novelraw Chapter 559: Bus, Hotpot, and Fengzi
Chapter 559: Bus, Hotpot, and Fengzi
The Ducati V4S slowly came to a stop, its engine’s roar still echoing in their ears.
Qiuqiu, who had been clinging to Tang Song’s back, snapped out of her daze like waking from a dream.
She hastily let go of his waist and nimbly swung off the bike.
Her flexibility was excellent—she had a background in dance—making her movements pleasing to the eye, light and graceful like a cat.
Tang Song took off his helmet and glanced at the flustered Qiuqiu standing there awkwardly, smiling as he asked, “So? Not bad, right? My skills?”
“V-very professional,” Qiuqiu answered, her gaze drifting far off, ears tinged red. “Much better than mine.”
“Wanna try it out? You’re pretty good yourself.”
As he spoke, Tang Song’s gaze unintentionally swept over the tight lines of her pencil pants.
He had to admit—this designer friend of his had a killer figure.
Not exaggerated, but perfectly proportioned with curves and long legs—like a manga heroine come to life.His very first impression of her was that image of Qiuqiu riding a motorbike.
Qiuqiu hesitated, her eyes darting. “After you get it registered—anyway, there’ll be chances later. I, um… I need to use the restroom.”
With that, she lowered her head, clutching her crossbody bag tightly, and all but bolted from the scene.
Following the signs, she entered the women’s restroom and locked herself in a stall with a click.
Her breathing grew rapid.
In her ears, it was as if his voice still echoed—“Hold on tight. Sit steady.”
The warmth of his back, the lines of his muscles, the lingering heat of his hand—
All of it tangled together into a powerful, indescribable rush.
After a long moment—
She patted her chest and quickly sat down on the toilet.
Looking down, spotting faint traces on her clothes, she bit her lip hard.
It was the seventh time—and this time, the reaction had been much stronger than before.
For her, sensations like that rarely happened.
Thinking back to the overwhelming wave that had flowed from her waist to her chest to her heart—
She instinctively pressed her thighs together.
Overwhelmed with shame, she couldn’t lift her head, but deep down, a subtle delight bloomed.
Because it proved her condition was indeed improving.
She cleaned up slowly and exited the stall.
At the sink, she cupped warm water in her hands and splashed it on her face, trying to cool her burning skin.
A few minutes later, when she returned—
Tang Song had already taken off his riding gear. Because of the helmet, his hair was a bit tousled, giving him a laid-back, unbothered look.
Like the male lead in a high-end fashion campaign.
Their eyes met. Tang Song smiled faintly, and Qiuqiu quickly looked away, stepping up in front of him.
“Registering and transferring ownership will take half a day, and it's almost noon now. Let’s get some lunch? Any cravings?”
Though it was Saturday, some DMV offices still operated—just with longer wait times. Even with Hengda’s internal connections, it would still take five to six hours to finish.
Qiuqiu answered softly, “Whatever you feel like. I’m fine with anything.”
“Alright, come on. I’ll take you somewhere good.” Tang Song chuckled and didn’t say more.
Qiuqiu softly replied, “Mm,” and the two of them walked out side by side.
Tang Song pulled out his phone to check the route and suddenly laughed. “There’s a direct bus. And it’s almost here. Want to take the bus?”
Qiuqiu blinked, then nodded. “Sure.”
The bus arrived quickly.
It was a weekend afternoon, and the bus was fairly crowded—no empty seats.
Qiuqiu quickly scanned two ride codes and stood with Tang Song in the middle of the bus.
She held the strap with one hand, the other on her bag strap, eyes unconsciously drifting to the window.
A breeze blew in through the small cracks, lifting her orange-brown strands and brushing them against Tang Song’s nose.
There was a faint scent of neroli and the sweet freshness of shampoo.
Trying to steer the conversation, Qiuqiu took the initiative to talk about the packaging design ideas for HEYISTUDIO—and once she started, she went on and on.
Tang Song listened quietly, nodding and smiling from time to time.
As the bus entered the city center, more and more people got on.
Tang Song looked at the crowd, then subtly shifted to stand behind Qiuqiu.
