The crowd around them continued to grow.

Complex fingerpicking techniques and chord transitions flowed effortlessly under his hands.

The rhythm gradually intensified, like wheat fields surging across the wilderness before an approaching storm.

BGM: I once crossed mountains and oceans, also passed through seas of people...

Tang Song's body swayed gently with the rhythm, his voice clean and clear, yet carrying a richness and steadiness that didn't match his age.

The simple guitar and ordinary speakers still brimmed with infectious energy.

Holding the guitar, his brows relaxed and open, the artistic temperament about him intertwined with the casual freedom he unintentionally exuded, radiating a kind of heart-pounding charm.

Low exclamations and gasps of admiration rose and fell around them.

Camera flashes and phone screens lit up one after another.

Xie Shuyu stood in the crowd, her gaze gradually growing hazy, traces of moisture appearing in the corners of her eyes.

Her slender fingers unconsciously tightened on the hem of her coat.

Reason told her to remain calm and reserved, but her heart pounded heavily against her chest, following the melody's rise and fall.

Memories of youth surged endlessly in her mind.

She too had experienced youthful campus crushes, late nights singing recklessly in KTVs, and days spent listening to music to persevere in dim rented rooms.

At this moment, Tang Song seemed to have shattered her entire youth into pieces, only to relight it again.

In this moment, she seemed to finally feel it—clear, profound love.

Heart-pounding feelings had never been this intense before.

Love truly seemed to possess magic.

For instance, she never imagined she would allow a man to pull her behind a roadside tree and boldly take liberties.

Nor had she ever thought that in some instant, she would discover her longing for someone could actually outweigh her obsession with career and success.

But at this moment, she was willing.

「BGM: The road the wind blows past is still long, where has your story reached...

The singing gradually settled into calm.

The final lingering chord slowly dissipated in Rongcheng's slightly chilly night.

After a moment of silence, applause and cheers suddenly erupted.

"Handsome guy! Another song!"

"Incredible! This is the best live version of 'The Ordinary Road' I've ever heard!"

"You're so handsome, young man!"

......

Tang Song smiled faintly, ignoring the surrounding commotion.

He returned the guitar to the street performer who looked at him with admiration and said gently, "Thank you."

Then, under everyone's gaze, he strode through the crowd on his long legs, arriving before the still-dazed female CEO.

"How was it? Did you like it?"

"It was beautiful..." Her voice trembled.

Tang Song gently took her hand and led her away.

The female CEO looked at his handsome profile, her bright eyes becoming misty.

The sound of wind, the crowd, and the cheers were all left far behind.

They didn't immediately hail a taxi, but simply walked hand in hand, aimlessly wandering Rongcheng's streets.

The streetlights cast a yellowish glow, stretching their shadows long and overlapping them.

Xie Shuyu tucked her hands into her pockets, suddenly growing silent, only occasionally turning her head to glance at Tang Song.

But her hand unconsciously held his tightly.

Tang Song didn't speak either, seeming to enjoy this alone time with the female CEO.

The surroundings were quiet.

Only the occasional sound of mahjong from nearby shops and their own unhurried footsteps broke the silence.

Just as they were about to leave this old street and return to the bustling lights,

Xie Shuyu's footsteps suddenly stopped.

She raised her head and looked toward a rather stylish whiskey bar by the roadside.

The sign wasn't large, illuminated by only a dim yellow light, reading "The Alchemist."

"Accompany me... for a drink?" she spoke, her voice very soft.

"Okay."

The two pushed open a heavy carved wooden door and entered.

The bar was quiet.

Only a few scattered customers sat in corners, conversing in low voices.

Xie Shuyu didn't choose a private booth, but instead brought Tang Song to sit side by side on tall stools at the long bar counter.

Behind the counter, a bartender in a white uniform focused intently on shaking his cocktail shaker.

She took off her camel-colored coat, revealing her tall, sexy figure.

Her elegant neckline appeared especially fair and smooth under the dim lighting.

"What would you like to drink?" the female CEO asked.

"You order for me, I trust your taste."

Xie Shuyu smiled, turning to the bartender to order two cocktails.

One "Penicillin," one "Old Fashioned."

The bartender acknowledged and began his pleasing performance.

Watching the cocktail shaker dancing under the lights, Xie Shuyu's gaze softened.

She turned to Tang Song and explained, "Penicillin uses two different styles of whiskey as the base, plus fresh lemon juice, honey, and ginger... it has great complexity."

