Chapter 48 Exposure

Chapter 48: In the Spotlight

Expecting the young lady to drop some bombshell, her sudden seriousness left some reporters at a loss for how to respond, as their interview outlines didn’t include such patriotic and politically correct topics.

“Then, may we ask about your relationship status?” one reporter boldly inquired.

Su Mi maintained her smile as she looked at the camera. “No updates.”

“What’s your ideal type? Could you give us a hint?” the reporter could only ask indirectly.

Su Mi thought for a moment. “Good physique, outstanding looks, gentle, considerate, not clingy. Money isn’t important; it’s best if he’s willing to marry into my family. No other hard requirements.”

Hearing this answer, the reporters fell silent again. Originally, they had wanted to skirt the edges and ask if there was any chance of reconciliation with Lin Yue. Now, they could see that was impossible.

“Do you have any hard requirements regarding gender?” a female reporter joked.

Su Mi showed a regretful expression. “I really like girls too, but my biology doesn’t allow it. So sometimes it’s quite difficult.”

There was no need to dwell too much on this point. Although men are all cut from the same cloth, she was just playing around anyway, not looking for love.

The thought that she hadn’t yet ‘played’ with a man suddenly filled her with regret. One should enjoy life while they can. What if she suddenly died again?

“So, what do you think of me?” a male reporter, thinking himself handsome, chimed in.

Su Mi glanced to the side. “Can someone give him a mirror?”

“Hahahahaha!”

The reporters couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Sister Zhou seized the chance to pull Su Mi out of the scrum, fearing that if she continued, things might get out of hand.

In a rare good mood, Su Mi took a selfie in the car. Without those flies buzzing around, the whole world was indeed much quieter.

Su Mi v: Everyone must believe they are the best. [Picture]

Lalalala: No, Sis, you’re truly amazing. We’re not. [covering mouth crying]

Change Myself: Ahhhhh! The career fans are ecstatic! My Sister Mi is the best in the domestic entertainment industry! No arguments allowed!!!!

Once 100 Jin: Hahahahaha the backstage interview made me laugh my head off.

Bunny: That male reporter is so funny hahahaha how can he be so confident? [tears of laughter]

Soymilk Maker: President Lin, why don’t you consider marrying into her family? You might still have a chance. [tears of laughter]

Medical Face Mask: If it were me, I’d do it! Wouldn’t that beat 99.9% of the CEOs? [smiling face]

Rat-a-tat-tat: Sister Mi always gives me the vibe of being both man-repellant and straight. [tears of laughter]

Hua Yuan: Huamao Group hasn’t tried to ride on trending topics for a long time. Probably scared by the two who got busted. [tears of laughter]

Haha: My idol accidentally won Best Actress. Who understands how fans feel? [covering mouth crying]

Tu Tu: Other fans are still fighting over billing, while my Sister Mi is already sitting in the central seat of power. [tears of laughter]

Thick Hairline: Following Sister Mi means never having to suffer injustice; the idol directly carries you to victory. [tears of laughter]

The moment she got home, Su Mi saw her mother had personally made a plate of small desserts, clearly having seen the news about her winning the award, her face now full of unconcealed joy.

After eating a few, she went upstairs to change, then headed to the gym for training. When she asked Li Yi to come over for a sparring session, he said he was having acupuncture at the traditional Chinese medicine clinic and probably couldn’t make it today.

Though it was a letdown, Su Mi didn’t force him. Competing professionally is indeed tough; many people develop chronic injuries and are prone to Parkinson’s in old age. Making money isn’t easy for anyone these days.

As if remembering something, she sent Lin Yue a message. Since he was so confident about being her sparring partner, of course she should test him properly. It was indeed a regret that she had never formally sparred with him before.

His response was even faster than Li Yi's, appearing at the gym in less than twenty minutes. You'd think he was waiting there just for that, but her request for Li Yi was spur-of-the-moment; he shouldn’t have calculated it that precisely.

Taking a pair of boxing gloves from the cabinet and tossing them over, she unscrewed a bottle cap and took a sip of water. “If you last longer than Li Yi, you’ll be my go-to from now on.”

Li Yi was often under the weather, which she could understand. Teaching others usually doesn’t require much effort, but being her sparring partner involves not only high pressure but also getting hit, so naturally the body can’t take it for long.

If Lin Yue could keep up, she certainly wouldn’t pass up a competent sparring partner. Her housekeeper could no longer find personal trainers willing to take her on. They had to double the price, and even then the skill level was mediocre. It was a waste of money.

“Okay.” Lin Yue put on the gloves.

Seeing him wearing loose short sleeves today, Su Mi inexplicably recalled her own words from before. Maybe… perhaps he really just dressed casually. But in that situation, her suspicion was a normal reaction. After all, it’s wise to be cautious.

