The bell rang for the end of lunch break, but Li Cheng's brain was still stuck on one thing:
Dinner.
With.
A.
Billionaire.
CEO.
He held the note from Su Yaling like it was radioactive.
Dinner tonight. Driver will pick you up at 7 PM.
Why did a business meeting have to sound like a confession scene from a romance drama? Why did her handwriting have to look elegant and seductive? WHY did her daughter look like she was preparing to interrogate him with a lie detector?
Life was very unfair.
Very, VERY unfair.
He folded the note and shoved it deep into his pocket, like hiding it might prevent further problems.
No such luck.
Because the moment he walked through the hallway—
Chaos erupted.
"Is it TRUE? Li Cheng is having dinner with a CEO?!"
"Bro, how did he skip all levels of life and unlock 'rich woman route'?!"
"The rumor says the CEO went to his HOUSE yesterday."
"HE'S SPEEDRUNNING SUCCESS."
Students crowded around like he was a celebrity on a red carpet.
Li Cheng squeezed his eyes shut. "Please… I just want to get to class."
Too late.
Hands patted his shoulder. Someone tried to touch his hair. Girls asked for his phone number. Boys asked him to teach them "money-attraction aura." One dude even kneeled dramatically.
By the time Li Cheng escaped into the classroom, he felt spiritually robbed.
He collapsed into his seat.
Lin Xiaoyu leaned over from behind him, grinning like a demon in pigtails. "So~ rumor says you have a date tonight."
"It's not a date."
"Dinner with a beautiful rich woman," she recited. "At her private mansion."
"BUSINESS dinner."
"With candlelight?"
"There will be NO candlelight!"
Xiaoyu gasped dramatically. "Li Cheng, you moved too fast! You skipped the holding-hands chapter!"
He buried his face into his arms. "Why are you like this?"
"Because messing with you is fun."
Of course.
Of course.
Then Qin Ruo slid into her seat beside him, eyes gleaming like a predator.
"So," she said, "you're really going."
Please. Not her too.
"Ruo… I swear I'm not trying to steal anyone's mother."
She blinked. "That is not remotely what I was thinking."
"Good."
"…But now I'm thinking about it."
"PLEASE STOP THINKING ABOUT IT."
She smirked slightly. "Relax. Just don't let Ms. CEO take advantage of you."
Li Cheng choked. "WHY does everyone think SHE'D take advantage of ME?!"
Xiaoyu raised her hand.
Qin Ruo raised her hand.
Half the class raised their hands.
Li Cheng died quietly in his seat.
Afternoon Classes — A Storm Brewing
The teacher droned through formulas and literature passages, but Li Cheng absorbed none of it.
His mind was busy running worst-case scenarios.
What if he said something stupid?
What if he accidentally flirted? (Again.)What if she sat too close?
What if her daughter showed up mid-dinner with a katana?
His life wasn't dramatic.
It was EXPLODING.
He groaned softly, pressing his forehead against the cool desk.
Then—
A small note slid onto his table.
From Qin Ruo.
He hesitated, then opened it.
"If she tries anything weird, message me. I will come save you."
Li Cheng looked at her.
She was pretending to read her textbook, cheeks slightly pink.
He whispered, "I don't need saving."
She whispered back, "You absolutely do."
He felt strangely touched.
And even MORE stressed.
Because now he had multiple girls caring about his safety—
—which was usually great for protagonists.
But in Li Cheng's case?
It was a death flag.
End of Classes — Trouble Finds Him AGAIN
School ended.
Li Cheng slipped out of the classroom, hoping for a calm, peaceful walk home before the CEO's dinner.
The universe said:"No."
Because the moment he reached the school gate—
Jiang Hao appeared. Again.
Wearing new sunglasses.
Still sparkling with delusion.
"Li Cheng," he declared loudly, "I challenge you again."
Li Cheng groaned. "No."
"Yes!"
"No."
"I won't accept no!"
"I will still say no."
"I will not leave until—"
A group of girls walked by.
"OH MY GOD— JIANG HAO FIX YOUR GLASSES!"
"What's wrong with them now?!" he snapped.
One girl pointed.
"You left the protective plastic on the lens!"
Li Cheng stared.
So did Jiang Hao.
The entire lens was covered in a thin, wrinkled transparent film.
Jiang Hao screamed internally, ripping it off.
"THIS ISN'T MY FAULT!" he shouted.
Li Cheng patted his shoulder sympathetically. "Maybe sunglasses just hate you."
The girls laughed.
Jiang Hao fled.
Again.
Li Cheng sighed. "One less disaster today."
He was wrong.
Because waiting under the cherry blossom tree…
Was Su Mengyu.
Ice Princess.
Perfect posture.
Perfect expression.
Perfect intimidation factor.
She walked toward him.
"Are you going?" she asked immediately.
Li Cheng swallowed. "I… have to."
A long pause.
Then she handed him a small white box.
"…What's this?"
