novelraw Chapter 526: Please, Give Me a Chance!
Chapter 526: Please, Give Me a Chance!
Hearing the system alert in his ear, Tang Song's hand paused mid-motion, and he suddenly sat upright.
D*mn! Campus Belle, you really gave me a huge surprise!
You know, this was something he bought from the system mall for 20 million. And after completing the instance, he’d even receive the precious 【Charm +1】 reward.
But it had already been three months with no movement.
Who would’ve thought it’d be triggered in Modu, by Shen Yuyan.
No wonder she’s like Xiaoxue—a queen of contrast!
Tang Song's mood instantly became fantastic. If Shen Yuyan were here right now, he’d at least kiss her twice.
At this point, very few things could still get him this excited.
And boosting his charm value was undoubtedly one of them.
He had just gotten a 【Charm +1】 quest from Tianyang Ma, and now he’d triggered another one from Shen Yuyan.Once these two missions were complete, his charm would basically hit 80—just enough to inherit the next-stage assets!
He might even unlock the 【Movie Star】 directly.
But considering Annie's personality, her conquest quest definitely wouldn’t be quick.
On the other hand, with School Belle Shen, results would come fast.
Tang Song opened the system interface and entered the inventory.
The gray-glowing item 【Low Whispers of Humanity】 had disappeared, replaced by a brilliantly multicolored card.
Check details.
【Whispers of Shen Yuyan】: Once used, this will load a special event instance into the real world (player perspective). Please prepare in advance.
【Note: Valid for (11 hours 59 minutes 28 seconds)】
Tang Song stared deeply at the card, took a deep breath, selected 【Whispers of Shen Yuyan】, and activated it immediately.
"Whoosh—" the screen before him began to swirl with light.
An incredibly magnificent scene appeared in his vision.
Skyscrapers flashing with neon, vast floor-to-ceiling windows reflecting shadows, high-end offices, power-symbolizing desks, mountains of file folders...
A soft golden glow flowed among these elements, dazzling and dreamlike.
Immediately after, lines of text jumped out:
【Human nature is diverse and complex. Everyone has their unique experiences, backgrounds, and personalities, making it hard to generalize or summarize simply.】
【We should respect each person’s individuality and differences, and try to understand their actions and motivations.】
【As an independent individual, Shen Yuyan is a very archetypal woman—scheming, proud, resilient, conflicted, introspective, vengeful, eager for recognition...】
【By observing her choices and behaviors, you can better understand women, improve your emotional intelligence, better manage subtle balances in relationships, and grasp the allure of power.】
【Welcome to the Special Event Instance—Whispers of Shen Yuyan】
【Instance Roles: Observer (Tang Song), Trial Subject (Shen Yuyan)】
【You have acquired the instance skill “Whisper”】
【Whisper】: In the instance environment, when the trial subject (Shen Yuyan) experiences intense psychological fluctuations, you will hear her inner whispers.
【Act One】
【October 7th, 13:46. You accepted Shen Yuyan’s dinner invitation for tonight. Listen carefully to her heart, observe her behavior, and before parting, invite her to attend the “Investor Night: Leading the Future.”】
After reading the instance info, Tang Song’s eyes flashed with contemplation.
Compared to the time with Lin Muxue, he had grown in overall ability tremendously.
Especially in dealing with women.
Unlike Lin Muxue, this campus belle belonged to the deep and scheming type.
Emotionally steady, highly competent, and rarely showing dramatic fluctuations.
For her to be chosen by the system meant something significant must be happening around her.
Tang Song looked at the message from Shen Yuyan on his phone screen.
Quickly tapping away: “Perfect timing, I’m free tonight. No problem.”
“Crunch—”
【Shen Yuyan: “That’s great! I’ll book a restaurant and send you the location. See you tonight.”】
【Shen Yuyan: Pinky swear (emoji)】
Tang Song sent back an emoji.
