152: Chapter 152 I thought you weren't coming

The hotel car was parked in the VIP passage outside the Studio.

Shen Nian and Zhou Yutong were already sitting in the back seat.

Holding her trophy, Shen Nian leaned against the window, her gaze fixed on the streetscape outside.

Blocks of neon light streaked across her face, one after another, like unextinguished spotlights on a stage.

Zhou Yutong was typing furiously on her phone in the group chat, reporting the battle results to Li Cheng.

"Zhou Yutong: Brother Cheng, Sister Nian won the championship!!"

"Li Cheng: I know! It's number one on the trending list! I was so excited at home that I spilled beer all over my pants! I'm currently using a hairdryer to dry my crotch!"

Zhou Yutong let out a laugh, her fingers typing rapidly.

"Zhou Yutong: Take it easy, Brother Cheng, you still have to pick us up at the airport tomorrow."

"Li Cheng: I have to be there for the airport pickup! Even if I have to wear split-crotch pants, I'm going to pick up our champion!"

The car door opened, and Jiang Fan slid into the passenger seat.

"Let's go," he said to the driver.

The car started and merged into the late-night traffic of Star City.

The back seat was quiet for a while.

After sending the message, Zhou Yutong put away her phone. She looked at the back of Jiang Fan's head, then at Shen Nian, feeling that the atmosphere was a bit subtle, and decided to keep quiet.

After two minutes, she couldn't hold it in anymore and asked in a low voice, "Brother Fan, what did Tang Yingxue want with you...?"

"Discussing some work," Jiang Fan replied briefly.

"Oh." Zhou Yutong nodded, sensibly deciding not to say anything more.

The car fell silent again, save for the sound of tires rolling over the asphalt.

Shen Nian didn't speak the entire time, until the car turned into the hotel's underground parking garage and came to a stop.

Zhou Yutong pressed the floor button, and the elevator went up.

When they reached their floor, Zhou Yutong hopped out first. "Sister Nian, I'm going to drop off my things first! I'll come find you to chat in ten minutes!"

Shen Nian walked to her room door and turned back to look at Jiang Fan.

"What did Tang Yingxue say to you?"

"She wants me to write a song for her."

Shen Nian stared at him for three seconds.

The sensor lights in the hallway shone on her face, making the emotions in her eyes hard to read.

"She is very beautiful."

The statement came out of nowhere.

Jiang Fan took two steps forward to her side. "You look even better tonight."

Shen Nian swiped her key card and stood at the doorway.

"Come in and sit for a while?" Her voice was very soft.

"Aren't you tired?"

"Not tired." Shen Nian turned sideways, making room for him at the door. "It's championship night; you have to stay with me for a while."

The door closed behind them, and the hallway returned to silence.

Only Zhou Yutong peeked her head out from the end of the corridor. Seeing the door close, she pursed her lips, turned around, and retreated into her own room.

— —

Shen Nian placed the trophy on the nightstand.

She walked to the bed and sat down, the white hem of her dress spreading out along the edge.

She patted the spot beside her.

Jiang Fan walked over and sat down beside her.

Shen Nian turned her head to look at him and reached out to unzip the back of her gown.

"Help me with this."

Jiang Fan raised his hand, his fingertips touching her warm back as the zipper slid down inch by inch along her spine.

The white gown slipped from her shoulders, revealing a light champagne-colored silk camisole underneath.

Shen Nian stared at him for two seconds before reaching out to undo the straps of her camisole dress.

The light fell on her skin, casting a delicate, porcelain-white glow.

Jiang Fan reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist.

Shen Nian leaned into the crook of his shoulder, her breathing slightly ragged.

"Jiang Fan."

"Hmm."

"Are you... like this with many women?"

"Like what?"

"...Just like this." Shen Nian's fingers traced circles on his chest. "Complimenting them, chatting with them, and then..."

Jiang Fan looked down at her.

"Are you jealous?"

Shen Nian lifted her chin and brushed her lips against his Adam's apple.

"No. I'm just happy as long as you don't leave me behind."

She paused, her voice dropping lower. "I know I'm not good enough yet, but I will work hard to catch up to you."

Jiang Fan didn't respond, his fingers caressing her earlobe.

Shen Nian tilted her head, nuzzling into his palm.

"Don't overthink it." Jiang Fan's voice came from above.

He didn't say anything else.

His hand slid from her earlobe to her jaw, lifted it slightly, and he leaned down to kiss her.

This gesture was far more effective than any comfort.

Shen Nian loosened her grip on his shirt collar and wrapped her arms around his neck instead.

