C48 The Man Behind Her

The fear was overwhelming, the kind that could make anyone's resolve crumble. Yi Lanyou's hands were balled into fists, her fingertips digging anxiously into the whitened flesh of her palms.

She was drenched in a cold sweat within the confines of the cramped storage room.

"Don't make a sound," the person behind her cautioned, his voice quivering slightly.

Yi Lanyou nodded without a sound, struggling to maintain her composure. She kept telling herself not to panic; panic would only lead to disaster. Yet, her body betrayed her, quivering with the anxiety she felt.

Any young woman would be uneasy in such a situation, especially when realizing a man was pressed up against her from behind.

"I won't hurt you. Don't speak," the man behind her whispered.

Yi Lanyou gave a slight nod, surmising that this man was likely hiding from someone as well. Once she realized he, too, preferred silence, she breathed a little easier.

When the man saw that Yi Lanyou had understood, he slowly released his grip.

With her freedom restored, Yi Lanyou immediately took a small step forward, creating some distance between them. A couple of minutes later, her cheeks tingling numbly, she took advantage of the sliver of light from the ajar door to steal a glance at the man behind her.

She was taken aback. Why was it him?

The man caught Yi Lanyou's gaze and offered a brief glance back but didn't dwell on her. His focus remained on the door, vigilant.

Yi Lanyou watched him for a moment, recalling their previous unpleasant encounter. She bit her lip and whispered so only they could hear, "Young Master Long, what a coincidence. You're being hunted too?"

Long Tianqi then looked down at the girl before him. She seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite place her. Without further acknowledgment, he returned his attention to the doorway.

Just then, a group of five people hurried past the door, their footsteps orderly yet brisk, as if they were searching for something.

Long Tianqi tensed immediately, his fists clenched and brows furrowed, a fierce glint in his eyes.

Yi Lanyou sensed a subtle shift in the atmosphere and surmised that the five individuals were searching for Long Tianqi. She quickly closed her eyes to tune into the thoughts of those outside the door. As soon as she heard them take notice of the door, her eyes snapped open.

The assassin hunting her was right outside the women's restroom. If they discovered Long Tianqi, it was likely the assassin would come looking for her as well. And even if he didn't show up, there was a chance these people would silence her to cover their tracks.

With this in mind, Yi Lanyou bit her lip and spun around, stripping off Long Tianqi's coat. To his astonishment, she violently tore open his shirt, sending buttons scattering across the floor.

"What are you doing!" Long Tianqi exclaimed in a hushed, bewildered tone.

Without pausing, Yi Lanyou pulled Long Tianqi behind her, swiftly switching their positions. She had been standing by the door, but now Long Tianqi was the one with his back to the slight opening.

As they settled into their new positions, the group approached the partially ajar door. They exchanged knowing glances and nodded. The leader swiftly pulled the door open to reveal a provocative scene: a man with his shirt half-removed, his back to them, and a girl looking on in apparent alarm.

The men were visibly embarrassed and muttered an apology before closing the door once more.

Behind the closed door, they coughed awkwardly and inwardly lamented the decline of modern morals.

The youth of today are so bold! In a shopping mall, no less. Couldn't they at least lock the door if they were in such a hurry?

Yi Lanyou's mouth twitched as she listened to the assassins' thoughts, her heart sinking.

Unable to find Young Master Long in this area, the assassins had no choice but to leave. They had combed through the entire mall, and it seemed Young Master Long must have already escaped. With this realization, the lead assassin gestured, and the group nodded before dispersing and exiting the mall.

Once she was certain Long Tianqi was safe, Yi Lanyou took a deep breath and glanced at him, his expression sour. In a low voice, she said, "This time, I saved you." She had indeed saved Long Tianqi's life, repaying the debt from a past life when he had saved hers. With that thought, she added, "You don't need to thank me." She was simply fulfilling a debt of gratitude.

Long Tianqi's mouth twitched repeatedly. She had reduced him to this state, and she expected him to be grateful for her 'rescue'?

He could have escaped on his own without this woman. He had planned to slip away while the assassins searched elsewhere, but just as he was about to make his move, she burst in and blocked his escape route. He missed a golden opportunity to flee, and now she had the nerve to expect his thanks?

She was delusional!

Yi Lanyou wasn't concerned with what Long Tianqi was thinking. Realizing that the killer had figured out she wasn't simply using the restroom, panic set in. The killer, feigning distress, burst into the women's restroom shouting that his daughter was missing. He even described Yi Lanyou's appearance to anyone who would listen. The women inside shook their heads; none had seen the girl he described.

To emphasize his feigned urgency, the man shouted so loudly that Yi Lanyou could hear him clearly from the storeroom. As the killer's footsteps faded away and he began to search the surrounding area, Yi Lanyou's anxiety grew, and she involuntarily stepped back.

Long Tianqi, seeing her reaction, smirked. He gave Yi Lanyou a retaliatory once-over. "Beg me, and I'll help you."

"You!" Yi Lanyou locked eyes with Long Tianqi. How had she not realized before that Young Master Long was so scheming? She had saved him, and this was how he repaid her?

But Yi Lanyou had no other option. Reluctantly, she forced out two words through clenched teeth: "I beg you."

Long Tianqi acted swiftly, removing Yi Lanyou's coat and tearing her shirt. He then lifted her onto his waist. Yi Lanyou instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck to prevent falling. Long Tianqi teased her, whispering in her ear, "Hold on tight. If you fall later, I can't afford to give your father another daughter."