His arms rested on the handles on either side of her, creating a small bubble of space just for her.
They were only a few centimeters apart.
Surrounded by his presence, Qiuqiu’s body tensed slightly.
A blush crept from her ears down her neck. Her words started to get tangled.
At the same time, a powerful sense of security warmed her heart.
From Tang Song’s angle, looking down, he could see the fine hairs on the back of her neck, her butterfly-shaped shoulder blades rising and falling with each breath, and the tension in her slim waist from nervousness.
Delicate, supple—like a finely tuned bow drawn to its limit.
The bus started again, its motion causing a light sway.
Bump, bounce; bump again, bounce again...
Qiuqiu’s face reddened even more, and she murmured, “S-sorry, the bus is kind of bumpy.”
“No worries.” Tang Song lowered his head and chuckled softly, “If you can’t balance, just lean on me.”
With that, he freed one hand and gently placed it on her lower abdomen—a natural and intimate gesture.
Thanks to years of yoga, her waist was incredibly supple. Under his palm now, it felt like warm silk—
Smooth, soft, addictive.
Tang Song couldn’t help but apply a little pressure, letting her lean back against his chest.
Because of her full curves, they didn’t completely press together.
Qiuqiu opened her mouth, but no words came. She just lowered her head, letting her heart pound wildly in her chest.
The bus moved with rhythm—stop, go, sway, sway—like a subtle melody drawing them closer.
Eventually, a seat opened up ahead.
But neither of them moved.
The autumn sunlight poured through the windows, falling on their shoulders—warm and lazy.
In the reflection on the glass, Qiuqiu caught a glimpse of their close, leaning figures—
Like a real couple.
“We’re here.”
A low, gentle voice spoke near her ear.
“Oh, okay.”
Qiuqiu snapped back to her senses and quickly followed Tang Song off the bus.
They strolled along the pedestrian street for a bit before Tang Song suddenly stopped. “We’re here. Looks familiar?”
Qiuqiu looked up—and saw the familiar sign.
[Chuanjiang Beef Tripe Hotpot]
She’d been here before—with Tang Song, Li Junyi, and the others during their motorcycle trip.
That night, before parting ways, this was where they’d eaten.
Since then, she’d sometimes sneak back alone to satisfy her cravings—it was one of her favorite, most authentic spots.
Tang Song glanced at her expression and said, half-smiling, “Last time we ate here, you said you’d treat me next time. Been quite a while, huh? Still haven’t paid up.”
“Ah! I’m so sorry!” Qiuqiu blurted out, flustered. “Th-then this time it’s on me!”
She’d actually kept that promise in mind, planning to fulfill it on their next ride out together.
But after she discovered Tang Song’s relationship with Gao Mengting, she’d started to distance herself, and that promise had been shelved ever since.
Tang Song smiled and raised his brows. “Alright then, I’m going all in today.”
“But if you eat too much, it’s bad for your body...” Qiuqiu blurted, then quickly added, “I-I don’t mean to be stingy! You can order anything you want!”
“Pfft—”
Tang Song couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“What?” Qiuqiu looked at him, confused.
“Nothing. You’re just… really cute.”
Qiuqiu’s mouth opened slightly, her entire demeanor becoming shy.
Cute??
Did he just call me cute?
Ever since her mental health started declining, no one had used that word to describe her.
“Come on. Time to keep that promise.” Tang Song smiled, tapped her shoulder, then naturally took her hand and led her inside.
It wasn’t peak dining hour yet, so the restaurant wasn’t too crowded.
They picked a window seat.
Tender beef tripe, freshly sliced beef, silky duck blood...
Everything dipped and swirled in the bubbling red broth, filling the air with savory aroma and steam.
Qiuqiu sat across from him, her cheeks tinted pink from the heat of the hotpot.
She lowered her head and focused seriously on dipping and cooking the food—as if performing a sacred ritual.
“This one’s best after seven seconds—perfect texture.”
“Try this beef—it’s super tender.”
She barely served herself, always picking out the perfectly cooked pieces and placing them in Tang Song’s plate.
Worried about the heat, she also ordered him a refreshing herbal tea.