"For protection."
Li Cheng's eyes widened. "Is it pepper spray?!"
"No."
She looked slightly embarrassed.
"It's snacks. You… forget to eat when you're stressed."
Li Cheng blinked.
That was…
Ridiculously thoughtful.
"Thank you," he said softly.
Mengyu looked away. "Just don't be late tomorrow."
His heart did a weird flip.
Was that… concern?
Before he could say anything else—
A group of students walked by, whispering loudly:
"OH MY GOD THEY LOOK LIKE A COUPLE."
"LOOK! SHE GAVE HIM A GIFT!"
"ARE THEY DATING?!"
Mengyu's face flushed—just slightly.
She turned on her heel and left quickly.
Li Cheng stood alone with the snack box.
And the weight of a thousand rumors.
Evening — Preparing for Disaster
Li Cheng rushed home, showered, changed clothes, and stared at himself in the mirror.
Black shirt.
Clean hair.
Presentable.
He looked like a young professional.
He also looked like he was about to walk into a tiger's den.
Don't panic, he told himself.
Then panicked.
He paced.
Sat.
Stood.
Paced again.
Then—
A car horn sounded outside.
He froze.
He peeked out the window.
A sleek black luxury sedan waited by the curb.
The driver stood beside it respectfully.
"It's time," Li Cheng whispered.
As if he was marching to execution.
He grabbed his bag.
Took a breath.
And walked outside.
The driver bowed slightly. "Li Cheng. Ms. Su is waiting. Please get in."
Li Cheng slid into the back seat.
The car smelled like leather and wealth.
He was doomed.
They drove through the city, past glittering towers and neon-lit streets, until they reached—
A mansion.
No.
A palace.
Warm lights glowed through tall windows. A fountain sparkled in front. It looked like the kind of place where CEOs made world-changing decisions over wine that cost more than Li Cheng's monthly rent.
The driver opened his door.
"This way, sir."
Li Cheng stepped out.
His heart almost exploded.
Inside the Mansion — A Dangerous Atmosphere
The interior was even worse.
Soft lighting.
Marble floors.
Paintings that probably cost millions.
A faint perfume scent in the air.
Then—
Footsteps.
Her footsteps.
Su Yaling appeared at the top of the stairs.
Dressed in a deep blue evening gown that hugged her figure elegantly. Her hair in soft waves. Her smile warm but… charged.
"Li Cheng."
He gulped. "G-Good evening, Ms. Su."
"Yaling," she corrected softly, descending the stairs with slow, graceful steps. "I told you to call me Yaling."
Li Cheng's soul wobbled.
She reached the bottom and approached him.
"You came," she said gently.
"I… yes."
She gestured toward the dining room.
"Come. Dinner is ready."
He followed, trying not to panic.
The dining table was long, elegant, beautifully set.
Candlelight flickered.
Li Cheng froze.
"I thought you said no candlelight," he whispered to himself.
Yaling smiled knowingly.
"I prefer warm lighting during discussions."
Of course she did.
They sat.
Dinner was delicious.
Conversation flowed smoothly.
She asked about his ideas.
He explained them nervously.
She listened with full attention — which was somehow more dangerous than flirting.
Then—
She leaned forward, resting her chin lightly on her hand.
"Li Cheng… tell me honestly. Why did you start a company at your age?"
He hesitated.
Then answered truthfully.
"…Because I want to build something that's mine. Not something inherited. Not something forced. Something that reflects who I am."
Her eyes softened.
She reached out—
And touched his hand.
Just briefly.
But enough to send electricity through his spine.
"That," she whispered, "is exactly why I chose you."
Li Cheng stopped breathing.
Then—
Her phone buzzed.
She glanced at it.
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"Ah. It seems my daughter is… curious about this dinner."
Li Cheng froze.
"W-What?"
Yaling stood gracefully.
"Come," she said. "Let's move to the lounge. I have something to show you."
Li Cheng followed her, terrified.
They entered a beautiful lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
Yaling walked to a drawer.
Opened it.
Pulled out something.
A file.
She handed it to him.
"This," she said softly, "is something I prepared long before I met you. I was simply waiting for the right person."
Li Cheng stared at her.
"What is it?"
"A full partnership plan," she said.
"For ChengTech."
"And your future."
Li Cheng swallowed hard.
"That's… too much."
"No," she said gently, stepping closer. "It's exactly right."
She placed her hand over his again.
And looked directly into his eyes.
"Li Cheng… I believe in you."
His heart stopped.
Her gaze softened even more.
"And I intend to guide you… personally."
Silence.
Too much silence.
Then—
BANG!
A door slammed somewhere deeper in the mansion.
Li Cheng jumped.
Yaling turned slowly.
Footsteps approached.
Fast.
Sharp.
Angry.
A cold voice echoed down the hall—
"Mother."
Li Cheng paled.
It was her.
The Ice Princess.
Su Mengyu.
And she did NOT sound pleased.