Success Comes Naturally

Xiang Xiaotian didn't care about her cousin or his girlfriend.

So Zhang Yang just made some casual arrangements and got by with it.

"How could I not know my cousin's character? He's good-for-nothing, a bloodsucker." In the large suite, Xiang Xiaotian talked a lot about her cousin.

For example, during the Chinese New Year, some people come empty-handed but leave with a full load of goods.

For example, someone might want to buy a house, and they'll come over and beat around the bush, saying they want to buy a certain size house, always hinting at it indirectly.

"And his girlfriend, she's probably not a good person either. My mom even specifically asked me to take them shopping," Xiang Xiaotian muttered for a while.

"He's still your mother's nephew, no matter what. You can say that to me, but don't say it in front of your mother," Zhang Yang said casually with a smile.

"Yes, I know, Brother Zhang." Xiang Xiaotian nodded obediently, and then rested her head on Zhang Yang's shoulder.

There's no need to force anything.

Although Xiang Xiaotian took the initiative several times.

But there's really no need to do this kind of thing deliberately.

In the huge suite, it was still early, so Zhang Yang and Xiang Xiaotian chatted idly while keeping track of the time and having the hotel send over food and drinks.

With a space of several hundred square meters, you could spend an entire day there without getting bored.

Even if you get really bored, just step out of your suite, turn left, and you'll find plenty of places to go within the vast InterContinental Garden Hotel.

As night fell, the two had a sudden idea: they had the hotel send over a bunch of ingredients so they could cook some dishes themselves.

Xiang Xiaotian was indeed a pampered rich girl who never lifted a finger, and she was expected to cook for her.

She chose to cook.

Well then, Zhang Yang had no choice but to take on the responsibility of cooking.

In the kitchen of the large suite, Xiang Xiaotian watched Zhang Yang demonstrate his cooking skills, her beautiful eyes wide with amazement.

"Brother Zhang, you're such a good cook? That's really surprising."

"Cooking? What's so difficult about that?" Zhang Yang casually tossed the wok, the food inside oozing with wok hei (the smoky aroma imparted by a hot wok), filling the air with fragrance. "But I don't cook often, only occasionally when I feel like it. Okay, let's get ready for dinner."

The last dish, stir-fried pork with bell peppers, was served.

The two sat facing each other.

With a click, Zhang Yang casually opened a bottle of red wine and poured some for another person.

"Come on, cheers!"

"Cheers." Xiang Xiaotian, her face flushed, raised her glass. "Although I don't know which Plan I am right now, I hope that one day I can become Brother Zhang's Plan A, the only one of its kind."

"How greedy of you, trying to tie me down?" Zhang Yang laughed it off. Although he thought Xiang Xiaotian's idea was a bit naive, he didn't discourage her.

Theoretically speaking, if she can replace others today, others can replace her in the future.

"I was just making a wish, like when kids wish to be scientists or pilots. Can't I wish to be your only one?" Xiang Xiaotian said with a light reproach.

"Lacks ambition," Zhang Yang said with amusement.

After dinner, since it was still early, Zhang Yang took Xiang Xiaotian to the rooftop garden of the InterContinental Garden Hotel.

Standing on the terrace with its flower-paved street and cobblestone stepping stones.

As the evening breeze blew along the Qiantang River, Xiang Xiaotian gently opened her arms to embrace the breeze, looking quite content.

"Brother Zhang, I think the view from your hotel is at least ten times better than mine."

"Each has its own merits. The scenery of West Lake and the scenery of the Qiantang River are two different styles and two different concepts." Zhang Yang leaned back in the octagonal pavilion, feeling extremely relaxed. He had no worries at all, not even a trivial matter.

Look around at the white pines and maples, look up at the bright moon, feel the just-right cool breeze, and sleep in this little pavilion.

Indeed, the bright moon among the flowers and the cool breeze beneath the pines cannot compare to the comfort of my pillow by the north window.

"The ancients were right," Zhang Yang couldn't help but sigh, suddenly feeling quite envious of the feeling of having beautiful wives and concubines in ancient times.

However, he is currently in a state where he can easily obtain a certificate of single status.

He had no beautiful wives or concubines, but he had plenty of other women.

With that thought in mind, Zhang Yang naturally put his arm around the pavilion behind him.

Xiang Xiaotian naturally understood and leaned into his arms.

A cool breeze was blowing, and sitting with my sweetheart in my arms in the evening air was quite a pleasant experience.

"Good brother, let's go back?" Xiang Xiaotian looked at him with teary eyes.

Zhang Yang glanced at the time, then at Xiang Xiaotian, whose face was becoming increasingly radiant, like a blooming peach blossom.

Well, the atmosphere is pretty much set.

He stood up, took Xiang Xiaotian's hand, and went back to the suite.

