113: Chapter 113 "Don't move. Let me do it."

Jiang Fan stood up.

"Teacher Tang, let's leave it at that for today."

He picked up the last piece of osmanthus cake on the table, took a bite, and said while chewing: "The tea is good, and the osmanthus cake is tasty too."

After saying this, he turned and walked toward the door.

Tang Yingxue sat in her chair, watching his back. Her lips moved, but she made no sound.

She had prepared a lot to say.

About the collaboration model, the revenue share, the future plan—she even had her lawyer draft a version of the contract terms in advance.

As a result, with Jiang Fan's single sentence, "Show me your sincerity," he left before she could finish speaking.

The private room door closed.

Tang Yingxue sat there alone, the teacup in her hand already cold.

Sincerity.

What sincerity?

She had invited him out today, chosen the most expensive private club in Star City, waited for half an hour herself, the tea was Mingqian Longjing, and the osmanthus cake was freshly made by a time-honored brand.

Wasn't this sincerity enough?

Tang Yingxue put down the cup, leaned back in her chair, and her gaze fell on the seat Jiang Fan had occupied.

No.

She suddenly thought of something.

Xu Qingya's condition recently was ridiculously good; her skin, complexion, and overall spirit were like she had changed into a different person.

When the women in the circle gathered to chat, they were all asking her what skincare products she used, but Xu Qingya just smiled without answering.

It was the same with Su Yuyan.

Could their relationship with Jiang Fan be more than just "collaboration"?

So, the sincerity Jiang Fan spoke of—

She closed her eyes for a moment.

Absurd.

She, Tang Yingxue, winner of three Golden Melody Awards, the second of The Four Heavenly Queens, when would she ever need to use that kind of method to trade for a song?

But another voice immediately jumped out—You don't need to, but others do.

Tang Yingxue opened her eyes and picked up her phone to check the trending searches.

#as you wish plays over 500 million#

#Xu Qingya National Day Gala#

Every entry was reminding her—Your position is about to be lost.

Tang Yingxue stared at the screen for over ten seconds.

Since her debut, she had never been involved in any scandals with any man.

People in the circle said she was aloof, that her standards were too high, and that she was afraid she would marry music for the rest of her life.

She felt the same way.

Until the moment she shook hands with Jiang Fan in the hallway the day before yesterday.

The tingling sensation that surged from her fingertips, that feeling—thinking about it now still made her legs go weak.

Jiang Fan walked out of the club. The September night breeze was neither cold nor hot; it was just right.

His phone rang; it was Shen Nian.

"Are you back yet?"

"On the way, ten minutes."

"Oh." She paused, "I left the door unlocked for you."

"Okay."

Hanging up the phone, Jiang Fan tucked it back into his pocket.

He wasn't in a rush regarding Tang Yingxue.

Today's meeting had a simple purpose—to let her know that the initiative was not in her hands.

You want a song? Fine. But I set the rules of the game.

The matter of her targeting Shen Nian on the show couldn't just be glossed over.

Tang Yingxue had to pay something to have the qualifications to sit at the negotiation table.

As for whether she could figure out what "sincerity" really meant—that was her own business.

Once she figured it out, she would naturally come looking for him.

Shen Nian's bedroom door was indeed left ajar.

Jiang Fan pushed the door open and went in. Shen Nian was curled up on the bed looking at her phone, her hair loose, wearing a loose white T-shirt and hot pants, her legs folded together.

Hearing the movement, she flipped her phone face down on the bed.

"Who is it, calling you out so late?"

"Someone who wants me to write a song."

Shen Nian tilted her head to look at him: "A man or a woman?"

"...You guess."

"A woman." She answered crisply.

Jiang Fan sat on the edge of the bed: "How did you know?"

"Because you smell like perfume." Shen Nian wrinkled her nose, "TF Neroli Portofino, it's quite expensive."

Jiang Fan: "..."

How did a woman's nose grow? Could she even smell the brand?

Shen Nian didn't continue to press, just rolled her eyes.

"Hurry up and go take a shower."

Jiang Fan kicked off his shoes and went into the bathroom, finishing his shower in five minutes.

His hair was still dripping, so he wiped it casually with a towel before pulling back the quilt and lying down.

