novelraw Chapter 469: Xiaojing—Looking for Qingqing to Cuddle
Chapter 469: Xiaojing—Looking for Qingqing to Cuddle
September 16, 2023, Saturday, Cloudy, Cool Autumn Breeze
Yanjing Huating Residential Complex
The sky gradually brightened outside, and the soft morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a gentle warmth over the room.
On the luxurious and comfortable master bed, Lin Muxue turned over, her fingers unintentionally brushing against a large patch of warm, smooth skin.
She let out a comfortable hmm and instinctively hugged the person beside her.
"Tang Zong… you smell so good…"
She mumbled drowsily, her hands beginning to wander absentmindedly.
A lazy, slightly teasing voice soon followed, "What are you doing, Xiaoxue? That tickles."
Still caught between sleep and wakefulness, Lin Muxue suddenly sensed something was off.
She opened her eyes and found herself face-to-face with the beautician’s delicate face.The other woman frowned slightly, her sleepy eyes gazing at her in a daze.
Then, Lin Muxue realized—her hand had somehow slipped inside the other’s sleep pants.
"Ah—sorry, my bad." Lin Muxue hurriedly withdrew her hand, her face flushing with embarrassment.
Yet, she couldn’t resist taking another sniff.
A light, refreshing fragrance lingered in the air, like morning dew mixed with a hint of floral scent.
Unlike the synthetic aroma of skincare products or perfumes, this scent was purely natural—fresh and comforting.
Recently, she had noticed that the beautician friend beside her was becoming more and more fragrant.
It was… strangely alluring.
She had actually experienced something similar once before.
Not when she had briefly met Su Yu outside Lanfeng International Luxury Apartments—though that impression had been striking.
No, this was different.
Su Yu’s scent had been colder, more distant.
But Yanjing Tian’s fragrance felt tranquil and gentle.
Still half-asleep, Yanjing Tian yawned, rubbing her eyes groggily as she looked at Lin Muxue.
Zhao Yaqian chuckled and leaned in close, pressing her nose against Yanjing Tian’s neck, inhaling deeply.
"Qianqian, she smells amazing. You should make her cuddle you to sleep often. It’ll help you have sweet dreams too."
Xiazhi Feng stuck out her pink tongue lazily. "You should have Lele cuddle you instead."
"Actually, you and Xiazhi could cuddle her together, that works too." Zhao Yaqian smirked mischievously, trailing her fingers along the beautician’s goblet-shaped legs.
Then, she teasingly pinched Yanjing Tian’s chin.
"Zhao Beauty, give your Empress a smile~"
Yanjing Tian let out a soft chuckle but suddenly recalled Lin Muxue’s earlier actions.
She reached out and slid her hand under Muxue’s clothes, launching her own mischievous counterattack.
"Muxue, your chest seems a little smaller lately?"
Zhao Yaqian’s eyes widened.
She immediately reached out to stop her.
"Stop! Stop! Qianqian, don’t mess around—ahhh!"
"Hahaha, serves you right for waking me up. You need to be taught a lesson!"
"No, no, stop—!"
Lin Muxue struggled, but she was no match for Zhao Yaqian, who stood at 180cm and weighed 64kg.
She was pinned down and tormented in the corner, her face flushing red from the rough play.
—
7:30 AM
The two of them headed downstairs together and walked across the street to Hongfu Breakfast Shop.
At this time, the place was packed.
Finding a table in the corner, they ordered their usual favorites.
Zhao Yaqian nibbled on her xiao long bao while chatting with Lin Muxue about the newly released iPhone 15 and luxury fashion brands' autumn collections.
Now that she had established her own social circle, Zhao Yaqian had started paying more attention to different kinds of news.
After finishing breakfast, as they stepped out of the shop, Lin Muxue found herself momentarily lost in thought.
It was here, at this very restaurant, that she had first come across Chen Siyue’s "Classmate Mystery Box" post.
And right outside, she had literally run into Tang Song.
Looking back, she realized she had actually been incredibly lucky back then.
If it weren’t for the pressure from that whole blind box incident, she wouldn’t have felt the urgency she had at the time.
Had she hesitated even a little longer—if she had waited until Tang Song revealed even more of his background: Lanfeng International Hotel, Huashang Fashion, Confluent Capital…
By that point, she might not have had the courage or the standing to approach him at all.
