Chapter 20: A Dangerous Man (2)

Yan Yichen looked at the stains on his clothes, exasperated by Meng Yi’er’s innocent expression. He could only shake his head in resignation.

“If you can’t hold your liquor, you really shouldn’t go out drinking—”

Meng Yi’er ignored him; she’d already turned aside, clutching her chest and retching dryly, feeling as if she might throw up again.

Just then, the elevator arrived at the twenty-sixth floor with a “ding.” The doors slid open, and Meng Yi’er darted out in a flash.

She hunched over next to the trash can at the stairwell, gagging for a while before vomiting some more. Only then did she feel a bit better.

At last, she made her way to the door of the west apartment. She rummaged through her bag for a long while before finally producing a bunch of keys and attempting to unlock the door.

Yan Yichen stood behind her, his sharp, penetrating eyes fixed on her with a thoughtful intensity.

After several attempts, Meng Yi’er finally managed to get the door open.

She turned sideways, ready to step inside, when Yan Yichen trapped her between himself and the wall.

Perhaps it was her discomfort, but Meng Yi’er hadn’t even noticed he’d followed her. “You—why are you following me?”

The man standing before her had removed his mask. His strikingly handsome features were now fully revealed, almost outrageously so.

Though he wore only plain, dark clothes and a baseball cap pulled low, nothing could hide the noble, refined lines of his face.

But that face, at this moment, was frighteningly cold. His piercing eyes bore into Meng Yi’er as though he might devour her whole. His gaze made her shiver involuntarily, and for a moment, she felt genuinely afraid.

What little clarity Meng Yi’er had left in her slightly tipsy state told her this man was dangerous.

She must not be fooled by his attractive appearance!

She had to keep her distance!

Yet why did he look so familiar? Had she seen him somewhere before?

But right now, there was no time to ponder it.

Seeing the terrifying expression on the man’s face, Meng Yi’er panicked. She no longer dared meet his deep, icy gaze. Pushing aside her doubts, she tried to flee.

The man was tall—at least six foot one. He braced his hands on the wall, firmly trapping her in place.

Petite as she was, Meng Yi’er blinked, attempting to slip out from under his arm, but Yan Yichen was quicker, blocking her escape.

“So, you dirtied my clothes and now you don’t want to take responsibility?” The man’s magnetic, low voice came from above.

Meng Yi’er knew she was at fault, and the dangerous glint in his eyes made it clear he was not someone to be trifled with.

Judging by his look, he could very well be a murderer.

Clever as she was, she knew better than to confront him head-on.

She raised her eyes to meet his, and smiled sweetly.

“Mister, I’m so sorry—really, I am. You know, I didn’t mean it, I was just drunk. Please don’t be angry, I’ll make it up to you.”

Her face was all smiles, her voice soft and humble. She hurriedly pulled some tissues from her bag, moving to wipe the stains from his clothes.

Yan Yichen narrowed his long, fox-like eyes, observing how swiftly she changed her attitude.

“Make it up to me? And how do you propose to do that?”

Meng Yi’er paused—she’d only meant to be polite, to calm him down.

She hadn’t intended to actually compensate him.

This man was truly petty!

Very well, if firmness wouldn’t work, she’d try even more gentleness.

Meng Yi’er smiled warmly, her wide eyes full of laughter as she said,

“Mister, if you want, I can help you clean it, or I can pay you for the damage. Just tell me how much—it’s no problem. But given your appearance, you hardly seem to be in need of money. Perhaps I should just wash it for you instead.”

With that, she reached for his collar, as if to help him take off the shirt.

“I’ll just take it to the dry cleaner for you. That seems most practical. With people like this, the less spent, the better.”

For a moment, the man stared at her, speechless.

Meng Yi’er gazed into his complex eyes, at his striking features, and her heart gave a sudden jolt.

The face before her overlapped with the one she’d seen at the airport.

They were the same person!

Though Meng Yi’er was face-blind, such astonishing beauty was not easily forgotten.

And the habits matched too—the hat, the mask.

Meng Yi’er took two steps back, blurting out, “It’s you—you’re that scoundrel from the airport?”

A scoundrel—

So in her eyes, he was a scoundrel.

Yan Yichen’s displeasure darkened further, his icy, cutting gaze as cold as a winter lake.

He raised his right hand, grasping her delicate chin and forcing her to lift her head and meet his eyes.