Later on, Chen Yuxin learned that all of this was orchestrated by Qin Yu from behind the scenes. The thought that she could never see the one she held dear in her heart again caused her immense pain. In the end, the Chen family chose to collaborate with the Su family to confront Qin Yu.
Even though she was the queen of the righteous path, she never married in her entire life. Many speculated she might be attracted to women, particularly pointing to Su Xian'er, since she too remained unmarried. Now that she had the opportunity to meet Su Chen again, she wouldn't miss it for the world.
As for Su Chen, he realized the exact steps he needed to take. Just moments ago, he noticed that Qin Yu was also at the bar, lurking in a corner and drinking. His gaze was firmly fixed in their direction, clearly waiting for an opportune moment to play the hero and rescue the damsel. Su Chen's role now was undoubtedly to help the two of them establish a romantic connection. After all, it's against the backdrop of a villain that a protagonist like Qin Yu can truly shine.
Once he pieced everything together, Su Chen glared at the silent Chen Yuxin. "What's the matter? I want to offer you a drink. Are you planning to refuse?" As the young master of the Su family, he needed to exude such dominance. Who would dare to disobey his command? "I never said I wouldn't drink," said Chen Yuxin, realizing the misunderstanding and growing anxious. After all, in their past lives, it was due to a misunderstanding that she lost Su Chen. She had waited bitterly for so many years. Now that she has met Su Chen again, she would never allow him to leave her side. Perhaps out of urgency, Chen Yuxin suddenly wrapped her arms around Su Chen's arm, looking extremely anxious.
Listening to Chen Yuxin's gentle reply, Su Chen was utterly perplexed. Especially by the loving look in her eyes which seemed to suggest she was inviting him to take control. This scenario felt eerily familiar to him; the ambiance, the way things were playing out, even Chen Yuxin now felt like a known entity to him.
He had seen this with other female leads before. "What on earth is this woman thinking?" he wondered internally. Of course, Su Chen couldn't just react like any ordinary man would.
In such situations, simply displaying a gentlemanly demeanor often proved effective in charming the girls. However, Su Chen wasn't aiming to win Chen Yuxin's affections; on the contrary, he was trying to provoke her. "Very well, then. Come here," he commanded.
As he spoke, Su Chen extended his hand to draw her close, wrapping his arm around her slender waist. He then swiftly pulled her onto his lap. His gaze, heated and intense, raked over the stunning Chen Yuxin. He then revealed a covetous grin, remarking, "Heh, I always trust my judgment. A beauty like you, I won't let go so easily."
While many were watching the interaction between Su Chen and Chen Yuxin, due to the noise in the area, they hadn't heard their prior conversation. Instead, they only witnessed Su Chen forcibly leading Chen Yuxin away, feelings of indignation rising within them. Yet, considering Su Chen's identity, none dared to confront him. Su Chen could palpably feel their hostile stares directed at him.
Mentally cursing them, he thought, "You're all too timid! Just wait and see how domineering the main character can be." Su Chen was now anticipating Qin Yu stepping up to give him a figurative slap in the face.
Fang Han, however, was particularly worried at this moment. The woman Su Chen had suddenly pulled in was extraordinarily beautiful. Her features were so exquisite they seemed unreal, and more importantly, she had an unparalleled aura about her — something one simply couldn't fake.
Fang Han, being sharp-witted, realized that this woman was no ordinary person. Nevertheless, he was also well aware that once Su Chen decided on something, he wouldn't regret it, so Fang Han held his tongue. All he could do was silently pray for Su Chen.
Meanwhile, Qin Yu, who was drowning his sorrows in alcohol nearby, was infuriated upon seeing Su Chen daring to force himself upon the woman he had set his sights on. While others might be unaware of Chen Yuxin's identity, he was acutely aware. The Chen family held a position in official circles not any less influential than the Su family. If he secured the Chen family's support, his plans would naturally continue smoothly. Yet, once again, Su Chen had stepped in to create chaos.
Now, Qin Yu truly harbored murderous intentions. He was desperate to kill Su Chen. However, he also understood that he couldn't get his hands dirty personally. "Damn it! Just a worthless playboy. I refuse to believe you can always be this lucky," he fumed internally. At this moment, Qin Yu felt as if the weight on his mind was growing heavier.
Starting with Lin Qingyan, every woman he had chosen seemed to betray him.
"No, Chen Yuxin and Su Chen should be meeting for the first time. Yet, Su Chen treated her this way; why didn't Chen Yuxin retaliate?" While Chen Yuxin may look delicate, records suggest she was personally trained by the elder Chen, who's renowned as a war god. Moreover, Chen Yuxin despises men touching her. For someone like Su Chen to behave in such a manner, the least he'd face would be losing an arm.
Yet, contrary to expectations, Chen Yuxin wasn't as aloof as imagined. Instead, she appeared like a smitten young girl, letting herself be manipulated. This behavior was completely uncharacteristic of her. "Impossible, absolutely impossible," Qin Yu mused. Initially, he had even considered helping Chen Yuxin escape Su Chen's clutches. He was even prepared to confront Su Chen, but who would've thought he'd feel betrayed yet again.
