Today I Will Also Be the Male Protagonist’s Rival - Chapter 37

“Waiting for her to come save you?”

Jin Licheng glanced at her, raised his hand, and pinched her chin, sneering coldly. “You’re completely delusional!”

He leaned down, speaking each word slowly and clearly. “This is my private villa. Even if Huo Shu wanted to find you, she wouldn’t be able to.”

“Besides, do you really think she would come looking for you?”

Jin Licheng scoffed and hung up the phone. “Su Yu, you’ve really overestimated your importance in her heart. A young lady like her—she can have anything she wants. Why would she care about you?”

Su Yu didn’t respond.

When it came to Huo Shu, she didn’t want to make too many judgments.

She knew very well how that girl treated her—both in the last world and this one.

She had never once looked down on her.

As soon as the call ended, the sharp ringtone of the phone rang out again, over and over, persistently.

Jin Licheng’s face darkened slightly, and he reached out to hang up once more.

Ring ring ring…

This time, it was his phone ringing.

Jin Licheng sat up straight, glanced at the caller ID, and curled his lips before answering. “Miss Huo, what can I do for you?”

On the other end, Huo Shu didn’t waste words and got straight to the point: “Is Su Yu with you?”

“Hmm?”

“Hand her over.”

“Interesting…”

Jin Licheng shifted into a more comfortable position, smiling with interest. “Miss Huo, don’t you think you’re being a bit unreasonable? Whatever’s going on between Su Yu and me… has nothing to do with you, does it?”

“I don’t have time for your crap. Give her to me!”

“She’s not here.”

Jin Licheng leaned back lazily and said casually, “Miss Huo, if you want to find someone… you should at least get your facts straight first.”

From the sofa, Su Yu raised her hand weakly. “I’m right here.”

On the other end, Huo Shu’s voice instantly rose in pitch. “Jin Licheng, cut the crap. I know she’s with you.”

“This is your last chance. Give Su Yu back to me!”

Jin Licheng lowered his gaze slightly. “And what if I don’t?”

Huo Shu sneered and hung up with a snap. “Then just wait and see.”

Jin Licheng tossed the phone aside and turned his head to look at her.

The girl on the sofa was quiet and obedient. Her softly curled long hair draped down, her delicate face fair and charming. From this angle, he could see the sharp curve of her chin—beautiful and alluring.

Jin Licheng’s eyes darkened, and he leaned in even closer. “Yu-yu, the more I think about it, the more I regret it.”

Su Yu raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

“I regret not having you back then.”

His voice turned hoarse, his usually cold eyes now clouded with desire.

He’d always known Su Yu was beautiful, but back then she was still young, and he didn’t want to push her. Time and again, he held himself back.

But then the unexpected happened, and the two of them broke up.

This time… he wasn’t going to hold back anymore.

Su Yu frowned and leaned back slightly.

Ring ring ring.

The shrill ringtone blared again.

Jin Licheng’s face grew darker. He glanced at the screen and, suppressing his anger, sat down.

“If this isn’t for a good reason, you can pack your things and get lost tomorrow.”

“President Jin… some of our collaborations have suddenly been terminated. And a few ongoing negotiations—people just bailed on us.”

The assistant paused briefly, then asked anxiously, “The company’s stock is plummeting. You’d better think fast—shareholders are already calling.”

Huo Shu!

Jin Licheng immediately thought of what she had just said. His expression turned grim. “Divert funds from other projects and push even harder on those negotiations. I refuse to believe she’s really willing to go bankrupt over this.”

Even if she wanted to squander money, the Huo family wouldn’t allow it.

All that just to get Su Yu back? Not worth it!

Once the call ended, he casually set the phone aside and looked over at Su Yu. “She’s really generous—spent quite a bit just for you.”

“But those collaborations—I’m determined to win them back. The Huo family will suffer a heavy loss this time!”

“Even if Huo Shu is spoiled, she can’t escape a scolding. Tsk.”

Su Yu froze. Her slender white fingers clenched slightly.

Was it worth it?

She wasn’t particularly close to this world’s Huo Shu—just a few encounters—but Huo Shu had helped her again and again. This time, even more so…

Jin Licheng wasn’t wrong. There was a high chance all that money would go down the drain.

She sighed softly, unintentionally thinking of the little crybaby.

Such a kind-hearted girl really made her worry that she’d be taken advantage of or bullied.

Ring ring ring.

“Hand her over.”

The voice was calm, tinged with a trace of anger.

Jin Licheng tugged at the corner of his lips and chuckled. “Miss Huo, you… must be dreaming. Compared to the soft warmth in my arms, what’s a bit of money worth?”

“You want to play? I’m in!”

Half an hour later, call after call came pouring in.