Seeing him still trying to act the gentleman, Su Mi didn’t hold back. She immediately attacked with left and right straight punches to his head, swiftly followed by a spinning side kick. However, his reaction speed was decent; he instantly raised his guard, blocking all attacks, though he was forced back two steps.

Not giving him a chance to recover, Su Mi immediately executed a jump-step front kick aimed at his chest. He leaned back to dodge, seizing the opportunity to throw a heavy punch at her face.

Su Mi raised her left leg to intercept. The two forces collided. Seeing him retreat several more steps, she also felt some soreness and numbness in her calf. She immediately pressed the advantage with a right hook to the ribs. As he blocked with one arm, her left elbow had already slammed into his left shoulder.

Knowing how heavy that hit was, she didn’t press the attack further. Instead, she stepped back a few paces and patted her gloves. “Not bad. You’ve improved quite a bit.”

It seemed he wasn’t just boasting. Compared to before, he had indeed progressed. Most people couldn’t withstand two moves from her. Now, as a sparring partner, he was just barely acceptable.

“Thank you.” Lin Yue took off his gloves and pressed his left shoulder.

Su Mi grabbed a clean towel and tossed it to him, then went to the cabinet and took out a bottle of medicated wine for bruises and sprains.

Too many people got injured here. This medicated wine was said to be quite effective.

“Try moving it to see if it’s dislocated. Go to the hospital for a CT scan when you have time. Don’t let any aftereffects develop and then blame me.”

She unscrewed the bottle cap, sniffed it, and wrinkled her nose at the pungent smell. Then she pushed him onto a chair, glanced at his clothes, and finally handed him the bottle.

“Apply it yourself, or take it back and have your assistant help you.”

“It should be fine.”

Lin Yue lifted his arm and rotated it, then pulled up his short sleeve, revealing a reddened left shoulder exposed to the air.

Su Mi frowned, poured some medicated wine, and slapped it onto his shoulder with her palm, smearing it around a bit. The firm, tight feel registered in her palm. She looked down at the well-defined lines of his arm muscles, and the memory of the feel of his abs from last time involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

This guy really does have a good physique. After seeing all the potential match photos her mom showed her, his figure was the most well-proportioned.

Just as she was about to screw the cap back on, she felt a pang of regret. Why was she restraining herself so much? Mutual consent between adults is human nature. She didn't owe anyone fidelity. Since there was ready-made male eye candy right here, why not just have some fun?

“The performance of your family’s new product… is indeed mediocre.” She shrugged regretfully.

Lin Yue’s eyes darkened. He couldn’t help but turn his head to look at the person beside him, meeting those bright eyes. “I don’t agree with that.”

Feeling her wrist suddenly gripped tightly, Su Mi sensed a shadow looming before her. The next moment, she was pinned against the wall. A low voice sounded by her ear. “Can I have a chance to explain?”

She didn’t punch him away. Instead, she placed one hand on his shoulder, her eyes glinting with an ambiguous light. “I have no intention of making a purchase. Don’t expect me to take responsibility.”

Men are just for fun, for amusement. Falling in love is out of the question; she had no time for that sort of thing.

Her answer was met with a warm touch on her lips. Amidst the intermingling of heated breaths, a hand seemed to find its way to her waist.

Su Mi wasn't just lying there either; she boldly ran her hand over the man's firm back muscles, tight yet with a hint of elasticity, the lines smooth and distinct—it really did feel good.

It was through Su Mi that Lin Yue came to understand a principle: the foundation of trust between two people was mutual respect. Every time he saw her encounter trouble, he knew she could handle it herself, so he never arrogantly intervened. With her abilities, she could deal with any trouble; she was nobody's dependent.

On the contrary, he was the one who needed to improve to keep up with her pace. It was just like this era: arrogance, complacency, and clinging to the past would only lead to being left behind. Only by constantly progressing could one stand at the forefront of the times. The same went for how one lived and conducted business.

People with narrow minds couldn't level up and naturally couldn't see her efforts and excellence. So, if anyone should be learning, it was him. If he couldn't even keep up as a sparring partner, then she would have even less reason to need him.

From the gym to the bedroom, Su Mi seemed to hear a hoarse voice by her ear, "I wouldn't mind marrying into your family."

However, she paid no mind. Believing what a man says in bed is like believing a boar can climb a tree.

The next day, she woke up just before eight o'clock, mainly because the shower was already running. She turned over, sat up, slipped on a robe, and walked out of the room.

Going to her father's walk-in closet on the third floor, she picked out a fresh, unworn dress shirt and suit, then yawned her way back to her own room and hung them on the bathroom door.

She knocked on the door as well. "If you're done, get a move on. I'm not keeping you for breakfast."

Everyone had to work; she had to go to the company later and had no time for any lingering or messy goodbyes.

Men were like that—something to try out now and then. She was too young to let herself be damaged by drink and desire—after all, such things could also damage a woman's kidneys.

She had just lain back down on her big bed when a warm presence materialized behind her, as if something was approaching. With her eyes closed, she said, "I don't like men who are too clingy."

