Chapter 373: A Sudden Hug Around Her Waist

When Cai Xiaotang woke up from her nap, it was already completely dark outside.

She sat up from the sofa in a daze, rubbed her eyes, and stared blankly for a while before getting up, rubbing her stomach, and turning to head into the kitchen.

Not long after, the living room was filled with a fragrant aroma.

Cai Xiaotang walked out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of cooked noodles and returned to the sofa.

"It really is most comfortable staying in one's own home..."

As she muttered to herself, her gaze inadvertently swept over the phone tossed to the side, and she felt inexplicably nervous.

It had been a whole day... had the people on Li Xiao's side not discovered that she had run out yet?

That shouldn't be...

Or could it be that they had already discovered it, but couldn't be bothered to care...

Cai Xiaotang raised an eyebrow and picked up her phone to check; indeed, no one had called her, and there wasn't a single message, which finally put her mind at ease.

She happily opened the movie she hadn't finished in the afternoon and continued watching it with great interest.

The night grew deeper.

Seeing that it was already nine o'clock, Cai Xiaotang stretched, intending to go to the kitchen to wash the bowl and chopsticks before returning to her room to sleep.

But she didn't expect that just as she stood up, the next second—

"Snap!"

All the lights in the house went out, and the room was plunged into darkness in an instant.

Carrying the bowl and chopsticks, Cai Xiaotang stood in the pitch-black living room, a flash of confusion in her eyes, and subconsciously looked out the window.

Outside the glass window, it was brightly lit, and the lights in the entire building opposite were all on.

"Damn... what's going on?" Cai Xiaotang muttered softly, turned on her phone's flashlight, and felt her way to the living room switch.

"Click, click, click—!"

She pressed it back and forth several times, but the lights still wouldn't turn on.

Cai Xiaotang sighed helplessly and was just about to take out her phone to call for repairs when she suddenly heard a faint sound of footsteps outside the door.

"Tap—!"

The sound of leather shoes hitting the floor lasted only a second, but Cai Xiaotang instantly widened her eyes in alarm and stared at the front door.

There was someone outside!!!

The neighbor next door had moved out two years ago; at this hour, how could someone wearing leather shoes be here!

Could it be...

Cai Xiaotang felt a belated sense of panic; she hurriedly and silently set down the bowl in her hand, then turned and ran toward the bedroom.

She quickly grabbed a baseball bat from behind the door, and just as she got it in her hand, she heard the sound of the door lock turning gently!

How could the person outside have a key!

Or did the other party pick her lock?

Could it be those people Li Xiao mentioned... had they found her?

But she had only been home for one day!

Could they have been... monitoring her in secret the whole time?

Cai Xiaotang swallowed hard, cold sweat instantly seeping from her palms, and the hair all over her body stood on end.

Right!

The phone!

Call Li Xiao!

Cai Xiaotang had a sudden flash of inspiration; she grabbed her phone and quickly found Li Xiao's number.

Before she could even dial, the phone screen flashed rapidly, and after a burst of white light, it went completely dead.

Clutching the phone, Cai Xiaotang was momentarily stunned.

Damn!

It actually ran out of power and shut down at a time like this?

Was she having some kind of bad luck lately?

Cai Xiaotang's mind was in a state of panic for a moment, but within half a minute, she heard the front door open.

"Tap—"

It was the sound of leather shoes again.

Only this time, it wasn't outside the door, but had truly appeared inside the living room.

Cai Xiaotang gasped, instantly holding her breath.

She gripped the baseball bat tightly and looked at the half-open bedroom door.

Stay calm...

Must stay calm!

She, Cai Xiaotang, had a very tenacious life!

Maybe it was just a thief who came to steal things, someone thin and small, not even as tall as her...

If the other person was tall and strong, then... then she would just risk it all and fight him!

Cai Xiaotang's mind was a mess, and in an instant, she felt as if ten thousand thoughts were flooding in.

She hid silently in the corner behind the door.

The baseball bat in her hand trembled slightly.

"Tap—!"

The footsteps sounded again.

The person outside seemed to circle the living room, and finding no one, began walking toward the bedroom.

They're here!

Locking the door now would make a sound; it's already too late!

It would be better to catch them by surprise!

Cai Xiaotang's heart instantly leaped into her throat, and she struggled to widen her eyes in the darkness, wanting to see more clearly.

A few seconds later—

Her bedroom door was gently pushed open.

A gray leather glove rested on the edge of the door, followed immediately by an arm clad in a suit.

It's a man!

Now is the time!

Hit the arm first, then he will surely lower his head instinctively; that's when she will rush out and strike the back of his head!

Cai Xiaotang bit her lip hard and, without hesitation, raised the baseball bat in her hand and swung it down heavily!

In the cramped room, the whistling sound of the baseball bat cutting through the air rang out sharply!

"Ugh—!"

The man's arm was struck by the bat, and a muffled groan spilled from his mouth.

Cai Xiaotang also summoned almost all the speed of her life, quickly raising the baseball bat to prepare for a second strike!

But unfortunately—

The man's reaction was even faster than hers!

With a "snap," the baseball bat Cai Xiaotang had just raised only fell halfway before it was caught firmly by the other party using just one hand!

Oh no!

Cai Xiaotang's heart skipped a beat; her body's movements preceded her brain, and she instinctively lifted her leg and kicked toward the space between the man's legs!

The next second, her ankle was also grabbed.

"Who are you!"

Cai Xiaotang was completely panicked; as soon as the words left her mouth, she lost her balance and tumbled heavily to the side.

"Ah!"

She let out an instinctive cry, but felt a large hand suddenly support her back, and then both of them fell heavily onto the bed together!

"You..."

The man seemed to be about to speak.

But Cai Xiaotang couldn't hear a word, and with her vision blurred, she reached out and kicked and hit the person in front of her!

"Get away! Get away!"

She was truly terrified, and all her movements and words became completely chaotic.

The next second—

"Mmph—!"

Cai Xiaotang's mouth was suddenly covered, and her wrists were easily subdued and pulled directly above her head.

Her eye sockets instantly turned red, and a flash of despair crossed her eyes.

"Look clearly at who I am before you scream!"

The next second, the man's low voice, tinged with helplessness, fell into Cai Xiaotang's ear.

Cai Xiaotang froze, instantly becoming like a doll with its strings cut, and stopped moving entirely.

She blinked her eyes, struggling to use the moonlight from outside the window to see the person in front of her clearly.

Finally, she saw the familiar silhouette.

"Recognize me now?"

Seeing the change in her eyes, Li Xiao finally let out a sigh of relief and released his hold on her.

But immediately after, his chest suffered a "heavy blow."

"Why are you acting like a ghost and scaring people! Couldn't you have told me before coming over!"

Cai Xiaotang gasped for air, her face full of lingering fear.

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw the expression in front of her suddenly turn playful.

"Who told someone to not stay properly where I put them, but insist on running away instead?"