Cinderella, White Moonlight

A breeze swept through the night market outside the Teachers' University.

Carrying the aroma of various snacks, it weaves through the crowd.

The flags and banners on the stalls fluttered in the wind, making a rustling sound.

"Iced lemon tea and plum juice, anyone want some? They're refreshing, delicious, and very tasty."

Qian Lele remained squatting in her corner, holding a rechargeable light bulb in her hand.

In front of me was a small blue cart with an insulated foam box on it, containing beverage bottles surrounded by ice packs.

Handmade tea drinks, priced at 6 yuan per cup, a clean and tidy stall, and a simple yet pretty female college student.

It's very competitive in this night market.

Passersby would often stop by to buy a cup. She even had repeat customers.

Following Tang Song's advice, she switched from bracelets to iced tea drinks, and her side business ushered in its moment of glory.

I make 25 cups every day after get off work, with an average profit of 4 yuan per cup. After selling them all, my net income is 100 yuan per day.

Of course, not everything can be sold out every day; what's left is considered a loss.

However, such profits are also quite considerable.

At this rate, she should be able to earn more than 4,000 yuan from this side job by the end of summer vacation.

The original plan was to buy a computer for 1900 yuan, but the budget can be increased a bit.

Thinking of this, Qian Lele's face showed a satisfied and happy smile.

She has hands and feet, and so many classmates, friends, and teachers willing to help her, so life isn't difficult for her.

As long as I persevere until graduation, I can then focus entirely on making money.

I've heard that the job market in the computer industry is very tough right now, and I don't know if I'll be able to find my ideal job.

But it's okay, there's always a way out. We've made it through the toughest times.

As she was envisioning the future, Zhang Wen, who was next to her, suddenly cried out in surprise.

"What's wrong, Sister Wen? Did you get burned? I have an ice pack here!" Qian Lele quickly stood up.

Zhang Wen had been burned by the plate of grilled sausage before, and that was his reaction.

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Zhang Wen shook his head vigorously, holding his Mobile Phone, his face flushed, and said, "Bei Weiwei! It's Bei Weiwei! She really appeared on the streets of Yancheng! It's a pity she's not in our area, otherwise I would run over there to intercept her right now!"

She's recently become addicted to "Idle Listening to Falling Rain," and is Bei Weiwei. She even bought some merchandise and put it on her campervan stall.

Hearing this, Qian Lele finally felt relieved.

The owner of the cold jelly stall on the other side asked in surprise, "Zhang Wen, is the Bei Weiwei you mentioned Chu Ruolin from ' Idle Listening to Falling Rain '?"

"Yeah! That's right! Brother Liang, you'll see if you check Douyin. Bei Weiwei made a surprise appearance at a women's clothing livestream in Cloud Prosperity Plaza Yancheng." Zhang Wen excitedly shouted, "The female streamer was completely stunned on the spot. It was really hilarious. That livestream clip is now trending on Douyin, Weibo, and WeChat official accounts. Everyone on the internet is talking about it."

Brother Liang opened his Mobile Phone and looked at it, and couldn't help but exclaim, "What incredible wealth! That female anchor named He Yiyi has really become famous."

"Yeah, 200,000 new followers in half an hour! There are over 100,000 viewers in the live stream right now, and the gifts keep coming in. That's the influence of a top influencer!"

Brother Liang looked on with envy and joked, "I'll have to look into selling cold noodles via live streaming later. What if I happen to stumble upon such a great opportunity?"

Listening to their conversation, Qian Lele just smiled and didn't feel much.

These things are all too far removed from her, too unreal.

It's like hearing that someone won a 5 million yuan lottery prize.

"Lele! Lele!" A shout suddenly came from afar.

Qian Lele looked up, stood up with a smile, and waved.

Immediately after, Ding Yao, wearing a champagne-colored sleeveless dress, strode over and gave her a tight hug. "Good evening, my dear Lele, I've missed you so much!"

"Yaoyao, you're back from abroad? When?"

Qian Lele had previously seen on her Moments that Ding Yao had traveled to South Korea with her parents.

"I arrived in Yancheng this afternoon and slept for half the day at home. I just came back to school to pick something up and stopped by to see you." Ding Yao adjusted her glasses. "I knew you'd be here right away. You're such a diligent little bee."

The two chatted warmly for a while.

Ding Yao glanced at the stall in front of her and laughed, "You have 14 cups left, right? I'll buy them all!"

Qian Lele was taken aback for a moment, then quickly waved her hand and said, "No need, no need. It's Friday today, and these kinds of iced drinks sell very well. They can be sold out in an hour at most."

