At a restaurant near her college, Feng Yanyan sat alone at a table, having just finished her classes for the day. She had chosen this spot to satisfy her hunger before heading home. As a music major at Lingzhou University, she had picked her field of study purely out of passion, unconstrained by the need to consider financial stability due to her family's wealth.
She ate her meal absentmindedly, her gaze occasionally drifting into the void as her mind wandered. She couldn't stop thinking about the events that had unfolded four days ago at her house.
Her thoughts were scattered, revolving around three main topics: the man she met that day, the mysterious voice she had heard in her head, and her uncertain future. Countless questions swirled in her mind, leaving her with no idea where to begin.
Why can I hear Su Ming's voice? Is the voice really a glimpse of my future? And what about Chen Fan? Is he really destined to be my husband someday? These questions pulled her into a spiral of endless speculation and imagination.
A few times, she had even considered seeking out Su Ming just to hear his voice again, hoping for more clues about her situation. However, it had been their first and only meeting—there was no legitimate reason for her to approach him privately again.
"What should I do?" Feng Yanyan muttered under her breath, setting down her spoon before slumping forward on the table. The weight of it all was beginning to make her feel restless.
Her thoughts inevitably returned to Chen Fan. "Where is he?" she wondered to herself. Of all the mysteries in her mind, he was the one she found herself most curious about. Not in a romantic sense, of course, but ever since hearing about their supposed future together, she couldn't stop thinking about him. Every day, her mind would drift to him, wondering how their relationship could possibly develop into what Su Ming's inner voice had described.
After sitting in that position for a while, she finally decided to head home. Standing up, she froze mid-step, her pupils dilating, and her heart racing. Just a meter away stood the man who had occupied her thoughts for the past few days.
Chen Fan.
He seemed to notice her sudden reaction, his gaze locking onto hers. A flash of surprise flickered in his eyes, and for a moment, the two simply stared at each other in silence. Then, Chen Fan smiled and broke the stillness.
"Hello, Yanyan. What a coincidence."
Chen Fan glanced at the woman standing before him, frozen in place and seemingly unsure of what to say.
Maybe she feels awkward after the engagement was called off, he thought to himself.
"Mind if I sit here?" he asked with a friendly smile, gesturing to the chair across from her. Recalling her lively and somewhat silly demeanor during their encounter at the Feng family manor, Chen Fan still held a good impression of Feng Yanyan.
"Eh? Ah, mm. S-sure. Ack!" she stammered, biting her tongue in her nervousness. The sudden interaction had clearly pushed her anxiety to its limit. Realizing how embarrassing her reaction must have looked, Feng Yanyan quickly averted her gaze, staring down at the table as her ears turned visibly red.
Noticing her flustered state, Chen Fan couldn't help but chuckle softly before taking a seat across from her.
Chen Fan felt a strong urge to tease her, but considering the broken engagement, he hesitated. He wasn't sure what Feng Yanyan thought of him now. Excessive teasing might make her feel even more awkward, so he decided it was best to wait for her to settle down first.
How embarrassing! Feng Yanyan's mind was in complete chaos from the unexpected encounter. She had wanted to meet Chen Fan before, curious to learn more about him, but now that he was right in front of her, her thoughts were a jumbled mess, and she couldn't keep her composure.
Is this fate? Why does he seem so normal after meeting me? Could he be interested in me because things didn't work out with my sister? What should I do? What should I say?
Her imagination spiraled, conjuring all sorts of wild scenarios as she struggled to process the situation.
[It's finally begin.]
The sudden voice startled Feng Yanyan, making her glance around in confusion. Then, it hit her—it was the same voice as before.
Is Su Ming here? she wondered, her gaze darting to the glass window. Sure enough, she spotted Su Ming approaching the restaurant entrance.
"It's really him," Feng Yanyan muttered under her breath. Though her voice was quiet, Chen Fan still caught it. Following her line of sight, he spotted the man she was referring to—the same one he'd seen at the Feng family manor.
Chen Fan remembered Su Ming vividly. Based on his demeanor during their last encounter, he had pegged Su Ming as Feng Xueying's suitor. Over the past few days, Chen Fan had learned a few details about Su Ming through his phone. He now knew that Su Ming was the sole heir of one of the most prominent families in Lingzhou, the Su family.
Recalling Su Ming's previously hostile attitude, Chen Fan didn't dwell on it. He figured it was only natural—if someone were in Su Ming's position, watching the woman he liked suddenly become engaged to a stranger, they'd surely be upset.
