Hot... A Little Hot

The woman had a pair of seductive, fox-like eyes, and the red dress she wore made her look even more bright and gorgeous.

Lin Meng couldn't help but stare. At that moment, Su Yutang couldn't resist rolling her eyes dramatically at the woman. "Don't you usually like to keep a low profile? Are you dressed like this today just to attend my gathering?"

The outer corners of the woman's eyes tilted upward, and when she narrowed them she looked incredibly shrewd. She stepped gracefully in her stilettos, walking in an elegant catwalk toward the seat across from Su Yutang.

When the people around her saw her arrive, they parted to make room for her.

Who exactly was this person? These people were afraid of Su Yutang, sure, but why did they seem to fear this woman too?

Her smile was kind, and she had that bright yet gentle look about her—nothing at all like the fierce Su Yutang.

When the woman saw the little lamb sitting beside Su Yutang, whose aura was completely out of place among the surrounding crowd, she gave her a very elegant smile. "This must be the friend you mentioned last time, the one you absolutely insisted I come see. She's really quite cute. You didn't dress her up like a doll, did you?"

Even her tone of voice was different from the others.

When those people had spoken to Su Yutang earlier, they'd been joking around, but they all kept a certain reserved distance, as if deliberately humoring the young miss. But this woman sitting across from Su Yutang conversed with her in a completely natural, casual, joking tone.

And Su Yutang's attitude toward this person was different from how she treated the other noble young ladies as well.

Su Yutang only noticed after she finished speaking that Lin Meng had been staring at the woman across from her the whole time. She looked like someone watching their mischievous little pet ingratiate itself with its owner's guest, wearing a helpless expression.

She reached over and wrapped an arm around Lin Meng's shoulders, raising an eyebrow at the woman across from her as if showing off. "Yes, this is the friend I wanted to introduce to you last time. Her name is Lin Meng."

Earlier, with so many people around, Su Yutang hadn't formally introduced her, but the moment this woman arrived, Su Yutang said her name.

Now Lin Meng was even more curious. She began searching her memory of the novel—besides Madam Su, who else would Su Yutang treat this way?

And in the next moment, Su Yutang personally answered her confusion. "Darling, let me introduce you. This is my childhood friend who grew up with me—Huo Yi. A refined, self-serving merchant."

The moment Su Yutang finished speaking, Huo Yi couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. "If I don't talk business with you, should I talk feelings instead? Where do you get the nerve?"

Su Yutang, as if used to the way this woman spoke, didn't get angry. She pressed her lips to Lin Meng's ear and said, in a voice neither too loud nor too soft—just enough for everyone present to hear—"Darling, look at that dead fake act she's putting on. Doesn't it just make you want to punch her?"

Only then did Lin Meng snap back to her senses.

Holy crap!

This Huo Yi—wasn't she the heir of the imperial faction, ranked only second in all of Jing City! Although she'd grown up with Su Yutang, she was one year older than Su Yutang, and her family background was just slightly below the Su family's.

But that was only compared to a celestial being like Su Yutang. In Jing City, besides Su Yutang, every wealthy young lady had to greet her respectfully when they saw her.

This Huo Yi was the number two celestial being, second only to Su Yutang!

And Lin Meng also remembered that this person was deeply scheming. She and Su Yutang were practically a pair of sly, scheming friends. Many of the misunderstandings on Yun Huaizhu and Su Yutang's angsty love journey had been deliberately stirred up by her.

This person was like a spectator who enjoyed the show—no, more like a pervert who enjoyed watching those angsty misunderstanding tropes. She was constantly fanning the flames beside Su Yutang, thinking of ways every day to make Su Yutang and Yun Huaizhu misunderstand each other, and then watching the two of them torture each other's kidneys and hearts.

Every time she finished stirring things up, she would quickly remove herself from the situation. Even when Su Yutang later wised up and viciously retaliated against everyone who had ever hurt Yun Huaizhu, this one person was overlooked.

Because she had only said a few words and done a few inconsequential little things.

No one noticed how serious those little things were. Even most readers with the god's-eye view didn't sense anything wrong.

