Chapter 18: Bumping into the Arms of the Second Master of the Pei Family

"Feeling guilty and scared now?" Lou Yi saw her expression change and assumed she was afraid of retaliation.

He stepped closer, making a move to pinch Zhu Yuan's chin with his other hand.

Zhu Yuan was distracted for a moment and didn't notice; by the time she reacted, it was too late to dodge, so in her desperation, she pressed down on the spot where Lou Yi had his plaster cast!

"Ow!"

Lou Yi let out a miserable shriek; the pain twisted his face, and since he was already bruised and swollen, he looked hideous and terrifying.

"Damn it, are you ever going to stop!"

The intermission was almost over.

Troupe Leader Hao was looking for Zhu Yuan everywhere, and seeing Lou Yi pestering her, he immediately called two Bodyguards to escort him away.

Lou Yi was ready to throw a tantrum on the spot.

I don't know what Troupe Leader Hao whispered in his ear, but his expression instantly became timid and obedient.

He stared at Zhu Yuan, pointed at her nose, and spat coldly, "You just wait!"

Backstage, Zhu Yuan hurried to touch up her makeup.

Li Jie's seat was next to hers; it wasn't time for her to go on stage yet, so she sat in her chair, fiddling with her nails, "Xiao Fengzheng, you're quite capable; to think you could 'escape death' from Young Master Lou's hands that night."

"Thanks to you, Li Jie; he knows you're looking out for me, so how could he dare to be disrespectful?" Zhu Yuan faced the mirror, using her fingertips to smudge the edges of her lipstick.

"Hmph."

Zhu Yuan turned around and looked at Li Jie's face, "But I didn't know Li Jie's photography skills were so good, making me look like a movie star."

Li Jie was stunned, "What photography?"

Zhu Yuan understood in her heart and gave a sweet smile, "Nothing, I was just talking nonsense."

She didn't miss the subtle expression on Li Jie's face; Li Jie was a good actress, but her subconscious reaction just now was very fast, not like acting at all.

The person who took the photos of her and Lou Yi that night wasn't her, nor did she hire anyone to take them.

Who could it possibly be?

Could it be the same person who drugged her on the day of Lu Huaizhan's funeral?

After the performance ended, the sky had already grown somewhat dark.

Zhu Yuan packed her things, preparing to go to the hospital to accompany her grandfather, but as she walked out of the dressing room, she suddenly remembered the threat Lou Yi had made earlier.

She had a premonition that Lou Yi was waiting for her.

If Lou Yi found out which hospital her grandfather was in, it would be trouble.

She went up to the second floor of the theater and looked out the window.

Several cars were parked by the side entrance.

She searched for a while and sure enough, through the windshield of one of the black sedans, she saw Lou Yi's Bodyguard sitting in the driver's seat; Lou Yi should be in the car.

Waiting there like a rabbit waiting for a tree stump.

Zhu Yuan usually left the theater through the side entrance, so Lou Yi, having pestered her for quite some time, naturally knew where to lie in wait for her.

Today's second show was about to start.

The audience was entering one after another.

Zhu Yuan wore a baseball cap, mingled with the crowd, and went out through the main entrance.

By now, the sky had completely darkened, and the large red lanterns at the theater entrance were lit; she exited the main gate and walked to the right, where it was easier to hail a taxi.

"Where do you think you're running, you little bitch!"

Suddenly, a powerful hand clamped onto her wrist and dragged her hard!

Zhu Yuan stumbled from the pull; the light from the red lantern shone on Lou Yi's hideous face, and he was glaring at her viciously.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Damn it, she had fallen for his diversion tactic!

Just as Zhu Yuan wanted to use the same trick and strike at his plaster cast again, Lou Yi quickly let go and ordered, "Hold her down for me! Damn it, if I don't ruin her tonight, my name isn't Lou!"

Three tall and strong Bodyguards swarmed forward, attacking Zhu Yuan.

Zhu Yuan turned and ran.

But how could she outrun three men?

At the corner ahead, she kicked over a trash can by the side of the road, but it only blocked them for less than two seconds.

Seeing that they were about to catch up, Zhu Yuan's entire face turned deathly pale.

Not noticing someone coming from the front, she was running in a breathless rush and crashed headlong into the person's chest, knocking her baseball cap to the ground.

A cool hand gripped her arm.

Zhu Yuan looked up abruptly, only to see a man's cold, sharp Adam's apple and a well-defined jawline, along with black over-ear headphones hanging around his neck.

She felt a sense of familiarity, but couldn't remember who he was.

The man looked down at her, his eyes filled with disgust.

He grabbed her arm, intending to fling her aside.

Lou Yi's Bodyguards were catching up; right now, he was her only straw to clutch at, so in her desperation, Zhu Yuan grabbed the man's wrist, "Help me."

The Bodyguard behind the man shouted angrily, "Audacious! How dare you block the path of the Second Master of the Pei Family!"

Zhu Yuan was stunned; it was the Second Master of the Pei Family from the Pei Family Bank.

No wonder he looked familiar; she had a slight impression from that hurried glance the other day.

Such a face was indeed unforgettable.

Pei Ling lowered his eyes to look at the wrist held by the woman, the disgust in his eyes deepening, and he threw Zhu Yuan aside.

Zhu Yuan turned to run, but Lou Yi's Bodyguards instantly stepped forward; they couldn't block the Second Master of the Pei Family, but they blocked her path.

"Pei... Second Master Pei!" Lou Yi chased after them, panting, and upon recognizing the Second Master of the Pei Family, he immediately became respectful.

Zhu Yuan quietly moved to hide behind Pei Ling.

She silently chanted in her heart, don't throw her away, don't throw her away.

Fortunately, it seemed Second Master Pei had no intention of throwing her away again.

"From which family?" The man's voice was cold and lacked a trace of warmth as he looked at the fawning Lou Yi before him.

Lou Yi felt a chill run through his entire body, "The Lou Family, Lou Yi."

"Lou what?" Pei Ling raised his right hand to brush aside the stray hair on his forehead.

Lou Yi replied respectfully, "Lou Yi."

"What 'Yi'?"

Lou Yi knew full well that the other party was doing this on purpose, but he dared not show even the slightest bit of impatience; his voice was humble to the point of being in the dust, "Answering Second Master, Lou Yi."

"Ant?" Pei Ling sneered, "How did the Lou Family give you such a lowly name? You even have the gall to mention it in front of me when it sounds so unpleasant."

Lou Yi's face turned green; he dared to be angry but dared not speak, so he could only force a smile, "Yes, it is my fault for dirtying Second Master's ears."

"If you know, then why haven't you gotten lost yet?" The man's brows and eyes were cold and sharp.

Lou Yi nodded and bowed, then pointed at the person behind him; he couldn't let the cooked duck fly away just like that, "Second Master, I am taking this woman; I have some private matters to settle with her."

"Suit yourself."

Having received a word from Second Master Pei, Lou Yi felt a surge of joy and was about to go over to grab Zhu Yuan.

However, just as he took a step, he did not notice a long leg move to the side and trip him.

Lou Yi let out a miserable shriek and fell face-first to the ground, his arm in a plaster cast slamming heavily against the steps nearby.

"Young Master Lou!"

His Bodyguard hurried forward to help him up.

Pei Ling turned to look at Zhu Yuan, who was stunned in place, as if looking at an idiot, "Why aren't you running yet?"