Three Encounters

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

The sky was overcast, with slivers of sunlight appearing and disappearing behind the clouds. A cool breeze drifted by, making the weather especially pleasant.

The restaurant was bustling, and the rich aroma of hot pot spices stirred their appetites, making them eager to dig in.

"Come on, order whatever you like." Zhang Bo naturally handed the menu to Luo Xiaoluan, who sat opposite him. His voice was gentle as he tried to show off his refined and cultured side. Wasn't that what girls liked these days? Yet his eyes couldn't help lingering on her, burning with interest.

Xiao Xiao and the others had specifically arranged Zhang Bo's seat based on where the girl across from him would be sitting.

Sharing hot pot face-to-face, letting feelings blossom through the rising steam—what could be better?

Besides, distance made the heart grow fonder, and a little mystery made things more beautiful. That was perfect too.

Zhuge Yun, who fancied himself the Eldest Brother's love-life strategist, wore a knowing smile.

Still, he discreetly nudged Eldest Brother with his elbow. Take it easy. Don't scare her off.

Zhao Luzheng's eye twitched. Eldest Brother, you're already blessed with good looks. Stop trying so hard to act refined. That was the pretty-boy type's specialty. You'd be better off playing the bold, straightforward guy.

Xiao Xiao sat by the window. Glancing down, he noticed that the two groups who had gathered by the entrance earlier had left.

He looked farther afield, scanning the area, but didn't see them anywhere.

There was nothing he could do but let it go.

That girl still bothered him a little.

"Third Brother, what are you staring off into space for? Come on, see if there's anything else you want. Eldest Brother's treating!" With great fraternal affection, Zhuge Yun handed the menu to Xiao Xiao. He smiled warmly, putting extra emphasis on the last few words.

Xiao Xiao took the menu, somewhat amused, but added a few of his favorite dishes without hesitation.

Zhang Bo was too busy gazing at his goddess to pay attention to his mischievous friends.

After all, he was prepared to spend big to win her over.

After the meal, the two groups were getting along so well that going to see a movie together was the natural next step.

A blockbuster had just come out a few days earlier.

Zhang Bo was practically over the moon. He blithely ignored the crowd of chaperones and unilaterally decided this was a date.

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

"Forget it. A loyal, lovesick goofball can be charming too. Maybe that's just her type," Zhuge Yun said optimistically.

Zhao Luzheng looked exhausted.

Xiao Xiao's shoulders shook. No, I can't. What if I burst out laughing?

When the movie ended, the audience filed out, chatting and discussing the plot.

Suddenly, screams rang out one after another, shattering the theater's peaceful, lively atmosphere. Panic spread through the air.

"What's going on?" Xu Ying swished her ponytail and hurried toward the crowd gathered up ahead.

The others followed close behind.

It took them quite a while to push through to the front. They had Xu Ying and Zhang Bo to thank for forging a path through the crowd—especially Xu Ying, who showed that women were just as capable as men. Only thanks to their efforts did the group make it through the layers of people and reach the front.

Then they all raised their eyebrows. What were the odds? Why was it them again?

That's right, standing before them was the group of young masters they'd encountered at lunchtime.

But while the leading lady was the same, the young master had changed. The new one was still someone they knew: the guy who'd clashed with the arrogant fellow at noon.

A pretty, delicate-looking girl was being held and comforted by an anxious young man. Opposite them, another young man was pinned to the ground by two others. His eyes were wild as he muttered, louder and louder, until he was shrieking hysterically, "It's all your fault! It's all your fault! Why did you betray me? Why did you betray me? Why?"

A pool of blood was a shocking sight, and beside it lay a knife smeared with blood, its blade gleaming coldly.

Hm? Looking more closely, they saw that the girl's arm had been slashed. The wound seemed deep; a broad patch of blood had spread across her arm, and droplets were still trickling down from it.

The girl's brows were knitted, her face pale and her tightly pressed lips drained of color. Tears glimmered in her eyes, which were filled with disbelief and hurt, panic and fear, and a trace of pain.

It was hard not to wonder how anyone could bring themselves to hurt such a pitiful girl.

To be honest, what had happened here was plain as day. The only strange thing was that the crucial "first male lead who tried to abduct the heroine" had vanished, and another guy was now at her side.

"Wow, did she switch to another guy that fast?" Zhuge Yun teased, his eyes full of mischief.

With his suspicions aroused, Xiao Xiao watched the girl's subtle expressions closely.

And he really did catch it!

The girl seemed unable to bear the young man's angry, anguished gaze, so she turned her head and buried it in the arms of the person behind her.

In the instant she turned her head and lowered her eyes, Xiao Xiao saw a fleeting, chilly smile in her eyes.

Her expression was filled with grief, as if she could hardly stand it, yet her eyes betrayed something at odds with it: a hint of smugness and malice. Look closely, though, and there seemed to be nothing there at all—only a hollow, chilling smile.

When Xiao Xiao looked again, everything he had just seen seemed like a trick of the eye. All he saw was the girl's pale profile, a mixture of hurt and fear.

So utterly fragile and pitiful.

Even her slender frame was trembling slightly.

"Xiao Rou!" A young man hurried over, shoved aside the guy holding her, and pulled her into his arms.

After shooting a fierce glare at the man who had just taken advantage of her, he held the girl close and comforted her over and over.

"Well, look who finally showed up," Zhang Jiajia said, twirling a lock of her long hair around her finger as she watched with interest.

"This really is one twist after another," Wu Ya remarked.

"It's just like a novel," Xu Ying said, staring in amazement.

Luo Xiaoluan's eyes were wide, her pupils darting around. She chimed in, "A terribly clichéd third-rate novel, at that."

Zhang Bo and the others were also caught up in a lively discussion after hearing the girls' comments.

"Beauty really is a curse!"

"Turning love into hatred is so classless. They were together once, after all. Even if they broke up, shouldn't there still be some affection between them? How could he really bring himself to hurt her?"

"Deep love turns to deep hatred! You've still got a lot to learn, Third Brother."