The Fierce Lord’s Tender Tears for His Beloved (4)

He slightly raised his hand, his long fingers gripping her small, pale face still marked with tear stains. With a bit more pressure, faint red imprints appeared on her cheek.

A sneer curved the corner of the man’s mouth. “What does that have to do with me?” His tone was flat, utterly indifferent to her safety.

“Master Jiu, I’m scared. When danger comes, you’re the first person I think of, but I don’t know how to find you,” the girl’s voice was soft, tinged with a hint of coquettish grievance, and a touch of pitiful dependence.

“Find me?” He seemed to hear something ridiculous. “You think I care about you?”

“Just care for me a little.” She didn’t perceive his words as cold and moved closer.

Her small face rubbed against his palm like a docile kitten—clingy and endearing.

Tear stains brushed onto his hand, and her eyes glistened with moisture as she looked up at him, both alluring and enchanting.

The man’s grip on her face tightened. Hua Mi couldn’t help but flinch; fresh tears fell onto his hand. “Master Jiu, it hurts.”

He chuckled, admiring her tearful expression for a moment before removing his palm from her face.

A large suit jacket was draped over her head.

The man’s clothes were so big they almost swallowed half of the girl’s body.

By the time Hua Mi finally pulled her head free from the coat, the man had already gotten into his car and left.

She stood there clutching the jacket, still a little dazed. “Jiu Jiu, aren’t you going to see me home?”

[... ] The system thought that just throwing her the jacket was already impressive!

Meeting the male lead today was a surprise blessing, but they still hadn’t managed to get his contact information.

Without even seeing him again, how could they reduce the darkening score for the mission? The system pinned its hopes on fate.

The male lead was always caught up in trouble; there would surely be opportunities! It optimistically mused.

Hua Mi wrapped himself in Yan Jiu’s oversized coat, the man’s clothes hiding her skirt entirely, still faintly smelling of smoke.

She tightened the coat around herself and walked back slowly. Passing the alley again, she faintly heard cries of pain from within.

Less than ten minutes later, Hua Mi crouched by the roadside, wiping her tears pitifully.

“Waa, it’s so far and tiring, I can’t walk anymore, boohoo.”

[Host, just ten more minutes and you’ll be there...] The bar and school weren’t far from the original home, no more than twenty minutes on foot.

Hua Mi smoothed her dress and sat on the curb. “My feet hurt so much, I can’t go on, boohoo.”

The street was quiet, only a few passing cars. The little girl sat alone, looking both pitiful and helpless.

After some time, a car stopped.

“Little girl, why are you sitting here alone? Need some help?”

Looking up, Hua Mi saw a middle-aged man inside.

“My feet hurt. I can’t walk anymore,” she said, voice full of sorrow, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.

“Where are you headed? It’s not safe to sit on the roadside so late. Get in the car; I’ll take you.”

“But I don’t have any money.”

“Oh, don’t worry! Hop in. It’s not far, and it’s on my way.”

“Okay~” Hua Mi smiled faintly, opened the door, got in, and sweetly said, “Thank you, sir!”

[Host???] The system was shocked. “You just got in? Aren’t you afraid of being trafficked?”

For the first time, the system was genuinely concerned.

Fortunately, the man was good—he drove for a ride-hailing service and, upon seeing a young girl alone on the roadside, stopped out of concern.

Hua Mi safely arrived home and immediately changed out of the torn clothes. When she came out again, she held a tattered white veil in her hands.

She headed straight outside.

[Host, where are you going?]

Hua Mi cradled the ruined garment and said mournfully, “I’m going to bury it.”

[???] “What are you going to bury?”

At eleven o’clock, Hua Mi was still pacing in front of the mirror, showing no signs of sleepiness, full of energy.

She was choosing an outfit for tomorrow.

Suddenly, the system’s urgent voice exploded in her mind.

[Host! Host! Look at your phone!]

Startled, she nearly jabbed her earring crooked.

She glanced at her phone and saw a missed call with just one ring.

She called back, but the other party hung up and sent a text: [Wash the clothes clean and return them to me.]

?

[It’s the male lead! His contact! The system spun excitedly.]

[Jiu Ye?] Hua Mi replied, but received no further response.

She rushed back to her room, clutching the clothes, her gaze lost. “How do I wash this?”

[Suit jackets require dry cleaning.]

“But I don’t have money.”

[... True.]

Hua Mi thought for a moment and sent another message.

[Jiu Ye, I’ll return the clothes after I get paid next month. I don’t have the money for dry cleaning now. [Pleading][Please]]

Just as Hua Mi was about to sleep, a reply finally came through.

[Useless.]

“Waa, he scolded me!” Hua Mi whimpered, sending a crying emoji.

[Look on the bright side—you at least set up the next meeting with the male lead!] The system comforted her.

More than half a month passed uneventfully. Hua Mi led a busy, repetitive life.

School by day, work by night, then home to primp.

Since that day, she hadn’t seen the male lead again, nor had they contacted each other by phone.

One day, while working in logistics, the manager called her out.

The bar had some distinguished guests that evening. The manager, noticing her beauty, wanted her to accompany the important clients.

Hua Mi didn’t want to do hostess work, but this time her tearful pleas had no effect. The manager was determined.

At the private room’s entrance, Hua Mi clung to the wall, unwilling to enter. “Waa, I don’t want to go!”

“Stop crying! If I tell you to go, you go. Otherwise, pack up and get lost. Don’t expect your wages!” The manager was ruthless.

“Waa!” Hua Mi sobbed, refusing to concede.

The manager forcibly pushed her inside, delivering one last threat: “If you piss them off with your crying, you’ll regret it!”

Hua Mi stumbled in, the door slammed shut behind her, cutting off any escape.

She went in unnoticed at first. A line of people stood ahead, like contestants waiting for an emperor to choose a consort.

She hid in the far corner, quietly wiping her tears.

When the light hit them, hiding was useless.

Her face was too beautiful, her outfit exquisite and eye-catching among the crowd.

“Oh? Why so reluctant? Stop hiding, I’m talking to you.” A man spotted her immediately and seemed even more interested when he saw her wiping tears.

Hua Mi looked up. Several men sat on the sofa, all appearing influential, yet they all deferred to the man seated in the center.

In the very middle of the sofa sat Yan Jiu, commanding without anger. His knuckles held a lit cigarette, his eyes obscured by smoke, making his expression unreadable.

It was Yan Jiu.