I still like your high ponytail with bangs—it suits your face better."
"Oh, come on. I’ve been out of college for three years now. I’m a manager now; if I wore a student hairstyle, people wouldn’t take me seriously."
Thunder rumbled across the sky, and raindrops began to fall, "pat-pat-pat."
Liu Qingning grabbed his hand and pulled him into a restaurant, Lacoco, known as the "Michelin" of Kexing Science Park.
They ordered spicy stir-fried beef, mashed chili with century egg, and Honghu lotus root pork bone soup.
Determined to lose weight, she only had a bowl of soup, spending most of the time watching Tang Song devour his food, her bright eyes curving like two crescent moons.
At around 7 PM, Liu Qingning's phone suddenly rang.
She glanced at the screen and quickly answered. "Hello, Shuangshuang, sorry, I wasn’t checking my phone."
"Yeah, I’m off work, but I have plans tonight, so I won’t be joining you guys for dinner."
"It’s not work—Tang Song came to Shenzhen to see me, so… sorry, can you let Xiang Kai know too?"
"Hello? Shuangshuang, why aren’t you saying anything?"
"Alright, then, I’ll hang up. Bye-bye."
She ended the call, her brows furrowing slightly.
The moment Liu Shuang heard that Tang Song had come to Shenzhen, her tone instantly changed.
Probably because Xiang Kai was beside her.
Liu Qingning knew well that her colleagues and classmates never had a great impression of Tang Song.
But that didn’t matter. Tonight, all that mattered was Tang Song—everything else could wait.
Tang Song paused mid-bite and asked curiously, "Was that Liu Shuang and Xiang Kai?"
"Yeah, it was them." Liu Qingning pursed her lips and said in a low voice, "Xiang Kai is working at an investment firm now, frequently traveling between Shanghai and Shenzhen. I don’t interact with him much, so I never mentioned him to you."
"Heh, you don’t have to explain—I trust you." Tang Song reached out and pinched her soft, chubby cheek.
When it came to his childhood sweetheart, Bai Yueguang, he couldn’t help himself—he wanted to touch and tease her at every opportunity.
He could feel that this time, Liu Qingning had completely opened up to him. She wasn’t resisting his intimacy at all.
This was probably related to her decision to buy a house in Yan City—maybe she was finally planning to confess everything to him.
"Stop messing around." Liu Qingning slapped his hand away, her face turning red. "I’m not explaining for that reason—I just didn’t want someone to start overthinking." The source of this content ɪs ɴovelfire.net
"Alright, alright, you’re right." Tang Song chuckled and shook his head.
Back when he first arrived in Beijing, neither of them had graduated yet, and work wasn’t too busy.
She used to take him along to networking dinners, telling him it was good for future referrals. It was a way to build connections in case he ever needed an internal job recommendation.
Whenever he sat among her classmates and colleagues, he always looked calm on the outside but felt incredibly uneasy deep down—even a bit inferior.
After all, they were all top students from Beijing University, practically geniuses among geniuses.
Their conversations revolved around which prestigious international university they would attend for postgraduate studies, their career aspirations, and their plans for academic research.
Among them, Xiang Kai was a well-known figure.
A Beijing local, a second-generation rich kid, a second-generation celebrity.
He drove a sports car, wore a Rolex, and had the looks to match—confident and charismatic.
It was obvious back then—Xiang Kai liked Liu Qingning, and he didn’t even bother to hide it.
And he had never once considered Tang Song a competitor.
Truthfully, Xiang Kai wasn’t the only one interested in Liu Qingning.
In the Computer Science department, someone who looked as beautiful as her, with a body like hers, was exceptionally rare.
This had once been a huge blow to Tang Song.
The gap between him and those people was undeniable.
And in the end, after all that built-up inferiority, he had chosen to let go and return to Yan City.
After dinner, the rain had stopped, leaving the air fresh and humid.
They strolled around Kexing Science Park for a while.
Liu Qingning suddenly asked, "By the way, which hotel are you staying at?"
