Su Chen was utterly baffled.
He couldn't comprehend what Zhang Li had said. Was she enticing him into committing a crime? Zhang Li seemed to have changed tremendously in just a short amount of time. It felt like ages since their last encounter.
"I said, I want you to be my boyfriend," Zhang Li's face turned crimson. It was evident that uttering such words was very unlike her. Even though she was determined, she had never been in love before. Thus, admitting her feelings so openly made her feel quite shy.
"I just threatened you so fiercely. Shouldn't you hate me?" Su Chen pondered, sensing that something was amiss. Is the female lead going mad? Why was everyone neglecting the male lead and constantly fixating on him, a minor antagonist? That's not right. The system had just notified him of task completion! This meant he was following the original plot, and Zhang Li's character hadn't collapsed; she must truly despise him deep down. Realizing this, Su Chen quickly figured out Zhang Li's facade. She was indeed the female lead, possessing incredible patience. She must be setting a trap for him. But what did she want? Goodness, could it be the assets of the Su family? Su Chen's mind raced with thoughts. However, unable to ascertain anything at the moment, he could only watch the situation unfold.
"I never said I held a grudge against you. Anyway, since I don't have someone I like, and since I practically raised you, I might as well fulfill your wish," she said nonchalantly.
"That's impossible. In my heart, there's only Qingyan. At most, I just want to have some fun with you."
Su Chen decided to let go. For now, he could only go with the flow, deliberately making distasteful remarks to infuriate Zhang Li. "I never said I wanted to be your official girlfriend. In reality, we could date in secret. Don't most men like that?"
Zhang Li was well-aware that Su Chen wouldn't agree. Deep down, she was incredibly prideful. When she discovered that Su Chen looked down upon her appearance, she resolved to teach him a lesson. First, she would woo him into becoming lovers, then cruelly discard him. For now, she wanted to let Su Chen's guard down.
"What's the matter? Do you want to reject me? Since you love Lin Qingyan so much, aren't you afraid I'll immediately send her the video?" Zhang Li whispered, "You know Lin Qingyan's personality very well. Once she sees this video, you can forget about being with her. Haven't you considered that?"
Su Chen wanted to decline, but Zhang Li was leveraging the video as her threat. Lin Qingyan had been brought into the equation. Following the devoted lover archetype, if Su Chen rejected Zhang Li's demands, his character would completely collapse. Rumors might not bother Su Chen, but tangible evidence like this would surely enable Lin Qingyan to end her engagement with him. Thus, Su Chen had no genuine reason to decline.
But there was still one last chance. "Where the hell are you, Qin Yu? The female lead is about to be taken by me, a side antagonist. Why aren't you showing up? You're useless." Feeling helpless, Su Chen nodded in agreement.
"I've been wanting to experience the feeling of being in love recently, especially since I'm preparing to produce a high-budget youth idol drama," Zhang Li mentioned casually, though with underlying intentions.
Inside, she was seething with rage. "Su Chen, you bastard. So you agreed just because I brought up Lin Qingyan? Does Lin Qingyan even compare to me? She's just a naive girl. Just wait, when you fall in love with me in the future, I'll see how I torture you."
"You..." Su Chen began but then hesitated. His initial tumultuous emotions gradually settled. At least he was certain that Zhang Li wasn't genuinely fond of him. But if you want to experience love, why come to me, a villain? You should go to the male lead! Besides, if I remember correctly, don't you, Zhang Li, despise youth idol dramas? Are you taking advantage of my ignorance? This female lead definitely has issues. I take back what I said before; Zhang Li is indeed the most unpredictable female lead. Both Lin Qingyan and Wang Bingbing approached me with hidden agendas, but at least they were subtle. Now, Zhang Li is straightforwardly asking me to be her boyfriend. Why are these female leads so problematic? Being a villain is so challenging.
"Given that, I'll assume you've agreed. Now, we should do what couples usually do," Zhang Li stood up and approached Su Chen again.
"Stay away from me!" Su Chen instinctively stepped back, almost shouting. Her scent was intoxicating, making it hard to resist.
Bang! "Stop!" As their eyes locked and just as Zhang Li's face was about to touch Su Chen's, the door of the private room was suddenly kicked open, followed by a roar of anger.