As night fell, Zhang Yang had just lain down after taking a shower Xiang Xiaotian fragrant, approached him shyly.

"Brother Zhang Yang, turn off the lights," she said softly, trying to coax him.

"Turning off the lights won't help; it's so brightly lit outside," Zhang Yang laughed.

"Then close your eyes," Xiang Xiaotian said again.

"Okay, I'll close my eyes." Zhang Yang pretended to close his eyes slightly.

The next second, the bath towel fell to the ground, and under the light, her curvaceous figure was flawless, exuding an indescribable, ambiguous, blushing aura.

"You..." Zhang Yang's eyes widened slightly.

Hearing this, Xiang Xiaotian suddenly cried out in surprise, clutching her chest, her face flushed crimson.

"Brother Zhang, you're cheating."

The next second, she snuggled into Zhang Yang's arms, burying her face in his chest and falling silent.

Feeling the warmth in his arms and looking at the dazzling Qiantang River view outside the window, Zhang Yang smiled and turned off the light. Leaning against the lamplight outside the window, he pulled the covers up.

··

In the stillness of the night, Zhang Yang gently wiped away the tears from Xiang Xiaotian's eyes, covered her fair shoulders with the blanket, and then got out of bed.

He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking refreshed, and casually lit a cigarette.

In the stillness of the night, one's mind is often overly alert, and Zhang Yang tends to think about many things at this time.

He carefully organized the things he needed to do next.

The first priority, of course, is to complete the filming task and reap the rewards.

Fifty experience points, and an experience book.

With these fifty experience points, I've completed half of my progress towards the next level.

The next level offers a daily cashback of 250,000, and an annual cashback of over 90 million, almost reaching 100 million. There are also upgrade gift packs waiting for you; who knows what kind of incredible surprises they might bring?

The above can be described as highly motivating and full of anticipation.

However, apart from that, Zhang Yang valued the experience book even more.

A book on the experiences of Fortune 500 CEOs.

Commonly known as the "Quick Become a Boss" card.

Using such experience books to develop the vision, perspective, and temperament of a Fortune 500 CEO is crucial for both the present and future business planning and development.

In short, the task is arduous and the road ahead is long.

In the middle of the night, Zhang Yang felt a sense of urgency and, without thinking, sent a message to Tian Chuxi.

As for whether it will be a disturbance.

Please, he's practically Tian Chuxi's savior now.

Your benefactor didn't make you work like a slave or ask you to repay them with your body; is it really that much to bother you in the middle of the night?

Zhang Yang, in any case, felt it wasn't excessive at all.

"When... when can construction begin?"

I thought Tian Chuxi would be asleep by now, but to my surprise, Tian Chuxi replied to my message shortly after I sent it.

Instead of directly answering his question, it was more like someone who couldn't sleep in the middle of the night and suddenly found someone to chat with.

"You're not asleep either?"

"Just slept, not asleep yet." Zhang Yang replied to the message while glancing back at Xiang Xiaotian was fast asleep.

"What's all this about? I don't understand." Tian Chuxi sent a string of question marks. "So eager to start work? I never expected you to be so dedicated."

"The sooner we finish filming, the sooner we can relax. Aren't you in a hurry?" Zhang Yang replied.

"I'm in a hurry, but not as anxious as you... Hey, is it convenient for you to use voice chat? I... I can't sleep, I want to chat with someone," Tian Chuxi suddenly said.

"That works too," Zhang Yang readily agreed.

The suite is several hundred square meters. Even if you walk a little further away and have a voice chat with someone, you won't wake Xiang Xiaotian.

Not long after, Zhang Yang went to the living room and lay down on the sofa.

A voice message arrived.

Zhang Yang answered the call casually, and in the middle of the night, he and Tian Chuxi chatted about random things.

It's often said that people are more prone to eMO in the middle of the night, but the truth is that people's thoughts are most emotional and delicate at night, and many creators often experience a burst of inspiration in the middle of the night.

The two chatted for a long time, forgetting each other's identities.

"Hey? I'd like to see you, is that convenient?" Tian Chuxi suddenly asked.

"What's so interesting about me?" Zhang Yang chuckled, not thinking much of it, and casually hung up the voice call and started a video call.

The video call connected, Tian Chuxi was lying on the bed, wearing pajamas, her unmade-up face close to the camera.

"It's pitch black, why don't you turn on the lights?"

"Hmm... a bit dark is good." Zhang Yang casually showed a view of the still brightly lit Qiantang River outside the floor-to-ceiling window. "I'm a little sleepy, how about goodnight?"

"Hmm." Tian Chuxi hummed in response, still staring at the camera without moving.

"Aren't you sleepy yet?" Zhang Yang asked, noticing her expression.

"Zhang Yang, let me ask you, are you in such a hurry to film because you're eyeing the later scenes?" Tian Chuxi suddenly took a deep breath and asked.

