The shared identity as alumni, combined with the serendipitous encounter, made the meal exceptionally pleasant. Conversations about specific food stalls in the school cafeteria, the crystal-clear artificial lake, the blossoming cherry trees, and the overpriced campus supermarket quickly drew the four closer together. What started as online interactions transitioned smoothly into real-life friendships.

After dinner, the four of them took a stroll through Yan City University of Technology. They walked aimlessly around the familiar campus, passing groups of students who were also out enjoying the evening. Yao Lingling, Zhang Jiahong, and Li Shumin complained to each other about the frustrations they encountered at work.

Having studied fashion design in university, they started their careers as assistant designers. Contrary to their glamorous expectations, they found themselves dealing with various fabrics and patterns daily. The work was tedious, detailed, and low-paying, often involving taking the blame for mistakes. Zhang Jiahong had already quit her job and was preparing for a civil service exam at home. Yao Lingling and Li Shumin persevered, hoping to eventually become official designers.

As they prepared to part ways at the bustling school gate, Yao Lingling suddenly leaned in and gently pinched Tang Song's cheek, finally satisfied. "Senior, don't mind me. I've been following you online for so long, and now that I've met you in person, I've always wanted to pinch your cheek."

"It's fine. I wouldn't mind if you kissed me," Tang Song joked with a smile. Although they hadn't spent much time together, he could tell Yao Lingling had a great personality and could take a joke.

Yao Lingling stuck out her tongue and replied, "Keep dreaming! Hmph." Zhang Jiahong and Li Shumin exchanged a knowing glance and, with perfect timing, pushed Yao Lingling forward. She stumbled into Tang Song's arms, her soft fragrance filling the air.

Tang Song instinctively caught her to prevent her from falling. "Is this real enough for you?" Zhang Jiahong and Li Shumin laughed as they ran off. Yao Lingling, her ears burning red, pushed against his chest and, without saying goodbye, chased after them, shouting, "You two are in trouble tonight!"

Tang Song watched her disappear, shaking his head with a smile. From the collision, he could tell she was not as well-endowed as Gao Mengting or Little Jing.

...

Returning to Qingxin Homestead, Tang Song took a quick shower and then relaxed on the sofa, opening the system interface to check the details of the title [Popular Me].

【Current Cash Reward: 146,600 yuan (Total: 361,200 yuan)】

In three days, he accumulated 146,600 yuan, mainly thanks to the first-person videos he posted on Douyin. Clicking to withdraw, his balance instantly increased to 292,000 yuan, giving him a feeling of exhilaration. Opening the Douyin app, he saw he had 2,103 followers. The last video he posted over a day ago had over 4,000 likes and 800 comments, gaining more than 1,100 followers. In contrast, his Little Red Book account had 1,509 followers. Despite the moderate success of his latest post, it only increased his followers by 400, making the traffic from Douyin significantly more impressive.

This validated his strategy of operating the accounts separately. Douyin would focus on viral videos, while Little Red Book would serve as a platform for interaction and engagement. Reviewing his earnings, Tang Song opened a shopping app and spent 7,000 yuan on a guitar. He had a rough idea for his next video—showcasing not just his car and hands, but also his musical talent, which could attract a wider range of followers.

Just then, his phone rang urgently. Checking the caller ID, he saw it was Xie Shuyu.

"Hello, Sister Shuyu."

Soon, her charming voice came through, "Tang Song, sorry to bother you so late."

"No problem. Is there an issue with the mini-program?" Chapters first released on novel-fire.ɴet

"No, the mini-program is running perfectly. I just noticed you haven't signed the part-time contract. I've been swamped and forgot to follow up. Is there a problem on your end?"

Tang Song slapped his forehead, remembering he had indeed forgotten to sign the contract after their meal due to the whirlwind of recent events. "No, I've just been too busy and forgot."

"That's good to hear. Are you available on the morning of May 3rd? I'll be in the office. If you could come by, we can sign the contract and discuss a few things."

Tang Song thought for a moment and replied, "Sure, I'll be there at 10 AM."

Xie Shuyu chuckled, "Great. You can also collect last month's part-time fee then. I'll arrange for your salary to be paid on the 5th of each month going forward."

"Thank you, Sister Shuyu."

"No problem. Rest well. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

After hanging up, Tang Song's thoughts drifted to Xie Shuyu. The elegant and competent woman had left a deep impression on him and had always been a source of inner conflict. During their last meeting, he had hoped to change her perception and boost his confidence, but due to interruptions from Wang Yunping and Smile Holdings, he hadn't made the best impression. Now, with his newfound self-assurance, he looked forward to their upcoming meeting with more anticipation than nervousness.

Taking a deep breath, Tang Song moved a chair to the balcony, opened all the windows, and let the cool night breeze wash over him. Today marked the last day of April. This month had brought monumental changes to his life, which was why he had changed his online name to "April."

...

In the brightly lit living room of an apartment in the capital, the only sound was the rustling of pages being turned.

"Click, click, click—" The sound of high heels tapping on the wooden floor echoed.

Assistant Lin stood cautiously beside, speaking in a low voice, "Director Jin, the flight to Shenzhen has been arranged for tomorrow morning at 10 AM, with the return flight on the afternoon of May 3rd. Qin Yingsue will visit you on the morning of the 2nd..."

Secretary Jin, sitting quietly on the sofa, kept her eyes on the book in her hands. She wore a loose T-shirt and shorts, her thick brown hair casually clipped up with a shark clip. Her exquisite face was makeup-free, and her bare legs were elegantly crossed, exuding a graceful aura like a misty cloud.

Assistant Lin couldn't help but steal glances at her. Even as a fellow woman, she often marveled at Secretary Jin's beauty.

After reporting the schedule, Assistant Lin hesitated before adding softly, "One more thing. The luxury gift box order you mentioned earlier has been updated. I didn't notify you because you were on vacation."

"Oh?" For the first time, Secretary Jin looked up, her eyes meeting Assistant Lin's. "Who is it for?"

"The delivery address is the group's headquarters, addressed to you, with instructions for Sheng Tang Security to deliver it on May 20."

Secretary Jin's full, moist lips parted, her face showing a stunned expression. Seeing this, Assistant Lin was taken aback. In her two years with Secretary Jin, she had never seen such an expression on her face.

After a long silence, Secretary Jin stood up, her tone complex, "Why did you tell me this? Today is April 30, not May 20!"