"Long ago, I always wanted to stand somewhere that high and feel what it was like to fall from the sky."
Su Wan looked up at the bungee tower not far away. "Don't be fooled by how fearless I seem—I'm actually a little afraid of heights. I never dared to go alone, and later… I never found anyone willing to do a tandem jump with me."
A Xin followed her gaze upward. From the tower came the occasional sharp scream. "Do you still want to try?"
"Of course." Su Wan looked enviously at the pair dropping together from above. "Things you've never experienced will always make you curious. If you keep wanting something but never do it, you'll regret it eventually.
It's like dreaming at night about a dish you really want to eat. And the next day when you go to the restaurant, the owner says they'll never serve it again. You'd definitely feel disappointed."
"What dish do you want to eat?" A Xin asked. "Whatever it is, I can learn it in one try. If you dream about something you really want to eat, just tell me. I won't let you have regrets."
Su Wan froze for a moment and looked at the serious-faced girl beside her. She hadn't expected her metaphor to get such a literal reply. She lowered her head and chuckled.
"I don't have any particular dish in mind. Everything you cook is delicious. I've even stopped ordering from private kitchens—those top-tier chefs don't cook half as well as you."
A Xin nodded. "Oh… Then do you want to go up and jump?"
Being tied to a rope and thrown downward wasn't as free as it seemed—especially when the rope tightened and sent you spinning midair. It wasn't pleasant. But this soul seemed eager to experience it, so she would accompany her.
Su Wan snapped back. "You're not afraid of heights? Not afraid of that moment you drop?"
Her cheeks turned faintly red. "Every time I think about it, my brain starts imagining things—like wondering if I'll be the unlucky person whose rope snaps. I'm still young. Between thrills and staying alive, I'll choose staying alive every time. It's the only moment I genuinely feel afraid of death."
"I'm not afraid."
A Xin said calmly, "The rope won't snap. Ropes only snap when safety checks are irregular and workers are careless."
And even if it snapped, with her here, Su Wan wouldn't die.
"So, do you want to try?"
Su Wan hesitated, but one look at the calm, composed girl beside her made courage stir in her chest. If this girl—two years younger—wasn't afraid, then why should she be?
Her steady, peaceful eyes always made Su Wan clear-headed and grounded.
"Then… let's go." She lifted her brows, smiling brightly and challengingly. "Once we're up there, don't start crying."
"I won't cry," A Xin replied.
She glanced at Su Wan, whose legs were already trembling, and a faint smile curved her lips. She took Su Wan by the arm.
"Come on. You'll finally get to do the thing you always wanted."
Su Wan's steps were slow—nearly all the upward progress was A Xin pulling her along. The closer they got, the faster her heartbeat went. Her legs were shaking.
She even felt a small pinch of regret—why had she bragged? Why was she being stubborn?
Secretly, she peeked at A Xin, who walked steadily, expression unchanged. Su Wan coughed lightly and forced her back straight, lifting her chin as if everything was perfectly fine.
Before long, both of them were harnessed and standing on the platform.
The moment Su Wan looked down, she instinctively grabbed the girl in front of her. It was too high. Her head spun. There was nothing around them—not like standing near a window.
Her chest tightened. Her palms were slick with sweat. This was worse than the first time she walked into Su Corporation.
"A little nervous?" A Xin asked, voice steady.
Su Wan took a deep breath. She absolutely could not let someone younger than her look down on her.
"It's… fine."
But her trembling voice could hide nothing. She clung tightly to A Xin, fingers digging into her clothes.
She was terrified—utterly terrified.
But she was Su Corporation's President Su. She refused to lose face.
A Xin wrapped her arms around her, holding her firmly. The moment she tightened her embrace, a strange sense of calm washed over Su Wan.
Then she heard A Xin say, "I'm feeling a little nervous. It didn't look high from below, but looking down now is dizzying. I kind of regret coming up here."
"Then I'll hold you tighter. Don't be scared."
Hearing that, all of Su Wan's own fear vanished in an instant. Her pale face regained color. She tightened her arms around A Xin, whispering softly into her ear:
"Don't be afraid. It'll be over quickly. If you're scared, hold onto me and close your eyes. Don't look down. The rope was checked—it won't fail. And it's thick. There won't be a problem."
