Chapter 10: The slap almost sent him flying to the ground.

Chapter 10: The slap nearly knocked him flat on his ass.

First thing next morning.

The moment Tang Tang opened her eyes, she received a reply email from Attorney Zhao.

"I've looked into the firm you mentioned. While they're generally professional in their field, they currently have no projects related to entertainment. I wouldn’t recommend them. Tang Bao (lit. 'Sweet Tang')~ I’ll help you pick out other private equity options. Merry Christmas!"

Tang Tang read the email twice and fell silent for a long time.

"Goddammit! I should’ve just said I wanted to meet their CEO directly. Now after all this trouble, I can't even get an email address."

She pounded her pillow and slapped the blankets, rolling around a few times before finally sitting up with a messy bedhead.

Serves her right for running in circles!

She’s already reborn—why bother following the polite, step-by-step approach of those refined people? She should’ve just stormed straight to Chenxing Capital’s address and opened with, "I'm living my second life—let me show you the ropes."

No point dawdling. Tang Tang had always been a woman of action.

She immediately jumped out of bed and headed to the semi-circular floor-to-ceiling bathroom attached to the master bedroom. After freshening up, she planned to scout whether her future potential big-shot ally was reliable, a social disaster, or worth getting close to later.

Her new rule of thumb was that anyone whose name appeared in the novel—male or female—was worth at least a closer look now.

Forget about whether these characters could extend their connections. What she needed to do was rope in these side characters before Lin Xiangyuan could, establish ties, and work out the details later.

The bathroom was filled with the fragrance of Damascus rose essential oil. Tang Tang relaxed in the jacuzzi, staring blankly at the urban sprawl outside the window.

*Ping—*

Another message arrived.

Tang Tang casually picked up her phone from the marble countertop, assuming Attorney Zhao had sent her a new list of private equity recommendations.

But things took a sharp left turn.

It wasn’t Attorney Zhao.

Tang Tang abruptly sat up in the tub, reading and rereading in disbelief the message on her phone, her mind racing for a long time.

It was an anonymous text—no sender info.

"Miss Tang, I can’t keep this to myself any longer. After my exam yesterday, I saw your boyfriend Qin Zixian harassing that really pretty exchange student at the classroom door. When she rejected him, he even cursed at her… Break up with him ASAP. No need to thank me."

After reading it, Tang Tang’s face broke into a smile wider than a Cheshire cat's.

Gazing at the steam-fogged glass, she breathed,

"The universe is doing me favors."

Still damp from her bath, Tang Tang was about to send Qin Zixian a setup text when an unfamiliar call came through first.

Her private number was always well-protected. Unless someone had previous connections with her, there was no way they’d have her contact info.

Still towel-clad, Tang Tang eyed the unfamiliar number suspiciously before pressing the green answer button.

She had no idea who was on the other end:

—Was it Qin Zixian’s burner phone?

"Or is it Xu Miaoli feigning hardship?"

"Could it also be Zhu Yanyan losing her phone after landing in New York and getting a new SIM card?"

"Hello?" Tang Tang whispered cautiously.

Two seconds later, a gruff, authoritative voice came through the receiver.

"Hello, I’m your landlord, Zhuang Shao."

Tang Tang froze for several seconds.

After processing this, she repeated uncertainly, "...Zhuang Shao? Which Zhuang Shao? The one from Chenxing Capital?"

Zhuang Shao also paused.

From his perspective, Tang Tang shouldn’t know him yet.

In that split second, countless possibilities surged through Zhuang Shao’s mind:

—Did Guan Sanqi leak something?

—Or did that group from the other day cause too much commotion?

—Maybe Tang Tang’s parents mentioned the matchmaking to her? But the timing doesn’t add up—he hadn’t even introduced Chutang yet...

He couldn’t stay silent for too long, so he plowed ahead and replied, "Yes, Zhuang Shao from Chenxing Capital. Also your landlord, Zhuang Shao."