Lin Yue lowered his eyes, his voice deep. "Then, can we make this official? I promise not to smother you."

Hearing this, Su Mi thought for a moment but still didn't speak. After all, it was just a label anyway. When she needed a sparring partner in the future, she'd have a reason to call him over. And performance-wise, he wasn't bad—at least not a useless pretty boy or the kind of self-centered person who only cared about his own pleasure.

"Let's get one thing straight first: I have the right to end this at any time. If you think that's unfair, you can refuse now," she stated seriously.

Everything had to be clarified in advance to avoid any messy drama down the line.

"I accept," Lin Yue replied with a smile.

Su Mi waved a hand dismissively, her back to him. "You know what to tell my dad without my coaching."

"Don't look for Li Yi anymore in the future; come directly to me," he said, pausing briefly. "I'm more durable than him."

He really was sizing up the competition. Su Mi's lip twitched without saying anything. She felt a warm brush against her ear, followed by the sound of the door closing.

Reaching for her phone, she drowsily logged into her account and posted an update, her feelings mixed.

Su Mi v: Still ended up going back to the ex-grass [sigh]

Claw Machine: Is it what I think it means???

Doodle Doodle: Did President Lin agree to marry in???

Ohohohoh: Hahahahaha the CP I ship is actually real!!!!!

Day After Day: No!!! Sis, focus on your empire, don't pay attention to him!

Heehee: The marketing department of Huamao Group can rest easy now; their president probably won't be sent to jail for the time being [facepalm]

Chili Sauce: Looks like President Lin took the advice and finally improved his performance [melon emoji]

Childhood Story: Actually, President Lin is pretty good. Nice appearance, great figure, willing to marry in, and now his performance has improved—it's really hard to refuse [melon emoji]

Yoon: Sis, tell me quickly! Is his performance still just average? Don't you settle for mediocre!

Control Panel: Hahahahaha these netizens are too savage, not caring about President Lin's well-being at all [facepalm]

Taro: Just when I thought President Lin was also going to be sent to jail, he actually managed to get the title [facepalm]

Waking up at nine, Su Mi didn't have time to look at the series of messages. After washing up, she went downstairs to eat. Her father, surprisingly, hadn't gone to the company today, unlike his usual early morning departures.

Seeming somewhat hesitant to speak, Su Min held a financial newspaper, his gaze occasionally drifting toward the dining room.

Only Su's mother walked over openly, smiling. "If you two have made up, then Mom won't introduce you to anyone else anymore."

She had seen Lin Yue arrive yesterday and didn't think much of it until she saw him talking with her husband early in the morning—clearly, he had stayed the night.

Of course, if he really intended to marry in, she would be quite satisfied. After all, he was indeed very good in both character and work, and if his family was willing to let him, it showed they were quite open-minded. Future interactions between the two families would surely be much more pleasant.

"Not needed for now," Su Mi said while drinking her porridge.

Hearing this, Su's mother wanted to say more but ultimately held back. It was good that her daughter was free-spirited and straightforward. Young people's matters should be handled by young people themselves; what was the point of elders meddling so much?

After breakfast, Su Mi took a car to the company alone. Her father wasn't going to the office because he had a lunch engagement to attend.

Su Min basically never let her participate in these kinds of business meals, probably afraid she'd flip the table if she heard something unpleasant. Actually, there was no need to worry so much—as long as everyone spoke normally, why would she flip the table?

But not long after she arrived at her office, she saw that the Qi family was suing Huo Xuan for attempted murder. Likely, this was to position themselves as the disadvantaged party to attract public sympathy. They even specially issued a press release and published the lawyer's letter.

Regarding this bewildering big piece of gossip, #Huo Xuan Attempts to Murder Qi Yun# was also trending at number one, even pushing down the update she had posted that morning.

Ummm: Didn't Scumbag Qi go to jail? How did Miss Huo murder him?

Doodle: Didn't the lawyer's letter say? Hiring someone to harm him in prison. Even though the scumbag deserves to die, murder is indeed illegal, right?

Forest Fairy Tale: Didn't expect to get a follow-up to this gossip. The waters of wealthy families really run deep [melon emoji]

Beach Sand: It's not necessarily that Huo Xuan tried to kill him; maybe the scumbag is deliberately playing the victim to salvage his company's image [melon emoji]

Casual Wear: What the person above said makes a lot of sense [melon emoji]

Hesitant to Speak: Seems like everyone is overlooking Su Ruanruan. From start to finish, she hasn't made a peep. What a pure, innocent white lotus [vomit]

Black and White: Hahaha, now even scumbags have learned to use the law to protect their rights. Just wait and see—heaven spares no one [facepalm]

Repaying Kindness: I just heard a piece of gossip yesterday—the scumbag is back in jail again. Not sure if it's true [facepalm]

How Could I Forget: Miss Huo is too fierce. Others just talk; she actually takes action [facepalm]