But since we bumped into each other here, it would be rude not to say hello.

"Ah... oh oh!"

Yao Lingling snapped back to reality as if someone had flipped a switch.

Looking at Tang Song’s eyes filled with laughter, her face flushed a deep red in an instant.

She was overwhelmed with nervousness, shyness, and a touch of immense joy at being recognized in public.

It was so worth it!

So worth it!

Senior, no wonder you have so many girlfriends!

Even if it was just a "one-day boyfriend," Tang Song played the role flawlessly.

The emotional value delivered was simply perfect.

She pulled Tang Song over to her relatives.

Always outgoing, Lingling now lowered her head shyly, and said in a small voice, "Dad, Mom, this... this is Tang Song."

"Hello, Uncle, Auntie," Tang Song greeted proactively, his demeanor both respectful and approachable.

"Hello, hello."

Zhang Xiufang and Yao Guanjie were already so nervous that they could only nod repeatedly by instinct.

After a somewhat chaotic round of introductions.

Tang Song smiled and said, "It’s getting late today, and Lingling and I had planned to go watch a movie, so I won’t intrude any longer. Some other day, I’ll treat everyone to a meal."

Zhang Xiufang and the others quickly replied, "Ah... okay, okay, okay..."

After a brief goodbye.

Tang Song, holding the still-dazed Yao Lingling’s hand, turned and walked into the courtyard, where fine snow was still falling, under the complex gazes of everyone present.

Gong Yunxiao and Yao Rourou personally escorted them to the door, whispering to each other.

The relatives in the hall seemed to be released from a spell, erupting into a storm of suppressed exclamations and discussions.

"Xueli, this... what is Lingling’s boyfriend’s status?"

"Is he an executive at your company?"

Aunt Yao Xueli took a deep breath, her voice still trembling with excitement: "He’s the chairman of our company! He’s the boss I mentioned before, the one who spent over a billion to buy the entire Film and Television Base!"

"Hiss—"

There was a collective gasp of disbelief all around.

Zhang Xiufang and Yao Guanjie’s faces gradually flushed red.

Looking through the hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows at the tall figure walking side by side with their daughter in the snow, their hearts were filled with mixed emotions.

After all, being close relatives, everyone knew about Yao Xueli’s situation.

Previously, she was in a legitimate state enterprise at the Cultural and Tourism Investment Group.

Later, she was "optimized" into the Yan Nan Short Film and Television Base as logistics, effectively exiled, a situation she often complained about to them.

They also knew that the Handing Group, amid a financial crisis, sold off its equity, and it was said that a big boss took over at that time...

But no one expected that the "big boss" would turn out to be Tang Song.

So young, so outstanding, and... Lingling’s boyfriend!

The shock of it was overwhelming!

Just then, Gong Yunxiao and Yao Rourou returned from seeing them off.

Gong Yunxiao’s attitude had subtly changed again, becoming warm and kind.

The two didn’t talk much about Tang Song’s identity, just made a few ambiguous remarks.

Some things are better left unsaid, they all understood this principle, being in the system.

Among these relatives were people from various walks of life, and if they truly knew everything about Tang Song, who knows what could happen.

The current situation was perfect; as long as this connection existed, everyone might benefit in the future.

...

The stone-paved path wound and twisted.

Occasionally, tourists in bathrobes walked by, laughing and leaving a trail of footprints quickly covered by new snowflakes.

Yao Lingling, being led by him, would sneak glances at her senior beside her now and then.

Recalling the scenes just now, her face remained filled with a silly smile.

Feeling her gaze, Tang Song turned his head and with a smile asked:

"So, my dear girlfriend? How was my performance just now? Care to give a rating?"

Yao Lingling stuck out her tongue, her eyes shining like crescent moons.

"Hmm... it was so-so, you barely managed... 120 out of 100 points!"

"Then... is there any reward?" Tang Song suddenly stopped, winking at the younger student.

Snowflakes quietly fell, landing on his shoulders, crystalline and transparent.

Standing in the wind and snow, his lips red, teeth white, his cold white skin highlighted his high nose bridge, exuding a mix of cool handsomeness and a certain lazy allure.

He seemed like an unreal existence.

Yao Lingling instantly felt her heart itch, her body too, under her senior’s flirtation.

A mysterious surge of courage and impulse flooded over her!

She suddenly stepped forward, rose on tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck, and then, closing her eyes, kissed his lips passionately.

This time, she truly, deeply tasted the flavor belonging to her senior.

Fresh, clean, with a subtle hint of mint.

Like air after a snowfall, cold yet addictive.

The sound of the wind, the laughter of passersby, seemed to vanish.

Only the mingling of their lips remained, along with the heartbeats that felt like they were about to melt her.

Yao Lingling kept her eyes closed, her mind echoing one thought:

This is the taste of love!

Senior, I’ll remember this moment for the rest of my life, and I’ll never forget you.

Snowflakes landed on her lashes, melting into cold droplets, but her body felt hot.

...

The rest of the afternoon seemed stretched into scenes filled with sweetness and laughter, like a fast-forwarded film.

In a private cinema.

The two were wrapped in the same soft blanket, holding a large bucket of steaming caramel popcorn. On the screen, a Hollywood blockbuster played intense chases and explosions, while Yao Lingling’s head, at some point, had found its place resting on Tang Song’s shoulder.