An hour later, the two of them tidied up and prepared to head out for a late-night snack.
It wasn't that they couldn't order takeout, but Yang Mi wanted to enjoy the feeling of a real date. In the blink of an eye, they found themselves at a well-known outdoor food stall. After finding a table against the wall and ordering a few of their favorite dishes, Su Yu eagerly dug in.
"Slow down, no one is fighting you for it!" Yang Mi looked at Su Yu with a doting expression.
"Oh, I got used to eating like this when I was a kid. I can never seem to change it." Su Yu replied casually. Yang Mi felt as though her heart had been squeezed. She knew very well that Su Yu was an orphan.
*He must have suffered so much as a child!*
*Eating this fast, it must be because he had to fight for food when he was little!*
*It's so hard to imagine how he got through those years.*
*Sigh... I must, absolutely must, love him with all my heart!*
Su Yu was a little bewildered. What baffled him was the watery tenderness in Yang Mi's eyes. Just as he was about to ask Mimi if she wanted to go back and study the script some more, a commotion from the next table caught his attention.
Su Yu turned his head and listened:
"What? You think just because you played some tiny supporting role, you've got an attitude now?"
"Director Liu asks you to have a drink with him, and you're all coy and hesitant?"
"You're in this industry already, what are you still putting on an act for?"
"What this circle is like, don't you understand?"
The speaker's attire, appearance, and demeanor fit the exact profile of a total lackey. Especially the ingratiating smile on his face as he looked at the man he called Director Liu. To put it bluntly, his flattery had reached a masterclass level.
At that moment, the man addressed as Director Liu spoke up:
"Xiao Wu, look at that temper of yours, always in such a rush. If Aiai doesn't want to, don't force her. This is a society ruled by law, we are all law-abiding citizens..."
"Now Aiai, if you're not feeling well, you can head back first. It's fine, everyone's out here working, we all have times when things are inconvenient..."
"No need to thank me, no need to thank me, I understand."
"Now Xiao Wu, since Aiai isn't feeling well, let's find someone else for that supporting role. Ah, I remember that Lili from last time wasn't bad..."
Su Yu could see right through it. This was a classic play-acting scenario using roles as leverage to manipulate actresses. Of course, initially Su Yu hadn't planned to get involved. After all, everyone was an adult, and whether they were willing or not was up to them to decide.
But right now, how could Su Yu possibly stay out of it?
*These bastards, how dare they covet my Aiai?*
*Simply outrageous!*
That's right. The young woman being harassed at this moment looked exactly like Zhang Tian'ai did in Su Yu's memories from the future. The Zhang Tian'ai before him was far from possessing the maturity and allure of later years. In Su Yu's eyes right now, she was green, delicate, shy, fragile, pitiful, and utterly endearing.
At this moment, she was standing opposite Director Liu, twisting the hem of her shirt in both hands, staring at the wine glass before her with a face full of dilemma. Yet, a stubborn streak lingered in her eyes.
Yang Mi naturally noticed Su Yu's gaze.
"What? Heartbroken? Want to play the hero saving the damsel?" Yang Mi's voice, tinged with a hint of jealousy, reached Su Yu's ears.
"Mm," Su Yu replied flatly.
A look of sadness and disappointment washed over Yang Mi's face. At that moment, she felt as though she had been let down.
"Do you remember your situation the time I helped you?" Su Yu continued, his voice calm.
In an instant, ripples stirred in Yang Mi's mind as some unpleasant memories resurfaced.
"Look at this girl right now. Doesn't she look just like the stubborn you back then?" Su Yu pressed on.
Yang Mi felt herself shrink down to the dust, while Su Yu stood so tall he seemed to radiate light.
*That's right, he's just that kind of man. He's so utterly captivating!*
*Yang Mi, oh Yang Mi, you mustn't have wandering thoughts from now on.*
A wave of guilt surged into Yang Mi's heart. Flushing crimson, she leaned in close to Su Yu's ear.
"Big Brother, I'm sorry! It was my fault..."
Seeing Su Yu remain indifferent, Yang Mi continued, "If worst comes to worst... worst comes to worst, I..."
Su Yu: "Oh? And what about what you call me?"
Using a voice that only the two of them could hear, Yang Mi softly muttered...
Su Yu was satisfied.
"Alright, alright, I forgive my Mimi." As he spoke, Su Yu reached out his right hand and patted Mimi's...
Instantly, Mimi went through another round of...
"You're going to be the death of me! Why aren't you going to play the hero and save the damsel? Look at how distressed that poor girl is."
Su Yu let out an "mm" and said calmly, "Let's see how she chooses."
At that moment, Zhang Tian'ai finally made up her mind. After murmuring an apology, she decided not to linger and prepared to leave.
Seeing that Zhang Tian'ai was about to leave, heaven knows if Xiao Wu panicked, but Director Liu certainly did. How could he let a cooked duck fly away? Especially after seeing Zhang Tian'ai's curvaceous figure and clearly youthful face, he...
And so, he stood up, revealing his savage side. First, he grabbed Zhang Tian'ai by the wrist, then threatened her in a menacing tone:
"Think carefully. If you walk out of here today, I'll make sure you can't survive another day in Hengdian tomorrow. Do you believe me?"
"I only think you have potential, which is why I'm offering you this chance. Don't be ungrateful!"
"Director Song's production has an investment of up to eight million, and the female lead is none other than Teacher XXX. If you can play Teacher XXX's maid in this show, who knows, you might just catch Director Song's eye!"
"But someone has to be the one to deliver you to Director Song—you figure out who that can be!"
"Aiai, I happen to like you. You need to understand my intentions, I also..."
At this point, Xiao Wu started egging them on from the side, shouting things about them getting together.
Su Yu summarized the whole display: coaxing and trickery, carrot and stick, coercion and temptation, throwing one's weight around.
The commotion here had naturally drawn everyone's attention, but no one wanted to step in. People seemed completely unfazed by such sights.
After taking a few deep breaths, Zhang Tian'ai said, "Director Liu, thank you, but I want to go home!" With that, she tried to wrench her wrist free from Director Liu's grip.
Rage flared across Director Liu's face. "Damn it, stop playing hardball when someone is giving you face!"
This so-called Director Liu probably couldn't actually do anything major to Zhang Tian'ai, but grabbing her, refusing to let her go, disgusting her, and taking advantage of her physically—that much was entirely within his power. Even if the local authorities showed up, at most they would just issue a couple of reprimands. But the thrill of toying with someone like this brought this Director Liu immense pleasure.
At that moment, someone nearby couldn't bear to watch any longer and began to speak up to stop it.
Xiao Wu and his lackies immediately rushed in to provide backup.
"Just a young couple having a spat, what's the big deal? Eat your food and mind your own business. Anyone looking to stir up trouble better think twice—me and the guys running this district are brothers..."
Over on their side, Yang Mi was already furious. She stopped recording on her phone and prepared to call the police.
"Don't, let me handle it." Su Yu stopped Yang Mi, casually picked up a beer bottle, eyeballed the distance four or five times, and hurled it hard at the back of Xiao Wu's head.
"Ah—!"
With a scream, the scene went quiet. All eyes focused on Su Yu, and Director Liu finally released Zhang Tian'ai's hand.
Su Yu slowly stood up and casually picked up another beer bottle.
"I said, you bunch of grown men bullying a young woman? Have you no shame at all?"
"Director Liu, you sounded pretty tough talking to this girl just a moment ago. I just wonder: is your mouth harder, or is this beer bottle harder?"