Volume One, Chapter 21: Is There Something Wrong with Su Wanning’s Academic Credentials?

Su Wanqing knew that both of them were acting out of concern for her, but seeing them hurry off to seek justice on her behalf, she quickly stepped forward to stop them.

"If you go over there so aggressively, you won’t even make it past the Su family’s gate. Besides, the Su family has their own bodyguards. Even if Xu Jiang has practiced Sanda for a few years, what good would that do? They have strength in numbers; you won’t gain anything at all!"

Zheng Lu gritted her teeth. "We can't just let it go!"

Xu Jiang nodded, his expression terrifyingly grim. Su Wanqing was a very important person in his life. He didn't know what had happened over the past five years, but now that she was back, how could he stand by and watch her be bullied?

After a moment of thought, he picked up his phone: "That Su Wanning was hired by our firm, Yongfang, right? I’ll have them kick her out right now! I need to re-evaluate our HR department, too. Is Yongfang the kind of place where any stray cat or dog can just walk in?"

Xu Jiang’s idea aligned perfectly with Zheng Lu’s, and with him stepping in, it would be even more logical to have Su Wanning fired.

Su Wanqing pursed her lips. She was no saint. Her husband had been snatched away by Su Wanning, and her father was trying to drive her out of Haicheng for the sake of that woman...

In her heart, she naturally longed for Su Wanning to face retribution. Now that Su Wanning was flaunting her entry into Yongfang, it happened to be within Su Wanqing's own professional domain. If she could deliver a resounding slap in the face in this matter...

Su Wanqing squinted slightly; just thinking about it made it seem feasible.

However, she suddenly recalled the photographs she had seen at the Su home over the years and the things the servants had said.

Su Wanning used to study traditional dance. There were many photos of her dancing in the house, and Su Guoxing had once been very proud of it. She still remembered that the first time she visited the Su family, Su Guoxing had told her in detail that Su Wanning was an expert in that field.

But after an accident six years ago, she had been unable to continue dancing at such a high intensity and had been forced to change her major.

Su Wanqing frowned deeply. She felt that something was not quite right.

"What do you think... is most needed to succeed in our field?"

Although her question came out of nowhere, Xu Jiang and Zheng Lu answered in unison: "Talent!"

They were veterans in the industry and understood better than any outsider that in this field, talent was a hundred times more important than effort.

Su Wanqing asked again: "Then, could someone complete their study of algorithms in just six years and pass through layer after layer of screening to get onto Yongfang’s internship list?"

Zheng Lu reached out and touched Su Wanqing’s forehead, murmuring, "You don't have a fever... what are you thinking about? Learning all those algorithms in six years? Wouldn't that require an IQ higher than Einstein's?"

Xu Jiang also looked at Su Wanqing in confusion. "If there really were such a person, they wouldn't have escaped my mother's notice."

Su Wanqing replied, "But we have one right in front of us."

"Who?!" Zheng Lu and Xu Jiang exclaimed in unison.

Su Wanqing tapped her fingers on the table and uttered three words: "Su Wanning."

She briefly explained Su Wanning’s previous academic path and her subsequent studies to Zheng Lu and Xu Jiang. Their expressions instantly turned as if they had been struck by lightning, their faces twisted in disbelief.

Zheng Lu waved her hand dismissively. "No, no, no, that’s impossible. Dance and mathematics are worlds apart. If she really had that kind of ability, what was she doing all this time?"

Xu Jiang looked equally skeptical, his brows tightly knitted. "If she’s really that brilliant, then what have I been doing all these years? Am I just stupid?"

Su Wanqing pondered for a moment, then said to Xu Jiang, "Have your HR department send you a copy of Su Wanning’s resume."

Meanwhile, at the Starry Moon Bar in Haicheng.

As a premier nightlife landmark in the domestic entertainment scene, the Starry Moon Bar transformed into a churning vortex of people under the night sky.

A top-tier sound system throbbed with sonic waves, the DJ wielded mixing magic like a conductor at a floating console, and lead dancers in shimmering gowns stretched their bodies on rotating platforms, igniting the crowd with their fiery moves.

The glasses held high by guests shook into a galaxy of light amidst the sound waves, while sweat and hormones fermented in the air to create the secret code for tonight’s revelry.

Su Wanning clutched the hem of Xie Yanchen’s jacket tightly, her face full of terror, as if she were visiting such a place for the first time.

Xie Yanchen noticed her unease, a flicker of a smile in his eyes. He reached out to take her hand, fingers interlocking, and whispered in her ear: "Have you never been to a place like this before?"

Su Wanning nodded and gave a soft "Mm," appearing as pure and innocent as a white lily.

The smile in Xie Yanchen’s eyes deepened. "Not even when you were abroad?"

A flash of light quickly crossed Su Wanning’s eyes before she immediately lowered them. She tapped Xie Yanchen playfully, complaining: "Brother Yanchen, what are you saying! When I was abroad, I spent every day running between the school lab and home. You know that—I changed my major, and although I had some talent, it took a lot of time to study. How would I have time to come to a place like this to mess around?"

Hearing her confirmation, the corners of Xie Yanchen’s mouth curled up, his mood exceptionally good.

Pushing open the door to the private room, Zhu Heguang and a few other friends were already deep into their drinks.

Seeing them arrive, they shouted, "You’re late! Drink up as punishment!"

Xie Yanchen did not hesitate; he picked up a glass from the table, ready to down it. Zhu Heguang smirked and leaned in, stopping his movement: "Hey, why should only one person be punished? Tonight, Yanchen has finally brought his real wife here, and tomorrow you’ll be out of your misery—you should drink a ‘wedding cup’ together!"

Once this was said, the others became even more excited, banging on the table and chanting, "Wedding cup! Wedding cup!"

Xie Yanchen frowned slightly. "What wedding cup? We aren't divorced yet."

Zhu Heguang laughed even louder. "Oh, forget it! You two are already living apart, does that piece of paper really matter? Hurry up, drink this and let’s get to the main event; we’ve been waiting for you forever."

Xie Yanchen was slightly taken aback at the mention of living apart, but he soon remembered that he rarely returned home, so the term seemed appropriate.

He scanned the room; everyone in this booth was a friend he had grown up with, and Su Wanning knew them too. He wasn't worried about her being shy, but as for the alcohol...

He looked at Su Wanning with some concern. "Can you drink it?"

Su Wanning seemed to struggle with the decision, but eventually, she nodded. Blushing, she said, "Mm, I can manage a wedding cup."

With those words, the atmosphere in the room reached a fever pitch.

Zhu Heguang and his friends huddled together, urging, "Alright, enough with the lovey-dovey stuff, just drink already."

Xie Yanchen gently pushed the glass toward Su Wanning’s fingertips. Her slightly cool skin brushed against the glass, making her tremble for a split second, but she took it firmly.

The moment their eyes met, the roaring noise around them suddenly faded into a blurred background.

The diamond rings on their fingers shone with blinding brilliance in the darkness. As the rims of the glasses touched their lips simultaneously, they saw nothing but each other in their eyes.

The room erupted in cheers like a surging tide, but for them, it all dissolved into the warm, intertwined breath between them.