Chapter 21 Recording

Chapter 21: Confrontation at the Hospital

"Qi, you must apologize to my sister right now. You can't speak to her like that anymore, or... or I'll never speak to you again!" Su Ruanruan said, her expression uncharacteristically stern as she stared at him.

Qi Xi frowned deeply, immediately stepping forward to grab her arm. "Why are you scared of her, Ruan Ruan? I told you, I won't let her bully you anymore. Once Grandpa Su is a bit better, we'll get married. Then you won't have to stay in this disgusting place anymore!"

Hearing this, the others were immediately offended. "Watch your words! How has our Su Family wronged her? Haven't we given her the best of everything all these years? If it weren't for our Su Family, who knows where she'd be now, probably working some dead-end job in the middle of nowhere. She wouldn't have this life of luxury!"

"Exactly! If she's so hard-done-by, she can pack her things and get out of the Su Family. She has her own biological parents but refuses to acknowledge them, instead clinging shamelessly to stay here. Does she think no one knows what she's scheming? For all we know, she's the one who made Grandpa so angry he collapsed," the woman from the Fourth Branch of the Su Family snorted coldly.

Hearing this, Qi Xi clenched his fists, glaring furiously at the speaker. "Do you think Ruan Ruan is as money-grubbing as you all?"

"Money-grubbing? If she weren't money-grubbing, why wouldn't she go back to her own family? Who does she think she's bothering by staying here?" the Third Branch woman sneered. "Besides, you're supposed to be well-educated. Is this how you speak to your elders? It seems the Qi Family's upbringing isn't much better either."

Instantly, the corridor was filled with accusations against Su Ruanruan and Qi Xi. The previous harmony was gone, as if overnight, the two had become the culprits who caused Su Zhenan to faint.

Su Ruanruan lowered her head, her eyes welling up. Since childhood, her uncles and their wives had treated her very well. Even after learning she wasn't their biological child, they treated her with the same affection as before. But she didn't know what had happened these past few days to make them think of her this way.

As if making a decision, she took a deep breath. "After Grandpa wakes up, I'll ask him to strike my name from the family registry. I won't stay with the Su Family anymore."

Hearing this, the others looked skeptical, clearly not believing she would willingly leave the Su Family. They suspected she was just stalling, waiting for the old man to pass away so she could rightfully inherit the company shares.

Looking at it this way, Su Mi seemed like less of a threat to them now. After all, the board of directors wouldn't let a lunatic control the company. If both Su Mi and Su Ruanruan were gone, and the eldest brother had no other children, then the chairman's seat would surely be chosen from among them.

So no matter what, Su Ruanruan had to leave the Su Family!

"You said it yourself; we didn't force you. If you say one thing and do another later, don't blame your aunt for being blunt," the Fourth Branch woman said sternly.

Qi Xi could no longer stand these ugly faces. He grabbed Su Ruanruan, trying to pull her away from the hospital. She pulled back, clearly intent on staying and caring for the person in the ward.

"Let go of me! I need to stay and take care of Grandpa!"

Qi Xi gripped her shoulders, his gaze intense as he met her reddened eyes. "You're too soft-hearted. These people treat you like this, and if you stay, you'll only be bullied. I don't care. You must come with me today. Whether you're a Su or not, my fiancée will always be only you!"

"How have we treated her?"

Su Mi stepped forward, raising her hand to tap his right cheek. "If there's something wrong with your brain, go downstairs for a CT scan. Take her with you too, get her head examined. We haven't treated her well? Then why does she cling shamelessly to stay here? If it's not a problem with her brain, what is it?"

Qi Xi clenched his fists, his eyes nearly bloodshot as he glared at her. But remembering he was no match for this crazy woman, he could only shield Su Ruanruan behind him.

"Young Master, we should leave quickly!"

The bodyguards immediately stepped forward, trying to escort him away. The looks they gave Su Mi were wary. Regardless of whether this Miss Su truly had a mental illness, the young master was indeed no match for her. Their madam had instructed them to steer clear of this Miss Su from now on.