Like Shen Yuyan now.
Through their conversations and interactions, she could clearly sense Shen Yuyan’s growing anxiety and helplessness.
Her gaze shifted to Yanjing Tiancheng Residential Complex in the distance.
Something clicked in her mind.
She spoke softly, "Qianqian, Tang Zong is busy for the next couple of days. Try not to disturb him."
Although Tang Song hadn’t explicitly stated it in their messages last night, as his assistant, she understood everything.
And she had plenty of suspicions about what he was up to—though it wasn’t something she could openly discuss with Zhao Yaqian.
Zhao Yaqian blinked, then nodded. "Mm, got it."
Lin Muxue smiled and took her hand. "The weather’s nice today. Let’s go for a walk."
A gentle breeze ruffled their hair, carrying the crisp scent of early autumn.
As they strolled along the pedestrian path outside Yanjing Huating, chatting and laughing—
Zhao Yaqian suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Her gaze sharpened as she looked ahead.
"What’s wrong, Qianqian?" Lin Muxue turned to her.
"I just saw a friend—the baker from Shimmer Coffee, Lele."
Zhao Yaqian pointed toward a familiar figure not far away.
Following her line of sight, Lin Muxue raised an eyebrow.
By the east gate of Yanjing Tiancheng, a petite girl stood there.
She wore a simple hoodie, jeans, and sneakers, carrying a black backpack and holding a transparent plastic bag.
Her curvy figure exuded youthful energy.
But right now, she looked a little uneasy, glancing at her phone repeatedly while scanning her surroundings.
Qian Lele?
Why is she here?
Lin Muxue’s eyes flickered toward Yanjing Tiancheng’s residential complex.
Tang Song lives here.
Zhao Yaqian perked up. "Lele’s been busy with school, so I haven’t seen her much at the café. Xiaoxue, let’s go say hi?"
Although she and Qian Lele weren’t close friends, they had built some rapport—Lele often gifted her leftover cake slices whenever she stopped by.
Running into her here felt like a pleasant surprise.
Lin Muxue, however, tugged at her arm and lowered her voice.
"Qianqian, I never told you this before, but… Qian Lele knows Tang Song."
"Huh?" Zhao Yaqian froze, eyes widening. "She knows Song-ge?"
Lin Muxue nodded. "Remember when I asked about her after you posted that café photo? That’s because I had actually seen her with Tang Song before."
Zhao Yaqian’s gaze lingered on Qian Lele, deep in thought.
She hesitated, then asked, "So… should we still go over?"
"Of course!" Lin Muxue’s lips curled into a smile. "She’s your friend, which means she’s my friend too. Come on."
She hadn’t forgotten about Xie Shuyu, the owner of Shimmer Coffee.
Last time they met, Xie Shuyu had directly claimed the title of Tang Song’s girlfriend and even made her call her “Sister Shuyu”.
That moment had made up her mind— ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NoveI[F]ire.net
She was definitely stealing this little baker away.
And now?
A perfect opportunity had just presented itself.
As the two approached, Qian Lele sensed something unusual and instinctively turned toward them.
She froze for a moment before a hint of panic flashed across her face. Subconsciously, she moved the plastic bag behind her back.
"Hello, Lele." Zhao Yaqian waved with a bright smile, jogging over. "What a coincidence, running into you here!"
"Good morning, Qianqian." Qian Lele's gaze shifted toward Lin Muxue behind her. "Good morning, Xiaoxue-jie. You and Qianqian…"
She had a deep impression of Lin Muxue.
Before attending Ding Yao's birthday party, she had gone to Isha Beauty Salon for a treatment, and it was Lin Muxue who had accompanied her.
She hadn't expected Lin Muxue and Zhao Yaqian to be so close—so close that they even looked like best friends.
Lin Muxue smiled. "Hi, Lele. Qianqian and I are good friends. We even slept together last night. We went out for breakfast this morning and happened to see you."
"Oh, oh." Qian Lele nodded. "That is quite a coincidence."
Zhao Yaqian hummed in agreement but couldn’t help glancing behind Lele.
Now that they were up close, she could see that the plastic bag contained a meticulously cleaned glass jar filled with pickled radish and chili peppers.
Lin Muxue had also noticed, as well as Lele’s nervous demeanor.
Softly, she asked, "Lele, are you delivering something to someone?"
