Chapter 24 Delivering Money

Chapter 24: Making Amends

“And I don’t think I have a problem. I’m surrounded by so many oddballs—so why do I only hit *him*, and not anyone else? The one who should reflect is *him*, not me—the victim.”

Su Mi’s expression grew increasingly serious. “When facing harassment, if I choose to stay silent out of fear of others’ judgment, *that* would be the true tragedy of our society—it would only embolden scum like him. So what I’m doing right now *is* contributing to social progress. Why, then, does it suddenly become a sign of mental illness in your eyes?”

“And why is it that when men strike others on a whim, it’s dismissed as mere ‘bad temper,’ yet when women resort to physical action to defend their rights, they’re instantly labeled mentally ill? What kind of twisted phenomenon is *that*? And why, Doctor, do *you* hold such views? Isn’t *that* the real societal tragedy?”

Hearing this, the doctor fell silent. He had treated countless patients with psychological disorders. In fact, many possessed remarkably sharp intellects—though they often became trapped in rigid, repetitive thought patterns. Su Mi’s thinking, however, was unusually broad and flexible; he had detected no pathological cognitive distortions thus far.

Yet according to Old Master Su’s account, Su Mi frequently overturned tables and assaulted people—her emotional state appearing highly unstable. Mrs. Su and Chairman Su, however, described an entirely different picture. Such contradictory reports were common—and precisely indicative of deep-seated dysfunction within the family.

Still, Su Mi’s scores on the clinical assessment scale *were* abnormally high. Yet these scores served only as auxiliary diagnostic evidence. Unless he personally witnessed an acute manic episode, it remained difficult to confirm whether she truly suffered from bipolar I disorder.

“I apologize, Miss Su—I was narrow-minded. Defending your rights is *not* wrong. Still, I advise against resolving conflicts through physical force, as unforeseen complications can easily arise. Even the slightest loss of control could lead to unpredictable consequences. Therefore, I still recommend pursuing alternative, nonviolent means of protecting your rights moving forward.”

At this, the doctor hastily added, “Of course, if you face unlawful assault, using reasonable force for self-defense is perfectly justified. But in cases of verbal disputes, a more civilized resolution is preferable.”

As he spoke, cold sweat broke out across his brow. He couldn’t possibly encourage a patient to strike others at will—if she ended up hitting Old Master Su, his career would likely be over.

After all, in *this* Miss Su’s logic, *anyone* who wronged her—even her own grandfather—would probably not be spared.

“I’ve already been extremely civilized,” Su Mi shrugged helplessly.

Had she *not* been civilized, she’d have already shoved a lump of excrement into that idiot’s mouth—just to shut him up and stop him from polluting the air with his nonsense.

“Please rest for now. If any issues arise, contact me immediately. Also—how is your sleep quality?” the doctor asked, packing his belongings on the table.

Su Mi paused thoughtfully. “Excellent.”

Since beginning her fitness regimen, not only had her legs and feet grown more agile and her appetite improved—but her sleep quality had also significantly enhanced. Even her skin looked better than before. Indeed, life truly *is* about movement.

“Understood.” The doctor nodded, saying nothing further.

Su Mi watched him walk out, then saw him whispering intently with Manager Zhou outside—though she couldn’t make out their words.

It didn’t matter. Even if he told others she wasn’t mentally ill, they likely wouldn’t believe him anyway.

After a moment’s reflection, she picked up her tablet, pulled up the assessment scale, and secretly retook the test. Seeing the normal result, she exhaled in quiet relief.

Others could *call* her sick—but she *couldn’t actually be* sick.

She grabbed her clothes, showered, and rested. The next morning, she slept until eight. After all, filming was still ongoing—it couldn’t be halted over a minor incident. She wasn’t *that* unprofessional.

Yet Manager Zhou clearly hadn’t left—and had brought two people with her.

“I’m deeply sorry, Miss Su. It was entirely my fault for failing to warn A-Yu beforehand. He simply has a habit of speaking recklessly. If you’re still angry, feel free to strike him a few more times. Regarding yesterday’s incident… might we let it go? Of course, we’re open to discussing any compensation you require!”