"That's not what I meant," Ding Yao said, pulling her hand. "My friend is having a barbecue on their rooftop and invited me over. I was just thinking of buying drinks, and it's good that you have some, plus it's safer for us, saving us the trouble of running around everywhere."

"Oh, I see." Qian Lele blushed slightly. "That's fine then."

What she fears most is being pitied by others, especially when that person is her friend.

"Let's go, my car's over there, follow me!"

Qian Lele closed the lid of the insulated box, said goodbye to Sister Wen, and quickly followed after her.

Ding Yao was wearing a gorgeous and beautiful dress and bling-bling sandals.

A summer breeze blew, and the pleasant scent of perfume wafted into Qian Lele's nostrils.

She gripped the handle of the cart tightly, her head drooping slightly.

I walked out of the Pedestrian Street and turned left.

Ding Yao stopped next to a Mercedes-Benz GLC parked on the side of the road.

The headlights flashed, and the vehicle was unlocked.

"Lele, just put it in the trunk."

"Okay, sure." Qian Lele put the trolley in the back of the car, opened the insulated foam box, and was about to put the drinks in when she stopped.

Inside, besides a beautifully designed storage box, there were also some fruits, shopping bags, and gift boxes casually placed.

She was afraid that she would crush her drinks.

"Oh, right!" Noticing her reaction, Ding Yao smiled and came closer, picking up a shopping bag from inside and pulling it out. "This is a gift I brought back for you from South Korea: a pair of Adidas sneakers, on clearance sale, much cheaper than in China. There are also chocolates and face masks, all bought at a special price. I can't use them all myself, so I'm giving them to you."

Also, you're not allowed to say no! The shoes were bought in your size, and you can't return them now.

As she spoke, Ding Yao handed her the shopping bag.

Then he put the entire foam box and the trolley into the trunk.

"It's pretty hot now, and everyone likes to drink iced drinks. Why don't you come with me? We can have some barbecue skewers, chat, and relax. I'll take you back to school tonight."

She knew that her friend Qian Lele worked day and night to earn money, and also had to find time to study, so she must be very tired.

However, she is also very sensitive and insecure, so in order not to hurt her.

That's why I made a special excuse to bring her here, just to let her relax.

Looking at the white shopping bag in her hand and listening to Ding Yao's words, Qian Lele pursed her lips tightly.

After a long silence, she nodded and said, "Thank you, Yaoyao."

"Let's go, get in the car."

"Um."

The engine roared to life, and the car's headlights came on.

Qian Lele sat in the comfortable and soft leather seat, shifting her body uncomfortably.

She understood the other person's good intentions, but felt even more uneasy and conflicted.

Ding Yao's birthday is next weekend, and she's been thinking about what kind of gift to buy.

Last year, on my birthday, in addition to giving me a cake, she also gave me a very expensive down jacket.

She also wanted to reciprocate with an expensive and beautiful gift to express her feelings.

But right now she really doesn't have much money to spare.

The car stopped outside Huajing Oasis in Yuhua District.

Ding Yao took a plastic shopping bag out of the storage box, put lemon tea and plum juice inside, locked the car, and walked into the community gate with Qian Lele.

Beautiful greenery and high-end facilities, just like a park.

The buildings in the neighborhood aren't very tall, and their light-colored facades are quite attractive.

Qian Lele carried a plastic bag and followed closely behind Ding Yao.

I made a phone call downstairs and took the elevator smoothly to my destination.

"Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~" Ding Yao pressed the doorbell, and the brown security door was quickly pushed open.

A sunny and handsome young man walked out, wearing casual shorts and an oversized T-shirt, with a trendy spiky hairstyle.

"Hello, Haoyu." Ding Yao smiled and patted his shoulder. "Have Mei Qi and the others arrived yet?"

"Everyone's here except you. Yaoyao, you really are something, you had to come all the way to school." The boy complained, his voice a little muffled, probably because he had a cold.

He paused, then exclaimed in surprise, "Is this the Qian Lele you were talking about? Wow, she's so beautiful!"

As they entered the house, Ding Yao introduced him with a smile, "His name is Zhang Haoyu, he's my high school classmate, and this is his house."

"Hello." Qian Lele smiled a little shyly.

Looking at Qian Lele's pretty face, Zhang Haoyu smiled broadly and said, "It's nice to meet you, Lele. I've been asking Yaoyao to introduce me to a pretty best friend. This guy has finally done a good deed today."

"Alright, alright, Lele is shy. You'll scare the little girl like that."

