Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Heroine’s Fiancé

Without having to bear any risk herself, the young woman was naturally pleased with this arrangement and agreed readily. Su Wan glanced around her counter, then pointed to the most prominent spot and asked, “Can this cabinet be cleared out?”

The young woman nodded. “Of course.”

As she spoke, she emptied the contents of the cabinet.

Su Wan then took out the dark green velvet cloth she had prepared in advance and lined the cabinet neatly. Next, she produced an elegant display stand and arranged the lipsticks one by one.

She chose to space them widely apart, placing the remaining lipsticks in a box for the young woman to keep safe.

“All right. When a customer buys one, just replenish the spot with more stock,” Su Wan instructed.

The young woman only half-understood. She had always placed all the products in the cabinet for customers to help themselves, but with Su Wan’s arrangement, it did look much more appealing.

The two of them each handwritten a contract and exchanged signatures.

Glancing at the name signed on the contract, Su Wan smiled. “So your name is Hu Zihan.”

Hu Zihan smiled back and extended her hand. “Nice to meet you, Su Wan.”

Su Wan shook her hand with a smile. “Nice to meet you, Zihan.”

“Looking forward to our cooperation.”

“Likewise.”

With everything settled, Su Wan prepared to ride her bicycle home.

She pushed her bike slowly toward the mall exit; the place was especially crowded today. Su Wan was jostled by the throng, moving at a snail’s pace.

Suddenly, a man was shoved into the front of her bicycle. Su Wan looked up, recognizing him instantly—it was Chen Tianyu, the heroine’s older brother.

He, too, was surprised to see her. “It’s you?!”

Su Wan nodded, acknowledging him with a simple greeting.

“Would you like to have a cup of coffee and chat?” Chen Tianyu blocked her path.

Su Wan didn’t want to get entangled with the main characters and shook her head. “Maybe next time. I’m quite busy today.”

But Chen Tianyu refused to move. “Let’s talk. I think you’ll be interested.”

Su Wan felt irritated, but maintained a polite smile. “About what?”

“About Wang Luo,” he said confidently, convinced that any mention of Wang Luo would immediately pique her interest.

To his surprise, Su Wan merely smiled calmly. “No need. If you want to discuss Wang Luo, you’d better talk to your sister at home. I have to go.” With that, she tried to wheel her bicycle away.

At her words, Chen Tianyu’s expression hardened. He grabbed the handlebars. “Wang Luo is your fiancé!”

Su Wan smiled. “Not anymore. Your sister already stole him.”

Her tone was light, but laced with a hint of mockery.

Chen Tianyu’s face darkened. “Don’t talk nonsense!”

Su Wan dropped her polite facade and let all her sarcasm show. “What’s the matter? Your sister plays the seductress and steals someone’s fiancé, so now the brother feels embarrassed and comes to the original fiancée to keep her mouth shut?”

At this, Chen Tianyu grew agitated. He stepped forward, trying to grab Su Wan’s hand and drag her somewhere more private.

Seizing the moment, Su Wan cried out, “Help! Someone’s harassing me!”

Dozens of eyes turned instantly.

Startled, Chen Tianyu snatched his hand back and hurried to explain, “No, it’s not what it looks like—”

Su Wan took out a handkerchief and wiped her hands. “He’s been blocking my way for ages, won’t let me leave, and now he’s getting handsy.”

“I didn’t!” Chen Tianyu protested, his face flushed. “She’s making this up!”

He reached for Su Wan again.

A burly man nearby suddenly seized Chen Tianyu by the collar and tossed him aside. “Kid, I’ve been watching you for a while! Why are you blocking her way?”

Chen Tianyu gripped the man’s wrist. “I just wanted to discuss something with her.”

“Discuss what? She’s not interested—don’t you understand plain speech?” The man turned to Su Wan. “Don’t worry, little sister. I’ll handle him.”

Su Wan gave a deep bow. “Thank you, big brother.”

Then she pushed her bicycle away.

Once outside the mall, Su Wan was about to mount her bike when another hand seized it.

She looked up to find a burly man in a suit standing before her, expression grave.

“Our boss wants to see you,” he announced, gesturing politely.

Nervous, Su Wan could only dismount. The man hefted her bicycle onto his shoulder and escorted her into a lavishly decorated café.

Inside, the luxurious Rococo décor was a world apart from the shabby street outside. By the window, a beautiful blonde foreign woman played the piano, her elegant melody filling the café.

The burly man led Su Wan to a seat with a view of the riverbank.

Seated there was a man in a deep blue suit, elegant and composed, his amber eyes shining like gemstones. The suit was expertly tailored, its lines accentuating his mature charm.

He set down his coffee cup and nodded with a smile. “Miss Su, please have a seat.”

Su Wan sat calmly across from him, then turned to the burly man. “Can you put my bike down now?”

The man couldn’t help but chuckle. “Miss Su, you certainly have a sense of humor.”

He gave instructions in English to a handsome, blond foreign waiter, who brought Su Wan the menu.

“Please, choose a drink,” he invited.

Su Wan took the menu, finding it entirely in English—with not a single picture.

Clearly, the man wanted to see her embarrassed, to undermine her confidence for some ulterior motive.

Su Wan smiled. “Why not just get to the point? Let me hear your offer. I don’t respond well to threats—if you push me too far, no one will get what they want.”

The man smiled again. “Miss Su, what are you saying? I just wanted to buy you a coffee. You’re overthinking it.”

He added, “Have you decided what you’d like?”

A hint of amusement flashed in his eyes. He hadn’t expected a country girl to see through his little game, nor to realize he intended to tame her. His lips curled in a ruthless arc—interesting.

He watched as Su Wan calmly flipped through the menu, inwardly mocking: She’s quite the actress.

“Have you decided yet?” he prompted gently. “The baristas here are excellent—I think you’ll enjoy their drinks.”

Su Wan nodded and turned to the waiter.

Just as the man expected her to gesture and fumble, Su Wan spoke in a crisp, fluent London accent, “Please make me a flat white, thank you.”

The man was dumbfounded. This supposedly unsophisticated country girl could read English perfectly.

Su Wan turned back, meeting his astonished gaze. “It’s already late. If I drink something too strong, I won’t be able to sleep.”

The man quickly composed himself, offering a polite smile. “Did you study in London, Miss Su?”

Before Su Wan could reply, the café doors were suddenly kicked open. Chen Tianyu, looking disheveled and out of breath, strode straight toward their table.