The Beautician's Mercedes-Benz G-Class

September 20, 2023, Wednesday, cloudy turning overcast, 16–27°C.

On an autumn morning, the thin mist had yet to fully disperse, and a hint of chill lingered in the air.

"Tap, tap, tap—"

Rhythmic footsteps echoed through Yanjing Huating Residential Area, while his breathing gradually became rapid yet steady.

Tang Song wore Bluetooth earbuds, and Liu Qingning's lazy, adorable voice came through. "Don't know why, but ever since I came back from Yancheng last time, I feel much healthier. According to my smartwatch, my deep-sleep data has been especially good."

Today was the fourth day of her menstrual period, so naturally she would not be joining him for remote workouts. Still, their morning voice calls had never stopped.

Tang Song teased, "Maybe that's the power of love. Think about me more, and you'll only get healthier."

"3

"Hmph~ You narcissist!"

Liu Qingning seemed to have just crawled out of bed and had her speaker on. Tang Song could hear the faint rustling sound of her taking off her clothes.

Took a deep breath, Tang Song slowed his pace and said gently, "Qingning, can you take a picture for me?"

"What kind of picture?" Liu Qingning instantly became alert.

"Just a selfie of how you are right now. Don't worry about not wearing makeup. You'll always be beautiful in my eyes anyway."

"No way. Keep dreaming!"

"Then call me 'dear husband.'"

"Well, look at you, Little Song. Are you teasing me?" Liu Qingning's voice rose slightly, tinged with embarrassment and irritation. "I'm not calling you that!"

Tang Song could not help laughing. In a cheerful mood, he said, "It's just a little fun between couples. There are even nicer things to call each other. Want me to teach you?"

"No! Stop!" Liu Qingning said in flustered embarrassment. "Wen Ruan has corrupted you. Don't you think

I'll chat with you like she does—dirty talk—."

The two of them chatted idly like that.

More and more people came out for their morning exercise.

After finishing his workout and ending the voice call, Tang Song bought some breakfast outside the residential area before returning to Building 6.

He entered the apartment, placing the breakfast on the dining table.

Tang Song gently pushed open the master bedroom door, and a faint fragrance came assaulting the senses.

The beautician, who had been lying on the bed playing with her phone, quickly looked up and said in a sweet, guileless voice, "Brother Song, you're back. Good morning."

"Good morning, Qianqian." Tang Song leaned closer and rubbed the beautician's thick wine-red hair. Then, unable to resist, he buried his face against her neck and inhaled deeply.

A rich fragrance flooded his nostrils, making his already pleasant mood even more relaxed.

Worth mentioning, the Phantom Fragrance on Zhao Yaqian's body had gradually completed its natural fusion with her.

As her emotional state changed, her body fragrance would also undergo subtle changes.

Especially when they played ball, that wild and sexy scent was practically the perfect aphrodisiac.

Combined with her young, energetic body, she was absolutely a perfect ball partner.

As expected of a canary cultivated by the system.

"So itchy~" Zhao Yaqian shivered. Seeing Tang Song deliberately teasing her, she simply grabbed his shoulder and pulled him onto the bed.

The two laughed and played around on the bed for quite a while.

Suddenly, Zhao Yaqian pulled a black gift box from beneath her pillow and handed it to him, beaming. "Ta-da~~ A surprise gift for you!"

Looking at the familiar box before him, Tang Song froze. "Van Cleef & Arpels?"

"Mm-hmm!" Zhao Yaqian nodded vigorously and slowly opened the box, revealing a platinum-colored ring inside. "I saw it while attending an event. I thought it was especially pretty and suited your hand perfectly, Brother Song."

The corner of Tang Song's eye twitched.

Good heavens, it was exactly the same as the one Xiao Jing had given him!

Good thing he had not come to see the beautician last night, or things would have been truly awkward.

Seeing the beautician's expectant gaze, Tang Song put on the ring and broke into a bright smile. "Thank you, Qianqian. I really like it."

"As long as you like it."

"Oh, right!" As if remembering something, Tang Song patted her full thigh and said mysteriously, "Actually, I prepared a gift for you too. It should arrive today, but you'll need to pick it up yourself."