“President Jin, bad news. Several companies have terminated their cooperation with us and even declared publicly that they will never work with us again. The company is swarmed with reporters.”

“President Jin, the company we planned to acquire today has already been bought out by someone else.”

“President Jin, a large number of employees have resigned. Morale is crumbling across the company.”

“President Jin…”

Jin Licheng suddenly slammed his phone down, face dark, and snapped, “How dare Huo Shu do this? Doesn’t she fear that the rest of the Huo family will have opinions?”

“To go all in just for Su Yu… she’s insane!”

He gritted his teeth, face growing gloomier.

Even he wouldn’t necessarily waste that much money for Su Yu.

She was really crazy!

After a long silence, Jin Licheng took a deep breath and dialed Huo Shu’s number. “Su Yu is at Bay Villa No. 104.”

“Can’t take the heat?”

Huo Shu gave a soft snort and hung up the call.

Jin Licheng’s face was stormy, the air around him oppressive. Against his cold face, he seemed even more unapproachable.

So what if he lost once? Time was on his side. He had plenty of it.

Su Yudong wasn’t stupid. He knew which tree to climb for more profit. With him around, Su Yu wouldn’t be far behind.

Thinking this, the frustration in Jin Licheng’s heart finally eased a bit.

Over an hour later, Huo Shu rushed in.

As soon as she entered, she spotted the little girl sitting alone on the sofa, head down, lost in thought.

Huo Shu was immediately furious. Striding over, she stood in front of her. “Are you stupid? You should know exactly what Jin Licheng wants from you, and you still accepted his invitation?”

Before she could finish scolding, the little girl suddenly wrapped her arms around her waist.

“Thank you, Huo Shu.”

Her voice trembled slightly, and even when she called her name, it was soft and delicate.

Huo Shu’s anger instantly vanished. She looked down at her.

The little girl seemed frightened. Her already fair skin had gone even paler. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her beautiful eyes shimmered with moisture.

She looked… heartbreakingly pitiful.

“Scared?”

Huo Shu softened her tone and gently stroked Su Yu’s cheek. “Next time, don’t go out alone with him again, okay?”

“Mm.”

She gave a muffled response.

Su Yu looked up, her expression a bit complicated. “Huo Shu, why are you so good to me?”

Two different worlds. So much had changed. But it seemed… the only thing that hadn’t was Huo Shu’s heart.

She still liked her, as always, without a trace of ulterior motive.

“Hm?”

Su Yu pursed her lips and said in a low voice, “I know everything now. You wasted a lot of money to save me. Your family must be angry with you, right?”

“If you know that, then don’t go out with him again. Got it?”

Huo Shu pinched her nose lightly and pulled her into her lap. “Even a fortune couldn’t buy my willingness. This young lady wants to spend money—no one can stop me.”

Her features were radiant, her spirit unrestrained. She exuded the vigor and pride of youth in every glance.

Su Yu had to admit, in this moment, Huo Shu was dazzling—so dazzling that her heartbeat… skipped a beat.

She pursed her lips and looked away nonchalantly, but her pale earlobes were tinged with pink.

Sensing perhaps that her words had gone too far, Huo Shu cleared her throat and quickly added, “Don’t get the wrong idea, little girl. Your big sister only saved you because I pitied you.”

Su Yu looked up at her. “Just that?”

Her expression was earnest, as if she’d taken it to heart.

Staring into those stunning eyes, Huo Shu suddenly panicked. Her face turned red as she stammered, “O-of course. What else could it be?”

Su Yu gave a soft “oh,” then sighed and cupped her cheeks in her hands.

“I thought… big sister liked me.”

Her sweet voice carried a trace of regret. The lingering note at the end trembled, gently tugging at the heartstrings.

“So it’s not that, huh? I was just imagining things.”

Huo Shu was stunned.

The little girl’s words were painfully direct—impossible to misinterpret.

Su Yu… seemed to like her?

And then… had she just rejected her?

At that thought, a wave of frustration surged in Huo Shu’s chest.

She knew exactly how she felt about Su Yu—but… she just couldn’t admit it.

That one glance under the shade of the trees—the girl’s cold, clear gaze—had completely captured her heart.

She’d never thought she could fall for someone so easily. That she’d be willing to give up everything for her.

But such feelings… didn’t belong in this world.

She was still afraid. Afraid that once she said it out loud, there would be no turning back. That she wouldn’t even be allowed to get close anymore.

“…Big sister.”

The girl called her softly, her voice sweet and tender. Tilting her head up, she asked, “Can you give me a chance?”

Huo Shu snapped back to her senses. “What kind of chance?”

Su Yu’s brows arched slightly as she gave a gentle smile. “A chance to chase you.”