The male lead, Qin Yu, arrived at the crucial moment. After setting his sights on the Zhang family, he was eager to meet Zhang Li without delay. To Qin Yu, Zhang Li seemed to be the perfect weapon to conquer the Zhang family. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also incredibly capable, certainly on par with Wang Bingbing. Most importantly, Zhang Li was now under pressure from the Zhang family and was on the brink of bankruptcy. If he took advantage of the situation, he could surely win the allegiance of this queen-level figure.
However, he was unexpectedly informed by an insider close to Zhang Li that Su Chen had managed to find Zhang Li even before he did. This revelation once again instilled a strong sense of crisis in Qin Yu. After observing a series of unusual behaviors, Qin Yu, out of caution, decided to investigate Su Chen's background. Naturally, after such a significant slight, he wanted to gauge the level of his opponent. But the results revealed that Su Chen had always been a prodigal good-for-nothing. He was academically inept, scoring zero in all exams throughout his life. If not for being the heir of the Su family, such a person would be considered the lowest of the low in society. Though he didn't resort to forcibly taking women like some common men, his wastefulness was extreme. Moreover, his relationship with Su Xian'er was terrible, with the two constantly at odds. It seemed Su Xian'er desperately wanted the Su family's inheritance. Su Chen's obsession with Lin Qingyan reached manic proportions; he was ultimately a devoted follower, willing to do anything for her.
After obtaining all of Su Chen's information, Qin Yu concluded that this man was undoubtedly useless, with no redeeming qualities. He knew that people like Su Chen, having been pampered since childhood, had terrible tempers and couldn't tolerate the slightest grievance. Qin Yu also investigated Zhang Li and recognized her as a proud and strong-willed woman who particularly despised pampered young masters like Su Chen. He believed that Zhang Li was attending the banquet with Su Chen simply to attract investment. He presumed that Su Chen would inevitably threaten Zhang Li, and seizing this opportunity, he planned to intervene heroically, rescue Zhang Li, and then conveniently invest in her company, tying everything neatly together.
As Qin Yu approached the door, he overheard a heated argument from inside, which brought a smirk to his face. Everything seemed to be unfolding as he anticipated. Even though he was injured, in his eyes, dealing with Su Chen would be effortless. "Su Chen! I'll make you pay for the last few days," he thought. As he burst through the door, he indeed saw Su Chen's face inching dangerously close to Zhang Li's. A surge of anger welled up in him, and he bellowed, "Stop!"
Zhang Li's beauty wasn't just captivating to Su Chen. The male lead, Qin Yu, was also enchanted by her, believing that she would undoubtedly become his woman, and naturally, he would not allow anyone else to touch her. Little did he know, upon hearing Qin Yu's roar, Su Chen managed to escape the awkward moment. As he turned around, he realized that Qin Yu had finally arrived. It was no surprise; the main lead, despite his injuries, would always rush to save the female lead. "Yes, that's right; the plot is about to unfold once again," Su Chen thought, as his mind briefly wandered to Zhao Menghan, whom he hadn't seen that morning.
In his heart, Su Chen silently praised Zhao Menghan today, thinking, "It's just like you to finally start betraying me. Excellent, just keep it up."
"Qin Yu?" Zhang Li murmured softly. Based on Su Chen's reactions, she immediately deduced that the newcomer must be the Qin Yu that Su Chen spoke of. Hearing Zhang Li's murmur, Su Chen had an epiphany; Zhang Li had known Qin Yu all along. Could it be that they were playing a grand chess game together? After all, this was Zhang Li's restaurant; without her consent, how could Qin Yu have entered so easily? "It's all a conspiracy!" he thought. Perhaps the two had been secretly involved with each other for a while. Zhang Li had probably orchestrated this scene to provoke Qin Yu.
Being well-acquainted with the plot's nuances, Su Chen was well aware of Qin Yu's character, notably his intense jealousy. The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. He wondered why Zhang Li, the female lead, was acting so bizarrely. She might have been trying to provoke Qin Yu by getting close to him, hoping that Qin Yu would willingly invest money in response. "What a genius!" Su Chen had never imagined that Zhang Li would even factor the main character into her calculations.