"Ah!" Zhao Yaqian cried out in surprise and threw herself onto Tang Song. "Mua~, thank you, Brother,

mua

~"

Feeling the beautician's love and joy, Tang Song revealed an indulgent smile.

Zhao Yaqian had gotten her driver's license more than three months ago. During that time, she had occasionally practiced with Xiao Xue's 911, and her driving skills were now pretty good.

He had specifically asked Xiao Xue about the beautician's preferences and reserved her favorite model for her.

Since it was a parallel-imported car, it had not arrived in Yancheng until yesterday. It should be ready for delivery today. Xu Qing's DB11, because of its options and paint color, would arrive even later.

"Alright, let's go eat."

"Mm-hmm, okay!" Zhao Yaqian jumped down and pulled Tang Song toward the dining room by the arm.

After arriving in the dining room, they transferred the packed breakfast onto plates and bowls.

Zhao Yaqian glanced at the tightly closed door of the second bedroom and said helplessly, "Tingzi streamed pretty late yesterday. She definitely isn't up yet."

Tang Song nodded. "Mm, let's eat first and let her get some proper rest."

Ever since the company began fully developing He Yiyi's IP brand and she received 5% equity, the ambitious He Liting had practically been working herself to death.

Not only did she handle livestreaming, but she also personally took care of short-video creative planning, operations analysis, brand LOGO design, and all sorts of other work.

Tang Song was certain that He Liting's loyalty had absolutely reached 100 by now.

After sitting down, Zhao Yaqian brought out a small dish of pickles from the kitchen and placed it between them.

Tang Song took a bite of the braised pork bun, then picked up a piece of pickle and put it into his mouth.

The crisp, refreshing radish strips were delicious, and he could not help taking another chopstickful.

As he savored the texture and flavor, Tang Song's brow lifted slightly.

These pickles tasted remarkably like the ones Lele made.

During his time at the Normal University Teacher's Apartment, he had eaten Qian Lele's homemade pickled radish almost every day, and the impression had been deeply etched in his mind.

"Qianqian, where did you buy these radish strips?"

Hearing him, Zhao Yaqian said softly, "A friend gave them to me."

"Oh? A friend gave them to you?"

"Mm. She's the high school classmate of one of my friends. We met at a café, and her name is Qian Lele."

"Uh..." Tang Song's mouth fell slightly open, and astonishment appeared on his face.

He had never expected Zhao Yaqian to be friends with Qian Lele.

Zhao Yaqian paused before softly adding, "When Xiao Xue and I were out for a walk over the weekend, I saw her standing by the East Gate of Yanjing Sky City. She said she was just out strolling around. Since we happened to run into each other, she gave me the pickles she had brought with her."

After hearing that, Tang Song pressed his lips tightly together.

Based on what he knew about Qian Lele, he could easily piece together the truth.

That girl must have wanted to see him but had been too embarrassed. So she made pickles and wanted to give them to him, only to lose her nerve at the last moment and not dare disturb him.

And this was only one time Zhao Yaqian had run into her. She might have come before that too.

The flavor of the pickled radish lingered on his tongue.

Thinking of that simple yet strong, shy yet sensitive, innocent college girl, a difficult-to-describe emotion rose in Tang Song's heart.

Zhao Yaqian said nothing more and simply ate her breakfast quietly.

Eleven in the morning.

"Ding dong—" Her phone vibrated.

Zhao Yaqian, who was watching a drama series, picked up her phone and checked it.

Aunt: "Qianqian, are you coming back to Decheng for Mid-Autumn Festival?"

Zhao Yaqian pressed her lips together and replied, "I'm not sure yet. I'll see when the time comes."

Aunt: "Oh, alright. If you do come back, we can travel together."

After chatting briefly with her aunt,

Zhao Yaqian hesitated for a moment before transferring 50,000 yuan through WeChat.

She left a message: "Aunt, my mom borrowed 100,000 yuan from you before. There's still 50,000 left. I have some money on hand now, so I'm paying it all back."

Over the past several months, she had gradually helped her family repay some debts, with the largest being what they owed her aunt.

"Bzzz bzzz—" Aunt: "Oh, you child! I wasn't trying to rush you. You can pay it back slowly. Cong Cong won't even start university until next year."

After Zhao Yaqian persuaded her a few times, Yu Wenxia finally accepted the transfer.

