When the Heartthrob Meets the Cold-Hearted Ex - Chapter 21

Perhaps to make up for it, she pointed to the disposable underwear nearby. “Put these on and come out. I’ll dry your hair for you.”

This time, Su Yang moved quickly. Tang Yeran had only stepped out for a minute before the bathroom door opened again.

Tang Yeran plugged in the hairdryer and guided Su Yang to sit on the sofa.

It had only been a few days since their reunion, yet she had already dried Su Yang’s hair twice. She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly she really was too much of a “helpful soul.”

Su Yang, fresh out of the shower, was docile no crying, no more antics.

Tang Yeran spent over ten minutes drying her hair, then patted her shoulder. “Alright, go to sleep.”

With a drunken Su Yang, she found herself exhibiting a patience she hadn’t even realized she possessed.

By the time Tang Yeran had put away the hairdryer, Su Yang was still sitting motionless in the same spot.

Assuming she was still dazed, Tang Yeran stood in front of the sofa and tugged at one of her hands to pull her up.

Her intention was simply to get Su Yang to stand, but with just a slight tug, the woman stumbled straight into her arms.

Tang Yeran: ?

Since when was she this strong?

Before she could figure it out, Su Yang wrapped both arms around her waist.

Tang Yeran: !

Don’t think being drunk gives you the right to act like a hooligan!

Just as she was about to protest, Su Yang rested her chin on Tang Yeran’s shoulder and made no further moves.

Was this really hooligan behavior?

Tang Yeran wasn’t sure. The two were so close that the scent of hotel shower gel mixed with a faint fruity fragrance filled her senses.

It was just an innocent hug, yet Tang Yeran suddenly felt an electric current shoot from the back of her head down her spine, jolting her entire body.

Summoning all her strength, she pushed Su Yang away and practically fled the hotel room.

She couldn’t care less about how the drunkard next door would manage right now, she didn’t even know how to handle herself.

That night, she rushed through her bedtime routine in a frenzy before burying herself under the covers, forcing herself to sleep.

How ridiculous. Here she was, a strong-willed, career-focused woman of the new era, flustered and unable to sleep over a simple hug from a drunkard.

Su Yang was nothing short of a temptress. Normal people needed to stay far, far away from her.

After an intense internal battle, this was the conclusion Tang Yeran reached before finally drifting off to sleep.

The next day’s team-building event was at the zoo in the western suburbs. The moment she got her ticket, Tang Yeran bolted as far away from Su Yang as possible.

For most people, the first stop at the zoo was the panda exhibit.

Knowing Su Yang disliked crowds, Tang Yeran deliberately did the opposite wherever was busiest, that’s where she went.

Sure enough, by 9:30 a.m., the panda house was already packed, including plenty of Qianhe employees.

Tang Yeran held up her camera, snapping photos from the back of the crowd.

Xue Ling spotted her from a distance and, assuming she couldn’t get close enough to photograph the pandas, pulled her over.

“Tang Tang, stand here. You can get a clear shot of Tuan Tuan’s face.”

“Thanks.” Though squeezed on both sides by the crowd, Tang Yeran obliged, joining the throng to take portraits of the panda, Tuan Tuan.

Xue Ling, who came from a hometown with many pandas, became an impromptu tour guide, narrating the history of giant pandas to Tang Yeran.

Tang Yeran made her living as a magazine editor, and she was happy to gather material along the way, so the two of them decided to explore together.

Over ten minutes passed as they followed the crowd, visiting several panda enclosures.

Tang Yeran had not only photographed Tuan Tuan but also captured Yuan Yuan and Qiu Qiu. Satisfied with her shots, she eagerly showed them to her temporary companion.

Xue Ling’s praise was heartfelt.

“Tuan Tuan is so adorable, with that cute little round head! And Yuan Yuan and Qiu Qiu those tiny arms and legs, ah! I just wanna squish them.

“And Tang Tang, you’re amazing too! I’d only heard you were great at writing and gaming, but I had no idea you were this professional at photography!”

Though flattered, Tang Yeran remained modest. “It’s not as impressive as you say. I just dabble in a bit of everything. Mostly because I had too much free time in college.”

Xue Ling sighed in admiration.

“Back in my college days, just passing exams kept me busy enough. The difference between people is really something~

“Tang Tang, you’re still incredible, no wonder you’re President Su’s alumni.

“Oh, by the way, I’ve taken up so much of your time. Does President Su mind?”

Tang Yeran: ?

Wasn’t that topic shift a bit too abrupt? What does your President Su have to do with this? Why would she have an opinion?

Seeing Tang Yeran’s silence, Xue Ling assumed she was just shy and leaned in, lowering her voice. “I heard all about it last night, you and President Su walked back to your room holding hands.”

Tang Yeran: …

Last night, your President Su was drunk and insisted on tugging at my sleeve. The way you phrased it, yikes.

“Who told you that?”

Xue Ling wasn’t one to keep secrets ask her anything, and she’d spill it all.

“Everyone’s talking about it! President Su is usually good to her employees, but she never gets too close to anyone.

“Even when Vice President Xu talks to her, there’s no physical contact.

“So when everyone saw the two of you sticking so close together, they were shocked.

“Later, they found out you both went to C University, same graduating year, you must’ve known each other for ages.

“Tang Tang, you’re so nice, no wonder even President Su likes you so much.”

Tang Yeran: !

Gossip is one thing, but don’t just make things up.

Which pair of eyes saw your President Su liking me? She only likes herself.

Recalling last night’s scene, Tang Yeran sucked in a sharp breath. There had been over a dozen people in the elevator she knew rumors might spread, but not this fast.

