novelraw Chapter 572: "Dragon Ball"
Chapter 572: "Dragon Ball"
"Flush—"
The sound of the toilet flushing echoed clearly in the quiet bathroom.
Liu Qingning stepped out of the stall and stood in front of the sink, turning on the faucet.
She carefully washed her hands while staring at her own face in the mirror, her cheeks tinged with a blush.
She lowered her head slightly and gently brushed her temple with her wet fingertips,
her heartbeat finally starting to slow down.
Then, she couldn't help but glance down at her chest.
It still seemed to hold the lingering warmth of Tang Song’s fingers.
Although it was through clothing, that indescribable tingling and itching sensation was incredibly vivid.
It was like it had been imprinted directly onto her nerve endings, impossible to erase.Unlike Tang Song, that scumbag who had other girlfriends in rotation in Yancheng,
she, far away in Shencheng, had very few chances to see Tang Song since they started dating.
Their relationship had just crossed from friendship into romance, feeling like a fragile and awkward high school stage again.
Right in the most wonderful early phase of love.
Every intimate touch, interaction, test, and pull made her nerves tense and her heart race.
Even a simple handhold would make her blush.
If not for the intense excitement before, their relationship would not have progressed so quickly.
Taking a deep breath,
Liu Qingning lifted her head and looked at herself in the mirror, her mind flashing back to Qin Yingxue she had just encountered in the hallway.
There were things she had never told Tang Song but had been doing all along.
That was to fill the “blank space” between them these past few years.
She had reviewed a vast amount of internal data from Qingning Technology and used various channels to research the founding history of Tang Entertainment,
finally piecing together a clear and coherent timeline.
In the first half of 2017, Tang Entertainment was officially registered and established, signing its first artist—the future superstar Su Yu.
From that year onward, Su Yu seemed to activate a “cheat mode,” releasing hit after hit of highly popular songs, quickly becoming a phenomenon in the entertainment industry.
Among many songwriters’ credits, one name repeatedly appeared—
[Song]
Every song created by this person became a blockbuster hit, with styles ranging widely—pop, folk, rock... seemingly capable of everything.
Industry insiders publicly speculated this was likely a mysterious creative team within Tang Entertainment; otherwise, the astonishing productivity and stylistic versatility were inexplicable.
Of course, some rumors insisted that Song was actually a top independent musician, eccentric and unwilling to appear in public.
Liu Qingning had always loved music and was half a fan of Su Yu, so she was familiar with these songs,
but her past life had been filled with studies and entrepreneurship, so she never truly traced the creators behind them.
Until now, after personally connecting all the information, a daring thought quietly surfaced in her mind:
This mysterious Song was very likely Tang Song himself.
Tang Entertainment was founded by him.
He was the one who launched Su Yu’s career, completing the original accumulation of entertainment capital.
In 2018, she officially entered the artificial intelligence field; almost simultaneously, Qingning Technology emerged.
Those years after university graduation, when she was competing, doing research, and starting her business,
Tang Song was completing his original accumulation and career transformation in another way, almost simultaneously, even faster,
though she didn’t know how her childhood friend suddenly had an epiphany and transformed into the behind-the-scenes “Sweeper Monk” controlling music and capital.
Another fact to confirm: Tang Song definitely knew Jin Meixiao.
Qingning Technology was backed by Smile Holdings.
After graduating, Tang Song’s first company was Meigou Technology, whose chairman was Jin Meixiao.
What made her most alert was Qin Yingxue’s attitude.
This woman was no simple character. This update is available on novel⦿fire.net
Once Jin Meixiao’s assistant and now a director at Qingning Technology, she always subtly tried to get closer to Liu Qingning, even seeming to guide her to realize certain truths.
Behind this was surely a secret Liu Qingning had yet to discover.
All these clues intertwined, sketching a more complex, unfathomable image of Tang Song—
A “Tang Song” completely different from the one she remembered.