After exiting WeChat, Zhao Yaqian opened the China Merchants Bank App and checked her current total assets.

3.42 million yuan

Three days later, she would receive another 1.17 million yuan in trust income.

Putting down her phone, Zhao Yaqian rested her chin on her knees, a faintly contemplative glint passing through her eyes.

She had never imagined that one day, she would become this rich.

Of course, after the initial ecstasy and sleepless nights, she had gradually adapted to it.

She now had her own business and was slowly growing up.

She had also gained a new understanding of family and wealth.

Just as Xiao Xue had said, sometimes appropriately displaying one's wealth and background was not necessarily a bad thing.

After all, she could not possibly hide it forever.

She had not dared let others know before because her understanding and abilities had been lacking. On top of that, she had been especially innocent and straightforward by nature. She simply could not handle such wealth and would have easily made mistakes.

She did not know how much time had passed.

A rapid ringtone sounded, pulling her thoughts back to reality.

It was her high school classmate, Li Yuanyuan.

After answering, a familiar voice came through the receiver. "Hello? Qianqian, are you busy right now?"

"Not busy. What's up, Yuan Yuan?"

"It's almost lunchtime. Come out and have a meal with me. I know a newly opened Western Restaurant that's amazing. They have your favorite steak!"

"Huh? It's Wednesday. Aren't you working?"

"Pfft, I took leave. I asked you out because I want to complain about work. It's driving me crazy!"

Zhao Yaqian checked the time and nodded. "Alright. Send me the location, and I'll head over now."

"Mm-hmm, bye bye."

After hanging up the phone, Zhao Yaqian began getting ready.

She put on some makeup, changed into casual clothes, grabbed her bag, and went downstairs.

Beayce Western Restaurant was located downtown, only three kilometers away from Yanjing Huating.

A black Didi premium car pulled up by the roadside.

Zhao Yaqian got out from the back seat and headed forward with light steps.

After only a few steps, she spotted Li Yuanyuan sitting at an outdoor table. Zhao Yaqian smiled, waved, and called out loudly, "Yuan Yuan!"

Li Yuanyuan, who had been looking at her phone, looked up with a surprised expression. "Qianqian?"

They had not met in a while, and she felt as though this high school classmate had changed somewhat.

After taking a seat, Zhao Yaqian teased with eyes curved in a smile, "Hey, why are you staring at me like that? Don't tell me you've been charmed by the beauty of Beauty Zhao?"

As she spoke, she deliberately flirted with her wine-red wavy hair in a self-admiring manner. The gesture was natural and playful.

The familiar nickname and little gesture instantly closed the distance between them, allowing Li Yuanyuan to quickly come to senses.

"Not bad, Qianqian! You look like a big celebrity now. Your figure's gotten better too. You're seriously stunning!" Li Yuanyuan exclaimed sincerely.

"Haha, I've been practicing dance lately, and it's had some effect." Zhao Yaqian explained with a smile, her tone carrying a trace of pride.

The two chatted and laughed for a while, then ordered their food. The atmosphere gradually grew livelier.

After all, they had been classmates for three years in high school, and their relationship had always been good.

The temperature was pleasant today, with no sun. Sitting outside in the cool breeze felt especially refreshing.

They had bought a 238-yuan set meal for two, and it was very lavish.

There was original-cut steak, Italian pizza, fried chicken wings, salad, and all kinds of snacks, nearly filling the entire small table. At the sight of her favorite steak, Zhao Yaqian's eyes instantly lit up, and she began eating heartily.

During the meal,

Li Yuanyuan began venting about her recent situation.

Like Zhao Yaqian, she had entered society directly after graduating from high school.

However, she had been a little luckier. She worked for a small company owned by relatives, handling document organization, printing, and photocopying.

That company mainly dealt in building materials trade. It was small, with only around twenty employees in total.

Although the work was easy, the pay was not high—only 3,500 yuan a month—and there was virtually no room for future growth.

For Li Yuanyuan, who did not have much ambition, this sort of life was barely acceptable. Coasting through her days was not impossible.

However, some changes had occurred within the company last month. Several salespeople had resigned, creating a manpower shortage.

Seeing that she had spare time, her relatives naturally assigned her the task of telephone sales as well.

They said her commission rate would be higher than other people's, but she still needed sales results for that to matter.

