chapter 14
Chapter 14
After speaking, he walked nonchalantly toward Mu Yunfei, under the silence of the crowd and countless shocked, probing gazes.
The Lead Singer watched his back, fists clenched, but couldn’t utter a single word in rebuttal.
Mu Yunfei was sitting in his seat, drinking, her cheeks flushed-she already seemed a little tipsy.
Seeing Wu Ai approach, she looked somewhat displeased and turned her head away.
“Was my singing not good?” Wu Ai asked tentatively.
“It was good, how could it not be?”
She turned back to glare at him, her eyes seductive, then took another swig of her drink.
“I wanted to hear you sing a bit longer, but you left the stage after just one song. Boring!”
Wu Ai picked up his own glass again, his gaze sweeping over her slightly drunken profile. “Looks like you really don’t like that Lead Singer.”
Mu Yunfei let out a soft snort from her nose, her annoyance completely undisguised.
“He latched onto me the first time I came here.”
She downed the last of her drink in one go. The cold liquid seemed to sober her up a bit-or perhaps just made her emotions more direct.
“I made it very clear I wasn’t interested in dating, but he kept pestering me, so full of himself.”
Hearing this, Wu Ai’s lips slowly curled into a knowing, cold smile, his eyes turning sharp as he looked at her.
“So, you’re using me as a weapon?”
Mu Yunfei was stunned for a moment, as if she hadn’t expected him to be so blunt. Then she couldn’t help but burst out laughing, her shoulders shaking slightly.
“I help you get on stage to sing, you help me put him in his place.”
She met his gaze, righteous yet sly, waving her finger.
“This isn’t using, it’s called a win-win.”
Wu Ai was momentarily speechless, unable to believe that he’d been played by this seemingly carefree woman.
He shook his head helplessly and took a big gulp from his bottle.
“Fine, you’re good.”
The bottle emptied and refilled, the topics shifted again and again.
Mu Yunfei’s voice grew softer and softer, until finally she slumped against the soft sofa back, her breathing long and steady, the blush on her cheeks appearing especially gentle in the dim light.
“Brother, I really failed to recognize your talent just now. Sorry for any offense.”
At that moment, the Lead Singer came down from the stage and walked straight to their table.
“I’ll punish myself with a drink to apologize!”
He wore a somewhat forced smile and cupped his hands toward Wu Ai.
With that, he deftly filled a glass and downed it in one go.
Wu Ai merely lifted his eyelids, his body still sunk into the sofa, not even moving a finger, let alone raising his glass in response.
He had no interest in these social games of arrogance followed by humility.
The Lead Singer hit a wall, awkwardly tugging at the corner of his mouth.
His gaze then fell on the unconscious Mu Yunfei, a barely noticeable glint flashing in his eyes.
“Why did she drink so much?”
He spoke in a tone of feigned familiarity. “I’m her friend, so I’ll take her home.”
As he spoke, he reached out to support Mu Yunfei’s shoulder.
Mu Yunfei, even in her haze, seemed to retain a trace of resistance to the outside world. Feeling the unfamiliar touch, her body instinctively shrank inward, avoiding his hand.
The Lead Singer frowned slightly when she dodged.
Instead of stopping, he stepped forward, intending to wrap his arm around her waist.
“Take your hand away.”
Wu Ai’s voice was quiet, but carried an undeniable chill.
The Lead Singer’s movement froze. He turned to look at Wu Ai, struggling to maintain his composure.
“I really am her friend, don’t get me wrong, I’m just worried about her…”
“I said…”
Wu Ai finally moved, slowly sitting up straight, his gaze as cold and sharp as a blade.
“Take your hand back.”
The fake smile on the Lead Singer’s face finally slipped.
“So what if you’re number one in the country?”
He withdrew his hand and stared at Wu Ai, his tone turning cold.
“I’m giving you respect, don’t push it!”
Wu Ai didn’t respond to him at all.
He stood up, ignored the Lead Singer’s darkened expression, walked over to Mu Yunfei, and scooped her up in his arms.
Mu Yunfei frowned slightly at the sensation of weightlessness, but her arms unconsciously wrapped around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his shoulder, unusually compliant.
Holding Mu Yunfei, Wu Ai turned and stopped half a step in front of the Lead Singer, exuding a sense of oppressive superiority.
“And what are you supposed to be?”
Wu Ai’s voice was eerily calm.
The Lead Singer’s face flushed instantly, his fists clenched tight, arm muscles bulging, ready to swing the next second.
“Calm down!”
A few Musicians who had been watching the situation closely rushed forward to hold him back.
“That’s the number one from Media University. If you throw a punch, do you still want to work in this industry?”
The Lead Singer was held back tightly by the others, his chest heaving violently as he glared at Wu Ai’s composed figure carrying Mu Yunfei away, but in the end, he didn’t dare move again.
Stepping out of the bar, the cool night air hit, slightly dispelling the heat and smell of alcohol inside.
Mu Yunfei in his arms seemed to be stirred by the cold wind, letting out a soft “mm.” Wu Ai looked down at her peaceful sleeping face and sighed helplessly.
He shook his arm, trying to rouse her a bit: “Which inn are you staying at? I’ll take you back.”
Mu Yunfei mumbled something indistinctly, as if complaining about being disturbed.
Then, in a voice so faint it was almost inaudible, she gave the name of an inn and a room number.
Wu Ai laid her on the bed, gazing at her alluring figure, feeling his body heat up, then reached for her collar.
“No… don’t, I’m… it’s my first time…”
Mu Yunfei, with the last bit of her consciousness, gripped Wu Ai’s wrist and murmured.
Wu Ai looked at her slightly flushed cheeks, showing no hint of tenderness, and yanked off her coat.
“Damn, what the hell do you take me for!”
“No!”
“Stop yelling, I’m walking the straight and narrow!”
Cursing as he spoke, Wu Ai took off her clothes, pulled her skirt down, and tucked her in with the blanket.
He curled up on the sofa for the night.
In the morning, sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains. Wu Ai was jolted awake by the shrill ring of his phone. Eyes closed, he answered.
“Who the hell is it! Can’t a guy get some sleep in the morning!”
There was a pause on the other end, then a burst of cursing.
“You little brat, getting cocky now, huh! Haven’t straightened you out in a few days and you’re rebelling?”
Wu Ai, still hungover, was startled awake by the roar.
“Don’t be mad, Madam Zhang. How would I dare rebel against you? Even if I did, you’d crush me in no time.”
“Don’t get smart with me. Why haven’t you gone to school these past two days? And about your First Mock Exam score-still dare to lie to me about getting 458?”
Wu Ai was stunned. That score should only be accessible to him. How did Madam Zhang know?
“Don’t say that, Madam Zhang. You haven’t seen how hard I’ve been working behind the scenes. I burn the midnight oil every night studying.”
Madam Zhang was always like this, never stopping when scolding someone. At times like this, it was best to just go along; talking back would only make things worse.
Sure enough, Madam Zhang’s anger subsided a bit, and she added, “Your dad is coming to see you this afternoon. You explain it to him yourself.”
Hearing this, Wu Ai broke out in a cold sweat.