As soon as Su Heng brought up the matter of the gift, Su Wanli’s mind began to ping incessantly—
[Main Quest Progress Reminder: After Su Heng gives Meng Wange a gift, he will propose making her his adopted daughter. The host’s task is to belittle Meng Wange, crush her arrogance, and find a way to make your father retract his decision.]
[Recommended value: Satisfaction with Meng Wange below 50.]
[Current Su Heng’s satisfaction with Meng Wange: 70.]
Hearing the system’s words, Su Wanli didn’t even bother to swallow the steak in her mouth before slamming the table and standing up, blurting out uncontrollably—
“That’s just doomed to fail, isn’t it?!”
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake and immediately covered her lips.
Luckily, her mouth was still full, making her words slurred and indistinct.
To everyone else, it probably just sounded like an angry outburst.
Su Heng indeed frowned, his voice stern as he addressed Su Wanli—
“What? Do you have a problem with this?”
Su Wanli struggled to swallow the food in her mouth, ready to stick to her villainous persona and snap back at her father, when a sudden thought struck her.
Wait, while the system does want her to play the villain, the main task right now is to lower Su Heng’s satisfaction with Meng Wange.
‘If she stands up and argues with him now while Meng Wange sits there quietly, wouldn’t she just become the perfect foil, making Meng Wange look even better in Su Heng’s eyes?’
Thinking this, Su Wanli pursed her lips and reluctantly sat back down.
“…No, just standing up to… aid digestion.”
“Always making a scene, not a shred of a young lady’s demeanor. Anyway, Zhang Ma, help me get Wange’s…”
Su Heng raised an eyebrow, remembering his intention to give Meng Wange a gift, and was about to call out to the servants outside the dining hall when Su Wanli, who had just sat down, abruptly shot back up, slamming the table again.
“Ahem! Uh, that…”
“Hmm?”
This time, not only Su Heng but even Meng Wange, sitting beside her, turned to look.
Cold sweat silently trickled down Su Wanli’s forehead.
‘No, don’t panic.’
The priority is to interrupt Su Heng’s gift-giving and then find a way to lower his satisfaction with Meng Wange during the meal.
‘Be calm, elegant, composed… a proper villainess…’
Su Wanli took a deep breath, casting a cold glance at Meng Wange before shifting her gaze to Su Heng.
“Listen to me, both of you.”
Whether it was the force of her table slam or the abruptness of her stance, Su Heng and Meng Wange both paused, their attention fixed on Su Wanli’s eyes.
‘Wait, are they really listening? I haven’t even figured out what to say yet…’
Su Wanli gulped, then calmly pointed at the half-eaten steak in front of her and said coolly—
“This… this is… pretty… pretty good.”
Very composed.
Aside from the slight tremble in her voice.
“…”
[Good news: She successfully stopped her cheap dad from giving Meng Wange the gift.]
[Bad news: The meal came to a halt. For some reason, Su Heng and Meng Wange both fell silent, leaving Su Wanli standing alone at the table.]
‘…Say something?!’
‘I know this is awkward and probably out of character, but is it really so bad that no one can even speak?’
The system’s voice chimed in like a savior—
[…Suggest the host… uh…]
‘Wait, even you’re speechless?!’
***
Finally, after nearly ten seconds of deafening silence in the grand dining hall, Meng Wange’s clear voice broke the stalemate.
“Really?”
Su Wanli clung to this lifeline, nodding slightly before sitting back down.
“…Really.”
Meng Wange obligingly reached out, cut a small piece of steak, and placed it on her own plate.
She took a delicate bite, then nodded earnestly.
“Mmm, it really is delicious.”
Su Heng, seated at the far end of the table, finally snapped out of it and waved his hand grandly—
“If it’s good, make more. What’s the point of two people fighting over one dish? Old Zhang, prepare two more servings of this butter-fried steak.”
[Detected Su Heng’s satisfaction with Meng Wange has risen to 75.]
“See!? I knew Su Heng was up to something with Meng Wange!”
Just moments ago, when she herself had fallen silent, Su Heng acted like a stone statue and said nothing.
But as soon as Meng Wange showed an interest in a dish, he immediately ordered two more of the same! and somehow, his satisfaction level increased again!
Whether it was from frustration or something else, Su Wanli’s gaze toward Su Heng grew increasingly hostile.
Su Heng, however, remained completely oblivious.
He casually picked up his wine glass and took a long sip.
‘What a day this is,’ he thought.
‘Wanli’s actually eating properly at the table for once. Normally, she’d just grab a few of her favorites and retreat to her room.’
‘Was it because Meng Wange was here? As expected of the girl he had handpicked—she really was a promising candidate.’
With her around, reconciling with his daughter felt more achievable than ever.
