novelraw Chapter 493: Cold Persona, Overnight Fee
Chapter 493: Cold Persona, Overnight Fee
As Tang Song's calm voice rang out, the atmosphere in the private room noticeably lightened.
Cheng Qiuqiu looked up at his sharply defined profile.
The dim lighting cast a soft halo around him, and the calm steadiness in his clear black-and-white eyes brought an unexpected sense of peace.
All her uneasiness slowly melted away, replaced by a security she had never felt before.
Then she felt a warm palm at her waist tighten slightly, causing her heart to race uncontrollably. Her full chest subtly rose and fell, reflecting a silent but undeniable flutter beneath the glow.
“President Tang!” a hoarse voice suddenly broke the momentary silence.
Qin Fengyu rushed forward on his knees but was immediately restrained by two men in black suits, unable to move an inch.
Beside him, Xu An let out a soft gasp, quickly backing away and lowering his head to stare at the floor, eyes filled with fear, terrified of being noticed by Tang Song or the bodyguards.
Face flushed with shame, Qin Fengyu muttered, “President Tang, this was all just a misunderstanding! I really see you as a friend. I’ll drink that vodka right now! As for the filming permit for Snowy Night Mist, I’ll have it ready by tomorrow—” The rightful source is ɴovelfire.net
Tang Song turned slightly and raised his hand, cutting him off mid-sentence. With his arm around Cheng Qiuqiu, he began to walk out. He had zero interest in people like Qin Fengyu—spoiled second-gen brats polluting the entertainment industry with their disgusting behavior—and didn’t consider him worthy of friendship.
Qin Fengyu stood frozen, his face alternating between red and pale. Humiliation surged inside him like a wave. He opened his mouth to speak, but the icy glare from a female bodyguard made him swallow his words.
Liu Jiayi retracted her gaze and followed Tang Song closely as he headed out.
Footsteps echoed through the room. The men in black stepped aside in unison, clearing a path.
Cheng Qiuqiu could feel all kinds of eyes watching her as they walked.
As they neared the door, she suddenly glanced back at Xu An, who stood frozen with a pale face.
She slowed her pace slightly.
Qiuqiu bit her lip as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she stayed silent.
Tang Song raised an eyebrow and glanced in Xu An's direction.
Sensing the shift, Qin Fengyu’s heart skipped a beat. He grabbed Xu An's arm and muttered under his breath, “Come on, Xu An... time to go.”
Xu An trembled, clenching his teeth as he followed Qin Fengyu out.
Tang Song tightened his grip on Qiuqiu’s waist and led her away.
“President Tang.” A chorus of greetings echoed through the hallway and the private room.
Tang Song swept his gaze over the well-trained security team, a flicker of approval flashing in his eyes.
As expected of a system product—top-tier. Every one of them had been carefully selected.
The “tap tap” of footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Under the dim light, shadows stretched long on the floor.
The white silhouette faded quickly from sight.
Qin Fengyu and Xu An trailed behind at a cautious two-meter distance, not daring to get too close. They kept glancing back toward the private room.
Zheng-ge and the others stood completely still, fear still glimmering in their eyes.
Even though it was clear now that Qin Fengyu didn’t have any real ties to Tang Song, no one dared act rashly.
They had already snapped pictures of Qin Fengyu. That debt would be settled eventually—sooner or later.
In the dazzlingly lit lobby of the bar, quiet murmurs rippled like waves. All eyes followed them, filled with curiosity and awe.
Some whispered guesses, some sneaked out their phones to take photos, but most simply stared in silence, too intimidated to make a sound.
Tang Song walked with steady composure, secretly savoring the feel of Qiuqiu’s slender waist. He was in a rather good mood.
As they exited the restaurant, a cool night breeze blew in, laced with the salty humidity unique to the sea.
Moonlight shimmered over the waves, sparkling like scattered silver.
In the distance, the coastal road twisted and turned, stretching into the endless darkness.
Parked on the broad and clean road by the sea was a black-and-gold Bentley Mulsanne, quietly waiting, its headlights gently blinking.