"No, Chen Yuxin is definitely not like this. How could she behave so frivolously? She must be trying to get my attention," Qin Yu thought as he racked his brain. In his eyes, Chen Yuxin surely wanted to see if anyone would step in as her knight in shining armor; hence, she chose not to retaliate. Qin Yu was convinced this was the case. After all, Chen Yuxin didn't even know Su Chen. They were meeting for the first time; there's no way it was love at first sight.
On the other hand, Su Chen's focus wasn't on Chen Yuxin but was secretly on Qin Yu. Seeing the rage written all over Qin Yu's face, Su Chen felt a surge of joy inside.
"Hahaha!"
It seems like the act has taken effect. After blending all the antagonist performances together, today's drama is sure to proceed smoothly. As long as it's completed, the rewards will be immensely generous. Su Chen even daydreamed about returning to the real world and spending every day fishing from his bed. The mere thought of it brought comfort.
Of course, the prerequisite for all this comfort was to complete the task first; otherwise, all efforts would be in vain. The most crucial point was to make Chen Yuxin harbor deep resentment towards him. Only then could the situation in Kyoto undergo drastic changes. Su Chen picked up a glass labeled "Ace of Spades" and directed at Chen Yuxin, "Drink this for me."
It's time for her to get angry.
He was actually quite familiar with Chen Yuxin's character. After all, they had spent some time together, and he understood her as well as the back of his hand. "Chen Yuxin, it's time for you to get mad. Time to splash the drink on my face, harshly reject me, and scold me thoroughly," he thought. Yet, feeling that this might not be enough, especially given that Chen Yuxin had shown signs of crumbling before, Su Chen decided to take a bolder step. He forcefully pulled Chen Yuxin into his embrace, attempting to make her drink the strong liquor.
However, at that moment, Su Chen realized something strange. This woman, who was typically a cold beauty, was now gazing at him with affectionate eyes, as if she had seen some cherished treasure.
She was so entranced by what she saw that her large, dazzling eyes went a bit blank, and there was even a trace of white liquid at the corner of her mouth.
At that moment, Su Chen was the most confused. "What's going on? Did I scare this queen of the righteous path? It shouldn't be, you are the young miss of the Chen family, one who courageously confronts the underworld. Anyone who offends you doesn't live to see another day. During our earlier interactions in this drama, you were never frightened by a hedonistic young master like me."
Seeing that Qin Yu was approaching, Su Chen decided to add fuel to the fire. He deliberately placed his hand on Chen Yuxin's face, taking advantage of her, and immediately revealed a lecherous smile, saying, "Drink obediently, and don't try to resist." "Or you won't be able to bear the consequences." "Come on, drink this cup for me." Now, Su Chen was blatantly taking advantage, in broad daylight, his words brimming with threats. This coercive situation was heartbreaking to witness.
And just as Su Chen had anticipated, Qin Yu was fuming. He clenched his fists and quickened his pace, ready to teach Su Chen a lesson, stop his vile behavior, and play the hero saving the damsel in distress. He believed that Chen Yuxin would surely fall in love with him because of this.
Su Chen intentionally relaxed his grip, allowing Chen Yuxin a better chance to break free. However, instead of pulling away, Chen Yuxin leaned into him. On her stunning, icy face, a sweet smile suddenly appeared. "Of course, I'll drink it right away," she responded.
As she spoke, Chen Yuxin followed Su Chen's lead, her red lips lightly touching the rim of the wine glass, savoring the fragrance that met her nose. Su Chen was taken aback. Yet, Chen Yuxin showed no hint of discomfort; in fact, a discernible hint of amusement was visible deep within her eyes.
She then placed the half-full glass of strong liquor in front of Su Chen and said teasingly, "Su, how about I feed you some?" Feed me? How would she do that? Su Chen glanced at Chen Yuxin's rosy lips and swallowed hard.
Inwardly anxious, Su Chen lamented, "Why isn't there a single normal female lead up until now?" Apart from Su Xian'er and Lin Qingyan, none of the female characters seemed normal to him. He decided to play dumb and laughed heartily, "Of course I'll drink. How could I refuse a drink offered by a beauty?" Without giving Chen Yuxin a chance to react, he quickly downed the half glass of wine.
Seeing Su Chen's actions, Chen Yuxin appeared somewhat disappointed, clearly displeased by his move. This only added to Su Chen's confusion. "What's going on? You, the lead actress, wouldn't really intend to feed me the wine with your mouth, would you? According to the original plot, you should be sternly pushing me away by now!"
"Let's be friends. My name is Chen Yuxin." Chen Yuxin, noticing that Su Chen seemed to be ignoring her hints, became even more anxious. Of course, she couldn't reveal that she had been reborn.
After all, such a situation was beyond belief. If she voiced it, probably no one would believe her. Thus, she decided to start by befriending Su Chen, aiming to gradually win over this man who was rightfully hers.
"No, I'm the kind of person who dislikes taking responsibility." Su Chen naturally declined. Internally, he exclaimed in astonishment, noticing that Chen Yuxin had indeed undergone a significant change. What in the world was going on?