Now, in addition to clerical work, she had to constantly call clients and sell products.

Li Yuanyuan had no experience whatsoever and could not handle it at all. She had been run ragged.

Zhao Yaqian asked, "So what are you planning to do next?"

"Ugh, don't know." Li Yuanyuan shook her head and said dejectedly, "I want to quit, but I don't dare. I have no education or skills, and I don't know what else I can do. I've been thinking about whether I should learn some employable skill like you."

As she said this, she looked at Zhao Yaqian with a slightly flushed face and expectant eyes. "Qianqian, I remember you said you work at the headquarters of a chain beauty salon now. Are you hiring apprentices there?"

Qianqian had previously mentioned that her boyfriend had arranged a very easy job for her, and that the workplace was good too.

She had specifically invited her out because she wanted to ask about it.

Hearing Li Yuanyuan's words, Zhao Yaqian froze slightly and asked, "You've always worked as a clerk before, meaning administrative work, right?"

Li Yuanyuan immediately nodded. "Mm-hmm, yes."

Zhao Yaqian thought for a moment and said, "Then if you had to choose, would you want to continue doing administrative work, or learn beauty services?"

Li Yuanyuan hesitated for a while before answering honestly, "I'd still rather do administrative work."

"My current company is Isa Beauty, the one I mentioned to you before. If you want to come, I can help arrange it. I'll send you an introduction to our company first. Take a look."

As she spoke, Zhao Yaqian shared the promotional poster with her.

"Ding dong—" The WeChat notification sound rang out.

Li Yuanyuan hurriedly picked up her phone. Looking at the introduction on the screen, her breathing began to quicken.

Eight branches, high-end beauty salons, light medical aesthetics, valuation of 120 million. "Holy crap! It's that impressive?!"

She had only heard Zhao Yaqian mention the company's name before and had never looked into it. She never expected it to be this amazing.

This already counted as a major corporation.

Li Yuanyuan swallowed, her flushed face full of excitement. "Qianqian, do you mean I can work in administration at your company?"

Zhao Yaqian nodded. "Mm, HR and administration are one department at Isa Beauty. Once you're there, you'll also get exposure to some human resources-related work and can transition into that field later."

"HR... I..." Li Yuanyuan clenched her fingers, her voice trembling slightly. "Qianqian, I'm taking you seriously! I'll go resign tomorrow!"

"Mm-hm, absolutely no problem." Zhao Yaqian smiled and made an OK gesture.

She was now a shareholder of Isa Beauty, but aside from Zhang Mengchu and Sister Li, she did not have anyone of her own at the company.

And those two were both in charge of the beauty salons and did not stay at headquarters either.

She wanted Li Yuanyuan to join the HR and Administration Department because she hoped to better understand the company's situation.

Besides that, there was another important reason.

That was the "new mission" Tang Song had told her about, as well as her future development.

For her, helping classmates change their circumstances, get out of difficult situations, and demonstrate her own capabilities

would give her a sense of achievement and make her more confident.

Perhaps that was also a kind of "self-worth realization."

Li Yuanyuan took a deep breath, her face flushed with excitement. Raising her glass, she said loudly, "Come on, come on, let me toast you. Thank you for helping me so much! You have no idea, I've nearly worried myself to death lately."

"You don't have to be so polite." Zhao Yaqian pursed her lips in a light laugh, raised her drink to clink glasses with hers, and took a big gulp.

Just then, a shout suddenly came from beside them. "Qianqian, Yuanyuan."

Zhao Yaqian looked up in surprise and delight, spotting Jiang Zimu waving at them.

Behind her was a tall, skinny guy—Zhang Wensheng.

"What are you doing here?"

Jiang Zimu walked over with a smile. "I saw the post you made on Moments. Wensheng and I happened to be doing promotional work at the mall next door. We came to find you once we finished. Surprise? Unexpected?"

Looking at Zhao Yaqian seated there, Zhang Wensheng took a deep breath. "Hello, Qianqian, Yuanyuan. Long time no see."

After greeting them, his emotions began to churn. It really had been a long time.

Ever since his Southeast Lingshuai had stalled and he had run into that whole mess involving Li Jingzhong and Tang Song, he had never taken the initiative to contact Zhao Yaqian again.

