Su Zhiyi called out to 030 several times but heard no response.
System 030 always malfunctioned at critical moments. She had no idea what bug had caused the outdated, never-updated system to disconnect again.
Now she had to face alone... another overturned car in the love arena.
Song Lian sat across from her, still looking amused, as if he weren't a part of this mess at all.
She had lost her appetite, yet Song Lian still had the leisure to savor the food.
"Zhiyi, aren't you going to explain to your fiancé?"
He glanced leisurely at Si Yanjing and Su Qinghuai, whose faces were dark as storm clouds behind Su Zhiyi, and deliberately ignited the spark that was about to burst into flames.
"As I recall, didn't your brother disapprove of your marriage to Master Si? How come the two of them are here together?"
Su Zhiyi's head ached at Song Lian's words, and she didn't hold back in exposing his intentions: "Song Lian, stop fanning the flames."
"I'm just stating the facts. If you don't like it, I won't say anything more." Song Lian's smile deepened. He raised his hand lightly, pointing behind her. "Look, they're here."
"Do you need me to explain for you? After all, we're really just friends, just having a meal between friends. Your fiancé and your own brother are being too controlling."
"I..."
Before Su Zhiyi could reply, Su Qinghuai strode forward and cut between them.
He grabbed Song Lian by the collar, glaring fiercely at Song Lian's fox-like eyes, his voice as cold as ice: "Song Lian, you're shameless."
Si Yanjing followed behind Su Qinghuai, glancing at Su Zhiyi indifferently, his eyes full of coldness.
But his feigned composure shattered the moment he saw the man's coat draped over Su Zhiyi. His expression cracked like a knocked-over condiment rack.
"Baby, didn't you tell me you were going shopping with your girlfriends today?" He gritted his molars, flinging his hand to point at Song Lian, who remained calm despite having his collar grabbed. "Is this your girlfriend?"
Su Zhiyi: "..."
What a piercing question.
Now she couldn't even fabricate lies to coax these men.
Could playing dumb defuse this awkward situation?
She swore she would never eat French cuisine again—it was simply unlucky for her. How else could such an awkward scene happen twice in the same French restaurant?
Su Zhiyi didn't give up. She tried to sweet-talk Si Yanjing, the easiest to fool.
"A male bestie is still a bestie, isn't it? Don't you trust me? Darling, we're about to get engaged. I only love you. If you're worried, we can hold our engagement banquet next month, okay?"
"Really?" Si Yanjing's feigned coldness vanished at the mention of the engagement, his naive hope crystal clear. "Next, next month? Shouldn't we discuss this with both sets of parents first? Then I'll come to your house tomorrow..."
"Si Yanjing, I think you're hopeless," Su Qinghuai interrupted Si Yanjing's unrealistic fantasy, saying coldly, "If you're going to be stupid, get out of here. I can handle this myself."
Si Yanjing snapped back to reality. Su Qinghuai's reminder made him realize his lovestruck nature had flared up again. He switched back to his previously cold expression.
"But... how can I trust you?"
He sighed, his tone and expression filled with disappointment toward Su Zhiyi.
"Baby, I don't believe you anymore."
Song Lian pointed to his collar, which Su Qinghuai was still gripping, leaving red marks on his neck.
He played the role of a weak victim, portraying Su Qinghuai as an irritable brute.
"Master Su, you're hurting me. Did you learn these manners in the slums? Truly, the upbringing of slum dwellers is... Alas, if you're so rough with me today, will you lay hands on those around you in the future?"
"Poor Zhiyi, having such an emotionally unstable brother."
"Song Lian, stop being so sarcastic. She may not know what you're really like, but I do."
Su Qinghuai let go of Song Lian's collar with disgust, as if touching something filthy. He looked at his hands with loathing, then shot a razor-sharp glare at Song Lian.
"I should never have trusted you from the start. Cooperating with you was the biggest regret of my life."
"You're nothing but a self-serving backstabber."
"What?" Su Zhiyi's beautiful eyes widened in shock. "What have you two been doing behind my back?"
Wasn't it just a business collaboration?
System 030 had checked multiple times and found only business deals. Could those two have made some other arrangement behind her back?
Now she couldn't even call 030 to investigate, and had no idea when it would reconnect.
Song Lian straightened his collar, which Su Qinghuai had rumpled, and gave a faint smile: "Sorry, Master Su, I don't understand what you're talking about."
"Give me a reasonable explanation," Su Qinghuai insisted.
"We've only worked together once in business, barely met a few times, and aren't familiar with each other. What explanation do I owe you? I really can't follow what you're saying, Master Su." Song Lian said calmly, "Rather than demanding an explanation from me, wouldn't it be more appropriate for you and Master Si to explain yourselves to Zhiyi?"
"Aren't you and Master Si at odds? Why would the two of you show up at the same restaurant?"
The three men's gazes all fell on Su Zhiyi.
"What?" Si Yanjing was baffled. "Shouldn't she be explaining to me? I'm her fiancé!"
Su Qinghuai still latched onto Song Lian, refusing to let go: "Song Lian, stop changing the subject. Did you set me up from the very first time we met? Was it fun using me as your pawn?"
Song Lian took a step back, putting distance between them: "Master Su, we're not close. Your aggressive attitude is troubling me."