"As for the Old Fashioned, it's purer. Just whiskey, sugar cube, bitters, and ice—simple, direct, but best embodies the essence of a drink."

Tang Song said curiously, "I didn't expect Shuyu Sister to know about these things."

Xie Shuyu paused, "During university, I was really into this and even specifically learned bartending for a while, but... my skills were quite ordinary."

"Want to give me a demonstration?"

"Never mind, that was over ten years ago." Xie Shuyu smiled self-deprecatingly, "My hands have long forgotten those flashy moves."

Tang Song looked at her captivating face and chuckled softly, "You could pick it up again later. I think the you who bartends must be very charming."

A becoming blush rose on Xie Shuyu's dignified, self-possessed face.

Then, she actually nodded, "Okay."

Soon, two cocktails of different colors were placed before them.

"For you two, please enjoy slowly." The bartender bowed elegantly.

Xie Shuyu said thank you, picked up the amber "Old Fashioned," and placed the slightly lighter-colored "Penicillin" in front of Tang Song.

She gently swirled her glass.

"Clink~" Their glasses touched.

Tang Song took a small sip.

Sweet, spicy, sour, bitter, smoky—a complex mix of flavors.

A very complicated taste.

Couldn't say he particularly liked it, but it had its own unique appeal.

Jazz BGM flowed.

Light and shadow floated across the bar counter, reflecting both the amber liquor and Xie Shuyu's fair face.

"Little Song." She suddenly spoke, her voice deeper and more magnetic than usual, "In your eyes, what kind of person am I?"

Tang Song looked at the female CEO under the lighting and said sincerely, "Mature, excellent, resilient, decisive, and of course most importantly, beautiful. I liked you from the first moment I saw you."

Xie Shuyu pursed her lips in a light smile, "I know, back then, your eyes couldn't hide anything."

With her experience and sharpness, she had seen right through Tang Song at their first meeting.

His little thoughts couldn't escape her eyes.

It was also because after interacting, she felt he was an honest, reliable person with decent skills, plus they were hometown fellows.

That's why she chose to have Tang Song work part-time.

She just never expected that in less than a year, he would undergo such a complete transformation.

Tang Song gently bumped her with his shoulder and asked deliberately, "If someone had told you back then that I would be your future partner, what would you have thought?"

Xie Shuyu thought for a moment.

Frankly said, "I wouldn't have believed it, and would have found it somewhat unacceptable. As an employee, a friend—that would be fine, but as a couple... you know, I didn't want to be affected by emotions. And honestly, you were quite a mess back then, I mean your state."

"Okay, I thought you saw my potential charm back then."

"Pfft—" Xie Shuyu couldn't help but laugh softly, though her eyes held more tenderness: "Getting ahead of yourself, Little Song."

"What about now? Shuyu Sister." Tang Song looked into her eyes.

Xie Shuyu didn't answer immediately, instead taking a sip of her drink, then suddenly leaned in, her lips lightly brushing against his.

Brief, but sufficiently ambiguous.

Tang Song felt her kiss carrying the aroma of whiskey, his gaze slightly lowering.

If... if he were still his original self

Probably, he would still just be a part-time programmer under Xie Shuyu,

Facing this decisive, intelligent, dignified female CEO, only able to look up at her with insecurity.

Dreams coming true, game and reality overlapping, he was using actions to gradually make up for all past regrets.

"Clink~" Their glasses collided crisply again.

They chatted idly, from the development requirements of that initial small program to every little detail along the way.

The lighting was dim, the music lazy.

Xie Shuyu swirled the crystal-clear ice sphere in her glass, her gaze growing somewhat distant.

Her voice lowered, as if telling a story kept at a distance from herself.

In high school, she was a standard exam-focused student.

Treating the college entrance exam as the most important "problem" in life to solve.

Analyzing her strengths and weaknesses, creating detailed, precise daily study plans.

After smoothly getting into a prestigious university, she discovered how vast the world truly was.

She began developing interest in many things—bartending, coffee, music...

Trying everything she wanted to experience.

After a brief period of indulgence, her heart finally settled completely and she began planning her career.

Studying hard, continuously improving herself, she entered the headquarters of a listed group.

Working overtime day and night, she quickly reached department head position.

She built connections, fought for resources, did everything possible to the extreme.

But soon after, that invisible "ceiling" appeared before her.

She clearly realized that gender and environment had placed locks on her, making breakthroughs difficult no matter how hard she tried.

Her strong self-respect made it impossible to accept being limited.

