novelraw Chapter 479: Chaos and Clarity
Chapter 479: Chaos and Clarity
As class ended, the hallway was packed with students hustling about.
Yet when they passed this side of the building, everyone instinctively slowed their pace.
Tang Song, clad in a tailored suit and exuding extraordinary presence, stood out sharply in the vibrant yet slightly naive university environment.
The girls who had come out early just to see the "campus heartthrob" now watched the scene unfold before them, each with a different expression.
Qian Lele was actually fairly well-known in her department.
A photo of her working a street stall had once been posted on the school forum, stirring up quite a bit of buzz.
Because of her frugal lifestyle and constant part-time work, someone started calling her “Cinderella.”
While the nickname carried some praise, it also had its fair share of teasing undertones.
Especially among some girls in their major—many didn’t particularly like this "Cinderella" stealing the spotlight.
Watching what was happening now, it was hard not to feel a twinge of something.Since they were close enough, both Shi Xueqi and Li Wenjia, after their initial shock, couldn’t help but sneak glances at the striking man right in front of them.
Then, they locked eyes with a pair of warm, smiling eyes.
Those eyes were unforgettable—crystal clear, with distinct whites and darks, like polished gemstones.
Their cheeks flushed red, like ripened apples.
Shi Xueqi stammered, “Lele... this is... your friend?”
“Hello, you two. I’m Lele’s friend, Tang Song.” His voice carried a steady calm that immediately put people at ease.
“H-Hello... I’m Lele’s classmate, Li Wenjia.” “And I’m Shi Xueqi...”
The two quickly bent forward in greeting, visibly flustered and awkward.
They were both computer science students—average-looking, and had never interacted with someone so outstanding. Their palms were sweating from the tension.
After a few quick exchanges, Lele smiled and nodded, “Alright, you guys go ahead. Bye-bye.”
“Bye-bye~ Bye-bye~”
“Bye, Xueqi, Wenjia.”
Tang Song gave them a polite wave, then followed closely behind Lele, moving through the throngs of students toward the stairwell.
He could feel all kinds of gazes directed their way—curious, envious, and hard-to-define emotions.
Lele wasn’t someone who liked being the center of attention, and this kind of situation was something she still wasn’t used to.
As their figures faded from view, murmurs and whispers began to spread again.
—
Outside the side door of the teaching building, the evening breeze cooled her flushed cheeks just a bit.
Walking close beside Lele, breathing in the faint scent from her hair, Tang Song instinctively pinched his finger.
The pain confirmed it—this wasn’t a dream.
It had been about a month since Qixi Festival, and she hadn’t seen Tang Song in that time.
The only time they crossed paths was briefly at the Shimmer Coffee branch in the ancient town, where they didn’t even get to exchange a full sentence.
During that time, she’d gone through a lot—starting the semester, moving dorms, making new friends.
There were so many things she wanted to tell him, so many moments she longed to share.
Whenever she learned something new, saw a beautiful scene, or had a little epiphany, she’d ride the No. 31 bus for thirteen stops to Yanjing Tiancheng...
But she never dared disturb him.
She just hoped—maybe he’d appear, just like now.
“Lele, it’s been about twenty days since the semester started, right?” Tang Song suddenly asked.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Qian Lele softly replied, “Yes, exactly twenty days today.”
Tang Song turned to her with a smile, his eyes bright, “Now that you’re a junior, how do you feel?”
Lele pursed her lips, trying to find the right words. “The coursework has gotten heavier, and harder too. It’s different from freshman and sophomore years—now everything’s geared toward future plans. Grad school, job hunting, civil service... everyone’s talking about those lately.”
“Mm,” Tang Song nodded, “Junior year is a key turning point. Life’s pace definitely shifts—are you adjusting okay?”
“I think I’m alright. I’ve been working part-time for a while, and now I’m doing front-end dev work too—it’s almost like half a real job already...”
They strolled side by side along the campus path, chatting in low voices.