Tang Song watched her quietly, his gaze tender.
Images of her from the dream realm surfaced in his mind.
That cautious girl with timid eyes, always hiding in the corner, waiting for affirmation, waiting for a hug.
He smiled and started cooking for her in return.
At first, Qiuqiu was a bit shy about it. But soon, she was eating heartily.
As they ate, their conversation flowed casually—
From trending posts on Xiaohongshu to Su Yu’s new movie release;
From HEYISTUDIO’s latest style changes to long-term brand positioning.
From design to daily life, from hotpot to work—the topics flowed effortlessly.
At some point, Qiuqiu completely relaxed.
Her smiles came more often, her eyes sparkled.
Above her, the [Dreamseed Blossom] shimmered softly, wrapping her in a gentle glow.
“Oh right, Qiuqiu, are you busy this afternoon?”
“Nope, I finished all my work.”
“Great. The weather’s nice today. After lunch, let’s take a stroll around.”
“Ah… okay.”
After a few seconds, it was as if Qiuqiu suddenly remembered something. She lowered her head and unlocked her phone.
The screen lit up, showing a quiet WeChat message lying there.
[Junfeng-ge: “Forget it about the bike. Don’t worry about it, go do your thing.”]
Qiuqiu’s lashes trembled. She pressed her lips together and hesitated.
Then she looked up at Tang Song sitting across from her.
Lowering her eyes again, she tapped a short reply on the screen: “Okay.”
After that, she put her phone away and didn’t look at the chat again.
She knew she was being cold—maybe even a bit cruel.
But she didn’t want Tang Song to misunderstand her. Not even the slightest bit.
…
In the middle of congested traffic,
An Audi A6L crept along, speeding up, slowing down, stopping and going.
Ding—
A new message popped up on the screen mounted to the dashboard.
[Qiuqiu: “Okay.”]
Seeing the half-hearted response, Gao Junfeng’s face immediately darkened.
“F**k! Gd dmn it!”
“Freakin’ love-brain! Tch!”
She’d made plans with him. They had years of friendship. He’d helped her with so much—school, life, everything.
He always thought—even if they weren’t a couple—they were at least the closest of friends.
But now? She saw he was angry and didn’t even bother giving a proper explanation?
For someone she barely even knew, she just left him hanging?
Completely ignoring him.
Straight-up love-brain behavior. Updates are released by novèlfire.net
He thought of the mocking look and smile on Tang Song’s face.
Gao Junfeng gripped the steering wheel tightly, fury roiling in his chest.
Just then, the car ahead suddenly slowed.
Gao Junfeng was distracted. When he looked up, the brake lights were already right in his face!
“Sh*t—!”
He slammed the brakes hard. The car jolted violently and barely stopped in time.
He gasped a few rough breaths, heart racing. Then he slammed his palm on the wheel in frustration.
Honk—
“F**k! Can you even drive?!” he snapped.
Honk honk—
The blaring of horns continued.
Next second—
The black SUV in front suddenly flung its door open.
Three burly men got out—shaved heads, tattoos, gold chains, insulated mugs in hand.
Their eyes? Murderous.
“Oh sh*t—” Gao Junfeng’s face went pale. He quickly stopped honking.
Frantically, he reversed a little.
Bang bang bang!
The window was knocked hard.
Gao Junfeng saw the three men right up against the glass and shivered. He rolled the window down a third of the way.
He forced a stiff, apologetic smile.
The one in front with the gold chain tapped his thermos against Gao Junfeng’s face. “You dumb f**k. Honk again, I dare you.”
Cold sweat broke out on Gao Junfeng’s forehead. He quickly grabbed a pack of Huazi cigarettes from the center console and offered them up. “Sorry, sorry, bro. My hand cramped, that's all…”
Seeing him so pathetic, the three men exchanged a look, said nothing, and returned to their car.
Only then did Gao Junfeng breathe a huge sigh of relief. He slumped in his seat, back soaked in sweat.
Tang Song, Cheng Qiuqiu, and now these street thugs—
This whole f**king day had been nothing but one humiliation after another.
The Audi A6L turned off the main road.
