Chapter 2: Utterly Foolish

Su Zhengxian was immersed in financial reports when Su Nian startled him so much that he shot straight up from the sofa.

He shouted angrily, “What is that?!”

Su Nian replied, “Dearest Daddy, it’s your winter little cotton-padded jacket and summer little quilt, Su Xiaonian~~~”

The exaggerated, affected tone made Su Zhengxian shudder, his hair standing on end.

“Su Nian, what nonsense are you up to now? And what’s that weird thing you’re carrying on your back?”

Su Nian blinked, squeezing out a couple of tears, her voice sincere and earnest: “Dad, I was wrong. I truly know I was wrong. I’ve been battered by the harshness of the world—”

“And what’s behind me isn’t anything weird. It’s a golden pillow durian I bought for you and Mom, with the last of my savings.”

She deliberately added that last line to elicit sympathy.

Sure enough, the stern-faced Su Zhengxian’s eyes softened.

As a vice president in an entertainment conglomerate, Su Nian had honed her acting skills and developed nerves of steel, able to bow her head and endure pressure at any moment.

So when dealing with her father, a man who was stern on the outside but warm inside, she was more than adept.

Su Nian’s father, Su Zhengxian, was a giant in the Beijing entertainment scene, with entertainment companies across the nation, having nurtured countless film emperors, queens of pop, and kings of variety shows.

In the industry, there was no one who didn’t know his name.

Yet for all his fame, Su Zhengxian was upright and never involved in scandals, fiercely protective of his wife and daughter.

Thus, to this day, no one knew Su Nian was his only child.

If they had, as the entertainment world’s little princess, Su Nian would have been showered with resources, regardless of her acting skills.

Two years ago, in pursuit of Li Ming’en, she’d had a terrible argument with Su Zhengxian, so much so that his blood pressure spiked and he landed in the ICU.

After he was discharged, Su Zhengxian cut off all her financial support, froze her assets, and threw her out.

He told her she could only come home once she’d gotten her head on straight.

Su Nian, headstrong as ever, stormed off with her luggage and moved into a hotel, supporting herself and Li Ming’en with her savings from years of acting.

The result: her life fell apart, she lost her career, and she was left holding the bag for it all!

“Well, you’re only back because you’ve run out of money. And where’s your darling boyfriend? Why isn’t he supporting you?”

Su Nian fell silent.

She hadn’t expected her father to be this sarcastic.

“He lived off me, spent my money, treated me like a maid, and left me with a mountain of debt. I had no choice but to return home in remorse, finally realizing that only my father truly loves me—”

Su Nian pouted, looking utterly pitiful.

The next moment, Su Zhengxian slammed the table and stood up, roaring, “He treated you like a maid and left you in debt? Su Nian, was your brain swallowed whole by a dog? Huh? That’s beyond foolish!”

Su Nian mumbled, “Well, that’s why I came home.”

“Fine, then. That brat Li Ming’en dares to bully my daughter—watch me blacklist him right now so he can’t survive in this industry!”

“Dad, Dad—”

Seeing her father storm off to grab his phone, Su Nian hurried to stop him.

“What? Still not over him? Planning to let another dog eat your brains?”

Father’s disappointment was palpable.

Su Nian quickly stood up, half coaxing, half pushing, and sat him back down on the sofa.

“Dad, listen to me. Revenge is necessary, but let me handle it.”

The best way to slap an ex in the face is to surpass him, earn more than him, and live better than him.

That had always been Su Nian’s way—she wouldn’t rely on her father.

Su Zhengxian eyed her suspiciously, as if weighing the truth of her words. “And how do you plan to get back at him?”

“Dad, just give me one opportunity. I’ll soar to new heights. Once I reach the top, he’ll be nothing but an ant beneath my feet. After all, he only pursued me because of my status in the industry.”

Su Nian had previously analyzed every character in the book, thanks to her experience overseeing film projects and the original Su Nian’s retained memories. She knew exactly what kind of person Li Ming’en was—a shameless, unscrupulous man willing to abandon his dignity to climb higher.

If one day, she surpassed him, he’d shamelessly try to crawl back, using their past as an excuse.

When that day came, she’d make sure he paid for every hurt he’d inflicted on her.

To strike at the heart—now that was the most satisfying revenge.

Hearing this, Su Zhengxian regarded her with a strange, admiring look.

His simple-minded daughter, coming up with such a ruthless plan for revenge—was she conning him again?

He mulled it over. “Fine. I’ll give you one more chance. But on one condition: if you can’t seize this opportunity and prove yourself, I’ll put you on a helicopter and ship you off to Africa to grow bananas!”

Su Nian was speechless.

Was she really his daughter?

But with no other options, Su Nian agreed. “Deal.”

Su Zhengxian nodded with satisfaction and immediately told his assistant to draft a contract for Su Nian to sign.

After signing, he laid down three rules: “While you’re proving your worth, the Su family will not assist you in any way, just as before. Your allowance is suspended too.”

“What? But my debt…”

“I can pay it off for you first. Here’s the IOU—the interest rate is five percent.”

Su Nian was stunned—the rate was even higher than the bank.

“Fine!” she said, signing her name.

The contract and IOU were in duplicate. Once everything was settled, Father Su called a driver to take her back to the hotel she’d been staying at.

Watching her daughter, finally home yet sent away again, Mother Su couldn’t help but complain.

“Old Su, our daughter finally realized her mistake. Why send her off again? Can’t she just stay here?”

Father Su snorted, “She needs to learn her lesson!”

In truth, he’d already secretly instructed his assistant to extend her hotel lease for another six months.

Mother Su gave him a dissatisfied thump. “You’re just stubborn and prideful. Tell me, what resources are you giving our daughter this time? If it’s too exhausting, I’m absolutely opposed!”

Father Su smiled mysteriously and produced a variety show contract.

Mother Su glanced at it. “‘Season of Heartbeats,’ a dating show?”

She looked at him in confusion, not understanding why he’d send their daughter onto a romance show.

Father Su’s grin was inscrutable. “Su Nian’s lack of experience with relationships is exactly why she got tricked by a man. By sending her on a dating show, I’m helping her rebuild her warped view of romance and showing her the diversity of men. And, there’s another important reason…”

“That boy from the Song family, whom we arranged a childhood engagement with years ago, is also participating in this show.”

Mother Su was shocked. “The Song family? You mean the top family in Beijing?”

“It’s been years. It was just a joke between elders back then. But listen, these are modern times—no more arranged marriages.”

Seeing her displeased, Father Su quickly pulled her into his arms. “Darling, your word is law. I would never defy you. It’s just that Old Master Song called me recently to mention it, so I gave them a chance. In the end, it’s still up to our Nian Nian to choose!”

“That’s more like it!”