Tang Song recognized many scenes from the “Scholar’s Self-Cultivation” instance: the Cloud Library, the Relaxation Grove, the Blood Battle Basketball Court.
Looking at the “piggy bank” Qian Lele beside him, a glimmer of emotion passed through his eyes.
That half-month at Normal U had truly been unforgettable.
Students passed them on both sides, and from time to time, someone would shoot them a glance.
Lele kept her head down, talking about what she’d been learning, her cheeks red from a mix of nerves and joy.
Now that Shimmer Coffee had secured funding and a full tech team, she was working part-time as a front-end developer with a fixed monthly pay of 2,500 yuan.
No need to clock in, not too heavy of a workload—a dream student gig.
Occasionally, Tang Song also asked her to help build pages or write JS interactions, paid per task.
She still worked two or three shifts a week at the coffee shop as a barista, at 15 yuan an hour.
Altogether, she was making over 4,000 yuan per month—on par with a full-time job.
She’d heard that Shimmer Coffee was building a central kitchen and would soon phase out most baking at their stores.
Since the new kitchen would be too far from campus, she probably wouldn’t be able to continue there.
But even so, she was more than satisfied.
After covering her own living expenses, she could still help her mom at home, lightening her burden.
In the autumnal campus, the trees were no longer lush.
Sparse leaves trembled in the breeze, rustling softly.
At a fork in the road, Lele asked, “Gege, where are we eating tonight?”
“Hmm...” Tang Song thought for a second, then turned to her with a smile, “How about the cafeteria? You treat.”
“Sure! This way!” Lele’s eyes lit up. “I just topped up my student card. You can get anything you want!”
“Then I’ll splurge on you today.” Tang Song chuckled, following her down the left path.
As dusk fell under the overcast sky, the light dimmed completely.
Street lamps along the road flickered on, casting a warm yellow glow over the two, stretching their shadows long and intertwined.
Lele walked slightly ahead, cheerful and bouncing, glancing back at Tang Song from time to time, her smile impossible to hide.
She’d always wanted to do something for him, but knew he didn’t really need anything.
Just being able to treat him to a meal made her heart bloom.
Chatting and laughing, they arrived at the familiar No.1 cafeteria.
Unlike the quiet summer break, the cafeteria was now bustling. The whole building was lit up, and every food stall was open.
Lele expertly led Tang Song to the third floor—Ningwei Creative Dining Hall.
It specialized in regional dishes and trendy snacks. A little pricier than downstairs, but much tastier too.
As they browsed, Lele enthusiastically introduced each stall, asking him what he wanted.
She was generous—anything Tang Song seemed interested in, she swiped her card without hesitation.
Crispy pancake, rice noodles, roujiamo, stone pot rice, drinks...
After finding a window seat, Qian Lele handed a pair of chopsticks to Tang Song. “Try it, see if it’s good.”
Tang Song took a bite of the rice noodles—the rich broth slid across his tongue, bringing a burst of savory flavor.
Then he bit into the crispy flatbread filled with potato slices and ham. A satisfied smile appeared on his face. “This is delicious.”
Qian Lele’s eyes immediately curved into two crescent moons. “Glad you like it.”
She’d barely ever come to the third floor of the cafeteria before, but she’d heard from classmates that the food was really good—that’s why she brought Tang Song here.
Seeing that he genuinely liked it filled her with a deep, hard-to-describe sense of satisfaction.
“You eat the stone pot rice first. We’ll switch in a bit.” Tang Song nudged the dish toward her and placed a drink in front of her.
At the word “switch,” Qian Lele’s cheeks flushed. “Mm,” she replied softly, lowering her head to start eating.
It was pretty common to see couples around campus sharing food—especially at a normal university where there were more girls than guys.
She’d often seen couples buying two different meals and swapping halfway through.
That kind of intimacy made her a little shy.
The cafeteria buzzed with chatter and clatter.
The two of them chatted while enjoying the food.