But Lin Meng had really disliked this person when reading the novel—Huo Yi had too many schemes, and she did everything as if it were all a big joke for her amusement, which made Lin Meng even more uncomfortable.

The Crown Princess of the imperial faction and the Second Princess were meeting up. Lin Meng was trembling with fear. She no longer even had the mood to freeload food and drinks; she just wanted to go home quickly.

Huo Yi saw that the person still hadn't moved, so she leaned back and draped a slender, jade-white arm along the edge of the sofa backrest. "Miss Lin seems to like me quite a bit. She's been staring at me for so long."

At that, Su Yutang caught the keyword "like" in Huo Yi's words. Her expression instantly darkened. She pinched Lin Meng's face with one hand and forced Lin Meng to look at her. "Darling, tell me—what do you like about her?"

Lin Meng: "?"

No, seriously, are you two insane? I didn't say anything just now!

When Lin Meng saw the look on Su Yutang's face—like she wanted to eat her alive—she hurriedly explained, "How could that be? Today is the first time I've met Miss Huo, and besides..."

When Lin Meng got to this point, she couldn't help but glance toward Huo Yi—though she didn't notice how disgusted her own expression was at that moment.

She hated sneaky schemers who played dirty behind people's backs most of all.

Although Lin Meng didn't continue, the expression on her face greatly pleased Su Yutang. Su Yutang was so happy she pulled Lin Meng straight into her arms. "Alright, everyone's been chatting for so long, you must be thirsty. Order whatever you want to drink."

The others, seeing Su Yutang so happy, breathed a sigh of relief and went back to their own conversations.

Lin Meng felt a bit awkward being held tightly in Su Yutang's arms, but she couldn't break free either.

But while Lin Meng was busy with Su Yutang, Huo Yi suddenly leaned forward and lazily propped her chin on one hand.

Her beautiful, shrewd fox eyes narrowed as she stared at the cute little lamb in Su Yutang's arms with an amused, predator-eyeing-prey look.

When Su Yutang saw that Lin Meng wasn't saying much, she lowered her head and spoke in a very gentle, ambiguous tone. "Darling, you need to tell me what you want to eat and drink. Otherwise I'll have to ask our research department if they can develop a mind-reading device. If you keep clamming up like this every time, how are we supposed to deepen our relationship?"

Lin Meng nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard this.

Although a mind-reading device was absurd, she had transmigrated into a book! This world had ABO dynamics. A ridiculously wealthy young miss like Su Yutang could research whatever she wanted—if some heaven-defying device actually got developed, it wasn't impossible!

Lin Meng panicked and grabbed Su Yutang's arm, expression pleading. "No... no need..."

Su Yutang, seeing her make that coquettish expression, curved her lips upward. "No need for what?"

Lin Meng lowered her head guiltily. "No need to research any devices. I... I want to eat omurice, and a bottle of cola, is that okay?"

Su Yutang: "?"

The top floor of Grace was Su Yutang's private reception venue. Aside from a few people she found tolerable, she had never brought an ordinary beta like Lin Meng here.

When she was in a good mood, she would fulfill whatever requests people made, which was why over the years so many people had flocked to her side.

The smallest appetite among those people still meant asking for tens of millions in investment, and now this little thing held in her arms, blushing because she'd made a request, actually chose to ask for omurice.

When Su Yutang thought of this, she really couldn't help but laugh. She laughed so loudly that everyone around began looking her way.

None of them knew why she was so happy, but they all tactfully flattered her. "Sister Tang seems really happy today. Is it because there's a beauty by her side?"

Su Yutang slightly restrained her smile and said to that person, "That's right. Darling here is very good at making me happy."

After speaking, Su Yutang pressed the call button and had them send up omurice and cola as quickly as possible, per Lin Meng's request.

...

When Huo Yi saw that Su Yutang was willing to do this for the little lamb, the curiosity in her eyes deepened. What exactly was so charming about this little lamb that could make Su Yutang—who seemed prone to manic episodes—into a docile dog?

With a smile on her face, she ordered a table full of drinks. The others ordered mostly alcohol too—after all, a gathering of noble young ladies like them wasn't about eating. Everyone was there for benefits and to make connections.