Next to it were several black off-road vehicles—Mercedes G-Class, Range Rovers—lined up in formation, exuding sheer power and dominance.
Liu Jiayi strode ahead and swiftly opened the rear car door with clean, decisive movements.
Tang Song released Qiuqiu’s waist and gently said, “Get in, Qiuqiu.”
Qiuqiu nodded dazedly and carefully slid into the car.
The leather seats were plush and comfortable, and the subtle scent of luxury perfume hung in the air, making her feel a little out of place.
Vroom— The engine roared to life, spreading down the quiet street.
Along with it came the sound of doors shutting one after another.
The car’s bright headlights lit up the entire road.
Soon, under escort from the convoy of off-road vehicles, the Bentley Mulsanne smoothly pulled away and vanished into the night.
Meanwhile, Qin Fengyu and Xu An scrambled into a nearby taxi.
“To Zhonghao Hotel!” Qin Fengyu shouted, then collapsed into the seat, panting hard as he stared out at the disappearing convoy with a dark and conflicted expression.
His shirt and hair were soaked in liquor. The night breeze made him feel ice-cold all over, but also somewhat sobered up.
Xu An licked his dry lips as the ringing in his ears slowly faded.
Images of Tang Song holding Qiuqiu flashed repeatedly through his mind. His face was tense, his eyes filled with barely concealed dread.
Cheng Qiuqiu had been his high school classmate—his original White Moonlight
.He had thought that with his current status and momentum, it was only a matter of time before he could win her back.
Who would've thought someone like Tang Song would pop out of nowhere?
He hadn’t thought much of it before, but this meeting made it clear—Tang Song was a big deal.
That level of security and that kind of luxury convoy? Definitely not someone ordinary.
Even A-list celebrities didn’t roll with this kind of flair.
Only after the last shadow of the convoy disappeared did the taxi start moving slowly.
“F**k!” Qin Fengyu cursed under his breath, clenching his fists until they cracked.
He turned to glance at Xu An, his tone laced with venom. “You’re f***ing unbelievable, Xu An. Seriously.”
Xu An flinched, panic flashing across his face. “Yu-ge, you saw how it was back there, I—”
“Shut up! F**k off!” Qin Fengyu roared, slapping him across the head.
It wasn’t a hard hit, but it was humiliating.
Xu An froze. His eyes welled with humiliation—but fear dominated.
He knew better than to talk back now. He kept his head down, letting Qin Fengyu vent his anger.
“S-sorry, Yu-ge.”
Qin Fengyu shot him a cold glare but didn’t say anything else.
Tonight’s trouble wasn’t over. That Zheng guy had pictures of him. And as a rising celeb under Qianmo Media, he couldn’t afford a scandal.
Whether for himself or the company’s image, he had to get it under control.
If only Tang Song had helped. Just one word from him, and those guys would’ve deleted the photos in seconds.
Inside the quiet car—
Cheng Qiuqiu sat in the back seat, hands folded on her lap, her face once again cool and distant.
Tang Song leaned slightly toward her, the light casting a soft glow over her head.
The progress bar that had been hovering earlier was gone—replaced now by a tiny, freshly sprouted seedling.
In the pitch-black car, a soft green glow shimmered like tiny fireflies,
faintly scattering across her hair, giving off a hazy, dreamlike feel—and making her seem even more aloof and cool.
Noticing Tang Song's gaze,
Cheng Qiuqiu unconsciously clenched her hands, turned her head, and looked out the car window into the blurry night.
She tried to calm her racing heart, doing her best to mask the stirring inside, but the blush on her face crept up uncontrollably, no matter how hard she tried to suppress it.
The air quietly filled with a faint sense of something... ambiguous.
“Want something to eat?” Tang Song asked with a smile in his voice.
“I’m good. Honestly, I already ate a lot earlier. That stuff we had just now was enough, I’m not really hungry—going straight back is fine.”
“But I’m still hungry. Want to come with me for a bite?”
“Mm.” Qiuqiu nodded, her voice barely audible.
Tang Song looked toward the front and said to Liu Jiayi, “Xiao Qi, head to Riverside Road next to the Shangri-La. There’s a food stall over there that’s pretty good.”