After all, she had been the White Moonlight he had liked for more than four years. Even though he already knew there was no chance for him, seeing her again still stirred some waves in his heart.

"Long time no see." Zhao Yaqian waved at him with a grin. "Hey, Zhang Wensheng, why do you look even thinner?"

"Hehe, I've been busy with part-time work lately." Zhang Wensheng scratched the back of his head, looking somewhat awkward.

Jiang Zimu pushed him and laughed. "This guy never stops taking part-time jobs just to support his beloved car. He's become the leader of the part-time job group now. That's why he brought me along to make money."

Li Yuanyuan gave him a thumbs-up. "Not bad, Zhang Wensheng. Impressive! Sit down and eat with us. We still have lots of snacks left. Hurry, hurry!"

"I've been waiting for you to say that, haha!" Jiang Zimu sat down right beside Zhao Yaqian, grabbed some fries, and began eating.

The three girls gathered together, chatting away merrily, and the atmosphere was especially cheerful.

Zhang Wensheng could not help secretly studying Zhao Yaqian across from him as she smiled so charmingly. He felt somewhat empty inside.

After several months apart, Zhao Yaqian no longer quite matched the junior schoolmate in his memories.

Her fashionable, beautiful outfit, exquisite makeup, and gorgeous handbag made her stand out all the more.

Of course, the greatest change was still in her temperament, the way she spoke, and her bearing—elegant and fashionable.

She was both familiar and unfamiliar, carrying an indescribable sense of distance.

They chatted for quite a while.

"Ring ring ring—" A mobile phone ringtone sounded.

Zhao Yaqian picked up her phone and looked at it. It was an unfamiliar local landline number.

She answered it and said softly, "Hello?"

"Hello, is this Ms. Zhao Yaqian?" A gentle, polite male voice came from the other end.

"Yes, this is she. Who is this?"

"Ms. Zhao, I'm Tong Yuzhe, a customer manager at Prosperous Star Emblem Automobile Sales Company. Mr. Tang has prepared a gift for you. Would it be convenient for you to come to the dealership and collect it today?"

"Ah!" Zhao Yaqian covered her mouth in surprise and immediately said, "Yes, it's convenient!"

"Alright. I'll send the showroom address to your mobile phone shortly. If you need it, we can also arrange transportation."

"No need, thank you. I'll go there myself." Zhao Yaqian's heartbeat began accelerating uncontrollably.

An automobile sales company? Could the gift Brother Song mentioned this morning be a car?

She hung up the phone, picked up her bag, and looked at the three of them. "Excuse me, I have something to do, so I need to leave first."

"Ah? What could be so urgent?"

Zhao Yaqian blinked and said with a playful smile, "My boyfriend prepared a gift for me and asked me to go pick it up."

Hearing the word "boyfriend," bitterness filled Zhang Wensheng's mouth.

Li Yuanyuan leaned closer, her face full of envy and her eyes sparkling. "That's so romantic! What kind of gift is it?"

"I'm not really sure either. I won't know until I get there." Zhao Yaqian's tone was light and carried a hint of sweetness.

Jiang Zimu grabbed her arm and said eagerly, "Qianqian, can I go with you? I'm seriously so curious."

Li Yuanyuan immediately raised her hand. "I want to go too!"

She still wanted to have a proper talk with Zhao Yaqian about the job at Isa Beauty.

Zhao Yaqian hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, let's go together. I'll call a cab."

She knew absolutely nothing about cars, and this was also her first time picking one up.

Xiao Xue had gone with Brother Song to attend the opening ceremony of Yannan Film and Television Base today, while Tingzi was at work.

Having classmates accompany her would make her feel more at ease.

"Well, I can drive you there." Zhang Wensheng stood up and said in a low voice, "The last time it stalled, it was because the battery was broken. I replaced it later, and I also spent money getting the car fixed up. There haven't been any problems recently."

Jiang Zimu immediately nodded in agreement. "Mm-hm, let's take Wensheng's car! This guy loves driving. He has to take a few laps around every day. His skills are rock-solid now!"

"Let's go. My car is parked nearby. It's very close."

Zhao Yaqian looked at Zhang Wensheng's expression and did not refuse.

Soon, the four of them arrived at the parking lot and got into that familiar Southeast Lingshuai.

