“We’re planning to take you overseas with us, you might as well have some fun while you’re at it. Wherever you want to go, I’ll go with you.” Zhao Cheng changed the subject, the previous topic had been too heavy, and he worried that continuing it would only dig up more of her past pain.
Why cruelly reopen a scar that had already healed, exposing the raw wound underneath again?
“Brother Zhao, I don’t want to lie to you. Actually… actually… I’ve developed feelings I shouldn’t have for Brother Du.” Su Yue’s heart was moved to tears, where on earth had such a good man come from?
Why wasn’t he the male lead?
“What did you just say?” Zhao Cheng couldn’t believe his own ears. He’d clearly been better to her than Du Chengfeng had, why hadn’t she developed feelings for him instead?
That wasn’t right…
He’d always prided himself on never misjudging people, had he gotten it wrong this time?
On the other end, Du Chengfeng: so he hadn’t been imagining things after all.
As far as he was concerned, that matter had already passed, so why was she telling Zhao Cheng all this?
What was she trying to do?
Was she hoping Zhao Cheng would help her somehow?
Favorability -3
“Host, just keep doing exactly what you were doing, why go and provoke the male lead for no reason?” The system, watching favorability drop by 3, felt like its heart was being carved out, even though it didn’t have one, but it still hurt.
“I’m sorry, Brother Zhao, for disappointing you, and for disappointing Brother Du too. But some things really can’t be controlled, especially something as invisible and untouchable as feelings.” She’d already admitted her fault, if the male lead still dared cut her favorability after this, she’d march straight to his house and smash his head in.
This time favorability didn’t drop, and both Su Yue and the system let out a deep sigh of relief. That had been close.
“Why are you telling me all this?” Zhao Cheng’s tone turned a little cold. He sympathized with her, but not enough to betray his own brother.
“Brother Zhao, don’t get the wrong idea. Brother Du is such a good person, he’s bound to find someone who matches him in status, excellent in every way. They’ll be a perfect match, growing old together, surrounded by children and grandchildren.” Su Yue couldn’t help thinking again of the female lead the system had described, if she were a man marrying a woman like that, she’d surely be happy too.
On the other end, Du Chengfeng, lost in some thought of his own, stared blankly into space.
Favorability +3
“Since you already know all that, then why put yourself through this?” Zhao Cheng let out a breath of relief too, glad she wasn’t putting him in a difficult position.
“Brother Du is good-looking, has a great body, comes from a good family, none of the arrogance of a rich second generation, none of the restlessness of youth. If you were a girl, you’d like him too.” She was a girl herself, so she knew exactly what girls wanted, who wouldn’t want a boyfriend like that?
Zhao Cheng: …
Was that guy Du Chengfeng really that great?
How had he never noticed?
Was he not good enough, then?
He was good-looking too, had a decent body too, came from a good family too, and he didn’t think he had any arrogance or restlessness either, so why hadn’t she praised him?
Wait, was now really the time to be thinking about this? He should be figuring out how to talk her out of feelings she shouldn’t have, or else she’d be the one to get hurt in the end.
On the other end, the frost on Du Chengfeng’s face melted, the corner of his mouth curving up in a faint, barely-there smile. He didn’t expect to be held in such high regard in her heart.
Favorability +5
“Some things…” Zhao Cheng tried to persuade her to let go of feelings she shouldn’t hold onto, but she cut him off.
“Don’t worry, Brother Zhao, I’ve never had any inappropriate thoughts. I know exactly what I am, I don’t deserve him. Truly liking someone isn’t about possessing them, it’s about letting go, as long as he’s doing well, that’s enough to make me happy.” Su Yue lowered her head. The words were so sappy even she was getting goosebumps from saying them, and she had no idea whether they’d buy it.
Zhao Cheng opened his mouth, then didn’t know what to say. He didn’t expect her to think this way. To be liked this sincerely by someone, what incredible luck that would be for anyone.
Actually, she wasn’t so bad after all, just not much to look at, not much of a figure, and her family background…
Why was he even thinking about this?
On the other end, Du Chengfeng felt a stifling tightness in his chest, swollen with some indescribable frustration. It was as if something wanted to burst out of his chest but couldn’t quite manage it.
He hung up the phone and stared at the dark screen for a long while without snapping out of it.
Favorability +5
“Host, favorability’s at 71%, we’ve completed the mission! Oh my god, we did it, hahaha…” The system laughed so hard it would have been drooling, if it had a mouth.
“Thank you for your kindness, Brother Zhao, and thank Brother Du too. I won’t be going overseas with you all, no need to spend extra just for my sake. The reason I told you all this today was so you wouldn’t have to worry about me anymore, and it’s also why I quit.” The system’s words nearly made Su Yue shriek with excitement, but she managed to hold it in at the last moment.
She had to hold it together, just this last stretch, she couldn’t let it all fall apart now. She just wanted Zhao Cheng to leave quickly so she could finally go die in peace.
What more could Zhao Cheng say? She’d already said all this, if he tried to pull her back now, what if she ended up falling even deeper later on?
He said a few more words of concern before finally leaving.
“Brother Zhao, can I give you a hug?” Just as Zhao Cheng opened his car door to get in, Su Yue called out to stop him.
Zhao Cheng was surprised for a moment, then smiled and generously opened his arms to her.
“Brother Zhao, you’re such a good person. Good people get good things in return. I hope everything goes well for you in the future.” In his arms, Su Yue spoke slowly, word by word, every bit of it coming from the bottom of her heart.
He had never once looked down on her for her humble status, instead, he’d looked after her all the more. Without him, she never could have completed her mission.
“What’s gotten into you, kid? Anyway, I accept your well wishes, and I hope things go well for you too in the future. But remember, no matter what happens, you can always come find me.” Zhao Cheng patted her on the back, his heart warm.
He honestly couldn’t think of much he’d done to help her, and yet she’d given him the most sincere thing in return.
Whether it was her sense of boundaries or her kind heart, both moved him deeply.
So what if she had nothing?
That sincere heart of hers was worth more than any amount of gold, with a heart like that, her future was bound to turn out well.
“Take care!” Su Yue’s eyes turned a little damp. They’d probably never see each other again after this. A stranger from a parallel world, she hoped everything would go well for him.
“You take care too. If you miss me, just message me, I’ll be back in the country in two months at the latest.” Zhao Cheng, noticing the girl’s mood had dipped a little, teased her lightly. He still liked seeing those crescent-moon eyes of hers always full of laughter.
Zhao Cheng’s car had already driven far off, but Su Yue stood rooted in place for a long while, not leaving. Catching sight of her in the rearview mirror, his heart lurched, for some reason, he couldn’t shake a bad feeling.
Later, he would regret it countless times, why hadn’t he turned back then?
If he had turned back, would the outcome have been different?