novelraw Chapter 566: The Daily Life of a Beautician
Chapter 566: The Daily Life of a Beautician
Yunwu Private Space.
The 150-square-meter main dance studio was brightly lit, with classical music floating through the air.
"Okay, got it, Qianqian."
"Great, thank you, Wan Jie."
Zhao Yaqian took the phone and carefully reviewed the video just recorded.
In the footage, her movements were light and graceful, her eyes focused, and her transitions smooth—utterly beautiful.
A delighted smile spread across her face as she immediately shared the video with her boyfriend, her fingers tapping rapidly on the screen with a "click-clack" sound as she typed a message.
"So lovey-dovey, huh?" Li Wan teased with a laugh. "With all these videos and photos, your boyfriend won’t be able to focus on work at all."
Zhao Yaqian’s cheeks flushed slightly as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I just feel like I’ve finally 'achieved something' and wanted to show off a little."
Li Wan’s smile was sweet. "Qianqian, you really dance beautifully—and with such natural grace." "Hehe, not bad, right?" Zhao Yaqian stuck out her tongue playfully, clearly pleased.
It had been four full months since she first started learning dance.
At the beginning, she had been as stiff as a "steel rod," unable to even manage basic yoga poses, her body rigid as a plank.
But then, seemingly out of nowhere, something clicked. Her movements gradually became fluid and graceful.
Muscle memory took hold, her sense of rhythm improved, and it was as if some hidden talent had been ignited within her.
Everything she learned came easily, smoothly.
Now, she could effortlessly complete entire dance routines—even adding her own personal flair.
With a skill she could truly take pride in, her confidence had soared.
"Yunwu Private Space" was a dance studio catering exclusively to high-end female clients.
Over the past few months, Zhao Yaqian had gotten to know quite a few people here.
Li Wan was one of them—warm, outgoing, and the person she was closest to.
Li Wan smiled. "It’s almost 4 PM. Are you going to keep practicing?"
"Nope, I’ve done enough for today."
"Want to come to my shop for some afternoon tea?"
"Mm..." Zhao Yaqian hesitated slightly.
"Come on, Qianqian. My flower shop isn’t far, and I haven’t taken you there yet. It’s super cozy, and the tea is all handmade. Let’s go try it."
Li Wan took her hand, her smile sweet but her tone leaving no room for refusal.
"Alright, then. Thanks, Wan Jie."
"Don’t mention it. I genuinely consider you a friend. Let’s go change first."
As they chatted, they headed to the dressing room, changed into casual clothes, grabbed their bags, and left.
Since the studio was near the Yanjing Huating neighborhood, Zhao Yaqian had walked over and didn’t have a car. Discover more novels at ɴovelfire.net
The two went downstairs and got into Li Wan’s BMW X3.
About ten minutes later, they arrived at a quiet storefront in a residential area.
Though Zhao Yaqian had known Li Wan for a while, this was her first time visiting her shop.
It was called "Wildflower Residence," a boutique flower shop with warm, elegant decor.
Pushing open the glass door, a fresh floral scent greeted them.
Wooden display shelves held all kinds of fresh flowers, dried arrangements, and preserved floral art. In one corner was a cozy tea area.
"Wow, it’s so pretty," Zhao Yaqian marveled, her eyes lingering on the colorful blooms.
Li Wan chuckled. "I’m glad you like it. You can come by often."
The staff on duty quickly greeted them. "Boss."
Li Wan nodded and guided Zhao Yaqian to the sofa in the corner, where she personally brewed a pot of tea and brought out handmade macarons and fruit tarts from the back.
"Try these macarons—they’re limited-edition rose flavor."
She pushed the delicate desserts toward Zhao Yaqian.
"Thank you."
Zhao Yaqian took a macaron, snapped a selfie with her phone, and sent it to Tang Song.
Her message read: "Done with dance practice! Hanging out at a friend’s shop. Song Ge, what do you want for dinner? I’ll make a reservation online."
