Lin Yao had known exactly what he intended the moment he reached out. She nimbly dodged his grasp and quickly walked away.
“Heh! Playing hard to get?! You really are different from the others. I like your type!”
The man wasn’t angry at failing to grab Lin Yao; instead, he grew even more excited. He followed behind her, unhurried and deliberate, like a cat toying with a mouse.
She had thought that by evading him, he would give up. But to her surprise, he was still trailing her.
The garden was empty except for her and the man behind her. As a woman, she stood no chance against him in a physical confrontation.
Lin Yao had no choice but to quicken her pace, hoping to return to Huo Boyan’s side at the banquet. However, the high heels she wore today made running impossible.
The man soon closed the distance to just a step behind her, speaking with arrogant confidence.
“What are you running for?! Didn’t you call me here? Over the phone, didn’t you say you wanted me?”
Phone call?
So someone had arranged to meet this man.
And she had just happened to cross paths, mistaken for that person.
Seeing she couldn’t outrun him, Lin Yao stopped and earnestly explained, “You’ve got the wrong person. I never called anyone!”
The man didn’t believe her at all, letting out a cold laugh. “Still pretending?! It was you!”
Seeing his stubborn conviction, Lin Yao realized no amount of talking would convince him otherwise.
Before he could react, she kicked off her high heels.
Watching her remove her shoes, the man’s smile turned even more lecherous. “Done pretending? Now you’re even taking off your shoes? You really are eager!”
Ignoring his words, Lin Yao picked up her heels, lifted the hem of her dress, and turned to run.
Seeing her flee, the man cursed angrily and gave chase.
Freed from the hindrance of her heels, she soon reached the small garden gate she had entered earlier.
But the gate, which had been open before, was now shut from the outside.
With the man closing in behind her, Lin Yao desperately pounded on the door and shouted, “Is anyone there? Open the door!”
“Someone! Open the door!”
“Can someone please open the door?!”
Yet no matter how hard she knocked, there was no response from beyond the gate.
The man caught up to her, panting heavily. “Let’s see you run now!”
Su Yuqing walked over to Huo Boyan and addressed him sweetly, “Boyan Ge, I’m so happy you could come to my birthday.”
Huo Boyan offered a faint smile. “You’re like a sister to me. How could I miss your birthday?”
Su Yuqing’s face stiffened. His words shattered every fantasy she had harbored about him.
But she was someone who always got what she wanted.
Especially when it came to a man as exceptional as Huo Boyan.
Half an hour had passed, and Lin Yao still hadn’t returned.
Huo Boyan scanned the room but couldn’t spot Lin Yao anywhere. He asked, “Have you seen Lin Yao?”
Of course she had!
She’s probably in some other man’s arms right now!
But Su Yuqing cooed innocently, “No, I haven’t seen her. How could she not stay by your side at an event like this?”
Ignoring the implication in her words, Huo Boyan strode directly toward Zhu Yuhang and Shen Kaicheng, who were drinking in a corner.
“Have either of you seen Lin Yao?”
Zhu Yuhang and Shen Kaicheng were taken aback by his question.
You didn’t keep an eye on your own wife, and now you’re asking us?!
But seeing Huo Boyan’s expressionless face, they all shook their heads, indicating they hadn’t seen her.
Zhu Yuhang patted his shoulder and said nonchalantly, “She’s a grown woman, it’s not like she can get lost, right?”
Shen Kaicheng also chimed in, “Yeah, maybe she just went out for some fresh air.”
At that moment, Su Yuqing walked over.
The timing should be about right—it was time for Boyan to see this woman’s true colors!
“Boyan, someone said they saw Lin Yao heading toward the small garden. Do you think she might be there now?”
Upon hearing Su Yuqing’s words, Huo Boyan immediately strode toward the small garden.
For some reason, he had a bad feeling in his heart.
It was as if something would happen if he didn’t find Lin Yao soon.
Zhu Yuhang and Shen Kaicheng, seeing Huo Boyan so anxious for the first time, followed him.
Su Yuqing watched the backs of the three men and smiled with satisfaction.
The more people who went, the better.
Huo Boyan quickly arrived at the entrance of the small garden, only to find the door closed.
That meant she hadn’t entered the small garden.
So where could she be now?
Couldn’t this woman just stay put?!
Beside him, Zhu Yuhang noticed Huo Boyan’s expression growing darker and suggested, “Why don’t you call her and ask where she is?”
“She didn’t bring her phone; she left it in the car.”
Earlier, Lin Yao had felt that carrying a phone in her gown was inconvenient, so she had left it in the car.
Shen Kaicheng could see he was genuinely worried. “Then let’s search elsewhere. The door is closed, so she probably isn’t inside.”
They had no choice but to look elsewhere.
Just as Huo Boyan and the others were about to leave, they heard a sound from behind the door.
“What are you doing?! Stay back! Don’t come any closer, or I won’t be polite!”
It was Lin Yao’s voice!
Huo Boyan looked at the locked door. “Quick, find someone to open the door! Lin Yao is inside!”
Zhu Yuhang and Shen Kaicheng had both heard the voice and immediately went to find someone to unlock the door.
The two exchanged a glance—the door was locked, yet someone was inside. This was clearly not a simple matter.
Inside the Garden
Lin Yao held her high-heeled shoe, pointing it at the man.
But the man showed no fear. “Do you think holding a high heel can threaten me?”
“Let me tell you, you’re stuck here with me today! If you serve me well, all this money is yours! I want money!”
The man pulled several stacks of cash from his pocket and threw them on the ground, pointing at the money as he spoke to Lin Yao.
But Lin Yao didn’t even glance at the money, her eyes fixed intently on the man, afraid he might suddenly lunge at her.
Huo Boyan, come save me!
By now, Lin Yao understood that someone was deliberately trying to harm her!
All she could hope for was that Huo Boyan would notice she was missing and come to her rescue.
The man suddenly took a step toward Lin Yao, spreading his arms and grabbing her.
Caught off guard, Lin Yao immediately struggled, desperately trying to push him away.
But her strength was no match for the man’s, and she couldn’t break free.
She swung the high-heeled shoe in her hand, striking the man’s body with all her might. In her panic, she didn’t know where she hit him.
All she heard was the man cry out in pain before he released her.
The man clutched his right eye, blood streaming from between his fingers.
Lin Yao’s high heel had broken off and fallen to the ground. Now, she had no weapon left.
The man glared fiercely at Lin Yao and shouted angrily, “You bitch, how dare you injure my eye!”
After saying this, he lunged at Lin Yao like a madman, disregarding everything else.
Lin Yao was knocked to the ground by him.
The man pinned her down, grabbed her hands, and slapped her hard across the face.
A red handprint immediately appeared on Lin Yao’s fair skin.
She desperately kicked at the man with her legs, but it was completely useless.
Lin Yao screamed in despair.
“Let me go! Get off me!”
Just then, the door suddenly swung open.