In fact, Chen Fan even felt a hint of admiration for Su Ming. Despite his influential family background, Su Ming had been willing to set aside his pride to earn the favor of the woman he cared about. That, in Chen Fan's eyes, took courage.
Su Ming walked in and immediately noticed two figures—one standing and the other sitting—both staring at him. The stillness and lack of greetings between them created an awkward tension, drawing curious glances from nearby diners.
He paused for a moment, taking in the scene, but quickly regained his composure. His expression shifted to a hostile glare aimed at Chen Fan before softening into a bright smile as his gaze fell on Feng Yanyan. Without hesitation, he strode confidently toward their table.
Chen Fan, observing Su Ming's overt hostility, found the reaction unsurprising. He responded with a polite smile and a slight bow, as though he hadn't noticed Su Ming's antagonism at all. What amused him, however, was how quickly Su Ming's expression transformed into a warm smile the moment he looked at Feng Yanyan.
"Hello, Miss Feng," Su Ming greeted Feng Yanyan with an exaggeratedly cheerful smile, his tone overly enthusiastic.
[Tsk, tsk, tsk. If I didn't step in now, judging by her flustered look earlier, they'd probably be confessing their feelings to each other already,] Su Ming thought smugly.
[As expected of the protagonist. Just one meeting, and Feng Yanyan already looks like a lovestruck maiden after seeing him again,] he mused, inwardly sneering.
[This foolish girl must have been thinking about Chen Fan for days. Her happiness must've skyrocketed the moment she saw him again. As expected of a classic, oblivious heroine.] Su Ming scoffed internally, his disdain for the developing scene barely hidden behind his cheerful facade.
Initially, Feng Yanyan observed Su Ming silently, unsure of what to say. She waited, hoping his internal monologue would offer some clue about his intentions. However, as his mocking thoughts reached her ears, her expression shifted to a frosty glare.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her tone cold and sharp.
Su Ming froze for a moment, visibly stunned by her reaction.
[Girl, we've only met once, and it was just a polite greeting, wasn't it? Why are you looking at me like I'm your mortal enemy?]
[Ah, I see. It must be because I interrupted your little moment with your beloved, right?]
Even Chen Fan was slightly taken aback by Feng Yanyan's sudden shift in demeanor. The stark contrast between her usual silly, cheerful persona and the hostility she now directed at Su Ming was startling.
"I was just passing by and thought I'd grab a quick bite,"
"Then go somewhere else. You don't need to sit here," Feng Yanyan snapped, her tone sharp. But as soon as the words left her mouth, a flicker of regret crept into her heart. She wasn't sure when she'd get another chance to meet Su Ming again. This was her best opportunity to gather as many clues as possible. Yet, hearing his inner voice full of nonsensical thoughts, she feared she'd lose her mind if all he had to offer was useless rambling.
Su Ming chuckled awkwardly at her blunt rebuttal, his eyes shifting to Chen Fan. Truthfully, his interaction with Feng Yanyan today wasn't significant to the plot. His real focus was on Chen Fan—he only needed to issue a few warnings and threats. Knowing Chen Fan's personality, Su Ming was sure the protagonist wouldn't take him seriously. When the time came to throw a punch, Su Ming could retreat dramatically, spouting a cliché villain line like, "Wait for me! You'll regret this!"
"You, come with me for a moment," Su Ming said to Chen Fan, his tone firm and commanding.
"What are you planning to do?" Feng Yanyan interjected sharply, glaring at Su Ming with visible displeasure.
[So protective. Can't stand to see your man face any trouble, huh? Don't worry, I just want to talk. I'm not in the mood to die yet.] Su Ming scoffed internally, though outwardly, he scratched his head with an awkward smile.
"I just have something to discuss with this brother," Su Ming explained, his voice carrying a forced politeness.
Feng Yanyan opened her mouth to argue further, but Chen Fan stepped in before she could.
"Alright, let's talk outside," Chen Fan said calmly, already guessing the nature of the conversation. Since he and Feng Xueying had already broken off the engagement, Chen Fan thought it best to settle this quickly rather than let the matter escalate unnecessarily.
"Then, I'll excuse myself, Miss Feng," Su Ming said, flashing a flattering smile.
Feng Yanyan hesitated, clearly wanting to say something, but ultimately chose to remain silent. She watched the two men walk away, her mind spinning from the sudden turn of events. Slumping back into her seat, she tried to focus, hoping she could still catch snippets of Su Ming's thoughts while they talked outside.