She also shared the flower shop’s location.
Though Tang Song was "busy with work" and they didn’t meet often, she made sure to update him daily on her whereabouts and plans.
*Munch munch munch—*
**[Song Ge: "Anything you want is fine. I’ll be with you."]**
Seeing the message, Zhao Yaqian’s face lit up with joy, and she sent back a "Love you" sticker.
Across from her, Li Wan’s eyes flickered slightly as she gently set down her teacup. "Qianqian, you know what? Your current life is truly enviable."
Zhao Yaqian looked up, blinking. "Hmm?"
"You’ve got love, money, someone who cherishes you, hobbies you enjoy—and now you dance so well." Li Wan’s tone was sincere. "Most importantly, your boyfriend is generous and supports what you love."
"Wan Jie, you’re too kind." Zhao Yaqian smiled faintly. "But... my boyfriend really is amazing."
"Of course." Li Wan chuckled lightly, a shrewd glint flashing in her eyes. "And you’re outstanding too. Beautiful in an elegant way, with this unique aura—like someone straight out of a movie."
"Wan Jie, you’re such a flatterer." Zhao Yaqian stuck out her tongue again, lowering her head sheepishly as she took a bite of a macaron.
"I mean every word..." Li Wan poured her more tea, showering her with compliments—not just about Zhao Yaqian herself but also her boyfriend and their relationship.
Zhao Yaqian’s smile never faded.
After a while, Li Wan shifted closer, adopting a more intimate tone. "Let me be honest with you, sis. A woman should still have her own career. While you’re young and in your prime, it’s good to build some assets of your own. Having a safety net is great, but having your own cards to play is even better. Don’t you think?"
Zhao Yaqian froze for a second, her heart skipping a beat, though her smile remained unchanged. "Wan Jie, what do you mean? I’m not sure I follow."
Li Wan seized the moment. "I’m working on a project in its early funding stage—very stable. It’s a sub-project under a citywide cultural tourism initiative, targeting customized services for mid-to-high-end women’s communities."
She pulled out a sleek brochure from her bag. "It’s in the early launch phase now, so the entry threshold is low, but the resources are highly targeted. The expected returns are excellent—around 25% to 40% annualized."
Zhao Yaqian listened quietly, her smile still in place but her eyes growing wary.
When Li Wan finally paused, she suddenly raised her teacup, her expression curious. "Wan Jie, this tea is really delicious. Did you blend it yourself?"
"Uh... yes, I did." Caught off guard, Li Wan faltered slightly.
"Do you sell it here? I’d love to buy some for my boyfriend."
Li Wan forced a smile. "We don’t sell it in the shop, but I can give you some as a gift."
"That’s too kind. Maybe you could just tell me how it’s blended, and I’ll try making it myself." Zhao Yaqian took a sip, her smile sweet as she looked at Li Wan.
Li Wan’s eye twitched. Suddenly, she realized she’d misjudged this "little canary."
Just then, the flower shop’s glass door opened softly, and a tall, well-built figure stepped inside.
"Welcome! How may I help you?" The female clerk at the front desk hurried over, her face flushing as she took in the man’s looks, her voice trailing off.
"I’m here to pick someone up." The man smiled, his gaze landing on the tea area in the corner.
Today, the beautician was dressed in semi-professional attire—a white blazer paired with a black pencil skirt and sheer stockings.
Sitting sideways, her wine-red wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her long, shapely legs gleamed faintly in the sunlight.
Hearing the familiar voice, Zhao Yaqian froze for a second before whipping her head around. "Song Ge! What are you doing here?!"
She immediately stood up and dashed over, throwing herself into his arms.
Tang Song caught her tall, curvaceous frame effortlessly, one hand gently stroking her back as a doting smile spread across his face. "I came to find you, of course."
"Thank you, Song Ge~ Mwah! I’m so happy!"