Tang Song looked at her and said, "Qingning, you’re practically a local here now. You rented an apartment—you wouldn’t actually make me book a hotel, would you?"
"Well… I live with Shuangshuang, so it might not be very convenient."
"I literally flew over 2,000 kilometers just to see you!"
"Fine, fine, I’ll squeeze in with her tonight—you can take my room."
Tang Song stopped in his tracks, looking at her sincerely. "Honestly, I don’t mind squeezing in with you. A 1.5-meter-wide bed is technically a double bed, it’s definitely big enough for two people."
"Ting, are you messing with me again? Take this!" Liu Qingning’s face turned bright red as she smacked his arm—not too hard, but not too soft either.
Laughing and joking, they left the park and took a cab back to Phase 3 of Songping Village, where her apartment was.
Tang Song had only ever seen it in video calls before, so stepping inside now, he was genuinely curious.
The living room was about 20 square meters and had a big balcony.
The kitchen and bathroom were both tiny.
He pushed open the door to Liu Qingning’s bedroom, and a familiar scent filled the air—exactly like her.
A 6-square-meter room, neat and tidy, with barely any possessions.
There was just a bed, air conditioner, small wardrobe, and a simple storage shelf.
Aside from that, hooks hung all over the walls, carrying random trinkets.
The storage shelf held just a few basic cosmetics—lipstick, BB cream, foundation.
Standing in her room, Tang Song felt ashamed.
His Bai Yueguang had come to Shenzhen to make money, completely abandoning material desires.
"You should step out for a bit—I need to tidy up." Liu Qingning gave him a little push, her gaze avoiding his.
She wasn’t prepared for this, and there was a sports bra from this morning near her bed.
If he saw that—it’d be beyond embarrassing.
Tang Song nodded and walked out.
Standing on the balcony, he let the humid night breeze wash over him, gazing at the residential area, silently imagining how she had been living here.
Bright headlights swept across the pavement.
A black AMG GT slowly stopped at the entrance of the complex.
Liu Shuang unfastened her seatbelt and said softly, "Sorry, Xiang Kai, you came all this way for nothing, and you even drove me home."
"It’s fine, we’ll meet up next time. I’ve got nothing but free time these days. Bye-bye."
"Mm, mm, bye-bye, drive safe."
Liu Shuang pushed open the car door but couldn’t help glancing back at Xiang Kai in the driver’s seat.
In the dim car, wearing a tailored business suit, he looked exceptionally handsome and refined.
Click. The door shut.
With a roar, the AMG GT vanished into the night.
Liu Shuang sighed. A textbook tall, rich, and handsome elite, with extensive family connections and outstanding personal abilities—what woman wouldn’t be tempted? But unfortunately, Qingning was just that stubborn, dead set on Tang Song.
Thinking about Tang Song, she couldn’t help but recall the young man she saw this afternoon at Shenzhen Bay No.1, and an odd feeling stirred inside her.
When Liu Qingning had suddenly said Tang Song was in Shenzhen, it had genuinely shocked her. But after thinking about it carefully, it didn’t seem possible—the difference in aura and physique between the two was just too drastic.
Shaking her head, Liu Shuang stepped into the residential complex.
Ding—
The elevator stopped on the 5th floor. Liu Shuang pulled her keys from her bag and opened the door. Bright lights spilled into the dim hallway.
"Qingning, are you back?" Seeing the lights on in the living room, she instinctively called out.
"Yeah, yeah! Just tidying up my room!"
Liu Shuang hung her bag behind the door, turned around to speak, but her expression froze in place.
Standing in the bright light, stepping out from the balcony, was a figure she never expected.
Compared to the fleeting glance she got this afternoon, this time, she saw everything clearly.
It was him.
Tang Song?!
Her mind buzzed. Liu Shuang's breathing became erratic.
"Long time no see, Liu Shuang." Tang Song waved with a smile.
The upturned curve of his lips sharpened his handsome features, making them even more defined and striking.
His tall, well-built frame, the perfect broad shoulders and narrow waist, and the confident ease in his demeanor—it was impossible to look away.
