novelraw Chapter 657: The Mysterious Boyfriend
Chapter 657: The Mysterious Boyfriend
Chapter 657: The Mysterious BoyfriendThe amusement center was buzzing with activity.
Yao Lingling sat on a bench in the recreation area, her breathing still a little rapid from the intense games moments ago. Yet her eyes never blinked, fixed on the figure standing in the corner by the bubble tea shop. He kept his head down, his fingertips idly swiping across his phone screen;
his tall, slender frame looked especially striking under the lights. Whether it was the smooth line of his jaw or the calm aura he casually exuded, everything about him seemed unreal. Yao Lingling’s eyes practically sprouted little hearts.
Oh my god, senior is just so stylish!
Even just standing there and playing on his phone, he looked like a celebrity posing for a photoshoot. It wasn’t just her—many young women nearby, even schoolgirls in uniforms, were staring too. Yao Lingling couldn’t help a smug, quiet little laugh.
Heh heh, that’s right—he’s my boyfriend!
This morning’s two hours had been a perfect performance of the “boyfriend” role by her senior. Gentle protection during the games, the indulgent way he held her hand, the hug when she got excited… what started as the excuse of “trying out a relationship” had turned into a real taste of love’s sour and sweet. It was… just too wonderful!
Too bad she couldn’t post it on social media—otherwise her friends’ feeds would explode.
But they’d finished playing most of the games;
next on the agenda was a heart-shaped lunch, a movie, and the most anticipated thing of all: the hot spring bath. Lost in these fantasies, she was suddenly blocked by two figures.
Just as Yao Lingling was about to shift, two surprised voices sounded in her ear: “Lingling? Is that really you?” “Sis, didn’t Aunt say you were working overtime at the company this week and wouldn’t come home?”
Yao Lingling froze, then shot her head up;
the corner of her eye twitched. Standing before her were two cousins from her eldest aunt’s side—Deng Jia and Deng Yuxuan.Holy crap!
“Jia-jia, Xuanxuan.” Yao Lingling hurriedly stood, answering nervously, “You two are here too? What a coincidence.” Her family and some relatives lived out in a southwestern suburban county of Yancheng, just a couple of kilometers from the resort. It snowed today, so it made perfect sense they’d come to the resort. The problem was… she had snuck out without telling her family to meet her senior for a date!
“What a coincidence!” the bubbly Deng Yuxuan pounced and grabbed her arm, excitement all over her face. “I heard you weren’t coming back, I was kind of bummed. This is perfect. Aunt told me your design was worn by Su Yu and even trended! That’s amazing!”
“Heh, it’s nothing,” Yao Lingling smiled. She was outgoing and got along well with her relatives, especially Deng Yuxuan, who was still in high school and had been clingy since childhood.
Deng Jia added, “Lingling, help me get a shell jacket later—we can’t find any anymore.”
“Okay, no problem. Just send me your sizes later and I’ll put together outfits for you and Xuanxuan.” Yao Lingling volunteered quickly, eager to get her cousins to leave.
At that moment, a phone rang. Deng Jia pulled her phone from her pocket and cheerfully answered: “Hi, Mom. Yuxuan and I are at the resort, hanging at the amusement center for a bit. Oh, and we bumped into Lingling—she’s chatting with us.”
A bad feeling tightened in Yao Lingling’s chest. “What? I didn’t know—Lingling said she wasn’t coming? …Maybe something changed, I’ll ask.” She hung up.
Deng Jia turned to her, surprised: “Lingling, didn’t you say you were coming to join the dinner at Uncle’s place?”
“No.” Yao Lingling’s face froze and she waved her hand. “No, I—my friends and I came to the resort to play. We already spent the money, so I won’t go.”
Are you kidding me?! She was here for a date!
If she went to that family dinner, everything would be ruined. Deng Yuxuan immediately piped up, “It won’t take long, Lingling. Uncle booked the restaurant on the second floor of the main building here.”
It was already past eleven—lunch at the main building’s restaurant. They’d come early for the claw machines and planned to head straight to lunch. Deng Jia laughed: “What a coincidence—let’s go together. It won’t stop you from playing;
after lunch you can keep having fun.”
Yao Lingling was dumbstruck. This is… way too coincidental!