If she hadn’t personally contacted him so many times, feeling his real warmth, heartbeat, and soul,
she might have even suspected that her “Tang Song” had been usurped by someone else.
Liu Qingning closed her eyes, then opened them again.
The reflection staring back was calmer and more resolute.
She could only pretend not to know.
Because she really couldn’t afford to take that risk.
If she exposed everything with Tang Song,
she would have to face Su Yu head-on in a no-retreat battle.
Recalling the figure she encountered last night, Liu Qingning bit her lip hard.
She lacked confidence.
She was scared and timid.
“Click—”
The bathroom door was pushed open, and a female colleague walked in.
“General Manager Liu.”
Liu Qingning quickly composed herself and smiled in response,
turning around calmly and leaving.
When she returned to the general manager’s office door, the two people were still standing there, seemingly engaged in a pleasant conversation.
Qin Yingxue leaned slightly, elegant in posture, her gaze fixed on Tang Song’s face.
Liu Qingning’s heart tightened imperceptibly,
but soon she showed a faint smile and quickened her pace.
“Finished chatting?”
Tang Song glanced at her with a doting look: “Yeah, all done. By the way, it’s almost noon. How about we go eat now?”
“Sure.”
Qin Yingxue tactfully said, “You two go ahead. I still have other things to handle. Goodbye, President Tang, Qingning.”
“Goodbye.”
Watching Qin Yingxue leave,
Liu Qingning blinked her bright eyes and gently bumped Tang Song’s shoulder: “Let’s go. I’m treating you to something delicious today.”
“Hehe, let’s go.”
They went downstairs in tacit understanding.
Tang Song followed Liu Qingning through a small alley behind the office building and entered a modest but lively little eatery.
The storefront was small, named “Rong Ji Eatery.”
The menu was written on a blackboard outside, all authentic Cantonese home-style dishes, with the scent of scallions, ginger, garlic, and iron wok stir-frying filling the air.
According to Liu Qingning, the owner was a retired chef, using careful ingredients and precise cooking techniques; since it had just opened and hadn’t advertised much, there were not many customers yet.
They sat closely by the window and whispered as they debated the order for a while.
They finally ordered white-cut chicken, shrimp paste steamed eggplant, and dried tangerine peel pork ribs.
After waiting, the dishes came one by one, full of color, aroma, and flavor.
Outside, the locust trees swayed gently in the autumn breeze, and slanting sunlight streamed in.
They ate slowly, occasionally feeding each other a bite.
They talked from work to the past, then about Qingmi AI’s recent product schedule.
The meal lasted over an hour.
Afterward, they took an impromptu city walk on the street.
The autumn air in Shencheng Bay was pleasant, a light breeze carrying a slight salty scent.
Liu Qingning sometimes linked arms with him, sometimes ran ahead and looked back, smiling like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl.
Since it was Thursday, the usual version iteration and release day for Qingmi AI,
Liu Qingning’s entire day was fully scheduled.
Tang Song wanted to see her daily work situation, so he followed her back to the 42nd floor.
The general manager’s office was not large but orderly and tidy,
exuding an efficient atmosphere that reflected her usual organization and discipline.
Once Liu Qingning sat back in front of the computer, she immediately switched into “high-efficiency work mode.”
Tang Song sat beside her, legs crossed, leaning back in his chair, quietly watching her type rapidly and approve files.
Occasionally, she looked up and spoke a few words to him, her mouth curving slightly, her eyes bright and sparkling.
Tang Song’s gaze softened involuntarily.
This scene was too familiar.
Back then in the Imperial Capital, Liu Qingning often worked overtime coding in their rented room.
Sometimes, he sat beside her, watching her work while listening to her explain AI-related knowledge for hours.
At half past five in the evening, the sky darkened outside.
The neon lights of Shencheng lit up one by one.
Liu Qingning finally closed her laptop, turned to him, and smiled with curved eyebrows: “Okay, class is over, Tang Song. Let’s go change clothes first. Tonight, I’ll take you on a food tour!”
