Jianglai blocked the HR who’d contacted her and was about to take the subway home when she witnessed a terrifying scene. Standing on the mall’s second floor, she saw a huge crowd of frenzied people gathering below on the first floor. To describe it vividly, that dark, seething mass rushing toward her resembled zombies—their sheer number alone sparked fear. Someone in the crowd kept shouting a name. Jianglai turned to leave the mall in the opposite direction. At the far end, she spotted a tall, furtive figure. She felt no interest, but the person called out her name.
"Miss Jianglai, what are you doing here?"
Hearing that slightly sneaky voice, Jianglai recognized the masked woman in a baseball cap as Xu Ruobing. Memories of that tender night flooded back. Before Jianglai could ask why she was so covered up, Xu Ruobing glanced at the spreading crowd and pulled her into the escape. Only when they ducked into a furniture warehouse did Xu Ruobing release her hand. With slender fingers, she removed the black mask, revealing stunning features. She took off the baseball cap, lifted her head, and shook her hair. Her fluffy locks swayed with the motion, like a fiercely burning red rose that stole one’s breath.
Jianglai couldn’t help but stare. That night, she’d been too drunk to remember Xu Ruobing’s beauty clearly. But now, this breathtaking flower blooming just for her left a deep imprint on her heart. The posters she’d seen didn’t capture even a tenth of Xu Ruobing’s real-life radiance. At that moment, Jianglai truly grasped the gap between a star and an ordinary person.
Xu Ruobing silently watched the slightly dazed Jianglai beside her. Her elegant eyes curved, and her lips lifted in a small smile. Slowly, she pulled a small thermos from her bag and handed it over. "Things got urgent back there—I accidentally dragged you in. Want water? Your breathing sounds heavy."
Jianglai took it, inwardly scolding her poor fitness. But was her breathlessness really just from running? They’d covered the same distance at a light jog, yet Jianglai was gasping while Xu Ruobing seemed perfectly calm. She felt her heart pounding wildly. Jianglai looked at the thermos, about to sip from the straw to soothe her dry throat—but froze at the obvious lipstick mark on the white tube.
Xu Ruobing followed her gaze to the lip print. In a sultry whisper, she breathed near Jianglai’s ear, "So bothered by an indirect kiss with me?"
Jianglai’s face flushed as she stared at Xu Ruobing, who’d pulled her along. Those incredibly seductive eyes made Xu Ruobing seem like a lazy cat—impossible to read. "Why did you suddenly drag me away like that?" Jianglai opened the lid and drank the warm water, recalling how Xu Ruobing had grabbed her hand the instant she recognized her. "Were all those people chasing you?"
Jianglai wasn’t a fan, but seeing Xu Ruobing’s face again, she almost became one. That beauty could steal anyone’s attention instantly.
"I don’t know why," Xu Ruobing said, "but my whereabouts got leaked today. People wait wherever I go. My agent plans my schedule tightly—even during downtime, I update them for emergencies. I face fans openly at events, but I crave private moments undisturbed. Being loved too fanatically isn’t always good. I’ve had leaks before, so I don’t worry much." She smiled. "Still, thanks to those fans, I met you today. You seem a little afraid of me now."
Since their escape, Jianglai had kept a careful distance—not too close, not too far. Only she knew she dared not stare; it felt rude. But Xu Ruobing’s gaze lingered, her smile hinting at obsession as she watched the petite Jianglai. "We’ve shared kisses and even slept together. Why so distant now? Do I smell sweaty?"
At the mention of sleeping together, Jianglai’s slender shoulders trembled. "Miss Xu, we agreed never to mention that again. Let’s pretend it never happened." She blamed her drunken haze that night—Xu Ruobing had matched her taste, sparking improper thoughts. Almost all love at first sight was lust, meaning her body liked what it saw. Jianglai desperately wished it was all a dream. "Treat it as a dream, okay? We only went halfway."
Xu Ruobing watched Jianglai deny the past as if it were unbearable. That sparked a flicker of competitive spirit in her. No cameras here, no witnesses—she felt like teaching Jianglai a lesson. Smiling faintly, Xu Ruobing walked closer, stared at Jianglai’s ample chest, and pulled her into her arms. "Miss Jianglai, going out without a bra again? Such indecency isn’t allowed. Let me see if you’re being good."
