You said you hated men, why are your eyes now full of love?

Night time.

A crescent moon hung in the sky with twinkling stars.

Not far from the International Trade Center in the city center, there was a cafe.

Ruan Qingqing worked there part-time.

Turning left out of the door led directly to the bus stop.

It was convenient for commuting, and the salary and benefits were quite good.

Although her relationship with her co-workers wasn't very harmonious, and there were occasional arguments, it wasn't unbearable.

Outside the window.

The busy street was brightly lit, with rows of street lamps dispersing the darkness. Colorful neon lights intertwined among the lush trees, adding a touch of beauty to the twilight scene.

As she absentmindedly wiped the desks, Ruan Qingqing thought about what happened after school that afternoon.

Situ Yan had an impressive background.

The title of "Prince of the Underworld" was not without reason.

When she first enrolled, she had heard about his notorious reputation from others' conversations.

In front of everyone, he had beaten a fellow student into a vegetative state without facing any consequences.

The harshest punishment he received was a six-month suspension, which was barely a slap on the wrist, and he didn't even receive a formal reprimand.

This was enough to prove the immense power behind him.

‘If it really doesn't work out, I'll talk to the teacher tomorrow. The principal holds Ji Mu in high esteem, so there's a good chance he'll protect him,’ Ruan Qingqing thought.

The thought of Ji Mu getting into trouble with someone with such an unusual background and unpredictable personality filled Ruan Qingqing with worry.

"Ruan, are you busy?" 

Someone suddenly tapped her shoulder. Ruan Qingqing turned her head to see a handsome young man looking at her with concern.

Quickly snapping back to reality, she replied with a soft "Mm" and subtly moved aside to create some distance.

Noticing the girl's attempt to keep her distance, the young man didn't mind. "Would you like to take a break? I can see that you've been busy for a while."

Despite his attentive concern, Ruan Qingqing kept her head down and continued her work.

"No need, Manager. I'm going to take a break soon."

The young man smiled. "But it's not time to clock out yet. You should balance work and rest."

Taking advantage of the conversation, he naturally moved closer again.

"Besides, it's not safe for a girl to walk alone at night. I'll take you home later."

"I'm still used to going back alone."

Ruan Qingqing didn't stop what she was doing, politely refusing while subtly reminding him, "Manager, you're standing too close.

The young man's handsome face stiffened slightly.

"Sorry, I didn't notice."

"It's okay."

The girl's voice was soft and gentle. Even without deliberately lowering her tone, it sounded delicate and crisp, making one's bones tingle.

The light from above cast a glow that made her already tender skin appear porcelain white and translucent. Her thick, fine lashes were long but not curled, casting a shadow.

Her cherry lips were full and wet. Just standing there, she imprinted that rosy hue on his forehead.

Innocent, yet with an indescribable allure.

The young man's Adam's apple bobbed.

He fought to suppress the burning desire within him. After a long time, he finally said in a soft tone, "All right, take care.

...

"Tch, always acting so delicate. Who knows what she's pretending for."

Seeing the young man return dejectedly from the girl, the woman with the extravagant makeup spat disdainfully.

"She stinks of green tea. It's disgusting."

 "No wonder she doesn't want to help out for a few more days. Isn't she just relying on the manager's interest in her?"

"These men, they don't say it, but they all like this type."

"......"

As she arranged the tables and chairs, Ruan Qingqing pretended not to hear the gossip of her colleagues behind her.

After all, it wasn't the first time.

She didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble. She just wanted to do her job properly and earn her pay.

Ding-dong

The doorbell rang as the door was pushed open.

Hearing another customer enter, Ruan Qingqing looked up, her pink lips curving into a professional smile. "Welcome..."

The words caught in her throat as she met the newcomer's gaze.

Situ Yan looked over with a faint mocking smile. His narrow eyes were deep and filled with a mischievous charm, exuding an air of rebelliousness.

The woman gossiping at the reception nudged her friend, her voice low and excited. "Look, a real hottie just walked in."

In all her time working at the cafe, it was the first time she had seen someone more handsome than the manager.

Could this be her lucky day?

"This customer, what would you like to drink?" The woman with the extravagant makeup greeted him sweetly.

Her eyes were filled with flirtation, never leaving him, almost clinging to him.

Situ Yan leaned against the counter and tapped his fingers. "An iced Americano."

"Alright, please wait a moment~"

The woman replied in a deliberately high voice. Just as she was about to prepare the coffee, Situ Yan, who was sitting at the counter, suddenly spoke up.

"I want her to bring it to me."

Following his gaze, Ruan Qingqing's palms broke into a cold sweat, and her fingers tightened around the edge of the table.

So he was here for her.

Ignoring the jealous glances of her colleagues, she calmed her emotions, picked up the prepared coffee, and handed it to him.

"Your iced Americano."

"Wait."

Situ Yan supported his chin with one hand. "Did I say you could go?"

Ruan Qingqing's steps stopped.

"This customer, do you need anything else?"

Bored, Situ Yan fiddled with the straw in his cup and jokingly asked, "Little fairy, do you seem to dislike me?"

Ruan Qingqing remained silent, as if she did not want to waste time with him. She turned to leave.

"How heartless, little fairy."

Situ Yan sighed theatrically. "You are so cold to me. It seems like you don't care about Ji Mu's life or death either."

His sudden words seemed to grab Ruan Qingqing's lifeline.

Her heart pounded violently, and a strong feeling of unease washed over her.

"What do you mean?"

Seeing the girl's tense reaction, Situ Yan tugged at the corner of his mouth, a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"As expected, you only pay attention to me when I mention him."

Their relationship was so good that it made him a little jealous.

"That customer."

Sensing the obvious tension, the young manager quickly stepped out of the back room to defuse the situation.

"Something wrong with the iced Americano? I can make you another one."

"Not at all." Situ Yan raised an eyebrow lazily and gave a half-hearted compliment. "It tastes pretty good."

The young manager smiled and was about to continue the conversation when the person in front of him inexplicably asked, "Is this your store?"

He was taken aback, not understanding why this question came out of nowhere, but he nodded.

"Yes."

"Well, it won't be for long."

The young manager was stunned. "Wha..."

Bang!

A dark shadow flashed by, followed by the sound of a violent collision.

The young manager's face twisted in pain as his head was pushed against the table by a stranger in a black suit, rendering him immobile.

The sudden change happened in the blink of an eye, and the others present did not even have time to react.

Situ Yan walked over to the young man and looked down at him.

"Opening a shop in the city center is no easy task, but I didn't like the way you looked at her just now."

He lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

White smoke swirled around.

The next second, seven or eight men in black suits swarmed in, swinging iron bars recklessly.

Terrified women's screams echoed, and the scene descended into chaos.

Situ Yan elegantly exhaled a ring of smoke and casually pressed the remaining cigarette butt into the young man's face.

"Ah!!"

Listening to the pathetic scream, he closed his eyes in pleasure.

Daring to covet the woman he had his eyes on, truly courting death.

Ruan Qingqing's body stiffened, a chill rising from her feet to her head.

This person was truly a ruthless madman.

"Let's go, little fairy~"

Noticing the pale-faced girl beside him, Situ Yan's lips curled up and his roguish demeanor returned.

"There's a good show I want to take you to see."

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