With a "bang," the door was casually slammed shut.

Ding Yao pushed Zhang Haoyu's back and walked inside.

Qian Lele gripped the plastic bag slightly tighter and surveyed her surroundings.

This is a split-level apartment, and it looks quite large.

The interior decoration is exquisite and high-end, much better than Teacher Jiang's apartment.

The three of them went up the stairs to the second floor and pushed open the small door in the southeast corner.

A brightly lit rooftop terrace, over 40 square meters in size, appeared before us.

The ground was paved with wooden strips, and the surrounding area was decorated with flowers and plants.

A grill sits on the side of the terrace, wafting out fragrant aromas.

Several young men and women sat on lounge chairs under an umbrella, holding beer and drinks, while various kebabs, snacks, and cakes were laid out on the table.

"Yaoyao's here?" "Yaoyao."...

"Isn't this our Cinderella from Teachers' University? Has Yaoyao finally brought her out? Haha."

Ding Yao said irritably, "What Cinderella? Her name is Qian Lele, Yu Jiao, speak properly."

"Good evening." Qian Lele nodded somewhat awkwardly.

She knew the person who called her "Cinderella"; her name was Du Jiao, and she was also a member of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Club at the Teachers' University, but a year ahead of her.

As for the other people, she didn't know them.

She was actually used to being called "Cinderella".

Her photos had previously been posted on the school forum, attracting considerable attention.

Because of my frugal lifestyle, I worked part-time every day. I don't know who started it, but somehow I got this nickname.

They greeted each other and then sat around the center of the terrace.

Ding Yao nudged the bag in Qian Lele's hand and said with a smile, "I brought you some chilled drinks, you're welcome."

Qian Lele quickly opened the bag, took out the drinks one by one, and placed them on the table. "These are my homemade tea drinks. The light yellow one is lemon tea, and the black one is plum juice."

Hearing her words, Du Jiao picked up a can of plum juice, looked up, and asked, "Lele, do you sell this at your stall? How much is it per bottle?"

"Six yuan." Qian Lele explained somewhat awkwardly, "This plum juice uses a pretty good plum paste and also has dried osmanthus flowers in it, it's quite delicious. The black tea bags used for the lemon tea were also purchased by me at the market, and the lemons are very fresh."

Judging from their clothes and appearance, these people are all children from wealthy families.

Moreover, the drinks and beer on the table looked expensive, and she was worried they would look down on them.

"I have to try it." Zhang Haoyu smiled, picked up a can of lemon tea, inserted a straw, took a big gulp, and gave a thumbs up, saying, "Nice! It's really delicious! Come on, let's add each other on WeChat. Send me the address of your stall, and I can go there whenever I want some."

As he spoke, he picked up his Mobile Phone, opened the WeChat QR code, and handed it to Qian Lele.

Qian Lele was stunned for a moment, then quickly took out her Mobile Phone from her pocket, opened WeChat, and scanned the QR code to add a friend.

The people around immediately burst into laughter and started teasing him.

"Do you want lemon tea? I'm not afraid to call you out on it."

"You've got your eye on her, haven't you!"

"Lele, you'd better watch out."

Hearing the teasing around her, Qian Lele blushed immediately and subconsciously looked at Ding Yao next to her.

Ding Yao leaned close to her ear and laughed, "What are you afraid of? It's not like you're losing anything by getting to know her, haha."

She Qian Lele here today, partly for this reason.

Zhang Haoyu comes from a very well-off family and is a reliable person, so in her opinion, he's a good match for Qian Lele.

"I..." Qian Lele opened her mouth, then fell silent again.

The people present were all strangers to her, so she felt very uncomfortable and couldn't say certain things.

Because of her family background, she had never thought about dating.

Du Jiao's expression gradually darkened as she watched the two people being egged on.

His eyes flickered slightly, he clapped his hands vigorously, and said with a smile, "Hey, hey, hey, can't you see that Lele is unhappy?"

Cinderella's goal is the prince with the glass slipper; Haoyu probably doesn't even catch her eye.

Don't you think so, Lele?

Qian Lele said somewhat awkwardly, "No, I'm not upset."

"Oh?" Du Jiao leaned forward, looking into the other person's eyes, and teased, "So you mean... you've taken a liking to Haoyu?"

"No, that's not what I meant." Qian Lele bit her lip slightly, her face showing anxiety.

Ding Yao immediately waved her hand to interrupt, saying, "Stop, stop, stop! All of you, calm down for a bit!"

"Alright, alright, just kidding. Look at you two like this." Du Jiao shrugged helplessly.