She patted A Xin's back gently.
Oddly, comforting her made Su Wan completely forget her own terror.
Right now, all she wanted was to protect this girl who claimed she was afraid.
A Xin's eyes sparkled with faint amusement. The instructor, catching her look, gave an encouraging smile and a small nod.
Before Su Wan even realized what was happening—they dropped.
For a split second she screamed, but remembering that A Xin was "nervous," her fear evaporated.
As the rope bounced and swung them in midair, she thought only of holding the girl tightly and keeping her calm. If she panicked, then wouldn't A Xin panic too?
Since the day they met, she had had the instinctive thought that this girl was someone who needed protecting.
She had survived countless negotiations, corporate wars—what was bungee jumping? Nothing compared to facing an overseas CEO.
She opened her eyes, carefully admiring the sea below and the golden beach beyond. Upside down, the view had a unique charm.
"Qin Xin, open your eyes and look."
"Okay."
"Isn't it beautiful?"
"It is."
"Still scared?"
A Xin smiled. "Not anymore."
"Good." Su Wan sighed in relief, the corners of her lips lifting.
"See? Not that scary after all."
A Xin's eyes curved. "Mm. Not scary."
"Then we'll come again next time?"
"Okay."
"How about twice a year? Next time we try solo jumps. You dare?"
"You dare, I dare."
"I definitely dare. It's really not scary."
Su Wan smirked proudly.
"It's settled then. Six months from now—solo jumps. Whoever chickens out is the coward."
"Alright."
They walked out hand-in-hand. While others came down trembling or exhilarated, they looked almost the same as when they'd gone up.
"Wow, that younger girl is brave. The other one looked terrified at first."
"But the younger one said she was scared, and suddenly the older one wasn't scared at all. She even comforted her."
"Are they dating? No wonder men can't find wives anymore—pretty girls prefer pretty girls."
The next day, they went surfing.
In the following days, they played countless activities.
Despite being Su Corporation's president, Su Wan rarely had time to play like this. Before middle school, her life had been packed with classes. In middle school and high school, any free time had gone to Ye Xiaoge—tutoring her, bringing her food, protecting her.
After that came heavy coursework. Then university. Then Su Corporation.
She had spent her entire youth on Ye Xiaoge.
And now, thinking back, she finally saw clearly—
The girl she once met crying in a classroom corner had long disappeared.
Now she could laugh at her own past stubbornness.
And now… she loved A Xin's cooking. Nothing could compare.
"Qin Xin, when are we going home? I miss your cooking already."
Su Wan looked at her quietly smiling companion. "And we should get back soon. Yacht Night is coming—I'll take you to see it. Since you're a Zhou Group employee, did your boss give you a ticket?"
A ticket?
A Xin nodded. "He did."
Boss Zhou had indeed mentioned it.
Two days later, they flew home.
Outside their villa, they found Ye Xiaoge squatting at the door. A Xin glanced at Su Wan, whose expression didn't change.
But upon seeing Su Wan, Ye Xiaoge shot up and ran toward her, tears streaming. She was about to throw herself into Su Wan's arms when Su Wan lifted her arm to block her.
"Wanwan…" Tears streaked down Ye Xiaoge's face. "Wanwan, I'm sorry. That day I didn't think about your feelings. I was just too worried about Qin Feng.
We've known each other for so many years—please forgive me, okay? I heard you got the project he needed. You got everything while Qin Corporation fell into crisis. Wanwan, even if you hate Qin Feng, shouldn't this matter be over now?"
Su Wan smiled faintly—not moved at all.
"So you're here today to ask for my forgiveness?"
"Yes, of course." Ye Xiaoge quickly nodded.
Su Wan exhaled softly.
"You want my forgiveness, yet everything you just said implies I only won that project to spite Qin Feng. That after I 'got revenge,' we should return to normal?"
She tilted her head, amused.
"How interesting. I didn't know the Ye Xiaoge without my filter was exactly the type of person I dislike most."
"Wanwan, I… Isn't it true?"
Su Wan chuckled.
"That project was something Su Corporation planned to take months ago. Let me be very clear—You. Had. Absolutely. Nothing. To. Do. With. It.
