When the Heartthrob Meets the Cold-Hearted Ex - Chapter 7

“Liar.”

Tang Yeran’s hand trembled at the sound, nearly dropping the potato croquette she was holding, and accidentally knocking against a nearby plate.

“Tangtang, what’s wrong?” Gu Qingci set down her knife and fork, looking up with concern.

“N-nothing, the plate was just too close. Senior Gu, what did you just say… about a liar?”

“Ah.” Gu Qingci sighed lightly. “I was talking about this beef. A colleague of mine highly recommended it, saying how authentic the flavor was. But the moment I tasted it, it’s clearly synthetic. Don’t you think she’s a liar?”

“Ah? Maybe because this Japanese restaurant’s specialty isn’t beef.” Tang Yeran lowered her head and took a bite of the classic beef rice bowl, avoiding Gu Qingci’s gaze.

Noticing Tang Yeran’s distraction, Gu Qingci asked gently, “Tangtang, you seem a bit off today. Are you feeling unwell?”

“Yeah, probably because I’ve been out interviewing all day. I’m just a little tired.” Tang Yeran’s eyes showed a hint of weariness, as if to prove the truth of her words.

Gu Qingci nodded sympathetically. “No wonder. The clients I’ve worked with before were all difficult in their own ways. For you, interviewees are like clients, aren’t they? You’ve had a tough day.”

“The difficult client,” Su Yang, took another sip of water without a word.

Seeing Tang Yeran truly exhausted, Gu Qingci expressed regret.

“What a shame. I was thinking since we ran into each other, we could go out together tonight. But since you’re so tired, let’s plan for another time.”

“By the way, Tangtang, did you change your WeChat? I noticed your old account hasn’t posted anything in a long time.”

Tang Yeran’s expression dimmed slightly at the mention of her old WeChat account. “Yeah, after starting work, I mainly use another account now.”

“I see.” Gu Qingci took out her phone. “Then let me add your new one so we can keep in touch.”

“Sure.”

Su Yang silently watched as Gu Qingci scanned Tang Yeran’s new WeChat QR code, an account even she hadn’t been added to.

The two at the table seemed to tacitly agree that Su Yang wasn’t one for socializing and didn’t press her to join in.

Gu Qingci had wanted to chat more with Tang Yeran but was called away by an urgent phone call, leaving with a regretful “Let’s meet up next time.”

Once again, only Tang Yeran and Su Yang remained at the table.

Both ate slowly, meticulously observing the dining etiquette of “no talking during meals.”

Finally, Su Yang was the first to break the silence. “You and Gu Qingci seem to get along well.”

She had just learned the woman’s full name and no longer referred to her as “senior.”

“Yeah.” Tang Yeran swallowed her food and reminisced. “Senior Gu was the student council president at K University. Back then, she always personally coordinated with our entertainment department for social events. She’s really nice.”

The conversation flowed so naturally that Tang Yeran only realized something was off after answering. She retorted sharply, “But what does that have to do with you?”

The unfriendly tone only worsened Su Yang’s already sour mood, and her next words carried a sting.

“Indeed, it has nothing to do with me. I was just admiring Miss Tang’s remarkable social skills.”

The remark was undeniably harsh. Tang Yeran set down her porcelain spoon and headed to the counter. “Waiter, the bill, please.”

Su Yang followed and took out her phone, about to pay, when a hand stopped her.

“President Su, there’s no need to go to the expense. I’m afraid if I eat your treat, I might get indigestion.”

Su Yang lowered her eyelids slightly, stubbornness flaring up as she switched her phone to her other hand and pulled up the payment code with one hand. “Checkout.”

Tang Yeran didn’t want to tussle with her and quickly opened her own phone, matching her speed. “Scan mine.”

“Excuse me, ladies,” the cashier interjected, watching the two lock horns. “The bill for your table has already been settled by the lady who left earlier.”

Their last meal together had ended on a sour note, yet the next day, Tang Yeran still had to show up punctually for her interview at Qianhe.

Over the next two days, she visited the design, development, project management, and marketing departments.

Occasionally, she would also “bump into” Su Yang, who seemed to appear randomly. But this time, Tang Yeran had no patience for pretense.

Soon, Friday afternoon arrived. Tang Yeran wrapped up her interview with the marketing department half an hour early and stood waiting for the elevator while texting on her phone.

Ever since she and Gu Qingci had exchanged new WeChat contacts a couple of days ago, the other woman had been sending her amusing tidbits now and then, morning, noon, and night, each accompanied by an adorable sticker, a stark contrast to her usual polished, elite demeanor. Strangely enough, it didn’t feel out of place.

Come to think of it, they hadn’t been particularly close before, and years had passed without much contact. Yet after reconnecting, they’d somehow grown familiar again at an almost unnatural speed.

Maybe that was just how extroverts made friends, effortlessly. Besides, Gu Qingci’s current employer in fashion design had business ties with Yifeng Magazine. More friends meant more opportunities.

Tang Yeran stared at her phone, chuckling at the latest viral joke Gu Qingci had sent, and replied with a [Cat Laughing Hard] sticker.

Just as she hit send, she noticed a shadow fall over her feet. Instinctively looking up, she found Su Yang standing beside her, far closer than normal social etiquette dictated so abruptly that it startled her.

