Tian Danni couldn't stand Su Minghan's submissive look.
"If it's because of my going to the banquet, you don't have to be embarrassed. Besides, I'm not really eager to go to such an occasion."
"Just eat yours. It's none of your business."
Su Minghan was boiling some tripe in the hot pot. His lips were already red from the spiciness.
"Chairman Su was drunk on the phone yesterday. I can explain it to him later. Can you stop always trying to be brave on your own?"
"I'm fine. I'm not trying to be brave."
Tian Danni knew that there was still a place for Xiao Shujing in his heart, and she understood the principle of first come, first served. Even when Su Hao approached her personally, she didn't agree.
All she wanted was for him to be happy.
"Are you happy like this?"
The words blurted out before she even thought about them.
Su Minghan looked at her as bubbles kept rising in the hot pot.
There was a thin layer of mist between them, just like their relationship. They were aware of each other's feelings and could see each other clearly, but due to their concerns, they couldn't be completely honest with each other.
"Father said you should go, so you go."
He fished out the tripe from the pot and took a few bites. He said with a simple smile, "It's all your fault for interrupting me. This thing is overcooked. It's tough to chew."
Tian Danni saw his way of avoiding the topic and didn't expose him.
"I haven't put mine in yet. You can have it."
"Thanks~"
Since Su Minghan didn't want to talk about it, he must have his own way of dealing with it.
As an outsider for now, she didn't need to interfere too much.
After the meal, he didn't leave. He just lay on the living - room sofa, swiping his phone.
During that time, he received five or six calls but didn't answer any of them.
Tian Danni was about to talk to him when the doorbell rang.
"Hello, Teacher Tian. I'm here to deliver the evening dresses as Chairman Su instructed. Could you please try them on now?"
"...... Can you come back later?"
She was a bit worried about Su Minghan behind her, afraid of any gossip.
"It's okay. Let her in."
The person behind her said while still staring at his phone.
Standing in front of the full - length mirror, Tian Danni tried on one dress after another, but she always felt something was missing, yet she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"I think that off - white one is quite nice."
Su Minghan didn't know when he turned his attention and said.
Her face flushed. "Isn't it... too revealing?"
This off - white strapless evening dress was indeed more pleasing to the eye than the previous ones, but the only concern was that it showed too much skin.
Tian Danni had never worn anything so revealing before.
"You should change your style. You used to dress in a hip - hop style. It's not bad to try a pure and sexy style once in a while." He smiled faintly.
"Then this one. Thank you for your trouble."
She said to the service staff beside her.
"This is a new - style necklace from the jewelry store. It was also arranged by Chairman Su."
Su Minghan had been a bit suspicious just now.
The female guests invited last night were also personally chosen by Su Hao, and today he sent evening dresses and jewelry for Tian Danni.
It all seemed a bit too deliberate.
After the service staff left, he couldn't help but remind her.
"Watch your mouth. If I hear any rumors, you should know the consequences."
Tian Danni's good mood was instantly dampened.
Was he so eager to distance himself from her?
"I'm asking you. Have you had any contact with my father?"
Suspicion arose in Su Minghan's mind, and he stared straight at her.
"No. Why do you ask?"
She lied. For the first time in her life, she went against her own principle of being honest.
"Really not?" He was still doubtful.
Tian Danni sighed helplessly. "If you don't want me to go, just say so. I'm not a sticky person. You don't need to use other things to provoke me. I wasn't really willing to go in the first place."
She was really not willing.
After all, if Xiao Shujing knew about this, she would surely misunderstand her again.
"...... Sorry. I'm just too sensitive today."
Su Minghan knew that his emotions were unstable today and apologized actively.
"Actually, I do have some things I don't know how to handle today."
Tian Danni walked over and sat down. "Tell me. I'm listening."
"There's a design - department competition at Yancheng University tonight. Shujing is a judge, but it happens to clash with Jing Yu's banquet. I'm so frustrated."
No wonder he had been getting calls constantly but didn't answer any of them.
No wonder he had suddenly come to her for dinner today.
"Are you going?" Tian Danni asked calmly.
"The guests at tonight's banquet are all important people. I can't just run off to take care of her feelings because of this. Have you noticed that she has changed? She wasn't like this before. She used to be so well - behaved and sensible."
Su Minghan looked puzzled and even a bit exhausted.
"Maybe you didn't express yourself clearly. You can't just blame her. Maybe she just wanted you to see her at her best."
He calmed down and thought about it. It did make sense.
"So what should I do now?"
Tian Danni smiled bitterly. "What else can you do? You make an appearance in public and then I'll escort you away. I'll handle the rest."
She had always put him first.
Even if it meant sacrificing herself, even if it meant being blamed by Su Hao, she didn't want Su Minghan to be troubled by unpleasant things.
"No. Absolutely not."
His attitude was firm without any hesitation.
Before Tian Danni could say anything, his phone rang again.
Su Minghan answered it helplessly. "What?"
"Brother - in - law! Come to school quickly! My sister fainted!"
"What?"
He jumped up from the sofa, grabbed his coat, and rushed out.
"I'll be there right away!" He hung up the phone without looking back. "Shujing fainted. I have to go to school. A driver will come to pick you up tonight."
Su Minghan suddenly stopped, leaned against the door, and turned around.
"I don't agree with you sticking up for me. You shouldn't even have such a thought. Just pretend I was drunk today. Forget about the rest."
Watching him run out like the wind, Tian Danni felt extremely cold in her heart.
She remembered the question she had asked just now -
"Are you happy like this?"
Watching Su Minghan humble himself for a woman to such an extent, she didn't think he was happy at all.
But what could Tian Danni do?
She was just a confidant, called when needed and dismissed at will.
In his eyes, maybe he didn't even see her as a woman.
Her current situation was no different from Su Minghan's.
They were both chasing desperately, regardless of the consequences.
Looking at herself in the mirror, wearing a luxurious and unique dress, Tian Danni laughed at herself. "Look at you. You're such a mess."
In love, her self - infatuation always made her feel inferior.
Apart from comforting Su Minghan, she couldn't do anything else.
In the school infirmary, Yan Yueyue was keeping time.
"Here he comes! A Yuan just sent me a message!"
Xiao Shujing immediately lay on the bed, pretending to be unwell, frowning tightly.
"What's going on? Why did she faint suddenly?"
Su Minghan had run several red lights on the way and rushed here in a hurry.