novelraw Chapter 478: Cinderella and the Heartthrob
Chapter 478: Cinderella and the Heartthrob
3:00 p.m.
Phase One, Yannan Short Drama Film Base, conference room.
All key company leaders were present.
The large screen displayed the base’s design blueprint and future development plans.
“The current media promo results are solid, but interaction rates are low. I suggest we increase short video content placement on major platforms...”
“Next, we’ll plan a series of livestream events—invite famous directors or actors to visit the base, and further boost visibility…”
Marketing Director Zhang Guanming stood by the projector, holding a document in hand. His tone was calm and clear.
Then Engineering Director Wang Zhi, Operations Director Li Wenbo, and others took turns speaking.
The executives each took the floor, the meeting atmosphere lively yet orderly.
This was the very first internal executive meeting for the Yannan Short Drama Film Base—hugely significant.Tang Song sat at the head of the table, dressed in a deep navy suit. His expression was calm and composed, exuding an undeniable sense of authority.
Most of the executives had been hired or assigned by Yan Provincial Cultural Tourism Investment and the Handing Group.
Tang Song had Deju Renhe run background checks on them. Since there weren’t any serious issues, he hadn’t made replacements.
Besides, with the film base freshly opened, official promotions were crucial.
Many of these people brought with them valuable government and industry connections—providing essential, behind-the-scenes support for the base’s development.
As the meeting came to a close,
Tang Song swept his gaze across the room and gave a concise concluding speech.
Applause erupted throughout the room.
Before the meeting started, Sister Rong had returned to her office and sat back in the cramped desk chair, letting out a long sigh.
She pulled out her phone and saw a bunch of unread messages.
Among the work updates was also a photo from the beautician, showing her picking up the car.
In the picture, she stood beside the Mercedes G63, holding a bouquet of flowers, her face glowing with joy and contentment.
【Qianqian: “Thank you for the gift, Brother Song. You’re so annoying!”】
【Qianqian: “I just took it for a spin—it felt amazing! When you’re free, you have to take it for a drive with me!”】
It was clear how happy she was.
She’d even sent over a few driving impressions, along with some shots of the car’s interior.
Tang Song smiled as he read it and replied: “Glad you like it. That car really suits you. Just be careful when driving.”
【Qianqian: “Mhm! I’ll drive safe! You make sure to rest too, don’t overwork yourself.”】
They chatted for a while, then—
Bang bang! A loud knock came at the office door.
Right after that, assistant Jiang Yourong stepped in gracefully.
“President Tang!” She had a light smile on her face. “The meeting minutes have been finalized and distributed to all attendees.”
“Mhm, great.” Tang Song tapped the table lightly with his fingers, then stood up. “Everything here should be wrapped up. Come on, I’ll take you to the financial center.”
Lin Muxue paused, then said softly, “President Tang, the market team has finalized the first draft of the promotional video for the base. It’s pretty important—I’d like to stay and follow up. I’ll report back to you later, okay?”
Now that the film base was operational, her Xue Tang Culture could start taking on gigs.
At today’s opening ceremony, aside from government officials and business partners, there were also directors, artists, and media touring the facility.
She planned to show her face, network a bit, and pave the way for future moves.
She could clearly feel Tang Song’s perception and attitude toward her shifting—which made her bolder and more daring.
Tang Song caught the subtle shift in her expression and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “Sure. Thanks for your hard work, Assistant Lin.”
He knew Xiao Xue inside and out. With the passive skill【Observer】, of course he noticed her little thoughts.
But he wasn’t bothered by it.
Everyone has their own secrets.
Especially someone like Xiao Xue—never a simple, straightforward girl. A little scheming was perfectly normal.
It was part of who she was. Tang Song had no intention of correcting or exposing her.
Lin Muxue stood upright. “It’s no trouble—happy to serve President Tang!”
Tang Song chuckled and gave her waist a light pat. “Keep it up, Assistant Lin.”
Looking into his eyes, Lin Muxue leaned in and whispered, “President Tang, why do your eyes look prettier today? Don’t tell me… you’re wearing colored contacts?”
