Chapter 4: Untouchable

Today, Su Yi was dressed with elegant grace—a white blouse paired with a floral skirt, embodying her usual princess-like style. But Lin Lu was by no means outshone; in a dark green puff-sleeved top and high-waisted jeans, her effortless beauty needed no embellishment—wherever she stood, she would never be overshadowed.

Everyone in the private room was acquainted with Su Yi, and all were well aware that her return this time was for the sake of winning back Xu Yancheng.

“Come to think of it, you two even share the same profession,” Xu Mingchuan remarked, introducing Su Yi to Lin Lu and only then realizing the connection.

“That’s right. In the upcoming international competition, we’ll actually be rivals,” Su Yi glanced at Lin Lu, her lips curving into the faintest of smiles.

“Is that so? You never mentioned it,” Xu Mingchuan turned to Lin Lu.

“Mm.” Lin Lu’s expression was equally detached, betraying little enthusiasm.

Xu Mingchuan nudged her arm and leaned in to whisper, “When your competition comes, I’ll bring a cheering squad to support you.”

“Where’s the wine?” Xu Yancheng cut in impatiently, interrupting the quiet conversation.

Su Yi rose to fetch a bottle from the cabinet, opened it deftly with the corkscrew, filled a half glass, and brought it to Xu Yancheng with a touch of affectionate care.

“Who wants to drink wine poured by you?” Xu Yancheng didn’t spare her a glance, dismissing her gesture outright.

The atmosphere grew subtly tense.

Su Yi’s smile didn’t falter despite a hint of awkwardness, still coaxing him gently, “Mind your words, don’t lose your temper.”

All her pride seemed to vanish before Xu Yancheng.

The others, sensing the mood, tried even harder to minimize their presence. When Xu Yancheng was in a foul temper, no one dared provoke him. The young master of the Xu family was notorious for sparing no one’s dignity when displeased. Even Su Yi was no exception. When they were together before, she could still rein him in a little, but now that they’d parted, he was answerable to no one.

Xu Yancheng rose, brushed past Su Yi, and grabbed a random glass of red wine from the table, draining it in one go. Lin Lu glanced at the empty wine glass Xu Yancheng had cast aside—the red lipstick mark at its rim seemed even fainter now.

Xu Mingchuan exchanged a look with Zhou Ruikang, who immediately caught on and rose to liven things up.

Su Yi set the wine down, a trace of disappointment in her posture as she sat to one side.

Zhou Ruikang suggested a game of truth or dare.

Lin Lu was drawn in as well. Of everyone there, only she and Su Yi were women. Lin Lu had no intention of disrupting the gathering tonight; since she’d been brought along as company, she was content to quietly make up the numbers.

After a few rounds, everyone had had a few drinks, and the questions grew bolder as the atmosphere warmed.

Even Xu Mingchuan had to reveal the color of his underwear.

Still, the risqué questions were reserved for the men; when it came to the women, the group kept their manners. Twice the bottle pointed to Su Yi, and both times she was asked nothing more than harmless, trivial things—so tame that even Su Yi herself found them dull.

“If it’s not shampoo, then it’s body wash. Why don’t I just send you my entire list of bath products later?” she quipped.

Her questioner laughed, “No need for that. Let me try again.”

“What’s the most unforgettable gift you’ve ever received?”

“A necklace,” Su Yi replied, lips curving up. “It was his first prize-winning piece, given to me as a birthday present.”

“You mean the Promise?”

Promise—the name signified a pledge.

“That’s the one.” After speaking, Su Yi glanced at Xu Yancheng.

He sat a little apart, eyes narrowed, looking slightly tipsy. The dim light cast shadows across his profile, lending him an enigmatic allure that could easily draw one in.