novelraw Chapter 501: Warmth, Flower Seedlings, Magazine, Family
Chapter 501: Warmth, Flower Seedlings, Magazine, Family
A flash of lightning lit up everything around.
It was a small bedroom, only about seven or eight square meters. Other than a single bed, there was just a simple desk and a chair.
The furniture was old, and the walls were marked with patches of peeling paint.
The window, worn down by years of neglect, was broken and rickety. With the wind and rain, it clattered noisily.
Rumble— thunder slowly rolled in.
Huddled in a corner, Qiuqiu trembled, staring wide-eyed at the figure that had suddenly appeared.
She couldn’t see the face, couldn’t make out the figure, but somehow it felt familiar—comforting, even.
His presence was like a warm light, seeming to drive away the fear and darkness around her.
Just then, the bedroom door was suddenly slammed twice, making a sharp and jarring bang bang sound.
Qiuqiu gasped and buried her head in her knees again.Right after that, an angry roar came from outside the door:
“You little b***h! Always up to no good, causing trouble all the time! Just transferred to a new school and already getting into fights? Tell me, are you doing this on purpose?”
“You think you’re still some little brat from that backwater village? Acting all wild—you think this is still the countryside?”
“You have any idea how much money I spent just to get you into that school? How many people I had to talk to? And this is how you repay me?”
“Do you even know how busy I am every day? I’m stuck watching that damn shop from morning till night, so exhausted I can’t even stand up straight, and now I have to come home to deal with your crap too? What kind of sin did I commit to deserve this?”
The sound of weeping filled the small bedroom.
Qiuqiu bit down hard, trying to keep her sobs from reaching outside.
Soft, slow footsteps echoed.
“Qiuqiu.” The voice was like the first warm sunlight of spring, cutting through the cold air.
Qiuqiu suddenly looked up, eyes full of tears, staring toward the voice.
He stood not far from the bed, his outline gently glowing in the dim light.
Warmth slowly wrapped around her body, bringing an overwhelming sense of safety.
Just like the father she had always imagined…
In that moment, her heart filled with longing and hope.
She tilted her head and cautiously asked, “D-Dad…?”
Tang Song froze for a moment. Under the effect of the 【Dream Seed Bloom】, he seemed able to feel her emotions.
He understood that she had projected her deep yearning for a father into her dream, and subconsciously turned him into that symbol.
He didn’t correct her—he just gently nodded. “Mm, I’m your dad.”
Hearing that, Qiuqiu burst into tears.
She jumped up and threw herself into Tang Song’s arms like a wounded kitten finding a safe haven, sobbing, “Daddy, I’m so scared… Grandma doesn’t want me, and Mom doesn’t want me either…
The kids at school don’t like me. They say I talk funny and my clothes aren’t stylish…
I can’t play the piano, I can’t sing pop songs, I can’t dance—I don’t fit in with them…”
She spoke in broken sentences, her tears soaking through Tang Song’s clothes.
Tang Song gently patted her back and whispered, “It’s okay. I’m here with you. No matter what happens, we’ll face it together.”
Qiuqiu choked up and asked, “Really? You won’t abandon me?”
“Really. I won’t abandon you.”
At the same time, a warmth in his chest grew stronger. The newly sprouted seedling seemed to be growing.
The air around them turned softer and warmer, and the darkness felt like it was being pushed away.
Just then, the banging and yelling outside got louder.
“Are you going to open the door or not? You better listen to me! Open the damn door!”
Qiuqiu tensed up again, her face turning pale.
She shrank back toward Tang Song, trembling. “Will Mom come in and hit me? I’m scared.”
Tang Song placed his hands on her shaking shoulders, his voice gentle yet firm, “No. She won’t. I’m here—no one can hurt you. Not even your mom.”
As soon as he said that, the shouting outside vanished.
Only the sound of wind and rain remained.
Qiuqiu looked up at the blurry figure right in front of her. Her eyes began to fill with trust and reliance.
“Daddy, my window’s broken. It rattles when the wind blows. I get too scared to sleep at night. Mom doesn’t want me sleeping with her.”
Tang Song looked toward the broken, trembling window. His gaze flickered.
As if by magic, the window instantly became brand-new, and the wind and rain from outside were completely blocked out.