The woman in the beige chiffon blouse spoke with earnest sincerity. Beside her stood Du Yu—his face badly bruised and swollen. Gone was yesterday’s cocky demeanor. His left eye was grotesquely puffed, yet his pleading expression remained unmistakable. He stood there bowing repeatedly, too terrified to utter a sound.

Su Mi leaned back on the sofa, calmly eating rice noodles. Hearing this, she merely glanced at Manager Zhou—calm, detached, unimpressed.

Manager Zhou’s eyebrow twitched. Then she turned gravely to the woman. “Character is the foundation of one’s being. If it were someone else—would Du Yu’s verbal harassment be acceptable? A person’s character determines how far they’ll go in life. Clearly, he is unsuited for this path.”

The woman’s expression darkened. Du Yu was the talent she’d painstakingly groomed—the company’s cash cow. Abandoning him now would render all prior investment worthless.

Yet refusing to cut ties with Du Yu—and thereby offending the Su Group—would jeopardize the entire company. What choice did she have? She’d *already* warned him that powerful figures were embedded in the production team and urged caution. Who knew he’d insist on courting death?

Ordinarily, his vulgar mouth was merely annoying—but this time, he’d kicked a steel plate. Truly, inviting trouble and causing nothing but chaos!

“It’s all my fault! I have a foul mouth! I was just joking with Miss Su! I swear to reform completely—and never speak recklessly again!” Du Yu suddenly dropped to his knees, frantically slapping his own cheeks.

Even if he *was* foolish, he knew he’d struck iron. If he couldn’t appease her, his career was finished.

He’d climbed this high with immense difficulty—he absolutely *could not* revert to square one overnight!

“Shut up. You’re annoying,” Su Mi frowned, impatient.

Manager Zhou turned to the woman. “Your company has other talents. Better not sacrifice the big picture for a petty gain.”

Realizing the situation was hopeless, the woman decisively dragged Du Yu away—before he did something even more reckless and dragged the whole company down with him.

But Du Yu refused to leave, desperately kneeling and trying to grab Su Mi’s leg. She kicked him hard—sending him flying a full meter backward. Instantly, bodyguards rushed over and hauled the sobbing, hysterical man away.

Guests staying in adjacent rooms, drawn by the commotion, stealthily peered out. Seeing Du Yu dragged off like a dead dog, they all broke into cold sweats.

He Meimei—who’d been planning to anonymously post screenshots—immediately deleted every photo she’d taken the day before. She’d grossly underestimated Su Mi’s influence. She’d never imagined Su Mi had ties to the Su Group. Yet everyone in the industry knew the Su Group had only *one* daughter—Su Ruanruan. So Su Mi must be the Su family’s illegitimate child. No wonder she was so arrogant—and could casually spend five million on perfume without blinking.

Filming still had to proceed. Of course, Su Mi wouldn’t let a few idiots derail production—that would disrupt the entire schedule. Yesterday had been a rare exception.

Perhaps because she still had urgent matters to attend to, Manager Zhou also booked the earliest flight out. At nine o’clock, everyone gathered in the hotel lobby—fully present. Even He Meimei, chronically late, arrived punctually for once.

“Mimi-jie, did you have breakfast? I just bought these steamed buns and soy milk outside!” Zhang Yue approached enthusiastically, slipping her arm naturally through He Meimei’s, her smile sweet and friendly.

Su Mi glanced sideways at her. “Get lost.”

Zhang Yue froze—then silently stepped back several paces, careful not to feign fragility or pitifulness. She behaved far more normally now.

The production staff, meanwhile, sweated profusely. This young lady’s performance matched her persona *too* perfectly—almost *too* well. How on earth would they edit this? Though airing it would certainly boost controversy, wouldn’t that amount to sacrificing her? The consequences were easy to imagine.

“Where are we going today?” Su Mi asked He Meimei.

The latter obediently consulted her notebook. “Today… we’re taking a yacht out to sea?”

She’d specifically booked a yacht—costing several thousand per day. Most importantly, it wouldn’t be exhausting.

“Then let’s go.” Su Mi slipped on her sunglasses and strode straight out of the hotel.

