novelraw Chapter 539: Zhang Yan’s Photo, Little Umbrella’s New Task
Chapter 539: Zhang Yan’s Photo, Little Umbrella’s New Task
October 10, 2023, Tuesday.
Modu, Hongqiao Airport.
After smoothly completing the boarding procedures, Shen Yuyan sat in the window seat and glanced at the time on her wrist.
[9:50]
There were still 20 minutes until the flight took off.
Looking at the sky above Modu outside the window, a faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
She recalled the moment when she had just arrived in Modu—ambitious, nervous, fearful…
But now, her heart was filled with boundless ambition.
This game with Gongying Technology and Wang Yubo was undoubtedly the biggest challenge of her life—
even more suffocating than her failure in the college entrance exam.If Tang Song hadn’t appeared, if he hadn’t reached out a helping hand,
then what awaited her would not have just been the collapse of her career.
It would’ve been a life entangled in debt, legal disputes, and utter hopelessness.
Shen Yuyan closed her eyes. If she had really just been a pure grassroots entrepreneur,
would she have bowed her head to Wang Yubo in the face of capital’s crushing force?
The answer didn’t matter.
She just wanted to pierce the enemy’s heart with a blade.
Next, she would start withdrawing from Youjie Housekeeping—of course, only after ensuring the company didn’t completely collapse.
After all, the company still had so many employees, and the platform had so many full-time and part-time domestic workers. As General Manager, she had responsibilities and obligations.
Youjie Housekeeping might be facing a cash flow crisis because of the second round of investment funds,
but that was because they had been continuously expanding their branches.
As long as they cut their losses in time, shrink operations, and retreat to the surrounding areas of Yancheng,
they could still maintain normal operations and remain profitable.
As for the so-called “betting agreement,” it wasn’t something that could be executed in the short term.
Even if Gongying Technology went all out, it would still take at least three to four months to meet the conditions.
In the past, she might not have been able to resist.
But now, it was different.
She was Tang Song’s Special Assistant, a mid-to-senior manager at Rongliu Capital, backed by a private equity firm managing billions in assets.
Take the “betting agreement” for instance—she could totally leverage the top law firms to buy Youjie Housekeeping more time for a legal tug-of-war.
And during that time, she would fully immerse herself in Tang Song’s circle, meet his partners, get familiar with his business landscape,
and become an indispensable part of it.
By then! The resources and connections she’d hold would be unimaginable.
Gongying Technology? She’d crush them outright!
At the thought, Shen Yuyan’s chest rose and fell violently, her face flushed, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit indecent.
She bit her rosy lips, picked up her phone, tapped the screen, and left a message for Tang Song:
“Tang Song, your Lamborghini has already been shipped to Yancheng. I just boarded the plane. See you in Yancheng (#playful).”
After the message was sent, there was no reply for quite a while.
Shen Yuyan felt slightly helpless.
Ever since they parted ways the night before last, Tang Song’s attitude had suddenly turned cold.
He replied to messages very slowly, said he was busy when asked out for meals, and didn’t say a word about her leaving Modu—
She wasn’t sure if it was intentional, perhaps some subtle form of “PUA.”
But if that were true, she’d rather believe it was Tang Song showing he cared and trying to take control.
She never minded bowing her head to a strong man.
“Dear passengers, welcome aboard this flight from Modu to Yancheng…”
A gentle reminder came through the broadcast.
Shen Yuyan put her phone away and fastened her seatbelt.
Soon, a powerful thrust came from behind as the plane slowly ascended, and her view rose with it.
Through the porthole, Modu’s skyline shrank into the distance. The skyscrapers became miniature like pieces on a chessboard, eventually disappearing into the heavy clouds.
The moment the plane broke through the cloud cover, dazzling sunlight poured in. Golden clouds rolled beneath like an endless ocean.
In the distance, the blazing sun hung in the sky, illuminating the cabin with brilliance.
Looking down at the magnificent scene, Shen Yuyan’s heart surged with emotion.
Suddenly, she thought of Anne Kate—that powerful, elegant, commanding American top-tier heiress, tycoon, and socialite.
She was the most commanding woman Shen Yuyan had ever seen.
Her gaze burned bright, growing more determined by the second.
“One day, I’ll stand at that height and look down on everything too!”
Anne Kate—that was her goal!
…
Suhewan Overseas Chinese Town
In the open-concept kitchen on the first floor.
“Song… I think I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
Anne’s voice had lost its usual haughty and lazy tone.
Tang Song opened the fridge and pulled out a soda, chugging it down.