【Shen Yuyan: “By the way, I never asked—where are you staying in Modu? Someone like you must have their own place, right? (#curious)”】
Tang Song chuckled and replied: “I’ve been staying at a friend’s place recently.”
Then, he casually shared his location.
Right now, Shen Yuyan was his precious asset.
【Low Whispers of Humanity】 was an incredibly powerful item.
He was really looking forward to this campus belle triggering missions just like the “fake heiress” trial subject had, helping him raise his charm stat.
【Shen Yuyan: “丶（一√一)，, okay then, I won’t bother you, big boss. Bye-bye.”】
After replying, Tang Song set down his phone and stared at the instance details for a bit.
Back to the main interface, he glanced over his personal info.
【Player: Tang Song (Charm 77)】
【Role: President of Songmei Fashion】
【Height: 184CM, Weight: 80KG】
【Constitution: 78, Endurance: 80, Agility: 73, Comprehension: 83】
【Asset Status:】
Balance: 96 million yuan (Total Investments: 504.5 million yuan)
“!” The light screen disappeared.
Tang Song casually picked up his coffee cup and took a small sip, the slightly cool liquid sliding over his tongue.
He set down the cup and directly opened Annie’s chat box, leaving a message: “My coffee’s cold. Brew me a new one—50% sugar, no milk.”
【Annie: “Oh God, I didn’t think you’d be such a pain.”】
Tang Song: slap.jpg
After a while—
【Annie: “Fine, I’ll make it. Only because I’m in a good mood today. But I might accidentally spill it all over your computer.”】
Apparently to boost the threat, Annie also sent a rather wild selfie.
Looking at the golden-haired, blue-eyed foreign chick in the photo, Tang Song didn’t feel the least bit deterred or annoyed—instead, he was even more fired up.
No doubt about it—Annie had seriously triggered his desire to conquer.
Which only made her more alluring.
“Ding—” The elevator opened slowly on the first floor of the building.
Shen Yuyan walked out of the glass doors, silently lowering her head, clutching her handbag.
Cold wind mixed with fine rain blew against her face. The sky was shrouded in dark clouds.
The entire world seemed veiled in a gray haze.
Which made her mood even gloomier and harder to describe.
She stood under the awning and pulled out her phone to call a car, but her gaze lingered on the endless curtain of rain outside the window.
Raindrops slid down the eaves, ticking softly as they fell, interweaving with her chaotic heartbeat.
After a while, a Buick New Energy vehicle with its hazards flashing stopped at the drop-off zone.
Shen Yuyan glanced at the plate, dashed into the rain, and got in the car.
She sat stiffly against the seat, her soaked hair clinging to her cheeks, looking both disheveled and exhausted.
Even now, her hands were still trembling uncontrollably.
Some emotion was surging up from deep within her heart, swallowing her last shred of composure.
To her, the sky had collapsed.
She was a proud and confident—almost arrogant—woman.
Back during the college entrance exams, she had fallen ill and missed her ideal score. Her family and teachers had urged her to retake the year—after all, with her ability, getting into a Double First-Class university was nearly guaranteed.
But she didn’t agree.
Why waste youth repeating dull exam drills?
College was just a starting point. True glory had to be earned.
She firmly believed that with her EQ, talent, and looks, even at an average university, she’d still be the center of attention.
And things went exactly as she’d expected.
Campus belle, student union president, strong alumni network, personal branding…
Every step she took shone brightly.
After graduation, she joined a Fortune 500 multinational, built her network, and eventually quit to start her own business.
Others might look down on Youjie Housekeeping, but to Shen Yuyan, it was her labor of love—her pride.
This identity gave her the confidence to introduce herself boldly at high-end events, to deal with people in the capital circle.
She even dreamed of earning Tang Song’s recognition and favor, becoming his business partner, rising step by step.
To finally touch those clouds just out of reach—to stand at the top, overlooking the world, meeting Director Jin, socializing with Ms. Ouyang.
But now, everything was falling apart.
