Su Ziyan went to work as if nothing had happened.
In the midst of her busy workload, Su Ziyan pushed all her discomfort to the back of her mind.
However, some things cannot be forgotten simply by choosing to ignore them.
As the workday was nearing its end, Su Ziyan's father, Su Xinghe, arrived at Qingcheng Model Agency and barged directly into the president's office.
Even without hearing Su Xinghe's voice, Su Ziyan knew the intruder was her father, for in the company, only Su Xinghe would be so impolite as to burst into her office.
"What do you want?"
Su Ziyan's tone was chillingly cold, lacking any warmth of a father-daughter relationship.
"I'm here to inform you, tonight is Gu Chen's birthday, and the party is set at Weijing Grand Hotel."
Su Xinghe's voice was equally cold, as if the woman in front of him was not his daughter.
Su Ziyan laughed derisively.
Gu Chen? That name was all too familiar to Su Ziyan.
Gu Chen was the principal heir of Luo City's four major families, the Gu Family, possessing keen business acumen. He had managed to double the Gu Family's asset value in less than two years since he started.
Logically speaking, with his handsome and dashing appearance as well as wealth, he should be the dream lover of many women.
However, the women of Luo City trembled at the mention of his name!
Gu Chen had a tendency for abuse, and all the women who had been with him had suffered to some degree, among them was Su Ziyan's classmate, Shen Mo.
Like Su Ziyan, Shen Mo had once been the beauty queen of Luo University, but after being ruined by Gu Chen, she had become somewhat mentally unstable, completely losing her former luster.
Su Ziyan was terrified of this infamous abuser, yet her father was pushing her into his arms!
Su Ziyan instinctively wanted to refuse.
However, upon seeing the two young men wearing sunglasses behind Su Xinghe, Su Ziyan realized that if she refused, her father would definitely force her.
Su Ziyan swallowed the words she had wanted to say and asked expressionlessly, "What time?"
Su Xinghe was stunned. He had considered numerous possible reactions from Su Ziyan, but he had not expected her to respond so calmly.
Hadn't she always resisted fiercely?
What happened today?
Had she realized something?
"Eight o'clock tonight." Although somewhat puzzled by Su Ziyan, Su Xinghe stated bluntly.
"Understood, I'll be there on time. You can leave now," Su Ziyan issued decisively.
"I should remind you that Gu Chen hates it when people stand him up. If you don't attend his birthday party, then the Su Group that your mother devoted her life to building will be finished!"
Having said that, Su Xinghe turned and walked away.
As he turned, two hot tears trickled down from the corners of Su Xinghe's eyes.
Xiang Xiaowan, why did you leave so early?
How am I supposed to live without you?
The word "mother" struck a nerve in Su Ziyan, making her lift her arm. There, she could faintly see a small scar.
As a child, Su Ziyan was mischievous and often ran onto the road when the adults were not watching. At the age of five, she once again ran into the road when the adults weren't looking.
The road was busy, and an SUV was unable to stop in time, about to hit her.
The five-year-old Su Ziyan was completely terrified, frozen in place, unable to move.
Just as Su Ziyan was about to meet her demise, her mother, Xiang Xiaowan, desperately rushed over and pushed Su Ziyan aside, but Xiang Xiaowan was hit by the SUV and thrown aside.
On the surface, it seemed that Su Ziyan had only lost her mother, but she had lost much more than that.
Because of Xiang Xiaowan's death, Su Ziyan's father had always disdained this daughter.
There it was, for Su Group to overcome its hardships, Su Xinghe was willing to sell his own daughter to that maniac Gu Chen.
Although she was heartbroken by her father's actions, just thinking of her mother softened Su Ziyan's heart immediately.
For her deceased mother, she had to attend tonight's birthday party.
However, she had to make thorough preparations.
For some reason, the image of Qin Yu suddenly popped into Su Ziyan's mind.
Possessed by impulse, Su Ziyan pulled out her phone and dialed Qin Yu's number, diving straight into the matter without knowing she had disrupted Qin Yu's flirting plans.
"It's Su Ziyan, I'm waiting for you at the Island Coffee on Heshan Road."
Hanging up without hesitation, Su Ziyan got up and walked out.
Suddenly, Su Ziyan paused, realizing that this Qin Yu was no good person either, and she had to be cautious.
After some hesitation, Su Ziyan typed up a contract on her computer and printed two copies.
After carefully reviewing the content of the contract, Su Ziyan nodded in satisfaction.
Located in the Baolong Building on Heshan Road, her Qingcheng Model Agency was conveniently next to the Island Coffee situated along the street.
Hence, Su Ziyan did not need to drive.
Packing the contract into her cross-body bag, Su Ziyan briskly walked out of the office and the company's main entrance to the elevator.
The elevator was descending, indicating the fifteenth floor, while Qingcheng Model Agency was on the thirteenth floor.
Swiftly pressing the elevator button, Su Ziyan hoped silently that everything today would go as smoothly as the elevator.
Su Ziyan entered the Island Coffee, chose a conspicuous spot to sit, and ordered a Blue Mountain, sipping it slowly.
Fifteen minutes later, Qin Yu arrived at Island Coffee.
Upon entering, Qin Yu spotted Su Ziyan immediately.
It was because Su Ziyan was so unique, like a pearl in the night that automatically attracted everyone's attention.
"Sorry, I'm late."
"It's fine, sit."
After calling out to Qin Yu, Su Ziyan turned to the server.
"Another Blue Mountain for me, and a Royal Copenhagen for this gentleman, please."
"No need, I don't drink coffee. Just bring me a glass of boiled water."
Qin Yu wasn't being pretentious; he genuinely never drank coffee, as consuming coffee could soften bones to a certain extent, something the war god Qin Yu could not allow.
Su Ziyan did not insist, thinking that Qin Yu did not appreciate coffee, fearing that it would be embarrassing once the coffee was served.
Still, he was a man who knew his own limitations. His looks and physique were also pretty good; the only pity was that his status seemed a bit low. She wondered if he could fool Gu Chen.
Qin Yu was puzzled. What was up with this girl, Su Ziyan?
Why was she staring at him incessantly?
Could it be that she had fallen for him?
With that thought, Qin Yu's spirits soared, convinced that his old lecher's flirting techniques were indeed extraordinary, able even to overwhelm a girl of such caliber!
"Ziyan, what did you need from me?" Qin Yu asked with a slight smile, making an effort to appear gentlemanly.
Su Ziyan opened her mouth, but ultimately lacked the courage to speak her mind!
Qin Yu grew somewhat anxious, worrying that this girl was struggling because she wanted to ask for a refund.
Qin Yu watched Su Ziyan warily.
"Miss Su, I've already spent the fee you gave me."