Frances unexpected outburst caught the ladies off guard, causing them to quickly step aback and apologize. Once the tension settled, Frances and Rin returned sat to the dining table.
Shortly after, Achylys excused himself and left early.
….….
The party moved to a nearby bar where the atmosphere buzzed with laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses. Neon lights flickered above, casting playful shadows on the crowd as students danced, drank, and let loose.
Frances and Rin, however, chose a quieter corner table. They sipped on cocktails, content with the music in the background and their quiet conversation.
Their peace was soon disrupted when a group of guys approached and casually took seats at their table without asking. Rin blinked in surprise but kept her cool, chatting politely. Frances, on the other hand, didn't bother to hide her disinterest. Her gaze was distant, her thoughts elsewhere.
Then, a familiar voice spoke. "I didn't expect to see you here, Miss Song."
Frances's eyes snapped toward the speaker, And immediately narrowed. Jude Fang.
She remembered him clearly from their last unpleasant encounter. His smug tone hadn't changed, and neither had the way he carried himself, like the world owed him something. This time, he wore a confident smile, clearly entertained by her reaction.
Jude leaned back, resting one arm on the back of her chair. "Relax. No hard feelings, right? We're all here to have fun."
Frances said nothing. Her fingers gripped the stem of her glass tighter.
Jude glanced at Rin, then back at Frances. "You know, you don't look like the type who enjoys loud places. But I guess even ice queens melt eventually."
Rin shot Frances a look, sensing the sudden tension.
"Frances?" she asked gently, nudging her arm.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Frances stood up. "I'm leaving."
As she turned, Jude grabbed her shoulder.
It wasn't rough, but it was enough.
In a flash, Frances spun around and slapped him across the face.
The sharp sound cracked through the music, drawing stares from nearby tables.
"Don't you dare touch me," she said coldly, her voice slicing through the bar's noise.
Jude blinked, stunned, his cheek reddening.
Without another word, Frances grabbed Rin by the wrist and pulled her away from the table, her heels clicking fast against the floor as they exited the bar. Rin stumbled slightly but didn't resist, looking back just once at the shocked group behind them.
"Let's go now, you're already too drunk," Frances said firmly, steadying Rin as they stepped out of the bar. Rin clung to her arm, giggling and swaying, barely able to walk straight. Thankfully, her driver was already waiting by the curb.
As the car pulled away with Rin safely inside, Frances gave a small sigh of relief and turned back toward the road. Now alone, she stood by the side of the highway, lit only by the occasional passing headlights. Her phone buzzed—still no sign of her ride.
That's when she felt it.
A familiar, unwanted presence.
From the shadows near the bar's entrance, Jude Fang stepped into view, flanked by two of his friends. His shirt was half-unbuttoned, a drink still in hand, his grin sharper now than it was inside.
"Well, well," Jude said smoothly, approaching. "Didn't think I'd find Moon University's 'ice queen' all by herself."
Frances didn't flinch. "Walk away, Jude."
He ignored her warning and kept walking. "You know, you really embarrassed me back there. In front of everyone. That slap? Cute."
He stopped just a step too close. "But I think you owe me a little... apology."
"Didn't my slap make it clear I want nothing to do with trash like you?" Frances replied coldly, eyes unblinking. "Or are you begging for a second one?"
Jude's expression darkened.
"Tsk," he clicked his tongue, glancing at his friends. "You see this attitude? Girls like her think they're untouchable. Just need someone to remind them they're not."
Before Frances could move, Jude grabbed her by the back of the head, forcing her face closer. She fought back instantly, but the two men with him rushed forward and seized her wrists, holding her in place.
"Let go of me!" she snapped, struggling violently—but the grip on her was tight. Her heels scraped against the asphalt as she tried to kick free.
"Come on now," Jude said with a mocking tone, eyes gleaming. "Don't act so cold. You're not the first girl to play hard to get."