No, rumors stop with the wise. She couldn’t let this one fester any longer!

So she straightened up, putting on a rare serious expression as she declared righteously:

“You’ve got it all wrong. President Su and I did attend the same university.

“But we didn’t get along. This time, we just happened to cross paths because of work.

“Last night, she’d had too much to drink and couldn’t stand steady, so she grabbed onto me for support.”

Her unusually solemn expression lent credibility to her words.

But yesterday, Qianhe’s colleagues had discussed the two of them with such certainty, as if they’d all installed cameras on them.

Xue Ling was half-convinced, half-doubtful. “Really, that’s all it was?”

“Truer than pearls!” Tang Yeran nearly raised her hand to swear. “President Su and I have no relationship beyond work, none whatsoever!”

“Oh, what a shame.” Xue Ling shook her head regretfully, but her expression changed when she looked up. “President Su!”

Tang Yeran turned at the sound and saw Su Yang standing two meters behind them, her face cold and unreadable.

The giant pandas had already returned to their dens, and most of the surrounding spectators had dispersed. With just a glance, one could clearly see everyone in the vicinity.

Su Yang gave Xue Ling a slight nod without any unnecessary words, then walked past the two of them toward the red panda exhibit.

As a veteran employee of Qianhe, Xue Ling was long accustomed to her boss’s “aloof” demeanor.

But Tang Yeran felt inexplicably guilty when Su Yang passed by her. Though Su Yang hadn’t looked at her directly, the glance from the corner of her eye was enough to unsettle her. She couldn’t even explain why she felt that way.

For the rest of the time, whether it was due to Tang Yeran deliberately avoiding her or sheer coincidence, apart from a few group gatherings, she didn’t see Su Yang again.

The short team-building trip flew by, and upon returning to City C, everyone resumed their respective work routines.

Tang Yeran had gained a lot from the material she collected during the trip. Combined with the interviews she had conducted across various departments, her feature article on Qianhe was now 80% complete.

She had also filmed vlogs of the interactions between departments something she had previously discussed with the head of the PR department. These would later be posted on Yifeng’s official WeChat account and Weibo.

Now, the only remaining task for the feature was the personal interview with the founder, Su Yang.

After returning to City C, Tang Yeran spent a few more days moving between Qianhe’s departments.

Compared to the omnipresent President Su from the previous week, Su Yang now seemed to have vanished into thin air.

With over a dozen floors in the Qianhe building and the chief producer’s office at the very top, coupled with Su Yang’s busy schedule, it was only natural that the two wouldn’t cross paths for days.

Tang Yeran understood this logically, but she still felt a faint sense of melancholy.

Su Yang must have heard everything she said at the zoo that day.

Now that they could sever ties, she had gotten what she wanted.

Well, not entirely she still had the founder’s interview to complete.

Tang Yeran gathered her equipment and knocked on the door of the chief producer’s office.

“The door’s unlocked. Come in.”

The interview time had been scheduled well in advance, so Su Yang naturally knew why she was there.

Entering the room, Tang Yeran noticed the perfectly drawn curtains and the neatly organized desk, signs that Su Yang had prepared for her arrival. Not wanting to waste time, she quickly set up her equipment and got straight to the point.

“President Su, what inspired you to found Qianhe?”

Su Yang looked up and answered calmly.

“To me, games are not just entertainment they also carry emotional resonance and cultural heritage.

“Chinese games have never been inferior to foreign ones in terms of cultural depth and emotional impact, but we’ve lagged behind in technology.

“During my internship at Storm Entertainment, I witnessed the advanced technology of foreign game companies. Back then, I thought: one day, Chinese games should reach that level of production.

“The crane can soar thousands of meters high and symbolizes auspiciousness and longevity. That’s why I named the company Qianhe hoping that the games we produce will resonate deeply and endure.”

Tang Yeran recorded the conversation with a voice recorder while jotting down notes on her interview draft, simultaneously posing new questions without missing a beat.

“So, may I ask, what are your plans for Qianhe’s next steps in development?”

Su Yang glanced at her and answered almost without hesitation.

“Previously, with Shining Candy as our trial, the player base was primarily young women.

“You can see from it that our 3D technology is quite mature not just the characters, but also the clothing and architectural scenes are well-executed.

“Next, we’ll build on this technical foundation to upgrade and aim for AAA standards, while further expanding our player demographic.

“The new game will retain the strengths of Shining Candy stunning visuals, easy accessibility, and a celebration of Chinese culture.

“At the same time, we’ll enhance the gameplay experience. We’ve designed many little Easter eggs in the new game, hoping to surprise players when the time comes.”

Tang Yeran played along at the right moment, “Wow, your words have already piqued my curiosity about the new game. Can you give us a hint about what kind of game it is?”

Su Yang teased, “All I can say for now is that it’s a game China no, the world has never seen before.”

Setting aside personal feelings, Su Yang truly shone when he was focused on work.

The one-on-one interview lasted nearly two hours before concluding. Tang Yeran packed up her equipment.

“Thank you for your cooperation, President Su. I’ll send the interview report to your company for review tomorrow. I believe this coverage will be a win-win collaboration.”

“Pleasure working with you,” Su Yang replied succinctly. Though his eyes showed no trace of pleasure, his courtesy remained intact.

The session had gone smoothly, with both parties maintaining professionalism and efficiency.

Tang Yeran left Qianhe Tower with the fruits of her efforts over the past half-month.

The access card had already been returned to Su Yang, and the sensor-activated doors closed automatically behind her as she stepped out.

She likely wouldn’t set foot here again.

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