I'm Interested In Your Friend - Chapter 3
3
Yu Lili blinked in stunned silence.
As the car window rolled down, a fair profile came into view, the right ear adorned with a six-figure black swan earring crafted by a Milanese master.
Feeling awkward, Yu Lili raised her hand and sheepishly waved at Tan Suran, forcing herself to believe that the soundproofing of the Maybach’s windows was impeccable—there was no way Tan Suran had heard even a single word of Du Tanyu’s big-mouthed rant.
“Need a ride?” Tan Suran arched a delicate brow, her expression indifferent.
Yu Lili waved her hands frantically. “No, no, that’s too kind of you. I couldn’t possibly.”
Tan Suran turned her face slightly, her phoenix eyes meeting Yu Lili’s as her red lips curved into a faint smile. “You know I wasn’t actually offering.”
Yu Lili opened her mouth, then closed it again. This time, she was truly at a loss for words.
A silent standoff ensued.
Yu Lili was the first to yield.
“Just say whatever you want to say,” she muttered, her gaze darting everywhere—the sky, the ground, her toes—anywhere but at Tan Suran.
Tan Suran glanced at the front seat.
The driver immediately understood, stepping out of the car with practiced discretion and positioning himself at a distance where even the most genetically gifted eavesdropper wouldn’t catch a word.
Tan Suran lifted her eyes to the blushing girl.
“Get in?”
Though phrased as a question, it carried an undeniable command.
Yu Lili obediently climbed into the car.
The back seat of the Maybach was spacious.
The driver hadn’t turned off the engine when he left, so the air conditioning was still running.
Yet Yu Lili felt inexplicably stifled, hot, and restless.
A faint scent of bitter lemon drifted into her nostrils—Tan Suran’s fragrance.
In just two days, she’d already grown familiar with it.
Yu Lili surrendered, lowering her head and muttering, “Just say what you want to say already.”
Her tone was that of a resigned fish waiting for the chopping block.
“So you already know?” Tan Suran leaned back lazily against the seat.
Yu Lili nodded.
“No wonder you’ve been avoiding me.”
“Then I’ll cut to the chase.”
Yu Lili felt a twinge of foreboding.
“Wait, wait, wait—”
Clutching the seatbelt, she peeked up timidly. “Can you be a little more… indirect? Subtle?”
Tan Suran checked her watch. “Miss Yu, my time isn’t as freely disposable as yours.”
Yu Lili lowered her head and rolled her eyes, then muttered an “Oh.”
Despite her words, Tan Suran fell silent for a while, giving Yu Lili some breathing room.
During that time, Yu Lili thought recklessly: So what if we slept together? It was just a mistake.
It’s the 21st century. Adults hooking up is normal.
The worst-case scenario is everyone finding out.
If Tan Suran wants to spill the beans, let her. It wasn’t just my fault. At most, I’ll just avoid Yu Mu from now on.
Ugh.
The thought of losing face in front of Yu Mu made Yu Lili seethe with frustration.
Pursing her lips, she blurted out, “It’s just that we sle—”
“Do you know Anna?” Tan Suran spoke at the same time.
Anna? Yu Lili froze for a second.
Anna… Anna?
That name sounded familiar.
Wasn’t that the fake name she’d made up that night?
What did Tan Suran mean by that tone?
A glimmer of clarity flickered in Yu Lili’s mind, barely grasped before slipping away.
Tan Suran took in Yu Lili’s bewildered expression and raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”
“N-no, I don’t. Wait, yes—I mean, no—” Yu Lili stumbled over her words incoherently.
Tan Suran said coolly, “I suppose Miss Yu’s language skills weren’t taught by a language teacher.”
…
A sudden phone ringtone cut through the tension.
Tan Suran glanced at the screen and stepped out to take the call.
During that time, Yu Lili rapidly pieced together the clues in her mind.
Tan Suran had asked if she knew Anna, implying that Yu Lili and Anna were two different people.
Even though Du Tanyu had blabbed to Tan Suran about booking the room for her, Tan Suran had seen “Anna” that night—someone who didn’t look like Yu Lili.
So Tan Suran assumed Anna was Yu Lili’s friend.
Right! Du Tanyu booked the room, but Du Tanyu didn’t stay there. That meant Yu Lili could’ve let someone else use it.
As long as there was another Anna in this world, Yu Lili could extricate herself from this tangled mess.
Perfect.
Tan Suran, the Harvard-educated genius, was truly brilliant—just one sentence had rescued her from the chaos.
When Tan Suran returned to the car after the call, she found the previously wilted and gloomy girl now brimming with energy, practically glowing with excitement.
Yu Lili even volunteered, “Anna’s a friend of mine. What do you want with her?”
Tan Suran’s eyebrow lifted slightly. She didn’t answer, instead studying Yu Lili with a probing gaze.
Yu Lili sensed something amiss and reined in her enthusiasm, clearing her throat. “My time is precious too. I’ve got a shoot to prepare for.”