On second thought, it actually made sense. Yunxi Valley, as the most upscale five-star resort locally, had its restaurant and banquet hall that hosted high-end events. Her eldest uncle, Yao Guanying, liked to show off and would naturally pick a prestigious place to welcome his “well-married son-in-law.” But if her aunt’s side learned she was at the resort, other relatives would know too. It would be awkward not to go. Yet she couldn’t bear to give up her private time with her senior. What should she do? She couldn’t exactly bring him along. Ꞧ𝐚NǒʙËṠ
Her gaze involuntarily drifted back to the senior lingering by the bubble tea shop. If they were really a couple, she’d be over the moon to show them off everywhere, post on social media, and bring him home to make the family proud. But they weren’t actually dating, and she couldn’t explain their relationship to her relatives.
Noticing her look, Deng Jia and Deng Yuxuan turned to glance as well. Deng Jia teased, “Oh, so our Lingling’s addicted to staring at her male god?” Deng Yuxuan lowered her voice, starry-eyed: “Lingling, I think that boy is so handsome—way hotter than any idol I follow! I actually snuck a photo of him when I came over, my sister did too, teehee.”
Deng Jia blushed and pushed her sister: “I just think his outfit is nice—I want one for my boyfriend.”
“Alright, alright, I get it. Don’t worry, I won’t tattle to my brother-in-law.” Listening to their chatter, even flustered Yao Lingling couldn’t help but smile widely. Heh heh—today he’s my boyfriend! No denying his flawless looks and aura;
having him was a point of pride.
Under their gaze, Tang Song put away his phone, took a lemon water from the counter handed by a staff member, and stepped out of the bubble tea shop. “Oh no, the male god’s leaving,” Deng Yuxuan said regretfully, then blushed and stammered, “Wait—he’s looking this way… he’s walking over. He’s smiling… so handsome! More handsome than the retouched stars in photos! Such amazing charisma!”
Deng Jia’s cheeks colored as she glanced at the approaching young man. His stride was leisurely, shoulders straight, a high nose bridge, a gentle smile at the corner of his lips. His brows and eyes gave off a cool, refined aura that made the noisy amusement center feel like his personal stage.
He reached in, withdrew a straw, tore the wrapper, and inserted it into the lemon water’s lid with elegant casualness—an aesthetic move. He came straight to where they sat. The two cousins held their breath.
Tang Song naturally offered the lemon water with straw to Yao Lingling and then asked with a smile, “Lingling, running into friends?”
Without thinking, she opened her mouth and gulped two big sips—cold, refreshing, like the best lemon water she’d ever tasted. Deng Jia and Deng Yuxuan stared, stunned, unable to believe what they were seeing.
What’s going on?
Yao Lingling forced down her grin and introduced, “These are my eldest aunt’s daughters—cousin Deng Jia and cousin Deng Yuxuan.”
Tang Song nodded politely, “Hello, I’m Tang Song.”
“You—hi.” “Hello.” The cousins replied awkwardly and still a little dazed. Up close, Tang Song’s presence and charm were even more palpable. From how affectionate they had been with Yao Lingling earlier, and from Lingling’s reaction, it was obvious there was more than a casual acquaintance here.
Deng Yuxuan swallowed and whispered, “Lingling sis… is this… you…?”
“Umm…” Yao Lingling stammered, unsure how to introduce him. Senior? Boss? Friend? Boyfriend?
Before she could answer, Tang Song chuckled and volunteered, “I’m Lingling’s boyfriend.”
Yao Lingling’s body gave a violent tremor;
she stiffened and her face turned blazing hot. Boy—boyfriend?! Senior… he actually… admitted it? Ahhh! A joy unlike anything before exploded in her mind like fireworks and completely swallowed her.
Deng Jia and Deng Yuxuan were shocked, incredulous. Lingling was pretty and pleasant, but standing next to someone of Tang Song’s level, the gap was obvious.
Sensing the odd atmosphere, Tang Song added, “Sorry, I didn’t expect to run into you. I only grabbed one drink—if you want something else, I’ll go buy it.”
Deng Jia and Deng Yuxuan hurriedly waved it off, “No, no—we just had some.” Deng Yuxuan tugged on Yao Lingling’s arm like an excited sparrow: “Lingling sis, you’ve been hiding this so well! When did this happen?”
“Just… recently… hehe…” Yao Lingling said, blushing, floating on air. She stole a glance at Tang Song—he drank his lemon water while the corners of his mouth hinted at a smile and he even winked at her. That tiny intimate moment sent electric warmth through her body and nearly made her knees weak.
After some small talk, the four of them continued playing at the amusement center. Not long after, Yao Lingling’s phone rang. The caller ID read: Mother.
Her heart dropped. She excused herself and walked to a corner to take the call. “Hello, Mom.”
On the other end, her mother Zhang Xiufang’s voice was probing: “Lingling, are you at Yunxi Valley Resort?”