The others followed, one by one—too intimidated to utter another word.

Upon arriving at the marina, He Meimei suddenly noticed the yacht looked shockingly dilapidated. True to her shrewd, capable persona, she bargained fiercely with the owner—and finally knocked several hundred off the price.

Once aboard, Zhang Yue and Yang Yizhou’s “shipper” instincts activated. Sitting alone on deck in the sea breeze, they whispered to each other—romance blooming effortlessly.

He Meimei rolled her eyes repeatedly. Then she changed into her swimsuit and began striking poses—showcasing her figure relentlessly.

Su Mi sat alone, eating grilled skewers. No one dared disturb her. Yet while scrolling through her phone, she spotted a trending topic. She had to admit—Manager Zhou’s efficiency *was* impressive. No wonder she’d risen to vice president.

A paparazzo had just released a video: Du Yu passionately kissing two young models on the street—then entering a hotel with both, not emerging until the next morning.

As a leading figure among the younger generation of rock musicians, Du Yu’s popularity was substantial. The hashtag #DuYuKissesTwoWomenOnStreetLateAtNight instantly rocketed to the top of trending searches.

V5啦啦啦: Well, another fallen idol. Next! [Smiling face emoji]

嘻嘻嘻嘻: Hasn’t he always been like this? Just exposed today. [Eating melon emoji]

西瓜霜: Without knowing the full context, I won’t comment. [Smiling face emoji]

草莓为什么那么甜: Hahahaha—they even captured the pores on her idol’s face, and *you’re* still saying ‘without knowing the full context’? [Crying-laughing emoji]

CrookedLines: Two people could still be passed off as a couple, but a threesome... I'm really curious to see how the fans try to spin this one. [grabbing popcorn]

QuietObserver: The girls in the video just posted exposing him for not paying up. Isn't that soliciting prostitutes? The authorities can get involved now. [grabbing popcorn]

MullingItOver: I just went to work for a bit, and how did the collapse happen so fast? [runny nose]

Osmanthus Fragrance: It's just that the fans' filters are thick. This guy's shady history isn't just a little bit. Paying for sex and then not paying? Ew. Disgusting. [vomiting]

Wailing: No way, didn't fans say he was a guest on that travel variety show?

La-la-la-lei: Hahaha, as everyone knows, fans are all washing machines. [crying with laughter]

Within just half an hour of the video surfacing, the entire internet exploded. Netizens flocked to the frontlines for the gossip, and Su Mi also caught up on some of it. Turns out that maggot often went abroad to play without paying. It just didn't blow up much on foreign social media, so he hadn't been exposed until now.

So, Sister Zhou didn't need to work too hard to get his dirt so quickly. As for getting the girls in the video to post solid evidence, that was simple too—just offer corresponding benefits, and naturally, someone would be willing to step forward.

Not long after, the production team was the first to issue a statement distancing themselves.

Our Leisure Time (Official): Throughout the recording of this program, there have only been six fixed cast members. There are no mystery guest appearances. We will take serious action regarding false rumors.

Self-Awareness: Huh? Didn't his fans post the recording schedule before? So he really did collapse?

Procrastinator: The speed of the show's clarification... faster than me catching up on gossip. [crying with laughter]

Pink Sky: Two more brands just unilaterally terminated their contracts with Du Yu. I hope the entire domestic entertainment industry treats artists with poor morals and illegal behavior this way. [applause]

ThereItIs: By the way, can you release some clips of Zhouzhou for us to see? [drooling]

JustStayingQuiet: Scared me to death. If this caused my brother's show to not air, I would become Du Yu's biggest anti-fan. [smiling face]

Wow Wow: Hahaha, the show's emergency damage control is brilliant.

MullingItOver: The fans are still over there with their "unknown full picture." [crying with laughter]

In the face of solid evidence, only a small portion of fans were struggling to defend him. While catching up on gossip, Su Mi suddenly received a call from her mom, probably having gotten the show's private number from Sister Zhou. Her mom definitely thought she had been wronged and needed comfort from loved ones.

Sure enough, as soon as the call connected, there was a stream of concerned questions from the other side. However, her mom was very sharp and didn't mention the Du Yu incident at all. She just checked in on Su Mi's mood through other topics and only hung up after confirming she wasn't in an unstable state.