She was also a member of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Club, and she knew Qian Lele's personality very well, knowing what methods could best stimulate her.

After her interruption, the previous ambiguous and teasing atmosphere disappeared.

Today is a cloudy day with a moderate temperature, perfect for an outdoor barbecue.

The group grilled various marinated skewers while drinking alcohol and chatting.

They were all college students, and their conversation revolved around school and summer vacation.

Qian Lele sat next to Ding Yao, occasionally eating a couple of skewers of barbecue that others handed her, and behaved very quietly.

Although Ding Yao would chat with her from time to time, she still felt awkward and uneasy.

Their everyday conversations revolved around fashion, bars, concerts, private restaurants, overseas travel, and private clubs...

They would occasionally talk about their families, which companies they were executives in, or even their bosses.

The lemon tea and plum juice she brought were rarely touched.

They prefer craft beer, fresh juice, and cocktails.

Qian Lele sighed helplessly to herself.

The wind on the terrace grew stronger, the sky was covered with dark clouds, and the air was filled with the damp smell of earth.

Qian Lele said somewhat embarrassedly, "Yaoyao, it's very late, and there might be a thunderstorm later. I have to go to work tomorrow, so I have to go back."

Ding Yao raised her wrist to check the time; it was already 9:40.

Knowing that her friend had a regular schedule, she nodded and said, "Okay, I'll take you home."

"How about I deliver it?" Zhang Haoyu suddenly stood up and said, "Yaoyao, you seem to have had a cocktail from Mei Qi, so you shouldn't drive."

"Uh..." Ding Yao paused for a moment, then suddenly realized and said, "Oh, right, then I'll trouble you to make the trip, Haoyu. It's just a few minutes' drive from the South Gate of the Teachers' University."

As she spoke, she opened her bag, took out her car keys, and tossed them over. "The car is on the left side of your east gate; it's easy to find."

"OK, leave it to me!" Zhang Haoyu smiled and turned his head, saying, "Let's go Lele. I still have a cold, but I haven't had a drop of alcohol."

Qian Lele hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you."

Although she knew what Zhang Haoyu meant, her insulated box and stroller were still in Ding Yao's car, so she couldn't refuse.

After saying goodbye, the two got up and walked outside.

The cheers and jokes from behind rang out again.

I went out, went downstairs, and left the residential area.

Along the way, Zhang Haoyu chatted with Qian Lele about her part-time job at the coffee shop.

Qian Lele behaved very politely and deliberately kept her distance from the other party.

"Pitter-patter—" Raindrops fell from the sky and hit the bare skin.

It was a bit chilly when the wind blew.

"Wow, it's raining! Finally, it's cooler." Zhang Haoyu pressed the car key, opened the passenger door of the Mercedes-Benz GLC, and said with a gentlemanly smile, "Princess, please get in the car."

Qian Lele paused for a moment, then awkwardly sat down.

"Bang!" The car door slammed shut.

Zhang Haoyu got into the driver's seat, started the car skillfully, and drove directly towards the Teachers' University without using navigation.

"I'm studying at a university in Rong City. Like Ding Yao, I'll be a senior when school starts. I'll come to Yancheng for an internship. I've already found a company in Yuhua District."

"This house in Huajing Oasis was a reward from my family after I got into university. It will be my little house with my girlfriend in the future."

In the car, Zhang Haoyu spoke casually about his situation.

The rain gradually formed into continuous lines, and the sensor-activated wipers began to slide.

Qian Lele clasped her hands tightly, looked ahead, and didn't speak, only occasionally letting out a soft "hmm".

She was still Mo Mo worrying about what clothes to wear and what gift to buy for Ding Yao's birthday on the 30th.

"Cinderella!" Zhang Haoyu suddenly called out to her.

Qian Lele turned her head to look at him in surprise.

"Finally, there's some reaction." Zhang Haoyu's fingers on the steering wheel twitched slightly, and he smiled. "Actually, I think this nickname is quite nice. In fairy tales, Cinderella rides in a pumpkin carriage, changes into a gorgeous dress, wears glass slippers, attends the prince's ball, and lives happily ever after."

At this point, he turned his head and met Qian Lele's gaze. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Thank you." Qian Lele nodded, then looked back ahead.

The car pulled over at the intersection.

The two got out of the car and took the insulated box and trolley out of the trunk.

"I'll take you there," Zhang Haoyu said with a smile, pulling the cart. "A walk in the rain can be quite fun."

"No need, I live in the Teacher's Apartment next door, it's very close."

"Don't stand on ceremony with me, let's go."