Tan Suran: “Her phone number.”
“I’ll have to ask her first. See if she’s willing.”
Yu Lili theatrically tapped on her phone, pretending to text Anna.
Then she turned back. “She hasn’t replied yet. I’ll let you know when she does, okay?”
Tan Suran remained silent.
Yu Lili clutched her phone nervously, forcing herself to meet Tan Suran’s gaze. There’s no way she sees through this flawless act, right?
After two seconds: “Fine.”
Yu Lili exhaled in relief.
Tan Suran: “Yu Mu just called to invite me to dinner. Care to join?”
“No, no, I’ve got plans with Du Tanyu.” Yu Lili fled the car as if escaping a predator.
Once the Maybach’s driver got back in, Tan Suran instructed coolly, “To Du Yuan.”
The driver glanced in the rearview mirror. “Miss Yu’s assistant just contacted me. They reserved a table at Jiangnan Chun.”
Tan Suran closed her eyes, ignoring him.
The driver tensed, holding his breath as he steered the car toward Du Yuan.
Upon arrival, Tan Suran’s assistant was already waiting at the entrance. “President Tan, President Wang of Zhili Tech and President Su of Xunyi Tech have arrived.”
Tan Suran nodded. “Any progress on the Huanhai land deal?”
“Vice President Wang is handling it. He says the contract should be signed tomorrow afternoon.”
“Should?” Tan Suran shot her assistant a look.
The assistant immediately corrected herself. “The contract will be signed tomorrow afternoon.”
Tan Suran walked expressionlessly to the private room, then paused at the door. Without turning, she ordered, “Find me a new driver.”
The moment Yu Lili met up with Du Tanyu, they cracked open a bottle of Romanée-Conti her father had stored there.
Swirling the wine in her glass, Yu Lili grumbled, “I used to think Tan Suran was just some untouchable, gilded ice queen. Who knew she could be so shameless?”
Du Tanyu, engrossed in flirty texts, smirked without looking up. “Capitalists are all like that. Not like us useless rich kids, lazing around, being unambitious, just photosynthesizing every day.”
Yu Lili added bluntly, “And bed sports.”
Setting down her glass, Yu Lili perked up. “But I’m not like you. I’ve got a real job now.”
“And got praised by a big shot, right?” Du Tanyu put her phone down. “Do you have to bring it up every time we meet? It’s like you’ve never been complimented in your life.”
Yu Lili rolled her eyes, propping her chin on her hand. “But Tan Suran’s technically a second-gen too, isn’t she?”
“Girl, you can’t compare them like that. Tigers and cats are both animals. Shrimp and sharks both live in the ocean. You and Tan Suran are both human.”
“But seriously,” Du Tanyu’s eyes sparkled with gossipy glee, “how was it with Tan Suran? Amazing?”
Yu Lili deadpanned, “So amazing.”
Completely missing the sarcasm, Du Tanyu pressed on. “How amazing? Like, ‘drowning in pleasure’ amazing or ‘floating to heaven’ amazing?”
“If you say one more word, I’ll kill you. That kind of amazing.”
Du Tanyu zipped her lips.
Yu Lili rubbed her temples. “I blacked out that night. Don’t remember a thing. Just woke up with her next to me.”
“Even horror movies don’t go that route.”
“Please. You’d rather wake up next to Yu Mu?”
“Du Tanyu, I overestimated your moral limits.”
“What? You’re not even bl00d-related. And rumor has it, you’re not even on the same household register anymore?”
Yu Lili smirked faintly. “Of course. Nothing’s a secret in this circle.”
“But if anyone else finds out about me and Tan Suran,” Yu Lili drew a finger across her throat, “you’re dead.”
“We’re besties. I’d never spill your secrets. But I really don’t get Yu Mu’s move. Even if celebrities make bank, it’s nothing compared to the Yu family’s wealth. Even as an adoptee, she’d still get a share. Why cut ties?”
“I don’t get it either. Maybe she just hates me that much.” Yu Lili stirred her glass listlessly. “She’s always disliked me, ever since we were kids.”
Du Tanyu waved it off. “Forget her. Let’s talk about something else. What did you tell Tan Suran?”
Yu Lili recounted how Tan Suran hadn’t recognized her and how she’d fabricated the Anna story.
Du Tanyu raised a brow. “So how are you gonna play this out? You can’t seriously dress up as Anna and mess with her, right?”
Yu Lili grinned smugly, swinging her legs. “Tomorrow, I’ll tell her Anna went abroad for college and won’t be back for five years. If Tan Suran’s willing to wait that long, fine by me.”
“Genius.” Du Tanyu gave a thumbs-up.
“But I’ve got another idea.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Just say Anna got hit by a car today. If Tan Suran demands to see the body, say she’s already been cremated. Nothing left but ashes.”
“Brilliant.”
