{“Lin Wushen, I didn’t force you.” 3}

At first, Lin Wushen was extremely resistant to accept those shoes.

But in the end, this poor yet cunning man, as always, found a reason to take them.

Perhaps the navy-blue shoes were simply too attention-grabbing.

Yu Suye herself noticed them too, but maybe because of Bian Yixing’s presence and the change in her own mindset, she wanted to avoid Lin Wushen at all costs.

Aside from the matters she had conspired on with the boss, she didn’t want to see Lin Wushen in private or in any other situation.

Lin Wushen’s appearance only served to constantly remind her of her foolish past.

Yet, Lin Wushen didn’t leave right away. As usual, he maintained his deliberately distant demeanor in front of everyone, choosing to stay where he was.

He still had the same gentle, harmless expression, and his voice was as smooth as jade. “Do you want to discuss my birthday?”

“I took the liberty of planning it myself. I hope you don’t mind, Lin. Just attend on time, that’s all.”

Yu Suye hadn’t given the matter much thought recently, but if the boss was really coming, and she had to help set him up with Xu Wanwan, she would undoubtedly find herself entangled in the situation again.

Now that Lin Wushen had come to her, she had no reason to refuse.

Yu Suye was about to go to the cafeteria hallway to go over some birthday party details with Lin Wushen.

However, Bian Yixing became restless. This uncle didn’t seem like a good person, and in the future, he seemed to be a lingering presence in her parents’ lives—a particularly annoying figure.

“Susu, don’t go.”

Yu Suye immediately withdrew the thought of talking to Lin Wushen in private.

“If you have something to say, just say it in front of everyone.”

“And who is this?”

Yu Suye had never seen such a “disobedient” child. From the moment Bian Yixing saw Lin Wushen, she hadn’t shown the slightest bit of joy.

Children aren’t good at hiding their feelings.

Yu Suye didn’t try to suppress the little girl’s nature. In fact, Yixing’s pouty face, arms crossed, was rather amusing.

She comforted the child beside her, who had turned her head away, and plainly said to Lin Wushen, “She’s my sister.”

“Do you have something you need?”

Lin Wushen pulled a plastic chair, sat across from her, and as if trying to maintain his usual distance, kept his hands off the table. As always, he spoke in grand, lofty terms, “I’ve thought about it, and even if I were to have a birthday party, I shouldn’t be using a girl’s money.”

“Are you done?”

For the first time, Yu Suye found Lin Wushen to be hypocritical.

He was born a poor but handsome student, and his words never strayed from that persona.

Anyone hearing this would think she had forced him into having a birthday party, and that he was reluctantly going along with it, even having to bear unnecessary expenses for it.

But the truth was, in four years of university, she had never taken a single penny from him.

This time, Yu Suye couldn’t help but expose his lie. “If you want to pay me back and don’t want to freeload at your own birthday party, go ahead and transfer me 5,000 yuan via WeChat.”

She was simply playing along with Lin Wushen’s words.

Lin Wushen’s normally refined face suddenly flushed red, and he awkwardly clasped his hands together, nervously picking at the dead skin around his fingernails.

“I might not be able to come up with that much money right away.”

For a university student who hasn’t yet graduated, 5,000 yuan is undoubtedly a huge sum. His vague response could easily lead others to think that the spoiled young lady was trying to throw him a birthday party and, in the end, was demanding he foot an enormous bill.

“You could also choose not to celebrate like that,” Yu Suye tried her best to break free from the restraints that once held her. “Lin Wushen, I’m not forcing you to have this birthday party.”

Yu Suye was betting—betting that deep down, Lin Wushen still wanted to have this birthday party. Like any man seeking attention, he undoubtedly wanted everyone to come and celebrate with him.

Lin Wushen shrugged helplessly. “Since you’ve already reserved the place, can I really say no?”

Yu Suye held back the impulsive Song Yuren, who was itching to lash out, and calmly said, “It’s your choice. In fact, most classmates don’t throw birthday parties; they just share a modest cake with a few friends in their dorms.”

She had done it.

At first, Yu Suye’s heart raced just a little, but soon, she realized that the version of herself today was more than capable of handling the situation.

Inside, she felt a power bubbling up like volcanic magma, continuously rising to the surface.

“As for the reserved private room, I can call the senior and cancel it,” she even started to feel somewhat at ease. “Although you’re so concerned about the costs, I’m still willing to personally cover the cancellation fee. What do you think?”

Yu Suye added with a polite smile, “Of course, this is my decision, so I should bear the cost.”

In just a few sentences, she had clarified the economic relationship between them completely. She made her contribution explicit and clear, rather than tolerating Lin Wushen’s reluctance while passively accepting all the benefits that came with it.

This was Yu Suye’s first time calculating the costs with the man in front of her, and it was in a very public setting.

Yu Suye, known for her prominence in business management, had typically attracted attention for her high-profile pursuit of the campus heartthrob Lin Wushen.

This naturally led to speculation about their relationship, with people thinking Yu Suye might have had enough or had finally come to her senses.

Amidst the buzzing discussions from students in the cafeteria, Lin Wushen felt no shame from the previous interactions; rather, his pride as a poor man was being severely tested.

He thought he might have inadvertently triggered Yu Suye’s displeasure today.

Yu Suye’s roommates felt that she had finally stood her ground, especially the dorm leader, who could hardly believe she was hearing such unfeeling words from Yu Suye directed at Lin Wushen.

Yu Suye did not want to create an overly awkward situation with Lin Wushen in public.

She chose to give him an out.

“Receiving the 5,000 directly wouldn’t be appropriate. I’ve already paid the deposit for the private room. You can handle the remaining costs with the bar directly. If you insist on having this birthday party, I suggest you contact them yourself.”

After shifting the responsibility that wasn’t originally hers, Yu Suye felt a sense of relief.

The child beside her finally turned to her, willing to be close.

Lin Wushen lingered in place, holding on for a long time, until he finally managed a bitter smile. “Give me their number.”

Yu Suye sent him a string of cold digits.

She didn’t try to keep Lin Wushen from leaving, nor did she pass any steaming xiao long bao to him. Instead, she picked up the most central xiao long bao, dipped it in some Zhenjiang vinegar, and personally fed it to Bian Yixing.

This time, Bian Yixing didn’t cooperate as she used to. She took a bite and mumbled, “It’s too hot.”

Lin Wushen couldn’t keep his composure any longer.

He was accustomed to being admired.

Now, it felt as though he had been yanked from the clouds and dragged into the mud.

He knew Yu Suye’s nature well. Her affection for him had only grown over the years. He guessed that perhaps the incident where he had returned to the dorm with Xu Wanwan was shared with her, which might have provoked her to react so angrily.

Anyone who didn’t know might think that Yu Suye had changed her mind overnight and suddenly had a daughter with someone else.

Lin Wushen could only silently stand up. Perfect as he was, he maintained his supposed grace and manners even when in a very bad mood, pulling back his chair with a sense of composure.

At the moment he pulled back his chair, he unexpectedly caught a glimpse of a pair of childlike eyes, tender yet defiant, staring back at him.