Chapter 45 : Physical Release Is a Way to Cope (1/2)

Upon hearing his words, Jiang Nanshu’s heartbeat quickened,

and she had already roughly guessed the content of the phone call.

It was probably a company wanting to purchase the rights to develop a mobile version of Echoes of Time.

And it seemed to be a foreign company.

Ever since the update last night, the game’s popularity hasn’t decreased.

It was still trending on the game platform and showed signs of breaking into the mainstream.

Some indie games, once they go mainstream,

attract companies interested in buying rights to develop mobile versions.

Song Ye quickly hung up the phone.

Jiang Nanshu blinked and asked him, “Are you going to make a mobile version of the game?”

“I hadn’t planned to before, and I’m still not planning to now.”

Song Ye put his phone back on the center console,

opened the armrest box, took out a small box of delicate chocolates, and handed it to her.

“Have a couple of pieces if you’re hungry.”

Jiang Nanshu was stunned for a moment and accepted the chocolates.

Song Ye drove off, and Jiang Nanshu looked down to untie the ribbon on the chocolate box,

picked a white one, and put it in her mouth. It was sweet and fragrant.

She turned to the man driving, “It’s pretty good. Do you want to try one?”

Song Ye paused for a moment, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “Sure.”

Jiang Nanshu saw him controlling the steering wheel with one hand like a seasoned driver.

He didn’t plan to reach over and take one, so she leaned over a little and fed him a piece of dark chocolate.

He didn’t like sweet things, so dark chocolate was just right.

Her fingertips accidentally brushed against his lips and trembled slightly before quickly pulling back.

It was the first time for both of them to be in a relationship.

Feeding each other was also a first.

Even though they’d already kissed a few times, just touching lips like that still made the atmosphere feel a bit ambiguous.

Jiang Nanshu felt that maybe it was because the way they started their relationship was a bit unusual.

After a moment of silence, she turned her head and asked Song Ye,

“Are you not doing the mobile version because of me?”

Even if the game became a hit and people found out the princess character was based on her,

aside from Lin Yao and a few others, no one would associate it with a real-life love triangle.

After all, the story ended well.

So if Song Ye did sell the mobile rights, she wouldn’t mind; he’d probably earn quite a bit.

The reason Song Ye made the game in the first place was to release the pressure and frustration in his heart.

He never intended to make money from it, let alone expected the game to go viral and earn him a huge profit.

The original intention behind Song Ye creating this game was to relieve the repression and frustration in his heart.

He never intended to make money from it,

and he certainly didn’t expect the game to almost break out and end up making a lot of money.

So, life often brings surprises,

whether they bring joy or sorrow, they’re unpredictable.

He turned the steering wheel to make a turn, eyes on the road ahead:

“Do you want a mobile version?”

“…If I want one, would there be one?”

Jiang Nanshu felt like she’d asked a pointless question.

If she wanted one, Song Ye would make it for her.

It was just a matter of time and energy.

Song Ye glanced at her and smiled lazily, “I’m too busy right now.

Once this project is done, it can happen.”

He paused, then added, “If this round of testing doesn’t go well, maybe it’ll be sooner.”

“…”

Jiang Nanshu turned to look at him: “Why do you sound like you’re hoping the test goes poorly?”

“I’m not.” Song Ye laughed. “Just a hypothetical.”

Jiang Nanshu thought about his words, then asked,

“If the test fails and the project gets canceled, have you already prepared a backup plan?”

If it weren’t for this project, he had originally planned to start his game studio.

With his capabilities, finding investors wouldn’t be hard.

At a red light, Song Ye slowly stepped on the brakes and turned to look at her:

“You’d come with me, right?”

He’d asked this question once before on WeChat.

“What else would I do?” Jiang Nanshu blinked, realizing she was too easily swayed,

and quickly added, “You’ll have to hire me with a high salary.”

Song Ye gave a laid-back laugh: “Sure.”

It was Valentine’s Day today, and the traffic was worse than usual.

Song Ye turned on the baby cam feed on his phone and handed it to her,

so she could watch Rou Song and Xiao Bei to kill time.

It took them over an hour to get to Hexi Lane.

@Unlimited great stories, all on Jinjiang Literature City.

At Chen Ji’s Hong Kong-style diner, it was peak dining time, and there were no seats.

The two of them waited outside.

Song Ye pulled Jiang Nanshu in front of him, using his tall figure to shield her from the wind,

while she looked down to check group messages.

The PM was talking in the group chat about the team dinner.

Since Song Ye took over the project team, there hadn’t been a single team dinner.

The budget for team-building was too tight, and they couldn’t get approval.

This dinner was being done in groups.

Jiang Nanshu read the message and frowned, muttering,

“Why is the operations team eating with the company’s marketing and PR department?

We don’t even know them.”

Song Ye lifted his hand and gently brushed the back of her head.

“Marketing and PR applied for a budget to promote Project A and plan to place ads.”

