Chapter 37: Enter the Rival in Love

Yu Ling pulled Cheng Suqiu back to the private booth she had reserved.

Chu Ming had already stood up in excitement to welcome them. Her eyes were sparkling with such intensity that it made Yu Ling feel a bit unnerved. Clearing her throat, she waved a hand at Chu Ming and said, "Sit down, please, sit down."

To everyone's surprise, Chu Ming blurted out, "Sister, so you were hiding a beauty in your golden house?"

Yu Ling, hearing this, was stunned.
???
Where on earth did she do that?

Yu Ling looked at Chu Ming as if she were looking at a fool. "What kind of bizarre things are you thinking about every day?"

Chu Ming just gave them a sheepish grin. "You two were kissing downstairs earlier; I saw everything." As she spoke, she winked at Yu Ling, wearing an expression that clearly said, *I get it, I get it.*

Yu Ling opened her mouth to explain, but catching a glimpse of others looking their way, she decided to say nothing and pulled Cheng Suqiu down to sit with her.

Cheng Suqiu smiled gently and took the initiative to introduce herself to Zhang Yue and Chu Ming. "Hello, I am Yu Ling’s good friend, Cheng Suqiu." She even mischievously emphasized the words "good friend."

Chu Ming wore an expression of someone who had just witnessed a ship sailing. Being this close to the beautiful woman, she couldn't help but think how stunning she was... especially when the beauty reached out her hand. Oh, her hands were so fair and beautiful, and her fingers were so long...

Chu Ming’s joy was written all over her face. She hurriedly wiped her hands on her trousers before reaching out to clasp Cheng Suqiu’s hand. It was so soft, and she smelled so good...

Reluctantly, she let go, her gaze drifting down to the other hand that Cheng Suqiu and Yu Ling were holding. *Ooh!* Chu Ming’s expression gradually shifted into something peculiar.

Yu Ling felt goosebumps rise from the intensity of Chu Ming’s stare. She followed her gaze and saw the hands she and Qiuqiu were holding. *Friends holding hands—that’s perfectly normal, right?* But seeing the inscrutable look on Chu Ming’s face, Yu Ling immediately guessed what she was thinking.

She gave Chu Ming a flick on the forehead and said helplessly, "What on earth are you imagining now?"

"Ouch!" Chu Ming clutched her forehead, feigning pain, then giggled at Yu Ling. Beside her, Zhang Yue burst into laughter, which annoyed Chu Ming enough to turn and swat at him.

"Alright, alright, what kind of behavior is this?" Yu Ling, enjoying the spectacle, added fuel to the fire. "How old are you two? Why is it that every time you meet, you’re either bickering or fighting?"

Cheng Suqiu sensed the dynamic, too, and joked with a smile, "These two young people you’ve recruited are quite fun—a natural pair of bickering sweethearts."

Chu Ming’s face turned bright red. She turned away awkwardly and silently sipped her water. Once she stopped acting up, Zhang Yue instantly straightened his posture, leaning back on the sofa and pretending to look at his phone, though his expression remained rather unnatural.

Seeing them both deflated, Yu Ling felt satisfied. She turned to tell Cheng Suqiu about her experiences over the past three years, only to see Zhou Yan running up, breathless.

*That persistent, stinking man.*

Yu Ling had intended to tell Cheng Suqiu, but she suddenly remembered that although she knew about the history between Cheng Suqiu and Zhou Yan from the "bullet screen" comments, from their perspectives, she should be unaware of it. Better to avoid unnecessary trouble, so Yu Ling decided to feign ignorance.

She chatted casually, "Qiuqiu, why are you so late? Did something happen on the way?"

It was already eight in the evening, nearly an hour past the time they had agreed upon. Cheng Suqiu seemed to recall something unpleasant and apologized. "I bumped into someone's car on the way here."

"Oh?" Yu Ling quickly scanned her, worried. "Are you alright? Did anything happen?"

"I'm fine, it was just a bit of paint scratched off." Cheng Suqiu looked at Yu Ling, her expression hesitant.

Yu Ling glanced at her, then stole a glance toward the stairwell. Zhou Yan was standing there like a fool, his eyes fixed on them, but he couldn't bring himself to come over. Ignoring him, Yu Ling asked, "What’s wrong, Qiuqiu?"

Cheng Suqiu gave a bitter, helpless smile, her expression complex. "The car owner insists that I accompany him to get the paint touched up another day."

"What?" Yu Ling looked at her in surprise. "Does a minor thing like touch-up paint really require someone to accompany them? I mean, you did hit his car, but wouldn't paying for the repairs be enough?"

"Exactly," Cheng Suqiu said, exasperated. "That’s what I thought, but he insists that I go with him."

Yu Ling was about to complain about this difficult car owner when she saw a few messages flash across the screen of her mind:

*[Oh my! The 'little puppy' has finally appeared. He fell for Qiuqiu at first sight. I was obsessed with this couple when I read the novel—who gets it? A younger man who doesn't call you 'sister' has a bit of a wild side. The little puppy is rich, handsome, and good at everything, but it’s a pity Qiuqiu ends up with Zhou Yan anyway. Min Qinwen just appeared a bit later than Zhou Yan, such a shame, boo hoo...]*

*[I get you, fellow reader, and though I want to cry too, hold on. If Yu Ling can break away from the original plot, why can't Qiuqiu and Qinwen? Let’s keep the faith.]*

*[Please, give our little puppy a chance!]*

*[No way, our 'Serious' pairing is the best match. Qiuqiu only likes Zhou Yan, no shipping others, please.]*

*Oh, wow.*

After reading the messages, Yu Ling had only one thought: *I’ve stumbled upon some major gossip, what do I do?*

She looked at Cheng Suqiu, then darted a glance at Zhou Yan. Zhou Yan remained in the same spot, staring longingly in their direction. His expression was unpredictable, and he radiated a deep, heavy sadness.

*Oh, this.*

Yu Ling went silent. *Why does this big lug just keep standing there?* His romantic rival had already appeared, yet he was still putting on a one-man show of heartbreak. Yu Ling silently lit a candle for him in her heart: *Good luck, Seaweed Brother.*

Then, she turned back to Cheng Suqiu, who still looked indignant and impatient. Yu Ling poured her a glass of warm water and comforted her, "Qiuqiu, don't be angry anymore."

She wasn't good with words, especially now that she knew the entanglements between Cheng Suqiu and these two men from her "God's-eye view." She really didn't know what to say.

Cheng Suqiu took the water, smiled to herself, and said, "Yuyu, it’s been three years—why is it that when you come to a bar, you still only drink water?"

Yu Ling puffed out her cheeks and gave her a harmless look. "Warm water is good; it’s healthy."

Cheng Suqiu downed the water in one go. Just as she was about to order a drink, she noticed someone staring at her with burning intensity. She turned around in confusion and saw Zhou Yan standing only three steps away, his eyes filled with a familiar longing and yearning.

Seeing her turn to look at him, he opened his mouth as if he were about to say something.

Cheng Suqiu hurriedly turned back, avoiding his gaze.