Yao Lingling’s face stiffened. This was the worst-case scenario. She forced a smile: “Yes, Mom. I’m out with friends. I didn’t expect you to be here too.”
“I knew it!” Zhang Xiufang breathed out in relief. “I’ll come over and we’ll have a meal together—the whole family knows you’re here. It wouldn’t be proper if you don’t come;
everyone’s waiting.”
“But… I came with friends. I don’t want to leave them…” Yao Lingling protested.
“Just come eat and then you can go back to playing,” Zhang Xiufang lowered her voice, excited. “Let Mom show off a little.”
Yao Lingling twitched her mouth, “Okay, I’ll come over in a bit.” After she hung up, her head was buzzing. She sighed and returned to the table, hesitant.
“What’s up? Anything wrong?” Tang Song asked, concerned.
She hesitated, then quietly explained, “I just found out—Uncle’s family is hosting a meal at the resort restaurant today to welcome my cousin’s boyfriend. All the relatives are there. I’m here, so it’d be awkward if I didn’t go.”
“That’s quite a coincidence.” Tang Song raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I didn’t expect it either.” Yao Lingling shrugged.
“Tang Song, why don’t you come with us?” Deng Yuxuan suddenly interjected, eyes shining. “I heard the signature roasted squab at that restaurant is amazing.”
She disliked her uncle and aunt’s showy nature;
they clearly wanted to flaunt their cousin’s “golden son-in-law.” But she felt that Lingling’s boyfriend was even better—his looks, manners, and aura made him the most dazzling guy there. If he came, he’d be the center of attention.
Yao Lingling panicked and waved her hands: “No, no, stop, Xuanxuan.” She turned red and whispered to Tang Song, “Senior… I’ll just go for the meal and come back quickly. I can’t stay for lunch with you.”
After all, they were only “boyfriend and girlfriend” for a day. How could she attend such an official family gathering with him? Even if they were actually dating, showing up uninvited would be impolite and put Tang Song in an awkward spot.
Tang Song looked at her, smiled, and kissed her cheek. “It’s okay—go ahead and have fun.” Then he leaned close and said in a voice only she could hear, “As long as we can soak in the hot springs together tonight.” His tone was clear and magnetic, and his eyes were full of warmth.
Yao Lingling’s eyelids fluttered. In her mind, she marveled: the senior was not only a heartbreaker, but a born seducer. Beside her, Deng Jia kept a composed face but was bitter inside. They had grown up together;
seeing this bold cousin casually parading a top-tier male idol felt unreal. Envy and jealousy mixed in her heart. Deng Yuxuan sighed in regret.
On the way, the three chattered—mostly Deng Yuxuan asking all the questions. Yao Lingling put on a composed front, though her heart kept racing with thoughts of the hot springs with her senior.
Yunxi Valley’s restaurant sat in the resort main building, about a ten-minute walk from the amusement center. Led by a server, they entered the most luxurious “888” private suite. The room had a private lounge, bathroom, and a viewing balcony overlooking the entire resort. Clearly, her eldest uncle had spent a lot. Many relatives had already arrived—her father Yao Guanjie, mother Zhang Xiufang, eldest uncle Yao Guanying, aunt Chen Yan, eldest aunt Yao Xuemei, and younger aunt Yao Xueli… But the protagonists, cousin Yao Rourou and her boyfriend, weren’t there yet.
“Lingling’s here!” Eldest aunt Yao Xuemei stood and pulled her close, praising, “Oh my, you’re getting more beautiful! I heard your designs went viral—now you’re a big designer!”
Zhang Xiufang beamed proudly, trying to be modest in words but triumphant in her eyes. Yao Lingling greeted everyone and sat beside her mother.
“Is Rourou not here yet?” she asked.
Eldest uncle Yao Guanying replied calmly, “Rourou and Gong Yunxiao live in the city;
it’s a hassle to come just for this, and traffic on the weekend caused a delay. They should be here soon.”
As they chatted, Zhang Xiufang scrolled through trending news about Su Yu, Heyi, and the shell jacket. Yao Lingling found it amusing but humored her mother’s showing-off, becoming the center of attention. The faces of Yao Guanying and Chen Yan turned slightly complex;
after all, they were hosting today.
At that moment, the door opened. Cousin Yao Rourou entered with a familiar but unfamiliar-looking youth—Gong Yunxiao, whom Yao Lingling had only seen in friends’ photos. He had neat features, wore a cashmere sweater, and carried a composed, capable air. Not dazzling, but sharp and steady.
