C15 No Rejection!

Gu Zhiwei rose to her feet and silently walked out upon their entrance.

The red flames danced sporadically, casting a lonely shadow in Gu Zhiwei's eyes as she held a cigarette between her fingers.

Suddenly, a dark shadow loomed over her.

A cool hand clasped her wrist, and in a swift motion, her cigarette was snatched from her grasp.

Dazed, Gu Zhiwei looked up to find Bo Yandong's gaze upon her. She broke into a charming smile, "What a coincidence! Are you here for a smoke too?"

Bo Yandong had not anticipated running into Gu Zhiwei at the washroom entrance.

She was perched quietly against the sink, her demeanor forlorn, resembling an abandoned cat.

He felt an unexpected twinge of compassion for her.

"Stop smoking," Bo Yandong urged gently, "It's bad for your health."

Gu Zhiwei paused, then chuckled.

"Mr. Bo, have you not noticed I was deliberately waiting for you? Could it be that you're concerned about me?"

Bo Yandong's expression hardened, "You flatter yourself."

With those words, he left Gu Zhiwei with nothing but a view of his retreating back.

Gu Zhiwei's smile twisted bitterly, more pained than any cry. After a long moment, she whispered to herself, "What if I took your kindness to heart?"

Gu Zhiwei returned to the private room and settled into a corner of the couch. She popped open a beer can and took a swig.

From the shadows, a pair of malevolent eyes watched her every move.

Gu Zhiwei was well aware but couldn't muster the energy to care.

As the gathering dispersed, Gu Zhiwei saw Chen Xixi off in her car and remained standing alone, lost in thought.

A gang of thugs wielding steel rods encircled her.

"Beauty, out for a late-night stroll? Why not join us for some fun?" Their leader's helmet did little to hide his leering, beady eyes.

In no mood for their nonsense, Gu Zhiwei was ready to make quick work of them when a sudden, sharp pain pierced her lower abdomen.

Damn it!

She bit her lip, her complexion gradually turning ashen.

Seeing her pallor, Brother Tie couldn't help but laugh smugly. "I won't make this hard for you. Just keep us company tonight, make sure we have a good time, and we'll go easy on you."

Gu Zhiwei watched him with an icy gaze, her hand stealthily reaching behind her to rest on her belt.

A closer inspection would reveal that her slender belt was, in fact, an iron whip.

A weapon capable of wounding without drawing blood.

Brother Tie mistook Gu Zhiwei's silence for fear, his grin growing wilder as he reached out to grab her.

Gu Zhiwei's grip on the iron whip tightened, ready to strike.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the night.

Gu Zhiwei froze, slowly lifting her eyes to the elegantly dressed man standing not far off.

Bo Yandong's lips were pressed into a thin line, his demeanor icy.

The dim light cast his face in shadows, giving him the appearance of a vengeful deity, sending a chill down one's spine.

Gu Zhiwei let out a soft laugh, clutching her abdomen as she stepped toward Bo Yandong. "What a coincidence, running into you again."

Bo Yandong's gaze fell upon her.

Her hair cascaded down like a waterfall, the wind tousling it into disarray. The tips brushed against his chin, seemingly accidental yet possibly intentional.

He felt an unexplained surge of irritation.

With a slight frown, he lifted his hand to sweep the stray locks from her cheek to behind her ear. "You were quite formidable when you stormed into Bo Manor. How is it that now you can't handle a couple of thugs?"

As the gesture was completed, they both paused, almost in shock.

Gu Zhiwei looked up at him intently.

After a moment, she suddenly bowed her head, chuckling softly, her response off-topic: "Yandong, you've managed to flirt with my..."

Bo Yandong was taken aback. "What?"

"Heart." Gu Zhiwei looked up, her smile gentle as she gazed at him.