Liu Shuang struggled to find her voice. "Tang… Tang Song, it’s really you?"
At that moment, the bedroom door opened, and Liu Qingning smiled. "Shuangshuang, Tang Song is staying here for two days. He’ll sleep in my room, so we’ll have to squeeze in together tonight. You don’t mind, right?"
"No problem." Liu Shuang nodded, but her gaze kept flickering back and forth over Tang Song, her face heating up.
Objectively speaking, in terms of looks, Tang Song was now even more attractive than Xiang Kai.
She had always heard Qingning talk about how handsome Tang Song was in high school, but she figured it was exaggeration.
Who knew that after slimming down, it was like he had completely transformed.
The three of them chatted in the living room for a while before Liu Shuang went to her room to prepare the bed.
But her mind remained clouded with confusion.
Shenzhen Bay No.1, T8 Tower was purely a residential building, with no offices or commercial spaces—so what was he doing there?
"Here, take my water bottle. Dinner was super salty and spicy, so drink more water."
"You can use this summer blanket—I brought it from Beijing, and I’ve barely used it…"
"Even though it's hot, you shouldn't keep the air conditioning on all night."
"Go freshen up first—this is my towel, toothpaste, and face wash. Your toothbrush is new. When you're done, let's do face masks together, okay?"
In the small apartment, Liu Qingning bustled around like a busy little bee, darting back and forth, chirping reminders in her crisp, adorable voice.
The familiar voice and the familiar her filled Tang Song with a deep sense of happiness in this unfamiliar city.
Back in high school, every time they went out, Liu Qingning was always this meticulous, taking the initiative to prepare everything for him.
She was mature, rational, and incredibly organized.
9:40 PM.
Liu Qingning yawned and stretched from the sofa. "Alright, you must be exhausted from your flight. Get some rest—I’m going to change into my pajamas."
Just as she was about to head toward the master bedroom, she felt her wrist being pulled back.
She looked at him, confused.
Tang Song blinked innocently and smiled. "How about you sleep in the guest room tonight? I just arrived in Shenzhen, and I feel really uneasy. I might get scared sleeping alone."
"Hmph!" Liu Qingning playfully smacked his head, her cheeks flushing red. "Well, well, Little Song… Half a year of not seeing you, and you’ve developed some sneaky little tricks, huh? Hurry up and go to bed—don’t even think about it!"
She suddenly realized—not only had his looks changed, but his personality too.
Before, he never would have said something like that.
After all, they were just friends—they hadn’t even officially entered a romantic relationship yet.
"Just for tonight. It’s not like we haven’t slept together before."
Liu Qingning froze. "When?!"
"In Jing County’s People’s Park."
"That was a picnic on the grass! That doesn’t count!"
Flustered, Liu Qingning rubbed her burning cheeks and dashed into the master bedroom.
Lying on the bed, Liu Shuang sat up, her eyes curious. "Qingning, was Tang Song always this handsome when he was skinny?"
Liu Qingning giggled. "Of course! He’s always been hot."
"Alright, alright. But I have to admit—nowadays, at least in terms of looks, he’s flawless. He’s completely worthy of you."
Liu Qingning smiled without answering, casually changing into her pajamas.
Her large chest finally escaped its constraints.
Liu Qingning sighed in relief.
Having big boobs was such a hassle—her shoulders always ached from the bra straps.
Seeing her roommate’s amazing figure, Liu Shuang sighed in resignation before suddenly saying, "Hey, tell me more about your high school days. I’m so curious!"
Liu Qingning chuckled, sitting at the edge of the bed, excitedly recounting her high school memories—
The boarding school, the early morning breeze, the shy teenage boy, the mountains of books and endless practice tests.
Talking about high school, she could never avoid that one name engraved in her heart.
And wasn’t Tang Song her youth as well?
Time slipped away as they talked.
Knock, knock, knock—
A soft knock on the door.
From outside came Tang Song’s clear, magnetic voice. "Qingning."
