After Su He booked the restaurant, she suddenly, and with a delayed reaction, remembered that she was supposed to have dinner with Lu Yanbei that evening.
Instantly, she felt utterly miserable.
What on earth was she thinking? How could she have forgotten something so important!
Su He patted her head, pacing in circles in the plaza with distress.
What should she do!
"Brother finally came back; I can't possibly go back on my word. Besides, the restaurant is already booked. It would be a real shame not to go! That place is notoriously hard to reserve!"
"Call Lu Yanbei and say I have other plans tonight?" The moment this thought popped into Su He's mind, she ruthlessly crushed it. "No way, I can't afford to offend this man!"
"Then, maybe I should cancel both?" Su He muttered to herself by the fountain.
That seemed rather unsociable!
Su He wailed, clutching her head. "Is there really no way to have the best of both worlds?"
On one side was her brother, who had always taken good care of her, and on the other was the man who claimed he wanted to pursue her, the benefactor. It was truly a difficult choice.
As Su He completed her tenth circuit, a spark of inspiration struck her.
Why not invite both of them to the same place?
That way, she could attend to both of them!
Su He slapped her palm and thought of herself as a genius!
"Why didn't I think of this sooner? I wasted so much brainpower," Su He grinned triumphantly.
Little did she know, the more triumphant she felt now, the more of a disaster scene would unfold later.
By the time Lu Yanbei finished his work, it was already dark.
However, he hadn't forgotten his arrangement with Su He to share a romantic candlelit dinner.
"Where are you? I'll come pick you up." After calling several times without an answer, Lu Yanbei sent a message instead.
Su He had set her phone to silent, so she didn't notice the incoming call. It was only when her phone screen lit up that she ended her conversation and replied to Lu Yanbei.
Sitting opposite her was Su Chen. He was handsome, with a refined aura, dressed in a black wool coat that accentuated his tall and elegant stature. Unlike the cold CEO Lu Yanbei, he had a gentle disposition, like a warm elder brother next door.
"Who are you chatting with? You're smiling so brightly," Su Chen asked casually as he refilled her teacup.
"Just, just a friend." Su He hadn't quite adapted to her role as a wife yet and subconsciously concealed Lu Yanbei's identity.
Su Chen took a sip of tea and asked, "Su Su has made a new friend? I haven't heard you mention anyone."
After quickly sending her location to Lu Yanbei, Su He stammered an explanation, "We've known each other for a while, but we've only recently become close."
Saying that, she glanced at Su Chen furtively and tentatively asked, "Um, I forgot I had plans with him tonight. Do you mind if one more person joins us for dinner?"
Su Chen lowered his gaze, suppressing the coldness in his eyes, and said, "Since he's Su Su's friend, there's nothing to mind."
Hearing his answer, Su He breathed a sigh of relief.
To ease the awkwardness, she picked up the menu and, feigning composure, ordered their food.
By the time Lu Yanbei arrived at the restaurant, the waitstaff had already started serving the dishes. He walked forward with a brisk pace, about to ask why she chose this particular restaurant, when he saw a hand reach out towards Su He, arranging her cutlery.
He hadn't seen clearly from a distance. It was only upon approaching that he realized there was someone sitting opposite Su He.
A man with a handsome face.
His expression changed drastically, and the smile that had been on his lips gradually tightened into a thin line.
Su He, with her sharp eyes, spotted him and waved. "Here."
Lu Yanbei took a deep breath, struggling to control his taut emotions. "And who might this be?"
"Su Chen." Before Su He could introduce him, the man stood up and provocatively extended his right hand towards Lu Yanbei.
"Lu Yanbei." Lu Yanbei did not reciprocate the handshake, replying coldly.
Su Chen didn't seem embarrassed and calmly sat back down.
Lu Yanbei, on the other hand, sat down beside Su He.
Even Su He, usually quite oblivious, sensed something was amiss.
"This is my brother..." She licked her lips, leaned closer to Lu Yanbei, and introduced softly.
Seeing Su He lean towards him, Lu Yanbei's expression immediately softened. "Oh, so he's my brother-in-law. I've heard so much about you."
He deliberately emphasized the term "brother-in-law," subtly retaliating.
As expected, Su Chen's expression changed slightly the next second.
However, Su Chen quickly regained his composure and, smiling, placed a piece of sweet and sour pork rib in front of Su He. "You didn't even tell your brother about such a big event as your marriage, Su Su. Your brother is very sad."
Su He bit her chopstick sheepishly. "I, I can explain."
"Oh, then please do tell," Su Chen said with a gentle smile, but his gaze towards Lu Yanbei was rather unfriendly.
Su He looked at Lu Yanbei, who sat beside her with a placid expression, and pondered how to craft a story that was both plausible and touching.
During her first marriage, Su Chen had strongly objected, believing Lu Jingyang was not a suitable match. He had argued that she shouldn't let the Su family dictate her life or control her marital destiny.
But back then, Su He had wanted to repay a debt of gratitude and hadn't heeded his advice. By the time he rushed back from out of town, she had already registered her marriage, and it was too late to stop it.
Su He knew Su Chen meant well for her, and her stubbornness had deeply saddened him for a long time, leaving her filled with immense guilt.
The siblings had a period of cold war over this, and it was only after Tang Jiaojiao intervened that they reconciled.
This time, she had once again acted first and reported later. Su Chen was probably furious.
Thinking this, her anxiety grew.
Naturally, she couldn't say that she had signed a two-year contract with Lu Yanbei to repay a debt.
Yes, she needed to find a reason that he would accept.
"What, is it about repaying a debt again?" Su Chen, seeing her struggle to utter a word, murmured this remark.
"Repaying a debt? What debt?" Lu Yanbei looked up at Su He, puzzled.
Caught between two fronts, Su He's palms began to sweat from nervousness.
"What, Su Su hasn't mentioned it to Young Master Yan?" Su Chen seized the opportunity and asked with feigned surprise.
Lu Yanbei collected himself, his composure fully restored. "She owes quite a few favors. I wonder which one you're referring to?"
Su Chen was momentarily stumped, thinking Lu Yanbei was indeed cunning.
However, he wouldn't back down just because of that. "Su Su got lost once when she was little and was later rescued by a boy. She's a grateful child and has always kept this in her heart, never forgetting it."
"Oh?" Lu Yanbei suddenly put his arm around Su He's shoulders. "So, Ah Miao was already thinking of me when she was so young! Why didn't you tell me sooner? If you had, perhaps I would have known your feelings earlier!"
The two engaged in a subtle battle, and in the end, Lu Yanbei emerged victorious.
Su He's face turned bright red from his teasing.
Who was thinking of him!
Don't flatter yourself!