Anne’s chest rose and fell sharply, every breath trying to calm her inner panic.
Her gaze involuntarily fell on Tang Song’s bare abs—those eight sharply defined muscles looked like they were carved, gleaming with a healthy sheen under the morning light,
even with fine beads of sweat slowly trickling down.
Footsteps approached.
Tang Song stood before her, looking down at her from above.
“You really suck.”
Anne visibly stiffened.
His gaze was scorching and full of dominance—it sent a shiver through her.
Anne bit her lip. “Fine, fine… you win. You always win.
Just… let me off this time. I need rest. Really.
If you want, go find Mo. I’m sure she wouldn’t turn you down.
But you can’t go to Su. You need to know, if you really do that, Mira will go crazy with jealousy.
At the very least, you should pacify her first.”
The cornered foreign chick started diverting Tang Song’s attention to other women.
She had just come to the kitchen for some fruit and ended up getting caught—god knows how loud she screamed at the time.
Hearing her words, Tang Rong’s heart involuntarily skipped a beat.
But on the surface, he maintained his strong, cold facade.
He’d used two [Recovery Potions] over the past two days.
Yet Anne’s branch task still wasn’t completed.
Clearly, this “American top-tier Alpha” was still stubborn at heart.
A personality formed over a lifetime wasn’t so easily overturned.
It gave him a real headache.
“You really let me down!”
Tang Song couldn’t help but pat her.
“You can’t treat me like this! Song, I thought you were a gentleman!”
Anne glared fiercely at him.
Then turned away, trying to preserve a bit of dignity.
Clearly, she was on the verge of breaking down.
Seeing her like that, Tang Song couldn’t help but smirk. He leaned in and kissed her lips.
Anne let out a soft hum, then obediently wrapped her arms around his neck,
relishing Tang Song’s first moment of tenderness.
In the quiet first floor of the villa, only soft noises could be heard.
After a long while, Tang Song stood up and headed for the stairs.
“I’m leaving Modu today. We probably won’t see each other for a while.
Anne, I hope you take some time to remember the past two days we spent together.”
Watching his departing back, with the scratch marks she had left on his back,
Anne licked her dry lips and slowly stood up, both hands on the kitchen island.
Her golden hair clung messily to her forehead, a few damp strands trailing down her cheeks, Google seaʀᴄh N0velFire.ɴet
framing her sweat-drenched, flushed face.
Scene after scene flashed before her eyes.
This man… was almost unbeatable.
Her sapphire eyes shimmered with complex emotions—
a mix of unwillingness, fear, and awe, tinged with a subtle excitement.
These two days had been way too “surreal” for her.
To her, it was honestly a kind of “humiliation,” even a blow to her identity.
If it hadn’t been Tang Song, if it weren’t for Mira’s warning,
she probably would’ve done something drastic.
3:00 PM.
A speeding high-speed train.
Inside the luxurious business-class carriage, a faint fragrance lingered in the air, and the lighting was soft and warm.
Tang Song leaned back in a dark red leather seat, posture upright yet relaxed, his square-framed glasses adding a touch of elegance.
In his hands was a thick copy of Being and Time, his gaze focused, occasionally frowning in thought or smiling faintly.
To him, reading during travel was a rare enjoyment.
Compared to planes, high-speed business class was undoubtedly more suitable for immersive study.
It was quiet and comfortable, letting him escape the outside noise and truly settle into reading.
Tick, tock.
A uniformed attendant approached him and said softly,
“Excuse me, sir. This train is expected to arrive at Yancheng Station at 18:57. We have about one hour left. Would you like to have your meal now?”
Tang Song looked up and nodded politely. “Sure, thank you.”
After casually choosing a set meal, he closed his book and placed it on the fold-out table.
He stretched comfortably.
Outside the window, the sky was painted with a brilliant orange-red hue. Clouds floated like wisps of silk, and the distant mountains were cloaked in golden twilight.
After admiring the scenery for a while, the meal he had ordered arrived.
Tang Song enjoyed the food as he picked up his phone and unlocked the screen.
Soon, the messages in the QQ group popped into view.
In the internal chat group of Songmei Fashion, the employees were actively discussing their latest livestream performance.
Ever since He Yiyi and Bei Yuwei appeared together on screen for the second time, the livestream room had hit another peak.
This time, they were well-prepared and managed to catch this wave of traffic steadily.
Sales performance had been soaring daily over the past few days.
After browsing through the messages with a smile and replying to a few, Tang Song’s mind stirred slightly.
He switched to his alternate account “April,” and sure enough, aside from the unread fan group messages from 【Qingqing Eats Too Much】, there were also unread messages from Zhang Yan.
