The air froze.
Not metaphorically.
Actually froze.
Li Cheng stared at the silhouette standing at the backstage entrance, his brain refusing to load the memory.
Slim figure. Confident posture. Casual smile that looked far too relaxed for someone stepping into a battlefield of jealous women.
"Long time no see, Li Cheng."
Her voice was clear.
Too clear.
Li Cheng's heart skipped, then tripped, then face-planted.
"…You."
The quartet reacted instantly.
Shuxian stepped half a step forward, eyes sharp.
Chen Yuxi's fingers paused mid-scroll on her tablet.
Mengyu stiffened, instinctively gripping Li Cheng's sleeve.
Auntie Mei's gaze turned cold enough to freeze steel.
"Explain," Chen Yuxi said flatly.
The girl walked closer, hands casually in her coat pockets.
"Relax. I'm not here to steal anyone's man."
All four women stared at her as she'd just declared war anyway.
Li Cheng swallowed.
"…Su Wan."
The name landed like a bomb.
System:
[Identity confirmed. Su Wan. Former high school classmate.]
"I DID NOT ASK YOU."
Su Wan smiled wider when she heard him snap at the air.
"Still talking to yourself when you're nervous, huh?"
Mengyu blinked.
"Y-You know him well?"
Su Wan glanced at her, then at the others.
"Well enough to know he used to eat plain bread for lunch and pretend he wasn't hungry."
Li Cheng flinched.
"STOP TALKING."
The quartet's expressions shifted.
Plain bread?
Pretending not to be hungry?
Auntie Mei's eyes darkened.
Shuxian's jaw tightened.
Chen Yuxi slowly lowered her tablet.
"…You knew him then," Chen Yuxi said carefully.
Su Wan nodded.
"Same class. Same row. Same exams."
She shrugged lightly.
"Same rejection."
The word hit.
Hard.
Mengyu gasped softly.
Shuxian's eyes flicked to Li Cheng.
Chen Yuxi inhaled slowly.
Auntie Mei crossed her arms.
Li Cheng wanted the ground to open and swallow him whole.
"I didn't— I wasn't—" He stopped, then sighed.
"…I rejected you."
Su Wan tilted her head.
"You did."
The silence was unbearable.
Then she smiled again.
"But relax. I'm not here for revenge. Or romance. Or drama."
The four women did not believe a single word,
"Then why are you here?" Shuxian asked.
Su Wan's gaze returned to Li Cheng.
"Because I saw you on the news."
Li Cheng groaned.
"Of course you did."
"The boy who wouldn't accept pity money," Su Wan continued calmly,
"Is now a CEO rejecting heiresses?"
She laughed softly.
"Life's funny."
Mengyu looked confused.
"P-Pity money?"
Su Wan glanced at her.
"In high school, I tried to give him money when his situation got bad."
Li Cheng snapped,
"I told you not to bring that up!"
"You rejected me instead," she replied lightly.
"In front of everyone."
The quartet turned slowly toward Li Cheng.
He raised both hands immediately.
"I HAD PRINCIPLES—!"
Chen Yuxi stared.
"You rejected help?"
"It wasn't help, it was—"
"Money," Shuxian finished.
Li Cheng deflated.
"…Yes."
Auntie Mei's gaze softened, then sharpened again.
"And you still refused."
Su Wan nodded.
"He said, 'I'd rather starve than owe someone my dignity.'"
The room went quiet.
Even the system shut up.
Mengyu looked at Li Cheng with wide, complicated eyes.
"…That's stupid," she whispered.
"…But also kind of cool."
Li Cheng groaned.
"PLEASE STOP PRAISING BAD DECISIONS."
Su Wan laughed.
"Don't worry. I didn't hate you."
She stepped closer, stopping at a safe distance away.
"I just wanted to see if you were still that idiot."
"And?" Li Cheng asked weakly.
She looked around at the quartet.
In the chaos.
At the tension.
At the headlines, Lin Jue was probably screaming outside.
Then back at him.
"…You're worse."
He sighed in relief.
"Thank God."
The Quartet Intervenes
Chen Yuxi stepped forward.
"Miss Su. If you're here only to confirm his continued stupidity, mission accomplished."
Shuxian added calmly,
"We have limited tolerance for unexpected visitors."
Mengyu nodded vigorously.
Auntie Mei said nothing—but her presence said enough.
Su Wan raised both hands.
"Alright, alright. I get it."
She looked at Li Cheng one last time.
"I just wanted to say one thing."
Li Cheng braced himself.
"You don't need to be afraid of accepting help anymore," she said gently.
"You earned your place."
Then she smiled.
"And next time you reject someone, at least be honest."
She turned and walked away.
Just like that.
No lingering drama.
No jealousy bait.
No grand declaration.
The quartet watched her leave in silence.
When the curtain fell back into place—
Mengyu finally spoke.
"…She's not dangerous."
Shuxian nodded.
"No ulterior intent detected."
Chen Yuxi adjusted her glasses.
"She was closure."
Auntie Mei hummed.
"Good."
Li Cheng slumped into a chair.
"…That was the least traumatic thing today."
System:
[Host, emotional stability temporarily restored.]
"Don't jinx it."
As if on cue—
Lin Jue burst in again.
"BRO—!! GOOD NEWS—!!"
Li Cheng screamed into his hands.
"I HATE GOOD NEWS."
Lin Jue beamed.
"The heiress just posted online!"
"…What?"
He read aloud:
'Interesting men deserve patience.
See you again soon, President Li.'
Li Cheng collapsed.
The quartet slowly turned toward him.
He whimpered.
"…I didn't post that."
Chen Yuxi sighed.
"Chapter 56 concludes with the past resolved."
Shuxian added,
"But the present remains dangerous."
Mengyu nodded.
"…And crowded."
Auntie Mei smiled faintly.
"But manageable."
Li Cheng stared at the ceiling.
"…Only four more chapters," he muttered.
System:
[Host, why are you counting?]
"No reason."
Lights out.