Chapter 27: Boys should not go out alone at night.
BinCheng, as the name suggests, is a coastal city.
The night sea breeze dispersed some of the day’s heat.
The air carried a faint salty tang.
The hotel where the three were staying faced the sea, offering a view of the endless horizon from the rooms.
Lu Zhao leaned against a railing not far from the hotel.
The breeze tousled his bangs, his eyes as deep as the sea, gazing ahead.
There was nothing there, and he wasn’t looking at anything.
The last time he was out alone at this hour was… well, the last time.
To be precise, it was when he got hit by that truck.
“Sigh… it’s not so bad.”
What’s done is done.
He was adaptable—dwelling on the unchangeable was pointless.
But the thought of two women with bad intentions gave him a headache.
Yan Ruyue was explainable—a fated entanglement.
But what was with Ling Chenxi?
Lu Zhao racked his brain, replaying every interaction with her, unable to fathom why she’d set her sights on him.
Her earlier words stuck with him: “I need a child.”
If she wanted one, just have one.
In this world, women could have children on their own.
Sure, it was pricey, but the government subsidized it.
It wasn’t a big deal.
And she was in that business herself—cost wasn’t the issue.
So, the only possibility… was that she couldn’t.
Lu Zhao felt he’d hit on the crux, but why him?
He didn’t know, and he didn’t want to know.
One Yan Ruyue was trouble enough.
Another one like her—or worse—would kill him.
And if Yan Ruyue ever found out about him and Ling Chenxi, he couldn’t even imagine the fallout.
Too brutal.
A shiver ran through him, and he rubbed his arms.
“The seaside gets chilly at night. Time to head back. If she’s not awake… no, she better be awake!”
On his way back, he ran into three women.
Drunk, disheveled, swaying as they approached him.
Heavy makeup, revealing clothes—they’d clearly just left a nightclub.
From a distance, Lu Zhao caught the strong stench of alcohol.
Frowning, he quickened his pace to avoid them.
But when luck turns sour, trouble comes in waves.
His first time out this late, and he’d hit the jackpot.
The classic “be careful out alone, little boy” scenario.
“Hey, handsome little brother, why’re you wandering out here so late?”
A woman in leopard-print stockings blocked his path, her somewhat attractive face flushed from drinking.
Another guy might’ve been stammering by now, but not Lu Zhao.
His eyes flicked over the three, instantly calculating an escape route.
He put on a nervous, forced smile.
“Got some stuff to do, heading back now. Could you let me through, sister?”
Tough talk worked when strengths were equal.
When outmatched, playing weak could catch them off guard.
Years of experience taught him this—similar situations had happened, often in that damned bathroom.
The woman’s heart melted at the sight of this handsome man calling her “sister” like a scared lamb.
Her lips curled uncontrollably.
“Oh, little brother, such a sweet talker. Heh, sister’s here.”
Wiping her mouth, she flashed a smile she thought was kind but looked anything but.
“Little brother, it’s late. It’s not safe out here alone. Come with sister—she’ll show you something nice.”
Something nice? Sorry, just saw that. Not interested.
“Uh… that’s not good, right? My mom said not to go with strange sisters.”
“Do I look like a bad person? Come on~”
The other two women approached, their faces lighting up with infatuation upon seeing Lu Zhao.
“Come on, let’s go. Sister will keep you safe.”
One reached for him, only to be blocked by the first woman.
“What’s that supposed to mean? I saw him first!”
“What do you mean you saw him first? We saw him together!”
“Then why didn’t you say hi? And he called me sister. Go home—your mom’s called you a dozen times already.”
“She can call all she wants. You just want him for yourself! Like last time!”
Lu Zhao’s eyebrow twitched.
Oh, repeat offenders, huh?
While the two argued, the third woman tried to sneak up and grab him.
“What are you doing?!”
His shout threw them into chaos, and he bolted along his planned route.
But a few steps in, someone grabbed his collar, slamming him to the ground.
“?!”
What the hell? This isn’t right! Aren’t you drunk?
Questions flooded his mind.
A voice from behind answered them.
“Heh, thought you could run? Sister was on the school track team. You think you can outrun me?”
The leopard-print woman straddled his waist.
No wonder she got the prize—she had skills!
She smirked at the other two catching up.
“I caught him. I go first, no objections, right?”
“Hmph!”
Lu Zhao sighed inwardly.
He wasn’t scared, just regretful.
Might as well have stayed with Ling Chenxi—at least she fit his type.
Lesson learned.
He’d never go out this late again.
Controlled by three women far stronger than him, Lu Zhao had no escape.
Two held his arms, one on each side, while the third scouted ahead, sneaking glances around.
They knew what they were doing and didn’t want attention.
“Little brother, don’t be scared. Let the sisters have some fun, and we’ll let you go tomorrow.”
The other chimed in, “Yeah, not to brag, but they call me the Nightclub Juicer. I last long—gonna make you feel like you’re flying.”
Lu Zhao’s mouth twitched.
No way he wasn’t weirded out.
Nightclub Juicer? Who comes up with this stuff?
“Don’t talk sh*t. Last time, you didn’t last three minutes before that bar guy had you begging for a break,” the leopard-print woman shot back, rolling her eyes.
“Hahaha, yeah, you either got it or you don’t. What’s with the ‘need a break’ nonsense?”
Seeing Lu Zhao’s disdainful glance, the woman’s already flushed face turned redder.
“You! All of you! I was off my game that day! I’ll show you tonight!”
“Yeah, yeah, sure.”
“Uh-huh, right.”
Under the dark night, three women and one man walked.
Suddenly, a light flashed nearby—someone on a motorcycle heading their way.
Lu Zhao tried to call out, but a hand clamped over his mouth.
The women surrounded him, hiding him from view.
Through a gap in their bodies, Lu Zhao caught a glimpse of wine-red hair flashing past under a streetlight.