Su Qingyu took Lin Weiwei to an exclusive restaurant on the top floor of a downtown building, accessible only by membership. Beyond the massive curved floor-to-ceiling windows lay an unobstructed view of the city's nightscape—a glittering river of lights winding through the streets, as if the entire metropolis's prosperity lay at their feet.
The waiter guided them to a table with an exceptional view. Lin Weiwei sat down somewhat uneasily, still wearing the dress Su Qingyu had prepared for her. Though it was tasteful, she felt slightly out of place amidst the elegant attire and clinking glasses, surrounded by men and women with meticulous makeup and sparkling jewelry.
In contrast, Su Qingyu wore a sleek black tailored pantsuit with no jewelry. She flipped through the menu with effortless composure, her cool, assured aura blending strangely well with the glitzy surroundings—even subtly drawing attention.
"What would you like?" Su Qingyu looked up at her, her tone casual.
Lin Weiwei scanned the menu, her scalp tingling at the sight of the extravagant dishes with their cryptic names and the long string of zeros following their prices. "You... you order. Anything is fine with me."
Su Qingyu accepted without hesitation, efficiently calling out several dish names to the waiter and requesting a bottle of red wine.
As they waited for their meal, an awkward silence settled over them. Lin Weiwei stared at the elegant tableware, her fingers absentmindedly picking at the edge of the tablecloth.
"Bringing me here... is there a reason?" she murmured, unable to contain her curiosity. She didn't believe Su Qingyu had simply invited her for dinner.
Su Qingyu lifted her water glass for a sip, her gaze drifting toward the restaurant entrance. "To help you adjust in advance," she replied flatly. " The welcome banquet after Gu Chen returns will be larger in scale and more diverse in attendees."
Lin Weiwei's heart tightened. Just as she suspected.
"At that time, you need to stay by my side," Su Qingyu said, her gaze scrutinizing. "No matter who you see or what you hear, remain calm. Especially... when you see Gu Chen."
Lin Weiwei immediately pledged, "I absolutely have no feelings for him!" She wished she could stay eight hundred meters away from that disaster-prone male lead.
Su Qingyu offered no confirmation to her assurance, only remarked coolly, "Remember what you just said."
Just then, the appetizers arrived. The exquisite plating resembled works of art. Lin Weiwei took a bite—the flavor was indeed excellent—but her mind was entirely elsewhere.
Soft piano music filled the restaurant, yet Lin Weiwei could keenly sense numerous glances drifting toward their table—curious, probing, and tinged with... an indescribable mix of astonishment and amusement.
No wonder. Su Qingyu and "Lin Weiwei"—two names practically synonymous with bitter rivals in their circle—now sharing a dinner table together. That alone was newsworthy enough to spark a firestorm.
Lin Weiwei felt like a monkey on display at the zoo, squirming uncomfortably.
Su Qingyu, however, seemed utterly oblivious. She dined with graceful poise, occasionally offering a comment or two about a particular dish, as if she were genuinely there to savor the meal.
"Don't mind them," Su Qingyu suddenly spoke, her voice soft yet clear enough for Lin Weiwei to hear. "When you become truly powerful, others' gazes cease to be scrutinizing—they become looks of admiration."
Lin Weiwei froze, turning to look at Su Qingyu. Her profile was sharp and angular, her gaze calmly fixed on the night view outside the window. The confidence and command radiating from her left Lin Weiwei momentarily lost in thought.
This was a stark contrast to the protagonist in the original story—the one who needed to endure and rely on the male lead's strength in the early stages.
"You... seem so different now," Lin Weiwei murmured softly.
Su Qingyu turned to face her, a fleeting flicker in her eyes. "Is that so? Perhaps this is the real me." She picked up a napkin to wipe her lips. "It's just that before, I was bound by the 'plot'."
The real Su Qingyu... Lin Weiwei silently chewed on those words in her mind.
The main course arrived shortly after. Just as Lin Weiwei focused on tackling the expensive-looking steak on her plate, a slightly frivolous male voice sounded beside her.
"Well, if it isn't Miss Su! What a coincidence."
Lin Weiwei looked up to see a young man in a flashy shirt, his hair slicked back, standing by the table with a wine glass in hand. His exaggerated smile was plastered on his face, but his gaze darted unabashedly between Su Qingyu and her, carrying an uncomfortable intensity.
