Today I Will Also Be the Male Protagonist’s Rival - Chapter 33

“Be good, don’t cry.”

Huo Shu sat down beside her, a bit flustered as she gently coaxed, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come in without your permission.”

“I’ll be more careful next time!”

“Please stop crying, okay?”

After a while, the girl’s muffled sobs came through, tinged with petulance and defiance. “No!”

Huo Shu let out a breath of relief.

As long as the little girl was willing to talk to her, that was enough.

What she feared most was that the girl wouldn’t even be willing to speak to her.

She squatted down and looked up at her. “My fault, my fault. As long as you stop crying, anything you want is fine.”

“Really?”

Su Yu sniffled and lifted her head. Her beautiful peach blossom eyes were misty with tears, making her look incredibly delicate.

“You’re not lying to me?”

Her voice was soft and sweet, laced with a touch of feminine charm.

Huo Shu’s heart instantly melted. “You can do whatever you want.”

The girl stared at her for a while, then suddenly reached out her hand. “Come here.”

Huo Shu obediently leaned closer.

A fair, slender hand pinched her cheeks and pulled them gently to both sides. With a soft huff, she said, “There better not be a next time!”

Her warm fingertips brushed against Huo Shu’s face, giving her a strange sensation.

Huo Shu’s face flushed involuntarily.

A few strands of the girl’s hair brushed against her cheek, tickling slightly. Her tone was playfully coy, her brows and eyes full of flirtatious charm, as if seducing her.

Huo Shu cleared her throat and forced herself to look away. “Okay, there won’t be a next time.”

“You’re forgiven this once!”

The girl wrinkled her nose, withdrew her hand, and sat back on the sofa.

The sudden absence of that soft warmth made Huo Shu momentarily dazed. She wasn’t quite used to it, and her gaze involuntarily drifted back to the girl’s hand.

Her hands weren’t large, but they were very well-proportioned, with clear joints, long and fair fingers. Her nails were painted a blueberry smoothie shade of polish, perfectly matching her deep blue mermaid-style evening gown, making her look like a mermaid who had just emerged from the sea—breathtakingly beautiful.

Knock knock.

“Young Miss, Sir is asking for you.”

Su Yu replied and gently tucked her long hair behind her ear. She rolled her eyes at Huo Shu. “Aren’t you coming?”

Huo Shu blinked, then nodded. “Coming!”

Downstairs, the two separated.

Su Yu turned and went to find Su Yudong on the first floor.

“Dad.”

Su Yudong, who was laughing and chatting with a group of people, put down his wine glass and smiled, beckoning her over. “Yuyu, come here, let me introduce you to some people.”

“This is President Su’s daughter?”

“Of course it is. Just look at them, like they were made from the same mold. Old Wang, what’s wrong with your eyes?”

“President Su is really blessed. His daughter is stunning, and his son is successful—truly enviable.”

Su Yudong let out a hearty laugh, a proud smile on his face as he waved his hand. “This is my daughter, Su Yu.”

“Yuyu, this is your Uncle Sun.”

“This is your Uncle Wang.”

“This is the son of your Uncle Chen.”

Su Yudong introduced her to everyone one by one, then leaned down and whispered, “Well? Do you like any of them?”

Su Yu blushed slightly and stomped her foot shyly. “Dad, I already told you I want to take care of you for a while longer. Stop trying to set me up.”

“A daughter will have to get married eventually. You think I’d delay you?”

Su Yudong’s face turned stern for a moment, then he chuckled again. “If none of these suit you, I’ll find you some better ones later.”

Su Yu sighed helplessly and could only respond with a soft hum.

“Uncle Dong.”

A clear male voice came from behind.

Su Yu turned her head.

A young man in his early twenties approached with a wine glass in hand. His deep blue suit made his features appear even more handsome. His lips were slightly thin, curled in a faint smirk.

Jiang Shengzhou!

The young master of the Jiang family—and also the person she wanted to collaborate with.

Su Yu lifted her brows slightly, instantly perking up.

Su Yudong greeted him with a smile, “Ah Zhou, your father didn’t come?”

“My father’s not feeling well, so he sent me in his place.”

Jiang Shengzhou smiled and shifted his gaze. “This must be the Yuyu you mentioned?”

He let out a soft chuckle and reached out his hand. “Su Yu, junior schoolmate. Nice to meet you.”

Junior schoolmate?

Su Yu was stunned.

What was going on?

The original Su Yu had attended the same school as Jiang Shengzhou?

[Iron Hammer, what’s going on?]

[In the original novel, Jiang Shengzhou had once stayed at his grandmother’s house and attended the same school as the original Su Yu. At the opening ceremony for new students, he fell for her at first sight. He wanted to pursue her, but at the time, the original Su Yu was already dating the male lead, so he gave up.]

Su Yu: ……….

Su Yudong narrowed his eyes, sensing something unusual between the two and asked, “You two know each other?”

“I know Junior Su Yu, but I don’t think she knows me.”

Jiang Shengzhou gave a self-deprecating smile, then said softly, “I never thought Junior Su Yu would turn out to be Uncle Dong’s daughter. The world really is small.”

“Haha, it truly is.”

Su Yudong laughed heartily, his eyes glinting with sharpness. “Since you two know each other, I won’t disturb you further. Yuyu, keep Ah Zhou company. I’m going to attend to the guests.”

“Dad…”

Su Yu called out, but the man quickly picked up his pace and disappeared from view.

