Chapter 18: Deliberation

Chen Su froze. "Do you realize what you are saying?"

"I do." Song Mingyu looked at her earnestly. "Su, whether you are well-behaved or not makes no difference to me. It is you, the person you are, whom I like."

Chen Su had not expected that she would reveal her final cards only to force him to retreat. She never imagined that instead of backing away, he would face the challenge head-on.

She let out a slow breath. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"The person standing before you pretends to be obedient, but in reality, her heart is dark." Chen Su was genuinely curious. "Song Mingyu, what do you even like about me?"

Over the years, Chen Su had never lacked suitors. But they all came for her face. That was why, when Song Mingyu confessed two months ago, she had instinctively assumed the same. But now, he had shattered that assumption.

"Does there have to be a reason?" A sincere smile played on Song Mingyu’s youthful, spirited face. "Can’t it be that I was born simply to like you?"

The light in the hallway flickered out again, but this time, Chen Su could see the depths of Song Mingyu’s eyes. Feeling a twinge of guilt, she quickly averted her gaze and turned on the entryway light.

"Song Mingyu, I don’t like you." Chen Su took a deep breath. "Even if I were to marry you, I would never fall in love with you. Does that not matter to you either?"

Song Mingyu looked stunned for a moment, then forced a stiff smile. "Su, feelings cannot be forced. I know that Bo’nan has been very good to you, but time moves forward." He took Chen Su’s hand. "I believe that the memories we make together in the future will eventually cover up the ones you have with him, bit by bit. I have that much confidence."

The young man’s stubbornness in love carried an innate sense of pride. For a fleeting moment, Chen Su even felt that the future might really turn out as he described. Could new memories truly overwrite the old ones? But what if those memories were inextricably linked to her past struggles and her growth?

She exhaled slowly. "Song Mingyu, can you give me some time to think?"

Song Mingyu nodded. "Su, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Whether you marry me or not, whether you choose to be with me or not, I only ever want you to be happy."

After Song Mingyu left, Chen Su sat alone on the sofa in the vast living room, feeling dazed. As expected, she suffered from insomnia again.

The next day, just as Chen Su finally drifted off to sleep at dawn, a knock came at the door. She opened it to find Wen Zhi rushing in, looking frantic. "Su, this is bad! Something has happened!"

Chen Su was already accustomed to Wen Zhi’s excitable nature. She slumped onto the sofa, exhausted, pulled a cushion over herself, and asked with a yawn, "What happened?"

Wen Zhi stepped in front of her. "Do you know Zhao Qian? The girl with the glasses in your class who likes Song Mingyu?"

Chen Su hummed in acknowledgment. "I know her. What about her?"

Wen Zhi sighed helplessly, her expression one of disappointment, and glared at Chen Su. She took out her phone and navigated to their alumni group chat. "See for yourself."

Chen Su glanced at the phone and saw that the alumni group was in an uproar. The source of the chaos was a photo. In it, Qu Bo’nan and Chen Su stood under a Chinese toon tree, holding hands. However, due to the angle, only Qu Bo’nan’s back was visible, while Chen Su’s face was exceptionally clear.

— "What’s going on? Is our pure school beauty dating?"

— "Dating? I saw the car that man was driving—it’s a Hongqi State Guest edition. Do you have any idea how much weight that carries? If you ask me, she’s not dating; she’s just latching onto a wealthy patron!"

— "You’re talking nonsense! Chen Su is a model student; her grades are always top-tier. And the clothes she wears aren't cheap; she looks like she comes from a wealthy family. Why would she need to latch onto anyone?"

— "Who knows? You can know a person’s face but not their heart. Maybe Chen Su is into smoking and drinking in private."

— "Agreed. Zhao Qian, who is in the same class as Chen Su, said yesterday that the man in the photo seemed very protective of her. Their relationship is definitely not ordinary."

The group members chimed in one after another, hurling accusations at Chen Su without hesitation. Men who had failed to win her over in the past seemed eager to believe she was truly being kept, as only then could they reclaim their own wounded pride.

Chen Su looked at the account ID of the person who posted the photo; it was a faceless avatar. She frowned in displeasure. "Help me check who posted this."

"No need to check!" Wen Zhi said bluntly. "I already know who it is!"