"You cowards! What's there to be afraid of?!" Qi Xi was furious at everyone's reaction.

A whole group of men, afraid of one wretched girl?!

He hadn't dared contact his friends all this time, all because of this wretched girl!

To make it worse, she'd even hit his big brother! And his brother hadn't even stopped her!

Ignoring his struggles, the bodyguards quickly flanked him and hustled him away. The young master's anger was temporary, but if he got beaten up again, he'd probably end up hospitalized.

Watching that moron leave, Su Mi's face was full of regret. Indeed, it wasn't so easy to gain Luck Points now. She needed to expand her social circle.

"Mimi is still the sensible and well-behaved one. Not like that second son of the Qi Family, speaking with such poor manners. Someone should really teach him how to behave properly!" the Third Branch woman said sternly.

Su Mi ignored these opportunists. She pushed open the ward door and walked in by herself. Inside, only the old man lay there, covered in monitoring equipment, clearly in critical condition.

But he probably wouldn't kick the bucket anytime soon. In the original story, it was because the male lead achieved his goal and wanted to break off the engagement with the third female lead. The third female lead couldn't accept this, so she secretly removed the old man's oxygen mask, trying to frame the female lead.

Even if the female lead cleared her name, she'd still be in mourning and couldn't marry the male lead right away.

Now, the male lead hadn't broken off the engagement with the third female lead yet, so she definitely wouldn't be driven to remove the old man's oxygen mask in a fit of rage.

Although she didn't want the third female lead to go down a path of no return, based on their last conversation, her obsession seemed even deeper than the original host's. Su Mi couldn't make her let go of everything, especially since she hadn't resolved her own issues yet.

The only way now was to quickly accumulate enough Luck Points to change the plot's direction. That way, perhaps the third female lead wouldn't be influenced by the plot, and none of them would end up in jail.

After a glance at the old man, she left the ward. There was no need to wait for him to wake up; the less they saw of each other, the better.

After leaving the hospital, she didn't go home. Instead, she told the driver to take her somewhere else.

It had been a long time since she saw the original host's adoptive parents. According to the private detective, Liu Zhenyi's family had been visiting them again recently. It was normal for bloodsuckers to cause trouble; it would be strange if they were quiet. But she needed to confirm Zhao Yun and the others' attitude. If they were still unclear-headed, then strong medicine was necessary.

At 7:20 PM, Zhao Yun and Liu Zhiyun should have been off work. When she arrived, she used her key to open the door directly. The familiar aroma of home-cooked food from the original host's memories wafted out.

"Who is it?"

Liu Zhiyun came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands. When he saw who it was, his face lit up with joy, and he hurried forward with a smile. "You should've let us know you were coming! Have you eaten? Sit down, Dad will go buy a couple more of your favorite dishes!"

Su Mi smiled, holding up the shredded chicken she brought. "No need. Do you think I'd let myself go hungry?"

Hearing the noise, Zhao Yun came out of the room, seemingly on the phone with someone. Seeing the visitor, she immediately hung up and excitedly rushed forward, grabbing her daughter's arm and giving her a once-over.

"Doesn't the Su Family have nutritionists? You look like you've lost weight again?" Zhao Yun couldn't hide her heartache.

"I've been working out recently. My body fat percentage dropped, so of course I look thinner. But I've got abs now," she lowered her voice.

Hearing this, Zhao Yun was stunned for a moment, then looked her daughter up and down again, her eyes full of maternal affection. "Exercise is good. As long as you're healthy, your dad and I are relieved."

As if remembering something, her eyes dimmed, a flicker of self-blame passing through them. Mrs. Su had called, telling her and her husband to care more for their daughter, as her emotions were unstable now and she desperately needed support from those around her.

Hearing that her daughter truly had psychological issues, she wished she could slap herself twice. She felt even more ashamed to speak with the Su Family. The Su Family treated Ruan Ruan so well, yet she was the reason Mimi had psychological issues. It was all her and her husband's fault.

But she heard her daughter was filming, which must be exhausting day after day. So she didn't dare call often, afraid to disturb her rest time. She could only go to the hospital to consult on how to help her daughter recover.