In such a cozy and lively atmosphere, Qian Lele seemed to brighten up a bit, revealing the youthful energy a girl her age should have.
——
7:30 PM.
The two walked out of the cafeteria side by side, heading toward the girls’ dorm.
Seeing the dorm building getting closer, a deep sense of reluctance filled Qian Lele’s eyes.
An hour and a half had passed in the blink of an eye.
She knew Tang Song was busy—it was a weekday, and he had work tomorrow. The fact that he came to see her at all was already rare.
But for the first time, she felt a kind of dissatisfaction—like it wasn’t enough.
She wanted to spend more time with him. Do more things together.
Just thinking about not seeing him for another month made her feel really down.
Even though she deliberately slowed her steps, the dorm still came into view bit by bit.
She turned to look at the man beside her.
Under the soft lights, he seemed to glow slightly, his silhouette almost haloed.
Thump-thump, thump-thump—
She could hear her heartbeat again.
A rush of heat surged to her head.
“Gege!” Her voice was a bit too loud from the excitement.
Tang Song raised an eyebrow in surprise. “What is it, Lele?”
Qian Lele bit her soft, full lower lip. “I… I haven’t been to the pedestrian street in days. Could you maybe… spare a little time and go with me? Aunt Wen who sells sausages has been talking about you too…”
Her voice grew quieter with every word. She stared down at her toes, feeling ashamed of her own selfishness.
“Eh…” Tang Song blinked, then reached out to ruffle her hair. “What are you thinking about? I didn’t just come to have dinner. It’s not even 8 yet—go put your bag back in your dorm and come walk around with me.”
The moment she heard that, Qian Lele’s head shot up, her face lighting up with surprise and joy. “Okay, Gege! Wait right here, I’ll be quick!”
She turned and ran toward the dorm.
Watching her graceful figure disappear into the building, Tang Song shook his head with a smile, an unplaceable emotion rising in his chest.
——
Dorm 201’s door burst open.
Qian Lele rushed in, tossed her backpack onto the bed, and started digging through her closet.
Her collar opened slightly, revealing her slender neck and delicate profile.
The jeans clung to her long legs, the smooth lines brimming with youthful energy.
That distinct college girl charm seemed to radiate from her.
Being watched like that made Qian Lele a little self-conscious—her cheeks flushed red again.
“Um… what I had on earlier was too casual, so I changed into something a little more proper,” she mumbled with her head down, her voice so soft it almost blended into the night.
Tang Song stepped closer and gently brushed her thick hair. The gesture was casual, affectionate. “You look great. It suits you.”
His sincerity brought a flicker of joy to her eyes, finally easing the nervous tension in her heart.
No girl doesn’t care about how she looks—and she was no exception.
“Thank you, Gege.”
She mustered up the courage to glance at him, only to see his gaze still fixed on her. She quickly looked down again, heart racing, afraid to meet his eyes.
“Let’s go, check out the night market.”
“Mm!” Qian Lele nodded firmly, walking beside him, trying to steady her excitement.
Just then, a warm touch wrapped around her left hand.
She looked down to see Tang Song’s elegant hand holding hers.
Her body flinched—an instinctive reaction to her own insecurity.
Because of all the part-time work, her hands weren’t soft or delicate. They were a bit rough, the joints slightly misshapen from long hours typing and handling tools.
She was terrified that he’d find the touch unpleasant—or worse, be disappointed in her.
Sensing her slight tension, Tang Song tilted his head slightly and gently tightened his grip.
Qian Lele bit her lip and didn’t pull away. Her heart pounded faster, and faster.
The night campus wasn’t quiet—laughter, shouts, conversation drifted all around.
But it all seemed to fade from her ears.
All she could hear was the rustling of wind through the trees—and the rhythm of her own heartbeat.
——
The pedestrian street sparkled like a river of stars. Lights twinkled everywhere, reflecting the bustling crowd and the energetic atmosphere.
