The Su family. On the top floor of the brightly lit Su Corporation Headquarters Building, Su Heng’s private study.
The heavy mahogany door was gently knocked.
“Come in.”
Su Qinghan pushed the door open and entered. Her high heels made almost no sound on the thick handwoven carpet.
Only a warm yellow antique desk lamp was lit in the study, focusing light on the large mahogany desk area, casting Su Heng’s figure like a sculpture.
The air was filled with the lingering scent of cigars and the rich fragrance of aged Pu’er tea.
“Dad.”
She walked to a position two steps away from the desk, standing still, and nodded slightly.
Su Heng did not speak immediately. He just leaned back in the wide leather armchair, his gaze heavy as it fell on his daughter. That gaze was like a precise ruler, evaluating his daughter.
From her impeccably styled bun, to her flawless light makeup, to her well-tailored dark gray women’s suit.
After a long moment, he let out an almost inaudible sigh. His voice was low, carrying the unique authority of one in a superior position:
“Qinghan, I’ve heard about your trip to celebrate that girl from the Jiang family’s birthday last time.”
Su Qinghan’s fingertips curled slightly, but her expression remained calm and unchanged. She only straightened her back a little more.
“I don’t interfere in your interactions with friends.”
Su Heng said slowly. He tapped his fingertips lightly on the smooth mahogany desktop.
“But at the same time, I hope you can give equal importance to family matters. Personal social engagements cannot affect the responsibilities you must fulfill as the heir of the Su family.”
He paused, his gaze turning sharp. “I’ve reviewed the latest risk assessment and cost accounting report for the ‘East Port Smart Logistics Park Phase II’ project that I assigned to you last month.”
Su Qinghan’s heart sank slightly.
“You did a poor job.”
Su Heng’s tone was not harsh, even bland, but every word hit like a hammer.
“In the risk assessment, you underestimated the compliance delays that new port regulations might cause, at least underestimating the buffer period by fifteen working days.”
“In the cost accounting, you were overly optimistic about the supply chain fluctuations and price increases for specialty building materials due to recent environmental policies, resulting in a budget gap of at least 5%.”
He looked up, staring directly at his daughter.
“With your ability and the resources you can mobilize, you shouldn’t have made such basic mistakes. You just didn’t put in enough effort.”
The study was silent, only the ticking of the antique mantel clock’s second hand was clearly audible.
Su Qinghan felt her cheeks grow hot.
Not because of her father’s criticism, but because… he was right.
During that time, Jiang Muyun was about to return home, and she had indeed been distracted.
She had delegated many data checks that she should have verified personally to her deputy, and she only listened to reports for several steps she should have handled herself.
“This matter ends here. I’ve had Secretary Wang send the report back for redo.”
Su Heng didn’t dwell on the issue. He pulled open a drawer, took out a brand-new folder, and pushed it across the desk.
“Now, I have a new project to hand over to you.”
Su Qinghan stepped forward and picked up the folder to open it. The title on the first page read: “Preliminary Plan for Linjiang New City TOD Comprehensive Development Project.”
“Linjiang New City is the city’s key development area for the next five years, and this TOD project is the core of cores. The city intends to bring in strong enterprises for joint development, so the competition will be fierce.”
Su Heng looked at her, his tone serious.
“I want you to take full responsibility for the preliminary feasibility study, bid proposal preparation, and clearing all necessary obstacles.”
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze deep. “Qinghan, I hope you can truly grow up quickly and shoulder the burden of the heir. The future of the Su family rests on your shoulders.”
Su Qinghan’s fingers tightly gripped the edge of the folder, the sharp corners of the paper pressing into her fingertips. She lowered her eyes, her bangs covering the complex emotions in them.
She knew that taking on this project meant at least the next six months would be a whirlwind of nonstop busyness.
It meant countless late nights working overtime, innumerable social cocktail parties, and careful maneuvering and negotiations with all kinds of forces.
And Jiang Muyun…
“Yes, Father.”
She finally looked up, meeting Su Heng’s gaze.
“I will do well.”
Su Heng examined the complicated expression on her face, then nodded, his stern expression slightly softening.
“This is the last chance I’m giving you to prove yourself.”
He said earnestly.
“Our Su family only has you, a daughter. I know that as a woman, it’s harder for you to support this family business than for others, and you have to give more. But since you’re determined to do it well, Dad hopes you can do your best and leave no room for anyone to criticize.”
“I understand, Dad.”
Su Qinghan nodded again, holding the heavy folder tightly to her chest.
“I won’t let you down.”
“Go ahead. Secretary Wang will give you the specific materials and contact persons.”
“Yes.”
Exiting the study, the heavy wooden door closed silently behind her, cutting off the suffocating pressure inside.
Su Qinghan stood in the empty, splendid corridor, leaning against the cold wall. She took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
The light from the corridor ceiling lamp was somewhat cold and white, making her complexion look pale.
She held the folder but did not leave immediately. Instead, she instinctively pulled out her phone from her designer bag.
The screen lit up. She unlocked it, her finger hovering over the screen for a moment before finally opening the familiar chat interface.
The pinned contact had the note “Muyun.”
The profile picture was a back view of Jiang Muyun taken while studying abroad, standing by a blue sea with long hair flying in the sunlight.
Once, every time she saw this profile picture, a soft warmth would rise in her heart.
But now, looking at this picture, Su Qinghan felt a strange sensation for the first time…
A feeling of alienation, of coldness.
On the day of the birthday party, Jiang Muyun had seemed so happy, surrounded by admirers.
They had even danced a short dance, and Jiang Muyun leaned in her arms, whispering, “Qinghan, thank you for staying with me.”
But after the birthday party, everything seemed to change.
Jiang Muyun no longer initiated contact as frequently as before. Her responses became noticeably slower, sometimes replying with just a simple “mm” after half a day.
When occasionally invited out, she would always say she was “a bit busy lately” or “catching up with old girlfriends.”
Her attitude also subtly cooled down.
‘What… exactly went wrong?’
Su Qinghan frowned, her fingers unconsciously sliding along the cold side of her phone.
‘Could it be… because of the unpleasantness with Yan Yu that day?’
But Su Qinghan didn’t think she had done anything wrong.
Yan Yu’s dress was stained, and she immediately intervened to mediate. Later, she even compensated Yan Yu for the dress, plus extra.
She had appeased where appeasement was needed, dealt with what needed dealing with. She was the one who paid, and she was the one who painstakingly arranged the birthday party.
‘Why… does Jiang Muyun seem unhappy instead? And even seems to be taking it out on me?’
‘I really don’t understand.’
Su Qinghan let out a soft sigh, pressed her forehead against the cool phone screen, and closed her eyes.
‘Because she is the eldest daughter of the Su family, because she was taught from a young age to take responsibility and be accountable. In relationships, she always habitually played the role of the one who was more proactive, more considerate, and more willing to give.’
‘Spreading the path for Jiang Muyun, solving her problems, providing her with the best conditions—that seemed to become her way of expressing care.’
‘But that doesn’t mean she is willing to accommodate the other person unconditionally and without limits, enduring inexplicable coldness and temper.’
‘Even if it is Jiang Muyun.’
‘Even though she has always harbored a deep, almost obsessive sense of responsibility and indebtedness toward Jiang Muyun, born from a life-saving kindness in their youth.’
‘After repeatedly experiencing situations like this, where she feels she has done nothing wrong yet must guess the other’s feelings and process their inexplicable emotions…’
Su Qinghan could clearly feel that the heart in her chest, which once beat passionately for the name “Jiang Muyun,” was cooling down bit by bit.
That “love” viewed through a filter seemed to be quietly worn away by exhaustion.