“They’ll be stepping in to take over promotion and marketing for the project soon, so you’ll be working directly with them.”

Previously, when Project A was on the verge of being scrapped,

The marketing and PR department had stepped away, leaving the operations team to handle everything from promotion to monetization.

Now that a major testing phase was coming up,

and the project was back in focus, they were rejoining to protect the department’s interests.

The PM likely arranged this dinner so everyone could get familiar first.

“……” Jiang Nanshu looked up at him.

“Coming down?”

“The boss’s lover,” Song Ye said.

Jiang Nanshu had nothing to say.

That extra budget likely lined the pockets of the marketing director, who knows?

But with less workload, it should count as a good thing.

The only question was, who would be the one working with them?

Probably her.

Their turn came.

Song Ye naturally held her hand as they walked in.

The restaurant owner’s wife remembered them.

As soon as she saw the two walking in hand-in-hand,

her face lit up and she cheerfully said in Cantonese, “Congratulations!”

Jiang Nanshu felt a little shy but smiled openly.

“Thank you.”

While they were ordering food, the owner’s wife found a spare moment to chat with her and gossip a little.

She asked, “Who chased whom?”

Jiang Nanshu glanced at Song Ye.

He was lazily leaning back in his chair, looking relaxed and cheerful, clearly in a good mood.

Coincidentally, their seats were the same as last time.

Jiang Nanshu looked away and playfully said in Cantonese to the owner’s wife, “I chased him.

Thought he was handsome.”

The owner’s wife laughed and said, “You’re beautiful too. A perfect match.”

After ordering, she returned to her seat.

Song Ye raised an eyebrow and looked at her: “Next time, you could just say I chased you.

No need to flatter me like that.”

He thought she said it to give him face.

Jiang Nanshu took a sip of tea, looked at him, and said, “Song Ye, did you forget?”

She paused and whispered, “It was I who chased you first.”

Song Ye was silent for a few seconds, then looked down and smiled. “Right.”

It wasn’t until after the meal, when they stepped outside,

that Jiang Nanshu realized why he’d gone quiet for those few seconds.

He must have thought of Chen Qingyue again.

They walked to the car.

Song Ye held her hand and turned to ask, “Where to now?”

Suddenly, Jiang Nanshu turned and hugged him.

Song Ye froze for a moment and looked down at her.

“What’s wrong?”

Jiang Nanshu looked up at him, blinked, and said in a relaxed tone,

“Do you still have that red wine from last time?

When I get back… invite me in for a drink.

I have something I want to tell you.”

“With your alcohol tolerance, and you still dare to drink at my place?”

Song Ye looked at her with an amused expression.

Jiang Nanshu blushed.

Had he not forgotten?

She’d even sat on his lap and taken off her clothes.

Drinking was nothing in comparison.

Most normal relationships progressed step by step,

but theirs… felt a bit chaotic.

Still, it didn’t matter now.

She looked up and glared at him: “Yes or no?”

“Tonight works too.”

“…Better another day.”

Jiang Nanshu didn’t want to ruin the mood of the day.

The more she felt Song Ye’s affection, the more afraid she became of his reaction.

She felt uneasy and looked down.

“Just take me home. I didn’t sleep well last night, I’m a little tired.”

She had barely slept the night before.

As soon as she got in the car, she started nodding off.

But she never really fell asleep; whenever the car stopped, she’d open her eyes.

She dazedly looked out the window before turning to Song Ye with sleepy eyes.

“I’m heading in.”

“Take this with you.”

Song Ye handed her the box of chocolates.

Jiang Nanshu gave a soft “okay,” took the box, and stuffed it into her bag.

She was just about to open the door when suddenly her shoulder was pressed down and she was pulled back.

The man leaned in and kissed her.

Song Ye kissed her deeply.

His tongue pushed in, tasting the sweet flavor of coconut taro in her mouth.

He lingered on her lips for a whole minute before letting her go and softly saying, “Goodnight.”

Jiang Nanshu got out of the car with a blushing face and racing heart.

She stood in the cold night air for a while to clear her head, then waved at the car window.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, Jiang Nanshu and Jiang Yu went to Grandpa and Grandma Lu Youchuan’s place for dinner.

There were a lot of people there, and it was very lively.

Jiang Nanshu felt a bit uncomfortable.

Lu Youchuan noticed and found an excuse to take her out for a walk.

Jiang Nanshu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at him.

“Thanks, ge.”

“No need to be polite. We’re family.”

Lu Youchuan smiled and then turned to her.

“Are you together with Song Ye now?”

Just now, Grandma Lu asked if she had a boyfriend.

Jiang Nanshu said, “Yes.”

Who knows if it was true, or if she just wanted to avoid being set up by the elders?

Jiang Nanshu answered with a hum, “We’re together.”

Lu Youchuan smiled happily. “Next time, he can call me ‘brother’ too.”

“……”