She playfully blinked.
Tang Song paused, then suddenly replied, “Maybe it’s because I’ve got you in my eyes.”
“Ah!” Lin Muxue gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth, her knees snapping together—her bladder reflexively tensing.
That sudden romantic line nearly ended her life.
Her face turned red and hot, her heart pounding like crazy, and for a moment, she was completely speechless.
Tang Song reached out, gave her cheek a gentle pinch, and smiled. “Alright, you stay busy here—I’m heading out.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
【Heartthrob’s Eye Drops】had run out two days ago.
His eye appearance had indeed improved bit by bit—not drastically, but noticeably by now.
To put it simply, his eyes were now clean and bright, with no redness, no dullness, no excess discharge.
The faint under-eye bags had begun to resemble refined eye pouches, and his double eyelids were becoming more slender and smooth.
The corners of his eyes subtly lifted with a healthy, rosy tint.
And as everyone knows—eyes have a massive impact on one’s overall looks.
Before, Tang Song had been handsome, sure, but his face didn’t have any standout features.
Now, though, his eyes had become the highlight—the kind that people remembered at first glance.
While riding the elevator down, Tang Song took a moment to open the system interface and checked his personal stats.
【Player: Tang Song (76 Charm)】
【Role: President of Songmei Fashion】
【Height: 184 cm, Weight: 80 kg】
【Constitution: 75, Stamina: 78, Agility: 71, Comprehension: 83】
【Asset Status:】
Balance: ¥97 million (Investment Funds: ¥504.5 million)
The recent boost in looks, paired with binding his third companion, had brought his charm score up to 76.
On top of that, his core attributes had ticked up slightly too.
But after buying two cars outright, his balance had dipped below a minor milestone.
Come to think of it, he hadn’t withdrawn from the【Popular Me】title earnings in a while.
And with work keeping him busy, he’d barely touched his Douyin or Little Red Book accounts lately.
That thought made his eyes gleam.
There was still one effective way to raise his charm value—boosting fame and public recognition.
Plus, gaining followers on Little Red Book might trigger hidden rewards.
Maybe it was time to start managing those accounts again—
Though this time, he’d need to switch things up.
After all, he’d already undergone a full transformation.
...
Thunk—the car door closed gently.
Tang Song leaned back in the comfortable seat and said, “To Songmei Fashion.”
“Got it.” Liu Jiayi nodded crisply, and the Rolls-Royce Phantom smoothly pulled away.
Watching the confident, cool, and stylish female driver behind the wheel, Tang Song suddenly asked, “Xiao Qi, you’re from the northeast, right?”
At the sound of that name, Liu Jiayi’s index finger on the steering wheel twitched slightly. She replied calmly, “Yes, President Tang. I’m from Liaoning Province.”
He’d called her “Lao Qi” a few times before—compared to that, “Xiao Qi” was at least more acceptable.
Tang Song smiled slightly. “This Friday afternoon, Songmei Fashion is going to Wushan for a team-building trip. It’s close to your hometown. Want to come along?”
Her gaze flickered, and she nodded. “Sure, President Tang. Whether it’s a business trip or vacation, feel free to take me with you.”
As if worried he’d misunderstand, she added in a low voice, “For your safety.”
Glancing at her sharp, beautiful side profile, Tang Song chuckled. “Alright. Oh, Xiao Qi, I’m curious—how good are your martial arts? Can you split stone with your bare hands?”
The corner of Liu Jiayi’s eye twitched. “No, but I’m trained in professional combat and self-defense, have extensive emergency response experience, and coordinate with a certified security team. I can ensure your safety in nearly all situations.”
“Haha, I was just joking. Don’t be so serious.” Tang Song smiled, then shifted the conversation to Sheng Tang Security.
As the most well-known full-spectrum security services provider in the country, Sheng Tang Security was a group-level company.
Its business covered security services, armed transport, security engineering, and it had branches in all major provinces and cities.
The team-building site they were heading to—Wushan—also had one of its branches.
