Noon had arrived. Su Chen was due to attend Zhang Li's banquet. Firstly, he had to go to Zhang Li's Starlight Entertainment. After all, this woman is very career-oriented and would hardly waste a second on matters outside the company. This is typical of women from prominent families; they all aspire to carve out successful careers. Even in today's modern society, these centuries-old distinguished families often hold conservative views and don't respect women as much as they should. So, whether it's Lin Qingyan, Wang Bingbing, or Zhang Li, they all wish to change the destinies predestined by their families.
Unexpectedly, when Su Chen arrived at the company, Zhang Li wasn't in her office; she was in a meeting. Su Chen, having some free time, began pondering the concept of power in this world. Especially after witnessing the might of Su Xian'er, his understanding of power deepened. It's not hard to grasp that Su Xian'er is clearly a martial arts master; she could probably kill a bull with a single punch. That's extremely impressive. Perhaps influenced by his surroundings, Su Chen sat in Zhang Li's office, musing about the future. His path seemed to be paved already; if he proceeded methodically, he'd soar to great heights. Once he reached a certain stature and achieved some results, he'd essentially be highly valued. However, due to certain constraints, he could never be the ideal child his parents hoped for.
Just then, the door opened and Zhang Li walked in, her heels clicking. Su Chen looked up abruptly, finding that Zhang Li looked entirely different from his previous impression. She wore a form-fitting skirt showcasing her slender and exquisite legs. Her white blouse was subtly unbuttoned at the top, revealing a delicate collarbone.
At this moment, Zhang Li no longer carried an air of rustic simplicity; she exuded boundless beauty instead. Su Chen was a bit mesmerized. The visual impact she presented was so stunning, it far surpassed the beauty of great beauties like Su Xian'er and Lin Qingyan. Zhang Li radiated a mature allure.
"Ah, Aunt Zhang Li, I've been waiting for a while," Su Chen remarked, revealing an inner exclamation: [Indeed, compared to the fierce tigress-like Su Xian'er, I prefer the untainted grace of Zhang Li.]
"Mm, I'm here," Zhang Li responded, her exterior remaining unfazed, but her mind raced with various speculations. Particularly considering the strange occurrence from the night before, which was utterly baffling. She hadn't shared this with anyone but found that apparently, only she could hear it. After some contemplation, Zhang Li began to understand that what she was hearing were Su Chen's innermost thoughts. How intriguing!
Normally, for telepathy to work, individuals had to be close to one another. Yet, even with the vast distance between Su Chen's home and hers, she could still hear his thoughts – this was simply fascinating. Zhang Li decided to observe further.
"Oh, let's go for the meal soon. I've intentionally saved my appetite, all for this meal. I wonder what makes it so special?" Su Chen playfully inquired, though he had a clear idea already. "Mm, understood. It's not very urgent. Could you please wait for a bit?" Zhang Li replied, paying no further attention to Su Chen. She headed straight to her desk, apparently having unfinished business. As Zhang Li walked past Su Chen, a close observation revealed her to possess a refined beauty, reminiscent of a pure lotus flower, gracefully set upon water without a hint of seduction.
Especially that focused expression. In her penetrating gaze, there was an undeniable air of aloof elegance, and her figure was strikingly curvaceous.
"[What's with this older woman today? Why is she dressed so stunningly? It couldn't be just to have a meal with me, could it?]" "[Oh my god, she isn't harboring any intentions towards me, is she?]" "[Come on, why are all these female leads so unreliable now? You're a woman with great ambitions, with... 'big' aspirations, if you catch my drift. It's about pride, not pettiness. Don't waste your time on me.]"
At this time, Zhang Li seemed to be diligently working, but her full attention was on Su Chen. Especially after hearing these thoughts, she was truly taken aback. A female lead? What did he mean by that? The situation became increasingly baffling. To say she wasn't startled or taken aback would be a blatant lie.