And Qin Feng? He was simply a competitor.
If he lost, it was because Qin Corporation wasn't good enough—not fully prepared. Their proposal wasn't as strong as ours.
You think that was my revenge?"
"I might have been blind once, Xiaoge, but even I wouldn't gamble the entire fate of Su Corporation for personal feelings."
Ye Xiaoge paled. "Wanwan, are… are you really refusing to forgive me? We've known each other so long… Why speak so coldly? You were the person who loved me most…"
"Yes," Su Wan said calmly. "I was willing to give you everything—even my heart."
"But that was the past."
Her smile was serene.
"Xiaoge, no one in this world gives endlessly for no reason. I cared for you because I admired your strength, your determination to change your life. That's what drew me in.
Later, I cared for you because I liked you."
"Now…"
Her tone lightened, almost relieved.
"You've lost the best parts of yourself. And you wore down the last of my affection.
Seven years of kindness doesn't mean you get to demand it forever. You treat my kindness like it's owed to you.
And the moment I stop giving, suddenly I'm the villain?"
Ye Xiaoge staggered back, stunned.
"Wanwan, I— Aren't we still best friends? Even if I don't love you, we still have a deep bond. Why… why are you—"
Her eyes abruptly shifted to A Xin, and her expression twisted.
"Wanwan, is it because of her? Right? You like her, so you're pushing me away!
We've known each other seven years—she's just someone new!
She's replacing me!"
Su Wan genuinely laughed—angry and amused.
She took out her phone and called security.
"This is Su. There's someone causing trouble in the villa district. Please come remove her."
"Yes, Ms. Su. We'll be there immediately."
Ye Xiaoge's eyes widened.
"Wanwan, you—you're really doing this to me?!"
She turned on A Xin, screaming,
"You won't meet a good end! A substitute never ends well! When she gets tired of you, she'll throw you out!"
Her distorted face made Su Wan feel disgust she'd never felt before.
She patted A Xin's shoulder.
"Don't mind what she says. Security will take her out. She won't be allowed in again."
A Xin smiled softly. "I didn't mind."
That gentle, elegant aura—quiet yet compelling—made Su Wan's heart skip a beat. She quickly looked away.
"Good. I told you—this is your home too. Stay as long as you want. I'll never throw you out."
Ye Xiaoge, seeing the softness in Su Wan's eyes when looking at A Xin, felt true panic.
This calm, graceful girl… she finally realized the difference.
She lunged toward A Xin, trying to grab her—only for A Xin to catch her wrist effortlessly. Ye Xiaoge cried out in pain.
This time, Su Wan was truly angry.
"Ye Xiaoge!"
She had never imagined Ye Xiaoge could be like this.
"Wanwan—did she trick you? She bewitched you, right?" Ye Xiaoge sobbed. "You used to be mine. Now she wants to steal you—"
A Xin pushed her back gently but coldly.
Her voice was calm and sharp like a blade.
"Why should Su Wan only be good to you? What have you done to deserve it?
You love someone else—what can you give her in return?
You begged her to give up a major project just to save your boyfriend. Do you know how much damage that would've caused Su Corporation? She could've lost everything.
You didn't care about her future—only about your boyfriend and yourself.
You don't love her. You love her devotion. You love her kindness. You love that she put you first.
You love how it made you feel important."
Ye Xiaoge trembled uncontrollably.
"You keep saying you want to be friends? Then you should bless her for finding someone new—someone who cherishes her, who won't hurt her like you did."
Security arrived.
"Ms. Su, who is causing trouble?"
Su Wan pointed.
"Her. Please escort her out. She is not allowed in again."
"Yes, Ms. Su."
As they dragged Ye Xiaoge away, she stared blankly at Su Wan's gentle expression toward A Xin—so soft, so warm—an expression she had never once seen directed at her.
"Sorry," Su Wan sighed. "I didn't expect she'd come here and drag you into this."
"Come on. Didn't you say you wanted to eat my cooking? It's lunchtime."
Su Wan followed her in. After changing shoes, she trailed into the kitchen.
"Can I help with anything?"
"Wash the vegetables. Can you?"
"Yes, yes! It's just like washing fruit!"
And she rolled up her sleeves with unrestrained enthusiasm.