Two of them this time.
Tang Song tapped open the chat window, and a long message from four days ago appeared on the screen—
last Friday night.
She seemed to be used to messaging this account around this time.
【Zhang Yan: “Tonight, Lulu and I finally had the hot pot we’d been craving, though it was in my rental apartment.
As I’m typing this message to you, I can still smell the rich tomato broth.
Today was the last day of the holiday. I’m glad I didn’t have to work overtime—I got a lot of meaningful things done:
Asked Li Chao to help replace the temperamental hallway light (no more fear of tripping);
Under Lulu’s strong persuasion, I took Hanfu portraits (my favorite is the Tang-Song style, I even wore a wig to make it look better, photo attached—this was my first time trying this look, finally fulfilled a little wish);
Finished reading a book about Song Dynasty customs, my favorite part was the description of Bianjing’s night market: ‘Bright as day, silhouettes bustling’ (suddenly felt like Yang City’s nights might be just as lively);
Juzi has gotten a bit rounder, and when it sprawls across my legs, it’s a heavy little ball. It’s got a great appetite now, needs a full bowl of cat food every meal.
Luckily, I have a job now, so feeding it isn’t a problem.
It reminded me of the second half of our ninth-grade year—back then you used to bring walnut milk to school every day. Because of you, I gained eight pounds in three months.
I think it must be very happy now.
Autumn in Yang City isn’t as noticeable as up north, but you can still feel a slight chill.
It must be colder where you are? Keep warm.”】
【Zhang Yan: portrait.jpg】
Tang Song read Zhang Yan’s message carefully, then opened the photo.
In the picture, she was wearing an elegant Tang-style embroidered skirt, standing in front of a circular moon gate.
Her hair was gently tousled by the breeze, her flowing skirt cascading like water.
Like a lady from an ancient painting leaning against a railing, gazing into the distance, she radiated serene timelessness.
Tang Song’s gaze wavered slightly.
His fingers unconsciously brushed the screen, as if trying to touch the figure standing in the twilight of Yang City.
In those suddenly reawakened memory fragments of 2017, 2018, her silhouette would occasionally appear.
But even so, this was the first time in six years he had seen Zhang Yan’s face.
Compared to how she looked in his memories, she seemed more mature.
But of course, still as quiet as ever.
The hot pot aroma, the replaced hallway light, the Hanfu shoot, the book on Song-era customs...
These little life details gave him a vivid sense of her presence, of a real and vibrant life.
They also made him realize with startling clarity—this middle school friend of his was living somewhere in Yang City.
Then, his gaze returned to words like “ninth grade,” “milk,” and other keywords.
The floodgates of memory opened, and long-forgotten moments rushed back.
Back then, with the high school entrance exam approaching, his mom used to stuff a bag of walnut milk into his backpack every day to “nourish his brain.”
He didn’t like sweet drinks, so he always secretly gave the milk to his deskmate, who only ate a single bun for lunch.
She always refused at first, then quietly blushed and whispered, “Thank you.”
Tang Song was flooded with emotions.
“Sir, is the meal not to your liking? Would you like me to bring you something else?”
The attendant’s gentle voice snapped him back to reality.
“No, thank you.”
“All right, just call me if you need anything.”
Tang Song exhaled lightly, put away his phone, and picked up his chopsticks again.
Outside the window, the sky was gradually darkening. Lights flickered on in the distant villages, glowing faintly.
The train was slowly pulling into Yancheng.
Just then, a call came through from his driver, Liu Jiayi.
......
The first thing Tang Song did after returning to Yancheng wasn’t to go cuddle Snowball,
but to head straight for Yanjing Tiancheng, take a shower, and change into fresh clothes.
He had no choice—when he left the Overseas Chinese Town at noon, the foreign chick had been too enthusiastic.
Her perfume clung to him like vines, impossible to shake off.
Tang Song might be a scumbag, but he still knew how to be considerate of his girlfriend’s feelings.
They hadn’t seen each other for half a month—he missed his “wings,” too.
Especially the ever-flirty Wen Ruan. That seductress was too much—she needed to be taught a lesson!
Luckily, he had taken a [Recovery Potion] earlier that morning before messing with Anne,
so his body was still in peak condition.
Thinking about the three remaining “miracle drugs,” Tang Song felt a bit of a headache.
More girlfriends meant more people to take care of, and his stock was running low!
Once everything was settled,
Tang Song drove the Bentley Continental GT toward Shengyuan Scenic Residence.
On the way, he made a stop at a flower shop and carefully picked out a bouquet of red tulips.