Gao Junfeng randomly picked a restaurant, ordered a set meal, and sat down.
Riiing— His phone buzzed.
It was Ding Furong, a college classmate.
Gao Junfeng hesitated, then picked up. His tone was indifferent. “Hello.”
“Hey, Feng-ge!” Ding Furong’s voice was nervous and polite. “You free right now? Is it okay to talk?”
Gao Junfeng took a sip of cola and replied coolly, “Go ahead. What is it?”
“It’s about what I mentioned before.” Ding Furong laughed awkwardly. “Man, job-hunting’s brutal these days. I’ve been out of work for over three months now. You’re killing it at Zhongcheng—could you hook your old buddy up with a job? I’ll take anything, really.”
Hearing that, Gao Junfeng’s eyes gleamed with calculation.
He knew Ding Furong all too well—
They’d been undergrad classmates, both majored in business management. Average ability, sweet talker.
No long-term vision. Jumped between jobs constantly. His resume was full of fluff.
But right now… he might be the “useful piece” Gao needed.
He’d already made up his mind to get rid of Zhang Lei from the sales department. Targeting a freshly hired employee directly could raise suspicions.
But if he “replaced” someone? That would look natural.
Besides, as Assistant VP now, he had enough sway in HR that no one would question it.
As long as he handled it discreetly.
He wasn’t afraid of just anyone—he was afraid of someone like Fang Yi.
And Tang Song, whether he liked it or not, did have ties to You Jing and You Chengye. Better to tread carefully.
A plan clicked together in his mind.
The corners of his lips curled into a smile, and his voice softened. “Alright, we’re old classmates. I got you.”
“Ay, awesome! Feng-ge, you’re the real MVP!” Ding Furong said excitedly.
Gao Junfeng chuckled, then added meaningfully, “But you know how it is. Zhongcheng’s no cakewalk. It’s all one seat per role. To get you in, I gotta pull some strings—and that comes with favors owed.”
Having been around the block, Ding Furong immediately caught the hint.
He replied quickly, “Got it, totally understood! Just name your price, Feng-ge. I’ll scrape together whatever I can.”
“Alright then. Wait for my call.”
After hanging up, Gao Junfeng smiled smugly.
Zhang Lei would be the first.
Tang Song, you’re next. Let’s take our time.
As he ate his set meal and idly scrolled through his phone, his mood began to improve—
Until a group message notification popped up and his expression instantly froze.
It was from a private WeChat group started by several young employees in the president’s office. They used it to order food and gossip. The vibe was always lively.
[Shan Tingting: “Did you guys hear? Apparently Director Tian is pursuing Supervisor Qin.”]
[Wu Tao: “Seriously? Weren’t they never really on good terms?”]
[Shan Tingting: “@Wu Tao, are you dumb or just playing dumb? Supervisor Qin’s dad is about to become a board member.”]
Gao Junfeng stared at the screen. Even his chopsticks froze.
It felt like someone had shoved his heart into a bucket of ice—it sank, and his breath grew heavy.
The “Director Tian” Shan Tingting mentioned could only mean Tian Guowen.
Tian Chengye’s nephew. Tian Jing’s cousin.
A top-tier Cambridge graduate. Barely over thirty and already a group VP, rising from a front-line finance role. One of Zhongcheng’s strongest candidates for future leadership.
Not only did he have a powerful background and an impressive résumé—he also had real capability.
And Supervisor Qin… was Qin Hua.
She was his target. His key to climbing the ladder.
And now someone was telling him that his “female boss” might already be in Tian Guowen’s sights?
His whole body went cold.
Sure, gossip at that level might not be reliable—but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
Tian Guowen and Qin Hua—one was true core management, the other a board member’s daughter and future power figure.
A perfect match.
And since they weren’t even in a direct reporting relationship, they could collaborate, link up—pure synergy.
If they really got together—
Then he, Gao Junfeng, wouldn’t even have a seat at the table.
Fengzi clenched his fists, body shaking with rage, on the verge of cracking.
His greatest rival had just leveled up—
From Tang Song… to Tian Guowen.
Because compared to Qin Hua—
Cheng Qiuqiu wasn’t worth sh*t.