"I…" Qian Lele pressed her lips together and lowered her gaze slightly. "No, it's Saturday, and I had some free time, so I just took the bus out to wander around."
Zhao Yaqian beamed. "Then join us! You can come over to my place for a bit."
"No, that's okay." Qian Lele shook her head and glanced at her phone. Politely, she added, "I have to head somewhere else soon. Actually, my bus is coming soon—I won’t hold you up."
She had a personality that feared inconveniencing others.
Although she knew Zhao Yaqian, she didn’t feel close enough to casually visit her home.
Just as she was about to turn and leave, Lin Muxue suddenly spoke.
"Lele, where did you buy this pickled radish? The mix of chili, Sichuan pepper, and garlic looks amazing."
Qian Lele looked down at the plastic bag in her hand, then glanced at the luxurious apartment complex nearby.
Suddenly, she extended the bag toward them and smiled. "I made it myself. Here, take it—I hope you don’t mind."
"You made it yourself? Wow, Lele, you're amazing! Not only can you bake, but you also make pickles?" Zhao Yaqian gave her a thumbs-up. "Then we won’t be shy about accepting it. I'll treat you to a meal in return."
"No need, it's nothing expensive." Qian Lele clasped her hands together, looking slightly embarrassed.
Zhao Yaqian patted her shoulder playfully. "Lele, next time, you have to come over and cook with us."
"Mhm." Qian Lele nodded, then glanced at the bus stop sign. She waved. "The bus should be here soon—I'll get going now."
"Hey, wait!"
Zhao Yaqian suddenly remembered something and pulled out her phone.
"Lele, let’s add each other on WeChat. It'll be easier to stay in touch."
Qian Lele hesitated for a moment before pulling out her phone and scanning Zhao Yaqian’s QR code.
As the screen lit up, she quickly typed something before tucking the phone back into her bag. She then flashed a polite yet reserved smile. "Done. Goodbye."
"Bye-bye!"
—
Walking toward the intersection, Lin Muxue turned back for another glance at the bus stop.
Qian Lele was still standing there quietly, but her gaze was fixed on Yanjing Tiancheng—the apartment complex.
"Xiaoxue, do you think Lele was planning to deliver that pickle to Song-ge?"
Lin Muxue paused, then nodded. "I think so."
Although she hadn’t interacted much with Qian Lele, she had been there—she had experienced this phase in life.
With a guy like Tang Song, how could a girl like Lele not have feelings?
Zhao Yaqian hugged the jar of pickles and grinned. "Then I’ll keep it at home and have Song-ge try it when he visits."
Lin Muxue's eyes flickered with a complex emotion.
Qianqian has really improved a lot…
"By the way!" Zhao Yaqian tilted her head excitedly. "I still haven’t given Song-ge that Van Cleef & Arpels ring I bought! His hands are so pretty—it'll look amazing on him!"
—
Yancheng High-Speed Rail Station
A black Mercedes-Benz van was parked in the ground-level parking lot.
Inside, Qin Hua reclined in the second row, wearing sunglasses.
Her legs were elegantly crossed, and she was idly spinning a small, exquisite black gift box in her hand.
The faint sound of the seat massager made the car feel even quieter.
"Manager Qin, it's almost 11:00," the suited driver, Gao Junfeng, reminded her in a gentle voice.
Qin Hua hummed and adjusted her seat to an upright position.
Taking out her phone, she opened a chat with her best friend and started typing while absentmindedly saying, "Don't say anything unnecessary later."
Gao Junfeng quickly nodded. "Understood, Manager Qin! I won’t."
"Let’s go."
Qin Hua put away her phone and stepped out of the car.
Gao Junfeng locked the vehicle and hurriedly followed her.
Recently, Zhongyun Dairy had been under intense scrutiny, making all of Zhongcheng Group unusually tense.
Everyone was paying close attention to the matter—Qin Hua especially.
Since Gao Junfeng happened to be an assistant to Vice President Su Ping, who was in charge of this case, he had taken the initiative to approach Qin Hua under the pretext of reporting work.
Now, hearing that she needed a driver to pick someone up, he had volunteered, seizing the rare opportunity to accompany her.
"Wait here. She'll be out soon," Qin Hua stopped at the parking lot entrance, still engrossed in her phone.
Gao Junfeng stood beside her, curiously glancing toward the station’s exit.
