When the Heartthrob Meets the Cold-Hearted Ex - Chapter 3

Tang Yeran didn’t return to the magazine office immediately after her morning visit to Qianhe Corporation.

She found a café and began drafting contingency plans for every possible response Qianhe might give.

Before meeting Xu You, she had prepared thoroughly conducting background checks, analyzing data, leaving no stone unturned.

Yet despite all that preparation, she nearly faltered the moment she came face-to-face with that person.

Fortunately, years of growth had made her steadier. At the very least, she could maintain her composure and retreat gracefully.

Though she had appeared confident at the time, her palms had been slick with cold sweat.

This assignment was harder than any before not because of the rumors about Su Yang being cold, low-key, or difficult to deal with.

It was because, even now, she realized she had never truly moved past that hurdle in her heart.

But the harder it was, the more she refused to admit defeat.

Was it really necessary for a long-dead student romance to still affect her so deeply, even interfering with work?

Su Yang claimed to understand her well, but that was an overestimation.

Back then, she had never truly understood her, and now, after so many years apart, she was even more uncertain.

At least now, she had learned to act, to bluff her way through.

The café was quiet on a weekday afternoon. Tang Yeran typed out three full pages on her laptop before straightening up to stretch her neck. Through the window, she caught sight of a startlingly familiar figure so familiar she almost thought she was seeing things.

She blinked, but the figure outside didn’t vanish. Instead, it grew clearer.

A wool coat, a slender waist, long legs, hair tied into an elegant yet practical bun that perfectly framed her exquisite features.

That one-in-a-million face and aura ruled out any possibility of mistaken identity.

Shouldn’t she be at Qianhe right now?

Tang Yeran hesitated for a few seconds, torn between politely greeting her or slipping away unnoticed.

Before she could decide, the figure turned, and their eyes met through the glass neither too close nor too far apart.

Those pitch-black pupils seemed to hold frost that had never thawed, stirring an inexplicable tension.

Before she could think, Tang Yeran raised her hand in greeting.

The woman outside gave a slight nod, then turned to leave.

Just as Tang Yeran was about to exhale in relief, she watched as the woman entered the café through the front door and walked toward her.

Now, with no window between them and less than a meter of distance, Tang Yeran had no time to summon the same commanding presence she’d had during the morning negotiations.

Gripping the edge of the table, she forced a stiff smile. “Director Su, what a coincidence.”

“Not a coincidence,” Su Yang replied, her calm tone laced with faint amusement at Tang Yeran’s flustered state. “Your colleague said you were at the café. I came to find you.”

Find me?

Tang Yeran was baffled. Since when were we on those terms?

While she was still scrambling for a response, Su Yang stepped closer, her gaze sweeping over the laptop screen.

Tang Yeran moved to shut it, but she was too slow, those long legs blocked her view, leaving her no room to react.

“Strategy Five: Wait for the rabbit to hit the tree, and advance secretly by an unknown path. Qianhe Games’ longest response time to reject an interview request was three working days. If there’s no reply beyond that, it’s likely someone is brewing trouble. In such cases, avoid direct confrontation, try probing Mr. Xu for information first…”

Su Yang’s voice was cool, carrying the clarity of a mountain spring, but Tang Yeran had never wished so fervently for her to just shut up.

“Hmph, ‘someone brewing trouble’… I never imagined Miss Tang was so dedicated to her job that she’d resort to military tactics for an interview.”

People said Su Yang was sparing with words, but to Tang Yeran now, that was definitely one of her virtues. Otherwise, with her talent for delivering lethal verbal blows, how many people would she have offended?

Still, Tang Yeran had to admit she was unlucky this time, who told her to be careless and get caught badmouthing someone behind their back?

Wait, no. She’d been working seriously just now, even if there was a tiny bit of personal emotion mixed in. But Su Yang had no right to look at her computer!

Having grasped this point, Tang Yeran straightened up with renewed confidence. She crossed her arms and met Su Yang’s gaze head-on, only to collide with those icy, mocking eyes.

Yikes, what was she about to say again?

The usually eloquent editor Tang found her brain short-circuiting. Reuniting with her ex-girlfriend after years apart and making a fool of herself on the first day, this was hardly befitting her long-cultivated image of maturity and composure.

If only some melancholic background music could play now, to match her current mood.

Right on cue, music did play but it was exuberantly cheerful, so loud it could be heard clearly even ten meters away. Along with it came waves of teasing cheers.

The instinct to spectate drama overpowered her embarrassment at being mocked by her ex. Covering one ear, Tang Yeran rushed toward the commotion.

A sharply dressed man was on one knee, holding out a bouquet. “Wenwen, I love you. Will you be my girlfriend?”

Several people around them likely friends of the couple, egged them on with laughter: “Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!”

The girl named Wenwen had tears in her eyes, seemingly hesitant.