“Got it, President Tang!”
Tang Song turned back to Qiuqiu. “My coworkers said the stir-fried instant noodles and grilled lamb skewers at that stall are amazing. Let’s go give it a try.”
“Mm.”
Tang Song smiled again, his eyes falling on the top of her head, a thoughtful look flashing across his face.
The growth speed and number of blooms of the 【Dreamseed Bloom】 depended on the energy provided by its “nurturer” Qiuqiu—and how much she wanted to give back to him.
In other words, the more her heart was healed and the stronger her feelings toward him, the more he would gain.
And each flower meant one more point of insight.
A rare and valuable reward.
To him, Qiuqiu was now a treasure girl, someone he had to carefully “nurture” and “water.”
Thinking of this, a bright smile curled on Tang Song’s lips.
He leaned over slightly, opened the mini fridge in the backseat, took out a bottle of Evian, twisted off the cap, and handed it to her. “Your lips look a little dry. Here, have some water.”
“Th—thank you.” Qiuqiu froze for a second, then quickly reached out with both hands to take it.
Gulp—gulp—
The cool mineral water flowed down her throat, calming her completely.
Tang Song casually took the bottle from her hands, raised it to his own lips, and took a sip.
Seeing that, Qiuqiu’s lips parted slightly, her eyelashes fluttered, and her heartbeat pounded in her ears.
It was a feeling she had never experienced before.
About twenty minutes later—
The Bentley Mulsanne pulled up in front of a food stall on Riverside Road.
The two of them got out of the car and headed toward the storefront.
“Watch the step,” Tang Song reminded her gently, naturally reaching out to hold Qiuqiu’s soft, chilly hand.
“Ah!” Qiuqiu gasped and instinctively tried to pull away—but failed.
“What’s wrong?” Tang Song asked, clearly pretending not to know, his gaze playful as he looked at her.
Qiuqiu quickly lowered her head, voice barely louder than a whisper. “N-nothing.”
Feeling the warmth from his palm, her face flushed even deeper, heart racing, her mind a complete mess.
Strictly speaking, this was her first time holding hands with a guy.
She’d never imagined it would feel like this.
They weaved through the bustling crowd and took a seat at a small table in an outdoor corner.
Smoke and voices filled the air.
Colorful neon lights blinked around them. Oil dripped from skewers onto the charcoal, letting out sizzling pops and releasing waves of mouthwatering aroma.
They sat down together at the small outdoor table.
Tang Song took the menu and ordered stir-fried instant noodles, skewers, two mugs of draft beer, and a small plate of appetizers.
Soon, the beers and appetizers were brought over.
Clink— The crisp sound of glasses touching rang out as the two of them made a toast.
Qiuqiu took a small sip, then peeked at Tang Song under the light, a warm feeling rising in her heart.
For some reason, ever since leaving the private room, she couldn’t help but feel... drawn to him.
Like being near him gave her a sense of safety and warmth she’d been yearning for.
Even though she appeared cold on the outside, deep down, she was actually timid.
When she was a kid, even her teacher or mother raising their voice would scare her so badly she couldn’t sleep.
She had nightmares often, feared all kinds of bugs, and would always hide under the covers during thunderstorms.
She’d tried riding motorcycles and even made it a hobby.
Part of it was because of a drama Su Yu once acted in, where she played a cool biker chick.
But more importantly, she hoped that by doing something like that, she could make herself a little more independent... a little braver.
Before long, the food arrived one dish after another.
Golden, juicy skewers, savory stir-fried noodles, and refreshing sides—Tang Song’s appetite kicked into full gear.
With his current physique, he could easily eat twice as much as before.
Seeing Qiuqiu looking a little shy across the table, he smiled and handed her a skewer. “Try it—it’s really good.”
“Thanks.” Qiuqiu took the lamb skewer and took a bite, then suddenly said, “President Tang, thanks for what you did today. But about the live stream at the filming location… I don’t think I can help anymore. I’m sorry.”
She had originally wanted to use her connections to help Tang Song and her senior, but ended up causing trouble instead.