Other parents always like to ask a bunch of mundane questions to express their concern for their children. But ever since learning about her psychological issues, her mom never nags in front of her. Only the old man has never called her.

They say when people are close to death, they always think of their loved ones. Yet, when the old man was dying, he only thought of the female lead. No wonder the original host had a knot in her heart. Anyone would feel depressed in that situation.

So, the original host did so much just to prove that someone truly loved her.

Actually, in life, one doesn't need to desperately seek validation from others because we are inherently complete. Each of us can love ourselves.

But next time she sees the antagonist, she must find a way to trigger the mission. Not beating up that despicable, oily creep would be a disservice to how long he's been disgusting her.

After a few hours at sea, He Meimei didn't want to go out in the afternoon. The others clearly had no plans to go out either, as the sun was too strong—going out would be no different from being roasted.

In the evening, they went to the surrounding night market for a stroll and had a seafood feast. Even He Meimei and Yang Yizhou, who usually control their diet, couldn't resist eating several lobsters.

The cost was that by the third day, the budget was insufficient. At noon, the six of them could only eat steamed buns and plain congee. He Meimei seemed very dissatisfied with this segment, constantly explaining to the camera that she had overspent the budget given by the production team to let the others have the seafood feast.

As for how the production team will eventually edit it, who knows.

The final leg was climbing a famous scenic mountain. Since it's crowded during the day, the production team's condition was a night climb. The budget for this trip was the sum of what they had left from the previous outings.

Added up, it was over ten thousand. While they couldn't afford high-quality mountaineering gear, they could still get a basic set for everyone.

But after only half an hour of climbing, He Meimei sat down and refused to move, saying she would wait there for them and that they didn't need to include her in the summit shots.

The crew naturally didn't indulge her. After a good talking-to, she finally agreed to continue. Meanwhile, Zhang Yue was being dragged up by Yang Yizhou. The two of them consistently aimed to sprinkle sweetness, leaving no gaps.

At this moment, Su Mi once again experienced the benefits of exercise. After climbing for two hours, she still felt light and agile, while the others were left far behind. She had no intention of waiting for them.

"Do you often climb mountains?" a crew member asked incredulously, looking at the person ahead.

Su Mi kindly helped him carry the camera for a while. "First time."

As a corporate drone, where would she find time to climb mountains? Two days off and still being asked to work overtime. Why is she so agitated? It's all from overtime.

The original host is even less worth mentioning—no time for work, let alone mountain climbing.

"Who would you most want to stand at the peak with, overlooking the distant scenery?" the crew member asked, panting heavily.

Su Mi aimed the camera at the mist and clouds atop the mountain. "Why do I need to be with others? I can appreciate the layered mountain scenery alone."

Eating alone is eating; eating with someone is also eating. The food doesn't taste better just because there's one more person. And her future wouldn't become better with one more person either; instead, it would likely be a complete mess. Might as well be alone.

"But having one more person means having someone to rely on. After all, being alone is lonely, and you'll need someone to take care of you when you're old," the crew member said earnestly.

"One more person isn't necessarily a reliance; they could be a burden instead. When I'm old, it's not necessarily him taking care of me; most likely, I'd be taking care of him. And if I have money, I can hire many people to take care of me."

Su Mi said expressionlessly, "A person with an empty heart will still feel empty and lonely even if surrounded by many people. A person with a full heart, even if alone, will still have a rich and colorful world."

If you feel empty, you can spend money to buy happiness. Men might betray you, but money won't.

Hearing her words, several crew members were stunned for a moment. This young lady's logic was indeed flawless. However, on this point, they all agreed. In this world, relying on others is unreliable; the only one you can truly rely on is yourself.

Actually, they also wanted to live as richly and colorfully as this young lady. The problem is... no money.

They reached the summit just at sunrise. The morning glow began to show on the horizon. Su Mi took many more photos. After all, the phone from this production team would eventually be given to her anyway, so which phone she used to take pictures made no difference.