Hearing her habitual high school nickname, Tang Song was momentarily stunned but then laughed and gently brushed her bangs away.
“Hey, don’t mess up my hair!”
*Smack~* The crisp sound of a kiss echoed in the office.
Liu Qingning’s cheeks flushed slightly; she kissed him back playfully, her eyes sparkling with pride and mischief.
In a high-end restaurant in Huaxin District, Yancheng,
“That’s it, then.” Tian Jing handed the menu to the waiter, speaking lazily and letting out a small yawn.
Qin Hua opposite her asked with concern, “You didn’t sleep well last night? You look so tired.”
“Not really, just a lot of work lately. It’s the end of the month; things pile up.”
“Yeah, your HR department must be busiest this time.” Qin Hua looked at her friend and sighed, “You’re getting more and more like a professional HR.”
Tian Jing smiled unconcernedly as the light fell on her friend’s face. “Enough, tell me—what’s the reason you dragged me out?”
Qin Hua lowered her voice and leaned forward slightly: “Xiaojing, I have to ask you something. Have you recently broken up with your boyfriend?”
“Huh?” Tian Jing frowned slightly, “Of course not. We’re very close. Why are you suddenly asking this?”
She thought Qin Hua would bring up her cousin Tian Guowen, but unexpectedly, it was about Tang Song.
Qin Hua took a deep breath and became serious, “I have a friend. His acquaintance has recently gotten close to your boyfriend, and there’s some ambiguous relationship between them.”
“So?” Tian Jing blinked calmly, not looking like someone exposed to a big scandal.
“Ah…” Qin Hua hesitated, then added urgently, “This is serious! I’ve confirmed that the ‘Tang Song’ he mentioned is the CTO of Jinxiu Commerce. It must be your boyfriend.”
“Oh, I see.” Tian Jing nodded calmly, her tone unreadable, but a hint of meaning flashed in her eyes. “Who is this ‘friend’ of yours?”
Qin Hua’s eye twitched. “You don’t know him. He just happened to find out about this incident by accident.”
“Then why tell me?”
Qin Hua paused, grit her teeth: “I want to warn you, Xiaojing. It’s your first relationship. Don’t get fooled. There are plenty of good men nowadays; why cling to a scumbag?”
Tian Jing’s expression hardened, sitting upright. “Hua Hua, I’ll say it again! He’s my boyfriend. Whether he’s good or not is my call. Only I have the right to judge what kind of person he is.”
Qin Hua’s lips trembled: “But he’s cheating on you behind your back! Shouldn’t you find out?”
“That’s my business.” Tian Jing’s tone was calm. “Also, don’t act on my behalf without permission. If you cause trouble for him in my name, I won’t forgive you.”
“You… you!” Qin Hua was almost about to slam the table, her face full of disbelief. “You’re such a love-brain! I really don’t know what spell you’re under!”
She always felt that with Tian Jing’s background and conditions, she could easily find a suitable partner in politics or business.
Yet she chose a “phoenix man.”
Once mischievous and sharp-witted, now obedient in love as if under a curse.
Tian Jing remained unmoved, took a sip from her cup, and looked at the emotional Qin Hua opposite her, suddenly asking: “Hua Hua, is there something else you want to tell me?”
“Uh?” Qin Hua froze, her eyes flickering. “No, just this.”
“You’re lying.”
“I…” Qin Hua bit her lip, struggling in her eyes, finally sighing softly, “Okay, your cousin has been pursuing me recently. My dad supports it, but I haven’t agreed yet.”
“Will you agree in the future?” Tian Jing looked at her quietly, eyes sharp as a hawk.
Her cousin Tian Guowen, vice president supervising finance, was gearing up to take over resources and connections left by her father’s retirement to prepare for CEO promotion.
If he could get Qin Dechang’s help and support, things would be much smoother.
At this level, Tian Guowen and Qin Hua were indeed a very “compatible” match.
