Su Yi returned to the house. As classmates gradually filtered out and the volume of the music dropped, a sense of winding-down settled over the grand residence. Precisely because of this thinning crowd, Liz was slightly less busy and easier to approach.
Su Yi found Liz collecting stray cups near the front door. "Liz, I think we should talk alone for a while," he said, keeping his voice serious to indicate the gravity of the Hong Yan structure she was choosing to enter.
When Liz saw Su Yi, the fatigue of being the host vanished, replaced by an intoxicating mix of nervousness and fierce determination. She immediately smiled, a flash of white that hinted at the passion she had kept contained all evening.
"Of course, Su. Follow me. We need a quiet place." She didn't head for a study or a parlor; instead, she made a beeline for the grand, curved staircase. "You can come upstairs with me."
"Alright," Su Yi replied, internally bracing himself. He understood that she likely intended to use this conversation to secure her position.
As soon as they got upstairs, Liz opened a door—a door painted a bright, vibrant teal—and directly pulled Su Yi inside. He followed without resistance. Su Yi immediately recognized the atmosphere: it was definitely a girl's bedroom, filled with cheerleading memorabilia, textbooks, and the scent of expensive perfume and fresh linen. It was Liz's sanctuary.
In reality, Su Yi didn't have much time for analysis. The moment the door clicked shut, Liz decisively pounced on him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. Her action was sudden, forceful, and left no room for verbal discussion.
With Su Yi's enhanced reflexes, he certainly could have dodged the ambush, stepping aside with fluid grace. However, there was absolutely no reason to evade this. Liz was continuing her trajectory of giving herself away at light speed, using her actions to provide the final, incontrovertible evidence that this was entirely her initiative.
Su Yi instinctively held Liz, his arms encircling her waist as he prepared to gently pull back and initiate the required structural conversation.
But Liz had no interest in delaying. She was fervent, her body trembling with a mixture of excitement and pent-up desire. Her eyes, looking up at him, were like twin flames. Su Yi could completely foresee what was about to happen next, and it was clear that his planned ten-minute 'rules and boundaries' discussion was already defunct.
"Liz, now is really not a good time," Su Yi began, trying to inject a dose of pragmatism. He glanced at his mental clock. "The party is already nearing its end, and everyone will be leaving one after another; they need you downstairs right now as the host."
Liz, however, felt like an arrow drawn taut on a bowstring, unable to hold back or care about social duties. "It's fine, Su! We'll only be gone for about ten minutes, no one will notice. Betty can handle the stragglers."
Su Yi's eyes narrowed slightly, a corner of his mouth twitching with a confident, almost arrogant smile. "Ten minutes? Liz, you seem to underestimate my capacity for focus a little. I can't guarantee a ten-minute timeframe for that."
Liz's fervent gaze intensified, her eyes locking onto his. "Then show me, Su."
Su Yi couldn't help but gasp internally, the sheer decisiveness of this high-profile cheerleader stunning him. Liz was intent on giving herself away completely, right here, right now, in the middle of her own party. Having reached this point, if Su Yi still backed down, it would be an insult to the fierce passion Liz was offering.
"This is not my fault, Peter," Su Yi murmured under his breath. "This is a full-blown declaration of war on abstinence."
Before Su Yi could even agree verbally, Liz had already confirmed her pre-emptive planning. She pulled a phone from her pocket and tossed it onto the bed. "I think we should ask Betty to help look after the classmates. That way, no one will disturb us, and she'll understand."
"Then you contact Betty," Su Yi instructed, slightly impressed by her strategic forethought, even as she was moving to end the conversation entirely.
Liz gave a shaky, victorious laugh. "No time! You do it. That's what boyfriends are for." She pressed herself closer, effectively preventing him from moving.
The phone rang for a while downstairs, its generic melody cutting through the faint party noise. It was Gwen who finally noticed the caller ID and reminded Betty.
Betty was a little curious when she saw it was Su Yi's call. Su is still here; if there was anything, he could just say it in person. There's no need to call at all, she thought, answering on the third ring.
"Su, what's wrong? Did you leave something?"