“Rourou’s here!” “This must be Yunxiao—what a handsome fellow!” Relatives rose to greet the “golden couple” warmly. Eldest uncle Yao Guanying introduced Gong Yunxiao’s background, and the atmosphere grew rowdier.
Yao Lingling’s mouth moved as she listened and gathered context. Gong Yunxiao graduated from a prestigious university with a master’s degree and worked in a key provincial department—the development and reform commission. His rank was a third-level chief staff member, equivalent to Deputy Section Rank, but in such institutions the post mattered more than the title. His office participated in major provincial policy and project approvals. Her uncle had hinted at this in the family group chat. Gong Yunxiao was favored by leaders with promising prospects—likely to be promoted to a researcher-level role before age thirty-five. For the ordinary relatives—salaried workers, small business owners, and even laid-off workers—this status was something to admire;
it symbolized stability, dignity, and immense potential. Everyone subtly hoped to benefit from his connections. Even Zhang Xiufang, usually at odds with her eldest aunt, smiled and moved forward to greet him.
Dishes soon arrived: exquisite cold starters, steaming soups, whole braised sea cucumber and abalone—the works. Under subtle cues from the elders, the younger generation began to toast Gong Yunxiao, introducing themselves to increase their presence.
When it was Yao Lingling’s turn, she raised her glass confidently and said, “Brother Yunxiao, I’m Yao Lingling, a clothing designer in Yancheng. Please look after me in the future.” Her cheerful tone made Gong Yunxiao nod and smile.
Cousin Rourou asked curiously, “Lingling, I heard your designs went viral? Everyone was sharing them?” Yao Lingling waved it off, “Ah, just lucky—like a blind cat finding a dead mouse.”
Her mother couldn’t contain her pride and chimed in: “Lingling recently switched companies and designed a shell jacket that went nuts on Double Eleven. A major star, Su Yu, even wore it in a street photo, and it’s still trending!”
“That’s impressive.” Cousin Rourou replied, surprised—she knew Lingling had only worked at a small company just over a year after graduating and didn’t expect such success. Gong Yunxiao politely praised her as well.
Eldest aunt Yao Xuemei probed: “Lingling, how much do you earn a month? Tell your aunt so we can see.” All eyes turned to Yao Lingling, full of curiosity.
Noticing her mother’s eager gaze, Yao Lingling hesitated and then said with a grin, “Base salary is ten thousand yuan, plus commissions and bonuses. If you tally it up… the annual salary should be around three to four hundred thousand.” She was understating a bit—if the heat sustained, commissions could be huge and company stock incentives possible. Still, that figure stunned every relative. In Yancheng, a three-to-four-hundred-thousand annual salary was upper management level.
Zhang Xiufang’s spirit rallied. She and her husband had lost money in the clothing business years back and had been ridiculed by relatives. Now her daughter’s success redeemed their family’s face. Eldest aunt Chen Yan’s expression soured;
she forced a strained smile and offered a cautionary note: “I heard those livestream e-commerce companies look lively but aren’t stable.”
“You don’t know,” Zhang Xiufang snapped louder. “Lingling’s company is in Yunxi Building, the best office tower in Yancheng. They pay full social insurance and housing funds, provide phone and meal allowances, and rent subsidies—she doesn’t have to rent on her own.”
Seeing the two women about to squabble, eldest aunt Yao Xuemei humorously smoothed things: “Our Yao family’s really lucky—Lingling’s making money, Rourou’s in a provincial unit with a steady job. One earns, one has status.” Everyone agreed.
Quiet younger aunt Yao Xueli piped up: “But really, Gong Yunxiao has the most potential. Working in such an important provincial department—later, Lingling and Rourou will surely rely on him for help!” Her flattery made the eldest uncle beam.
Gong Yunxiao’s hand paused, and his tone carried careful reserve: “Auntie, you flatter me. I’m just an ordinary staff member.” Yao Xueli didn’t catch the nuance and continued to flatter, claiming social connections and platform mattered most now.
Gong Yunxiao coughed lightly to interrupt, then said more seriously, “Auntie, please don’t say that. Our unit strictly follows rules;
we avoid such personal favors. If the leaders heard, there would be criticism.” His words chilled the atmosphere. Yao Xueli’s smile froze. Cousin Rourou quickly smoothed things over and served her a rib.