Jiang Fan took the opportunity to press her down onto the soft bed.

Kisses fell on her collarbone and shoulders, trailing all the way down.

Shen Nian's body trembled slightly, her hands gripping the sheets tightly.

The camisole dress was pulled off completely and tossed onto the floor.

Shen Nian bit her lip, propping herself up on her elbows against the pillow, trying to retreat.

Jiang Fan pressed down on her hips and pulled her back.

The bed let out a dull creak.

Shen Nian grabbed his shoulder with one hand, while stuffing the corner of the pillow into her mouth with the other to muffle the sounds about to escape.

Jiang Fan's rhythm grew faster and faster.

The next second, Shen Nian's entire body tensed up, her neck arched back, and her fingers dug deep into Jiang Fan's back.

She could no longer suppress the sounds in her throat.

— —

The championship trophy on the nightstand shifted two centimeters from the vibrations, nearly rolling off the edge.

Shen Nian reached out to steady it, but Jiang Fan caught her by the waist and flipped her over.

"Don't—not there—"

It was already too late.

She buried her face in the pillow, her shoulder blades rising and falling with her breathing.

The room was filled only with the muffled sounds of skin against skin and increasingly ragged gasps.

— —

11:30 PM.

The system panel flickered at the edge of Jiang Fan's retina.

[Deep Compatibility ×2, Lifespan Value +2000]

[Current Lifespan Value: 40,100 points]

[Remaining Lifespan: 125 days]

An SS-rank compatibility was indeed twice as high as before.

Jiang Fan closed the panel and sat up from the bed.

Shen Nian was already asleep, her breathing steady, one hand still resting on his waist.

He looked down at her for two seconds.

The corners of her mouth still held a hint of a smile; she was sleeping very soundly.

Jiang Fan gently moved her hand away, got out of bed, and picked up his clothes from the floor to put them on.

He pulled out the black key card from his jacket's inner pocket and held it between his fingers.

He opened the door and walked out.

— —

The InterContinental Hotel was right next door.

The night breeze blew in from the window at the end of the corridor, carrying the damp chill of September in Star City.

Jiang Fan's pace was neither fast nor slow.

37th floor of the InterContinental Hotel, presidential suite.

The black key card touched the sensor area, and the door opened silently.

The room was very dark, with only a small night light on at the bedside, casting a dim, yellowish glow over the bed.

The faint scent of cedarwood perfume floated in the air.

Tang Yingxue was lying on the bed, curled on her side facing the window, breathing evenly.

Her silk pajamas clung to her curves, shimmering with a dark luster in the dim light.

Jiang Fan walked to the bedside. He leaned down, placing one hand beside her shoulder, and lowered his head to kiss behind her ear.

Tang Yingxue's breathing skipped a beat.

She turned over, eyes opening, pupils shrinking, her body instantly tensing up.

"It's me."

Tang Yingxue stared at him, her chest heaving twice before she slowly loosened her grip on the corner of the quilt.

Yet her chest was still rising and falling rapidly, the skin at her neckline sliding up and down with her breath.

She took a breath, her voice slightly hoarse. "What time is it?"

"Five past twelve."

Tang Yingxue sat up, her long hair sliding down from her shoulder, a few strands clinging to the side of her cheek.

She didn't rush to tuck her hair back, letting it fall loose as she looked up at him.

"I thought you weren't coming."

Jiang Fan didn't respond.

He raised his hand, his fingertips resting on the edge of her pajama strap, and pulled it outward by an inch.

The silk fabric slid down her shoulder, bunching up at the crook of her elbow.

Tang Yingxue raised her hand, fingers clutching her neckline.

"Not going to discuss the terms first?"

Her tone was still composed.

Jiang Fan looked at her hand.

"Depends on your performance."

Tang Yingxue bit her lower lip.

She was accustomed to holding the initiative at the negotiating table, accustomed to others flocking to her.

But in front of Jiang Fan, the assets and status she prided herself on lost all their weight.

There was no fanaticism or sycophancy in his eyes, only calm scrutiny.

Tang Yingxue's fingers loosened one by one.

The silk pajamas, losing their support, slid down her body completely, gathering at her waist.

She tilted her head back slightly, her slender neck arching into a graceful curve.

"I want a lead single that can win a Golden Melody Awards." Her voice regained its usual aloofness, though a slight tremor remained at the end.

Jiang Fan leaned down, his nose nearly touching hers.

"That depends on what you—"

His hand landed on her waist. The moment his fingertips touched her skin, Tang Yingxue's abdominal muscles contracted.

"...can give me."