Qiuqiu’s tears slowly stopped. Her eyes lit up with wonder and joy.
She jumped off the bed barefoot and ran to the window, gently touching the brand-new frame.
Then she turned around, amazed. “Daddy, you’re amazing! You fixed it so fast!”
She immediately pointed at the burnt-out bulb on the ceiling. “That light always flickers at night. I’m too scared to turn it on. I told Mom, but she’s always too busy to fix it, so she told me to use the desk lamp for now.”
Tang Song wiped the tear stains from her cheeks and looked up. “Give me a second.”
Right after, the light came on, and the whole room lit up brightly.
Qiuqiu’s face bloomed with a smile. “Oh, and this desk! The drawer always wobbles—I’m scared it’ll fall off one day.”
Tang Song walked over to the desk, his eyes pausing on a crayon drawing.
It was of a kindly-looking old woman with a basket full of red chili peppers hanging from her arm.
It was clear that Qiuqiu had real talent for drawing.
Though a bit rough and simple, it was full of life.
Tang Song tugged at the drawer, then turned and smiled. “Try it now.”
Qiuqiu quickly sat down and pulled it open and shut a few times.
She looked up at him, eyes shining with admiration. “It really works!”
Tang Song patted her head and chuckled. “Anything else that needs fixing?”
Qiuqiu hesitated, her expression dimming a bit. She whispered, “The door at Grandma’s house is broken. And there’s a hole in the yard…”
In the warm, cozy little bedroom,
The teenage version of Qiuqiu lowered her head and unknowingly began talking to herself.
First, she talked about the problems at Grandma’s house. Then she started talking about the little chicks she was raising in the yard.
Bit by bit, she moved on to her school life.
It had been two months since she transferred to a school in Rong City.
Suddenly coming from the countryside to this big, unfamiliar city, she’d lost contact with all her friends and classmates.
Everything—the environment, the people, the things—felt intimidating and foreign.
The only familiar person, her mother, was always too busy with work to be around.
The middle school she attended was actually a pretty good one.
All her classmates were top-notch.
Because of the gap in educational resources, her grades didn’t compare, and she had little in common with the others.
Tang Song squatted down to her level, gently stroking her soft hair and whispering reassurances.
She eventually stopped talking.
After glancing out at the thunderstorm, she turned around, a hopeful look in her eyes. “Daddy, can you sleep with me tonight? I’m really scared of the thunder.”
Tang Song replied softly, “Of course I can.”
"Thank you." Qiuqiu immediately stood up and began tidying her bed.
But soon, her expression turned a bit downcast. "But... my bed is too small, it won’t fit both of us."
"It’s okay. Come with me. I know a place that’s bigger and more comfortable." Tang Song held her cold little hand.
The surroundings began to change in a strange, dreamlike way.
The cramped bedroom gradually faded, replaced by a spacious room.
A huge double bed sat in the center, covered in clean white sheets, with modern and luxurious decor all around.
Qiuqiu’s eyes widened as she carefully stepped onto the soft carpet. "Wow... where is this? It’s so pretty!"
"This is Home-seeking House."
"Ah! So Daddy, you live here? Then can I come stay here often too?"
"Of course, you can think of this place as your home."
"Thank you, Daddy!" Qiuqiu excitedly climbed onto the bed, buried her face into the fluffy pillow, and took a deep breath. "It smells so nice, way comfier than Mom’s bed!"
Tang Song sat on the edge of the bed, tucked her in, and then turned on the small night lamp on the bedside table.
The light was soft and warm, filling the whole room with a peaceful, cozy glow.
"Daddy, can you tell me a story?"
"Emm... I’ll have to think about that..."
"Then I’ll tell you one." Qiuqiu blinked her bright eyes and began telling the stories Grandma used to tell her when she was little.
【Dream Seedling】 quietly stretched out its branches, emitting a gentle glow.
Her voice grew softer and softer, her breathing steadier and steadier...
September 27, 2023, Wednesday, cloudy turning sunny.
The sky outside was gradually brightening. A light mist lingered in the air, like a veil draped over the city.
Sunlight slipped in through the gap in the curtains, casting a soft beam of light across the bed.
Long, thick eyelashes fluttered. Cheng Qiuqiu slowly opened her eyes and sat up stiffly.