Liu Qingning quickly got up and opened the door. "What’s wrong, Tang Song?"
She sniffed the air and locked onto the takeout bag in Tang Song’s hands.
"This is…"
"You only had a bowl of soup at dinner—you must be starving by now. I ordered your favorite fried chicken and milk tea. Eat a little?"
Tang Song’s face lit up with a warm smile, his bright eyes twinkling like a big bad wolf luring in a little bunny.
Growl—
A loud stomach rumble.
Liu Qingning’s mouth twitched.
Who could understand the sheer temptation of the takeout Tang Song was holding right now?!
She was already lightheaded from hunger. If she hadn’t seen it, maybe she could have endured—
But now that it was right in front of her, there was no way she could refuse.
Just one bite. One tiny bite.
One small piece of fried chicken.
One little sip of milk tea.
She would still stick to her diet!
"Uh… Shuangshuang, do you want some too?"
Liu Shuang looked at the two standing at the door and shook her head. "Nah, I ate a lot earlier."
"Alright, then. You sleep first—I’ll just eat a tiny bit."
With that, Liu Qingning casually shut the door behind her.
Very soon, from the dining area came her satisfied, almost dreamy voice:
"So good!"
A few minutes later, Liu Qingning summoned immense willpower to stand up. "Alright, I really can’t eat anymore. You should sleep early too—goodnight!"
"Qingning, wait a second." Tang Song spoke in a gentle tone. "You just ate a late-night snack—you shouldn’t go straight to sleep. It’ll put pressure on your digestion, and you’ll gain weight, especially with fried foods like these."
Touching her soft belly, Liu Qingning immediately regretted everything. "This is all your fault, tempting me in the middle of the night."
"I was just looking out for you." Tang Song blinked and pointed toward the guest room. "I’ve got the air conditioning on—it’s really nice and cool. Come keep me company for a bit."
"Fine, but I’m probably gonna wake up late tomorrow."
Liu Qingning had no sense of caution around Tang Song at all. She obediently followed him into the room.
Since the room was tiny, there weren’t any chairs, so she simply sat cross-legged on the bed.
Click.
The sound of the door locking echoed.
Liu Qingning’s heart skipped a beat. She instinctively shrunk back.
"Why did you lock the door?"
Tang Song didn’t answer.
He simply sat down in front of her, staring at her intently.
Her full, delicate face, her big, round eyes, her plump, rosy lips—
Exactly the same as he remembered.
This was his Bai Yueguang, the girl he had promised to meet at the top, the girl who had silently given so much for him.
He couldn't imagine—if things had really unfolded like in his dreams, if he had truly lost her—
What a heart-wrenching regret it would have been.
Countless sleepless nights, tears streaming, unable to find peace.
"Stop looking at me like that! I look awful right now! I have acne and blackheads all over my face!" Liu Qingning’s thick lashes trembled.
She grabbed a pillow, hugging it to her chest, and buried her face into it.
Tang Song leaned forward, his fingers resting lightly on her lower back, his gaze locked onto her bright, watery eyes.
Liu Qingning’s entire body froze. She stretched out a finger and pushed against his forehead.
With a fierce, yet adorable tone, she huffed, "Talk properly! No touching!"
"You’re not ugly at all," Tang Song took a deep breath, his voice soft and sincere. "No matter when, no matter what—to me, you’ve always been a light that shines uniquely."
"Just a few days ago, I went back to our school and had a long, long dream—I saw the 2016 version of you and me.
Qingning, I missed you so much."
Hearing those words, Liu Qingning’s cheeks instantly turned crimson.
She bit her plump lips, then whispered softly, "I missed you a lot in Shenzhen too."
The room fell silent.
After a while, Tang Song lowered his gaze. "Stay in the guest room tonight, okay? I just want to be near you. I won’t do anything inappropriate."
"I… I shouldn’t…"
"We barely get to see each other. I don’t want to be apart from you right now."
Liu Qingning didn’t reply.
She simply shifted slightly, moving closer to the inner side of the bed—
And buried her face into the pillow again.