"I heard Senior Song is having a really tough time lately."
"What happened? Isn't he interning at Sivan?"
"He's having a tough time at Sivan? That's the world's largest advertising firm! Graduates struggle to get in, let alone someone who hasn't even graduated yet."
"Who told you he's having a tough time? What do you mean?"
Everyone's gaze turned to the girl who spoke first.
The girl relayed truthfully, "A few days ago, I was chatting with a senior who graduated. He happened to be at Sivan too. He said Senior Song refused to take sides in the workplace and offended leaders from both camps. He's been having a hard time lately."
"No way? Isn't Song You usually quite smart? How could he make such a low-level mistake?"
"Then what's he going to do? The competition pressure in foreign companies is so high, Senior Song might not even get a permanent position, right?"
The girl shrugged, "Who knows? But I heard Senior Song is thinking of going solo."
"Going solo?" Everyone was stunned for a moment, then chuckled, "I think that's a good idea."
"To be honest, with Senior Song's capabilities, he could really start his own company."
"Yeah! If Senior Song's studio can get off the ground, we'll have a place for our senior year internships."
-
Evening.
After finishing a sketch, Wen Tingxue leaned back in her chair, lost in thought.
Although she hadn't said anything during the gossip session that afternoon, she was still thinking about it.
After all, Song You had been good to her.
Since she started university, he had been helping her with almost everything.
If he was in trouble now, she had no reason not to reach out.
Leaving the studio, Wen Tingxue called Song You.
But he didn't answer for a long time.
Just as she was about to hang up, the call connected.
"Song..."
As soon as she spoke, a cacophony of noise flooded her ears.
Wen Tingxue winced, unable to help but wonder if she had dialed the wrong number.
Until a familiar, gentle voice came through the line, exuding a charm that seemed to set everything else aside.
"Hello?"
She really didn't know how to comfort someone with whom she had a relationship that was more than casual but less than close.
"Then, can you tell me about it? I'll be your confidante."
Her cautious question reached him, and Song You paused his smoking.
Many people had called to ask about his situation recently, but she was the only one who made him feel truly cared for.
His suppressed urge to confide surged to the peak.
Song You rolled his Adam's apple and forcefully stubbed out his cigarette on the railing.
Along with the cigarette, he extinguished the negative emotions he was about to vent.
"Can we meet and talk? Let me treat you to a meal."
Song You asked slowly, gazing at the Imperial City as it gradually sank into the black sea.
His voice was low, lower than Wen Tingxue had ever heard.
"Okay," her heart softened, and she readily agreed.
When she realized, she pursed her lips and asked, "When?"
Her subconscious reaction was actually her most genuine thought.
She didn't mind meeting Song You, and in fact, she wanted to see him soon.
Because she felt he was in a really bad state lately.
Song You smiled faintly, "It's up to you, I'm free anytime."
"How about tomorrow evening?" Wen Tingxue calculated, "I'm sorry, I'm only free during this time."
"Alright, I'll pick you up then."
After the call ended, Song You instinctively reached into his pocket for a cigarette.
As soon as he put it in his mouth, he remembered the young girl's words, curved his lips, and put the cigarette back.
Turning back to the wine reception, the cold wind in the hallway didn't seem so biting anymore.
-
Monday.
As Wen Tingxue went downstairs with her backpack, Song You sent her a message.
She didn't like to keep people waiting. After informing Lu Youran, she quickened her pace towards the parking lot.
She wasn't sure if it was her imagination or reality, but as she exited the teaching building, she thought she saw... Jing Xiao?
Wen Tingxue stopped uncertainly and looked back.
There were too many students leaving class, and the young man who had just passed her was nowhere to be seen.
Was she... seeing things?
Why would Jing Xiao suddenly come over?
"If you don't cherish a girl, are you not allowed to let others dote on her?"
Everyone immediately looked up and saw Fu Ran standing on the third-floor railing, looking down with a commanding gaze.
Seeing him, Wen Tingxue immediately relaxed and turned to find Song You.
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."
The young girl apologized as soon as she opened the car door.