“I… I don’t know.” Qin Hua’s eyes lowered, then clenched her fists tightly. “Xiaojing, have you ever thought about your family’s future?”
Tian Jing frowned and asked, “What do you mean?”
Qin Hua considered briefly, then said firmly, “Xiaojing, Uncle Tian has already sold Jinxiu Commerce’s shares to plug the hole in Hueneng Electronics, but it’s still not enough.
If Hueneng Electronics’ problems aren’t solved, Uncle Tian will have to sell other quality assets.
Soon, Zhongcheng Group might be all that’s left of your family.
Now Zhongcheng Group is in turmoil inside, your cousin is ambitious, and if you want to compete, it’s not too late!”
Tian Jing shook her head calmly. “You should know I’m not interested in this, nor do I want to work myself to death managing an industrial group.”
“I knew you’d say that.” Qin Hua sighed. “But there’s another way.”
“Say it straight, don’t beat around the bush.”
“If your boyfriend is a scumbag, just dump him decisively. With your conditions, you can find a man with more strength and background, solving both the emotional crisis and your family’s current predicament.”
Tian Jing’s eyes darkened as she stared at her friend. “Like Lin Jingming from Suchong Power? Or some leader’s son? Haha, is my dad sending you to do mind work on me?”
Qin Hua waved her hands frantically. “No! Uncle is just worried about you and told me to care more.”
A hint of sarcasm appeared in Tian Jing’s eyes. “Hua Hua, you’ve really changed.”
She already guessed the truth.
In fact, Qin Dechang’s intention in letting Qin Hua enter Zhongcheng Group wasn’t just to find her a job but also to test her ability and skill.
As an industrial group valued at nearly three billion,
Zhongcheng’s shares were Qin Dechang’s most important asset.
If Qin Hua could gain a foothold and demonstrate enough ability and influence inside the group, she might become the heir to the family business.
Compared to her ambitious but rough-handed cousin Tian Guowen, Qin Dechang clearly favored supporting his daughter.
Her father Tian Chengye was close friends with Qin Dechang, and she and Qin Hua grew up together as childhood friends.
If Tian Chengye intended to promote Qin Hua inside Zhongcheng, Qin Dechang would undoubtedly support it fully.
Qin Hua’s future promotion to CEO was only a matter of time; even the chairman position might not be out of reach.
In this situation, even if her younger brother returned to the country, he could only stand aside.
Qin Hua bit her lip and said softly, “I admit I have selfish motives. But I try to think from your perspective and help you. Do you know Zhongcheng is also declining, and your dad’s assets are depreciating? He already sold the best assets. What else can he sell? Once the cash flow breaks, the consequences will be unimaginable. Tell me, can your current boyfriend help you?”
“How do you know he can’t?” Tian Jing countered.
“Uh…” Qin Hua was teased and then laughed angrily. “Xiaojing, sometimes I think you’re quite smart, but when it comes to your boyfriend, you become hopelessly dumb.”
Tian Jing stood up, looking down at her friend with firm tone: “Then let’s wait and see, Hua Hua. Since fifth grade, you’ve never beaten me in any bet. I’m skipping dinner tonight. Bye.”
She turned and strode outside.
She had been clever and lively since childhood and studied psychology in university, so she understood human nature well.
But she didn’t want to bother with scheming and just wanted to happily be a second-generation rich.
Yet people always thought she was foolish and worried for her, trying to arrange her life.
But her life could only be decided by herself.
8 p.m.
Walking street in Luohu District, Shencheng, dazzling with lights.
Neon crisscrossed, colors flickered, voices surged, traffic never stopped.
Vendors shouted repeatedly; pop music flowed from shops; the air was filled with aromas of octopus balls, charcoal-grilled squid, and cheese-stuffed fried chicken.
Warm and real.
“Don’t buy anymore. I really can’t eat.” Tang Song helplessly pulled the hand of his Bai Yueguang, a trace of helplessness in his voice.