“Tsk!President Su, are you practicing your ghost steps?” Tang Yeran took a step back, not bothering to hide her alarm.

Su Yang’s gaze lingered on her phone, her expression colder than usual. “I’ve always walked like this. It’s Miss Tang who’s been too absorbed.”

It wasn’t yet quitting time, so the area around the elevator was empty. The two of them standing there already at odds made for an eerie atmosphere.

“Hah.” Tang Yeran had no desire to linger with her. Fortunately, the elevator arrived just then.

Su Yang stepped in after her, positioning herself to Tang Yeran’s left before glancing at the mirror on the right, feigning nonchalance. “It’s barely five o’clock. Is Miss Tang clocking out already?”

For the past two days, Su Yang had been popping up everywhere, yet neither had spoken a word to the other.

Today, however, was different. The usually taciturn President Su had suddenly become chatty.

Tang Yeran had no idea what Su Yang was scheming, and she didn’t care to find out.

All she knew was that every time she saw Su Yang now, her emotions spiraled out of control.

Since there was no one else around, she dropped the politeness. “What, is President Su in charge of my attendance now?”

Su Yang ignored the jab and continued, “Leaving so early, do you have plans? With Gu Qingci?”

This guy is seriously nuts!

As the elevator doors opened, Tang Yeran pushed past Su Yang who was blocking the exit. “Director Su’s deductive skills are impressive, but do you mind moving aside?”

Su Yang kept his head lowered, standing motionless like a statue.

Tang Yeran felt her twenty-plus years of cultivated patience about to snap. This man had an uncanny ability to infuriate people without saying a word.

Her mouth moved faster than her brain. “Director Su, could it be you still have feelings for me? Let me make this clear, I don’t do second chances.”

The words left her mouth before she realized why they stung so much to say.

Su Yang stiffened, a disdainful smirk curling his lips. “Who knew after all these years, Miss Tang’s delusions of grandeur would grow even stronger. Don’t worry whoever goes back for seconds is a dog.”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself.”

After leaving Qianhe, Tang Yeran treated herself to a seafood buffet with friends. By the time she got home, the city lights were already twinkling.

Rummaging through her bag to transfer the marketing materials she’d copied earlier, she realized with dismay that her flash drive was missing.

Slapping her forehead in frustration, she groaned, “Ugh, my brain’s completely fried from all this stress. I can’t believe I left the drive plugged into someone else’s computer!”

Earlier that day, she’d hit it off with Qianhe’s marketing director, who had generously shared internal promotional assets for her feature article. She’d promised to draft a preliminary proposal by the weekend for further discussion.

Now here she was flash drive-less.

A quick glance at her phone showed it was exactly 7 PM.

Knowing how common overtime was in the gaming industry, there might still be someone at the office… maybe.

Not daring to delay, she immediately hailed a cab back to Qianhe.

Thirty minutes later, staring up at the darkened office building, her heart sank.

“Miss, what are you doing here? We’re closed move along,” a security guard jingling a keychain shooed her away.

Recognizing him, Tang Yeran grasped at straws. “Uncle, I left something really important in one of the offices. Could you let me in?”

The guard waved his hands. “No can do. You don’t work here, who’d take responsibility if something happens?”

She quickly produced the access card Su Yang had given her. “What about this?”

After inspecting it, the guard still refused. “This only gets you through the main gate during work hours. To open office doors now, you’d need someone who actually works here.”

Someone who works here…

She did have several Qianhe employees’ contacts, but bothering them on a weekend evening seemed rude.

Her gaze traveled up the building, where a single light burned on the top floor, the 18th story, housing only the executive producer’s office and meeting rooms.

After two seconds of internal debate, she chose the lesser of two evils: swallow her pride and approach the very person she’d just quarreled with, rather than disturb other employees’ weekend.

She dialed Su Yang’s number right in front of the security guard, putting it on speaker and getting straight to the point.

“Hello, President Su. I left a very important USB drive in the Marketing Department. I’m at the company entrance now with the security guard here. Could you please tell him over the phone to let me in?”

There was a two-second pause before a cold yet weak voice came through the speaker. “Let her in.”

With Su Yang’s help, Tang Yeran smoothly entered the Marketing Department and retrieved the USB drive.

She walked with the guard toward the elevator when Su Yang’s voice suddenly replayed in her mind.

That voice had sounded so weak was he sick?

Tang Yeran shook her head. Whatever, he’s a grown man. Catching a cold won’t kill him.

The elevator arrived, and she stepped inside.

As it descended, the slight weightlessness made her ears ring slightly, and Su Yang’s last four words looped endlessly in her mind like a broken record.

So annoying!

She unconsciously bit her lip. He did help you just now. Even just as a basic courtesy, shouldn’t you at least check on him?

By then, the elevator had already reached the 12th floor. Acting faster than she could think, Tang Yeran frantically pressed the button for the 10th floor twice.

When the doors opened, the guard looked at her in confusion. “Miss, is there something else you need?”

Tang Yeran dashed out of the elevator and headed straight for the stairs. “Sorry, sir! You go ahead, I’ll find my own way out later!”

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