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Never Wanted to Chop Off a Paw So Badly!
Su Yundai waited in the lounge for several minutes before Shang Beize finally came out of the restroom.
Her eyes sparkled as she stared at him. “I just feel like I should come here again. It’s rare to run into President Lin, I might not get another chance next time.”
Shang Beize lowered his voice in reproach. “So you’re treating me as a backup? Su Yundai, who was it that brought you here in the first place?”
One summer, two months—if she went to Tangsheng, how many chances for being alone with her would he lose?
If he’d known Lin Yitang would suddenly appear halfway, he wouldn’t have brought her here at all.
Lin Yitang must’ve done it on purpose—just because he poached two of her people?
B–backup?
“No, no.” Su Yundai hurried to deny it. “Besides, it’s not even certain I can pass the test. If I don’t, I’d feel embarrassed to go.”
Shang Beize folded his arms. “Even if you fail, she’ll still want you. What she values isn’t how much you know right now, but your potential.”
That only made Su Yundai want to go even more!
I want to go, I want to go, I want to go!
She begged him. “Didn’t you promise to grant me a request? I really want to go to Tangsheng. I want to learn from President Lin how a woman can rely on herself to reach the top of the world.”
If she asked for something else, he could accept.
Like: Please teach me personally, hand-in-hand, twenty-four hours a day. That he would be happy to do.
But this? He couldn’t accept it.
Shang Beize said, “Tangsheng’s headquarters are in Hucheng. Lin Yitang lives there all year. Even if you intern at their Beijing branch all summer, you won’t see her more than a few times.”
Of course Su Yundai knew the headquarters were in Hucheng.
Her eyes lit up. “Then I can just go to Hucheng this summer! I really want to go!”
She felt like she was finally becoming independent!
Two thousand yuan a day in pay!
Enough for her to live in Hucheng on her own!
Shang Beize’s face suddenly darkened.
Go to Hucheng?
He said unhappily, “You can’t learn from me? She might not teach you wholeheartedly, but I will.”
Su Yundai explained, “It’s different. She and I are both women. And I want to experience living independently in another city. Maybe that will give me courage and confidence.”
If she went to Hucheng, she wouldn’t be living in Wei Lin’s house that summer.
He could accompany her to Tangsheng’s Hucheng branch for a while.
Given how Wei Lin usually ignored her, he probably wouldn’t go with her to Hucheng anyway—which was good for him.
Of course, he wanted to maximize the benefits.
Shang Beize, sly as ever, said coolly, “Being used as a stepping stone doesn’t feel great. You know I’m competing with her for talent. If you choose her, she’ll strut around in front of me for quite a while.”
He had a point—hurting his pride wasn’t right.
But Su Yundai really wanted to go. She pressed her hands together like she was praying. “Please! Please! Please!”
Her eyes, bright like a little deer’s, looked at him with such sincerity.
Her voice, when she pleaded, was so sweet, it melted his heart.
Shang Beize deliberately teased, “You’re a talent I discovered first. You have plenty of prospects here with me.”
Su Yundai was delighted he thought so highly of her. “But I really want to go to Tangsheng. For years, my dream has been to get into Qingda University and join Tangsheng. Qingda didn’t happen—so at least let me aim for Tangsheng.”
Shang Beize let out a breath. “Then today, Lin Yitang managed to trample over me. She’ll be strutting for a while.”
All this humiliation—for her.
Naturally, Su Yundai wanted to make it up to him. “I’ll treat you to dinner! Or if there’s anything I can do for you, just say it!”
He fell silent, as if considering what he wanted from her.
Finally he said, “If you’re getting a job through me, dinner and a gift are a must.”
Su Yundai’s eyes lit up. She nodded quickly. “What kind of gift do you like?”
Shang Beize: “Doesn’t have to be expensive. No cigarettes or alcohol. It has to come from the heart.”
Su Yundai looked bewildered. Then what should she give?
He said, “Think carefully. I’ll judge by how satisfied I am.”
Su Yundai: “…”
That was harder than an exam.
But she answered earnestly, “Okay, I’ll think it over carefully! I’ll do my best to make sure you’re happy!”
They left together.
Su Yundai told Lin Yitang, “I’ll take Tangsheng’s entrance exam. If I pass, I’ll intern there this summer.”
Lin Yitang was delighted. “Welcome, welcome! You can do it!”
Just like that, Lin Yitang was added to her contacts list. Su Yundai floated with excitement.