"What scenes are we talking about later?" Zhang Yang was a little confused.

"You know perfectly well what you're asking, you're just pretending..." Tian Chuxi snorted, waved at the camera, and said, "Okay, go to sleep if you're sleepy, I'm hanging up."

Then, the video ended.

Zhang Yang blinked, glanced at the back of the script, and suddenly realized what was going on.

"Tsk tsk, so this is the play."

I had planned to go straight back to my bedroom to sleep, but after reading the script, my sleepiness dissipated a bit.

Zhang Yang casually scrolled through short videos and his WeChat Moments.

Just then, he saw a post on his younger cousin Song Yumeng's WeChat Moments: "Tian Chuxi's new drama is absolutely amazing! I declare that I will be a fan of my Chu Xi for life."

"Huh?" Zhang Yang silently liked his little cousin's post on WeChat Moments, finding it quite peculiar.

Just a moment ago, he was chatting with Tian Chuxi in the middle of the night.

The next second, I saw on my social media that my little cousin was actually a fan of Tian Chuxi and had even posted on her WeChat Moments.

Zhang Yang shook his head and sighed, then turned and went back to his bedroom. He gently lifted the covers and lay down.

Beside her, Xiang Xiaotian murmured something and clung to her like an octopus.

Zhang Yang finally succumbed to sleepiness and fell into a deep sleep.

··

The next morning, Xiang Xiaotian snuggled in Zhang Yang's arms like a kitten.

"It's your mom on the phone." Zhang Yang saw Xiang Xiaotian's phone ring.

"I'll answer it." Xiang Xiaotian answered the phone with a smile, then glanced at Zhang Yang with slightly watery eyes.

Zhang Yang was a little confused when suddenly his eyes widened.

"Hiss··"

The conversation between Xiang Xiaotian and her mother could be heard clearly.

Good morning, Mom.

"Where did you go last night? You haven't replied to my messages... Huh? It's so early in the morning, is your voice... Are you eating breakfast?" Dong Yaru's voice was clearly audible.

"Hmm..." Xiang Xiaotian replied indistinctly, her voice tinged with a long, nasal tone.

Zhang Yang lay on his back, listening to the mother and daughter chatting.

During the conversation, Dong Yaru even mentioned him, inquiring about the progress of their relationship.

Xiang Xiaotian answered, she looked up at him with a slightly flirtatious gaze, her little mouth chattering away.

I don't know how long they chatted.

It will definitely take at least half an hour.

After hanging up the phone, Xiang Xiaotian covered her mouth and ran away.

A moment later, Zhang Yang saw Xiang Xiaotian approaching while tilting her head back and drinking mineral water.

"Good morning, Brother Zhang Yang."

She crept closer like a kitten, a sly glint in her eyes.

"Eh~" Zhang Yang turned his head away, directly blocking Xiang Xiaotian's kiss. "You've got some nerve, haven't you?"

He reached out and tickled her armpit.

"I won't do it again, I won't do it again, good brother." Xiang Xiaotian immediately giggled, her hands trembling with ticklishness as she begged for mercy, giving up in the end.

A moment later, Zhang Yang picked Xiang Xiaotian up and carried her straight to the nearby restroom.

··

In the morning, Zhang Yang took Xiang Xiaotian back.

All along the way, I could hear her talking on the phone with her cousin.

"What? You want to buy a car? And you want my advice? What do you mean by that?" Xiang Xiaotian's eyes widened, seemingly unable to believe that her cousin could be so shameless.

"Sis, I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted some advice." Dong Jun's voice could be faintly heard.

Zhang Yang found it amusing to listen from the sidelines.

Sure enough, his actions matched everything Xiang Xiaotian had described about her cousin.

"No suggestions, buy whatever car you want!" Xiang Xiaotian hung up the phone without any politeness, then grabbed Zhang Yang's arm and complained, "That's shameless! He's using this trick on me again, subtly trying to borrow money. I bet he'll be complaining about not having enough money soon... I have to call my mom."

Without saying a word, Xiang Xiaotian called her mother again. "Mom, if Dong Jun mentions wanting to buy a car in front of you, don't pay him any attention."

"Xiao Tian, Dong Jun is buying a car. As his aunt, I should support him. It's not like I have much money," Dong Yaru's voice came from behind.

"Ten or twenty thousand is no problem, of course," Xiang Xiaotian said indignantly. "I'm just afraid he'll ask for an exorbitant amount, demanding a nice car right away. You know what kind of person he is..."

"How can you say that about Dong Jun? He's your cousin after all." Dong Yaru's soft sigh came from the other end of the line.

Zhang Yang blinked, surprised that Xiang Xiaotian seemed so well-educated and reasonable, was actually so biased towards her own family.