Whether they could become friends just depended on whether the price was right.

Many who looked like true friends—their families' businesses were definitely tightly intertwined. If one family fell, the others would collapse and be finished together.

This kind of relationship was even more reliable than ordinary marriage, because in this circle, interests were life. Interests tightly bound together were life-and-death friendships.

Huo Yi was different from Su Yutang, who looked down on everyone. She liked socializing with all kinds of people.

Whether they were small families or those present who wanted to climb up through connections with Su Yutang or herself, striving to one day replace them as the new leading family—she liked to chat with all of them, her most elegant smile in place.

Because a person's ambition and greed couldn't be hidden no matter how hard they tried. Even if they faked it well, over time cracks would show. So Huo Yi loved watching the various poses people struck.

It added a bit of fun to her boring life.

Since that person could make Su Yutang so happy, could she also make herself happy the same way?

Huo Yi swirled the mint fizz in her hand and cast an expectant glance toward Lin Meng.

After the omurice arrived, Lin Meng still felt she couldn't quite eat.

Although everyone present had their own things going on, Lin Meng felt these people were watching her, intentionally or not. With so many people staring at her, she really couldn't eat.

Anyway, this place was so big—she could carry her food to a corner and eat there, right?

But just as she had this thought, the others, after catching Su Yutang's eye, tacitly walked over to another long table, also made of obsidian.

The top floor of Grace was very open, especially with the rocking chairs by the night-view windows. Aside from the night view and the coded security door, the other two directions had rooms—so even if someone got drunk they could stay overnight here.

Lin Meng was a bit confused when those people suddenly left. She looked toward the group not far behind her, her face full of question marks. "What's wrong with them?"

Did I do something to upset them?

When Su Yutang saw her show such a cute, bewildered expression, she reached out and turned Lin Meng's head back toward her. "Darling, they must have felt bad about disturbing your meal, so they temporarily stepped away. After you finish eating, we'll go chat with them, okay?"

Although Lin Meng still felt it was strange, she didn't keep asking, because after a whole day of work plus changing clothes for so long, she was genuinely hungry.

A heart was drawn on the omurice with ketchup. There was nothing different about this omurice compared to what was sold outside. Sure enough, as long as it was something you recognized, even in the most high-end venue it wouldn't mutate.

Lin Meng didn't know why, but not long ago when Su Yutang asked what she wanted to eat, she just really wanted omurice.

Lin Meng picked up the silver spoon and took a bite.

In that instant, her eyes lit up... Although omurice wouldn't mutate, this one was indeed more delicious than the ones outside.

She remembered there was a period when she loved omurice, and during that time she'd visited practically every omurice shop in Jing City, but none of those were as good as this one.

The more Lin Meng ate, the happier her expression became, and a faint pink even appeared on her cheeks.

Just then, Su Yutang, as if curious, picked up the spare spoon beside her and scooped a spoonful from the other half of the intact heart Lin Meng was saving, putting it in her mouth and tasting it carefully.

It was just ordinary omurice. How could this little thing like it so much?

Lin Meng saw that the omurice she'd been planning to eat neatly from left to right, bit by bit, had suddenly been destroyed by Su Yutang. Her mood crashed from heaven straight to hell.

She knew it—Su Yutang wouldn't let her have a good time!

Seeing this, Lin Meng put down her spoon and sat sulking on the sofa. Su Yutang frowned. "Why did you stop eating? Is the omurice not good?"

Lin Meng sat expressionlessly, a grain of rice still stuck to her lips. "No, I'm full."

Actually she wasn't, but Su Yutang had ruined her appetite.

Su Yutang was even more puzzled. Last time she'd taken Lin Meng out to eat, Lin Meng had eaten a lot. Why was she full after only half a plate today?

No matter how Su Yutang thought about it, she couldn't figure out why. She just saw the remaining half plate of omurice and, without a word, picked it up and quickly finished it in a few bites.

After eating, she picked up a napkin and wiped her mouth, then reached over with the napkin to wipe Lin Meng's mouth as well.