Du Tanyu beamed. “Great idea, right? Ow—why’d you hit me?”
“No need to curse myself like that.”
Buzzed from the wine, Yu Lili mustered the courage to text Tan Suran that Anna wanted no further contact and had already left the country.
The next morning, her alarm jolted her awake.
Tan Suran hadn’t replied to yesterday’s message.
Yu Lili couldn’t gauge her stance.
Maybe it was just a passing whim.
Shaking her head, she headed to the studio, where Amy greeted her with big news: “Yu Mu’s cover got snatched by another actress.”
Amy sipped her coffee triumphantly. “Her team’s so high-maintenance. They even said they didn’t want staff sharing her surname—some fortune-teller said it’d ruin her career. Well, did that fortune-teller predict this? Haha!”
“Who took it?” Even without the Yu family’s backing, Yu Mu had Tan Suran’s support and her own rising fame from hit dramas.
In this industry, everyone acted aloof, but no one dared offend others lightly—connections were everything.
“Song Yu.”
The name didn’t surprise Yu Lili. Song Yu and Yu Mu were longtime rivals, and Song Yu was currently on the rise with strong backing.
Yu Lili shrugged. “Whoever it is, I’ve got to head to Pictorial to review the indoor shots now.”
At the magazine office, she didn’t see He Yu, who’d chaired the last meeting, but another editor who seemed chummy with Su Mianxin.
“Lili.” Su Mianxin approached with an innocent smile. “I ordered coffee for everyone, but we’re swamped. Could you fetch it for us?”
Yu Lili glanced at her and nodded.
Just as Su Mianxin smirked in satisfaction, Yu Lili smiled back. “Then I’ll handle the discussion.”
Su Mianxin froze.
Yu Lili added sweetly, “Thanks. You can give my coffee to the janitor.”
Watching Su Mianxin struggle upstairs with a dozen coffees, Yu Lili hummed cheerfully and stepped out for some air.
She stopped at the lobby vending machine for a sparkling water.
The building’s spotty signal left her payment screen loading endlessly.
Then—ding!
A scan confirmation sounded behind her.
Her chosen peach-flavored drink clattered into the dispenser.
Someone had paid for her.
Yu Lili didn’t grab it yet, turning instead to a stranger. “Thanks. Was that you?”
The woman nodded.
Yu Lili thanked her profusely and offered to transfer the money.
The woman waved her off. “No need. President Tan asked me to.”
President Tan?
Yu Lili’s gaze shifted to the floor-to-ceiling windows, where an elegant figure stood.
Tan Suran wore a light brown suit dress, her brows lightly defined, lips bare of gloss, her expression cool as she gazed outside.
A matching coffee cup rested in her slender fingers.
She radiated unapproachability.
Yu Lili clutched the bottle, glancing between Tan Suran and the elevator.
It hasn’t arrived yet. Saying thanks won’t hurt.
“What are you doing here?”
Tan Suran answered succinctly, “Meeting.”
Yu Lili shook the bottle. “Thanks for this.”
Tan Suran didn’t look at her, her voice low. “Don’t thank me.”
Her tone was pensive. “I was going to let you off if you didn’t come over.”
“What?”
“Nothing.” Tan Suran turned, arms crossed. “Where’s Anna?”
Yu Lili stiffened, biting her lip. Shouldn’t have come over.
“She’s abroad.”
“Which country? Which city?”
“Miss Tan, I’m not obligated to share someone else’s private details.”
“True. But I’ll be very unhappy.”
Her voice was light. “And when I’m unhappy, things tend to… stall.”
Yu Lili turned to leave.
Behind her, Tan Suran’s calm voice followed: “Working with Pictorial, Miss Yu?”
Yu Lili spun around, arms crossed. “Tan Suran, you think threats work on me?”
Tan Suran’s wrist, pale as snow, rested on the railing. Her voice was languid. “How would I dare threaten the second Miss Yu?”
Yu Lili scoffed. “Even if the Tan family controls everything, you don’t call the shots at Pictorial.”
Tan Suran, her wavy hair cascading down her back, didn’t argue. She simply pulled out her phone and tapped the screen.
Then she looked up. “Coffee?”
Yu Lili lifted her drink. “I’ve got water. And… nothing to talk about.”
“Is that so?” Tan Suran smiled faintly. “Then… best of luck with your shoot.”
“Thanks.” Yu Lili shrugged.
After a few steps, her phone buzzed.
She checked the message while walking—then froze.
Amy had texted:
[OMG OMG!]
[Lili, breaking news! Beauty spends fortunes for her love—Tan Suran bought Pictorial’s parent group for Yu Mu!]
?
[Now Tan Suran’s our client. No—with 12 international and domestic top-tier magazines under that group, she’s our client’s ancestor.]
Yu Lili’s face paled.
She turned.
Tan Suran raised her coffee cup in a mock toast. “Now, I believe we have plenty to discuss.”