She stared blankly ahead for a while, then stretched, a wave of clarity and refreshment washing over her.
It had been so long since she slept this well, this peacefully.
Normally, anytime there was thunder and rain, she’d have nightmares and wake up in the middle of the night.
But this time was different—she actually had a sweet dream.
It seemed to be from the time she had just left Grandma’s house and moved to Rong City.
But when she tried to recall it carefully, the vivid scenes faded into a blur, leaving behind only a faint, lingering emotion that clung to her heart.
She rubbed her forehead hard.
She felt like she had forgotten something important.
Even so, there was an inexplicable sense of ease and peace in her heart.
She glanced at the wall clock.
7:30.
“It’s already this late!” Cheng Qiuqiu gasped and quickly jumped out of bed.
Then she remembered—her senpai was still in Wushan and not in Yancheng.
Since she was alone, she could just grab something simple to eat.
Letting out a breath, Cheng Qiuqiu began making her bed.
She got dressed and stood in the bedroom.
Her eyes instinctively looked up at the ceiling light, then over to her desk.
She suddenly felt an odd emptiness in her heart.
Shaking her head, she walked over to the nightstand, unplugged her charger, and picked up her phone.
A new unread message popped up on the screen:
【Tang Song: "Good morning, Qiuqiu."】
Cheng Qiuqiu’s fingers paused slightly, and her heart suddenly began racing.
The message had been sent at 6 a.m., which meant Tang Song had messaged her the moment he woke up.
What did that mean?
Was he concerned about her?
Or just casually checking in?
She stared blankly at the screen for a long time.
Her chest gently rose and fell. She bit her lower lip hard, pushing down the little joy and confusion in her heart.
Her fingers tapped the screen. She replied politely and with restraint: "Good morning, Mr. Tang. Is there something you need?"
After sending the message, she felt a faint ache in her heart,
as if she’d just lost something.
By the time she realized that, the time window to recall the message had already passed.
Right after, her phone vibrated again.
【Tang Song: "Nothing really. It was thundering and raining in Yancheng last night. Did you sleep okay in your rental apartment alone?"】
Cheng Qiuqiu stood there in a daze, staring at the screen for a few seconds.
She quickly typed her reply: "I slept great. Didn’t wake up once. Feeling super refreshed. I was just about to go grab breakfast."
【Tang Song: "What are you planning to eat?"】
The sound of her fingers tapping the screen echoed softly.
The light in the bedroom gradually brightened. The ticking of the wall clock filled the air.
Just from that simple exchange, Cheng Qiuqiu’s lips curled into a subtle smile.
A sense of fullness and contentment quietly bloomed in her chest.
......
"Morning, Qiuqiu."
"Good morning."
"Morning, Qiuqiu—wow, your makeup’s really on point today!"
"It’s... it’s okay, I guess..."
After greeting her coworkers, Cheng Qiuqiu sat at her desk.
Since the second group of staff had already left for the team-building trip, the office felt unusually quiet.
She tidied her things, turned on her computer, and started working seriously.
Maybe it was because she’d slept so well—she felt full of energy, and her mind was sharper than ever.
Ideas for the 【HEYISTUDIO】 visual identity system kept popping into her head.
Her eyes grew brighter, and her hand gripping the stylus moved rapidly across the tablet.
She had no idea how much time had passed.
Buzz buzz buzz—
A notification popped up on WeChat on her computer.
【Tang Song: "Qiuqiu, come to my office."】
Cheng Qiuqiu’s hand froze instantly. The stylus hovered mid-air.
She took a deep breath, stood up, and walked toward the CEO’s office.
As she passed the lounge area, she instinctively paused in front of the mirror and carefully tidied her hair.
Knock knock knock—
"Come in."
That deep, magnetic voice made her heart skip a beat.
She grabbed the door handle and pushed the door open.
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, filling the entire room with a warm glow. A few documents and two cups of coffee sat on the desk.
He was leaning casually against the side of the desk, flipping through a file.
The sunlight lit up half his body, casting a soft halo around him,
making him look warm and captivating.
Cheng Qiuqiu looked at his figure, her mind gradually drifting, and she unconsciously muttered, “Da...”
As soon as the sound left her mouth, she instantly realized her slip, quickly clamping her lips shut, her face flushing with visible embarrassment.