After about half an hour, the second one to arrive was Li Chuan. He was drenched in sweat from the climb and sat down to rest for a while upon reaching the top. Then, Song Hua, Yang Yizhou, and Zhang Yue arrived one after another.

By then, the sun was already halfway out. Golden beams of light pierced through the clouds, scattering over the land, as if symbolizing the dawn of hope enveloping the world. Su Mi took a deep breath, suddenly feeling a moment of peace.

But the next moment, her agitation surged uncontrollably again.

Because He Meimei was still halfway up the mountain, needing at least three more hours to climb up. And they all had to wait for her to arrive to take a group panoramic photo before descending together.

Well, it was the last day. Su Mi still didn't break the rules. Instead, she squatted there alone, eating instant noodles with crackers. Someone did recognize Yang Yizhou, but most people were exhausted from the climb and didn't have the energy to chase stars, at most secretly taking a few photos.

It was almost noon when He Meimei finally reached the summit. The others were basically impatient from waiting. After taking a group photo of all six, they immediately started heading down the mountain one after another.

They say going up is easy, coming down is hard. Su Mi also felt some soreness in her legs, but it was still within bearable limits.

Once down the mountain, she immediately took a car back to the hotel to rest. As for waiting for the others, that wasn't necessary—who knows how many hours that would take.

"You're always going solo. Aren't you worried about not fitting in?" the cameraman couldn't help but ask.

Su Mi leaned back in the car and slightly raised her eyes. "The strong walk alone; the weak need to flock together."

"..."

The cameraman seemed already accustomed to this. This young lady really dared to say anything, not worried about whether they'd edit her words maliciously. But judging from her performance, she had a point.

After all, such a high mountain, and this young lady just climbed it effortlessly, without any signs of soreness in her waist or knees. It's simply unbelievable.

But what's even more unbelievable is that she could kick Du Yu so far away—it's completely inconceivable.

After getting back to the hotel, Su Mi immediately took a shower and rested in bed. As for gathering with the others, there was no need—by the time she woke up, they probably still wouldn't have made it down the mountain.

Sure enough, she slept until 10 p.m. She got up, ate something, and was just about to head to the gym when she saw the others hobbling out of the elevator on crutches.

Seeing her dressed for the gym, the others frowned, their faces filled with disbelief.

Training couldn't be interrupted; otherwise, how would she complete future tasks? If she wasn't strong herself, she could only watch her enemies grow stronger. Moreover, her enemies had deep pockets and could hire bodyguards with higher combat skills, making it increasingly difficult for her to act recklessly.

After training for another two hours, Su Mi returned to her room to rest. Of course, she was tired, but it was still manageable. The more exhausted her body was during training, the more it could stimulate her potential.

Early the next morning, the production team gathered them together, returned everyone's personal belongings, and had them take a "speak your mind" test. Based on the production team's questions, they wrote their answers on a board, visible only to the camera.

The first question was about their overall experience of the trip.

Su Mi wrote quickly, while the others seemed to have a grudge against the board, writing with extra force.

The second question was: if given another chance to travel together, who among the five would they most want to go with?

This was easy to answer. Song Hua's "invisible person" persona came in handy—she couldn't bring herself to pick anyone else; it would feel insincere.

Although Li Chuan wasn't troublesome either, his motives were too strong, and he was too slick. She didn't like dealing with that kind of person.

The third question was: which part of the trip was the most enjoyable?

She wrote the second leg—that extreme rafting was truly unforgettable, and she definitely wouldn't do it again in the future.

After answering several questions, the production team officially announced that the trip was over.

Sister Zhou had already arrived at the hotel to pick her up. Su Mi refused any further filming and didn't say goodbye to the others, heading straight to the airport by car.

Overall, aside from running into that idiot, the trip was acceptable to her. After all, people come in all kinds, and she could tolerate ordinary idiots, but the overly greasy ones were simply unbearable.

"I'll keep a close eye on the post-production editing to make sure they don't include anything unfavorable," Sister Zhou said, holding a tablet. "Also, Madam has found a dress designer for you. They'll probably come tomorrow to ask about your preferences and ideas."

"Oh," Su Mi replied, leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes to rest.