Thinking more deeply, he realized it had been ages since Wanli last called him “Dad”… but come to think of it, it had been ages since he called her by her childhood nickname, too.
His gaze drifted toward Su Wanli’s outfit today.
‘Hmm. Not bad. She looked lively and refreshed—so much better than the gloomy appearance she used to carry.’
Putting down his wine glass, Su Heng tried to act more natural.
He gave a restrained nod and even attempted a smile.
“Wanli, your outfit today is quite nice. Who helped you pick it out?”
It was just a casual question to break the ice, but Su Wanli reacted like she’d been ambushed.
Her brow furrowed instantly, and she shot a wary glance at the seemingly innocent Meng Wange beside her.
From Su Heng’s expression, it was clear he was genuinely pleased with her look.
If she admitted that it was Meng Wange who helped her, his satisfaction level would definitely spike again.
So, instead, Su Wanli just rolled her eyes and pretended she hadn’t heard him.
Su Heng, who had just mustered the courage to use her childhood name again, found himself stonewalled.
Awkwardly, he turned his attention to his last-hope conversation starter: “Right, Wange, I haven’t had the chance to formally introduce you. This is my daughter, Su Wanli. You two are the same age. Like I mentioned before, I hope you can keep her company from time to time.”
“Of course, Uncle Su,” Meng Wange said with a graceful smile.
“We’ve actually already met. I helped Su Wanli with her makeup earlier. I’m glad to hear you liked it.”
“Hmm? Is that so?”
Su Heng’s smile stiffened.
‘So… they were already close enough to do each other’s makeup?’
His own daughter, who used to reject the top makeup artists he hired—nitpicking their work and reluctantly choosing one only after much hassle—was now accepting help from a near-stranger?
Well, he supposed it made sense.
Meng Wange was someone he had personally vetted.
A truly outstanding girl and somehow, she had bonded with his daughter so quickly.
He laughed to himself bitterly.
They had just met earlier today, complete strangers, and yet they were already this close…
Meanwhile, he had spent so much time trying to understand what young girls liked.
He’d even sent her gifts every few days—none of which were well received.
Now that he thought about it, back when Wanli’s mother was still alive, she and their daughter had always been close.
He had always been the one on the outside, struggling to get in.
Without realizing it, a wave of melancholy washed over him.
Still, Su Heng kept a polite smile on his face and nodded at Meng Wange.
“That’s… that’s great. I’m glad you two are getting along.”
He cleared his throat.
“Actually, I just remembered—there’s something urgent I need to deal with at the office. I’ll have to head out first.”
With that, he pushed himself up from the chair, placing both hands on the table for support.
He rubbed his lower back and turned toward the door without another word.
“Wait, Mr. Su? Why are you going into the kitchen—”
“Shut it. Just go cook.”
***
The door clicked shut behind him, cutting off the voices from the dining hall.
The two girls were now left alone in the grand, echoing banquet room, facing a feast meant for many.
‘Phew… that was close!’ Su Wanli exhaled sharply.
‘I thought for sure his satisfaction would shoot through the roof after hearing the truth!’
She wasn’t sure what emergency had pulled Su Heng away, but at least he hadn’t had the chance to give Meng Wange the gift.
That gave her more time to come up with a plan.
The system chimed in at just the right moment:
[Alert: Su Heng’s satisfaction with Meng Wange has dropped to 50. He left the banquet early and forgot to give her the gift.]
[Main Mission: Su Wanli’s Welcome Banquet — All objectives complete.]
[Prologue Complete — Congratulations, Host. Rewards will be distributed tonight.]
“…Huh?”
Su Wanli’s eyes widened in disbelief.
She glanced at the serene, composed Meng Wange, then at the door through which Su Heng had left.
‘Lord Su of the Su family… what just happened? Why!?’
“Is something wrong, Miss Su? Aren’t you going to finish eating?” Meng Wange asked with her usual grace.
She elegantly divided the last bite of steak, placing one piece on Su Wanli’s plate and keeping the other for herself.
“…”
‘Well, alright then?’
‘The whole event had been a chaotic mess, but if the result was good, then who cared about the rest?’
Su Wanli scratched her head, forked up the piece of steak, and put it in her mouth with a high-and-mighty nod.
“…Hmph, I’ll let this one slide. Also, pass me a chicken leg from that roast.”
***
Back in the kitchen, a middle-aged chef flipped a steak over with practiced ease.
He cautiously glanced toward Su Heng and asked, “Um… Mr. Su, how long do you plan to stay in the kitchen?”
Su Heng took a long drag from the cigarette in his hand, gazing out the window toward the garden.
“Shh. Just let me stay here a while.”
He sighed heavily.
“…I was just thinking about her mother.”