Li Caiyi slipped out of the cafe and waited outside the Rose Bar when nighttime came. However, she made sure to stand a bit farther from the bar this time. She chose a bit secluded place near the mask and accessory stall across the street and observed the situation from afar.
"The securities are still there. Tsk," Li Caiyi clicked her tongue in annoyance, knowing that she wouldn't be able to come in even if she disguised herself because almost everyone had to show their ID before they could enter. This bar seemed exceptionally strict about the rules.
To be fair, that was a good thing but bad for her current situation.
Li Caiyi tightened her jacket as she looked up at the light from the second floor of the building. It would be great if Dai Zhiqiang would miraculously walk through, but of course, something as coincidental as that wouldn't miraculously happen. After waiting for a while to no avail, she began to think that this was probably a bad idea.
Li Caiyi sighed before taking out her phone. At this point, she didn't feel nervous anymore, knowing that Dai Zhiqiang probably wouldn't answer her. Her hand dialed his number as she put the phone in her ears.
'The person you are calling is….'
Li Caiyi laughed mirthlessly. "Sure enough, he didn't pick up again."
The sky was dark, and the night wind felt chilly on her skin. Standing alone in the sea of people like this made her feel even more lonely.
"Hey girl, are you alone?"
Li Caiyi turned her head when she heard a voice that sounded so close behind her. It surprised her when two men in leather jackets looked down at her with a leering gaze and unsettling smile. Their face was flushed, and from the smell of alcohol, she could tell instantly that they were drunk.
Her luck was terrible. Not only did she fail to meet with the person she wanted to meet, but she encountered flirtatious drunkards instead.
"Um, no. I'm waiting for my boyfriend." Li Caiyi tried not to grimace under their ogling stare. "Then, if you'll excuse me."
Li Caiyi wanted to get away, but one of them grabbed her hand and refused to let her go.
"Don't lie to us. We have been watching you for a while, so we know you are waiting to get picked on, right? Good timing. We could use some company, you see?"
Li Caiyi was disgusted now. It felt like worms were crawling under her skin, hearing the vulgar meaning behind his words. She frowned and snatched her hand back forcefully while coldly saying, "Don't touch me. I'm not here for your entertainment!"
"Haha, look at this. It seems we found a feisty one. How is it, big brother?" The man looked at his friend and laughed mockingly.
The other one, who seemed to be more well-off than the other, chuckled in amusement. "We know you aren't here for our entertainment, so let us entertain you instead. We may not look like it, but we have a lot of money, if you catch my drift?"
Li Caiyi didn't even want to bother to talk with them anymore. "Not interested."
She turned her back and was about to dash when her body collided with solid flesh. "Ompfh!"
"Oh, you are finally here!" said one of the men behind her.
Li Caiyi raised her head to find that there was another man who had stood behind her all this time. He was currently looking down at her with a curious look.
One person was in front of her, and two others were behind her. Li Caiyi was trapped between them, with no way to escape.
"Hey lady, are you lost or something? Shall we take you home?" The man in front of her said, and Li Caiyi suddenly had a bad premonition about this.
"Don't come closer. I'm underage! You will be charged for harassing a minor if I report you guys!"
"Haha, funny jokes. What kind of minor would loiter around in front of a bar around this time? We won't get fooled that easily."
"I really am minor! If I were an adult, would I waste my time loitering around? I will just enter the bar directly."
"Are you afraid? How cute. Don't worry; we are very gentle and won't bite you." One of the men grabbed her shoulder, and the panicked Li Caiyi tried to push him away.
"Someone help!" she shouted with all her might while trying to get out of his firm grip.
p
Li Caiyi blinked her eyes a few times in a dumbfounded manner, especially when a new person wearing a cat mask suddenly stood behind her and caught her swaying body so she could stand upright.
The masked man touched the same place as the drunk man from earlier, but it didn't feel revolting at all. On the contrary, Li Caiyi felt secure as she looked up at this person with shock and relief painted on her face.
"T-thank you…"
"Bastard! Who the hell are you?! How dare you interfere with our fun?!"
One of the drunkards tried to attack them, but the masked person quickly grabbed Li Caiyi's hand and pulled her to run with him.
It took Li Caiyi aback, but she soon followed his lead and tried to match his pace. She could hear those men shouting behind her, but she didn't turn back to look and only focused on the road ahead.
After running for a few minutes, the man finally stopped, and Li Caiyi was panting hard from running too much.
Her gaze fell to her hand, which was in the man's hand, and slowly went up to the man's cat mask, which covered his face. She saw that mask being displayed on the nearby stall earlier; did he get that from there? But why would he wear a mask, though?
"Um, thank you very much for your help." Li Caiyi thanked him after she steadied her breath.
The masked man: "...."
He said nothing and only stood there in silence. Li Caiyi was confused, but she was more concerned with her hand, which he still gripped firmly. She was also faintly aware that his grip only tightened each second.
"Uhm, it's okay now. You can let go of my hand." Li Caiyi carefully said.
The masked man flinched as if he had just noticed and slowly let go of her hand.
There was a lingering warmth left from his hand on hers, and it felt very familiar somehow. Li Caiyi raised her head to look closely at the man before her and found that the masked man was also looking at her.
Li Caiyi couldn't see his face, but it felt like she could feel his gentle gaze on her behind that mask.
"Can I ask what your name is?" Li Caiyi asked him.
The masked man said nothing again and only shook his head. It seemed he was adamant in not speaking, or perhaps he couldn't speak at all. Either way, Li Caiyi couldn't force him to talk if he didn't want to tell.
"I see. Thank you once again for helping me. I was looking for my friend, but those men suddenly appeared and bothered me." Li Caiyi sighed as she looked down, causing her messy hair to fall and cover her face.
The masked man raised his hand and tucked her hair behind her ears, causing her to jolt and freeze in place. The gesture happened so naturally and quickly that Li Caiyi didn't have a chance to feel offended by it.
She gazed at the man in front of him with widening eyes, and after a while, she couldn't help but think that this person seemed strangely familiar.
Lin Caiyi's heart skipped a beat when a seed of hope grew within her.
"Zhiqiang?"
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