Song You smiled, "It's alright, I just arrived too. Want something to drink?"
Looking at the thick taro milk tea handed to her, Wen Tingxue's eyes widened in surprise, "How did you know I wanted to drink this?!"
She had been craving it during class.
Song You chuckled, "Young girls generally like it, right?"
"Thank you, Senior." Wen Tingxue smiled and took it.
The sweet and soft milk tea warmed her body, driving away most of the chill.
"Ding Xi wants to thank you," Song You said as he drove, "He happened to be patrolling the store when I bought the milk tea."
Wen Tingxue held the milk tea to warm her hands, "It's nothing to thank for, I didn't help much."
"No, he said that because of your design, a big boss might invest."
"Invest?!" Wen Tingxue's spirit immediately soared, "Really? Then there's hope, right?"
Song You nodded, "It's still in the evaluation stage, but if it passes, the prospects should be good."
"Why didn't he tell me? Which venture capital firm is it?" The young girl complained unhappily and took out her phone to check WeChat.
Song You chuckled, "Because it's not finalized yet, he didn't want you to get your hopes up for nothing. As for the venture capital firm, he didn't say."
-
It's cold, so let's have hotpot.
As soon as she got out of the car, Wen Tingxue saw Xu Kexin queuing.
"Sweetie, what are you doing here too?"
Having not seen each other for a while, Wen Tingxue greeted her excitedly.
Xu Kexin raised an eyebrow in surprise and explained, "I'm treating a friend to dinner. She's helped me a lot."
Wen Tingxue then noticed the short-haired girl beside her, with very delicate features and bright eyes.
"This is Qiao Hui, a senior a year older than me," Xu Kexin introduced. "And this is my best friend, Wen Tingxue."
After the two greeted each other, she asked, "What's going on? Why did you come all the way here by yourself? Where's Yu Wenli?"
This hotpot restaurant was very far from the Academy of Fine Arts.
Given her personality, she wouldn't have come here easily.
Wen Tingxue quickly made a shushing gesture, "Don't tell him I came with Senior Song."
"Oh?" Xu Kexin's eyes immediately became playful.
Wen Tingxue sighed helplessly, "This really isn't my fault. Who told him to have an opinion about Senior Song?"
Yesterday, when she asked a few casual questions about Song You in the car, he became unhappy and spoke sarcastically.
If he found out she was having dinner with Song You, he would be even more displeased, so it was better to keep it a secret.
Anyway, it was far away, so he might not find out.
...
When Song You parked the car and came over, Wen Tingxue was staring blankly at the long queue at the entrance.
How long would they have to wait?
Was it worth it just for a meal?
Sensing her thoughts, Song You smiled and said, "Don't worry, no need to wait, I booked a table in advance."
"You have a table?" The young girl's eyes lit up.
"Yes."
"Then..." she said shyly, "Do you mind if we share a table?"
As she spoke, Song You had already noticed Xu Kexin. "Let's go together. If we wait, it'll probably take a long time."
Second floor.
Except for Qiao Hui, not everyone could handle spicy food well, so they ordered a鸳鸯 pot.
As for the dishes, everyone ordered their own.
A second before ordering, Lu Youran's voice came from a distance, "See! See! I told you it was them!"
Wen Tingxue looked towards the source of the voice and indeed saw Lu Youran and Fu Ran, along with a trembling store manager.
"?" Did Fu Ran invest in this restaurant?
As their eyes met, Song You nodded, "More accurately, he owns it."
Wen Tingxue: "..."
"Why didn't you say anything when you came?" Fu Ran glanced at the clean table, then turned and snapped his fingers at the store manager, "From now on, when they come, arrange a private room for them directly."
"Yes," the store manager immediately memorized the appearances of a few people.
The private room was on the fourth floor. As the group went up, Kang Wei happened to be coming out to use the restroom. Hearing the movement on the stairs, he instinctively glanced over, then noticed Wen Tingxue.
After staring for a few seconds and confirming it was her, he took out his phone, found an angle, took an extremely ambiguous photo, and sent it to Yu Wenli.
With the message: [Your wife is stepping out. ]