Applause and jeers echoed throughout the banquet hall.
“President Su? Mr. Lin? The performance can end now, that was truly wonderful!” The host’s voice, tinged with a smile, rang out through the microphone.
Su Jin snapped back to her senses, finally realizing they were still on stage.
Lin Lu’an also seemed to have just detached from his role. He gave a slight bow to the audience, then very naturally extended his hand to Su Jin again, making a “please” gesture.
Su Jin struggled to maintain a composed smile on her face, nodding politely to the audience, then walked off the stage together with Lin Lu’an.
“Miss Su Jin, was my performance just now… at least passable?” Back at their seats, Lin Lu’an leaned close to her ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear.
His tone carried a hint of seeking praise after completing a task, like a Labrador waiting for a reward after following a command.
Su Jin turned her head to look at him, trying to spot any trace of mischief in his eyes, but all she saw was a clear, innocent gaze.
“Barely passable, I suppose…” Su Jin blushed, turning her head away from Lin Lu’an.
He really doesn’t seem to be teasing me…?
The networking event finally ended in a harmonious atmosphere.
At least, on the surface.
After sending off the last group of guests, the smile on Su Jin’s face vanished instantly. She rubbed her slightly sore brow and instructed Song Li, “Go bring the car around.”
“Yes, Miss.”
***
Once Song Li left, the vast banquet hall quickly became empty, leaving only Su Jin and Lin Lu’an. Su Jin walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the city’s dazzling lights, saying nothing.
Lin Lu’an stood silently a step behind her, equally quiet. He knew the show was over—now it was time for the sponsor’s review.
As expected, Su Jin turned around, her gaze sharp as she looked at him. “Lin Lu’an.”
“Miss Su Jin.” Lin Lu’an gave a slight bow.
“Today… overall performance was adequate.”
Su Jin’s tone betrayed no emotion. She paused for a moment, as if weighing her words.
Then, she spoke.
“Do you like me?”
“Huh?” Lin Lu’an was taken aback.
That question left him completely dumbfounded.
What does this mean? Has Miss Su Jin not come out of character yet? Or something else? Isn’t this when she should be telling me to continue being her emotional punching bag tomorrow or something?
Forget it, whatever the situation, it’s never right to say you don’t like the boss.
“Mm.”
Lin Lu’an said calmly, “I like you, Miss Su Jin.”
“Ugh!” Su Jin shuddered like a student called on by the teacher.
He really likes me!
She shook her head forcefully.
But Lin Lu’an, even though you’re quite the good puppy, there’s no way I’ll ever marry you.
After all, how could her heart waver for a man she paid to be by her side? She definitely doesn’t like Lin Lu’an.
As if to verify this, Su Jin placed her hand over her chest.
“Thump, thump, thump.” Inside, countless little deer were rampaging.
She quickly lowered her hand.
See, my heart’s not nervous at all, very calm heartbeat.
Nonsense! Who said your heart races when you meet someone you like? That’s a myth!
What even is this! How could I possibly like that little Lin puppy?!
As if giving up all pretense, Su Jin shot to her feet and strode toward the banquet hall doors.
“How could a puppy not like its owner? Alright, alright! Let’s get ready to leave!”
Lin Lu’an was left a bit stunned for a moment.
What is this woman… doing?
***
Sometime later, outside Indigo Tech, a light drizzle had begun to fall.
The rain shimmered like countless silver threads beneath the grand entrance lights, bringing a hint of evening chill.
Chen Siye stood beneath the eaves, watching as Xia Wanyu’s red Ferrari slowly pulled up to the door.
He took a deep breath, forcing a smile onto his face as he hurried forward, intent on opening the passenger side door of the Ferrari.
“Wanyu-jie, the rain’s getting chilly, let’s go home?” His voice was gentle, with a note of intimacy.
However, the car door was locked.
Chen Siye froze.
Xia Wanyu rolled down the window, and raindrops wet the trim of her exquisite window.