The conclusion was to give her ample care and freedom, and create a comfortable living environment. Otherwise, the slightest mistake could add to the patient's stress.

"Have those people been bothering you recently?" Su Mi asked casually while changing her shoes.

Hearing this, Zhao Yun's expression immediately turned serious. "Ruan Ruan recently bought us a house. Somehow your second and third uncles found out. They said they need to buy new houses for your cousins' weddings, so they've been coming over to borrow money these past few days. But of course we can't touch the money Ruan Ruan gave us, so we didn't lend them any."

She knew very well why her daughter was sick. If she were still unclear-headed now, she truly wouldn't deserve to be called 'Mom.' No matter what, she couldn't have any further involvement with those people.

"How much do they want?" Su Mi asked casually.

Liu Zhiyun frowned. "Three million. But don't worry, we didn't give them a single cent."

Su Mi poured herself a glass of water. "Call them and tell them to come over in fifteen days. I'll give them three million then."

They had the nerve to pull my hair on New Year's Eve. Did they think that was over? If she didn't teach them a proper lesson, it would be a waste of all her training. Forget three million, she could burn three billion for these bloodsuckers.

"Give it to them?" Zhao Yun looked puzzled.

"Just follow my instructions and record every instance they ask for money going forward," Su Mi instructed.

She still had the recording from their last extortion attempt. Tomorrow, she would have the butler hire a lawyer to file an extortion lawsuit against them. A couple of weeks should suffice for them to receive the court summons. If they dared demand money again, it would serve as additional evidence to further aggravate their sentences. Once they were all behind bars, everything would finally settle down.

"Alright—I’ll record everything from now on," Zhao Yun nodded solemnly.

"You must be hungry, dear. Come on, let’s eat quickly," Liu Zhiyun immediately headed to the kitchen to bring out the dishes.

Though not the exotic delicacies of the Su family, home-cooked meals were far more appetizing. To everyone’s surprise, Su Mi ate two full bowls. During dinner, Zhao Yun and her husband tentatively asked whether she’d been struggling with sleep lately or if anything was troubling her. Of course, she replied that everything was perfectly fine.

The original host’s adoptive parents both suffered from people-pleasing tendencies—always placing others’ needs before their own, no matter the situation. Gradually, the original host internalized this pattern: overly preoccupied with others’ opinions, preferring to endure losses rather than cause a scene. This pent-up resentment eventually created an opening for antagonists to exploit.

Yet the older generation believed enduring hardship was a blessing, while the original host—having received a higher education—found herself trapped in perpetual inner conflict until it reached a breaking point.

So people must first learn to love themselves. We only get one life—live it exactly as you wish. Why suffer or suppress yourself for others? If that’s the price, we might as well go out in a blaze!

After dinner, she didn’t linger long. She had an episode to film the day after next and needed to prepare travel essentials.

Zhao Yun and her husband bombarded her with questions, urging her to rest well and eat properly—emphasizing that nothing in this world mattered more than health.

That was true. No matter how much wealth you possessed, you needed good health to enjoy it. Otherwise, it was all meaningless. The wisest approach was to seize the moment, savor life, and ensure you lived without regrets.

By the time she returned to the villa, it was already nine p.m. She spent another hour at the gym, then drafted a list for the butler to prepare travel supplies—and also instructed him to engage a lawyer to sue Liu Zhenyi and his associates.

In the past, the butler might have asked a question or two—but now he remained utterly silent. Everyone around her was the same: quiet, obedient, and too afraid to voice any unsolicited opinions.

This was the effect of her ongoing “unhinged” behavior. The world operated like this: the tough feared the reckless; the reckless feared the truly unhinged.

The next day, the doctor visited again.

“Miss Su, your emotional state appears significantly more stable lately—which suggests you still require a supportive environment for mental recovery,” the doctor said, glancing at the measurement chart before frowning slightly. “Still, I strongly recommend more rest. Your current condition isn’t ideal for traveling with strangers—conflicts are inevitable.”