Her dreams were about to shatter into illusions, her past efforts and persistence now seeming like cruel irony.
The fear, hatred, and fury in her heart drowned her, tangled around her.
She could barely breathe.
Wang Yubo, Ren Mingyuan, Hou Shaoyuan, Liu Kaili, Yu Renyu, Huang Yangming, Wang Huan, Gao Zhiyuan...
Each name that had once mocked her, suppressed her, bullied her, flashed through her mind.
Shen Yuyan clenched her fists, her teeth grinding with a crack.
“Just you wait! None of you are getting away!”
“Miss, we’re here,” the driver reminded her politely.
“Thank you.” Shen Yuyan replied, opened the door, and got out.
The rain had stopped outside. She stood between the buildings and looked up at the skyscraper towering above.
Then stepped into the Grand Hyatt Jin Mao Hotel.
Took the elevator back up to the executive suite on the 82nd floor.
Gazing out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the city’s glittering skyline, Shen Yuyan lightly touched the cold glass with her fingertips.
She turned around and started packing her luggage and checking out of the hotel.
Over half an hour later.
Shen Yuyan dragged her suitcase into the All Seasons Hotel by the Suzhou River.
Since the National Day holiday had ended, the room prices had dropped a bit—just over 500 yuan, which was the maximum she could usually accept for business trips.
Of course, the real reason she chose this place was because it was only a little over 200 meters from Suhewan Overseas Chinese Town, where Tang Song was staying.
After checking in, Shen Yuyan called to book a restaurant and sent the location to Tang Song. Then she immediately rushed into the mall opposite the hotel to start shopping for “gear.”
4:30 PM.
Shen Yuyan returned to her hotel room, took a nice hot shower, carefully did her skincare, shaved, styled her hair, did her makeup, and spritzed on some perfume.
Notably, she chose a fragrance she used to wear often during her time at Sky School. It wasn’t expensive, but it smelled amazing—
with a light citrusy tangerine scent, fresh but not overly sweet, with an elusive note that lingered gently.
To make her eyes more vibrant and expressive, she wore a pair of daily disposable colored contacts. Her reflection in the mirror instantly gained a youthful glow.
Then she put on the outfit she’d so carefully picked out, one piece at a time.
Outside, the sky was gradually darkening. Evening wrapped the city in its cloak, and the street lights began to glow.
Shen Yuyan stood in front of the mirror, examining her reflection.
Hairstyle, makeup, accessories, outfit…
Everything was flawless, totally her style from her university days.
The only difference might be her aura.
“Tang Song, have you ever felt something for me?”
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, a fresh, sweet smile was already on her face.
At this moment, she had entered battle-ready mode.
.......
As 7 PM approached.
Suhewan Overseas Chinese Town.
“Riiing—” the phone rang.
Tang Song glanced at the screen and answered with a smile, “Hello? Yuyan.”
“Hey, Tang Song, how’s it going?” Shen Yuyan’s voice was sweet, slightly different from usual.
“Just got changed and was about to head out. Are you there already?”
“Nope.” Shen Yuyan paused, a teasing tone in her voice. “Guess where I am? Guess right and there’s a reward~”
Tang Song raised an eyebrow and thought for a second. “Overseas Chinese Town?”
“Bingo! We really are in sync, haha. I’m by the southeast gate of the complex—I saw your location and this spot is the closest.”
“What’s the reward?”
“You’ll know when you get here, haha~~”
They teased each other for a few more lines before hanging up.
Tang Song’s self-light gleamed slightly. He could clearly feel that Shen Yuyan was unusually proactive and enthusiastic today.
She had been pretty forward before too, but always with a layer of restraint and poise—like only sending WeChat messages or selfies, never this direct or bold.
It made him even more curious what had happened to her.
Throwing on his coat, Tang Song stepped out with a light pace.
Since there’d definitely be drinks tonight, he figured he wouldn’t drive.