She didn’t fully turn her head—only glanced at him coldly out of the corner of her eye.
“Chen Siye.” Her voice was flat. “The show’s over—are you really still in character?”
The smile on Chen Siye’s face froze, his outstretched hand awkwardly suspended in midair.
“Wanyu-jie… what do you mean by that? Didn’t we agree…”
“Agree on what?” Xia Wanyu finally turned her head, her red lips curling in a mocking smile. “Agree to let you provoke Su Jin for me? Too bad—she never cared about you.”
“To me, you’re useless now.”
Useless?
Chen Siye’s face instantly turned pale. He tried desperately to seize the last shred of hope. “Wanyu-jie, I can help you with something else, I…”
“Enough.” Xia Wanyu cut him off impatiently, pulling a few bills from her purse and shoving them into his suspended hand through the window as if tossing change to a beggar.
“Here, cab fare. Take yourself home.”
Those flimsy bills lay in Chen Siye’s palm. He stared blankly at the money he once wouldn’t have even looked at, suddenly feeling as if it was burning hot—so hot it might scorch a hole through his hand.
He wanted to say something more, but Xia Wanyu had already rolled up the window, cutting off anything he hadn’t voiced.
The red Ferrari gave a low growl and, without hesitation, sped into the rain, spraying water that splashed onto Chen Siye’s neatly pressed trousers, staining his white slacks with muddy water.
Chen stood there in a daze, the bills in his hand soaked and sticking to his palm, cold raindrops falling on his hair and face, sliding down his carefully styled hair, leaving him utterly disheveled.
A few lingering guests remained nearby, casting him looks of pity. Their murmured whispers pricked his eardrums like needles.
Rain streamed from his hairline into his eyes, stinging with a bitter ache.
Chen Siye was motionless for a moment, then suddenly crumpled the bills into a ball and threw them down hard onto the wet ground.
And all of this—was because of Su Jin! And that Lin Lu’an, who’d appeared out of nowhere!
Su Jin!
Would it kill you to just like me? Can’t you be like those easy-to-please women and like me, too?! If it weren’t for you! I wouldn’t have fallen so low!
My whole life was ruined by you!!
“Why hasn’t Song Li brought the car over yet?”
Chen Siye snapped his head up.
Behind him, Su Jin was standing at the company entrance, complaining to Lin Lu’an.
The night breeze, laced with rain, made her instinctively wrap her arms around herself—after all, such an evening gown offered no warmth.
It’s her… she ruined my life… it’s her…
Chen Siye’s hand slipped into his trouser pocket, where a folding knife rested.
“Careful, you’ll catch a chill.” Lin Lu’an took off his suit jacket and draped it over Su Jin’s shoulders.
Su Jin blushed, casting a quick glance at Lin Lu’an.
Just as Su Jin was about to say something, she suddenly caught sight of a figure in her peripheral vision—rushing out from the shadows.
A glint of cold metal flashed in the man’s hand.
Su Jin recognized who it was.
Chen Siye…? What’s he trying to do?
Su Jin narrowed her eyes.
That thing in his hand… a knife?!
“Miss Su Jin! Look out!”
Everything happened in a split second. Lin Lu’an had clearly spotted the beastlike charge of Chen Siye. His mind didn’t even have time to react; his body moved on instinct.
He yanked Su Jin hard into his arms, spinning sideways, shielding her completely with his back.
“Pshhk—”
A faint sound of blade piercing flesh.
Lin Lu’an’s body shuddered violently, warm liquid quickly soaking through his expensive suit, mixing with the cold rain.
Biting back the pain, he tried to fight back, but before he could even turn, Chen Siye smashed his fist into the back of Lin Lu’an’s head.
In an instant, Lin Lu’an’s vision spun.
His sight went black, a wave of helplessness surged over him, and his body crumpled downward.
“Lin Lu’an!” Su Jin’s pupils quivered. She instinctively reached out to catch Lin Lu’an as he fell, but his weight dragged her down, making her stumble and fall to the ground.
“Murder!!!”
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