The Heartless Alpha Just Wants to Follow the Plot - Chapter 52

Qiu Fu didn’t know what to say. Instinctively, her gaze darted toward the corner as if pleading for help. The moment Si Yu saw her head turn, she ducked further into the shadows. Si Yu wasn’t entirely sure why she was hiding, she had already shoved Qiu Fu out there, after all but if she stepped out now, what would Su Mo think?

How awkward would that be?

Su Mo’s eyes swept over the empty corner. It seemed that was exactly where Qiu Fu had emerged from; judging by her stumbling steps, it looked like she had been pushed.

She understood. Someone was there.

However, as to why the other person refused to show themselves, Su Mo had no interest in prying. She simply asked with a smile, “What’s wrong?”

Qiu Fu gave a dry laugh, forcing her gaze back. “Nothing. I just came to eat by myself. I heard the food here was quite good.”

“I see. Next time, if you feel awkward eating alone, you can call me. I’m quite free lately, anyway.”

Su Mo’s voice was gentle and warm, like a spring breeze the kind of invitation that was almost impossible to refuse.

Qiu Fu nodded immediately. “Alright, I’ll remember that next time.”

“Come on, I’ll give you a lift.”

As she spoke, Pu Ying pulled up in an aircraft and stopped in front of them. She didn’t seem surprised to see Qiu Fu there; she simply rolled down the window and raised a hand in greeting.

“Get in. We should go; it’s not good to be photographed,” Pu Ying said.

Su Mo opened the door and made an inviting gesture toward Qiu Fu.

With no other choice, Qiu Fu braced herself and climbed inside. She had arrived via a hired automated two-seater—expensive, but safe. Now, if she wanted to get back, she either had to call another one or hitch a ride. After all, she was broke, couldn’t afford her own aircraft, and didn’t even have a pilot’s license.

Once inside, her eyes drifted toward the corner where Si Yu was hiding. Si Yu clearly saw her and stepped out to wave. Qiu Fu couldn’t respond openly, so she gave a subtle, restrained nod.

Pu Ying’s gaze flickered imperceptibly toward the figure in the corner. Once she recognized who it was, she said nothing and silently started the engine. Since it was someone they knew, there was no need to interfere.

Only after the aircraft had disappeared did Si Yu fully step out from the shadows.

“So, it’s actually true,” she murmured softly. “Looks like I really showed up too late.”

Too late to even qualify for the competition.

But maybe that’s for the best, she thought. This way, I won’t keep pining over it.

By the time Liu Jiang arrived, Si Yu was tucked away in the corner of a café. Several empty dessert plates were already stacked in front of her. It was a habit of hers, whenever she was in a bad mood or failed at something, she ate sweets.

The worse she felt, the more she ate.

Liu Jiang looked at the stack of at least eight plates, then at the two desserts remaining on the table. She pinched the bridge of her nose. “That’s enough. Let’s go. Time to head back.”

Si Yu shook her head and continued eating.

Seeing that Si Yu hadn’t recovered yet, Liu Jiang had a pretty good idea of what had happened. She sat down, pulled one of the desserts toward herself, and said knowingly, “Ran into Su Mo?”

Si Yu paused. “Yeah.”

Liu Jiang leaned back, legs crossed, looking at Si Yu with a sharp eye. “And you saw who she was with?”

“Yeah.”

Si Yu didn’t deny it. Liu Jiang knew her too well; after years together, Liu Jiang could recognize Si Yu’s moods with her eyes closed. There was no point in lying.

Liu Jiang finished the dessert in a few bites. She could never get used to things this cloyingly sweet. She took a large gulp of black coffee to wash down the richness before speaking. “Do you really like her that much?”

“Not exactly.”

This time, Si Yu hesitated. She didn’t like Su Mo as much as she had imagined. They had only known each other for a few months; she wasn’t “ride or die” yet. It was more a sense of lingering resentment—an unwillingness to accept defeat. This was the first time she had ever liked someone, and this was how it ended.

“I’ll be fine after I finish this last one.”

She picked up the final small cake. It was piled high with cream and looked incredibly heavy, yet she ate it without a hint of distaste, almost as if she were enjoying it.

Liu Guang watched her over the rim of her coffee cup and let out a long sigh, speaking with the tone of a seasoned veteran. “You’ve never been in a relationship. Your romantic experience is a blank slate. Combine that with the fact that the dramas you act in always portray love as something beautiful, and it’s inevitable that you’d yearn for it. Plus, you ran into a ‘pro’ like her for your first crush. It was only a matter of time before you took the bait.”

Si Yu defended, “She didn’t actually do anything to me.”

“I know.” Liu Jiang took another sip of the bitter coffee. “If she had actually done something, I wouldn’t care who she is, I’d make sure she paid for it.”

Fortunately, Su Mo knew where to draw the line. She was a master of boundaries.

“It’s just that people like her are destined to draw everyone’s eyes. Si Yu, she’s not the type to stay still for one person. Wasting your feelings on her is a dead end.”

Liu Jiang continued, “The moment you told me your heart was fluttering for her, I knew you were going to trip. But as long as you’ve had your fall, you’ll wake up.”

It sounded harsh, but it was exactly what Si Yu needed to hear.

Si Yu finished half the cake and finally reached her limit. Setting it down, she took a large gulp of water to suppress the cloying sweetness rising from her stomach.