“You’re here?” Tang Song looked up at the sound, a gentle smile on his face.
Their eyes met, and Cheng Qiuqiu’s heart thumped wildly out of rhythm.
She quickly lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly. “Mr. Tang, you wanted to see me?”
Tang Song put down the file in his hand, picked up one of the coffee cups on the desk, and walked over to her, handing it over. “Here, have some coffee.”
“This... this is for me?” Cheng Qiuqiu froze, staring at the coffee cup in his hand in disbelief.
“Mm, take it.” Tang Song smiled, his gaze casually sweeping over the top of her head.
In his vision, the tender green sprout nurtured by the 【Dream Seed】 had quietly grown a little taller, looking vibrant and full of life.
“Thank you.” Cheng Qiuqiu took the coffee with both hands, her fingertips accidentally brushing against his skin.
Even though she tried hard to maintain her composed, cool demeanor, a soft blush still crept up the tips of her ears. Read full story at novel[f]ire.net
“You’re welcome.” Tang Song raised his own coffee cup and tilted it toward her. “Come on, cheers.”
Clink— A crisp sound rang out as the paper cups touched lightly.
Tang Song took a sip of his coffee and casually asked, “How’s work going? Is the visual identity system project on track?”
“It’s going well...” Cheng Qiuqiu answered softly, her fingers subconsciously tracing the rim of the cup.
They chatted idly over coffee, talking about this and that.
Then Tang Song seemed to think of something and smiled. “Oh right, Qiuqiu, the company has a surprise for you tomorrow.”
“What kind of surprise?”
Tang Song shook his head mysteriously. “You’ll find out tomorrow.”
Originally, Yao Lingling was supposed to join the company after the National Day holiday. She didn’t want to take advantage of the paid leave. But under Tang Song’s insistence, she came on board early.
This holiday gave her the perfect chance to get familiar with the company’s livestream style and understand the preferences of their target audience.
This cheerful and outgoing junior’s biggest trait was her powerful emotional energy—she could brighten up any room.
For someone like Qiuqiu, who had a bit of darkness in her heart, she was the perfect complementary match.
After a few more words, Cheng Qiuqiu bent slightly to say goodbye and left.
As her sexy, graceful figure disappeared through the door, a complicated emotion flashed through Tang Song’s eyes.
He looked down at the coffee in his hand. Scenes from last night’s dream resurfaced in his mind.
Even though he only witnessed part of it, the emotional trauma those past experiences left on her had been clearly conveyed to him through the 【Dream Seed】.
She really was a pitiful girl.
He finished his coffee, returned to his executive chair, put on his glasses, and began reading through some documents.
A while later—
Dingdong— a WeChat notification chimed.
【Wen Ruan: “The Mid-Autumn Festival is the day after tomorrow. When are you heading back to Quancheng? Morning of the day, or the night before?”】
Tang Song raised an eyebrow at the message from his “big sis.”
With Wen Ruan’s personality, she wouldn’t ask this kind of question for no reason.
His eyes flickered as he replied: “Whenever you want me to go back, that’s when I’ll go.”
【Wen Ruan: So obedient.jpg】
【Wen Ruan: “Come home with me tomorrow night, then we’ll head to Quancheng the next morning. We’ve been together this long, and my parents have always wanted to have you over for a meal.”】
Seeing her message, Tang Song smiled warmly.
He knew clearly—unlike Zhao Yaqian, Lin Muxue, and the others,
Wen Ruan, at thirty years old, cared deeply about relationships and family.
She truly wanted him to be part of her life as her partner, to be integrated into her family.
Tang Song: “Sure. Why don’t I just stay over at your place tomorrow night? That way we can celebrate the holiday together.”
【Wen Ruan: (#coversmouthlaughing) Naughty boy, are you thinking something bold again?】
Tang Song: “I am. Something really bold.”
【Wen Ruan: “Pfft, is it as bold as a 36E?”】
Tang Song: “Sis, I wanna see that 36E right now.”
【Wen Ruan: (#flirty) Hold on, I’ll take a picture for you.”】
Seeing Wen Ruan’s uninhibited reply, a fire lit up in Tang Song’s chest.
This big sis really knew how to play!
