The Heartless Alpha Just Wants to Follow the Plot - Chapter 40

Back at the old estate, the butler was already waiting outside as arranged by the Old Master. When he saw only Su Mo step down from the aircraft, his gaze swept over to Pu Ying, still seated in the cockpit, and he said cheerfully:

“Miss Pu, the Old Master asked me to invite you to join us for dinner inside.”

Pu Ying: “…”

She was taken aback. “The Old Master invited me too?”

Standing beside her, Su Mo’s expression shifted slightly. “…”

As expected, the Old Master’s scheming heart was still alive.

The butler ignored Su Mo’s look, making it clear he wouldn’t leave unless Pu Ying came down.

Pu Ying glanced at Su Mo, hoping for an answer.

Su Mo hesitated, then spoke calmly. Since the Old Master wanted to play this game, she would let him but it meant Pu Ying would have to endure it.

“Come eat. It’s not the first time anyway.”

Her tone was even and detached, without any hidden meaning. That left Pu Ying uncertain, had she misread the situation?

Seeing Pu Ying still unmoving, the butler called again: “Miss Pu?”

Pu Ying snapped out of it, opened the aircraft door, and stepped down. “Alright. Thank you, Uncle Ying.”

The butler smiled warmly. “It’s nothing. The Old Master insisted.”

The three walked toward the dining hall. Along the way, Pu Ying tried to strike up conversation with Su Mo, hoping to ask what this meant. But Su Mo, as if anticipating her, kept walking ahead, showing no intention of speaking. Pu Ying had no choice but to give up.

Whatever the meaning, the outcome would not change.

When they arrived, the dining table was already laden with dishes—most of them favorites of Su Mo and Pu Ying. To suit Pu Ying’s taste, only two spicy dishes were included.

“Here, Pu Ying, have a lion’s head meatball.”

The Old Master enthusiastically served her, piling her bowl high.

Faced with his sudden warmth, Pu Ying felt immense pressure. She didn’t understand why, but seeing the elderly man personally serving her, she quickly held out her bowl with both hands.

“Thank you, Old Master, that’s enough.”

When he tried to add more, she shook her head repeatedly. “It’s too much. I can serve myself.”

Normally, lion’s head meatballs were cooked with water chestnuts for freshness, but these had none.

Su Mo noticed after a single bite but said nothing.

Pu Ying, unaware, forced herself to eat one since the Old Master had served it. To her surprise, it contained no water chestnuts.

Did the Old Master know she disliked them?

His gaze was gentle, his voice warm. “Is it good?”

Pu Ying smiled and nodded. “Delicious.”

Satisfied, the Old Master said, “Then eat more. Come by often, whether there’s a reason or not. You’re too thin, surely you don’t eat as well outside as you do here. My granddaughter doesn’t know how to care for people.”

The more he looked at Pu Ying, the more pleased he became, his heart stirred with approval.

His eyes swept toward Su Mo, who pretended not to hear, and he glared at her in frustration.

Su Mo noticed but ignored him, continuing to eat quietly.

Against Su Mo’s indifference, the Old Master could only keep speaking to Pu Ying, his words full of praise and satisfaction.

Caught between his enthusiasm and Su Mo’s calm detachment, Pu Ying kept her composure, though inside she felt a pang of bitterness.

Later that evening, when Pu Ying prepared to leave, the Old Master stopped her.

“Stay here tonight. It’s not safe outside, and I have something to discuss with you.”

Pu Ying pressed her lips together. “Alright.”

She instinctively glanced at Su Mo, searching her indifferent face for any sign of objection but found none. Su Mo showed no intention of stopping her.

The Old Master leaned on his cane and headed upstairs. “Come with me.”

Pu Ying looked at Su Mo, who gestured with her chin for her to follow.

Confused about his intentions, Pu Ying quickly went after him.

In the study, the Old Master, wearing silver-rimmed glasses, stared at the light-brain without speaking. Pu Ying, unsure of his meaning, stood silently, waiting.

Her legs grew numb before he finally looked up. “Sit.”

She sat obediently in the chair, without complaint.

The Old Master regarded her leisurely. “Do you know why I called you here?”

Pu Ying shook her head. “I don’t.”

“You’re a very good child. In every way, I’m satisfied with you.”

He had never hidden his admiration for her. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have allowed her to be involved in managing Su family businesses.

“You’ve known Mo Mo for several years now. What do you think of her?”

At that, Pu Ying understood, he wanted to play matchmaker.

But Su Mo would never like this arrangement.