Shen Nian automatically scooted inward, making space for him.

The two leaned against the headboard, shoulders touching.

"Don't take today's matter to heart." Jiang Fan was referring to the competition results from earlier that day.

"I didn't. Besides—" Shen Nian's voice was very soft, "Being able to sing my own song on stage makes me happier than winning first place."

Jiang Fan looked down at her.

"That song 'courage'..." Her voice got quieter and quieter, "I was thinking of you when I sang it."

The room was quiet for a few seconds.

Jiang Fan's hand slid from the top of her head to her back, gently pulling her in.

Shen Nian moved upward, her nose touching his chin.

The next second, she stood on her tiptoes, and her lips pressed against his.

This girl, usually it was harder than ascending to heaven to get her to take the initiative, but today she was bold.

Jiang Fan was about to turn over, but Shen Nian pressed a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't move." Her voice was trembling a little, "Let me do it."

Jiang Fan was stunned for a moment.

Then he laughed.

"Alright, Teacher Shen, please."

Shen Nian climbed on top, took off the white T-shirt and threw it aside.

She lowered her head, her long hair sliding down from both sides, covering most of her face.

"You... don't look at me."

"If I don't look at you, who should I look at? The ceiling?"

"...Shut up."

Shen Nian's hands were pressed against his chest, her fingertips applying slight pressure.

She bit her lower lip, as if cheering herself on.

Then she leaned down.

Shen Nian was exceptionally hardworking today.

Although her movements were inexperienced and the rhythm wasn't quite right, she almost slid off him several times.

Halfway through, she was exhausted, her forehead covered in sweat, and she lay on his chest panting.

"I can't do it anymore... my legs are sore."

"Should I take over?"

"No." Shen Nian gritted her teeth and propped herself up again, "I said let me do it."

Jiang Fan didn't say anything more, his hands supporting her waist to help her steady herself.

Her stray hair stuck to her cheeks, and beads of sweat dripped from her jawline onto Jiang Fan's chest.

Finally, she collapsed completely, her face buried in the crook of Jiang Fan's neck, her breathing rapid and hot.

"I'm exhausted..."

Jiang Fan patted her back.

"Teacher Shen has worked hard."

Shen Nian bit his shoulder.

She mumbled something, but Jiang Fan didn't hear it clearly.

"What did you say?"

"I said—next time, you should do it."

Jiang Fan laughed out loud.

He rolled over, pinning her beneath him.

Shen Nian's eyes widened: "What are you doing? I really don't have any strength left—"

"It's fine." Jiang Fan lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead, "Teacher Shen, take a rest first; this time, I'll do it."

Before Shen Nian could answer, Jiang Fan had already begun.

Soon, Shen Nian started singing, her voice going from low to high, from intermittent to continuous.

Jiang Fan clapped his hands from the side.

"Good—Teacher Shen's high notes are really steady."

Shen Nian reached out to cover his mouth: "Can you... stop talking..."

Jiang Fan pulled her hand away, interlaced his fingers with hers, and pressed them to the sides of the pillow.

He accelerated the rhythm.

Shen Nian's singing voice climbed an octave higher.

I don't know how much time passed.

Shen Nian had completely run out of strength, curled up in the quilt, with only the top of her head visible.

Her breathing evened out, and she fell asleep.

Jiang Fan lay beside her, one hand behind his head.

The system panel flashed at the edge of his vision.

[Deep Compatibility × 2, Lifespan Value + 1000]

[Current Lifespan Value: 42300 points]

[Remaining Lifespan: 27 days 22 hours]

Jiang Fan thought for a few seconds and operated the panel.

[Exchange 10000 Lifespan Value → 100 days of lifespan]

[Current Lifespan Value: 33800 points]

[Remaining Lifespan: 127 days]

The moment the exchange was completed, the exhaustion from tossing around for over an hour vanished completely in a few seconds.

127 days.

Jiang Fan stared at this number, from the initial ten-hour countdown to now, four months.

As long as he maintained this rhythm, lifespan would no longer be a knife hanging over his head.

He closed the panel, turned over, and wrapped his arms around Shen Nian, quilt and all.

Shen Nian hummed in her sleep, snuggled into his arms, found a comfortable position, and fell into a deep sleep again.