Chapter 8: Confronting Her

Women are all sensitive, especially when facing someone they like.

When Wen Nian saw the amazement in Su Rui’s eyes, she was naturally pleased. Even if it were a stranger, such a reaction would be enough to make any woman proud. Not to mention, this man had the kind of appearance that made others lose their composure.

Though it lasted only a second or two, it was enough to make Wen Nian feel like she had gained a small victory in her heart.

However, this little joy had nothing to do with feelings, but rather with conquest.

The man opened the door wide, his voice warm: “Come on in.”

Wen Nian responded with a soft “Mm,” suppressing her inner joy, returning with a subtle smile.

This was something that Jiang Youqian had repeatedly advised her about—not to be too enthusiastic.

A response that was neither too warm nor too cold is the most awkward.

Her response truly stunned Su Rui, who was used to being treated with enthusiasm. Suddenly, he was hit with a cold splash of water.

For a moment, Su Rui actually felt a little nervous.

Wen Nian entered the private room, where the table was rectangular. Su Rui was already seated, so Wen Nian sat opposite him, nearly two meters apart.

In the center of the table were flowers and candles. Wen Nian was secretly delighted. Was this a candlelit dinner?

Coupled with the fact that the man had greeted her in formal attire today and the amazement in his eyes, Wen Nian felt as if someone had tied a rope to the corners of her mouth and was pulling them up.

She pinched her thigh hard, telling herself not to look too pleased.

Su Rui smiled faintly, but the smile was somewhat dry. Wen Nian also smiled, but hers was a bit forced.

The man coughed lightly, trying to break the awkward silence: “Let’s order. What would you like to eat?”

Wen Nian raised her delicate green fingertips, parted her pink lips, and spoke in a neutral tone, neither happy nor angry: “I’m not hungry. If you have something to say, just say it.”

Su Rui froze again, then quickly reacted and put on a regretful smile.

“I asked you to come here because of what happened yesterday. I’m sorry, I might have drunk too much and said a lot of things I shouldn’t have. I want to apologize. Yesterday was really rude of me, and I… I’m really sorry.”

His sincere apology felt like a slap to Wen Nian, causing her smile to freeze.

What’s with this approach?

The earlier joy was like finding money in a dream, only to wake up.

After a pause of three seconds, Wen Nian suppressed her smile, collected her emotions, and spoke in a calm tone.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

Su Rui was stunned again. The face in front of him seemed both familiar and strange, no longer the usual gentle shyness, nor the cautiousness from yesterday. It was as if she had become a completely different person overnight.

“Do you have anything else to say?” Wen Nian asked again, her tone growing colder.

“Oh— I… I’m friends with your little uncle, so I’ve always seen you as a junior. You’re still too young to understand what true feelings are, so between us…”

“Is there nothing else you want to say?” Wen Nian interrupted him impatiently, with a hint of sarcasm.

Su Rui panicked. He couldn’t even smile properly now. This was the first time he’d been rejected, especially by someone so much younger. His face was reddening with embarrassment.

Wen Nian silently observed the man before her. Though he wore a suit, his posture was slumped slightly, and his handsome face reflected guilt and exhaustion.

But this attitude only made Wen Nian feel both bitter and angry. The small bit of hope from earlier made her feel like a fool.

The bitterness came from being rejected, and the anger stemmed from the reminder that she had, in fact, thrown herself at him and been rejected.

Had Su Rui behaved like this last night, she would have been grateful for his sincere words. But today, after his cold sarcasm, Wen Nian felt like her wounds had been aggravated.

Su Rui was like salt on an open wound—robbing her of both beauty and money.

She’d rather never interact with him again, with no apologies needed.

A slap followed by a fake sweetener, and one that had already expired.

Wen Nian had endured a lot in her life, but she’d never swallowed her pride. She could lose anything, but not her face.

It was the alcohol that made Su Rui act like a fool last night, but today, she was sober, and she would make sure to get her dignity back.

Wen Nian lowered her head and sent a message on WeChat: “Fight back! Confront her!”

Upon receiving the message, Jiang Youqian nearly spit out her coffee.

She could almost picture Wen Nian, holding back her excitement, as though she’d just realized she needed to go to the bathroom after the bell rang for class.

Jiang Youqian replied with two words: “Are you sure?”

Wen Nian: “Sure!”

“Why do you have a bruise on your face?” Wen Nian suddenly asked.

Su Rui smiled bitterly: “Your little uncle, he did it for you.”

“My little uncle cares for me, and I’ll apologize on his behalf.”

Wen Nian said the words of apology, but inside, she was offering incense to her ancestors for giving her such a good little uncle.

Well done! Hit him harder!

Su Rui: “No, no, it should be me apologizing to you.”

“Heh—” A light laugh escaped Wen Nian’s lips. Then she said, “So, after all those ‘sorry’s, what exactly are you apologizing for?”

Su Rui was caught off guard. He was about to speak but was immediately interrupted.

“If it’s because I like you, then there’s no need. Liking you is my business, I can love whoever I want. What does it have to do with you? You’re just a little luckier than other men, by chance being the one I liked, so there’s no need to apologize.”

“But if it’s because of what you said to me yesterday, then I get it. I accept your apology, but I don’t forgive you. You can choose not to like me, but you must respect me. Maturity comes from life experience, but it should never be a tool for showing off.”

“I admit I’m young, and I may not handle everything perfectly, but you can’t say I don’t understand feelings.”

“At least, I’ve never cheated.”

The moment those words left her mouth, Su Rui’s face turned pale, mirroring the shade of Wen Nian’s nails.

“Let’s just be friends from now on, and I’ll find someone else to like.”

“I’ve said everything I wanted to. Goodbye.”

Wen Nian didn’t look at the man’s pale face, she simply walked out of the private room.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Wen Nian clenched her fists, slowly raising them as the excitement spread through her chest, nearly bursting into a cheer.

It felt so good!

So freaking exhilarating!

Meanwhile, in the lobby on the first floor, Jiang Youqian let out a long sigh of relief, happily taking off her Bluetooth headset.

The two of them had started a voice call as soon as they parted, with Jiang Youqian providing real-time guidance. Every word Wen Nian spoke had been sent to her ear, word by word.

Jiang Youqian saw Wen Nian happily cheering as she bowed respectfully towards her.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty, on your victory!”

Wen Nian was still lost in her joy, like an addict who couldn’t stop.

“This is the most satisfying day I’ve had in two years.”

There are countless types of love, but unrequited love is the most torturous.

You can’t speak, you can’t show your feelings, seemingly random encounters are all carefully planned schemes, even giving a gift must wait for the one-year occasion.

No one knows how hard it is.

After waiting for someone to be single, it all ends with this outcome.

What a headache.

The driver from Wen’s family had been waiting outside the restaurant and opened the car door when he saw them coming out.

On the back seat was a bag, and Wen Nian took out the high heels she had prepared earlier. She gently tossed her meticulously curled long hair, her fingertips sliding over Jiang Youqian’s delicate chin as she smiled like a fairy.

“Let’s go, little beauty, today I’m taking you to see a whole forest!”

Jiang Youqian hesitated slightly as she remembered their earlier conversation: “Are we really going?”

Wen Nian shot her a threatening glance, her hand forming a knife gesture, aimed at Jiang Youqian’s neck.

“My love life is already dead. If you abandon me again, we’ll go down together!”

Jiang Youqian closed her eyes resignedly.