With school back in session and the perfect autumn weather, the night market was thriving.
The aroma of cumin from barbecue skewers, the sweetness of roasted chestnuts, the spicy scent of hotpot broth…
So many tempting smells filled the air.
Each stall had people gathered in front, vendors shouting, customers laughing—it was noisy, but not chaotic.
Instead, it pulsed with the heartbeat of everyday life.
Tang Song held Qian Lele’s hand as they wandered through the crowd.
They paused at various stalls, picking out trinkets. Sometimes they’d duck into side shops to escape the noise.
Lele was in especially high spirits tonight—she even bought a few small things like scrunchies, socks, and hair clips.
Unfortunately, Aunt Wen wasn’t out tonight.
Tang Song bought a sesame and cumin-flavored sausage from another stall and shared it with her.
They strolled through the market for a full two hours before finally slowing down.
After that, they wandered into the wooded area of the university, following a winding path through the trees.
By the time they returned to the dorm building, it was nearly 10 PM.
The autumn night chill was growing stronger. The breeze carried a hint of cold.
“Get some rest soon. You’ve got class tomorrow,” Tang Song said, handing her the plastic bag he’d been carrying.
Qian Lele nodded. “You be careful on the way back, Gege.”
Her voice was soft and warm—and the way she said “Gege” was especially sweet.
Tang Song’s lips curved into a faint smile. He leaned in slightly, his gaze steady and glowing. “Say it a few more times.”
“Ah…” Lele blinked, not quite understanding what he meant.
“I meant the way you called me just now,” Tang Song added, a playful glint in his eye.
Qian Lele's cheeks flushed red as she softly called out, “Gege... Gege…”
“Alright, Meimei. See you,” Tang Song said with a smile. “Go to bed early, and I’ll come find you again when I can. Of course, if you ever want to, you’re always welcome to come find me too.” The source of thɪs content is novel·fiɾe·net
Before his words had even fully landed, he gently wrapped his arm around the soft-bodied Cinderella and kissed her cheek.
The scent of shampoo, skincare products, and her own sweet youthful fragrance flooded his senses—fresh and lovely.
Qian Lele stood frozen in place, heart pounding like a drum. Even the ground beneath her feet seemed to soften.
——
“What’s going on, Lele? We heard you went on a date?”
“Come on, tell us! Who’s the guy? Is he from our school?”
“I seriously can’t imagine—you, sweet and innocent Lele, actually dating someone!”
“Got a pic? Let us see!”
The moment Qian Lele opened the door to Dorm 201, a few senior girls immediately swarmed around her, bombarding her with questions.
Flustered and shy, Qian Lele denied it a few times, clutching her wash basin and rushing into the bathroom.
The instant she shut the door, she let out a long breath and began her nightly routine—using the toilet, washing up, brushing her teeth.
Back in the room, she tiptoed up to her top bunk, pulled the curtain closed, and shut herself off from the rest of the world.
From the corner of her bed, she grabbed a delicate little makeup bag and fished out a few sample-sized skincare products, clumsily beginning her skincare routine.
Toner, eye cream, moisturizer.
All of these—along with the makeup bag—had been gifted to her by her friend Qianqian.
They were samples from the beauty salon and didn’t cost her anything.
Qian Lele had looked them up. Even though they were just samples, none of them were cheap. She’d been reluctant to use them until now.
The reason she had so readily given Qianqian that jar of pickled radish was to express her gratitude for these thoughtful gifts.
After finishing her simple skincare routine, she hugged her husky-shaped pillow and sat dazedly against the wall.
Her fingers gently touched the spot on her cheek where she’d been kissed. It still seemed to carry the warmth of Tang Song’s lips.
The events of tonight replayed before her eyes like scenes from a movie.
At some point, the dorm lights had gone out, and the older girls’ chatter gradually faded into silence.
Night flowed on quietly, but her thoughts wandered endlessly.
Lying there in bed, Qian Lele silently experienced her own kind of beautiful chaos.