Li Cheng stood frozen in the center of his own living room like a man witnessing the opening cutscene of his own destruction.
On his left: Chen Yuxi, elegant and confident, wearing a fitted black suit that practically screamed "future CEO wife."
On his right: Lin Jue's fiancée, mysterious and composed, holding a gift bag with his name written in flawless calligraphy.
Behind him: Auntie Mei, expression sharp enough to slice steel.
And just slightly behind him, clinging to the shoe cabinet like it could save her from embarrassment: Mengyu, cheeks red, eyes wide, posture rigid.
Li Cheng swallowed.
"…Why is this happening to me?" he whispered.
No one answered.
Because they were all too busy staring each other down like predators circling a confused rabbit.
Auntie Mei broke the silence first.
Her voice was smooth, calm—dangerously so.
"Who," she asked politely, "are you?"
Chen Yuxi stepped forward immediately.
"I'm Chen Yuxi," she said, tone steady. "Li Cheng's project manager. And an assistant. And the one coordinating tomorrow's launch event."
Mengyu muttered under her breath, "…And sender of twenty heart emojis."
Li Cheng elbowed her.
Chen Yuxi continued calmly.
"I'm here to discuss his schedule and presentation format for tomorrow."
Auntie Mei nodded once.
Then her gaze slid to the other girl.
"And you?"
The mysterious girl bowed with perfect grace.
"My name is Feng Shuxian," she said. "I am Lin Jue's fiancée. I came to… evaluate the boy who has captured my fiancé's attention."
Li Cheng nearly died on the spot.
"PLEASE STOP SAYING IT LIKE THAT."
Shuxian ignored him.
Auntie Mei hummed thoughtfully.
"So you're all here for my Cheng'er."
Mengyu jumped.
"N–No! I just followed him home by accident!"
Li Cheng turned to her, deadpan.
"You walked the entire way."
"I—I was making sure you didn't get kidnapped!"
"By who?!"
Mengyu pointed vaguely at the other women.
"…By them?"
Chen Yuxi's eyebrow twitched.
Shuxian smiled thinly.
Auntie Mei cracked her knuckles.
Li Cheng backed up instinctively.
"Everyone… please… sit down and talk like normal people."
They did not sit.
They continued staring.
The Interrogation Begins
Chen Yuxi placed her folder on the table and spoke first.
"Li Cheng. Before anything else, tomorrow's event schedule needs confirmation."
Li Cheng nodded gratefully.
"Yes! Thank you! Something normal!"
She pulled out a printed sheet.
"There will be a red carpet entrance, interviews, sponsor greetings, a short speech from you, and a demonstration of the high-efficiency micro-processor design your company is launching."
Auntie Mei nodded approvingly.
"Good. He must look dignified."
Li Cheng sighed.
"Finally, someone supporting my suffering—"
But then Feng Shuxian stepped forward.
"And I would like to assess him."
"A—Assess me for WHAT?!"
"Your threat level."
Li Cheng sputtered.
Chen Yuxi glared.
Mengyu coughed loudly.
Auntie Mei stepped between them.
"My Cheng'er isn't a threat to anyone."
Shuxian tilted her head.
"That is exactly what someone threatening would say."
Li Cheng wanted to cry.
"CAN EVERYONE STOP CALLING ME A THREAT?! I JUST DO HOMEWORK AND PAY TAXES!"
No one listened.
The Gift Bag of Doom
Feng Shuxian finally held out the sleek gift bag with both hands.
"This is for you. A small gesture of courtesy."
Li Cheng stared at it suspiciously.
"…Is it poisoned?"
Shuxian blinked.
"No."
Chen Yuxi stepped closer.
"…Why are you giving him gifts?"
"It is tradition to offer a gift to one's rival," Shuxian said calmly.
Li Cheng choked.
"RIVAL? I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU!"
Mengyu mumbled, "This feels like a drama. A messy one."
Chen Yuxi pinched her nose bridge.
Auntie Mei took the gift bag and inspected it like a bomb technician.
"It is safe," she said after ten seconds. "No tracking devices."
Li Cheng stared.
"Why would she—"
Auntie Mei glared at Shuxian.
Shuxian simply sipped tea, which she somehow prepared without anyone noticing.
Everyone Suddenly Sits Down
Finally, maybe out of exhaustion, they all sat.
Four women.
One couch.
Li Cheng remained standing because sitting felt dangerous.
Auntie Mei looked at him with expectation.
"Sit, Cheng'er."
He obeyed immediately.
Between Chen Yuxi and Mengyu.
The worst possible place.
Shuxian sat across from them elegantly, crossing her legs like she owned the room.
Auntie Mei took the armchair like a judge presiding over a courtroom.
Then—
The interrogation truly began.
Round 1: The Professional Examination
Chen Yuxi went first.
"Li Cheng, tomorrow you'll need a final rehearsal. We still need to finalize your speech."
She tapped her folder.
"I can help him practice here tonight."
Mengyu immediately stiffened.
"No. I'll help."
Chen Yuxi turned.
"…You?"
"Yes. I sit next to him every day. I can tell when he's about to faint on stage."
"That's not a skill," Chen Yuxi said.
"It is if he's always fainting!"
"Stop exposing me," Li Cheng whispered weakly.
Auntie Mei nodded firmly.
"Cheng'er needs a woman with good observation. That is useful."
Li Cheng's soul left his body.
Shuxian watched them all expressionlessly.