He wasn’t that close to Qin Hua, nor did he know much about her personal life.
So he had no idea who she was meeting today.
And he definitely didn’t dare ask.
—
Three or four minutes passed.
A steady flow of passengers trickled out of the station.
Qin Hua put away her phone and scanned the crowd.
As the crowd thinned out—
Her face suddenly lit up with a radiant smile.
Raising her arm, she waved enthusiastically and called out, "Xiaojing! Over here!"
Gao Junfeng’s gaze snapped toward the person she was greeting, his expression shifting in surprise.
Not far away, a tall and stunning figure strode toward them.
Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, silky and smooth.
A neatly trimmed fringe framed her delicate, fresh features, adding a touch of elegance and playfulness.
She wore a long white coat, simple yet sophisticated, layered over a black high-neck fitted top.
Paired with wide-legged white trousers, the streamlined silhouette accentuated her long, slender legs.
The classic black-and-white ensemble made her look effortlessly chic and poised.
But what stood out most—
Was her skin.
A cool, luminous fairness, radiating a natural glow, as if she carried her own soft-focus filter.
With graceful strides, she approached, exuding an unmistakable aura of wealth and class.
Every movement was effortlessly elegant.
Thump, thump, thump—
Gao Junfeng could hear his own heartbeat.
Gao Junfeng’s Heart Races—Meeting Tian Jing Again
Seeing that familiar figure, Gao Junfeng’s heart began to race uncontrollably.
Tian Jing!
Unlike the obedient and demure girl he had seen at the private event before, this version of Tian Jing matched his understanding of a true "wealthy and beautiful heiress."
Compared to her, even Qin Hua, standing right next to him, seemed somewhat ordinary.
Of course, the most crucial factor was—she was You Chengye’s daughter!
An 18% shareholder and an executive director of the company—her status far exceeded Qin Hua’s.
"Huahua." Tian Jing approached the two of them, smiling as she opened her arms to hug her best friend. "Thanks for picking me up."
"It’s no trouble at all. You’re finally back from the capital—I was dying of loneliness without you!"
The two chatted affectionately for a while.
Beside them, Gao Junfeng straightened his posture and put on a bright, confident smile. "Miss You, long time no see."
Hearing that, Qin Hua blinked in surprise. "You two know each other?"
Tian Jing glanced at the handsome man beside her, furrowed her brows slightly, and shook her head. "Nope, never met him."
"...!"
Gao Junfeng’s smile froze awkwardly. He quickly explained, "Back in May, we met at the Yan Province Bank Private Event. I was there with Vice President Su."
He had been recognized as the most handsome guy since high school, graduated with a master’s degree, and was now an assistant to the vice president. He had always prided himself on his looks and demeanor.
Back at that private event, he had even formally introduced himself to Tian Jing and given her his business card.
Yet, she had completely forgotten about him.
Tian Jing responded with a flat "Oh," showing no further interest.
The only thing she remembered about that private event was Tang Song and Xie Shuyu, along with the beautiful floral arrangements at the venue.
As for some assistant to a vice president? She had absolutely no reason to remember such a person.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Qin Hua smiled and stepped in.
"This is Gao Junfeng, Vice President Su Ping’s assistant. He also works in our Administration and Management Department—technically, he’s my subordinate. He’s just accompanying me to pick you up today."
Then, she turned to Gao Junfeng and instructed, "Junfeng, go put the luggage in the trunk."
"Yes! Right away!" Gao Junfeng immediately grabbed the suitcase and strode toward the Mercedes.
As soon as he was gone, Tian Jing blinked and stretched out her hand. "Where’s the stuff I asked you to bring?"
Qin Hua raised an eyebrow. "You’re really that eager?"
Seeing her friend’s impatience, she sighed helplessly. "You love-brained fool!"
With that, she pulled a small black gift box from her pocket and handed it over.
Tian Jing's face lit up with joy instantly. "Thanks, Huahua!"
"Yeah, yeah, just don’t forget to send me the money for it."
—
Inside the Car
Settling into her seat, Tian Jing activated the massage function and comfortably leaned back while opening the gift box.
Inside was a platinum-colored ring, designed with subtle yet intriguing details.
Her eyes gleamed with excitement.
Now, Tang Song-ge already knew about her little "preferences"—and more importantly, he didn’t reject or get angry about them.