And then, Shang Beize let her enter their lab to learn about Zejing Medical’s latest research.
The cutting-edge progress had her buzzing like she was on adrenaline.
If successful, it would mean a huge breakthrough for the medical industry.
Maybe in the near future, AI students would have to study life sciences, and life science students would have to master AI.
These were the fields top tycoons were investing heavily in—there was no mistake about it.
When they were done, Shang Beize said, “Go take the AI special class exam first. Relax and just try it. Either choice won’t be wrong.”
Su Yundai was moved.
In just one morning, her years of confusion were resolved.
Before, she’d stumbled in the dark, wasting energy on fear and uncertainty. Now the road ahead suddenly lit up—she just had to keep walking forward.
All she had to do was study hard. Step one: pass the AI special class exam. Then see what came next.
Lin Yitang said, “In the future, call me anytime if you need anything.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Su Yundai impulsively hugged her.
Lin Yitang froze, then noticed Shang Beize’s face turn black.
Her eyes flashed, lips curling into a wicked smile. She patted Su Yundai’s back twice, gaze locked on Shang Beize.
Shang Beize: “…”
His brows furrowed, his gaze fixed on the paw on Su Yundai’s shoulder blade, the air around him chilling to ice.
Lin Yitang’s smile spread wider. Still caressing Su Yundai’s back, she said, “Good luck. We’ll meet again soon.”
Let’s see you steal from me again. So the untouchable North God does have a weakness after all.
Shang Beize’s face sank into shadow like a clouded moon—completely dark.
Jealousy.
Never, ever, had he wanted so badly to chop off a paw.
Lin Yitang let go of Su Yundai and burst into laughter.
Even Gu Yuzhou and Lu Jingyu laughed.
Su Yundai, however, had no idea what was going on.
When they left Zejing, Su Yundai was in high spirits. In Shang Beize’s car, the corners of her lips kept curling up—sometimes leaning on her hand to gaze out the window, sometimes scrolling through her phone, grinning at Lin Yitang’s Moments posts.
She had her idol, a global top entrepreneur, in her contacts now.
She didn’t even need to say “top female entrepreneur.” She was the top entrepreneur.
Thinking that, her smile grew even wider.
Just then, Lin Yitang messaged her:
Lin Yitang (Tangsheng): [For summer, do you want to intern in Hucheng or stay in Beijing? If Hucheng, where will you live? Does your family have a place there, or should I arrange accommodations? My city villa is empty—you can stay there.]
Su Yundai was overjoyed. Such great treatment! But she knew it was special. She replied:
Su Yundai: [Hucheng! I want to follow you, President Lin. But I’ll rent a place myself, no need to trouble you.]
Lin Yitang: [If you’ll be paying out of pocket, are you interested in the staff apartments? They’re like five-star hotels, free of charge.]
Ahhhhh!
So worthy of being a top global enterprise!
Su Yundai: [I’ll stay in the staff apartment! Thank you!]
Lin Yitang: [Great, I’ll arrange it. Looking forward to having you join. Contact me anytime. Waiting for you.]
Su Yundai: [Okay! Super looking forward to summer!]
Su Yundai was over the moon, completely immersed in joy, oblivious to Shang Beize’s stare beside her.
Watching her smile at her phone, Shang Beize felt annoyed.
He wanted a hug too.
But compared to Lin Yitang, he came up short.
She hugged Lin Yitang of her own accord, yet he wasn’t allowed to casually hug her—or touch her delicate shoulder blades.
He let out a dark snort.
She’d forgotten about him.
But when she came back to his side, he’d have plenty of time to make her pay him back.
As the car entered a tunnel, darkness fell. Su Yundai caught his reflection in the window—he seemed to be staring at her shoulders, his eyes unreadable.
She turned, her dark eyes glimmering as they locked on him.
Because of the tunnel, the car was pitch-black, and the mood shifted. But her skin, glowing pale in the dark, looked like a night-blooming tuberose—its petals milky white, its fragrance strongest after sunset.
Shang Beize’s eyes grew darker. Thankfully, the darkness hid it. He didn’t look away.
“Feeling happy?” he asked. “Will you still cry when you get home?”
Her cheeks flushed. She laughed awkwardly. “I’m happy. No more crying.”
That afternoon, the two of them accompanied Liu Liye for an allergy test. Results showed dust mite allergy, treatable with desensitization.
They picked up his medicine and went home. With treatment, he’d gradually improve.