"[The plot involving Zhang Li is what I detest the most.]" "[Currently, her company is facing financial challenges, but due to family suppression, she can't gather the required 100 billion.]" "[So Zhang Li can only seek help from the Su family. And now, after having his proposal declined by Lin Qingyan and being slighted by Wang Bingbing, he has set his sights on Zhang Li. Planning to pressure her into submission, until the male lead, Qin Yu, invests in Zhang Li's business, effectively upstaging him.]"
Su Chen mentally revisited the plotline, actually quite reluctant to confront Zhang Li's storyline. This woman had left a psychological scar on him, meaning he'd have to feign courage in her presence. However, Zhang Li was profoundly shaken inside. She felt a sense of bewilderment. Were these events Su Chen spoke of set to happen in the future? Regardless, Zhang Li quickly composed herself. She didn't question Su Chen, believing that even if she did, he wouldn't respond.
Considering Su Chen knows about the future, did he travel back in time? Zhang Li is well-acquainted with such fantastical plotlines in TV shows and films, after all, she's the head of an entertainment company. What does he mean by "plot interpretation"? If Su Chen is indeed from the future, why didn't he choose to alter it? Is there a reason restricting his actions? Regardless, Zhang Li has grown intensely curious about Su Chen, or more specifically, about the things he's mentioned.
Zhang Li stood up, "Let's go, we can head out now." Su Chen nodded, his body reflexively displaying fear. This was more like it; the cold and aloof demeanor is your defining characteristic. Dressed like this, I almost didn't recognize you. Seeing Su Chen's reaction, Zhang Li felt a surge of triumph. She was right, Su Chen was indeed wary of her. Yet the reason for this sentiment quickly dampened her mood. You could be a reincarnated individual with an adult's consciousness. I'm just concerned for you. Doctors say that kids who don't cry often grow up to be fools.
Su Chen followed Zhang Li to an opulent restaurant. Upon entering the private dining room, he found it empty. Deep down, Su Chen knew that no one else was coming. This time, Zhang Li had invited only him. Still, Su Chen earnestly asked, "Why is it just the two of us?" "Isn't this a significant banquet?"
"Actually, I just wanted to have a meal with you," Zhang Li candidly remarked.
As Su Chen mentioned, her company was indeed facing significant problems. Coupled with the oppression from her family, maintaining the business as usual was becoming increasingly challenging, leading her to seek outside investment. Although she was well-acquainted with Chen Qing and Su Xian'er, it was this closeness that made her aware of how daunting this mother-daughter pair could be. Zhang Li feared that if she approached them for investment, her painstakingly built Starlight Entertainment would soon be repurposed. Thus, Su Chen seemed to be the only viable option.
Initially, she was uncertain about how to approach Su Chen. Unexpectedly, Su Xian'er gave her a call. With someone facilitating the connection, she naturally seized the opportunity to woo Su Chen for investment. But, to her surprise, she discovered a little secret about Su Chen.
"Why did you postpone your marriage with Lin Qingyan? Do you have someone else in your heart?" she asked. Su Chen replied, "It's just not the right time for marriage now. As for someone I like, of course, it's Lin Qingyan. I truly adore her."
After a brief exchange, neither of them ate much from the dishes on the table. At this moment, Su Chen felt somewhat exasperated.
[Why hasn't she gotten to the point yet? Just bring up the investment issue already!] he thought. [And why mention Lin Qingyan out of the blue? Who would like such a cold woman?] [Hurry up and talk about the investment. The story needs to continue.] [Soon, our lead male character, Qin Yu, will make his entrance. I'll feign an attempt to assault you, and Qin Yu will intervene.] [Moreover, you'll be harassed on your way home alone later, and once again, it will be Qin Yu who rescues you. By then, you'll be head over heels in love with him.] [Ah, what a pity.]
Having vented his frustrations internally, Su Chen patiently awaited the continuation of the storyline.