Su Mi sat quietly, sipping her tea. Of course she was stable—she hadn’t triggered a single task in a long time.

“This is a career I love, and I feel mentally and physically prepared. I can also exercise full self-control,” she replied, maintaining a polite smile.

Hearing this, the doctor didn’t press further—only advised her to continue music therapy, spend more time immersed in nature for relaxation, and ignore all external chaos.

This show’s filming would last precisely half a month. Its format involved inviting six guests to travel to various destinations, with travel budgets determined by lottery—some receiving generous allowances, others forced to stretch every yuan.

Though assigned a sharp-tongued, sarcastic persona, Su Mi ignored the script entirely. She could act naturally with ease—the script would only hinder her authenticity.

The production crew scheduled the group’s airport rendezvous for 9 a.m. Early that morning, Sister Zhou arrived to pick her up, clearly anxious she lacked insight into variety-show logistics—and spent the entire ride dispensing exhaustive advice.

Upon arrival at the airport, her assigned crew members were already waiting. The cameraman immediately began filming. Sister Zhou wasted no time greeting everyone—and even had her assistant buy breakfast for each guest, flawlessly executing social protocol.

In the departure lounge, Su Mi saw no other guests, so she settled onto a chair and flipped through a travel guide.

“It’s almost nine. Aren’t you going to look for them?” the accompanying cameraman couldn’t help but prompt.

Su Mi lifted her gaze. “Why should I seek them out? Why don’t they come find me? If they can’t even gather in such a confined space—or grasp basic punctuality—we’ll likely scatter across foreign cities like lost pigeons.”

“…”

The cameraman fell silent. This wasn’t in the script—she’d slipped into character far too swiftly.

A few minutes later, commotion rippled through the crowd as another group approached. The subject being filmed was Zhang Yue—a rising young actress born after 2005, recent winner of a Best Supporting Actress award, widely regarded as an industry prodigy.

“Here! Here! Finally found you!”

Zhang Yue wheeled two suitcases as she rushed over, breathless, then extended her hand politely. “Hi, sis! I finally found you—I looked everywhere but saw no one else! I panicked—thought I’d gone to the wrong place!”

As expected, she was likely playing the “airhead” archetype. Su Mi nodded impassively. “Oh.”

Zhang Yue awkwardly turned to the staff. “Can we call them? We’re running out of time—if we don’t assemble soon, we’ll miss the flight.”

“Two are stuck in traffic and won’t arrive anytime soon. The other two went to the wrong terminal—we’re in T1, but they headed to T2,” a staff member explained while dialing others.

Su Mi frowned faintly. She distinctly recalled the show assigning all other personas as impressive—none were supposed to embody the “chronically lost” trope.

Well—perhaps it was just coincidence.

Another ten minutes passed before fresh commotion erupted in the departure lounge. Two tall men hurried over, dragging suitcases. One even held a youtiao in his mouth; his hat tumbled off mid-sprint, forcing him to double back and retrieve it. Onlookers screamed—clearly, most had received advance alerts.

Had security guards not held them back, fans would’ve swarmed the group already.

“Sorry! Sorry! Our driver dropped us at T2 earlier. Shall we introduce ourselves?” the man in the black jacket panted, glancing between the two women.

Zhang Yue instantly nodded, then offered a shy smile. “I’m Zhang Yue—I just turned eighteen this month.”

“I’m Li Chuan, twenty-eight. Just call me Chuan,” the man in the blue tracksuit replied warmly.

Li Chuan was also an actor backed by powerful industry connections. Though not a household name, he consistently landed top-tier film and TV roles. He was likely here for exposure and buzz—after all, no artist shunned fame.

The other man was Yang Yizhou—a singer who debuted via a talent show and commanded legions of devoted “girlfriend fans.” In many ways, he ranked as a semi-A-lister with the largest fanbase among the group—though his public image left much to be desired. He’d probably joined to rehabilitate his reputation.

The entertainment industry wasn’t tiny—but neither was it vast. Unknown figures naturally went unrecognized, making introductions necessary—not only for practicality but also for audience clarity.