The suffering he endured would eventually leave him behind.
Tangsheng really is a top enterprise!
Free housing! She had long heard that Tangsheng’s benefits were amazing—only it was hard to get in.
Su Yundai: 【I’ll stay in the staff dormitory! Thank you!】
Tangsheng’s Lin Yitang: 【Alright, I’ll arrange it for you. Looking forward to you joining us. Contact me anytime if you need anything. I’ll be waiting.】
Su Yundai: 【Okay! Super looking forward to summer break!】
Su Yundai was overjoyed, immersed in her happiness, completely unaware that Shang Beize had been watching her the whole time.
The sight of her smiling lips made Shang Beize’s chest tighten with discomfort.
He wanted a hug too.
And he wasn’t even as privileged as Lin Yitang.
She had taken the initiative to hug Lin Yitang, but he wasn’t allowed to casually hug her—much less touch the butterfly-shaped bones on her back.
He gave a low, disdainful snort.
She had forgotten him.
But once she came back to his side, he would have plenty of time to make her make it up to him.
The car drove into a tunnel, suddenly dimming. In the window’s reflection, Su Yundai saw Shang Beize watching her—as if his gaze were fixed on her shoulder blades, his expression unreadable.
She turned her head, her dark eyes round and glistening as they looked back at him, faint light shimmering in their depths.
Because of the tunnel, the car was pitch dark inside. The atmosphere shifted at once. Yet her skin still seemed to glow in the darkness, pale as if lit from within—like tuberose blooming at night, its petals milky white, its fragrance even richer after sunset.
Shang Beize’s eyes darkened suddenly. Luckily the shadows concealed it, and he didn’t look away. Instead, he said, “Are you happy now? Will you still cry when you get home?”
Su Yundai’s cheeks flushed red. She gave an awkward laugh. “I’m happy. I won’t cry anymore.”
That afternoon, the two of them had accompanied Liu Liye to get an allergy test. The results showed dust mite allergy, treatable through desensitization. After getting his prescription, they had gone home. Now, it was just a matter of seeing if the treatment worked. If it did, Liu Liye would gradually recover, and all his suffering would finally leave him.
—
When Su Yundai got home, she first took a shower, then went downstairs for dinner.
Aunt Lin was cheerfully setting the table. Seeing her return, she smiled from ear to ear and said, “Your brother just called me—he’s on his way back. He even asked if you were home.”
Su Yundai’s wet eyelashes trembled slightly.
Aunt Lin teased, “He couldn’t get through to you, sounded quite anxious.”
Su Yundai froze for a moment.
Ah—that old phone of hers was still with the police.
Fresh from her shower, the bracelet of prayer beads on her wrist was damp, the string clinging uncomfortably to her skin.
She slipped it off and shook it.
The elastic had loosened over the years; after all, this bracelet had been with her for more than a decade. She had always wanted to have it restrung, but life had been too busy.
She remembered—after her father’s death, her health had suffered from psychological strain, and she often ran high fevers.
In her fevered daze, she had seen a young boy. She was only four or five then, he just ten or so, yet he had stayed by her side, swapping out cooling patches for her forehead, checking her temperature, setting alarms to give her fever medicine.
When she finally opened her eyes, he smiled gently at her, holding a string of green jade beads. Through her blurred vision, all she could see were sparkling green lights, beautiful beyond words.
“They’ve been blessed. They’ll protect you.”
He had slipped them onto her wrist, his dark eyes under the lamp even more beautiful than the jade. “Yundai isn’t alone. From now on, I’ll take care of you.”
And he really had—every time she was sick with a fever, he had been there.
Back then, she was too young to know. Dependence had become habit.
Later, when she grew older and understood what “liking” meant, she realized that somehow, the two of them weren’t as close as before.
Shaking the bracelet dry, her heart still felt damp. A misty heaviness pressed in her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Whenever she used to see Wei Lin, she had been happy. But maybe yesterday’s talk about betrothal gifts had left a mark after all.
In this day and age…
No one… proposes that way anymore, right?
Could it be… Wei Lin doesn’t like her?
At school, all the boys who pursued her had been so proactive.
But his attitude… it didn’t seem like he liked her much.
“Yundai!” Wei Lin’s voice sounded at the door before he even entered, rushed and anxious.
Her lashes fluttered.
He strode in wearing a simple white T-shirt, slipping off his shoes with a quick motion. He rushed over, wind-tossed hair lifting from his forehead, revealing smooth skin. Sweat dripped from his temple, his fair face flushed red as if from exertion. The shirt clung to his broad chest, highlighting his strong build.