He waited eagerly.
Dingdong—
【Wen Ruan: photo.jpg】
Tang Song quickly opened the image—
His expression froze.
It wasn’t a selfie.
It was the cover of Fortune magazine.
On it was a blonde, blue-eyed woman—someone he knew very well.
Annie Kate.
He’d seen many photos of Annie online before.
As one of the heirs of the Kate family and co-founder of Jingwu Capital, she held substantial global influence.
With her impressive background and stunning looks, she often appeared in financial and fashion magazines.
According to Wen Ruan, Fortune would be featuring Annie in a cover interview mid-next month.
That must’ve been why Wen Ruan was flipping through related materials and came across Annie’s info.
As for how she suspected Annie had something to do with him—Tang Song wasn’t sure.
Maybe it was just a woman’s sixth sense?
【Wen Ruan: “Well? Looks like a 36E, right? Pretty hot?”】
Tang Song smiled and replied: “Not bad. But I still think your 36E is way more tempting.”
【Wen Ruan: “That’s a top-tier western babe, y’know. I can’t compare. Last time she came to Light & Shadow Media for a negotiation on behalf of Jingwu Capital, I saw her in person—she’s got serious curves.”】
That message instantly connected the dots for Tang Song.
He had heard about Jingwu Capital being in talks with Light & Shadow Media,
but he hadn’t realized it was Annie herself who came.
【Wen Ruan: “And the way Miss Annie looked at me was really weird, like she was sizing me up or something. You think... maybe she’s into me? (#smirking)”】
Tang Song’s fingers paused. He almost burst out laughing and quickly replied: “You better be careful. I heard her sexual orientation is mysterious. Plus, she’s a fitness buff—with actual abs.”
【Wen Ruan: (#starryeyes) Oh? Sounds like you know quite a bit. Don’t tell me you’ve been dreaming of riding the western stallion?”】
Tang Song’s eye twitched. He quickly switched topics and started chatting about what gifts they should bring for tomorrow’s visit.
......
Yansheng Province Financial Center, Rongliu Investment, Executive Assistant Office
Steam curled from the coffee cup, forming wisps of white mist.
Lin Muxue sat at her spacious desk, her long fingers gently tapping on her laptop keyboard.
Lines of English words leapt across the screen.
With her enrollment coming up, Lin Muxue was indeed feeling a bit anxious.
Even though Lin Tiantian had promised to assign her a professional team to help her pass all the requirements,
she still felt uneasy, afraid that her inadequacies would be exposed.
So whenever she had free time, she would copy down articles and reference materials to improve her language skills.
Riiiing—
The urgent ring of her phone suddenly cut through the quiet.
She glanced at the caller ID, her brows knitting tightly.
Pressing the volume button, she silenced the ringer and let the phone buzz silently on the desk.
After a while—
Riiing—
It rang again.
She took a deep breath, her fingertip hovering above the answer icon for a few seconds,
and finally swiped to take the call. “Hello?”
“Xiaoxue, how’s work been lately? Are you busy?”
Her father’s voice came through with a thick rural accent,
and in the background, she could hear shouting from what sounded like a construction site.
Lin Muxue’s tone was cold. “Okay, Dad, just get to the point. Don’t beat around the bush.”
“Oh, I just wanted to ask if you’re coming home for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Your mom steamed a basket of jujube buns,
and she made those stone-pressed flatbreads you like...”
Her father’s voice softened, sounding a little tentative and cautious.
Hearing that, Lin Muxue drew in a long breath. “I can’t. Work’s really busy.”
“Oh, okay.”
Her father’s voice clearly dropped in disappointment,
but he quickly tried to perk up. “Well... your cousin Zhenzhen said she’s going to Yancheng with some classmates for the holiday,
so I asked her to bring you some stuff from home—fresh walnuts, and that sweet qiong pot candy you used to love...”
Lin Muxue’s throat moved slightly as she swallowed.
After a brief silence, she said, “Got it.”
“Xiaoxue, whenever you’ve got time, you should come home for a visit. Your mom...”
“Dad, I’ve got a meeting. I’m hanging up now.”
“Alright, alright, take care then.”
Silence returned to the office.
Staring at the now-dark phone screen, a complicated expression flickered across Lin Muxue’s delicate face.