The Aftermath of Headlines and a Fateful Encounter

‘Luo Yao… where are you?’

This morning’s headlines had left Su Mengqi deeply distressed.

Struggling with her emotions, she simply skipped class, vaulting over the low wall behind the sports field.

This wall led to a secluded street, or rather, a dead end.

However, the moment Su Mengqi dropped down, she was met by the bodyguard who always accompanied her.

“Miss, it’s currently class time—”

“You don’t need to concern yourself.”

Su Mengqi cast a frigid glance at the unfamiliar face before her, her stomach churning with irritation.

‘Unaccountably angry, Luo Yao, whom she had intended to meld into her very being, was now nowhere to be found.

What if he truly had been defiled by that woman named Mu Yaochen? What then was she to do?’

Although Su Mengqi’s tone was sharp, the other person showed no hint of displeasure.

“What is your name?”

Su Mengqi turned back, looking at the young woman still kneeling on one knee.

This person was similar in age to herself, yet she knelt respectfully, her head bowed low.

Despite her vexation, Su Mengqi was not one to lose her temper without reason.

“Miss, you may call me Qingwan.”

The young woman spoke humbly, her head still bowed before Su Mengqi.

“Hm, I understand.

Therefore, you need not follow me any longer.”

Su Mengqi turned, slowly walking towards the alley’s exit.

Glancing back slightly, Su Mengqi saw Qingwan still trailing behind her.

“Oh…”

Su Mengqi merely cast a fleeting look, then, before Qingwan could even react, she swiftly entered a taxi waiting by the roadside.

“To Longda Plaza.”

Su Mengqi’s voice was icy; she simply wished to wander aimlessly for now.

Longda Plaza was a nationwide chain of large shopping malls.

Naturally, Longda Plaza was also one of Su Mengqi’s family enterprises.

Upon reaching the plaza, Su Mengqi had just stepped out of the car.

She was vaguely preparing to wander about when her flaxen eyes suddenly caught sight of a figure strikingly similar to Luo Yao, though he was closely accompanied by a woman with an excellent figure.

At this sight, Su Mengqi felt a suffocating pang in her chest, nearly collapsing on the spot.

‘Why does he resemble him so much?’

Observing the figure, who appeared even more petite in comparison to the woman beside him, Su Mengqi instinctively quickened her pace.

Initially, she merely called out to them a few times, but they seemed not to hear her.

Seeing them about to enter a pet shop, Su Mengqi directly accelerated, bypassing the woman and grabbing the other’s arm.

“You… are you Luo Yao?”

Su Mengqi gripped his arm tightly, her anxiety palpable, yet as he slowly turned, that familiar face etched itself into her mind, refusing to fade.

What transpired next… was precisely as everyone witnessed.

****

“Miss, I apologize for my delay.”

Qingwan was now slumped on the ground, having just dialed 120.

Yet, amidst the anxious wait, she couldn’t help but wish to check on Su Mengqi’s condition.

“I… cough, cough, cough… I’m fine.”

Responding to Qingwan’s call, Su Mengqi finally managed to flutter her eyes open.

Upon seeing Su Mengqi awaken, Qingwan’s heart, which had been suspended in dread, finally settled.

With Frost’s departure alongside Luo Yao, the farce finally concluded.

The passersby, seeing no longer any conflict, naturally dispersed, while Qingwan slowly helped the trembling Su Mengqi to her feet.

‘What’s he thinking?’

Meanwhile, in the car, the silence between Luo Yao and Frost was finally broken by Frost.

It was rare for Frost to initiate conversation with Luo Yao, and at this moment, Luo Yao was in no mood to respond to her.

He simply fixed his gaze on the distant horizon.

Seeing Luo Yao offer no reply, Frost did not flare up in anger.

She knew, in fact, that from Mu Yaochen’s perspective, her own status was likely similar to Luo Yao’s.

She was merely responsible for Mu Yaochen’s safety, while Luo Yao was tasked with her entertainment.

‘How ironic…’

For a moment, Frost even felt a twinge of sympathy for Luo Yao.

Soon, Frost brought Luo Yao back to the villa’s entrance.

The moment the house came into view, Luo Yao faintly discerned a figure standing before the door.

Judging by her demeanor, it was undoubtedly Mu Yaochen.

“You’re back?”

Upon seeing the car stop, Mu Yaochen maintained her smile.

Simultaneously, the car door opened automatically, and Luo Yao, like canned luncheon meat, was presented before Mu Yaochen.

“Mm…”

Luo Yao clutched the stainless steel basin, his eyes filled with trepidation.

To be honest, after what had just happened, he couldn’t predict what chaos might ensue.

However, Luo Yao was certain that since this incident had occurred, Mu Yaochen would undoubtedly use it to torment him.

“Then come down quickly, Luo Yao, you must be hungry, no?”

At this point, the sun was directly overhead.

Had Mu Yaochen not prompted him, Luo Yao would have even forgotten about hunger.

‘It seemed he had eaten too much breakfast.’

Luo Yao timidly looked at Mu Yaochen, simply nodding his head.

Meeting Luo Yao’s gaze, Mu Yaochen merely smiled faintly, simultaneously noticing the basin he held.

She said nothing more, but her meaning was already abundantly clear.

Luo Yao followed closely behind her, daring not to be negligent.

Though encountering Su Mengqi today had been a significant event, at least it would let others know that Luo Yao was still alive.

Regarding his family, while Luo Yao harbored no great hatred for them, they had, to some extent, left his heart feeling cold.

Su Mengqi had, at some unknown point, become a tiny glimmer of light within Luo Yao’s heart.

Upon entering the room, Luo Yao detected the inviting aroma of food.

“Prepare to eat after this,” Mu Yaochen said casually.

It seemed the recent events hadn’t caused her much distress.

But then again, she hadn’t been present.

Even if the media spun wild fabrications, they would merely be one-sided accounts.

“Mm, alright.”

Luo Yao nodded gently; he dared not make any rash moves now.

He couldn’t gauge Su Mengqi’s temper; if she were truly upset, she would surely tease him again.

After Luo Yao responded, Mu Yaochen directly took the metal basin from his hands.

“Only bought this back? Well, it will do for today; we’ll make do.

Tomorrow, I’ll engrave your name on it.”

Mu Yaochen spoke with ease, her meaning simple and straightforward.

This object, henceforth, would be Luo Yao’s bowl.

After all, the other party had always regarded him as a dog.

‘How vile.’

As for why Mu Yaochen wanted Luo Yao to buy these things, Luo Yao had somewhat guessed the outcome the moment he received the list.

The sight of Mu Yaochen’s intense smile filled Luo Yao with loathing.

Yet, despite his aversion, Luo Yao found himself unable to escape Mu Yaochen.

When they first met, it was as if destiny had already bound their souls together.

Perhaps Luo Yao felt little upon meeting Mu Yaochen, but the moment Mu Yaochen first laid eyes on Luo Yao, she was filled with an intense interest in the boy.