But what stirred more than the air was the storm of emotions in her heart—confused, tangled, like being offered a glass of fine liquor. She knew it had been aged carefully, that it was one of a kind. She feared its strength, feared becoming drunk… yet couldn’t hide her yearning. After all, it was something she had cherished and cultivated for years.
“Yundai! Were you hurt last night? Did you get hit? Twist your ankle? Are you alright?” Wei Lin grasped her hands, looking her up and down in panic.
That anxious look—she had only ever seen it when she was sick.
Did he think she hadn’t answered the phone because she was angry with him?
Well… she had gotten a phone back, but she hadn’t messaged him. It might look like she was sulking.
But that wasn’t it entirely.
She wasn’t sulking—just sad, disappointed. Reaching out to him first always drained her, and so she had avoided it.
The more anxious he looked, the more caring his eyes seemed. Sometimes she would almost mistake that care for affection.
Her thick lashes blinked, still damp. Her voice was soft, almost faint: “How did you know?”
Wei Lin had always seen her smiling. Whenever she looked at him, her eyes sparkled like a starlit night sky, pure and bright, every star shining just for him. But right now, she looked subdued, like a Beijing winter sky—gray, sunless, heavy with snow.
His hands froze around hers. “I’m sorry. The police called me to collect your phone. That’s how I found out.”
Oh.
Wei Lin was her “starred contact.” The only one on her list.
So when the police couldn’t reach her, they had called him.
“I’m fine.” Su Yundai smiled, lightly tugging her hand back.
Just then, Aunt Lin bustled over with concern. “Oh no, Yundai twisted her ankle last night? Sorry, I didn’t know, and still had you deliver supper to your brother.”
Wei Lin’s pupils shrank, his lashes trembling.
Su Yundai quietly exhaled.
Now that Aunt Lin had said that, wouldn’t Wei Lin realize she hadn’t gone to see him at all last night?
She smiled at Aunt Lin. “It’s okay, my ankle’s fine. Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to run the errand for you.”
—
In the courtyard, Su Yundai sat on the swing.
Wei Lin crouched in front of her, his arms resting on the ropes, eyes gazing up at her. “You came to my office last night? Why didn’t you come upstairs?”
She suddenly realized she was trapped. His arms and the swing formed a cage around her. The scent of cedar mixed with sunlight on his skin, warm and inviting, lingered in her nose.
Her thoughts flashed back to seven or eight years ago, when he had just graduated high school, sitting on this very swing, brimming with confidence as he spoke about his “ideal partner”—“someone kind of like me.”
Her lashes lowered, lips curving faintly. “If I went up, you’d have to host me. I didn’t want to disturb you.”
Wei Lin sighed deeply. “Next time, just tell me. I’ll never think you’re a bother.”
She knew that. He had always been patient and gentle with her.
But maybe she was greedy. What she wanted wasn’t just “not a bother.”
What she wanted was certainty, initiative, passion.
She wanted to see him thrilled, happy, because they were about to be engaged—not like this.
His gaze locked on her eyes, his breathing paused.
She lowered her head further, her eyes still swollen, not wanting him to see.
Who would like a crybaby, anyway?
“I’ve just been too busy. With the new game launch, once this period of work stabilizes, I’ll finally have a break.” His voice softened with guilt. “During Labor Day, Dragon Boat Festival, summer break—wherever you want to go, I’ll take you.”
Take her?
Alone?
No—probably with his parents. The Wei family always traveled together. She’d never been left behind.
“We’re about to have the entrance exams for the AI special program. I want to prepare more. Just talking about it makes me want to get back to practice questions.” She tried to stand from the swing.
But he didn’t move.
Still crouching, he blocked her path, like a wall.
The early summer sun bathed his face in golden light, his pale skin tinted faintly pink, even his ears flushed. The sound of the koi pond splashing carried through the courtyard. It felt as though the koi’s swaying tails brushed against her heart, making it itch, beating wildly out of control.
Time seemed to freeze—quiet and peaceful. So still that even a sparrow hopped down by his feet, tilting its head at them before chirping twice and flying away, startling them both.
Wei Lin suddenly smiled—not his usual mischievous grin, but a restrained, almost shy one. “Traveling doesn’t have to mean skipping study. You can practice questions somewhere else, too.”
Before she could reply, he added softly:
“Just the two of us.”