Thrice Encountered

It was lunchtime, and the waiter led them to a table by the window on the second floor, which Zhang Bo had reserved.

The sky was overcast, with faint sunlight peeking through the clouds. A cool breeze blew, making it exceptionally refreshing.

The restaurant was bustling with noise. The rich aroma of hot pot seasonings tickled their appetites, making them eager to dig in.

"Here, order whatever you want," Zhang Bo said, naturally handing the menu to Luo Xiaoluan, who was sitting opposite him. He spoke gently, trying his best to appear refined. Weren't girls these days attracted to this type? His eyes, however, couldn't help but stare at her with a burning intensity.

Zhang Bo's seat was specifically arranged by Xiao Xiao and the others based on Luo Xiaoluan's position.

Eating hot pot face-to-face, with emotions brewing amidst the swirling steam, was the perfect scenario.

Moreover, distance creates beauty, and vagueness creates beauty. This was also excellent.

Zhuge Yun, considering himself the Eldest Brother's wingman and love strategist, smiled meaningfully.

However, he subtly nudged the Eldest Brother with his elbow – "Be more reserved, don't scare the girl."

Zhao Luzheng's eye twitched. "Eldest Brother, you have your natural charisma. Stop pretending to be refined; that's a pretty boy's specialty. You should stick to the hearty, straightforward guy route."

Xiao Xiao sat by the window and glanced down, noticing that the two groups of people who had gathered at the entrance earlier had already left.

He scanned further, looking around, but couldn't find them anywhere.

He had no choice but to give up.

He still felt a bit bothered by that girl.

"Third Brother, what are you spacing out for? Come on, see if there's anything else you want to add? Eldest Brother is treating!" Zhuge Yun, with great camaraderie, handed the menu to Xiao Xiao, smiling cordially. He emphasized the last few words with perfect clarity and force.

Xiao Xiao took the menu, chuckling softly, and didn't hesitate to add a few dishes he liked.

Zhang Bo was so focused on his goddess that he paid no attention to his troublesome friends.

Anyway, to win the beauty's heart, he was prepared to spend a fortune.

After dinner, the two groups, enjoying the good atmosphere, naturally went to watch a movie together.

A blockbuster had just been released a few days ago.

Zhang Bo was ecstatic, completely losing track of himself. He largely ignored the presence of the many "lightbulbs" and unilaterally considered this a date.

His foolish behavior almost made Xiao Xiao and the others want to hide their faces.

"Forget it, a loyal, goofy dog can also be cute. Maybe the girl likes that type?" Zhuge Yun was quite optimistic.

Zhao Luzheng looked weary.

Xiao Xiao's shoulders shook. "I can't help it, I really want to laugh. What should I do?"

The movie ended, and the audience left, chatting and laughing, discussing the plot.

Suddenly, "Ah~" Screams erupted one after another, shattering the peaceful and lively atmosphere in the cinema. A sense of panic spread through the air.

"What's going on?" Xu Ying flicked her ponytail and quickly walked towards the crowd gathering ahead.

Everyone followed closely.

After they finally managed to push their way to the front – thanks to the efforts of Miss Xu Ying and Mister Zhang Bo in clearing the path, especially Miss Xu Ying who was exceptionally capable – they were able to break through the layers of people and reach the very front.

As a result, everyone raised their eyebrows. What a coincidence! It was them again?

Indeed, standing before them was the same group of young masters they had met at noon.

However, the female lead was the same, but the young master had changed. It was still a familiar face – the one who had clashed with the arrogant guy at noon.

The beautiful, delicate girl was held and comforted by a worried boy. Opposite them, a boy pinned to the ground by two other boys muttered hysterically, his voice growing louder and louder until it became a shriek: "It's all your fault, all your fault! Why did you betray me? Why did you betray me? Why?"

A pool of blood was quite shocking. Beside it, a blood-stained knife gleamed coldly.

Hmm? Upon closer inspection, the girl's arm had been cut. The wound seemed quite deep, with a large bloodstain spreading across her arm. Drops of blood still dripped down from the wound.

The girl's delicate eyebrows were furrowed, her face pale. Her tightly pressed lips had lost their color. Tears seemed to well up in her eyes, filled with disbelief and pain, panic and fear, and a hint of agony.

It made one wonder, how could anyone bear to hurt such a pitiable girl?

Honestly, what had just happened here was quite clear. The only strange thing was the disappearance of the most important "villain" who was supposed to be "snatching the maiden." Instead, another boy was accompanying the female lead.

"Wow, did she switch to another one so quickly?" Zhuge Yun's eyes twinkled with amusement, his words flippant.

Because of his suspicion, Xiao Xiao intently observed the subtle changes in the girl's facial expressions.

He actually caught it!

As if unable to bear the boy's angry and pained gaze, she turned her head and buried it in the arms of the person behind her.

The moment she turned her head and lowered her eyes, Xiao Xiao saw a fleeting, cold smile in her eyes.

While her outward expression was one of grief, even unbearable pain, her eyes revealed an incongruous, seemingly somewhat smug and malicious, yet upon closer inspection, seemingly nothing at all, empty, cold smile.

When Xiao Xiao looked again, everything that had just happened seemed like a trick of his eyes. What appeared before him was a pale profile, a mixture of hurt and fear.

So pitiful and fragile.

Even her slender figure was trembling slightly.

"Xiao Rou!" A boy rushed over, shoving aside the guy holding the girl and pulling her into his arms.

After giving the guy who had taken advantage of her a fierce glare, he held the girl and kept comforting her.

"Yo, the main character has arrived," Zhang Jiajia said, twirling a strand of her long hair, watching with great interest.

"What a dramatic turn of events," Wu Ya sighed.

"It's just like a novel," Xu Ying said, looking somewhat dumbfounded.

Luo Xiaoluan's eyes were wide open, her eyeballs rolling around as she chimed in, "More like a cliché, third-rate novel."

Zhang Bo and the others on the side listened to the girls' comments and were also discussing heatedly.

"Truly, beauty is a curse!"

"Jealousy born from love is so classless! No matter what, they were together before. Even if they broke up, there should still be some affection, right? How could he actually lay hands on her?"

"The deeper the love, the sharper the hate! Youngest Brother, you still have a lot to learn."