Su Yi looked down at Liz, who was already fully engaged in her actions and making coherent conversation impossible. He came up with the only plausible, yet completely false, excuse.
"Betty, I need your help. Liz has had a bit too much to drink, and I'm taking care of her up here," he said, his voice strained in a way that he hoped Betty would attribute to physical exertion (carrying Liz) rather than what was actually happening. "However, during this time, the classmates might need looking after. If any classmates are leaving, please take charge and say goodbye for Liz."
Betty, as Liz's best friend, was immediately concerned. "Liz drank too much? I'll come up and help you, Su. I can handle her better than you can!"
Before Betty could rush toward the stairs, she was firmly pulled back by Gwen, who was beside her and who had heard every word of Su Yi's strained voice and his nonsensical excuse.
Gwen, the girl with the Spidey-Sense equivalent in hearing, knew exactly what was happening. Her expression was a masterpiece of cool, controlled annoyance.
"I'll talk to him," Gwen said, taking the phone from the slightly puzzled Betty.
Gwen put the phone to her ear, her voice cool and utterly without heat. "We know, Su Yi. You'd better keep the noise down. The house is emptying out fast."
Su Yi, trapped and entirely distracted, managed a low grunt. "This, I might not be able to control, Gwen. I think Liz is trying to establish dominance."
Gwen didn't reply to the absurdity; she simply decided the subsequent content was entirely inappropriate for a phone call. She decisively hung up the phone.
Betty finally reacted, her mind catching up to the implications of Gwen's chilling tone. "Gwen, are you saying… Su and Liz… upstairs, now?"
"Otherwise?" Gwen replied, crossing her arms with an icy calm that contrasted with the residual heat of the party. "If Liz drank too much and needed someone to take care of her, it should be you, her best friend, handling her up here. Not him. Su Yi is many things, Betty, but a nurse is not one of them. He's a magnet. And tonight, Liz decided to stick."
Betty, however, didn't sink into despair or anger like one might expect. For Betty, the initial shock had worn off long ago. She was initially just a witness in the coffee shop, observing the entangled relationships between Su Yi, Gwen, and Mary Jane. She always thought Su Yi's target was exclusively the two powerful girls.
She felt extremely lucky to be included at all. Because she had agreed to go to Su Yi's house to sunbathe by the pool that day, the subsequent events—the forced Water Volleyball Competition, the shared secret, the treatment for her mother—had happened. From then on, Betty became completely and pragmatically devoted to Su Yi.
He's honest, he's a genius, he's supportive, and he took care of my mother's health. He treats us all with respect. Who cares if there's one more? Betty rationalized instantly. She had her place, and she was content.
Besides, Liz was also her good friend. It was better for Su Yi to benefit from Liz's pursuit than for any other, unknown boy to steal her attention.
Betty also became serious and responsible, immediately taking charge of the closing duties, helping Liz look after her classmates.
As time passed, the last stragglers left. The party was officially over.
Most of the classmates had gone, and only a few of Su Yi's Hong Yan were still lingering near the front door.
Gwen was visibly impatient. After the initial resignation, a fresh wave of resentment settled in. She looked at Mary Jane, who looked equally deflated.
"Let's go first," Gwen announced, grabbing her bag. "Anyway, all the classmates have left, and there's nothing for us to do. I'm not waiting for him to finish his 'therapy session.'"
Mary Jane, though wistful, had no intention of staying in an empty house where her boyfriend was actively engaging with a new girl upstairs. "I'll ride with you, Gwen. I have to be in shape for rehearsal tomorrow."
Hanna, petite and still slightly overwhelmed from her own backyard encounter, hesitated for a while but also decided to go back with them. Her own position felt too new and precarious to demand an audience with Su Yi now.
Only Betty remained. "I... I'll wait a little longer for Liz. I need to make sure she's actually okay, and her parents don't come home to a mess."
With the three of them gone, the entire house, apart from Su Yi and Liz upstairs, only had Betty left. Betty looked at the stairs, her reporter's curiosity now warring with her sense of propriety.
She finally chose to walk up the stairs. She arrived outside Liz's closed bedroom door, listening intently. It seemed that no strange sounds were coming from within—the action had evidently concluded, or they were engaged in the promised, but delayed, conversation.