Lin Meng felt her approach and instinctively leaned back. Su Yutang said gently, "Don't move. You've got a grain of rice on your mouth. You always eat so fast—I wonder who you learned that from."

Lin Meng: "..."

She felt a bit gloomy inside but still sat there and let Su Yutang wipe her mouth.

After Su Yutang wiped her mouth, for some reason, she began staring at Lin Meng's full, soft-looking lips.

If I kissed her right now, what would happen?

After Su Yutang finished fussing over her and wiping her mouth, Lin Meng picked up the glass of cola on the table and downed it. Because she was so thirsty and feeling a bit frustrated, she initially ignored the taste of the cola.

It was just cola, after all—anyone could tell what it tasted like with their eyes closed.

But when her sense of taste gradually returned, she realized it was alcohol—and cola-flavored alcohol at that!

Her throat felt like it was burning with fire. "Cough, cough, cough..."

Su Yutang quickly patted her back. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Lin Meng pointed at the empty glass on the table. "Isn't this cola? Why does it taste like alcohol?"

When Su Yutang heard this, she quickly picked up the glass and sniffed it.

It really wasn't cola—they probably didn't have cola here at all, so someone had substituted Four Loko, that cola-mixed alcoholic drink.

Su Yutang was actually panicking now. She quickly felt Lin Meng's forehead. "Are you allergic to alcohol?"

Lin Meng shook her head. "No..."

It was just that her alcohol tolerance was terrible—she couldn't handle even a drop.

She remembered her senior year of college, when she went looking for an internship. She'd heard sales jobs had a low barrier to entry and high earnings, so she jumped right in. But unexpectedly, sales was a base salary of two thousand three hundred, with the rest from commissions.

To earn a bit more, she had to force herself to sell every day while being so socially anxious she wanted to cry, but the results were minimal. Later, a kind senior in the sales department dragged her along on client calls, and she finally benefited a little.

But that kind of work inevitably involved drinking with clients, and that was when she realized she really couldn't hold her liquor.

She still remembered the huge disaster that had come from the last time she drank.

...

Su Yutang took her hand. "It's okay. As long as you're not allergic to alcohol. This drink isn't very strong either. If you get drunk, I'll help you to a room inside to rest for a while."

Lin Meng's throat felt like it was on fire. She lay back and tried to pull her dress down. "Hot... a little hot. Is there water I could drink?"

When Su Yutang heard this, she called out toward the other side. "Hey, someone, get me a glass of water—"

As soon as she spoke, someone immediately picked up a glass, filled it with water, and hurried it over. Su Yutang took it and brought it to Lin Meng's lips. "Here."

After drinking the water, Lin Meng felt a little better, but her chest still felt like it had a fire burning inside, and even her head was starting to feel stuffy and uncomfortable.

When she placed her cool left hand on her chest to cool down, Su Yutang suddenly noticed the red, swollen blister on her hand that was about to burst.

She almost lost control of her expression. She frantically grabbed Lin Meng's hand—the one that had been scalded by hot water during the day. "Where did you get this?"

She hadn't seen it when she'd taken Lin Meng to try on clothes in the evening. Did she get it somewhere just now?

Why hadn't this person said anything?

Lin Meng opened her somewhat blurry eyes and glanced at the hand Su Yutang was holding. She said in a completely ordinary tone, "Oh... you mean this? I accidentally burned it at the office during the day. It was fine back then."

Su Yutang grew even more furious at that indifferent expression. She quickly called for a server to bring the medical kit, then helped the clearly drunk Lin Meng to the room in the back.

...

Only after Su Yutang left did someone dare to speak freely. "Who exactly is that person? I've never seen that kind of expression on Sister Tang's face before. Sister Tang isn't serious this time, is she?"

"No way. Didn't Sister Tang used to love playing with people's feelings?"

"Yeah, plenty of people are willing to be devoted to Sister Tang. I feel like she might be showing some genuine emotion this time."

After saying that, the person looked toward Huo Yi. "President Huo, you're Sister Tang's childhood friend who grew up with her. Do you think Sister Tang is serious about that... what's her name, Lin Meng?"