Her innate refusal to admit defeat made it impossible to stop moving forward.

So, she began calmly considering entrepreneurship.

After finding an industry she was interested in that also had prospects, she resolutely resigned.

Using all her savings and resources from those years, she returned to Yancheng and opened the first [Weiguang Coffee].

Of course, reality was far crueler than imagined.

The initial entrepreneurship wasn't smooth;

during the hardest times, she slept less than four hours daily for a whole month, pushing through on coffee alone.

......

"By 2021, I had opened eight directly-operated stores in Yancheng, finally achieving some small success."

"But the market is just like that—ruthlessly unreasonable. Luckin Coffee, Cotti Coffee's frenzied expansion, plus those large catering groups crossing over to snatch business, almost squeezed out all survival space for independent small brands like us."

"Capital, scale, price wars... if you don't charge forward with them, you can only wait to be eliminated."

......

"The story after that, you already know."

"This, is me."

Xie Shuyu raised her glass and drank the remaining liquor in one go.

Under the lighting, her bright eyes once again showed the pride and sharpness belonging to a "female CEO."

Tang Song leaned forward and kissed her slightly flushed cheek.

"I like you like this."

Xie Shuyu's eyelashes fluttered lightly. She took a deep breath, elegantly slid off the high stool, and picked up that camel-colored cashmere coat.

"Let's go, we should head back. It's very late."

"Mm."

.......

The night was already deep.

First drinking beer, then two cocktails.

She walked with a slight sway, yet stubbornly refused to let Tang Song hold her hand, keeping both hands tucked in her oversized camel coat pockets.

They passed through Rongcheng's quiet late-night districts, returning to [Times Haoting].

Upon entering, they found Meng Ran had already very considerately returned to her own master bedroom.

Leaving the entire common space to them.

The living room lights had been deliberately dimmed, leaving only a few dim, ambiguous atmosphere lights.

On the coffee table, considerately placed were an opened bottle of Prosecco sparkling wine and two crystal-clear crystal glasses.

Seeing this, Xie Shuyu smiled gracefully.

"This wine isn't cheap, it would be wasteful not to drink it." She picked up the bottle and glasses, handing them to Tang Song beside her, "Take these to the bedroom first, I'll go freshen up."

"Okay, go ahead." Tang Song reached out to take them.

Watching Xie Shuyu's slightly unsteady, swaying figure disappear through the bathroom door.

He then turned and entered the secondary bedroom belonging to her, casually turning on the light.

The room was quite spacious, meticulously tidy, clean and organized to the point of near rigidity.

On the nightstand, several full English original books about business management and brand marketing were neatly stacked by size.

On the other side was a minimalist-style aroma diffuser, emitting a faint cedar fragrance.

On the clothes rack hung several ironed silk blouses and suit jackets, colors arranged from light to dark, impeccably ordered.

Tang Song flipped through the books with interest, casually brushed against the cool, silky clothes on the rack.

He even pulled open a drawer, glancing at the stockings folded like tofu blocks inside.

His heartbeat gradually began to accelerate.

After a whole evening of romantic buildup and ambiguous tension, the mood between them had already been brewing to its peak.

Next was the moment to taste this ripe fruit.

He had been anticipating this female CEO filled with forbidden appeal for far too long.

After quite a while.

"Creak—"

The door was pushed open, and the freshened-up Xie Shuyu walked in.

Her face still maintained that unique dignity.

But due to slight intoxication, those always somewhat sharp eyes were veiled with moisture, appearing exceptionally captivating.

She walked to the clothes rack, first rearranging the clothes Tang Song had disordered back into place;

then went to the nightstand, restacking those books according to their original size order.

"Uh... sorry." Tang Song somewhat apologetically spread his hands, "I'll be more careful in the future."

Xie Shuyu paused, turned and explained, "I have some OCD, so... if we live together in the future, you might find it hard to adapt."

"Oh? Really?" Tang Song was momentarily stunned.

This was his first time hearing about it, but recalling, her home, her office, all seemed exceptionally tidy.

It seemed he really had been negligent as a boyfriend.

But mainly their relationship was too special, completely unlike normal male-female relationships.

Every meeting was about work.

If he mentioned ambiguous topics, the female CEO would deliberately change the subject.

If he got too intimate, he'd receive her catchphrase "just this once."

After tidying up, Xie Shuyu glanced at the bed he had sat on and disordered.

Somewhat unnaturally, she reached up to smooth her hair, pulled a bathrobe from the wardrobe, and handed it over.

