Chapter 2255 - 724: Vermilion Mark (3)

[Lin Feifei: "(Confetti.gif) That’s awesome. I’ll bring out my treasured good wine, we won’t leave until we’re drunk."]

Seeing the enthusiastic invitations from her friends, Zhang Yan also put her little thoughts aside,

and responded with an "OK" emoji.

Then she put away her phone and focused again on the steaming bowl of beef noodles in front of her.

However, her heart was filled with a small sense of anticipation.

She was actually someone who loved making friends, from university, graduation, to work, she always had friendly friends like "Lulu" and "Li Chao" around her.

She had shared these stories with Tang Song on QQ.

But he just didn’t know.

...

After lunch, she returned to the car.

Before Tang Song reminded her, Zhang Yan deftly buckled her seat belt herself.

Tang Song chuckled, "You caught an early flight, you’re probably exhausted, and it’s easy to feel sleepy after noodles at noon. Let’s go home and rest."

Upon hearing "go home," Zhang Yan’s body instantly tensed.

She opened her mouth, wanting to ask "go where," but after glancing at Tang Song’s naturally confident profile, she swallowed her words and kept quiet.

The car started, leisurely rolling over the fallen leaves on the street, heading towards the city center along the main road.

"In the afternoon we’ll head to your alma mater, Agricultural University, and I’ll take you shopping in the evening." He glanced at the phone in Zhang Yan’s hand and said, "By the way, let’s get you a new phone. Your Sister Wen Ruan specifically mentioned that your phone memory is almost full and needs replacing."

Zhang Yan, embarrassed, let out an "Ah" and promptly shoved her phone into her down jacket pocket, nodding obediently, "Oh, okay."

She was currently using a Redmi Note 10 bought two years ago, which cost her 1400 yuan, and had 8GB+128GB memory, which had long been filled with various work software.

But since she didn’t play games and used it sparingly, she had been making do.

Yet being pointed out by Tang Song, still made her feel a wave of unbearable shame.

The street scenes along the way grew increasingly bustling, featuring many brand-new high-rises somewhat different from what Zhang Yan remembered.

She quietly watched the scenery outside the window, carefully memorizing the changes in this city.

The car gently glided into YJTC’s underground parking lot.

Getting out of the car, Tang Song carried the luggage while Zhang Yan hugged the bouquet of roses, obediently following behind him into the luxurious entrance lobby.

Entering the elevator.

Zhang Yan stared at the name on the screen and the continually jumping floor numbers.

Sweat started forming on her palms all of a sudden.

Is this... YJTC? His home!

With each layer the elevator ascended, her heart beat faster.

Feeling like it was ready to jump out, her entire body began to heat up and turn red.

"Ding—" The elevator stopped steadily at the 20th floor.

"We’re here."

Standing before the dark and solemn armored door, Zhang Yan bowed her head, hugging the flowers tightly, not uttering a word.

While feeding in the password, Tang Song casually said, "The password is my birthday, come on in, here are your slippers."

Zhang Yan walked inside, looking at this mansion more luxurious than a five-star hotel, standing nervously at the entrance, obediently changing into slippers.

The sound of the luggage’s wheels echoed in the vast flat space.

Zhang Yan kept her head down, completely uninterested in the decor or views, simply staying close behind Tang Song.

"Click—" Another door opening sound.

Tang Song placed her luggage in the master bedroom, turning back to say, "Alright, put your clothes in the closet in the dressing room later, the dressing room is over here."

Zhang Yan’s moist apricot eyes finally lifted, timidly asking, "Which room do I stay in?

"Of course, you’ll stay in my room."

"Th-then..." Zhang Yan’s voice was trembling, "Where will you stay?"

Tang Song leaned in slightly, closer to her, jokingly saying, "Of course, I’ll also be staying inside."

"Ah?!" Zhang Yan gasped, her body jolted, cheeks instantly flushing to red.

Originally, she thought that even if she stayed at his place, it would surely be in the guest room.

She never expected that Tang Song... would directly want to stay with her!

This completely exceeded her wildest imagination.

Stammering, Zhang Yan took a half step back in panic, "Tang, Tang Song... is it okay for me... to stay here?"

"Why wouldn’t it be okay?"

"It’s not... appropriate..."

"Do you dislike me?"

"N-no! Absolutely not!" She shook her head like a rattle drum.

"Then listen to me." Tang Song reached out, gently ruffling her collarbone hair, and smiled, "It’s warm inside, take off your down jacket, it’s hot."

Under Tang Song’s firm yet extremely gentle gaze, all of Zhang Yan’s objections were stuck in her throat.

Silently, she lowered her head, like a robot following orders, obediently taking off her heavy down jacket.

Looking at the girl beside him, meek and afraid.

Tang Song felt an indescribable sensation welling up within him.

He couldn’t help but recall senior year in high school, when the [Dream System] allowed him to glimpse a future without the system.

In 2028, when he was 30 years old.

Liu Qingning, through her own efforts, had long attained a million-yuan annual salary, acquired residency and a house in the Imperial City, becoming a radiant presence.

Whereas he was laid off by a small company in Yan City.

Unable to rise high nor settle low, time and again hitting walls, life had worn away all his sharp edges.

Because of deep-rooted inferiority and avoidance, he dared not accept the kindness from his first love.

And in that timeline, Zhang Yan’s mother would have passed away due to cancer.

Her closest connection in this world had vanished.

Having secured a stable job at a hometown institute, through relatives back home, she tactfully proposed a meeting.

Although he eventually refused.

The more he understood Zhang Yan, the more he realized how much courage it must have taken for her introverted-self to make such a move back then.

If... if things had truly proceeded according to that script, how would the gears of fate turn?

Maybe, one day at some street corner, she would once again muster the courage, gather the Dragon Ball, and appear before him.

Then, would they be together?

Even if they were together, would he in midnight dreams cry out more desperately for the unattainable first love?

Eventually, turning the pure girl before him into the beauty mark upon his heart.

Fortunately, he altered his fate.

The fog of dreams had long dissipated.

The winds of reality had blown the lost red leaf back into his hands again.

This time, he wanted to cherish it.