In the second-floor lounge, Annie was sprawled on the sofa, a laptop in front of her, lazily tapping on the keyboard.
Notably, she was only wearing underwear on her lower half.
Hearing his footsteps, she looked up. “Dressed so sharply—off to meet a pretty girl?”
"Yes."
Hearing that, Annie deliberately unbuttoned two buttons on her shirt, revealing a deep cleavage.
Leaning forward slightly, her voice low and seductive: “Song, if you cancel that date tonight, I promise—you’ll get something even better.”
Tang Song smiled, walked up, pinched her cheek, looked her in the eyes, and said calmly, “But I can have it right now, can’t I?”
As he spoke, his hand slowly moved downward.
Annie's breathing grew heavy. She licked her lips, her eyes flashing with a dangerous, eager glint.
She suddenly stretched out her long leg to kick him—but Tang Song, expecting it, caught her easily.
The two horsed around in the living room for a while until his phone vibrated in his pocket again.
【Shen Yuyan: “Still not here? Don’t tell me you got lost? (#coveringmouthlaugh)”】
Clearly, the campus belle was getting anxious.
Tang Song casually gave the foreign chick a light slap and turned toward the elevator.
He walked through the greenery in the complex toward the main gate.
A familiar figure gradually came into view.
White camisole top, khaki pleated skirt, white sneakers, layered with a light gray knit cardigan, and a beige canvas bag slung over her shoulder.
Shen Yuyan stood quietly by the roadside, holding a book in her hands.
The streetlights cast a gentle glow on her, outlining a soft silhouette.
This version of Shen Yuyan looked exactly like the campus belle who had stepped out of their college years—
radiating a sweet and refreshing aura.
Tang Song’s heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.
Having just experienced the memories of 2017 and 2018 in his dream, he felt especially familiar with that version of Shen Yuyan.
Those long-buried feelings quietly resurfaced, stirring within him.
Back in college, during that hormone-charged phase, aside from the “dream state,” he was just an ordinary student.
To say he had zero feelings for the center-of-attention campus belle—he’d be lying to himself.
Even his later approach toward Xu Qing was somewhat tinted by youthful romance filters.
Tang Song took a deep breath and walked toward her.
At the same time—
Above her head, a crisp bullet comment popped up:
【Why isn’t he here yet?? It’s so cold, I can’t keep up this act much longer!】
Shen Yuyan’s long, bare legs rubbed together slightly as her eyes glanced furtively toward the gate.
Just in time to spot a tall, handsome figure.
Her gaze trembled, lips parted. For some reason, she suddenly felt like crying.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“It’s okay.” Shen Yuyan bit her lip, clutching her book tighter. “I’m just glad you came. I was afraid you’d stand me up.”
“You look just like you did in college today. Beautiful. But you must be freezing, right?”
Shen Yuyan exhaled softly and tried to sound casual. “It’s a date with you, of course I had to dress up a little. As long as you like it.”
Seeing the school belle act this humble stirred something in Tang Song. “Let’s go. Let’s head to the restaurant first.”
“Mhm, okay~” Shen Yuyan nodded, hailed a taxi, and nudged Tang Song to get in first.
Then she lightly smoothed her skirt and cheerfully hopped in after him.
Thunk—the door closed.
Shen Yuyan placed her canvas bag on her lap and handed over the book in her hands. “Here, your reward.”
Tang Song took it and glanced at it—it was Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari, a book he had skimmed in an online book list before.
Shen Yuyan smiled sweetly. “This is a book I’ve really loved lately. I just finished it while here in Modu—wanted to share it with you.”
“Thanks.”
The car headed toward the Bund.
The fresh scent of her perfume wafted over. Shen Yuyan shifted slightly, scooting closer to him. She stretched out her pale fingers and casually flipped through the book, introducing some of its thoughts on human society’s rapid evolution.
Her tone, her gestures, her expressions—all were just like that campus belle from back then.