"Your turn to shower."

Tang Song took the bathrobe, about to turn and leave.

But Xie Shuyu seemed to suddenly remember something, unconsciously adding, "Remember to wash thoroughly."

Her gaze uncontrollably slid downward, landing on Tang Song's lower abdomen, then quickly moved away.

Tang Song raised his brows slightly, couldn't resist patting her firm buttocks, "Understood, my female CEO."

Then he strode out.

Xie Shuyu instinctively covered the spot he had patted behind her, as if still feeling the lingering heat from his palm.

Soon, the sound of "splashing" water came from the bathroom.

Making her whole body break out in tremors.

She walked to the nightstand, poured the sparkling wine into the two crystal glasses.

Picking up one, she took a small sip.

The cool, fruity liquid slid down her throat, slightly calming her wildly beating heart.

Actually, from the moment she proactively invited Tang Song to stay with her, she had already anticipated this.

She wasn't the type of woman to act impulsively due to alcohol.

Every decision she made was carefully considered.

But even so, she had underestimated love's magic.

At this moment, she seemed to have become that adolescent girl again.

Blushing, heart racing, mind wandering.

......

Ten minutes later.

When Tang Song, finished with showering and brushing, pushed open the bedroom door and re-entered.

He saw a "refreshed" female CEO.

She sat on the soft large bed, having already removed her knitwear,

Wearing only a flesh-pink shaping undershirt and matching high-waisted leggings.

Over which she wore flesh-colored pantyhose.

The smooth, tight fabric outlined her tall, sexy, perfectly proportioned figure without reservation.

Every inch exuded the unique charm of a lightly mature woman.

She sat there quietly, dark smooth hair cascading over her shoulders.

A pair of bright eyes watched him steadily.

In her hand, she still held a glass of sparkling wine.

Sexy, dignified, forbidden, slightly intoxicated, hazy....

Various contradictory elements merged on her, forming an ultimate temptation enough to drive any man crazy.

Tang Song gently closed the door, "click" sound, locking it.

He didn't immediately approach, just leaned against the door, his gaze burning as he appreciated the vivid, fragrant scene before him.

In the bedroom, only their interwoven breathing remained.

Xie Shuyu sat on the edge of the bed, still holding that glass of sparkling wine.

Her back straight as if using final rationality to maintain her usual dignity.

"Have a drink together." She slightly tilted her head upward, gesturing with her chin toward the glass poured for him on the nightstand.

Her voice low and hoarse, carrying a barely noticeable tremor.

Tang Song smiled, walked over, picked up the crystal glass and drank it in one go.

As the liquid slid down his throat, he leaned forward slightly, looking down at her from above.

Xie Shuyu felt uncomfortable all over under his invasive gaze, instinctively pressing together her long, beautiful legs.

"You... what are you looking at?"

"Of course, at you." Tang Song's lips curved upward as he slowly leaned closer, approaching her.

Every movement seemed to tread on Xie Shuyu's heartstrings, making her heartbeat spiral out of control.

Tang Song took the glass from her hand, pressed it to her lips, "Open."

Xie Shuyu froze, instinctively parting her lips.

"Gulp—"

Cool wine was poured into her mouth.

Some overflowed, trickling down her fair jaw and delicate collarbone.

Soaking a dark ambiguous stain on that flesh-pink undershirt.

Tang Song placed the glass back on the nightstand, his body continuing to press downward.

Xie Shuyu almost instinctively moved back, yet was forced to gradually press into the soft bedding.

Finally completely pinned beneath him in that soft bedding.

Tang Song lowered his head, lips and teeth lightly touching her earlobe, neck, warm breath coursing through her like electric currents.

The invasiveness about him intertwined with gentleness.

Like an invisible net, trapping all her rationality and restraint firmly.

Xie Shuyu felt she was going crazy.

Couldn't resist reaching out her arms, actively encircling his neck.

As lips and teeth intertwined, all rationality and sobriety were gradually stripped away.

......

Outside the window, Rongcheng's night was sinking.

Wind blew through the forest of high-rise buildings, neon lights blurring into ambiguous light and shadow.

On the nightstand, the forgotten sparkling wine still had fine bubbles rising, bursting.

Their breathing overlapped into an invisible flame.

At some point, Xie Shuyu's hoarse voice spoke:

"...Do you love me? Tang Song."

"Love."

"What do you love about me?"

"I love your dignity, and love even more how this dignity looks when torn apart by me. Shuyu Sister....."