“You’re right. But now that I’ve ‘tripped’ this once, I’ll have a better idea of how to play romantic scenes in the future. I guess you could call it a blessing in disguise.”

Si Yu was taking it well. If she didn’t understand the situation by now, she’d be a fool. Her feelings should be saved for someone more suitable. Su Mo wasn’t for her, and trying to force it would only leave her hurt.

Si Yu grabbed her things to go touch up her makeup. Liu Jiang looked at the half-eaten cake, pulled it over, and finished it. Waste was not an option.

“Are we going back, or are you staying here to wait for work assignments?” Su Mo asked, looking at Qiu Fu, who hadn’t uttered a word since boarding the aircraft.

Qiu Fu snapped out of her daze. “Ah, sorry.”

“Let’s go back for now. The director hasn’t confirmed if they want me yet.” She paused, then added, “But you, you’ve probably already secured your role, haven’t you?”

Qiu Fu knew exactly what kind of role Su Mo was playing. To her, it seemed like someone with Su Mo’s talent and presence would have secured it effortlessly. After all, few people on set were as perfectly suited for the part as she was.

“I got it,” Su Mo confirmed. The role hadn’t been particularly challenging for her, so she didn’t think much of it.

In the pilot’s seat, Pu Ying’s optical brain chimed. She glanced at the message—an inquiry from the Old Man and sent a brief reply before speaking up. ” Qiu Fu, your chances are looking quite good. Of everyone there, only Si Yu’s acting could really rival yours. However, in terms of physical appearance, you fit the character’s description slightly better than she does.”

“But,” Pu Ying continued, “if it doesn’t work out, you could try for the cross-dressing female lead. If played well, that role is actually very memorable.”

Her advice was pragmatic and tailored to Qiu Fu’s current standing. Although Qiu Fu had Su Mo’s backing, fame in this industry wasn’t always tied to raw ability; in terms of pure star power and traffic, Si Yu held the advantage. If the director prioritized marketability, Si Yu would be the easier choice.

Of course, it was just a suggestion. She wasn’t forcing it.

Qiu Fu thought it over and nodded firmly. “Understood. I’ll give it my all.”

However, as the aircraft hummed along, a nagging feeling tugged at her. She felt as though she had forgotten something, something important but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Back at the restaurant, Raya’s face was a mask of thunder.

Her gaze swept over Si Yu’s assistant, who had insisted they order food. The assistant had argued that since they were at a restaurant anyway, and Qiu Fu and Si Yu looked like they’d be talking for ages, it would be awkward to sit there without eating, they’d likely be chased out by the staff.

Raya had only stepped away to the restroom for a moment. When she returned, both Qiu Fu and Si Yu were gone, while the assistant was still blissfully eating. The veins in Raya’s temples throbbed.

She dialed Qiu Fu’s light-brain, praying silently that the girl was safe. If anything happened, Raya didn’t know how she could ever forgive herself.

When the call connected, the realization finally hit Qiu Fu like a physical weight: she had left her bodyguard at the restaurant!

“Raya, are you okay?”

“Where are you?”

They both spoke at once. Hearing that the other was safe, they both let out a synchronized sigh of relief.

“I’m so sorry,” Qiu Fu said, sounding mortified. “Some private matters came up, and when I headed downstairs, I, I forgot you were there. I’m currently.”

She trailed off, glancing at Su Mo. She realized she didn’t even know exactly where they were headed.

Su Mo interjected concisely, “We’re taking you to the hotel. Tell her to meet you there.”

“I’ll wait for you at the hotel,” Qiu Fu echoed apologetically.

Hearing the unfamiliar voice on the other end, Raya’s brow furrowed. She made a mental note to remind Qiu Fu later: she could not go running off alone or, worse, leave with strangers. It wasn’t safe.

“Fine. I’m on my way.”

The call ended. Su Mo looked at the visibly shaken Qiu Fu and realized she had neglected to provide her with a personal vehicle. Everything else was in place, but the transport was missing no wonder things felt incomplete.

“Once we’re back, I’ll have the company assign an aircraft to you. That way, this won’t happen again.”

Qiu Fu lowered her head, her ears tinged a deep red. “I, I can buy one myself.”

“It’s the company’s responsibility. Don’t feel burdened by it,” Su Mo said smoothly. “You are the company’s next ‘cash cow’ in training. It’s the company’s job to solve these minor logistical issues for you.”

Qiu Fu’s heart sank slightly. “Oh, alright.”

For a moment, she had thought Su Mo was giving her a personal gift. While that would have been embarrassing, it felt more intimate. If it was just a corporate perk, it was fine at least she wouldn’t fall further into Su Mo’s personal debt.

“Also,” Su Mo continued, “it seems one bodyguard isn’t enough. I’ll arrange an assistant for you as well.”

Su Mo wasn’t particularly impressed with Raya’s performance today. The client had left the building without the bodyguard even noticing; if Qiu Fu were ever kidnapped, could Raya really be trusted to find her? Such a careless bodyguard needed a partner, or perhaps a replacement.

“No need! I think Raya is more than enough,” Qiu Fu insisted, rubbing her blushing cheeks.

It was her own fault for not remembering her companion today. She was the one who had caused the lapse in duty; she’d make sure it never happened again.