Valentine’s Day had been so much fun.
Next, it was time to take things a step further.
Just imagining Tang Song wearing this textured ring while "punishing" her made Tian Jing’s legs squeeze together slightly, a faint blush creeping onto her face.
Too bad he was busy this week. Otherwise, she would have invited him out for a walk tonight.
—
Just then, the car doors clicked shut.
From the front seat, Gao Junfeng’s voice came through. "Manager Qin, Miss Tian, the luggage is secured."
Qin Hua responded casually, "Head straight to Yanyun Center."
"Understood!"
The Mercedes-Benz smoothly merged into traffic.
—
Backseat Conversations
Watching her best friend playing with the ring, Qin Hua finally spoke up.
"Xiaojing, did you talk to your dad about the Zhongyun Dairy issue like I told you to?"
"Nope." Tian Jing calmly shook her head. "I’m not part of Zhongcheng Group—why should I bother?"
"You’re unbelievable!" Qin Hua exhaled sharply. "Do you know how much this issue will hurt the company’s business and reputation? The valuation is expected to drop by at least 20%—your dad is looking at a loss of over a billion!"
"So what?" Tian Jing spread her hands innocently. "Even if I knew, what could I do?"
Qin Hua’s eyes flickered as she leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"The real issue is Zhongcheng Group is already struggling. The real estate industry has been in decline for years, and now, even the food and beverage division—the company’s main pillar—has a massive crisis.
Major changes in both management and business are inevitable.
Your cousin Tian Guowen is already forming his own faction, planning to use this situation to elevate his people.
Think about it—he’s most likely going to be the next CEO of Zhongcheng Group.
Once that happens, the entire company will be under his control."
Tian Jing pursed her lips and fell silent for a moment before looking into Qin Hua’s eyes.
"So… what do you think I should do?"
Qin Hua’s eyes lit up.
"No matter how many connections Tian Guowen makes, he still has to answer to your dad.
You don’t need to directly involve yourself in company operations.
But you can use your father’s influence to gradually build your own inner circle—like that Lu Ziyue you asked me to introduce to you, or your father’s trusted people."
Unlike Tian Jing, Qin Hua had a younger brother, and their father was determined for him to inherit the family business.
If possible, she wanted Tian Jing to stand on her side—to be the face of their own faction within the company.
"Sounds boring." Tian Jing pinched Qin Hua’s cheek before casually returning to her ring.
Qin Hua took a deep breath but didn’t give up.
"Alright, then let’s talk about something else. You know that new energy company your dad invested in—"
"Stop right there!" Tian Jing raised a hand to cut her off.
"I just got back to Yancheng, and I just wanna relax. Don’t talk to me about work."
"…Fine, fine. I’ll shut up." Qin Hua sighed and changed the topic.
"Qingli and the others are already at Skyline Club.
Today, a Michelin-starred chef is cooking there, and I reserved all your favorite dishes."
"Thanks, Huahua!" Tian Jing beamed.
—
Skyline Club—A Playground for the Elite
Located at the top of Yanyun Center, Skyline Club was an exclusive social hub.
Its members were young heirs, entrepreneurs, and high-profile socialites, typically aged 18-35.
It was one of Qin Hua’s go-to spots for entertainment.
The white Mercedes-Benz smoothly pulled into the underground parking lot.
As soon as Tian Jing stepped out of the car, her gaze sharpened.
Her eyes lit up, gleaming like a fox that had spotted its prey.
Not far away, at the entrance of the restaurant and entertainment district, three girls stood chatting excitedly.
One of them stood out the most—lively, expressive, and impossible to ignore.
Dressed in a trendy autumn outfit, she held three or four shopping bags and rocked back and forth proudly, flashing smug little expressions.
Her whole demeanor screamed, "I’m a walking spotlight."
The other two girls looked at her with admiration and envy.
A mischievous smirk crept onto Tian Jing’s lips.
Gotcha again, Qingqing.
The last time she had run into Qingqing at the mall, she hadn’t realized she was the legendary Qingqing.
But thanks to Zhang Xiao, they were now connected.
And today, Zhang Xiao’s girlfriend, Ma Luoluo, was right there beside her.
Perfect timing.
She’d drag Qingqing to Skyline Club and play some (cuddle games) with her.
Hehehe—this is gonna be so much fun!