Jiang Lai blocked the HR’s number and prepared to take the subway home.
Suddenly, she witnessed a terrifying scene.
From the second floor of the mall, she saw a massive crowd gathering on the first floor.
If she had to describe it vividly, the dark, surging mass of people running toward something resembled a horde of zombies.
The sheer number was enough to instill fear.
Some were even shouting someone’s name.
Jiang Lai decided to leave the mall in the opposite direction to avoid the crowd.
At the other end, she noticed a tall, sneaky figure.
She had no initial interest, but the figure called out her name.
“Miss Jiang Lai, what are you doing here?”
Hearing the slightly sly voice, Jiang Lai recognized the woman behind the mask and cap.
It was Xu Ruobing.
Her mind flashed back to that night’s tender moments.
Before Jiang Lai could ask why she was so heavily disguised, Xu Ruobing glanced at the spreading crowd.
She grabbed Jiang Lai’s hand and pulled her into an escape.
They darted into a furniture warehouse, where Xu Ruobing finally let go.
Her slender hand removed the black mask, revealing stunning features.
She took off the cap, shaking her head.
Her fluffy hair rose and fell with the motion, like a fiery red rose, captivating and soul-stirring.
Jiang Lai was mesmerized.
That drunken night, she hadn’t fully appreciated Xu Ruobing’s beauty.
But now, this exquisite flower blooming just for her left a deep mark on her heart.
The poster she’d seen earlier didn’t hold a candle to Xu Ruobing’s real-life presence.
Xu Ruobing quietly gazed at the slightly dazed Jiang Lai.
Her beautiful brows curved, and her lips lifted slightly.
She pulled a small thermos from her bag and handed it to Jiang Lai.
“It was chaotic just now, and I dragged you into it.
Want some water?
You sound a bit out of breath.”
Jiang Lai took the thermos, inwardly cursing her poor stamina.
Was her heavy breathing really just from running?
They’d covered the same distance, and it was only a jog.
Yet she was gasping, her heart racing.
Xu Ruobing, meanwhile, seemed unfazed.
Jiang Lai glanced at the thermos, intending to sip through the straw to soothe her dry throat.
But she stopped at the sight of a clear lipstick mark on the white straw.
Xu Ruobing followed her gaze to the mark and spoke softly in her ear.
“Does an indirect kiss with me bother you that much?”
Jiang Lai’s face flushed as she stared at Xu Ruobing, who had pulled her along without hesitation.
Those enchanting eyes were like a languid cat’s, impossible to read.
“Why did you suddenly grab me and run?”
Jiang Lai sipped the warm water, recalling the chaos.
The moment Xu Ruobing recognized her, she’d seized her hand without warning.
“Were all those people chasing you?”
She wasn’t a fan of Xu Ruobing, but seeing her stunning face up close, she was becoming one.
Xu Ruobing’s appearance could steal anyone’s attention instantly.
Jiang Lai truly understood the gap between a celebrity and an ordinary person.
“I don’t know why, but my whereabouts seem to have leaked today.
Wherever I go, someone’s waiting.”
As a celebrity, Xu Ruobing’s schedule was meticulously planned by her manager.
Even on days off, she’d inform her manager of her plans in case of emergencies.
For necessary events, she could face fans openly.
But in her private time, she craved an undisturbed life.
Being overly loved by fans wasn’t always a blessing.
She didn’t know how her schedule was exposed, but it wasn’t the first time.
She didn’t dwell on it.
“But thanks to those fans, I got to meet you today.”
Xu Ruobing looked at Jiang Lai, who seemed a bit awkward around her.
“It feels like fate brings us together.
Why do you seem a little scared of me?”
Since earlier, Jiang Lai kept a careful distance, neither too close nor too far.
Only she knew why—she didn’t dare look at Xu Ruobing too much.
Staring at someone’s face was rude.
But avoiding her gaze didn’t mean Xu Ruobing felt the same.
Her lips curved into a smile, her eyes carrying a subtle, lingering affection.
She gazed at the slightly petite Jiang Lai with what seemed like deep devotion.
“We’ve shared a kiss of friendship and even slept together.
Why are you so distant now?
Do I smell like sweat?”
When Xu Ruobing mentioned their night together, Jiang Lai’s slender shoulders trembled.
“Miss Xu, didn’t we agree to never mention that again?
Can we pretend it didn’t happen?”
Jiang Lai blamed her drunken state that night.
Xu Ruobing’s beauty matched her aesthetics, sparking improper thoughts.
Most love at first sight was just lust.
Her body had been drawn to Xu Ruobing.
If she could, she wished that night was a dream.
“Please, let’s treat it like a dream.
We only went halfway anyway.”
Xu Ruobing watched Jiang Lai desperately deny their past.
As if sleeping with her was unbearable.
This sparked a competitive streak in her.
There were no cameras here, no one to see.
Xu Ruobing felt an urge to tease Jiang Lai.
Her lips curled, her smile deepening.
She stepped closer, eyeing Jiang Lai’s impressive chest.
Pulling her into an embrace, she said, “Miss Jiang, are you still going out without a bra?
That’s improper.
Let me check if you’re behaving.”
Right into the lion’s den 🫡