The atmosphere in the private room shifted;
even so, Gong Yunxiao continued to participate politely, his humor intact but his manner subtly altered. The most affected was Yao Xueli—she tried repeatedly to steer conversation to more personal topics but was gently deflected each time. She sipped awkwardly, unable to find the right moment to toast.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the midday meal wound down. A phone suddenly rang. Yao Lingling took her phone and slipped into the corner of the suite, turned her back to everyone, and chatted. When she returned, a shy smile bloomed across her face.
She sat back down and said, slightly embarrassed, “Uncle, Aunt, Dad, Mom, I’m full. I actually came to the resort with a friend;
they’re waiting downstairs for me, so I have to leave.”
“What friend? Is it a boy or a girl?” Eldest aunt teased with gossip in her eyes. Deng Yuxuan, ignoring Yao Lingling’s earlier warnings to keep quiet, blurted out, “Of course it’s a boy! He’s a super senior—Lingling’s boyfriend! He’s so elegant, like a big star!”
Though young, Deng Yuxuan understood table dynamics. Compared to the lukewarm attitude Yingxiao’s cousin-in-law displayed, she liked Tang Song’s handsome and gentle nature more. Yao Lingling’s face flushed crimson. She shot a glare at the blabbermouth cousin and bolted from the private room.
At that moment, the normally quiet Gong Yunxiao stood, tugged at Rourou’s sleeve, and politely told the table, “Sorry, I have an important online meeting this afternoon and must leave.”
“So soon?” Aunt Chen Yan fretted, unwilling to let him go. Eldest uncle urged him to stay too. Gong Yunxiao bowed slightly with undeniable politeness, “It’s about a key provincial project’s pre-review next month—the schedule is tight. I’ll arrange time to visit again.”
Once he mentioned a provincial key project, who could insist he stay? Everyone rose to see them off—Zhang Xiufang announced she’d go down too, partly because she still wanted to see her daughter’s mysterious boyfriend. The whole party streamed into the hotel lobby to accompany them, chatting as they walked. Zhang Xiufang’s eyes scanned the crowd and soon found her daughter and the over-stylish young man beside her.
He wore a simple black turtleneck with a high-quality camel-gray double-breasted coat on top—handsome features, high nose, thin lips, broad shoulders, narrow waist. Under the lobby’s crystal chandeliers, he gave off an undeniable elegant and noble air. He was holding Lingling’s hand affectionately and leaning down, smiling as he spoke to her—like a scene right out of a romantic drama.
“Oh my…” Zhang Xiufang murmured, stunned. Before she could fully react, younger aunt Yao Xueli cried out in disbelief and dashed forward. Standing before them, she trembled with excitement: “Director Tang… hello!”
Noticing Tang Song’s slightly puzzled look, Yao Xueli forced calm and said, flushed, “Director Tang, I’m Yao Xueli, head of logistics at the Yannan Short Drama Film Base.”
Tang Song lifted an eyebrow, “Hello.” Yao Lingling glanced at her younger aunt, surprised. Her aunt did indeed work at the film base;
she had mentioned it before when Tang Song and Lingling had that earlier awkward encounter near the base. But from her aunt’s tone, Tang Song seemed to have some relation to the base?
Tang Song quickly put it together and asked, “You and Lingling are…?”
With the sudden odd energy around them, Gong Yunxiao’s face turned ashen when he recognized Tang Song’s looks and then glanced at Lingling. His mind went blank. How—how could he be Lingling’s boyfriend? Impossible!
Gong Yunxiao could no longer maintain the small talk. Braving the astonished eyes of the relatives, he hurried to Tang Song and bowed slightly, his voice full of just the right mix of excitement and respect: “Mr. Tang, hello. I’m Gong Yunxiao from the Industry Coordination Division at the Yan Province Development and Reform Commission. A few days ago at Xiyuan Hotel, when Director Li had a meeting with you, I was fortunate to help with the reception. I wonder if you remember me?”
He spoke in one breath, so excited sweat dotted his brow. “Hello, Mr. Gong, of course I remember.” Tang Song nodded slightly, his tone warm but distant. Gong Yunxiao exhaled, voice dropping lower: “It’s an honor that you remember me.”
His almost-humble demeanor contrasted sharply with the wine-table image earlier and shocked the relatives—Yao Guanying, Chen Yan, and Rourou all froze. Zhang Xiufang clutched her chest, heart racing, her gaze flickering between Tang Song, Lingling, and Gong Yunxiao. The scene felt surreal.
Yao Lingling turned to her “boyfriend,” her head buzzing. The kind, attentive senior who had accompanied her to play games and buy lemon water now seemed to wear a strange, noble halo. This aura she’d never seen before was mysterious and deeply alluring. Her heart pounded so hard she was sure it might bounce up an entire cup size.