Liu Jiayi had been arranged as a bodyguard by Secretary Jin, so Tang Song trusted her.
Inviting her this time was also to ensure safety during the team-building event.
The car glided steadily down Yuxiang Street.
As they neared the South Second Ring, the campus of Yan City Normal University came into view.
Tang Song suddenly said, “Drop me off at the south gate of the university.”
“Okay.”
Looking at the familiar teacher dormitory in the distance and recalling that radish pickle from this morning, Tang Song couldn’t help but sigh internally.
He’d been wanting to visit the university for a while.
Part of it was because Jiang Yourong had previously mentioned “Hangzhou Yimai Technology Co., Ltd.”
He planned to start working on that after wrapping things up at Huashang Fashion, so he needed to go over the details with her in advance.
The other part was, of course, for that Cinderella.
They’d spent quite a lot of time together. No matter what, Tang Song still had a soft spot for Qian Lele.
That affection wasn’t just romantic—it also carried a bit of big brotherly care.
With someone like Qian Lele, he didn’t have the heart to mess with her.
He’d deliberately kept his distance lately, hoping she could cool off and see if those budding feelings would fade naturally.
But now, it seemed he might’ve gone too far.
For such a sensitive and insecure, pure-hearted college girl, this might have really hurt her.
...
Past 4:00 p.m.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom slowly came to a stop outside the university’s south gate, immediately drawing stares and whispers from passersby.
As the car door opened and Tang Song stepped out, a few female students blushed and gasped quietly.
The hard soles of his dress shoes tapped crisply against the concrete.
In the autumn afternoon breeze, strands of his hair and his coat’s hem fluttered softly, the whole scene looking like something out of a painting.
“Hi... Hello…” A round-faced girl bravely stepped forward, but as soon as her eyes met Tang Song’s clear, bright gaze, she chickened out and backed away, her face burning red.
The other girls clearly wanted to approach but couldn’t muster the courage.
Only when that tall, striking figure disappeared from view did a wave of regret wash over them.
On campus—
Red-brick lecture halls, modern research buildings, sculptures nestled among trees...
Students walked in small groups, either hurrying with books or sitting and quietly discussing coursework.
The whole campus felt peaceful yet full of life.
Looking at the scene before him, Tang Song couldn’t help but recall bits and pieces of his own university days, a soft smile forming at his lips.
Though it had been over three years, he still remembered his alma mater vividly.
About ten minutes later, Tang Song walked into the Computer Science Department building.
He took the elevator to the fourth floor.
Office doors lined both sides of the hallway, each labeled with the teacher’s name and title.
Soon, he found the room he was looking for.
Room 412, 【Jiang Yourong – Associate Professor】
Knock knock knock—
He knocked lightly. A gentle but cool female voice came from inside, “Come in.”
Tang Song pushed the door open and stepped inside.
There, behind the desk, sat Jiang Yourong, focused intently on her computer screen.
She wore a beige knit cardigan over a white shirt, and gold-rimmed glasses perched on her nose—radiating an intellectual, elegant aura.
At this moment, she perfectly matched the image Tang Song had of a university professor.
Hearing footsteps, Jiang Yourong looked up, revealing a beautiful face.
When she saw who it was standing at the door, she blinked in surprise—then a look of disbelief washed over her features.
She quickly stood up, eyes shining. “Tang Song! You’re here?”
Tang Song raised a hand in greeting, smiling. “Hello, Professor Jiang. I hope I’m not disturbing you?”
“Of course not, you’re always welcome!” Her ample chest rose and fell slightly with excitement. She instinctively smoothed her tousled hair and stepped out from behind the desk, her curvy, mature figure unmistakable.
Tang Song couldn’t help but glance a few extra times.
Professor Jiang had the classic slightly-plump figure—her waist-to-hip ratio wasn’t ideal, there was a bit of belly, and her thighs were full—but it all added to her feminine allure.
Maybe that was the charm of a mature woman.
