Chapter 22 – Paper Man 21
Two days later, Luo Yuan took Su Tang to a commercial banquet.
The suit had been personally selected by Luo Yuan, fitting Su Tang perfectly. The dark fabric hugged his slender waist and long legs, accentuating his figure. His straight back curved gracefully at the small of his back, creating a subtle dip before rising into an elegant arc. Though fully covered with not a hint of skin exposed, the air of refined nobility emanating from Su Tang’s every movement made Luo Yuan’s heart itch with desire.
The banquet drew elite families from high society circles. As expected, Luo Yuan found himself occupied with numerous social interactions, gradually leaving Su Tang to his own devices. Seizing the opportunity, Su Tang quietly excused himself to fetch some dessert.
In such formal settings, one must maintain constant vigilance. Though Su Tang had attended similar events as a child, his role then had been merely to follow his parents. Having grown up without further exposure to these social circles, he felt neither intimidated nor particularly at ease. Only when he reached a quieter corner did he finally catch his breath.
His eyes fell upon the dessert table. As he reached for an intriguingly presented pastry, he looked up to find a familiar face.
It was Chen Yingying, her arm linked through that of a handsome man with an arrogant expression.
Su Tang suddenly recalled there was indeed a banquet scene in the original plot. This man beside Chen Yingying had to be Luo Chen, the male lead. Even in such a social setting, he could still carry himself with a “I’m the boss” attitude, truly embodying the tycoon stereotype.
Luo Chen engaged in drinking and small talk with other company executives. Gradually, whether due to busyness or deliberate choice, he completely ignored Chen Yingying. He left with a group of executives sporting beer bellies, not sparing her a single glance.
Chen Yingying remained frozen in place, her white off-the-shoulder dress making her look like a delicate white flower trembling in the wind—utterly pitiful.
But in the next instant, this “little white flower” suddenly twisted the corners of her lips, perhaps in a cold smirk. She instantly reverted to her vulnerable appearance, lowered her head to take a sip of her drink, then turned to leave as if heartbroken.
Just as she turned, she met the astonished gaze of Su Tang.
Chen Yingying: “……”
Su Tang: “……”
Fuck, this is awkward.
In the next moment, Chen Yingying approached with her signature gentle smile.
Su Tang suddenly felt a surge of apprehension.
Chen Yingying was nothing like the innocent “little white flower” character from the story—she was putting on an act! While she might not be particularly lethal herself, she had an entire support group of male leads and supporting actors backing her up. Having accidentally witnessed the heroine’s sudden transformation, would he meet the same tragic fate as a cannon fodder who stumbles upon a secret? QvQ
Chen Yingying approached him, her soft smile hiding the murderous intent in her eyes. “Did you see anything?” she asked quietly.
Su Tang shook his head vigorously. “I saw nothing!”
Her smile widened. “I haven’t even mentioned what I saw yet. It seems you really did witness something.”
Su Tang’s heart clenched. I’m really cursed.
Chen Yingying stared at him with unreadable eyes for a long moment before suddenly brightening. “Never mind. I’ll forgive you for your good looks. No one would believe you anyway.”
Su Tang’s emotions churned as he glanced at her, then looked away, then back again.
Chen Yingying’s smile grew radiant. “If you want to look, then look properly. What do you want to say?”
“Your personality…” Su Tang began.
What he really wanted to ask was: Why on earth would you fall for a protagonist who’s a rapist, kidnapper, and abuser?
Chen Yingying understood immediately. “You want to know why I pretended to be like that? Because men like you just adore that type—pure, fragile, and pitifully dependent. You get such a thrill from protecting someone like that, don’t you? I love watching men dance around me like puppets while they try to win my favor.”
“Um…” Su Tang trailed off.
“That’s not true—at least, the woman I like isn’t like that.” He paused, shaking his head. Then another example came to mind. “Luo Yuan too. Didn’t you get outsmarted by him several times?”
At this reminder, Chen Yingying’s expression stiffened momentarily before returning to normal. “That’s because he’s too much of a straight man. Most men would never treat a delicate flower so poorly.”
Su Tang didn’t agree, but he didn’t want to argue further. This was her own belief, and no one could change it. However, looking at it this way, there seemed to be some discrepancies between the main characters’ established personalities and the story’s portrayal.
The female lead wasn’t a pure, innocent flower, but rather a green-tea-like beauty who played emotional games—a carnivorous plant that feasted on men’s hearts.
The male lead didn’t truly love the female lead. He treated her more like a canary—something to capture and play with when he felt like it, without any real attachment.
The so-called villain Luo Yuan wasn’t actually dark or brooding. He simply lacked a sense of security and preferred not to form deep connections with others. At heart, though, he was a warm and pleasant person.
Chen Yingying dared to share these thoughts with Su Tang for two reasons: first, his handsome appearance put her in a good mood, making her more willing to chat; second, the dessert table was deserted, allowing her to speak freely without others hearing.
As Chen Yingying gazed at Su Tang’s face, a hint of jealousy surfaced. She huffed, “You’re a man, yet you’re prettier than me with those long eyelashes. If I looked like this, I could walk all over the world.”
Su Tang chuckled awkwardly. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Chen Yingying, well-versed in feminine charm, even managed to roll her eyes with grace. “I’m serious! If you weren’t so good-looking, I wouldn’t bother talking to you at all.”
As she spoke, she suddenly tripped, executing a classic heroine’s flat-footed fall.
Su Tang instinctively reached out to help, his hand gently supporting her arm to steady her.
This act of assistance naturally brought them closer together, creating an appearance of intimacy.
At least, that’s what Luo Yuan saw—a picture-perfect couple clearly in love. His face immediately turned cold as he strode over to them and demanded, “What are you doing?”
Su Tang felt Luo Yuan’s death glare and shivered instinctively. Sensing impending doom, he blurted out, “Wait! I can explain!”
The words left his mouth before he could think twice. Holy shit! What the hell am I saying?! How could I lose my cool at this critical moment?! The heavens are conspiring against me!
Chen Yingying was secretly impressed. How can he pull off such a bold move even now? That’s hardcore!
The moment Luo Yuan appeared, Chen Yingying instantly reverted to her innocent, doe-eyed act. She adopted a slightly admiring gaze that usually worked wonders on men, and murmured, “Mr. Luo, I…”
But this tactic proved utterly ineffective against Luo Yuan. His gaze remained fixed solely on Su Tang. With a firm grip, he seized Su Tang’s wrist, forcibly separating them and pulling the man close. Then, addressing Chen Yingying with deliberate indifference, he said, “Excuse me,” before striding away with Su Tang in tow.
Chen Yingying’s “little white flower” act had always been foolproof, working on every man she tried it on—except Luo Yuan. This time was even worse; she’d been completely ignored. Luo Yuan’s attention remained unwaveringly focused on Su Tang alone.
She watched their retreating figures and couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.
Author’s Note:
Chen Yingying: Psyduck furrowed its brow and realized this wasn’t simple.jpg
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