Su Chen's perception of Zhang Li shifted considerably. After all, she had returned to her role as the female lead. "It's about time for me to be put in my place," Su Chen thought, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Who are you?" Zhang Li clearly knew that the intruder was Qin Yu. However, recalling what Su Chen had said about how she would serve someone like him in the future filled her with aversion. She was so repulsed that she felt like killing him on the spot.
"My name is Qin Yu. I was hoping to discuss an investment opportunity with you. I believe Miss Zhang won't refuse?" Qin Yu's face bore a confident, assured expression. At this moment, he was brimming with self-assuredness, his demeanor radiating arrogance, believing Zhang Li wouldn't turn him down.
On the other hand, Su Chen knew it was his time to shine, especially since there were many unpredictable elements with these female leads. "Qin Yu, you bastard, why are you everywhere, lingering like a bad spirit? Zhang Li, have you been rejecting me all this time because of this guy?" Su Chen spoke with intense emotion, even forcing a tear from his eye. "Haven't I been good to you?" Zhang Li almost wanted to applaud Su Chen. "Well done, kid, your acting skills are impressive." Had she not been forewarned about everything, she might have been genuinely moved. "This guy, Su Chen, I never expected him to be such a talented actor. It looks like he can be considered for acting roles in the future!" As time passed, Zhang Li began to view Su Chen more favorably.
However, remembering that all of Su Chen's emotional displays were fake, she was instantly filled with rage, trembling all over. Additionally, Qin Yu's words clearly seemed to be a threat. What did he mean she wouldn't refuse? She wasn't the kind of person to be intimidated. Qin Yu believed that expressing himself in such a domineering manner would be appealing. His years of experience with women had convinced him that such assertiveness would make their hearts flutter.
Zhang Li, who knew everything in advance, was very displeased with such words. "Who let this man in? What are you all doing?" Zhang Li exclaimed angrily, her voice not particularly loud. Yet, as her words faded, several bodyguards immediately rushed in from outside, clearly prepared in advance.
"Throw this man out," she commanded. "Zhang Li, I'm your investor! I can help you resolve your financial issues!" Qin Yu hadn't expected Zhang Li to be serious and immediately shouted in hysteria. "Without me, your company is doomed."
"I don't need your investment. Please leave!" Zhang Li became even more furious, determined not to let anyone threaten her. Whether it was the Zhang family trying to intimidate her or Qin Yu attempting to do the same, she absolutely wouldn't show either any courtesy. "Did I really lose my sight in the future, succumbing to someone like Qin Yu? In this lifetime, that will never happen."
"Zhang Li, what do you mean by this? Aren't you considering the company?" Qin Yu also became infuriated. He didn't know what had gotten into him. Since his return from abroad, those he tried to woo seemed to harbor significant animosity towards him. It appeared that many of his closest allies might have betrayed him. Including the current Zhang Li – he genuinely wanted to save her company, but she spoke as if there was a deep grudge between them.
"Do you really want me to throw you out? I have recordings. Your act of breaking in alone could get you imprisoned for a while," Zhang Li retorted, not bothering to further engage with Qin Yu. Her disdain for him was evident on her face.
For some reason, the thought of her future self being fond of such a person infuriated her greatly. Who says fate can't be changed? I, Zhang Li, am determined to do the opposite, she thought defiantly.
Su Chen was taken aback. What's going on? He observed Zhang Li's angry expression and her seemingly murderous gaze, leaving him in a state of utter confusion. Zhang Li, have you lost your mind? Do you realize the act is over?
Qin Yu, with his clenched teeth and fierce demeanor, looked as if he and Zhang Li had an irreconcilable feud. Yet, Su Chen knew very well that one was the male lead and the other the female lead; their arguments were mere fabrications for a storyline. What's Zhang Li thinking? Doesn't her company need investment right now? Why does she reject Qin Yu's proposal so vehemently? Su Chen was thoroughly puzzled, trying to decipher the intricacies between the two.
"Zhang Li, are you driving me away for this worthless person?" Qin Yu bellowed in genuine rage. He noticed that whenever he was around Su Chen, unexpected events tended to occur. He could no longer contain his inner fury. In his eyes, Su Chen was merely a nobody. How could he even compare to Qin Yu? Qin Yu was genuinely baffled.