“Junior Su Yu, you don’t want to see me?”

Jiang Shengzhou leaned down suddenly, closing the distance between them. His clear eyes locked onto her as he said in a hoarse voice, “After all these years apart, I’ve really missed you.”

Su Yu took a step back and steadied herself by grabbing the nearby table. After fumbling for a bit, she handed him a glass of wine.

“Here…”

She looked exactly like a startled little rabbit.

Tsk, just as innocent as ever.

Jiang Shengzhou let out a chuckle and straightened up, taking a sip from the wine. “Junior Su Yu, I heard you and Jin Licheng have broken up.”

Su Yu raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

“Be with me.”

Jiang Shengzhou stared at her intently, his gaze burning.

“You wish!”

A cold voice cut in, laced with mockery.

Su Yu turned her head.

Jin Licheng had arrived at some point. His expression was extremely sour.

Jiang Shengzhou stood upright and took another casual sip of wine. “Third Brother, what’s got you so riled up?”

“A fair lady is meant for a gentleman,” he said with a light laugh, swirling the wine in his long fingers. “Yuyu is so beautiful—how could I not fall for her?”

He raised his glass toward him from a distance. “Wouldn’t you agree, Third Brother?”

“Try pursuing her, I dare you!”

Jin Licheng sneered coldly, his face dark and fists tightly clenched.

He should’ve known that plenty of men had eyes for Su Yu. But he never expected even Jiang Shengzhou to be so hung up on her.

What’s so great about her anyway!

Thinking of the past, Jin Licheng’s gaze turned even more vicious.

If it hadn’t been for her gold-digging, for trying to sell herself to the highest bidder, why would she have refused him?

In the end, she was just greedy for money!

Now, she’d gotten what she wanted—successfully squeezing her way into one of the four great families.

“Third Brother, if I remember correctly, you and Yuyu already broke up, didn’t you?”

Jiang Shengzhou asked casually with a smiling face, “If that’s the case, then it’s best to part ways on good terms. Acting like this will only make you a laughingstock.”

Jin Licheng shot him a cold glance and said nothing. Then he took a deep breath and turned to Su Yu.

“Yuyu, you tell him—do we still have anything between us?”

He was certain Su Yu still loved him.

She loved money. Then she ought to know—which of the four major families had the deepest pockets?

Su Yu looked up at him briefly and timidly replied, “No…”

Jiang Shengzhou burst out laughing. “Third Brother, did you hear that clearly?”

“Even Yuyu herself won’t admit it. Stop making things hard for her.”

Jin Licheng’s face turned even gloomier as he took a step forward. “Su Yu, do you know what you’re saying?”

His voice was low and brimming with fury.

The girl’s body trembled slightly as she looked up at him cautiously, too afraid to speak.

She looked like a frightened little bunny, her beautiful peach blossom eyes shimmering with tears, as if she was about to cry.

Jin Licheng’s eyes were bloodshot. He could barely suppress the urge to drag her back to his side.

“Fine!”

He curled his lips into a cruel smile, his gaze sweeping over her like a predator assessing prey—aggressive and invasive.

Su Yu shuddered, then caught sight of Huo Shu and quickly ran over to hide behind her.

“Jie…”

She bit her lip and said in a timid voice, “I’m scared.”

Huo Shu paused for a moment, then turned to look at the bunny-like girl behind her. The corners of her lips lifted. “What happened?”

Su Yu pouted and said softly, “Jin Licheng is harassing me again… Jie, can you drive him away?”

“Again with this?”

Huo Shu immediately frowned, stepping forward with an imposing air. A group of young masters hurried to follow behind her.

Su Yu kept her head down and followed her closely.

“Iron Hammer, do you have any way to take down Jin Licheng?”

【Yes.】

“What is it?”

【Option one, marry Jiang Shengzhou. Option two, make Huo Shu fall in love with you again.】

Su Yu: ……

“What kind of suggestion is that?”

【Host, you have to understand, this world isn’t like the last one. In the entertainment industry, public opinion alone could easily destroy someone.】

【But in this world, the male lead Jin Licheng is the head of the Jin family in Xiangjiang. The power and influence he holds is beyond your imagination.】

【Your little tricks are nothing to him—he can wipe them away effortlessly. If you want to take him down, you’ll need the power of the other three families.】

【So, what will you choose?】

Su Yu rubbed her temples in frustration. “Let me think.”

Jin Licheng wasn’t someone easy to deal with—but was Jiang Shengzhou really a safer option?

In the original novel, the portrayal of Jiang Shengzhou was completely different. Who could’ve guessed that at just twenty-something, he’d have the guts to go head-to-head with Jin Licheng?

If she married Jiang Shengzhou, it wasn’t clear who’d get the better deal.

As for Huo Shu… she hadn’t even considered that from the start.

That girl was so pure—whether in her past life or this one, her innocence always made Su Yu feel shamefully manipulative.

This time, she didn’t want to take advantage of that sincere heart again.

“If you’re short on women, I can send a few over tonight.”

Huo Shu leaned against the table and sneered, “Su Yu’s just a young girl. Is it really necessary to fuss with a kid for so long?”

“Is it fun?”

Jin Licheng’s eyes drooped slightly, his expression returning to calm. “Miss Huo, you’re meddling a bit too much. You’re not even married into the Jin family yet—you should recognize your place.”

“What happens between me and Su Yu is none of your business!”