Upon further reflection, Su Chen felt something was definitely amiss. From the previous female leads to the present Chen Yuxin, they all seemed to have become quite odd. Su Chen wondered what on earth the male lead, Qin Yu, was doing; he was merely standing on the sidelines watching the drama unfold. With the female lead acting so peculiarly, shouldn't he intervene?
Taking a moment to collect himself, Su Chen finally understood. The plot of this world had originally been pre-arranged. Yet now, the emotions of these female leads seemed to be undergoing major shifts. They were no longer the unchanging characters they used to be. For instance, both Lin Qingyan and Wang Bingbing would change their attitudes towards him due to vested interests. But on closer reflection, the final plot remained unchanged, still progressing in its original direction. This meant that while these female leads had developed independent thoughts, the story would proceed as usual as long as he didn't make major disruptions and cooperated fully.
Chen Yuxin had probably always wanted to get rid of a loser like Su Chen. However, even the Chen family was reluctant to provoke the powerful Su family. But if she, the young mistress of the Chen family, was insulted by him, the Chen family would certainly wage war on the Su family without hesitation.
And as the eldest son of the Su family, he would undoubtedly be the primary culprit and would surely face due punishment. With this realization, Su Chen felt much more at ease. Su Chen then decided to play along with Chen Yuxin's act, asking, "Do you truly want to be friends with me?"
"Of course, it was love at first sight for me," Chen Yuxin replied with a giggly smile. Seeing the affectionate look in Chen Yuxin's eyes, Su Chen was genuinely impressed. Her acting skills were simply unbeatable.
The onlookers at the scene could only gaze at them with envy and jealousy. Were it not for the backing of the Su family, Su Chen was certain he would have met his end numerous times by now. Su Chen was quite exasperated, feeling a bitter irony deep down. A clear antagonist was now enjoying the privileges of the protagonist. Yet, he thought, maybe it's just as well, stirring up such resentment. Only when the hero eventually bests me will they mock me in earnest.
Speaking of the protagonist, where was he? It was only then that Su Chen realized something gravely important. The protagonist had vanished. He should have been vigilantly watching from the sidelines just moments ago. Why had he disappeared? Scanning the surroundings, Su Chen failed to spot Qin Yu. A ludicrous idea dawned upon him: Had Qin Yu fled out of fear? What kind of protagonist runs away?
However, before Su Chen could express his complaints, a blush appeared on Chen Yuxin's delicate face.
"Young master Su, I'm now homeless. Can you take me in?" Chen Yuxin's face bore an innocent, endearing expression, radiating allure. From a girl's perspective, of course, this would be seen as quite a jealousy-inducing act.
However, Su Chen was well aware that this was the young mistress of the Chen family! There's no way she would be fearful just because of his association with the Su family. Even in the original work, she never treated the main male character with any kindness. Now, she was exhibiting such behavior.
Seeing that Su Chen didn't immediately accept, Chen Yuxin wasn't about to give up so easily. It was a rare opportunity for her to see Su Chen again, and she wouldn't miss this chance to engage in deeper conversation. At the very least, she wanted to broach the topic of naming their child. There's a saying that it's easier for a woman to pursue a man. She believed she could win Su Chen's heart. Of course, her current priority was to secure Su Chen's affections, or else some other women might seize the opportunity before her.
"Young master Su, I really am homeless," Chen Yuxin put on a pitiable face, looking charmingly helpless. Even in her attire, she could easily captivate many men. However, Su Chen was now finding the situation headache-inducing. Chen Yuxin's excuse seemed so outdated. It was ridiculous; everyone present was of status and means. The watch on her wrist alone looked to be worth millions. With such wealth, who would believe she had nowhere to stay? Su Chen couldn't fathom how Chen Yuxin, being as smart as she was, could say such a thing.
"Alright then, I won't disturb you two any further. Have fun," Fang Han suddenly stood up at this moment, his face wearing an innocent expression. He could tell that this girl named Chen Yuxin seemed to have a fondness for Su Chen.
Fang Han had encountered countless women throughout his life, walking alone on his own path every day. Naturally, he could discern between genuine affection and pretense. Moreover, he was quite concerned about Su Chen potentially being deceived by Lin Qingyan, so now seeing a beautiful woman fond of Su Chen, he genuinely felt happy for his childhood friend.
However, watching Chen Yuxin's tender gaze towards Su Chen, Fang Han decided he wanted to stay away from this area saturated with the pungent aroma of romance. "Su Chen, don't let this young lady down. I wish you luck." After saying this, Fang Han flashed a cryptic smile.
Still, Fang Han's experiences on his 'path' might have been limited since he couldn't see that Chen Yuxin was putting on an act. This was fine by Su Chen. He had initially wondered how to get rid of Fang Han since he planned to mesmerize the young mistress of the Chen family. It would be heartbreaking if his dear friend got involved. As for Qin Yu leaving, Su Chen wasn't worried. He believed that when the time came for him to use the drug, the main character would reappear.