"Young Master Wang." Su Qingyu merely gave a faint nod, not even bothering to rise, her tone distant.
Young Master Wang seemed unfazed by Su Qingyu's coolness. His attention quickly shifted to Lin Weiwei, his smile turning suggestive. "And this is… Miss Lin? Well, well, I never imagined the two of you would be dining together? Is this… turning swords into plowshares?"
His voice carried, drawing glances from several nearby tables.
Lin Weiwei felt a wave of embarrassment and irritation wash over her. The man's tone and gaze were brimming with disrespect.
Su Qingyu set down her knife and fork, leaning back slightly in her chair. She lifted her eyelids to meet Wang Shao's gaze—her eyes held no warmth, yet they made the smile on Wang Shao's face stiffen.
"Do I need to report to Mr. Wang who I choose to dine with?" Her voice was not loud, but it carried a sharp, icy pressure.
Wang Shao gave a nervous chuckle. "Of course not, of course not. I was just curious... After all, with Gu Shao returning soon, Miss Su taking Miss Lin out like this... Well, it's bound to spark some speculation."
He deliberately mentioned Gu Chen, his tone dripping with obvious intent to sow discord.
Lin Weiwei silently cursed him an idiot, her eyes darting nervously to Su Qingyu.
But Su Qingyu suddenly smiled. Not a polite, fake smile, but a light chuckle tinged with mockery and understanding. She didn't even glance at Wang Sha, instead turning her gaze to Lin Weiwei. Her tone was intimate, casual, as if sharing some amusing anecdote:
"Weiwei, you see, some people just show up uninvited and think they're clever."
She called her "Weiwei"?
Lin Weiwei stiffened, meeting Su Qingyu's suggestive gaze. Instantly, inspiration struck.
It was time to play along.
Suppressing the strange feeling in her chest, she mimicked Su Qingyu's mannerisms, forcing a smile tinged with petulance and impatience. She shot a glance at the young master Wang, her tone echoing the original host's arrogant disdain: "Exactly. It's so noisy, it ruins my appetite. Qingyu, next time let's find somewhere quieter."
She even picked up the nearby wine glass with practiced ease, swirling it gently—a deliberate, synchronized elegance (or rather, an imitated elegance) mirroring Su Qingyu's.
Young Master Wang clearly hadn't anticipated this reaction. The tense standoff or awkward silence he'd expected never materialized. Instead, the two women's seamless coordination made him look like a clown. His face flushed alternately crimson and ashen.
Su Qingyu shot Lin Weiwei an appreciative glance before turning her gaze back to Wang Shao, her tone returning to its previous coolness. "Is there anything else, Mr. Wang?"
"...Nothing. I won't bother you two any longer." Wang Shao rubbed his nose in frustration and slunk away.
The probing stares from those around them grew subtly charged by this interlude.
Only after he was out of earshot did Lin Weiwei exhale, feeling the damp sweat on her back. She set down her wine glass, palms slightly clammy.
"You handled that well," Su Qingyu's voice carried a genuine note of satisfaction.
Lin Weiwei looked at her, her emotions tangled. "Did you expect someone to hit on me?"
"Highly probable." Su Qingyu picked up her knife and fork, continuing to cut her food with composed ease. "It's a good start—letting certain people know early on that our relationship is 'not what it used to be.'"
She sliced off a small piece of beef but didn't eat it immediately. Instead, she lifted her eyes, her gaze deep as she looked at Lin Weiwei.
"Remember this feeling. From now on, similar scenes will only multiply."
Lin Weiwei gazed at the dazzling nightscape outside the window, then shifted her eyes to Su Qingyu across from her—calm as if everything were under her control. Suddenly, it became crystal clear: from the moment she agreed to leave the psychiatric hospital with Su Qingyu, she had been swept into the eye of this storm—a storm orchestrated by Su Qingyu, defying the predetermined course of fate.
Tonight was merely a minor rehearsal before the storm arrived.
She picked up her glass and drained the remaining red wine in one gulp. The slightly tart liquid slid down her throat, bringing a hint of warmth and a resolve to burn her bridges.
"I understand," she murmured softly, her gaze no longer lost in confusion.