179: Chapter 179 The Remote Showdown Between Two Top Female Stars

Jiang Fan carried two bags of crayfish to Xu Qingya's western-style house.

The main lights in the living room were not on, and the blue light from the TV reflected on the wall.

The playback interface was paused on Tencent Music, with the cover showing Tang Yingxue's profile, and the song title—later.

Xu Qingya sat cross-legged on the sofa, holding a can of beer, having drunk more than half of it.

Her hair was loose, and she was wearing an oversized white T-shirt with just a pair of shorts underneath.

Jiang Fan placed the crayfish on the coffee table and opened the bags.

"Eat it while it's hot."

Xu Qingya didn't move, her eyes fixed on the TV.

"This song is really good."

Jiang Fan sat down beside her, took the beer from her hand, and took a sip himself.

"Better than as you wish?"

"It's different." Xu Qingya turned her head to look at him. "as you wish is about grand love, while later is about intimate love, but intimate love is what touches the heart the most."

She picked up a crayfish, deftly peeled the shell, threw it into her mouth, and chewed twice.

"Tang Yingxue has managed to redeem herself this time."

Jiang Fan picked up a crayfish to peel it for her, saying nothing.

Xu Qingya ate two more, then wiped her hands with a tissue.

She scooted closer to Jiang Fan, turned sideways, and rested her head on his shoulder.

"You can only be mine."

The voice was soft, as if she were speaking to herself.

Jiang Fan looked down at her, reached out to pinch her chin, turned her face toward him, and kissed her.

Xu Qingya was stunned for a beat, then reached out to hook her arms around his neck, responding with intensity.

Her lips still carried the taste of the spicy crayfish.

They kissed for quite a while before they separated.

Xu Qingya's lips were red, and it was unclear whether it was from the spice or the kissing.

She stood up, lifted the hem of her white T-shirt, pulled it off over her head, bundled it up, and tossed it onto the sofa armrest.

Jiang Fan's belt was pulled away; Xu Qingya climbed onto the sofa, swung one leg over his side, and sat directly astride his lap.

Just then, the phone on the coffee table rang.

The screen lit up, displaying the caller's name.

Tang Yingxue.

Xu Qingya saw it too.

Her hand was still resting on the clasp of her bra behind her back; her expression darkened, and she turned to stare at Jiang Fan.

"Answer it."

Jiang Fan glanced at her.

"Put it on speaker."

Jiang Fan picked up the phone, pressed answer, and turned on the speaker.

"Hello."

The other side of the line was noisy, with human chatter and the sound of glasses clinking—it was the sound of a celebration party.

"Jiang Fan." Tang Yingxue's voice came through the receiver, carrying a hint of alcohol.

"Teacher Tang, congratulations."

"One hour, twenty million streams." She chuckled. "You saw the numbers, right?"

Xu Qingya unclasped her bra, slid her fingers down to adjust herself, found the right position, and sat directly down.

"Yeah... I saw them. The results are excellent." Jiang Fan held Xu Qingya's waist with one hand, his voice sounding a bit off.

"I'm flying to Shanghai tomorrow." The background noise on Tang Yingxue's end quieted down a bit as she walked to a corner.

"Eight o'clock in the evening, at the InterContinental Hotel, the same room as last time."

"I have something to do tomorrow..."

"Cancel it."

Tang Yingxue paused for two seconds.

"I've prepared a gift for you." Her voice dropped a notch, carrying that slurred ambiguity typical of someone who has been drinking.

"The thing you taught me last time... I want to practice it again."

Jiang Fan's eye twitched.

He looked up at Xu Qingya.

"Let's talk about it tomorrow. You should get some rest—"

Xu Qingya suddenly leaned toward the phone and spoke.

Her voice was drawn out and soft.

"Jiang Fan, don't stop, faster."

The other side of the phone went silent.

One second. Two seconds.

Beep—beep—beep—

It hung up.

In the living room, only the outro of later continued to play on the TV.

Xu Qingya slowly turned her head back and looked down at Jiang Fan.

"What did you teach her last time?"

"Vocal techniques."

"Is that so?"

Xu Qingya grabbed his shirt collar with both hands and pulled it to the sides.

"Then you can teach me properly tonight."

She pressed her mouth against the side of his neck and bit down.

Jiang Fan hissed.

Xu Qingya let go, looked at the bite mark left behind; it was quite deep.

"You are not allowed to go to the InterContinental Hotel tomorrow."

"I won't go."

"And not the day after either."

"Okay."

"If you dare to go—" Xu Qingya's movements became faster and faster, "I'll tie you to the bed, and you won't be getting down for a month."

"Then I'm looking forward to it."

"You—"

Jiang Fan wrapped his arms around her waist, flipped over, pulled her off the sofa, and they both rolled onto the carpet together.

Xu Qingya was pinned to the carpet, her hair spread out, panting.

The TV was playing later for who knows how many times, and the piano intro started up again.

——

Late at night.

Xu Qingya was sleeping on his arm, her breathing steady.

Jiang Fan stared at the ceiling.

The bite mark on his neck was still throbbing with pain.

The system panel flickered at the edge of his vision.

[Deep Compatibility × 4, Lifespan Value + 12000]

[Current Lifespan Value: 86100 points]

This tsundere woman had put him through four rounds, completely draining him.

She was ensuring he wouldn't have the energy to see Tang Yingxue tomorrow.

Jiang Fan turned over and pulled her into his embrace.

——

The next morning at ten o'clock.

Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, Terminal 2.

Tang Yingxue wore black sunglasses and a beige trench coat, walking out of the VIP passage surrounded by several bodyguards.

Outside the exit, three layers of fans were gathered, holding light boards and banners.

"Sister Xue! later is so good!"

"Sister Xue, I love you!"

Tang Yingxue waved at the crowd and headed straight for the van.

The car door closed, she took off her sunglasses, tossed them onto the seat, and rubbed her temples.

The assistant handed her a cup of warm water from the front seat.

Tang Yingxue took it, drank a sip, and took out her phone.

She opened the WeChat conversation with Jiang Fan. The last message was from last night— "Let's talk about it tomorrow".

This morning she had sent a message saying "I've arrived", which was read but not replied to.

Tang Yingxue placed the phone on her lap, her fingers tapping rhythmically on her knee.

She had heard the voice of that woman on the phone last night clearly.

It was Xu Qingya.

"He isn't coming." Tang Yingxue stared out the car window. "I'll go find him."

The assistant glanced at her through the rearview mirror.

"Sister Xue, he should be at the film crew in Songjiang right now."

"Find the specific location."

The assistant took out her phone and scrolled a bit. "A middle school in Songjiang District; the film crew has rented the campus grounds."

"Drive there."

Tang Yingxue leaned back into the seat and closed her eyes.

"Notify the media and say I'm going to visit the set of Jiang Fan's new movie for a cameo."

The assistant's hand froze on the phone.

"Sister Xue, are you serious?"

"I'm serious." Tang Yingxue opened her eyes and picked up her sunglasses to put them back on.

"Doesn't she have over a hundred million fans? Let's see if she can protect her man."

The assistant opened her mouth, then swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

She had been with Tang Yingxue for six years and this was the first time she had seen this woman fight for something in this way.

It wasn't a fight over music, nor a fight over awards.

It was a fight over a man.

The van changed lanes and merged onto the outer ring expressway, heading in the direction of Songjiang.