The door finally opened, revealing Su Yi's utterly triumphant smile and slightly mussed hair. He looked completely relaxed, like a man who had just successfully diffused a highly charged situation.
"Su!" Betty whispered, surprised that he had opened the door so quickly after she approached.
Su Yi naturally heard Betty's light footsteps and wasn't surprised to see her at all. "Betty, we should leave. It's late."
Betty tried to peek through the crack of the door to see what was happening inside. "Liz, are you feeling better? Su said you drank too much."
"She should be much better now, Betty," Su Yi interjected smoothly, pulling her back slightly. "She'll be fine after resting for a while. She just needs a few minutes alone."
Betty also knew that it might be inconvenient for her to go in, but she needed to address her friend. She spoke toward the door. "Liz, it's Betty. All the other classmates have left, and I'm leaving now, too. Call me tomorrow."
Liz's voice, surprisingly weak and slightly husky, came from inside. "Good night, Betty! Thanks for covering for me!"
"Good night, Liz," Betty replied, closing the door softly. She turned to Su Yi, a teasing light in her eyes. "Su, you're too wild, aren't you? And you're a terrible liar."
"It's not me, Betty. It's Liz who was too wild," Su Yi countered, running a hand through his hair. "I originally wanted to postpone it, but she went all the way with giving herself away. When someone puts the whole presentation in front of you, you don't stop them; you appreciate the effort and embrace the results."
After Su Yi explained, he also said to Liz inside the room, "Liz, I have to go now. I'll text you tomorrow."
Liz, however, reappeared in the doorway, wearing only Su Yi's borrowed shirt, her appearance confirming everything Betty had suspected. She quickly closed the distance and gave Su Yi a tender, proprietary goodbye kiss right in front of Betty.
"Good night, Su! And thank you," she whispered.
Watching this scene, Betty wasn't jealous at all. Instead, she felt a little regretful that she had missed the show. If only I had come earlier, I might have heard some interesting things.
Su Yi put his arm around Betty's waist, and they left Liz's house together.
"Betty, I'll take you home now."
"Mm."
Su Yi took Betty home but didn't stay too long. He knew he had a long night of emotional damage control ahead of him. While Betty's acceptance was a smooth victory, Gwen's cool, controlled silence was a ticking time bomb.
Betty noticed his urgency. "Go, Su. I know you need to go and appease Gwen. You're going to be in trouble."
Su Yi pulled her close, kissing her forehead. "You're amazing, Betty. The most understanding, supportive journalist I know. Your calm perspective saved the night."
"I'm already very lucky to have shared you with Gwen and the others," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck for a moment. "And I know you like me too; that's enough. Just don't forget the story."
Su Yi was very happy with her reaction. "I won't forget the story, or you. I'll reward you another day."
After saying goodbye to Betty at her door, Su Yi waited just a moment, ensuring he was out of sight. Then, he chose to instantly teleport, the air shimmering around him. He appeared noiselessly outside Gwen's bedroom window, high above the street, once again becoming a highly successful, yet extremely guilty, window-climbing thief.
He had successfully navigated the fifth addition to his intricate relationship web, but the real test was yet to come—facing the super-powered wrath of his primary Hong Yan.
Post-Chapter Analysis: The Hong Yan Dynamics
The current stable of Su Yi's Hong Yan, now numbering five, each provides a distinct dynamic:
Gwen Stacy: The most intelligent, powerful, and demanding. She is the structural center and provides the greatest emotional and intellectual challenge. Her resentment is controlled but requires immediate, focused appeasement.
Mary Jane Watson: The most emotionally fragile and reliant on public commitment. Her focus is on her career, and Su Yi must prioritize her future dreams to maintain stability.
Betty Brant: The pragmatic realist. Her acceptance is based on rational calculation, self-awareness, and gratitude for his support of her family. She is the "safe harbor" of the group.
Hanna: The shy, intellectual academic. Her presence is quiet and recent, requiring gentle nurturing and protection from the louder personalities.
Liz Toomes: The latest addition, highly proactive, confident, and perhaps slightly competitive. She understands and accepts the structure immediately, using her confidence to secure her position.