If her senior hadn’t been on her period and in the private room today… who knows what could’ve happened.
She felt scared just thinking about it—and deeply guilty.
“It’s fine. It wasn’t your fault,” Tang Song said casually, shaking the lamb skewer in his hand.
“But... I had already agreed to help, and in the end...”
“Enough. Let’s not talk about that tonight.” Tang Song shook his head and lifted his beer again.
After clinking glasses, he switched the subject to some Su Yu gossip.
The moment they started talking about her idol, Qiuqiu completely transformed. The cold expression on her face melted, replaced by a youthful energy she hadn’t shown before.
To her, Tang Song was also a hardcore Su Yu fan—he even pulled some strings to get hold of candid shots of her daily life.
That had been one of the reasons she first warmed up to him.
As the night deepened and the sea breeze gently blew—
Their conversation became more and more lively, and Qiuqiu’s smile grew increasingly genuine and radiant.
The little green sapling of the 【Dreamseed Bloom】 swayed gently, glowing a little brighter in the dark.
At one point, Qiuqiu accidentally knocked over the tray, scattering skewers and chili powder across the table.
Seeing Tang Song quietly clean up everything and gently reassure her the whole time—
Her vision blurred for a moment.
At that instant, he felt like a gentle friend... or maybe even something out of a romance novel—a boyfriend?
The thought had barely formed before she quickly crushed it, lowering her head, afraid he might see right through her foolish little crush.
Just then—
Ring ring ring— Her phone started ringing.
Snapping back to reality, Qiuqiu looked at the screen. Her face stiffened, and the light in her eyes dimmed instantly.
【Dreaming Ting - Senior】
She answered, and her senior’s gentle voice came through the speaker. “Hey, Qiuqiu, everything okay over there?”
“N-no, everything’s fine. I’m with President Tang.”
“That’s good. I was really worried about you. Don’t drink too much, okay? And if you get scared tonight, you can ask one of the other colleagues to stay with you.”
“Mm, I understand, Senior.”
After hanging up, Cheng Qiuqiu pressed her lips together tightly, and her expression once again turned cold.
“All cleaned up. I ordered a few more skewers—let’s keep going.” Tang Song walked over carrying a new tray stacked with grilled skewers.
“Mm, thank you, President Tang.”
“Why so formal? I told you, just call me by my name.”
Tang Song chuckled and, instead of going back to his seat, he sat right down beside her.
Their bodies were close—so close they could feel each other breathing. The atmosphere turned intimate.
Qiuqiu’s body trembled slightly. She bit her lower lip hard, then suddenly stood up.
“What’s wrong?” Tang Song raised an eyebrow, sensing something off.
Qiuqiu clenched her fists nervously, moved away from her seat, and sat down across from him, eyes lowered.
After a pause, she finally lifted her head and murmured, “I... I have a condition.”
“Huh?” Tang Song blinked. “What do you mean? You’re sick?”
(_)?
This designer friend of his had just dropped a bomb out of nowhere—he was completely confused.
“That’s not what I meant.” Qiuqiu pinched her thigh under the table, her tone calm but tinged with restraint. “I’m not used to physical closeness with the opposite sex. It makes me really uncomfortable—both physically and mentally.”
“Uh...” Tang Song was momentarily speechless. He hadn’t expected the conversation to go in this direction.
Qiuqiu took a deep breath and went on: “I’m asexual. I don’t have the impulse to date or get physically close to men, and I don’t fantasize about that kind of stuff either. So... I’m not used to being physically near men. I hope you understand.”
Tang Song’s eye twitched slightly.
D*mn, QQ! Are you trying to say I was harassing you just now?!
Do I look like that kind of guy?!
Qiuqiu lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eyes. Her voice was barely audible. “Sorry... it’s just my personal boundary. I hope you’re not offended, President Tang.”
“It’s fine. I get it.” Tang Song frowned slightly, trying to ease the awkwardness. “Have you seen a doctor about it?”
Qiuqiu’s throat moved as she replied, voice hoarse, “Yeah. The doctor said... it’s hard to treat.”
After she finished, her face had gone a bit pale.
Her mental state really was a mess—bad enough to cause physical issues.