Bullet comments:
【He’s looking at me but not saying anything. Does he think I’m trying too hard with my outfit and words?】
【Does he dislike me? Should I tone it down a bit?】
The restaurant Shen Yuyan had reserved was in the northern part of the Bund Financial Center, very close to Overseas Chinese Town.
It only took about ten minutes to reach their destination.
It was a two-star Michelin restaurant, with an average spend of over 2,000 yuan per person, specializing in refined and luxurious Italian seafood dishes.
They sat by the window, and through the floor-to-ceiling glass, the rain-washed night view of the Bund sparkled beneath them.
The shimmering Huangpu River, lit by city lights, gleamed as it reflected the surrounding skyscrapers—romantic and breathtaking.
“This is the whole shrimp and caviar tart. The flavors are layered, rich, and delicate. You should try it—this one was especially recommended online. They say the chef spent a whole year developing it.”
"Three styles of foie gras, this one’s the kumquat foie gras terrine, and that’s the cherry foie gras…”
As Shen Yuyan explained, she used her fork to pick up a small piece and placed it on Tang Song’s plate with elegant, perfectly timed motions.
She reached for the champagne bottle, turned her wrist slightly, and smoothly poured a glass for each of them.
The crystal-clear liquid fizzed softly with delicate bubbles in their glasses.
Shen Yuyan beamed like a flower. “Come on, let’s toast to our reunion in Modu.”
Her tone was light and natural, as if this were nothing more than a simple get-together between friends.
Bullet comment: 【No matter what I say, I can’t expose my anxiety and longing too eagerly. I only have one chance—I must seize it.】
Clink~ Their glasses touched gently.
Shen Yuyan then launched into conversation, starting from “university life,” moving to “artificial intelligence,” and extending to “the finance sector.”
Unlike Xiaoxue, she clearly belonged to the emotionally composed type—only occasionally would a “Whisper” be triggered:
【Why didn’t I notice how special he was back in university? He was Lu Ziming’s roommate—I saw him several times.】
【Maybe I was too snobbish back then. I thought people who didn’t stand out weren’t worth paying attention to. Such a pity!】
【How should I respond? When he mentioned ‘founder traits,’ was that a compliment or a hint? Don’t show weakness, Shen Yuyan!】
【Was what I just said too transactional? Did it sound like I was trying to sell myself?】
【The priority now is to raise my value in his eyes!】
Tang Song quietly played the role of the 【Observer】.
He could feel Shen Yuyan’s urgency, her restraint, and also her ambition and nerves.
But he never tried to steer the conversation or ask what she was going through. He just watched her calmly like an outsider.
In doing so, he gained a much deeper understanding of this former campus belle.
No wonder Qingqing had her saved in contacts as “Scheming Yan”—this school belle had so many thoughts running under the surface, completely the opposite of Silly Qing.
9 PM.
They walked out of the restaurant.
The night was dark as ink. The city’s neon lights flickered in the distance, casting a dreamy glow.
They got into a car that had been pre-arranged and returned to Suhewan Overseas Chinese Town.
Shen Yuyan got out too, standing just outside the entrance. The air felt a little tense.
Tang Song turned and asked, “By the way, where are you staying?”
Shen Yuyan raised a hand and pointed northeast. “Just a few hundred meters over at All Seasons Hotel. Tang Song, we just ate—why not take a walk and help digest, plus walk me there?”
“Sure, let’s go.” Tang Song smiled and nodded, then followed alongside her, stepping onto the damp sidewalk.
A recent autumn rain had left the air moist, and the evening breeze rolled in.
Shen Yuyan seemed really cold. She suddenly shivered and stomped her feet.
Tang Song glanced at her, then took off his coat and gently draped it over her shoulders. “You’re cold, huh? I told you you wore too little.”
Feeling the warmth and faint masculine scent from the coat, Shen Yuyan’s cheeks turned slightly red. She said softly, “Thank you.”
In that moment, all her emotions came from the heart.
At her most vulnerable, most painful moment, having someone to eat and chat with really did ease her heart a bit.