Ever the sharp-eyed journalist, Tang Yeran quickly secured herself a VIP seat for the show.

Wenwen looked around conflicted before finally pushing the bouquet back into the man’s hands.

“I’m sorry.” Without waiting for reactions, she bolted out of the café.

Petals had been scattered beforehand, leaving the suited man standing alone with the flowers, looking like a defeated rooster.

A meticulously planned romantic proposal had ended abruptly. The crowd dispersed with sighs of pity.

“Tch, a failed mission and public humiliation, how pa-the-tic,” Tang Yeran remarked after witnessing the scene, though her tone held no sympathy whatsoever.

“Pathetic?” Su Yang had appeared beside her unnoticed, glancing indifferently at the scene. Her voice gave nothing away.

“Publicly declaring love without understanding the other person’s feelings is no different from emotional blackmail. That man has no respect for women his actions only create distress.”

There was nothing wrong with those words, but because they came from Su Yang, Tang Yeran felt a sudden jolt in her brain and inexplicably blurted out, “Did I… used to trouble you too?”

This was the first time since their reunion that Tang Yeran showed a hint of unease. Su Yang gazed into those eyes and was instantly transported back several years.

During their second semester as freshmen, Su Yang’s solitary world had suddenly gained a persistent shadow.

“Su Yang, are you going to Professor Zhang Yuan’s elective? What a coincidence, I’m taking it too! We can sit together.”

“Su Yang, the second cafeteria launched a new dish yesterday claypot fish. There’s such a long queue. Let’s try it together.”

“Su Yang, are you looking for ‘Amazing Ancient Inventions’? Hehe, I’ve got the last copy here, but I can lend it to you.”

“Su Yang, my solo dance is the fifth act at tonight’s campus gala. You have to come watch.”

“Su Yang…”

“Su Yang…”

“Su Yang…”

Back then, Tang Yeran had been flamboyant and unrestrained, wearing her heart on her sleeve. Spoiled since childhood, she pursued whatever caught her fancy without a second thought.

Even Su Yang’s roommate would tease good-naturedly, “Who knew our class rep was so charming, able to captivate the campus belle from another department like this?”

At the time, everyone simply saw it as mutual admiration between two campus celebrities.

Only Su Yang clearly sensed how a seed had been planted in her heart, quietly taking root and sprouting.

The café was now empty of other customers. Su Yang studied the face before her carefully, the same features, though more composed now, masking that once-bold spirit.

Her silence stretched so long that Tang Yeran was about to change the subject when she finally spoke. “Yes. Very much so.”

The expected answer made Tang Yeran’s nose sting, before she chuckled ruefully at her younger self’s obliviousness.

“My sincerest apologies then. Fortunately, I doubt anyone would dare trouble CEO Su these days.”

Recognizing Tang Yeran’s dampened mood, Su Yang stated her purpose before the other could storm off.

“I’ve reconsidered the proposal you brought to our company this morning. It’s viable.”

This should have been happy news, except…

“Does something like this really require CEO Su’s personal attention?”

“Necessary.” Su Yang was all business. “The NDA requires our company seal. I have it with me.”

Damn!

Tang Yeran cursed inwardly: I was just being polite to show sincerity, and you actually want an NDA? After all these years, she’s really grown more cunning.

Having secured the exclusive interview partnership that afternoon with Crane Corporation, which had stumped the industry for months Tang Yeran set a new efficiency record at Breeze Magazine, surpassing their three-year benchmark.

Amid her editor’s praise and colleagues’ admiration, the earlier embarrassment before her ex and subsequent irritation suddenly seemed trivial.

Work! Work! Work!

Tang Yeran walked home with a noticeably lighter step than usual. Pumping her fist in self-encouragement, she chanted, “With no woman in heart, my swordplay becomes divine.”

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, the tinted car window beside her rolled down, revealing half of Su Yang’s exquisitely sculpted profile.

This marked their third encounter today. Despite herself, Tang Yeran still jumped in surprise.

“President Su, is there anything else you need to instruct?”

Reacting swiftly, she transformed her clenched fist into a casual wave. Considering their companies’ new partnership, her tone carried extra politeness now.

“Nothing urgent. Just letting you know you can skip reception tomorrow, use this for direct access.” Su Yang handed her an access card.

“Thanks.” Remembering the adage about not striking a smiling face, Tang Yeran pocketed the card. Noting Su Yang showed no intention to leave, she continued the corporate niceties.

“You must be hungry at this hour, President Su. There’s a great local cuisine place nearby care to try it?”

“Pass.” Su Yang rolled up the window, his expression frosty. “Wouldn’t want to hinder your swordplay.”

Damn!

Watching the exhaust fumes dissipate, Tang Yeran exercised immense restraint to keep from cursing aloud.

“I never said I’d eat with you anyway!”

This man, he really was better off silent.

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