Li Wan, watching the sudden arrival, wore a stunned expression, her eyes widening slightly.
*This* was Zhao Yaqian’s "boyfriend"?
With her experience, she could tell Zhao Yaqian was being kept—but she’d never expected the benefactor to be this young and handsome.
Dressed in a custom Kiton suit, his posture was upright and balanced, his gaze calm yet sharp.
Objectively speaking, in terms of looks and presence, it was Zhao Yaqian who seemed out of *his* league.
This was nothing like what she’d imagined.
Taking a deep breath, Li Wan quickly adjusted her expression and walked over with a smile. "You must be Qianqian’s boyfriend. Hello, I’m Li Wan."
Tang Song released Zhao Yaqian and turned to her, responding politely. "Hello, I’m Tang Song."
The moment their eyes met, Li Wan’s heart inexplicably tightened.
What kind of gaze was that—deep, reserved, clear, and composed?
Just a simple glance, yet it felt like she’d been seen through entirely.
An unspoken aura quietly spread around him.
Having navigated social circles for years, Li Wan had met plenty of high-caliber individuals and had sharp instincts.
This kind of pressure and confidence wasn’t something money alone could buy—it was an innate sense of control, the bearing of a true "person of stature."
Even without speaking, he exuded an unbridgeable gap between them.
Li Wan swallowed hard, struggling to maintain her smile. "Nice to meet you."
Inside, she retracted all her little schemes and calculations.
"Wan Jie, my boyfriend’s here to pick me up, so I won’t trouble you any longer." Zhao Yaqian grabbed her bag, beaming.
"Oh, right." Li Wan snapped out of it, hurriedly walking to the tea area and pulling out an elegant gift box from a drawer. "Qianqian, since you liked my tea blend... take this new box home. Come back for more when you finish it—I’ve got plenty."
"Thanks, Wan Jie." Zhao Yaqian accepted it cheerfully, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "We’ll get going now."
"Let me walk you out."
Li Wan mustered her energy and held the door open, accompanying them outside—where a sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom waited quietly.
Beside the car stood a tall, sharp-eyed female driver with an imposing air.
Spotting the trio, she gave a slight nod and smoothly opened the rear door.
Zhao Yaqian waved at Li Wan and followed Tang Song into the back seat.
*Click.* The door shut.
*Vroom—* The Rolls-Royce’s powerful engine purred to life as the car pulled away smoothly.
Li Wan stood rooted in place, her palms clammy and her heart racing.
A belated fear gripped her.
If she’d truly tried to scam Zhao Yaqian into investing, the consequences would’ve been unthinkable.
Inside the serene Rolls-Royce cabin, Tang Song’s long fingers intertwined with Zhao Yaqian’s, their palms pressed together.
"Where do you want to eat, Qianqian?"
After a moment’s thought, Zhao Yaqian replied eagerly, "How about... Wanda? I haven’t had their steak buffet in ages."
Ever since her cousin Tingzi had taken her to Wanda after she first arrived in Yancheng, she’d been hooked on that steak buffet.
Back when she had a salary, she’d splurge there occasionally.
"No problem." Tang Song pinched her cheek affectionately and relayed the destination to Liu Jiayi.
When he turned back, he found the beautician staring at him unblinkingly.
The sunset’s glow streamed through the window, outlining her delicate profile, her long lashes casting faint shadows under her eyes.
Tang Song suddenly reached out, brushing his thumb gently over her brow.
Zhao Yaqian instinctively tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear but didn’t look away.
Their gazes locked, wordlessly conveying the tenderness in their hearts.
After a pause, Zhao Yaqian leaned up and kissed his lips lightly. "Song Ge, you’re the best."
The car moved through stop-and-go traffic.
Outside, the cityscape flowed past in a blur.
At some point, Zhao Yaqian rested her head on his shoulder, chattering about recent events.