Finally, Su Mi delivered a terse self-introduction. Only four of the six guests had arrived; the remaining two were still missing. In a real-world scenario, the sheer frustration would’ve induced migraines.

“Maybe they’re at another check-in counter. Should we clear security first?” Li Chuan suggested calmly.

Zhang Yue blinked. “But what if they can’t find us—and we miss the flight?”

“They said you should proceed without them,” a staff member interjected abruptly.

Zhang Yue’s eyes lit up. “That means they’re nearly here—let’s wait a bit longer!”

“Actually, I think it’d be better if you waited for them at the entrance—that way, they’d spot you immediately,” Su Mi said, smiling sweetly.

Seeming to embrace the idea, Zhang Yue nodded eagerly. “But I get lost easily—why don’t we all wait outside together?”

Su Mi rose unhurriedly. “I’m entering security now. But honestly? You’d save everyone time by picking them up at home—that way, zero risk of getting lost.”

With that, she strode directly toward the security checkpoint.

The two men exchanged glances—immediately grasping she was embodying the “mean and sarcastic” role. Yet Su Mi’s demeanor felt utterly unscripted, unnervingly authentic.

Li Chuan acted swiftly, telling Zhang Yue not to delay further—lest they all miss the flight.

Time was critical. After clearing security, they raced to locate their gate. Finally, while queuing, they encountered the remaining two guests—exhausted from sprinting, though one still paused discreetly to touch up her makeup away from the cameras.

No time for pleasantries. One by one, they located their seats using boarding passes. Fortunately, the show had arranged adjacent seating—so their spots were clustered closely.

“Oh my god—these seats are rock-hard! Zero legroom!” complained the other female guest, He Meimei, frowning as she pulled out perfume and sprayed liberally around her. Aware there were no cameras rolling, she’d rolled her eyes nonstop since boarding.

Especially since she sat beside Su Mi, she made sure to spray extra generously in her direction.

Su Mi withdrew a bottle of mosquito repellent from her pocket—and sprayed it directly toward He Meimei. The pungent scent made even Zhang Yue cough—despite her acting prowess, she was utterly unprepared and coughed reflexively. “Oh my god—you actually brought mosquito repellent?!” He Meimei clapped a hand over her nose, disgust radiating off her in waves.

Zhang Yue immediately jumped in to defuse the tension, "Everyone has different tastes. Maybe this fragrance just suits Su Mi—I think it's actually pretty down-to-earth."

Su Mi smoothed her hair and handed over the bottle, "This is from the Dr. perfume series. It's only five million yuan a bottle. Oh, but then you're probably not VIPs, so it makes sense you haven't seen it."

Hearing this, He Meimei shot a glance at the bottle and saw it was indeed that limited edition. She'd heard you had to spend a certain amount just to be able to buy from this series.

But her agent had said the other woman used to be just an extra—it must have been a sugar daddy's gift. Who would give away such expensive perfume!

He Meimei couldn't help but roll her eyes, "Some people wear cloth shoes like they're limited edition, while others wear diamond necklaces like plastic street stall junk. Of course, I'm not talking about you. It's just this scent really doesn't match the brand."

The others exchanged glances, surprised the atmosphere had already turned so awkward before they'd even arrived.

"Is that so? Then I'll be sure to pass on Sister Meimei's suggestion to their vice president later. Maybe they can improve." Su Mi put on her sunglasses and leaned back to rest.

She actually knows the vice president of Dr.?

He Meimei's lips curled into a cold smirk. She was about to retort, but then remembered she was currently in talks for a brand endorsement. If the other really had connections, it could ruin her business negotiations.

"I was just joking. This scent is quite nice, actually. I've been meaning to get it myself—that lingering note feels very high-end." She took a deep, exaggerated breath, putting on a show of enjoyment.

Only Zhang Yue scratched her head, "I don't really use perfume much. My family's not really into me using that stuff."

Su Mi suddenly took off her sunglasses, looking puzzled, "You didn't spray perfume? Then why do you smell like Longjing tea?"