Zhuang Shao was a little nervous. He feared his impulsive move might have startled Tang Tang prematurely, leaving a bad impression—that would be counterproductive.

Over the phone, both lapsed into silence for several seconds.

Just as Zhuang Shao was about to make the first move, Tang Tang spoke first.

"Mr. Zhuang, are you free? Should we meet and talk?"

This time, it was Zhuang Shao’s turn to be baffled.

"Now?"

"Yes, now. Immediately."

For someone who had experienced unnatural phenomena, rebirth was already a cheat code, and knowing the entire plot was like having a God’s-eye view.

Ten minutes after hanging up, Tang Tang was still in awe.

When things go smoothly, even the universe conspires—you get exactly what you want without effort.

She had never expected this kind of connection with Zhuang Shao.

Tang Tang surveyed the interior design elements, from the geometric ceiling to the carved corner lamps. She tried to discern what kind of person Zhuang Shao was through these clues to the owner’s aesthetic.

The book didn’t describe Zhuang Shao much.

Most of the writing focused on his corporate maneuvers. The author lavished attention on his brilliance—whether it was daring plays that stunned Wall Street or uncovering overlooked treasures in Silicon Valley.

But what kind of personality did this mysterious boss in the novel have? The book was sparing with details, leaving Tang Tang with few clues.

Their few encounters had been at those tedious, endless galas—men talking about finances, stocks, antiques, while women discussed fashion, the arts, and children.

At those parties, she would always sit quietly in a corner, listening to the flattery of strangers, like an unfeeling porcelain doll. And in those moments, she often overheard guests saying things like, "Zhuang Shao didn't come," "Zhuang Shao seems to have left," or "Zhuang Shao only showed up briefly."

Maybe he’s the cold, distant type?

With this thought in mind, Tang Tang left her apartment.

While waiting for the elevator, her phone buzzed with two texts from Qin Zixian.

"Qin Zixian: Baby, I'm downstairs."

"Qin Zixian: Isn’t Christmas your favorite? I brought you a gift."

Tang Tang let out a derisive snort.

She had merely intended to take advantage of today’s opportunity to end things for good. She had half-heartedly summoned Qin Zixian without even setting a specific time, yet this man was already clawing at her doorstep.

Tang Tang was annoyed.

Right now, she wanted to handle the Zhuang Shao situation first. If she missed this chance, she might never get such an organic chance to meet the Boss face-to-face again, which would be detrimental to her future plans.

After hesitating for a moment, she shot back a brush-off.

"Tied up. Raincheck."

Leaving someone as disgusting as Qin Zixian hanging didn’t matter—she had more important things to handle before dropping the axe on him.

Just as she stepped into the elevator, Tang Tang received another message.

"Unknown number: I’m downstairs now."

She didn’t even need to think—it had to be Zhuang Shao.

Tang Tang was surprised. She had no idea that after hanging up her call, Zhuang Shao had immediately canceled two meetings and rushed to the apartment like a bat out of hell.

"On my way. Gimme two mins."

Tang Tang replied while walking.

Weaving past uniformed doormen and brushing past greetings in various accents, she finally stepped out of the apartment building.

December in New York was bone-chilling, cold enough to crack skin. Tang Tang tightened her coat, only to be called from behind by two voices overlapping.

"Baby!"

"Ms. Tang!"

Tang Tang instinctively turned around, her stomach dropping.

She never expected Qin Zixian and Zhuang Shao to have parked right next to each other—a Nissan practically rubbing fenders with a Rolls-Royce Ghost, creating an awkward scene.

However, Tang Tang didn’t miss a beat.

Without even glancing at Qin Zixian, she walked straight toward Zhuang Shao.

Once her Doc Martens were set in motion, Tang Tang didn’t notice the two men's faces doing identical double-takes.

"Mr. Zhuang, sorry to keep you waiting. I’m Tang Tang."