"I will help as well," she said.
Li Cheng slammed his face into a pillow.
"No. Please. No more help."
Round 2: The Emotional Ambush
Shuxian leaned forward.
"I have a question."
Everyone tensed.
Li Cheng gulped.
"…What?"
Shuxian's voice was soft, calm, and terrifyingly serious.
"Do you have feelings for my fiancé?"
The entire room froze.
Li Cheng screamed internally.
"WHY WOULD YOU ASK THAT?! I DON'T EVEN KNOW HIM!"
Shuxian nodded calmly.
"Good. Then explain why he stares at videos of your business presentations at midnight."
Li Cheng covered his face.
"I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S WEIRD HABITS."
Chen Yuxi smirked slightly.
"That makes two of us."
"HEY!"
Mengyu nodded thoughtfully.
"He really does attract strange men and women. It's concerning."
Auntie Mei patted his shoulder gently.
"Don't worry, Cheng'er. You will learn to handle admirers."
"I DON'T WANT ADMIRERS!"
Shuxian sipped her tea again.
"That is exactly why you have so many."
Li Cheng screamed inside his soul.
Round 3: The Tension Spike
Mengyu suddenly cleared her throat.
Her hands clenched her skirt tightly.
"S-So… about tomorrow… who's going with him?"
Chen Yuxi raised a brow.
"I am his project manager. Naturally, I'll escort him."
Shuxian raised a hand politely.
"And I will attend as well."
Mengyu's jaw dropped.
"No! If BOTH of you go with him, the whole school will explode! And Lin Jue will challenge him to a duel!"
Shuxian nodded.
"That is likely."
Chen Yuxi sighed.
"…He'll challenge him anyway."
Li Cheng cried.
"WHY?!"
Auntie Mei raised a hand, silencing everyone.
"I will decide who accompanies Cheng'er."
The room went silent.
Li Cheng straightened.
Mengyu gulped.
Chen Yuxi adjusted her glasses.
Shuxian's eyes sharpened.
Auntie Mei closed her eyes.
Breathed out.
Then declared:
"All of you."
Li Cheng's brain malfunctioned.
"WHAT?! NO—"
"It is decided," Auntie Mei said firmly. "He will arrive with all four of us."
Chen Yuxi inhaled.
Mengyu panicked.
Shuxian raised an eyebrow.
Li Cheng grabbed the table like it could stop fate.
"That's not an entrance," he whispered. "That's a parade."
The Fitting Disaster
Auntie Mei clapped her hands once.
"Cheng'er. Stand up. We need to finish measuring you."
Li Cheng stood reluctantly.
Mengyu immediately turned her back.
Chen Yuxi also turned—
But peeked.
Shuxian didn't even blink.
Auntie Mei lifted his arm.
"Shoulder width is fine. Posture still terrible."
Chen Yuxi hummed.
"I can train his posture."
"No," Mengyu said, "I'll do it."
"Why you?" Chen Yuxi asked.
"Because I see him slouch every morning!"
"That is not why—"
"YES, IT IS!"
Shuxian raised a hand politely.
"I can teach him poise."
"NO," Mengyu and Chen Yuxi said at the same time.
Li Cheng covered his face again.
He wished for divine intervention.
Or an asteroid.
Anything.
The Calm Before the Explosion
Measurements done.
Tension high.
Four women are still staring each other down.
Li Cheng finally managed to sit again.
Then Auntie Mei surprised everyone.
She spoke softly.
Almost kindly.
"Cheng'er."
He looked up.
"Yes?"
"You've grown a lot."
Li Cheng blinked.
Auntie Mei smiled.
"More people notice you now. More people admire you. More people expect things from you. That means your world is expanding."
Her voice warmed slightly.
"You're not invisible anymore. You're shining."
The room went quiet.
For a moment, all the rivalry faded.
All the tension disappeared.
Li Cheng lowered his eyes.
"…I didn't really want to shine."
"I know," Auntie Mei said gently. "But you're doing well."
He swallowed a lump in his throat.
Mengyu stared at him quietly.
Chen Yuxi softened slightly.
Shuxian even looked mildly impressed.
The atmosphere calmed.
Then—
The doorbell rang.
Everyone blinked.
Auntie Mei stood.
"Who is it?"
Li Cheng peeked through the door.
His soul left his body.
"It's… Lin Jue."
Shuxian perked up.
"Oh? He followed me?"
Li Cheng opened the door.
Lin Jue stood there.
Holding a bouquet of roses.
The CEO rival stared at Li Cheng with dead seriousness.
"Li Cheng," he said dramatically, "I've come to apologize."
Li Cheng blinked.
"You—what?"
Lin Jue sighed.
"My fiancée said she wanted to meet you. I had no choice."
Then he whispered:
"Please don't steal her."
Li Cheng grabbed his shoulders desperately.
"I DON'T WANT HER!"
Lin Jue sagged with relief.
Then he noticed all the women inside.
All staring at him.
He froze.
"…Never mind," he whispered. "I'm leaving."
He tried to step back.
Li Cheng dragged him in by the collar.
"No. If I'm suffering, you're suffering with me."
Lin Jue stumbled inside.
Mengyu gasped.
Chen Yuxi smirked.
Shuxian smiled.
Auntie Mei nodded like she expected this.
And Li Cheng realized—
Tomorrow's launch event was going to be a disaster.
A beautiful, horrifying, unforgettable disaster.