After spending so long in the entertainment industry, she’d worn too many masks and grown increasingly wary of love.

To the point that, in her last life, she never even had a relationship.

In that previous world, the girl had been gentle and sensible, pure and kind. Su Yu had been moved—but her heart couldn’t offer even the slightest response.

In this world, even though it was just a fleeting moment of heart-fluttering emotion, it was enough to make her want to give it a try.

What if…?

Someone this wonderful—if she let her down again, wouldn’t she be struck by lightning?

Huo Shu’s face turned slightly red, her voice a little dry, words tumbling out awkwardly. “I… I…”

“You won’t even give me a single chance, big sister?”

Su Yu’s eyes dimmed at once. She bit her lip tightly. “If that’s the case, then… forget—”

Before she could finish, the young girl suddenly cut her off in a burst of excitement. “I’m willing!”

The moment the words left her mouth, Huo Shu’s face flushed crimson.

She… might’ve been a bit too eager?

Would this scare the little girl off?

She clenched her fists, anxiety creeping in.

It took a long moment before Huo Shu managed to calm the excitement in her heart. Trying to be composed, she explained, “What I mean is… I can give you a chance, but… whether I’ll accept you or not—that’s still undecided.”

The little girl’s eyes curved into a smile as she responded crisply, “It’s enough that big sister is willing to give me a chance.”

Huo Shu let out a breath of relief.

Thank goodness!

From the looks of it, the little girl seemed to like her quite a bit.

But barely a moment later, she began to worry again—what if the little girl found her too hard to chase and gave up?

No way!

She couldn’t let this end halfway!

Huo Shu sighed, stealing a glance at the little girl beside her. She wanted to say yes right then and there, but worried that she might not be taken seriously. She was torn.

6:00 PM

After sending Su Yu home, Huo Shu returned to the Huo family estate.

The whole way back, her expression remained solemn—she hadn’t smiled even once.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

Mother Huo handed her a glass of water with concern. “You haven’t smiled since you got back. Come on, tell me—who upset you this time?”

Huo Shu took the glass, looking a bit down. “No one upset me.”

“Then why the long face?”

“Mom, can I ask you something?”

Huo Shu took a sip of water and straightened up. “If someone likes you, and you like them too, would you choose to be with them right away?”

“I would.”

“…Mom!”

Mother Huo quickly changed her answer: “Then I wouldn’t.”

Huo Shu rubbed her temples, looking troubled. “I’m afraid that if we get together too fast, she’ll get annoyed with me. What if… what if she stops liking me?”

Mother Huo froze, then teased, “You like someone? And someone actually managed to catch the eye of our little princess?”

Huo Shu’s face turned red. “Mom, can you not get involved in this? Just tell me if what I’m doing is right.”

“Up to you.”

Mother Huo stopped joking and replied seriously, “Even if you want to play it cool, there’s a limit. If you act too cold, it’ll only push people away. You need to find the right balance.”

Huo Shu nodded.

Ding dong!

A WeChat notification chimed.

Huo Shu glanced at her phone, and her whole face lit up. “Mom, I’ll talk to you later. You sleep early!”

Mother Huo laughed helplessly. “This child…”

Back in her room, Huo Shu dove straight into bed.

Yuyu Baby: [Voice Message]

She tapped play. A soft, sticky voice came through, with a teasing tone. “Big sister, I miss you.”

The drawn-out ending was seductive and full of charm.

Huo Shu’s face turned red in an instant.

This little minx really knew how to flirt!

Yuyu Baby: Big sister, are you free tomorrow?

Huo Shu’s eyes lit up immediately. A date?

Go!

Of course she’d go!

But then she paused, remembering to play it cool. She sighed and replied with forced restraint:
Huo Shu: Mm, what’s up?

Yuyu Baby: Nothing much. I just wanted to ask big sister out to hang out. If you’re busy, I’ll find someone else.

“Forget it, I’ll go with you.”

Yuyu Baby: Thank you, big sister. Mua~

She sent a kiss emoji.

Looking at it, Huo Shu blushed again and buried her face in her pillow.

Why was this little girl so good at being flirty?

She didn’t even need to look to imagine her tugging at her sleeve and acting all cutesy.

Yuyu Baby: Goodnight, big sister. I’m sleepy.

Huo Shu replied with a goodnight, but ended up tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She gave up and started scrolling through her Moments feed.

Jiang Xiao’er: Out with my goddess 😄

Huo Shu scoffed and kept scrolling, until her smile froze.

Likes… Su Yu???

Huo Shu’s eyes widened. She sat up straight in bed, furious.

Didn’t she just say goodnight?

Why was she liking Jiang Shengzhou’s post?

She clutched her blanket and gritted her teeth.

That little liar!