By the time the Bentley reached the underground garage of the villa, it was almost 9 PM.
To better manage his time and avoid a war zone,
Tang Song hadn’t told anyone his exact return time.
In other words, tonight was a surprise attack on Big Sister.
Thinking about Wen Ruan’s reaction when she saw him, Tang Song couldn’t help but chuckle.
Fingerprint unlock, slippers on.
The living room glowed with warm ambient lighting.
Tang Song tiptoed up the stairs to the second floor.
The door to the master bedroom was ajar, with faint sounds of a drama coming from inside.
He pushed the door open and walked in.
In the bedroom, the projector screen hung down, casting a period drama across the wall.
Wen Ruan was sitting on the sofa in the lounge area.
Plump thighs, round peach-shaped hips, a slender waist, and full, perky breasts...
The tight gym clothes outlined her alluring curves perfectly—utterly captivating.
Though she had the same hourglass figure and loved working out like the foreign chick,
her vibe was completely different.
Wen Ruan’s figure leaned more toward “voluptuous sensuality,”
a mature, seductive kind of sexiness.
In contrast, Anne’s body was more “Western-style”—larger frame, tighter muscles, and more of a “fit-and-toned” sexy.
But the biggest difference was their aura.
Unlike the aggressive, icy-hot vibe of the foreign chick,
Big Sister was a classic Eastern mature woman—gentle and refined.
“Bzzzzz—” a loud vibration rang out.
Only then did Tang Song notice she was holding a massage gun, working it over her thigh.
She’d probably just finished a workout, her face was flushed, making her look even more bewitching.
His expression turned a bit strange.
They’d only teased each other on WeChat before—he didn’t expect Big Sister to be this wild.
All he could say was: truly worthy of the title “Grand Mage”!
Tang Song placed the tulips by the door, then crept closer.
The drama’s volume, combined with the buzzing of the massage gun,
meant Wen Ruan hadn’t noticed him at all.
But the ragdoll cat Snowball by her feet lifted its head and stared at him with sapphire eyes.
Snowball didn’t puff up or hiss—instead, it looked gentle and curious. Clearly, it was a very friendly and affectionate little cat.
Just like Zhang Yan’s Juzi.
The massage gun slowly traveled upward,
Wen Ruan shifted her hips and leaned back against the sofa.
“Meow~” Snowball let out a soft call.
“Snowball, don’t fuss, Mommy’s a little busy right now.”
Wen Ruan’s voice was lazy and indulgent,
her toes tapping the ragdoll’s belly as she kept her gaze focused on the massage gun’s path.
“Myaa~~ myaa~~”
Watching Big Sister fully absorbed like this, Tang Song’s lips curled into a mischievous grin.
He took a deep breath, silently crept up, then suddenly wrapped his arms around her from behind.
Fresh from her workout, Wen Ruan radiated warmth and fragrance.
Caught off guard, she let out a sharp scream: “Ahhh!”
The next moment, catching his scent and seeing that familiar hand, Wen Ruan immediately realized.
“Ow! Tang Song! You little b*stard, scared the hell out of me!”
As she spoke, she slapped his arm hard.
“What, wasn’t Big Sis just waiting for my message this whole time? Now that I’m here in person, this is how you welcome me?”
Wen Ruan’s cheeks turned slightly red, her smile sweet: “Who cares about you? You’ve been missing for half a month and didn’t even bother to reach out. I thought the foreign chick had drained you dry!”
Despite the words, her body told the truth—she leaned into his arms, her voice tinged with uncontrollable delight.
“Why’d you suddenly come back? And without saying a word.”
“I came to see you first thing in Yancheng—wanted to give you a surprise.” Tang Song buried his face in her neck and inhaled deeply: “Mm… still smells like you, Sis.”
“Hmph, at least you’ve got a bit of conscience left.” Wen Ruan gave a soft snort, her tone laced with a hint of playful complaint.
As they teased each other, Tang Song’s gaze landed on the massage gun on her thigh.
Wen Ruan froze!
Her face flushed, and she slapped his arm again.
“Hey hey hey! I just finished working out, I’m massaging my muscles! Don’t mess around!”
“My hands are steadier—let me do it for you.”
“Screw you! Aiyo! Let go of me!”
“Meow~” Little Snowball let out a spoiled mew.
“This is the ragdoll cat Su Yu gave you? What a cutie. Come here, Snowball, let Daddy give you a hug.”
Their conversation was interspersed with buzzing sounds and Snowball’s meows.
The bedroom instantly came alive with noise.