All along the way, Liu Qingning wanted to try every delicious snack,
but just a bite or two; the rest ended up in his stomach.
Thanks to system optimization, he could really hold a lot more than normal people.
At this night in Shencheng, the temperature was under twenty degrees Celsius, clouds hung low, and the night wind was cool.
Liu Qingning wore a white knit sweater, black pencil pants, and clean sneakers—simple but youthful,
the black-and-white outfit outlined her slender, graceful figure, making her stand out in the bustling crowd.
She held a milk tea in hand, her tone petulant with a hint of coquettishness: “But I just want to eat Master Bao’s seaweed buns. It’s been over a year since I last had them.”
“Alright, I’ll go line up.”
Faced with the unreasonable Bai Yueguang, Tang Song could only surrender and walked to the end of the long queue.
Liu Qingning watched his figure merge into the crowd, her lips unconsciously curved into a smile.
She took a sip of milk tea, her eyes soft like a pool of spring water.
After waiting ten minutes, Tang Song returned with a box of steaming seaweed buns.
“Thank you, Xiao Song. You’re so sweet.” Liu Qingning said sweetly, then stood on tiptoes and kissed his chin.
Tang Song smiled broadly, his heart inexplicably racing.
This was the scene he had fantasized about countless times in high school and university.
“You silly!” Liu Qingning laughed softly.
“I’m not silly; someone is just so beautiful that I’m dumbfounded.”
Liu Qingning’s lips curled, her face reddening slightly, turning her head with a light hum: “Smooth talker.”
“Not smooth, sweet. Try some.” He deliberately leaned closer.
Liu Qingning let out a soft “pfft” and lightly patted him. “Annoying!”
Shoulder to shoulder, they moved forward slowly with the crowd.
Their steps were unhurried, occasionally stopping at stalls to look at crafts or small toys, not deliberately sightseeing or taking photos,
just letting the night market’s lively atmosphere envelop them.
It was exactly like the simplest yet most touching date in youth.
Passing through a dimly lit alley, they stopped in front of an old record stall.
Liu Qingning flipped through the yellowed albums while softly telling him the background stories of each.
This block was filled with nostalgic vibes.
Old items, old records, old bookstores, like a hidden artistic corner in a modern city.
Liu Qingning finally chose a Cantonese album from the 1990s, its cover yellowed but well preserved.
After paying, she pointed to a bookstore not far away. “Want to go browse?”
“Sure, let’s go.” Tang Song nodded and naturally held her hand.
Just as they arrived at the bookstore entrance,
Liu Qingning suddenly exclaimed, clutching her stomach.
“What’s wrong?” Tang Song immediately stopped, his tone tense.
“My stomach hurts a bit…” She frowned, her voice soft with a hint of annoyance. “I ate too many random things today.”
She had always had a weak constitution, recently just recovering, but tonight was too exciting, and she forgot to control her diet.
“I told you not to eat so carelessly, and you drank iced milk tea too.”
“Alright, I’m wrong. Won’t happen again. I’m going to the restroom first.”
Tang Song supported her arm and went down the steps.
Meanwhile, inside the bookstore,
Near the entrance corner, the lighting was soft, and the air smelled faintly of paper and wooden shelves.
A freckled-faced girl lightly tapped her companion’s arm: “Tan, Zhang Yan, haven’t you picked yet?”
“Wait a bit longer.” Zhang Yan squatted before the shelf, carefully flipping through a stack of comic books.
A few minutes later, she stood up holding two worn comics. “Okay, these two.”
“You’ve been acting weird lately, coming to buy ‘Dragon Ball’ every few days, even when you’re on business trips. These are volumes 31 and 32, right? Almost completed?”
Zhang Yan nodded gently, smiling faintly.
The complete edition of Dragon Ball consists of 34 volumes, released by Shueisha in 2004, covering the entire story of the original 42 volumes.
It was the first manga she read in middle school, borrowed from her deskmate, though she accidentally lost his favorite volume later.
Now she was just two volumes short of the full set.