She never denied her feelings for Tang Song—no matter how many external factors were mixed in, the fondness was genuine.
Rejecting Wang Yubo, and not even willing to entertain him casually, was also because of Tang Song.
“You don’t have to thank me. You came to get me today and treated me to a fancy dinner. I should be the one thanking you.” ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel★fire.net
Shen Yuyan looked up slightly, eyes landing on Tang Song’s handsome profile under the streetlamp, then suddenly made a move: “Being able to treat my heartthrob to dinner makes me really happy.”
Tang Song raised an eyebrow. “The school belle’s mouth is really sweet.”
Shen Yuyan tilted her head and pouted her rosy lips. “But you’ve never tasted it—how do you know if it’s sweet or not?”
She seemed a little drunk. Her words were slightly slurred, sounding both playful and serious.
Hearing that, Tang Song abruptly stopped walking, his gaze locking sharply onto hers.
“Thump-thump—”
Shen Yuyan’s throat bobbed. She could almost hear her own heartbeat. She instinctively held her breath and looked into his eyes.
【Tang Song! Come closer!】
【Kiss me! Hurry up and kiss me! Should I be more proactive? But would that seem too desperate?】
They stared at each other silently for five full seconds.
Just as Shen Yuyan was about to lose control—
Tang Song suddenly looked away and said calmly, “I can tell just by looking.”
Shen Yuyan froze. A surge of indescribable pain flooded her chest.
She had been rejected.
【Is it because I’m not good enough? Or does he just not care about me at all?】
【Heh… Youjie Housekeeping has failed. I’m a failure. What right do I have to expect him to make the first move?】
【No—I can’t think like this... Shen Yuyan, you have to stay calm.】
Footsteps echoed again in the night. The All Seasons Hotel drew closer.
Shen Yuyan suddenly stopped and looked down at her white sneakers.
Above her head, bullet comments flew wildly:
【Why? Lin Muxue could, Wen Ruan could, Xiao Jing could—why can’t I, Shen Yuyan?】
【Sorry, Silly Qing.】
【Shen Yuyan, you really are a btch—wanting to betray your best friend while making excuses for yourself!】*
【Heh, I’ve always been selfish!】
【But what can I do? I’ve got no way out. I don’t have much time left.】
【He’s already rejected me once. If I lose this chance, he’ll only drift further away.】
【I’m not willing—really, I’m not!】
Tears gradually blurred her vision. Her shoulders trembled.
Tang Song pursed his lips, gently patted her on the shoulder. “What’s wrong, Yuyan?”
“Maybe I drank too much champagne… some things… once you think about them, it just really hurts.”
“Tell me. You can talk to me.” Tang Song looked at this School Belle Shen with a complex expression.
She was far more layered than she appeared.
Pride and fragility coexisted. Ambition tangled with dignity. These traits made her both alluring and dangerous.
And it was this contradiction that seemed to be her most captivating quality.
Shen Yuyan took a deep breath, looking up at him. “Actually, I’ve always wanted to sincerely say sorry to you.”
“Back then during Youjie Housekeeping’s angel round, I promised Qingqing I’d have a real talk with you. But I… I didn’t take it seriously. I didn’t even try to understand your situation and ended up making the wrong choice.”
“Now I’m reaping what I sowed. Youjie Housekeeping is in a deadlock. Our two years of effort as a startup team have gone down the drain. Honestly, I really regret it.”
“I know you must have at least some resentment in your heart. It’s my fault. I was arrogant, shortsighted. I hope you can forgive my ignorance back then.”
Tang Song shook his head slightly. “Everyone makes mistakes. It’s normal. And you don’t owe me an apology. That decision was your team’s.”
“Thank you for understanding, Tang Song.” Shen Yuyan took a half step forward and gently hugged him. “Do you think… I still have a chance?”
The bullet comments turned red:
【Please, give me a chance! I don’t want to lose. I can’t lose!】