Zhuang Shao coolly tore his eyes away from Qin Zixian and turned to Tang Tang, his expression thawing by degrees.

"Hi, Miss Tang. We met once before, remember?"

Tang Tang recalled their brief encounter and nodded with a smile. "Thanks for that time. I had no idea you owned this building."

Zhuang Shao followed her lead. "Since neither of us was there when the lease was signed, funny how we ended up meeting like this."

As he finished speaking, he handed her a business card from his suit pocket.

Just as Tang Tang was about to take it, a pair of hands abruptly cut between them, interrupting everything.

It was Qin Zixian.

"Babe, don’t fall for pretty boys like him. They just coast by on their looks and have probably scammed countless people."

Tang Tang & Zhuang Shao: Are you describing yourself?

Qin Zixian had been waiting outside Tang Tang’s apartment for ages. After finally getting a reply to his messages, it was just to tell him to leave?

His gut told him Tang Tang must have moved on.

Otherwise, why would she suddenly be so cold? Ignoring his messages, making him wait endlessly—it wasn’t some playing-hard-to-get act. She clearly didn’t care about him anymore.

The more Qin Zixian thought about it, the angrier he became.

His earlier plots had backfired, and now he’d even given up his own place. If Tang Tang didn’t follow through on her promise of the apartment, he’d not only be laughed at by his friends but also end up homeless.

Pissed off and itching for a fight, he saw the perfect target right in front of him.

He scrutinized the man before him.

A few centimeters taller—probably wearing lifts in his shoes.

That face? Definitely bought and paid for.

And that limited-edition extended Rolls-Royce Ghost? Since when did his rivals step up their game like this? Which rental place even stocks that? Probably some con artist with a whole crew backing him!

Seeing his chance, Qin Zixian decided to play the hero in front of Tang Tang. Maybe she’d take pity and still let him stay in that vacant apartment.

The thought of that luxury apartment made him impatient. Ditching any second thoughts, he marched straight toward Zhuang Shao.

"I know your type. If you’re looking to scam someone, pick another mark. Keep harassing her, and I’ll call the police!"

With that, Qin Zixian tried to pull Tang Tang into his arms, with a cocky look that screamed, "Just relax and fall into my embrace!"

Tang Tang recoiled, nearly hiding behind Zhuang Shao.

Zhuang Shao, meanwhile, glared at Qin Zixian with icy contempt.

This was his first close-up look at Qin Zixian since coming back to life.

Remembering the suffering Tang Tang endured in their past life, he wanted to put a bullet in him right then and there.

Last time, outside the café, he hadn’t gotten the chance. This time, Qin Zixian wouldn’t walk away.

Just as Zhuang Shao was about to act, Tang Tang moved first.

In her high heels, she landed a stinging slap across Qin Zixian’s face—a loud, satisfying *crack* that rang through the air.

"What the hell are you yapping about?"

Qin Zixian was dumbstruck.

Tang Tang was infuriated just by the sight of his face, so she raised her hand and slapped him again.

"Smack—" another sharp sound.

"Who's the real creep here?"

Qin Zixian covered his face. "What?"

He touched his right cheek—it was on fire.

But it wasn't over yet. While he was still dazed and hadn't even reacted, Tang Tang raised her hand again and delivered an even harder slap, nearly knocking him over.

"I haven't even confronted you yet! If someone hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known you were harassing Miaoli behind my back!"

Qin Zixian was completely stunned.

For a moment, he thought he must have misheard. Harass who? Miaoli?

"Babe, wait, let me explain! I really didn’t! There's nothing between us! This has to be fake!"

Tang Tang snorted coldly, unlocked her phone, pulled up the latest message, and thrust it at Qin Zixian.

"Stop lying. See for yourself!"

Qin Zixian widened his eyes, scanning the anonymous text line by line, his face contorting more with each word.

On the screen was the message accusing him of the alleged harassment of Xu Miaoli.