Soon, the audience began to file in, and the performance was about to begin.
Chi Mu was only playing a minor role in this performance, not the lead dancer, but because it involved a traditional Chinese-style dance, she was already fully made up and dressed for the part.
She wore a thin, gauzy dance dress in shades of yellow and white, with a strapless bodice. Two yellow ribbons were tied around her slender arms, each ending in a small bell that tinkled softly with every movement.
Below, her long white dance skirt flowed down, the sheer fabric just covering her fair, delicate feet.
At that moment, she was in a corner of the dressing room, standing on a high rack and searching for something. Her forehead ornament seemed to be missing, and she rummaged around anxiously, her expression flustered.
Near the entrance, Xiao Chiyu hid with the forehead ornament his mother was looking for, whispering with A Jiang and Qinglong.
“So, I hid my mom’s thing. Did you tell my dad like I asked?”
“Yes, yes, Young Master. You’re truly Master Duan’s son—even more cunning than him. What a brilliant assist,” Qinglong flattered.
“Hmph, I’m only helping him because I pity him. I don’t owe him anything, so don’t compare me to him,” Xiao Chiyu declared proudly, lifting his little chin.
Qinglong nodded with a knowing smile.
Just as Xiao Chiyu, A Jiang, and Qinglong were about to continue eavesdropping, hurried footsteps approached from a distance. A Jiang quickly tugged at the other two, signaling them to hide.
The three promptly relocated.
The footsteps grew closer until they reached the dressing room.
Breathing slightly heavily from rushing, the man scanned the spacious room before his gaze settled on Chi Mu, who was perched on the high rack in the corner.
Seeing her up so high, Duan Yanxing’s pupils contracted sharply.
“Wanwan, what are you doing? Come down! It’s dangerous!” Duan Yanxing strode forward, reaching out to lift the girl from the rack.
“Who’s there?!”
The sudden touch startled Chi Mu, and she nearly tumbled from the rack.
Fortunately, Duan Yanxing reacted swiftly, catching her and pulling her into his arms.
His eyes locked onto her startled face as he said in a low voice, “Don’t be afraid. It’s me.”
“Mr.… Mr. Duan?” Chi Mu stared blankly at him from his embrace, her gaze tinged with confusion.
Why had this man suddenly appeared here? Wasn’t he here to watch the performance?
Duan Yanxing gazed at the delicate young woman in his arms, momentarily lost in thought.
Her thick eyelashes fluttered, her red lips slightly parted, looking so innocent and pure—like a lost fawn that made his heart tremble.
At such close proximity, he could feel their breaths mingling against each other’s necks, sending a tingling sensation through him.
After a moment, he asked, “What are you looking for, Wanwan?”
“My… uh… forehead ornament…” Chi Mu stammered, lowering her eyes to avoid meeting his gaze.
Only then did Duan Yanxing notice that the ribbon around her waist seemed to have snapped during the earlier commotion, leaving his palm resting against the cool skin of her abdomen.
He glanced down, his Adam’s apple bobbing as a flicker of possessive instinct flashed in his eyes.
As soon as the thought surfaced, Duan Yanxing forcefully suppressed it.In the past, given such a great opportunity, he would have definitely pinned the little girl in a corner and teased her thoroughly. But now, he couldn’t, he mustn’t.
Unnaturally, he shifted his gaze away, his voice hoarse as he said, “I’ll help you look. Don’t climb so high again in the future.”
“Oh.” Chi Mu obediently nodded.
She wanted to ask why she couldn’t, but seeing his face, she instantly didn’t dare. For some reason, she felt an inexplicable fear of him, a feeling that seemed strangely familiar.
She thought it might be because the man before her was the terrifying leader of a mafia.
Though she didn’t like this feeling.
But…
Still…
“Um… thank you.” Chi Mu straightened up and took a step back, lowering her head. Her voice was soft, like a child who had done something wrong.
“Are you afraid of me?” Duan Yanxing noticed the girl’s retreating movement and couldn’t help but lean closer, his tone gentle as if coaxing a child. “I didn’t mean to hold you like that. I just thought it was dangerous for Wanwan to climb so high.”
Hearing this, Chi Mu suddenly looked up, her large, dark eyes fixed on him, filled with endless confusion.
For some reason, this person gave her a contradictory sense of familiarity, yet this familiarity felt strange.
Her gaze was full of curiosity.
She always felt this man was dangerous, yet also kind, like an enigma she couldn’t quite grasp.
“Wanwan?”
“Ah? Yes.” Chi Mu was momentarily stunned before hurriedly nodding in response. “Mr. Duan, maybe… we should leave first. I’ve looked carefully, and the hair ornament probably isn’t here.”
As she spoke, Chi Mu lowered her head and tried to walk past him, seemingly afraid of being alone with him.
But almost at the same moment, just as Chi Mu took a step forward, several small black creatures scurried out, darting past her feet.
The furry sensation brushed against the top of her feet, and their long tails seemed to sweep by, tickling her.
They seemed like rats!!!
“Ah!!!”
“Help!!!”
“Wanwan!?”
“Mr. Duan, help! Wuwu, save me!!” Chi Mu was startled and frightened, instinctively sobbing. Her face turned pale with fear, her legs went weak, and she immediately fell into the arms Duan Yanxing had extended toward her.
Duan Yanxing reacted quickly, lifting the little girl with one arm. Chi Mu landed steadily in his embrace, still not fully recovered from the shock.
She was completely dazed until the man’s deep, sensual voice drifted into her ears.
“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Hearing this, she still felt an instinctive fear.
In her memory, that dark room, large rats crawling everywhere.
All the shadows of the past came flooding back at this moment.
“Wuwu… please, Mr. Duan, I want to leave. It’s dark here, I’m scared, please, I want to leave… save me, save me.”
Chi Mu seemed extremely agitated, unable to listen to anything. She trembled violently in the man’s arms, sobbing as her tears soaked his shirt.
Although she had lost the memories related to Duan Yanxing, that incident was deeply etched into her soul, becoming an instinctive reaction.
It was easy to imagine what she had experienced that night, all those years ago.”Wanwan, be good, don’t be afraid, it’s alright now. I’ll protect you. Let’s get out of here, we’re leaving right now.” Duan Yanxing held the little girl tightly in his arms, not daring to relax for even a moment, afraid that if he let go, she would be terrified.
He knew exactly why she was so frightened—it was all because of his own foolishness.
Once, what had those scumbags done to his Wanwan?
Whenever he recalled those events, Duan Yanxing’s heart felt as if pierced by needles, the pain unbearable.
He held the young girl close, not daring to loosen his grip for an instant.
Chi Mu, meanwhile, clutched desperately at the shirt over his chest, her slender fingers nearly digging into the man’s warm skin.
Duan Yanxing carried her toward the door, only to find it locked. He tried turning the handle, but the door wouldn’t budge.
“What do we do? We can’t get out…”