Choosing her words carefully, Pu Ying replied, “Su Mo is a good person. Stubborn at times, but she has her own ideas. She’s bold and straightforward, without much scheming. She used to be playful, but now she’s changed. She’s already handling business well. I believe under her leadership, the Su family will rise even higher.”

Her words were all positive, but they also made clear she had no romantic interest, skillfully sidestepping the Old Master’s probing.

A shrewd man, the Old Master wasn’t satisfied with her answer, but he didn’t press harshly. Instead, he said again, “You know that’s not what I meant.”

Pu Ying pursed her lips. “Su Mo already has someone she cares about. Why force it?”

The Old Master replied gently, “But I think that person isn’t as good as you.”

His voice was kind, but his meaning firm. “That person may look suitable for Mo Mo, but in my heart, I favor you. Pu Ying, you grew step by step under my arrangements. I know your abilities well.

“She may be able to accompany Mo Mo, but she cannot make decisions for her. She isn’t strong enough. Her perspective will never match Mo Mo’s. In truth, she cannot help the Su family and therefore cannot help Mo Mo.”

Qiu Fu was indeed admirable, but for now she wasn’t strong enough to stand beside Su Mo.

In the Old Master’s view, mutual affection mattered, but the ability to understand and walk side by side mattered even more.

When one party was weak and had to rely on the other, such love—built on the charity of the strong would inevitably fade once the giver’s strength or patience was exhausted.

That was precisely the situation between Qiu Fu and Su Mo.

The only way to change it was for Qiu Fu to truly stand on her own, not merely under Su Mo’s protection.

Pu Ying understood the Old Master’s reasoning. But clearly, Su Mo didn’t care about such logic. She was cautious and distant when it came to emotions, otherwise she wouldn’t have signed an agreement.

Would she really listen to the Old Master and choose someone else simply for the sake of being “well-matched”?

Pu Ying didn’t think so. She knew Su Mo was far more stubborn than most.

“Old Master, Su Mo won’t accept this.”

For the first time, she openly contradicted him, her tone sincere and resolute.

“I will stand by Su Mo, watching her reach the place she desires. And whatever choices she makes, I will support them.

“I know that if I spoke up, agreeing with you as before, I could get what I want. You would surely try to arrange things between us, shaping the outcome I desire.

“But that result would wrong Su Mo. It would make her unhappy. It might even make her resent me. I don’t want that.”

What she wanted was different.

Pu Ying’s voice grew firm. “I do like Su Mo. But I will never use coercion or underhanded means to make her yield. I want her to truly acknowledge my feelings and respond to me.”

What she wanted had always been Su Mo’s happiness.

As long as Su Mo was happy, even if that happiness didn’t come from her, it was enough.

The Old Master hadn’t expected Pu Ying to think this way. For a moment, he was at a loss. After a pause, he sighed.

“Your upbringing gave you fine qualities. But, Pu Ying, sometimes a person must be selfish.”

If she had even a little selfishness, he wouldn’t feel so troubled.

He rose, walked to her side, and gently patted her head.

“You.”

Shaking his head helplessly, he clasped his hands behind his back and left.

Pu Ying touched the top of her head. If she was truly selfish, she thought, she probably wouldn’t have stayed by Su Mo’s side at all.

Leaving the study, she found Su Mo waiting outside, unsurprised. Calmly, she asked, “Want to know the result?”

Su Mo curved her lips into a faint smile, leaning against the railing as she shook her head slowly. “I already know the result.”

Pu Ying smiled too. “Exactly the same as the Old Master.”

They thought alike, which was why they both knew the answer.

But Su Mo shook her head again. “Not exactly.”

Her gaze softened with understanding. “The Old Master may look stern, but in private he’s just someone who loves to meddle. I can guess what he said to you.”

Pu Ying suddenly wanted to know what Su Mo was thinking. She asked, feigning ignorance, “And you? What do you think?”

“Me.”

Under the light, Su Mo’s expression seemed unreal, almost dreamlike.

“I think the same as you.”

Pu Ying: “?”

How could she know her thoughts?

Su Mo winked slyly. “It’s better if you don’t know.”

“Alright, get some rest.”

With that, Su Mo strolled back to her room. Just as she reached the door, a video call from Qiu Fu came through.

She answered casually, pushed open the door, and said with a smile, “Did you enjoy the red carpet?”

Qiu Fu looked away, embarrassed, but her voice was serious. “Thank you.”

Su Mo feigned ignorance. “Thank me for what?”

Qiu Fu drew a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. “Thank you for running on my behalf, for bringing me P.V.’s haute couture. I never could have gotten it otherwise.”