"All the Yisha Beauty branches have been renovated, staff are in place, licenses sorted—we’ll start offering light cosmetic procedures next week..."
"Yurong Jie introduced me to some specialists. We checked out laser devices and micro-needling equipment—it feels like the whole industry is leveling up..."
"Lately, I’ve been learning traditional Huaxia dance and bought this gorgeous hanfu set..."
Her voice was sweet and lively, her legs swinging slightly when excited, her low-heeled shoes tracing little arcs in the air.
Tang Song listened quietly, interjecting occasionally.
Twenty minutes later, the Rolls-Royce entered Wanda’s underground parking.
Since it was still early and neither was particularly hungry, they decided to stroll around first.
Just past 5 PM on a weekday, the mall was sparsely populated.
Zhao Yaqian dragged Tang Song to the third-floor "Baby King" indoor playground, heading straight for the claw machine area.
The machines were stuffed with plush toys, cheerful music and lights creating a playful atmosphere.
After exchanging 50 yuan for game tokens, Zhao Yaqian planted herself in front of one machine, zeroing in on a pink-and-white rabbit plushie with determination.
"This time for sure... this time... one more try... Ugh, it slipped again!"
Her luck was abysmal—over 30 attempts, and the rabbit kept slipping away.
Tang Song took the controls with a laugh and snagged it effortlessly on his first try.
Zhao Yaqian pouted at first, accusing the machine of rigging, then gleefully hugged the plushie, bouncing like an excited kid.
After playing for half an hour, they took the elevator to the steak buffet Zhao Yaqian had been craving.
Same as before: a 399-yuan duo set.
Besides steak, there were hot dishes, fruits, ice cream, and desserts galore.
In the buffet area, Zhao Yaqian buzzed around like a busy little bee, her eyes sparkling as she piled their table high with food.
"Song Ge, what drink do you want?"
"This ice cream is amazing—tastes just like Häagen-Dazs. Try it!"
"Mm, the strawberries are so fresh today. Open up, say 'ah—'"
At 19, Zhao Yaqian had a surprisingly hearty appetite, but her first instinct upon tasting something delicious was always to share it with him.
Hearing him agree it was tasty made her eyes crinkle with happiness.
Soon, their sizzling Wagyu steaks arrived. Tang Song picked up his knife and fork, carefully cutting the meat into bite-sized pieces before sliding the plate to her.
Zhao Yaqian grinned goofily, murmured "Love you," and dug in enthusiastically.
Tang Song ruffled her hair fondly.
Though she’d matured a lot, he could still see traces of that naive, adorable beautician in her.
And wasn’t that a blessing?
They chatted and shared food for over an hour.
Only after some post-meal shopping did Zhao Yaqian start regretting how much she’d eaten, fretting about gaining weight.
She’d worked hard to slim down for dance.
To console her, Tang Song took her to the fifth-floor Wanda Cinema, buying a large bucket of popcorn and two icy sodas.
They picked a random animated movie.
True to form, the moment golden, buttery popcorn entered her hands, Zhao Yaqian forgot all her worries, brimming with energy again.
The theater was dim, the screen’s flickering light dancing across their faces.
Zhao Yaqian leaned against Tang Song, laughing uncontrollably at the movie’s comedic scenes.
Her long lashes cast delicate shadows under her eyes.
The fragrance enhanced by **[Glamorous Allure]** carried a sweet, warm afterglow—like honey warmed by sunlight—wrapped around her youthful vitality.
Mixed with the faint gardenia scent from her hair, it drifted into Tang Song’s senses.
Past 9 PM, they returned to the spacious penthouse at Yanjing Tiancheng.
After freshening up, the beautician mysteriously announced she had a surprise and vanished into the walk-in closet with her bag.
Tang Song sat on the master bedroom’s spacious sofa, gazing out the floor-to-ceiling windows at Yancheng’s starry nightscape.
Yet his mind replayed the day’s moments with the beautician.