Their eyes met. Seeing Tang Song’s bright, clear eyes, Jiang Yourong’s cheeks turned pink, and her heart started to race.
“This time, I came mainly to discuss financing for Yimai Tech,” Tang Song said, his tone gentle but focused.
“Take a seat. I was just about to update you on the latest anyway.”
Jiang Yourong closed the office door, gestured for Tang Song to sit in the chair beside the desk, then walked over to pour some fruit tea from a health kettle into a disposable cup.
“It’s a bit plain in here—sorry for the simple hospitality.”
She handed him the cup, her fingertips brushing against the back of his hand.
The brief warmth of that touch stirred her heart.
Tang Song took the cup, took a small sip, and the sweet-and-sour fruit aroma spread across his tongue. “Thank you, it’s delicious.”
Jiang Yourong smiled softly, then took a document from a cabinet and handed it to him. “This is a report I put together on Yimai Tech’s internal situation—it should help you.”
“Oh?” Tang Song raised his eyebrows, took the file, and showed a hint of surprise. “This detailed?”
Jiang Yourong looked a bit proud. “Mhm. I even made a trip to Hangzhou, treated my classmate to a fancy dinner, and worked really hard to get that info.”
Tang Song’s expression grew earnest. “Thank you, Professor Jiang.”
The report included not only info on the founding team, but also core staff, patent tech, and more.
It was obvious she’d put a lot of effort into it.
Jiang Yourong pulled out her chair and sat down, then said with a playful smile, “So... does that mean you owe me a favor now?”
As the two drew closer, Tang Song could clearly pick up the faint scent on her body—elegant, yet warm, carrying the mature charm only time could bestow.
“Of course, Professor Jiang. If you ever need anything, you can always come to me.”
“Then I’ll take that to heart.” Jiang Yourong smiled charmingly, her elegance undisturbed as she gently tapped his leg with her calf. “You used to call me ‘Sister Yourong’ when we met—how come you’re being so distant now?”
Noticing the slight flirtatiousness in her gesture, the corner of Tang Song’s eye twitched. With a light tone, he said, “Well, we’re in a university setting after all. Gotta respect your authority. I really do admire scholars like you.”
Hearing that, Jiang Yourong covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes sparkling. “When I went to Hangzhou this time, I used academic exchange as an excuse and took the chance to check out their large model. Interested? Want to hear about it?”
“I’d love to.”
Jiang Yourong clasped her hands on her lap, leaned forward slightly, and began softly explaining.
As an associate professor in the computer science department, Jiang Yourong’s expertise was undoubtedly solid. Back when she worked as Jin Meixiao’s assistant, she was in charge of internet and tech sectors. If it hadn’t been for her inability to handle the grind, she might be the head of Meigou Tech now instead of Li Chan. That regret still made her want to smack her own thigh in frustration.
After quite a while, Jiang Yourong stood up, picked up her mug, took a sip of tea, and smiled, “Anything else you’d like to know? Just treat me like your personal consultant—totally free.”
Tang Song thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Sister Yourong, Lele’s in class right now, isn’t she?”
Jiang Yourong blinked. “Yeah, they’ve got a big lecture this afternoon. Class ends at 5:40.”
Tang Song raised his wrist and glanced at the time—still about 20 minutes until class ended.
“Where is she having class? It’s been a while, and I kinda miss her.”
“Fifth floor, east side, the large lecture hall.”
Tang Song stood up and said, “Thanks for the tea, Sister Yourong. I’ll go wait for her over there. Let me take you out for dinner another day.”
“Alright then, I’ll be waiting on that meal.”
Watching his figure disappear out the door, Jiang Yourong’s gaze grew a little complicated.
—
As class neared its end, the atmosphere in the large lecture hall turned relaxed and cheerful.
Groups of students chatted in low voices—some discussing dinner plans, others what to do that evening.
“Guys, guys—” A female classmate who’d just come back from the restroom plopped into her seat and excitedly whispered, “There’s a super hot guy outside our classroom! He looked at me when I passed—those eyes! I swear I won’t be able to sleep tonight!” Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel⟡fire.net
Hearing her exaggeration, a few familiar girls quickly gathered around.