What was the dress for? Of course, it was for Elder Qi's birthday next week. As in-laws, they had to attend. Since she didn't wear the dress last time, her mother thought she didn't like it, so this time she specifically arranged for someone to ask about her preferences in advance—that was really thoughtful of her.

But it was true that a dress would hinder her performance.

As if an idea had hit her, she turned to look at Sister Zhou's women's suit—elegant and sharp. It would be even more perfect with a stylish inner lining.

Most importantly, high heels would hurt more when kicking someone.

"Is... there something on me?" Sister Zhou stiffly glanced down at herself, unsure if she had somehow displeased the young lady.

"Nothing. I just think your skin looks great," Su Mi replied before turning back and closing her eyes again.

Tomorrow, she'd ask the designer to create an elegant and gentle women's suit—formal yet not hindering her performance.

Only Sister Zhou smiled wryly. This young lady really knew how to joke, but maybe she should learn from her. Perhaps exercise really could improve one's skin condition.

The plane arrived at the airport in the afternoon, and the butler was already waiting outside. But before getting into the car, Su Mi received a call from Zhao Yun. It turned out Liu Zhenyi and his group had come to demand money.

Moreover, they had received court summons, and this time they were particularly aggressive. That's why Zhao Yun had called her as instructed.

Good. This time, she hadn't simply endured and swallowed her anger—that was already significant progress.

"Head to Longcheng Residential Area," she suddenly told the butler.

He was taken aback but didn't ask questions, quickly turning the car in another direction.

Although the chairman was waiting at home to have dinner with the young lady, since she had her own plans, the chairman would surely respect and understand.

But when he heard the young lady ask him to buy several boxes of joss paper, he suddenly realized this trip might not be so simple.

Half an hour later, the car stopped outside the residential area. Su Mi had the bodyguards carry the boxes upstairs. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she could hear the commotion from inside the apartment, even from down the hallway. Neighbors were gathered outside, watching the scene.

"Why close the door? You dared to sue us, so why are you afraid of embarrassment now?!"

"Let me tell you, if you don't make that damn girl drop the lawsuit today, I'll let everyone know what kind of people you two really are!"

"Talking about being family, now that you have money, you want to kick us poor relatives aside? You're really delusional! Back when you had no money, you were so meek. Look at you now—with money, you've become all high and mighty. What kind of people are you?!"

The one shouting was Liu Hua's wife. The others were probably still inside, while the neighbors pointed and whispered, having only caught the part about the lawsuit and not understanding why Liu Zhiyun and his wife, who were always so honest, would sue their own family.

"Relatives? Just because you're relatives, you think you deserve money? When you had money, Auntie, did you ever think of giving any to my family?" Su Mi walked straight over.

Seeing her arrive, Zhao Yun stood there, her face filled with anger. In the past, she would have handled it herself, but her daughter had repeatedly urged her, so she could only call and let her daughter deal with it.

"What kind of talk is that? Every time I came here, I brought fruit. Even though you're not from our Liu family, we raised you since you were little. And now you're suing us? Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?!" Yu Zhen pointed at her and shouted angrily.

Su Mi kept smiling. "That's right, so today I specifically brought money for you, Auntie. Not too much, not too little—exactly 300 million. That should be enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your lives."

"300 million?!" The neighbors gasped in shock.

Seeing the boxes the bodyguards were carrying, Yu Zhen's eyes lit up. Hearing the commotion, the others inside also came out, seemingly surprised that Su Mi had actually brought the money. For a moment, they were so excited they didn't know what to do.

300 million! How much money was that?!

Sure enough, this brat needed to be taught a lesson to behave.

Liu He eagerly stepped forward to open the boxes, but when he saw rows of joss paper inside, his expression instantly changed. Clenching his fists, he glared angrily at Su Mi. "Damn it, you're messing with us!"

Seeing it was joss paper, Liu Zhenyi and the others immediately darkened their expressions. They hadn't expected her to bring such an ominous thing—clearly, she was trying to provoke them.

"You wanted money, right? Isn't this enough for you?" Su Mi suddenly kicked him to the ground, then grabbed his short hair, her expression darkening. "What, do you want me to burn some more for you?"