It made her deeply insecure. She knew she might never be able to have a full relationship with a man.
So she’d never even thought about having a boyfriend, getting married, or starting a family.
In fact, the first time she ever had a physical reaction was when she went biking with Tang Song. Even then, it had only been a tiny flicker.
But Tang Song was her senior’s boyfriend.
Given her own issues and his identity, she didn’t dare let herself entertain any fantasies.
Better to nip it all in the bud than get tangled up later.
After all, someone like her wasn’t cut out for romance.
Tang Song exhaled lightly and said in a soft voice, “QQ, I feel like you’re carrying a lot inside. Maybe it’s related to your condition. Want to talk about it? You should try to let go of some pressure—don’t bottle everything up all the time.”
He had a hunch—maybe this was exactly why the 【Dreamseed Bloom】 had chosen her.
This type of condition was usually triggered by psychological trauma. He couldn’t help but wonder what Qiuqiu had gone through in her past.
Qiuqiu shook her head, her voice soft: “I... I’m fine. But thank you, President Tang.”
Tang Song raised an eyebrow, sensing her resistance and closed-off demeanor.
With someone like Qiuqiu, pushing too hard would only backfire.
Just then—
“Hello, Tang Song!” A fresh and lively voice suddenly chimed in from nearby.
They both turned their heads at the same time.
A stunning woman with a hot figure stood next to their table.
Her face was mostly hidden behind a mask and a curtain of bangs. The ends of her hair were dyed red and blue, giving her a bold, flashy look.
Her skin was fair, her proportions perfect, curves smooth and full—an unmistakably sexy figure.
Even without seeing her face, it was obvious she was a knockout.
Her aura was unique, magnetic, naturally drawing attention. Anyone nearby would glance her way more than once.
Seeing the woman, a name immediately popped into Tang Song’s mind.
Bei Yuwei.
His brows lifted slightly, and a strange look flashed in his eyes.
Tonight, Bei Yuwei was dressed in a fitted casual shirt, a straight-cut skirt, and black stockings. The whole outfit was simple but high-end—a textbook “executive style.”
Her posture was meticulously polished. Every move she made gave off a calculated professional charm, like she was deliberately playing the part of some glamorous executive assistant.
“What’s wrong? Forgot about me already?” Bei Yuwei winked, bent at the waist and stuck her hip out as she gracefully sat down beside him—right in the seat Qiuqiu had just vacated—pressing close to Tang Song.
Qiuqiu froze slightly, then lowered her head to hide her reaction.
Tang Song smiled faintly, his tone easygoing: “Of course not, Xiao Bei.”
“So do you welcome me? Hope I didn’t interrupt anything?” Bei Yuwei asked playfully, her eyes sweeping teasingly over the space between him and Qiuqiu.
Tang Song chuckled. “Of course I do. You showed up at the perfect time.”
He had been wondering how to handle the livestream situation with He Yiyi—and now the solution had walked right over!
Across the table, Qiuqiu’s eyes dimmed slightly, an unspoken sense of loss rising in her chest.
Bei Yuwei’s smile instantly widened. She nudged Tang Song playfully with her shoulder, then turned to Qiuqiu and asked with a grin, “So, this beauty is… your girlfriend?”
Tang Song shook his head. “Nope. She’s a colleague from our company—and a good friend.”
“Ohhh, such a pretty lady.” Bei Yuwei smiled sweetly. “Hi, I’m Beibei. You can just call me Xiao Bei. Nice to meet you!”
“Hello, I’m Cheng Qiuqiu.” Qiuqiu forced a polite smile.
Tang Song glanced sideways at Bei Yuwei, looking a little curious. “How’d you know I was here?”
Bei Yuwei blinked her big innocent eyes and replied sweetly, “You think hiding here means I wouldn’t find you? Not a chance. A guy as outstanding as you—no matter where you go, you’re like a firefly in the dark: so bright, so unique...”
She deliberately dragged the tone, then switched to Cantonese with a dramatic flair: “But even if you’re amazing, there are still rules in this line of work. No matter what, you still gotta pay your o**rnight fee!”