“Seriously that good-looking? Is he from our school?”
“Could it be that freshman Wang Yanche?”
“No no, he was in a suit. Looked mature, not like a student. His figure was insane—I was practically drooling.”
“Can’t be that crazy.”
“Where is he now, Xiaorong?”
“When I walked past, he was standing diagonally across from the classroom door—totally unmissable. I’m not sure if he’s still there.”
“I have to see this with my own eyes. I’m a sucker for suited guys!”
One girl got up on the spot and used the excuse of going to the bathroom to sneak out—
And never came back.
“Linyin, what’s going on with her? I’ll message her on WeChat.”
“Yes yes yes, ask her if the guy’s still there. Tell her to send a photo. Let’s see if it’s really that over the top.”
A moment later, a sneaky photo popped up in their WeChat group.
In the picture was a young man standing by the window.
His suit fit perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and narrow waist.
He held a folder in his hand, looking elegant and confident, eyes down, deeply focused.
Though the full face wasn’t visible, his defined brows, sharp jawline, and straight nose still radiated undeniable charm.
Due to lighting and angle, the shot wasn’t very clear—
But that only made it more atmospheric and mysterious.
He looked like a male lead straight out of a novel or manga—noble and breathtaking.
All the girls around lit up at the sight.
“That’s literally my dream guy!”
“Is he still out there? I wanna go see too!”
The chatter grew louder.
Shi Xueqi set her phone on the desk, tapped the two girls in front, and excitedly said, “Lele, Wenjia—wanna see this? Just got it.”
Since it was a large lecture with several majors combined, there weren’t many from their specific class sitting nearby.
Qian Lele paused, gently shook her head, and kept her eyes on her notes—not interested.
Li Wenjia, wearing earphones, turned to glance—and instantly lit up. “Wow! Send it to me on WeChat!”
“Word is he’s still outside. Class is almost over—let’s take a few more looks, hehe.”
At 5:40 p.m., the dismissal bell rang.
Students packed up and started filing out of the classroom.
“Come on, Xueqi, what are you waiting for?” Wenjia urged.
“Wait for me—I need to touch up!” Shi Xueqi pulled out a mirror and touched up her lipstick, fixing her hair while she was at it.
Wenjia teased, “Such a vain girl. Acting like you’re really gonna go up and talk to him. Lele, we’re heading to the cafeteria—you free tonight?”
“Mm.” Qian Lele nodded, slung on her backpack, and stood up.
“Wait for me! I’m coming too!”
Seeing the two about to leave, Xueqi hurriedly finished her touch-up, fluffed her hair, and chased after them.
As the crowd poured out, Shi Xueqi and Li Wenjia subconsciously slowed their pace, eyes quietly searching toward the windows like many others.
“He’s gorgeous. That vibe is unreal.”
“Ahhh! I think he just looked at us?”
“Wait, he’s walking this way! I’m freaking out!”
Footsteps approached.
The two stiffened, quickly shut up, and pretended to walk normally—hearts pounding.
Sensing the weird shift in atmosphere, Qian Lele instinctively looked up.
Their eyes met. Her heart skipped a beat. Her steps halted, mind going blank as she stared at that familiar figure.
Xueqi and Wenjia froze too and stopped walking.
Just as they were about to speak, a magnetic, clear voice rang out: “Good afternoon, Lele.”
The tall figure stepped into view, instantly drawing attention from the students nearby.
Xueqi and Wenjia looked toward their classmate, shock flashing across their faces.
“What’s wrong? Don’t recognize me?”
Tang Song’s smile was warm and handsome as he looked gently at the Cinderella before him.
Qian Lele bit her lip, snapping back to her senses. Her voice trembled slightly, “G-gege… why are you here?”
Tang Song smiled and ruffled her hair. “Came to see you. Thought I’d ask you to dinner too—are you free?”
“I-I’m free.” Her face was shy and pink, but her eyes sparkled, clear and bright.