The interior seemed to have been cleaned up. It was neat and tidy, with some pretty decals for decoration.

Bang! The car door slammed shut.

Zhao Yaqian opened the map App on her phone, entered the address sent by the dealership, and began navigation.

Zhang Wensheng skillfully started the engine, shifted gears, coordinated the accelerator and clutch, and the Southeast Lingshuai pulled away smoothly.

"Vroom, vroom—" The engine's roar lingered in their ears.

Through the rearview mirror, Zhang Wensheng secretly glanced at Zhao Yaqian in the back seat, a complicated surge of emotions rising in his heart.

He had bought this car in the first place to pursue Zhao Yaqian.

The moment he got it, he could not resist showing off in front of her. In the end, it stalled, then the battery died, and he had embarrassed himself beyond all measure.

That was a hurdle he had never been able to get past.

Because of that, he had kept honing his driving skills and earning money to fix up the car.

Now, he could finally make up for some of his past regrets, and an indescribable feeling filled his heart.

After nearly twenty minutes of stop-and-go traffic, they finally arrived at their destination.

Ahead of them stood a modern showroom building. Its glass curtain walls reflected the sunlight, making it look grand and luxurious.

The expression on Zhang Wensheng's face stiffened as he stared blankly at the Mercedes-Benz LOGO hanging in the center.

No wonder this place had seemed somewhat familiar.

He and several of his dorm mates all liked cars. They often wandered around various 4S dealerships when they had nothing to do, and they had come here before.

"A Mercedes-Benz 4S dealership?" Li Yuanyuan exclaimed in disbelief. "Qianqian, the gift your boyfriend mentioned... it couldn't be a car, could it?"

Jiang Zimu's eyelids twitched. "No way? A Mercedes-Benz? Th-this is too outrageous."

"I'm not sure either. Maybe it is." Zhao Yaqian bit her lip, her eyes full of delight.

The four of them stood outside for a moment before walking toward the entrance.

They entered the spacious, brightly lit showroom.

The sales staff waiting off to one side immediately came up to them, wearing professional smiles. "Hello, is there anything I can help you with?"

Zhao Yaqian smiled. "I'm looking for Tong Yuzhe."

Before she had even finished speaking, a young man in a dark suit with a capable air jogged over.

"Hello, Ms. Zhao. I'm Tong Yuzhe. We spoke on the phone just now." He gave a slight bow, his tone polite and enthusiastic. "Everything is ready. This way, please. I'll take you there."

Their footsteps echoed through the spacious showroom, crisp and rhythmic.

The group followed Tong Yuzhe past rows of display cars. After turning a corner, a brightly lit vehicle pickup area suddenly came into view.

At the center of their vision was a car covered by a red dust cover.

Its boxy, rugged lines could vaguely be seen beneath the cloth, carrying a distinctive kind of beauty.

It was surrounded by flowers, balloons, and decorations, looking romantic and magnificent.

At the sight before them, Li Yuanyuan, Jiang Zimu, and Zhang Wensheng all froze where they stood, their mouths dry.

Although they had already guessed as much, seeing that it really was a car left them too stunned for words.

Tong Yuzhe turned around with a smile. "Ms. Zhao, this is the gift Mr. Tang prepared for you. Please inspect the vehicle first. If there are no issues, we'll immediately handle the paperwork for you."

Excited color rose on Zhao Yaqian's face. She took a deep breath and walked toward the car.

In truth, she already had an answer in her heart.

When she had been drinking and chatting with Tingzi and Xiao Xue before, she had mentioned the car and color she liked.

She never expected Tang Song to quietly order it for her.

Two female sales representatives gripped the soft, high-quality dust cover and pulled it down with force.

The instant the red cloth slid away, an imposing Mercedes-Benz G63 appeared before everyone.

"G-Class!" Zhang Wensheng blurted out, biting his tongue in the process.

Standing beside Zhao Yaqian, Li Yuanyuan and Jiang Zimu stared blankly at the car in front of them, their minds completely empty.

Under the brilliant lights, the boxy, rugged body lines gleamed with a subdued metallic sheen, full of power.

Its iconic square-box shape, paired with pure white paint and silver large wheel hubs, made it look noble, cool, and strikingly eye-catching.