He smiled, picked up a guitar from the stand, and strummed a casual melody, channeling his emotions.
After a while—
*Tap-tap-tap~* A playful, sing-song voice sounded behind him.
The beautician’s self-composed "entrance BGM."
Tang Song turned—and froze momentarily.
She’d changed into a unique hanfu, or perhaps a dance costume.
The silver-embroidered bodice accentuated her collarbones like crescent moons, her fair skin glowing like jade under the lights.
The high slit skirt swayed with her movements, revealing long, shapely legs, the fabric fluttering between classical elegance and modern allure.
Paired with vintage earrings and hairpins, the fusion of tradition and trend radiated charm.
*Tinkling~* The antique hair ornaments chimed softly.
Zhao Yaqian glided forward, stopping before Tang Song with a radiant, guileless smile.
Like a painting’s beauty who’d slipped out and gotten lost.
"Do I look pretty, Song Ge?"
She twirled, the hanfu’s skirt flaring, her 180cm legs tracing a graceful arc in the air—utterly mesmerizing.
"Extremely pretty." Tang Song nodded emphatically, his gaze tender. "Qianqian, you’re beautiful."
Zhao Yaqian’s cheeks pinked, her smile a blend of shyness and sweetness, her eyes starry.
"I learned a traditional dance. Want to see?"
"Of course."
Tang Song set the guitar aside, leaning back on the sofa, his eyes fixed on her lovingly.
Zhao Yaqian took a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes.
The room fell silent. Beyond the windows, Yancheng’s lights stretched like a galaxy, the occasional breeze rustling the curtains.
The soft lighting draped her figure in a dreamy haze.
Her dance was light as clouds, gentle yet powerful.
Like a spring breeze rippling a lake’s surface, or a summer rain—subtle yet stirring.
Without music, she moved to her own rhythm.
At times flowing like water, at others swift as a startled swan—every turn, every glance brimming with emotion.
The beautician before him seemed to have emerged from a cocoon, dancing freely in this space of light and shadow.
Tang Song watched, entranced, his eyes never leaving her.
Finally, the dance slowed to a stop.
Zhao Yaqian breathed lightly, a sheen of sweat on her forehead, her cheeks faintly flushed like a lotus blooming at dawn.
She turned, her eyes hopeful. "Did you like it, Song Ge?"
Instead of answering, Tang Song simply smiled warmly.
Then he picked up the guitar at his feet and cradled it.
His gaze, deep as the night, remained locked on her.
Zhao Yaqian blinked, her eyes gradually widening, her heartbeat quickening.
*Plink-plunk~*
The guitar’s gentle prelude flowed like a murmuring brook through the room.
Warm and heartfelt, carrying unspoken emotions.
As the intro ended, Tang Song’s clear, magnetic voice rose—
Like a night breeze skimming a lake.
**BGM: "Books always write about evenings beyond expectations,
Riding bicycles and conversations between him and her..."**
Zhao Yaqian’s lashes fluttered as if struck by something profound.
Tang Song stood, stepping close until barely any space remained between them.
His eyes held hers.
**BGM: "Slowly falling for you, slowly growing intimate,
Slowly sharing ourselves..."**
Zhao Yaqian’s teeth lightly caught her lower lip, her eyes glistening.
Suddenly, a crisp system notification chimed in Tang Song’s ear:
*"Ding! Congratulations, player. Companion—Zhao Yaqian’s training mission [A Canary’s Soaring] is complete."*
*"Companion—Zhao Yaqian’s growth progress +20%."*
*"Companion—Zhao Yaqian gains [Insight +2]."*
*"Companion—Zhao Yaqian receives [Canary’s Glory Gift Pack*1]."*
The song faded, leaving the room in brief silence.
The beautician, chest heaving, suddenly lunged forward, capturing his lips in a fervent kiss.
The guitar strings trembled, the final notes lingering.
Salty.