Yet, Qin Yu's words left Su Chen even more perplexed. Why is this idiot dragging me into this? This has nothing to do with me! This is only my first encounter with Zhang Li since my rebirth, so don't drag me into this mess. And what's with your hysterical and jealous comments?
Why does it seem like I've become the protagonist now? Su Chen wondered.
"He's worthless?" Zhang Li shook her head, almost wanting to laugh upon hearing this. "In my eyes, he's thousands, even tens of thousands of times better than you, you scum." The words Zhang Li spoke were not born out of momentary anger; they were genuine feelings. While she initially thought of Su Chen as an indolent person with no skills, her perception changed once she understood his inner thoughts. Zhang Li realized that Su Chen was not only intelligent but also incredibly kind-hearted. In contrast, this so-called Qin Yu was nothing but a disgrace.
"Very well, Zhang Li, I'll remember today's insult. You better not regret it in the future," Qin Yu threatened, his fist clenched tightly. The white bandage wrapped around his right hand soon turned crimson, and in a short while, blood started dripping onto the floor, indicating severe blood loss. Having been thrown out twice before, Qin Yu had learned his lesson. He didn't want to experience that humiliation again and quickly turned to leave.
However, Zhang Li wasn't done. "How can you let a guest leave like this?" she directed at the bodyguards, her voice oozing with suppressed anger. Qin Yu's face paled when he heard her words. With his severe injuries, he was no match for these bodyguards, who were ex-special forces members. Without a word, the bodyguards understood Zhang Li's command and immediately carried Qin Yu out.
At that moment, Su Chen, who had been observing the drama unfold, couldn't help but swallow hard, a clear sign of his fear. It turned out that Zhang Li, who usually appeared so demure, was fiercely vindictive when angered. She didn't hesitate to take decisive actions. However, from this incident, Su Chen finally grasped what Zhang Li truly meant.
The notion that men and women turn against each other due to disagreements is false.
Su Chen deduced that Zhang Li probably felt that an investment of 100 billion was not enough. She must have designs on the Su family's assets! Otherwise, her words earlier, about someone being thousands or tens of thousands of times better, wouldn't have made sense. In Su Chen's view, this woman simply desired more.
With that in mind, Su Chen thought, "I'll oblige you then. I can invest 100 billion, although I don't currently have that much money." He waved his hand dismissively, "But rest assured, I can definitely raise the 100 billion investment for you in a few days."
[She wants the assets of the Su family? She's dreaming.]
[But I still need to help her, only then can her nefarious plans continue.]
[Luckily, I have a trump card in hand. Raising 100 billion is a breeze.]
[Also, the way she dealt with Qin Yu earlier was spine-chilling. Damn, this woman is ruthless. I need to tread carefully around her in the future.]
Idiot, who would want to take over the mess of the Su family?
Zhang Li had clearly heard all of Su Chen's thoughts. Upon reflection, she realized she might have been too direct earlier. It seemed she had frightened Su Chen. If Su Chen misunderstood her as a cold-hearted woman, it would be harder to deal with him in the future.
"Were you scared just now?" Zhang Li asked with concern.
"Me, scared? You must be joking," Su Chen replied, waving his hand dismissively.
"Um, do you really dislike that guy from earlier? Wasn't it your first time meeting him?"
Unable to contain his curiosity, Su Chen finally voiced the question. Honestly, he couldn't have imagined the situation unfolding as it did, so he couldn't help but voice his biggest doubt. This was very important to him. Otherwise, he wouldn't know how to proceed next.
"Of course, I despise him. That jerk dared to threaten me, and I'm not someone who takes threats lightly," Zhang Li responded candidly. She wasn't sugarcoating the truth; she genuinely loathed the sight of Qin Yu's face. Furthermore, she found Qin Yu's behavior to be too pretentious.
"Oh," Su Chen nodded in understanding. Such a reaction seemed plausible given Zhang Li's proud nature. However, something still felt off to him.
'I was threatening you all the while, why weren't you mad at me?' Su Chen was genuinely perplexed. Regardless of the mysterious ways of this world, he couldn't fully comprehend them. As long as Zhang Li didn't utterly despise Qin Yu, she would eventually fall in love with him.
With this thought, a confident smile graced Su Chen's face.