With each step, Song Meiqi's heart grew heavier, the night air biting at her skin as the presence behind her drew closer. Memories of the self-defense classes she had taken three years ago surged through her, sharpening her senses, every muscle coiled and ready.
A corner, just steps from her apartment, offered the perfect place to confront him. A surveillance camera atop a nearby light post watched silently, and if things went wrong, the guard stationed at her apartment might hear. She moved cautiously, each step measured and deliberate, her body poised to strike at the first sign of movement.
As she reached the corner, a shadow flickered in the lamp's glow—his hand stretching toward her.
Gripping the bag of beer cans, Meiqi swung it backward, the contents smashing into the arm that shot toward her. Adrenaline surged through her as she bent her knees, grounding herself, every muscle coiled.
She snatched the pepper spray, and with a sharp lunge, she aimed for the figure in black, the hoodie swallowing his face in shadow. Her heart hammered, her breath quick—like she had been waiting for this moment her whole life.
But he was faster. In a blur, his hand shot out, seizing hers before she could react, yanking her toward him. His other hand lunged for the collar of her windbreaker, gripping it tightly as he tried to lift her—then abruptly froze.
Fueled by adrenaline, Meiqi saw the hesitation and seized the chance. She wrenched her arm free and blasted the pepper spray toward his face. The hiss of the spray cut through the night; his eyes flinched, his grip loosening just enough for her to step back.
The man hunched forward, wincing in pain, his hoodie obscuring his face. Meiqi realized he wasn't out yet. Determined to finish it, she grabbed the plastic bag of beer cans lying on the ground—some cans dented from the earlier impact, others still intact. She gripped the bag tightly, raised it, and swung hard, aiming for his head.
Then she let out a piercing scream. "Help!" Her voice was loud enough for the nearby guards to hear. They froze for a moment, then quickly jumped into action.
Moments later, Meiqi, hood low and sunglasses hiding her face, stood almost unrecognizable beside the man as a police officer questioned them.
Her eyes shifted to him, and her heart skipped—he wore an all-black hoodie and glasses that looked familiar. He was the same man from the elevator.
"So… why did you hit him?" the police officer asked, his eyes tired and disinterested. Their station was located near high-end communities, where serious cases rarely happened, so the officer was just asking casually.
"He… he was stalking me, so I hit him," Meiqi replied, her voice hoarse from screaming earlier. Wang Zi Rui looked at her in disbelief, though his expression showed nothing.
"Why did you think he was stalking you, miss?" the police officer asked again. Meiqi took a slow, steadying breath and leaned forward, deliberately removing her sunglasses.
The officer froze, eyes wide—Song Meiqi, the superstar, right in front of him. Yet, before he could speak, Meiqi pressed a finger to her lips. The man beside her stiffened, understanding immediately.
Meiqi then slid her sunglasses back on, masking her face once more.
The police officer shifted his gaze to Wang Zi Rui, who had remained silent the entire time. He fixed him with a sharp glare. "Why are you stalking her?"
"I did not," Zi Rui replied firmly. "I live in that complex and—" He paused, glancing at Meiqi. "I was just following her to return this." He held out a small crochet dog keychain in brown and beige.
Meiqi's eyes widened in surprise. She quickly pulled out her phone—and noticed the keychain that had been hanging from her phone case was gone.
Zi Rui handed it to her, and she took it almost absent-mindedly. Then he pulled out his wallet, retrieved his ID cards, and passed them to the officer. "You can check my information if you don't believe me," he said calmly.
The officer took the ID from his hand and read the name aloud: "Wang Zi Rui." He paused as realization dawned, then exclaimed in shock, "Wang?… That Wang Zi Rui?"
Meiqi's eyes flicked to him as she also realized.
'The great heir to GL Holdings… Wang Zi Rui!' Panic bubbled in her chest.
'Ahhhh… I offended him? Such a person… he won't blacklist me in the industry, right? Or worse… kill me?' Her thoughts scrambled as fear crept in, and her gaze stayed fixed on him.
Wang Zi Rui slowly turned to look at her, and a tense silence filled the room. The air felt cold, heavy with unspoken words.
Memories of moments earlier flickered in his mind. He had gone out for a late-night jog, unable to sleep, and stopped at a store for some drinks. He hadn't expected Song Meiqi to be there. Without her glasses, he recognized her instantly.
After she paid at the counter, she left, and Zi Rui noticed the keychain lying on the floor near the register. He bent down to grab it and started to chase after her, only to spot a man dressed in all black trailing her in the shadows.
Zi Rui furrowed his brow and quickened his pace, sensing something off about the man. As if sensing him, the man bolted, disappearing into the night.