After a good while, the massage gun ran out of battery, and Tang Song stopped helping his girlfriend with her muscle massage.
Wen Ruan lazily leaned against him, her gaze drifting to the period drama on the projection screen.
Then she started talking about this afternoon’s work meeting.
With the help of Tangyi Precision, the Yanbei Printing Factory had officially completed its equipment upgrade and digital transformation.
They were currently providing comprehensive technical training for staff.
The entire factory was thriving.
Next, Wen Ruan excitedly chatted about the changes in her family—
the furniture and appliances at home had all been upgraded.
Her father had been promoted to Deputy General Manager of the printing factory and was planning to buy a new car.
Her mother had her eye on Wen Ruan’s retired pink Lynk & Co 06 and was working hard to get her license.
Her grandma’s health had significantly improved under the care of a professional medical team.
Outside, night deepened. Inside, the lights glowed softly, and the air was filled with sweetness.
Snowball seemed to sense its owner’s good mood, jumped onto the sofa, curled up between the two, and let out a satisfied purr.
Tang Song reached out to stroke its soft fur, then naturally wrapped his arm around Wen Ruan’s slender but strong waist, savoring the warmth and peace of the moment.
After a while,
Wen Ruan gently slipped out of his embrace, stretched lazily, and said in a languid, flirtatious tone: “Alright, I’m gonna go shower. You stay here and play with Snowball for a bit.”
But before she could take a step, she lost control of her body.
Tang Song scooped her up by the waist and kissed her lips with a grin.
“Let’s go together. I’ll scrub your back.”
Wen Ruan pursed her lips, a sly glint flashing in her eyes, and pinched his cheek.
She teased deliberately: “By the way, little bro, how many times do you still owe me? 9, right?”
Tang Song’s face froze instantly, his throat bobbing.
Trying to change the subject: “Uh… I can’t remember… I just got back from Modu. Let’s focus on more important things.”
Wen Ruan let out a sultry laugh.
“I heard from President Mo you visited Su Yu on set in Modu, right? And apparently even filmed some intimate scenes with her, so…”
Tang Song looked at Big Sister with a strange expression.
Wen Ruan pressed her fair fingers to the corner of his lips,
leaned close to his ear, and whispered with fragrant breath, “You know what to do now, right? Sis doesn’t want anything else—just wants to…”
As she spoke, she laughed so hard her whole body trembled like a flower in the breeze.
She radiated an indescribable seductive allure.
Tang Song’s mouth twitched, choosing not to comment on Big Sister’s twisted sense of humor.
Soon, the bathroom was shrouded in steamy mist, the mirror gradually fogging up.
Snowball waited loyally outside the door, tail swishing, letting out crisp “meow~” sounds from time to time,
curious about what was going on inside.
10:30 PM.
Two crisp system alerts suddenly rang in Tang Song’s ear:
“Ding! Special item 【Magic Umbrella】 durability has dropped to 0.”
“Ding! You’ve triggered the special mission 【A Gentleman’s Self-Cultivation】. Please go to the 【Mission Center】 to view.”
Tang Song paused slightly.
Didn’t expect the item’s durability to hit bottom again.
Wonder what kind of mission the little umbrella issued this time.
Tang Song leaned back against the bed’s headboard and opened the system interface.
Entered the【Mission Center】and checked the special mission details.
【Mission Objective: The little umbrella feels mentally and physically drained and wants more love. Please complete the following two challenges within 5 days.
Challenge ①: Receive a beautiful woman’s genuine first kiss voluntarily.
Challenge ②: Go on a simultaneous date with your 3 goofy girlfriends (Xiaoxue, Xiaojing, Xiaoqing), have them wear matching outfits and arrange a “coincidental encounter” with you. Spend at least 3 hours together, leaving a deep impression on each other.】
【Mission Reward: Durability +40】
【Note: The little umbrella (≥V≤) is laughing hysterically!】
After reading the mission description, Tang Song’s eyelid twitched violently.
Knew it! This little umbrella is a damn troublemaker!
F***ing perv!
The first challenge requiring a “first kiss” meant all previous kisses didn’t count—he’d have to find someone new.
And the second challenge... deeply offensive.
Sure, he was a scumbag, but he still cared about his girlfriends’ feelings.
This kind of manmade death match was just inhumane!
Also, what do you mean “goofy girlfriends”?! You better explain yourself, Little Umbrella!
Xiaoxue, Xiaojing, and Qingqing are all totally adorable, okay?!
But… thinking about it more carefully…
Fine, they are kind of goofy.
One Empress Muxue, and two anime girls.
Put them together, and the style would be nothing short of... surreal.