Huo Yi had been watching Su Yutang and Lin Meng's every move from the start. The more flustered Su Yutang became, the more foolish she looked, and the more interesting Huo Yi found it.

Acting is fine when you're just acting—just don't end up fooling yourself in the end.

Huo Yi set aside her half-finished fizz, then folded her hands and rested her chin on them. She spoke in a mysterious, highly tempting tone. "Who knows."

After a moment, she looked toward the woman in the black dress. "Weng Hong, I heard you went to the airport to pick someone up a few days ago. An old acquaintance, perhaps?"

When Weng Hong heard this, a flicker of guilt crossed her face, but she quickly explained, "Yes, I went to pick up Bai Li that day. After all, she and Sister Tang did have a history."

Huo Yi narrowed her eyes and reminded her with a playful expression. "Fortunately, Eldest Miss Su isn't here right now. If she heard what you just said, I'm afraid the Weng family would be in grave danger."

Weng Hong had thought carefully before going to pick up Bai Li. After all, no matter what, Bai Li and Su Yutang had been torn apart by Su Yutang's mother back then.

Su Yutang had been unable to forget Bai Li all these years—even the substitute she found now was the same type as Bai Li had been.

As long as Su Yutang and Bai Li reconciled, then Weng Hong, who had brought them together, would also benefit.

Weng Hong smiled and continued, "I'm doing this for Sister Tang's own good. Although she doesn't say it, we all know deep down that she still likes Bai Li. Otherwise, look—whether it's Yun Huaizhu from before or this Lin Meng now, don't they both have a bit of Bai Li's shadow?"

Hearing this, Huo Yi still maintained her proper smile. She stood up and looked at the person who had just been so desperately explaining herself. "I hope you can say those words to Su Yutang in person. I have a business trip tonight, so I won't stay long. Farewell."

After Huo Yi left, only Weng Hong and a few others remained in the vast top-floor reception room. Since Huo Yi had sarcastically criticized her earlier, Weng Hong had felt a sudden surge of pent-up anger. Just as she was fiercely pouring drinks for herself, the person sitting beside her advised, "Honghong, why are you sticking your nose into Eldest Miss Su's business? If you're not careful, you'll just get yourself covered in stink. Huo Yi was only giving you a kind reminder."

Hearing this, Weng Hong grew even angrier. "Whether I mind Su Yutang's business is my own affair—what does it have to do with Huo Yi! She's clearly always being trampled by Su Yutang at every turn, yet she wears that expression like everyone else is a fool!"

Everyone was shocked by Weng Hong's drunken words.

Fortunately, Su Yutang and Huo Yi were both gone now. Otherwise, based on what Weng Hong had said today, all of them would have been in deep trouble.

...

After Su Yutang laid Lin Meng on the bed, she gently took Lin Meng's scalded left hand, but Lin Meng kept crying that she was hot and couldn't breathe. She even wanted to take off her dress.

But she was too drunk, and her head was spinning, so she couldn't manage to take it off.

Su Yutang had no choice but to place an ice pack on Lin Meng's chest. Lin Meng felt a wave of coolness, and her breathing quickly eased.

Only after she calmed down a bit did Su Yutang take her hand—the blister had already burst—and carefully wipe it with a cotton ball dipped in disinfectant.

How could a person be so careless that she didn't even notice a blister on her own hand, even after it burst?

Even while drunk, Lin Meng kept mumbling that she had to go to work tomorrow, that if she took leave her wages would be deducted, that she didn't want to be fired again... and things like that.

Su Yutang used medical scissors to cut away the dead skin around Lin Meng's blister, then applied medicine and wrapped it with gauze.

She seemed never to have tended to someone so attentively before, and everything she was doing was only out of momentary pity.

Lin Meng was still mumbling about work. Su Yutang gently brushed the stray hairs from her forehead and placed her relatively cool palm against it. "Don't worry, you won't be late tomorrow."

As if hearing these words, Lin Meng stopped her endless muttering and gradually fell into a deep sleep.

Seeing this, Su Yutang flipped onto the bed in one movement and lay down beside Lin Meng.

Goodnight, darling.