Dai Chengfeng responded and quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Bibi Dong stood there, watching the bustling throng around her, a strange feeling welling up inside her.
No one kneeled before her, no one cast her a reverent gaze—she was just an ordinary woman waiting for her lover by the roadside.
This unfamiliar sense of ordinariness made her feel both curious and slightly melancholic, but more than anything, it brought a lightness from breaking free of her usual constraints.
Not long after, Dai Chengfeng came running back, breathless but smiling:
"I found it, luckily it wasn't lost."
"What important thing was it?" Bibi Dong asked casually.
"Nothing, just a little trinket."
Dai Chengfeng brushed it off vaguely and took her hand again. "Teacher, let's go this way. I remember there's a small alley that can save us some distance, and it's quite quiet."
Bibi Dong didn't think much about it and allowed him to lead the way.
They left the noisy main street and turned into a relatively quiet alley.
The alley was deep, the cobblestone path slightly damp, with tall walls on both sides, indeed much quieter than outside.
However, just as they reached the middle of the alley, several scruffy-looking men with malicious grins emerged from the shadows, blocking their path.
The leader rubbed his hands together and grinned slyly: "Oh, what a beautiful young lady, and this young man too."
"We're a bit short on cash lately. Mind lending us some?"
Bibi Dong's eyes chilled, her overwhelming presence as a Title Douluo almost uncontrollably radiating out.
To attempt robbery in front of her was practically suicidal!
But before she could act, Dai Chengfeng had already rushed forward, shouting: "Teacher, don't be afraid! I'll protect you!"
His movements, in Bibi Dong's view, were full of flaws, painfully slow, and his strikes soft.
He flailed his arms and legs clumsily, making "hey-ha" sounds for effect.
Though seemingly perilous, he somehow always "barely" dodged their attacks and then "accidentally" struck those thugs down with seemingly minimal force, causing them to cry out in pain and fall.
Especially the leader, who was "unintentionally" tripped by Dai Chengfeng, landing face-first. He clutched his bruised arm, looked up at Dai Chengfeng with a look of confusion and grievance, and blurted out:
"Sir! This wasn't part of the plan!"
"The script didn't say we'd actually get beaten! You hit way too hard!"
The air instantly froze.
Dai Chengfeng's expression immediately stiffened, then turned "awkward" and "regretful." He stole a glance at Bibi Dong and then winked at the leader on the ground, hissing:
"What are you talking about! Who are you! How dare you rob in broad daylight, take your beating!"
The leader, seeing Dai Chengfeng's hints and looking at the disguised but now amused woman beside him...
Finally understood something and quickly covered his mouth, his face showing a look of "I said the wrong thing."
"Pfft—"
A light laugh broke the silence in the alley.
It was Bibi Dong.
At first, her shoulders shook slightly, then she couldn't hold it anymore and burst into clear laughter.
She had suspected something when she saw the clumsy acting and obvious reluctance of those "thugs" to truly harm anyone.
Now, hearing the leader's "complaint," her suspicions were fully confirmed.
She looked at Dai Chengfeng's "exposed plan" and his "flustered" state, turning his carefully arranged "hero rescuing beauty" scene into a comically flawed farce. She felt no anger, only a surge of indescribable warmth and joy.
This man, to let her experience the fun of a common date, had come up with such a "clumsy" method.
He was someone who could easily stir the continent's affairs, yet here he was, like a young man trying to please his beloved, using a flawed, almost childish method to create some "excitement" and "romance" for her.
This unreserved, even somewhat silly attention touched her long-frozen heart more than any meticulous planning or perfect surprise.
She laughed until she bent over, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
How long had it been since she laughed so freely?
Decades of gloom seemed to dissipate in this moment of hearty laughter.
Dai Chengfeng, still awkwardly rubbing his hands, saw Bibi Dong laughing so happily. A glint of triumph flashed in his eyes, though his face remained sheepishly apologetic.
He had deliberately left some flaws.
Given Bibi Dong's intelligence and status, too perfect an arrangement would seem contrived and insincere. This obviously "staged," slightly clumsy surprise appeared more genuine and endearing.
It helped her lower her guard and experience pure, interest-free joy.
When Bibi Dong's laughter subsided, Dai Chengfeng stepped forward, scratching his head like a child who had done something wrong, and apologized softly.
"Teacher... sorry, I... I just wanted... but I messed it up..."
Bibi Dong stopped laughing, raising her hand to gently wipe away the tears with her fingertips.
She looked at Dai Chengfeng, her violet eyes, softened by the disguise, devoid of their usual severity and depth, filled only with overflowing tenderness and affection.
"Silly," she shook her head, her voice still hoarse from laughter.
Dai Chengfeng, seeing the unprecedented affection and tenderness in Bibi Dong's eyes, felt a flutter in his heart.
He stepped closer, cupping her cheek in his hand, gazing ardently at her.
Bibi Dong seemed to sense what he was about to do, her cheeks instantly flushing red, her eyes darting nervously to the "actors" still lying on the ground, whispering.
"Don't... there are still people here..."
"Fear not," Dai Chengfeng chuckled lowly, his voice magnetic and hypnotic, "they don't know you. Right now, you're just my Dong'er."
With that, he didn't hesitate any longer, lowering his head to kiss those lips he had long desired.
"Mmm..."
Bibi Dong symbolically struggled a bit, then completely melted into this tender and lingering kiss.
Her disguised face, less aggressive but more pitiable and delicate, made Dai Chengfeng's kiss even gentler and more precious, as if savoring a fragile treasure.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the buildings at the alley entrance, casting a warm halo around the embracing couple.
The "thugs" lying on the ground had already discreetly gotten up, winking at each other, watching the "sir" who had paid generously and the "young lady" who had laughed so happily, their eyes full of envy.
Weighing the heavy gold soul coins in their pockets, they silently agreed not to disturb this romantic atmosphere, quietly slipping out of the alley, leaving the space entirely to these "lovers."
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)