Just as Qian Lele was about to say something, her expression suddenly froze as she looked at a tall and imposing figure in front of her.

He was wearing a plain T-shirt and jeans, holding an umbrella in his left hand and another in his right.

Walking towards this direction through layers of night.

The dim streetlights shone on him, and under the refraction of the rain and mist, they cast a hazy halo around him, creating a very beautiful scene.

Did Tang Song see that it was raining outside and specially go to the night market to pick me up?

Qian Lele's mouth suddenly felt dry, and a warm feeling enveloped her heart.

"Brother Song!" she called out, waving her hand and running quickly over to him, then slipping under his umbrella.

Feeling his warm breath, I felt completely at ease.

"Since you hadn't come back and it started raining, I went to check on you." Tang Song looked up in Zhang Haoyu's direction. "Did you go out with your friends?"

"Mm." Qian Lele nodded, smiling broadly, "But I've sold out of drinks, thank you Brother Song for picking me up!"

Tang Song smiled and handed over the umbrella in his hand. "Let's go."

"Uh-huh."

Qian Lele opened her umbrella and quickly walked to Zhang Haoyu's side. "Zhang Ge, my roommate is here to pick me up, so I won't bother you anymore. Bye-bye~, be careful on your way home!"

After saying that, he took the cart and looked in the direction of Tang Song.

Hearing her words, Zhang Haoyu paused for a moment, sizing up the boy who was walking towards him.

He's very handsome, has a great physique, wears black-rimmed glasses, and looks calm and focused.

She was dressed very plainly, and her hair was messy.

She is as simple as Qian Lele.

Their eyes met, and Tang Song calmly nodded at him.

Immediately afterwards, he and Qian Lele walked side by side toward the apartment door.

Watching the two figures disappear, Zhang Haoyu shook his head and smiled, then casually climbed into the driver's seat of the GLC.

He felt that he was good in every way, so since he had met a girl he liked, he decided to boldly pursue her.

Time will prove him to be the winner.

"Brother Song, my friend Ding Yao came to see me at the night market today. She was going to have barbecue with her friends, so she bought all these drinks. I went to deliver them and ate a few bites on the way..."

"That boy's name is Zhang Haoyu, he's my friend's high school classmate..."

"Did you hear? Bei Weiwei suddenly appeared on the streets of Yancheng, and she just happened to be bumped into by a female anchor. The scene was quite amusing..."

Raindrops fell incessantly, weaving countless fine threads under the dim light, as if draping the world in a mysterious veil.

Occasionally, raindrops would dampen her hair and the corners of her clothes, but Qian Lele didn't seem to care, continuing to talk about what had happened to her that day.

Whether she found it interesting or not, she told Tang Song about it.

She didn't know why, but she suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to share.

The plane landed slowly at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport.

The group of six got off the plane and got into the waiting van.

Leaning back in the zero-gravity seat, Su Yu closed her eyes wearily.

Sitting in the passenger seat, assistant Cheng Xiaoxi said softly, "Sister Yu, something happened tonight at Songmei Clothing, which you asked me to keep an eye on, and it's related to our company."

"Hmm? Speak." Su Yu's eyes snapped open, her amber pupils clear and pure.

"Bei Weiwei, an artist under the company, appeared as a lucky passerby in the live broadcast room of Songmei Clothing anchor He Yiyi around 7 pm, and took the initiative to show her face and greet the audience. Due to her current popularity, anchor He Yiyi also made it to the top of the trending searches and gained nearly a million followers..."

Cheng Xiaoxi continued speaking, detailing the subsequent impact of this sudden event.

Su Yu pondered for a moment with a puzzled look, then her brows gradually relaxed, and her slender, graceful fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest.

He said calmly, "I understand. Arrange some high-quality endorsements and film and television resources for Bei Weiwei."

"Okay, Sister Yu!"

Su Yu pursed her red lips slightly, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

Without Tang Song's instructions, they wouldn't have dared to interfere with his operations through their influence.

One of his minor artists has inadvertently helped his company, and this hasn't caused any negative reaction from Tang Song.

That proves that this matter is not wrong.

The only pity is that the company is called "Songmei" instead of "Songyu".

"By the way," Su Yu opened her eyes again, "What has Liu Qingning from Zhijue Technology been up to lately?"

Cheng Xiaoxi picked up her Mobile Phone and looked at it, then said softly, "She applied for a loan from the company, I heard it's to buy a house in Yancheng, and she just happened to find a suitable property."

Su Yu looked up at the bright moonlight outside the window and sighed with a complicated expression.