But Frances didn't scream.
She didn't beg.
Instead, through clenched teeth and blazing eyes, she glared at him and said,
"You'll regret this, Jude Fang."
Jude and his friends attempted to pull Frances back to the bar, but she manages to find an opportunity to kick Jude in the stomach and bite the other man holding her hands. The sudden pain caused the man to release her, allowing Frances to make a run for it.
However, the men continued to chase after her.
Frances tries to reach for her phone in her pocket to call for help, but in her panic she failed to see where was going and collided with someone. As she fell on the ground, A blurry figure of a man standing in front of her.
She looked up and realized it was Achylys! who she had bumped into, much to her relief.
Achyly's stood motionless, seemingly unfazed by the collision, but beneath his calm exterior, he was taken aback and intrigued by Frances sudden appearance.
Their eyes locked, and Frances swiftly rose to her feet, seeking refuge behind Achyly's.
She urgently implored him for assistance, explaining that she was being pursued by a group of man. But before she could elaborate further.
Jude and his companions arrived on the scene,
"Shhh, you really caught us off guard," he muttered as he approached Frances, only to find Achyly's standing protectively in front of her.
"Whoa, look who we've got here," he said with a crooked grin. "Relax, man. She's my girlfriend. We just had a little misunderstanding, that's all. Right, babe?"
He reached out to grab her wrist.
Achylys stepped forward slightly, blocking him without a word.
Jude blinked, trying to laugh it off. "Come on, don't make this a scene. I said she's with me."
Jude's voice shifted. "You serious, man? You're really gonna get in the way?"
Achyly's shook his head and locked eyes with Frances once more, who simply shook her head in response.
"Do you have any idea who am I? I'm the son of the owner of Ozi enterprise! And my uncle is the chief of police in this city! Let go now if you don't want this to escalate!"
Jude threatened, but Achylys remained unfazed by his worlds.
"Let go!" Jude shouted as he attempted to punch Achylys, but he just effortlessly twisted Jude's hand, causing him to cry in pain.
This prompted the two other man to join the fray, but Achylys was too quick for them. He pushed Jude towards the incoming men, causing them to collide and fall.
Frances stood frozen, heart pounding as she watched Achylys take on all three men. There was something terrifyingly graceful in the way he moved—quick, sharp, like he knew exactly what he was doing. She didn't know whether to be worried, amazed, or something else entirely.
He was fighting because of her.
And yet… there was a strange calm in him. No anger. No panic. Just quiet precision. Watching him, something stirred in her chest, something she couldn't quite explain.
In just a few moments, Jude and his friends were sprawled across the pavement, groaning in pain.
With a last-minute threat to Achylys. "remember this I'll make you pay soon! As he and his friends limping and escape the scene.
Snapped out of her thoughts, Frances rushed over, concern etched across her face. "Are you okay? Any injuries?" she asked, immediately inspecting him.
She started poking and prodding at him. "Are you hurt here?, here?, or here?" as checked all over his body.
Achylys gently pushed her hand away, visibly uncomfortable with the attention.
Frances let out a relieved sigh. "Thanks for saving me from those goons. I owe you one."
Achylys gave a small shrug. "It's no big deal."
But the moment he said it, his body suddenly gave out. His sight blurred and collapsed without warning, and Frances barely managed to catch his head before it hit the ground. Panic surged through her as she knelt beside him, cradling him in her arms.
"Hey—what's wrong?" she asked, her voice tight with fear.
Achylys, barely conscious, tried to push himself up. He managed to stand halfway, but his legs buckled again, and he leaned heavily into her for support. His body was burning up, and his breathing was shallow.
It didn't take long for Frances to realize Achylys injury on his back. It had worsened. He hadn't taken his medication, and days without proper rest had finally caught up to him. His body had simply shut down from the strain.
Without wasting another second, Frances flagged down a passing ride and rushed him to the nearest hospital, holding him close the entire way.