"Hello."

"Ah Zhou, it's me again."

"I... I wanted to ask you for a small loan. Is that okay?"

Su Qiaoman spoke hesitantly, her voice carrying its usual gentle fragility.

"I'll pay you back as soon as possible, alright?"

This was the first time she had ever asked Lu Chengzhou for money.

Before, she only needed to drop the slightest hint, and he would unconditionally give her everything—never once mentioning "borrow" or "repay."

Lu Chengzhou sighed inwardly as the phone rang again.

*This Su Qiaoman…*

*Truly never gives me a moment’s peace.*

"Sure, I can lend you some," he said calmly. "But tell me exactly when and how you’ll repay me."

Lu Chengzhou was no longer the mindless lapdog he used to be.

Not a single cent of his money would vanish without terms.

The question was perfectly reasonable—but it left Su Qiaoman speechless.

Honestly, she hadn’t given repayment a single thought.

"I… I’ll do it soon…"

"Soon? Within three days? A week? What about late fees?"

Pressed by his relentless follow-up, Su Qiaoman was cornered into an awkward silence.

Swallowing her pride, she stammered, "A week… within a week."

"And the late fee?"

Her face flushed crimson. "Whatever you decide! Fine?!"

Even through the speaker, Lu Chengzhou heard the gritted teeth.

He almost laughed.

Few could push this "white lotus" female lead this far—and she’d have no grounds to twist it later.

He’d started recording the moment the call connected.

If Lin Chen came knocking, the audio would speak for itself.

And since it was recorded, he added polished words meant for Lin Chen’s ears:

"Su Qiaoman, don’t think me heartless. When money’s involved, clarity protects us both—no room for misunderstandings, right?"

*Giving others leverage?*

*Who’d even care?!*

Unless…

Her heart clenched. *He means Lin Chen.*

"Ah Zhou, please don’t say that. Lin Chen and I aren’t together yet."

*So what I do is none of his business.*

*Can he really control who I borrow from?*

Her pride flared under his careful phrasing.

Lu Chengzhou pressed gently, "But isn’t it inevitable? You told me yourself you like him."

"I… we’re not there yet," she murmured, flustered.

"So you don’t like him anymore?"

"I…"

"Since you still do, we must keep distance. I won’t let you betray Lin Chen—my brother. I won’t let our childhood bond hurt your future."

Every sincere-sounding word hid a razor-sharp trap.

Su Qiaoman fell silent.

"Ah Zhou, I…"

"Su Qiaoman, I truly wish you happiness."

He delivered the hollow blessing with theatrical warmth.

"As long as you’re happy, I’m content."

"Even if I vanish from your lives forever—I’ll still be content."

"You two must stay locked together… Wait—I mean, I hope you tie the knot soon!"

*Only when the main couple thrives do side characters survive.*

Lu Chengzhou just wanted them sealed.

He never noticed how his "devotion" shattered her.

Su Qiaoman’s eyes welled up.

*Lu Chengzhou matters to me.*

*How can I cut him off for Lin Chen?*

They’d shared far more years than she ever had with Lin Chen.

But… what future did Lu Chengzhou offer?

He was poor too. Couldn’t give her the life she craved.

She’d never choose him over Lin Chen.

Thoughts tangled. Her headache returned.

She mumbled an excuse and hung up.

Lu Chengzhou transferred the money promptly.

"Five hundred yuan for this recording? Absolutely worth it."

He saved the file carefully, then lay back with satisfaction.

"Hope the female lead takes the hint and turns over a new leaf. Hmm!"

…

Meanwhile.

At the Lin residence.

Lin Chen lay in bed, Su Qiaoman filling his thoughts.

Yet she hadn’t reached out.

His pride as a wealthy heir refused to let him chase her.

The birthday banquet loomed.

He’d sent an invitation—but would she come?

After long hesitation, desire won. He sat up and called.

The phone rang endlessly before she answered.

Her voice sounded weary, distant.

"Are you sick?" he asked.

"Just tired," she said.

(She wasn’t tired at all.

Flipping through a childhood album—photo after photo of her and Lu Chengzhou, from kindergarten to elementary graduation.

Each image tightened the knot in her chest.

Her replies to Lin Chen grew colder.)

"You don’t want to talk to me?" he pressed, irritation rising.

She sighed. "No."

Her fingertip traced Lu Chengzhou’s smiling face in a faded snapshot.

"Lin Chen, I’m exhausted. Let’s talk another time."

A light cough punctuated the lie.

"Will you come to my birthday party?"

"Yes. I’ll be there on time."

He murmured "Okay," told her to rest, and hung up.

Seconds later, his father’s message lit the screen:

*Convince Miss Meng to attend. Your bank card and motorcycle come back.*

Meng Wanyu had already refused.

*Still not giving up?*

Lin Chen raked a hand through his hair.

He hated dealing with Meng Wanyu.

But for his freedom—he’d swallow his pride.

"Be humble. Make her smile. Yeah…"

He forced a grin.

Heart pounding, he opened Meng Wanyu’s chat window.