Chapter 12: Another Chance Encounter
The next morning, Wu Yifan stepped out of his apartment to find Liu's Wonton Shop still buzzing—though quieter than the chaos of days past. Old Liu's wild claims ("Eat my wontons, outrun Liu Xiang!" "Boosts brainpower, I swear!") had fizzled. Folks had woken up: a bowl of wontons was just a bowl of wontons, not a magic potion.
Wu smirked. *Fools.* He slid into his usual booth, ordered a bowl, and dug in. Two bites in, though, the air shifted. Conversations died. Eyes darted his way. He tensed—*Did they figure it out?*
He looked up.
Standing there, a bowl of wontons in hand, was the woman from the street—the one whose briefcase he'd chased down. Her lips curved into a soft smile as she studied him, her gaze unwavering.
*Shit.*
On a normal day, he'd have relished the view. She was stunning—mature, poised, with a quiet elegance that made the shop's chipped tables look even shabbier. But today? Panic clawed at him. What if she yelled, "That's the Running Emperor!"? He could already picture the mob—phones out, questions flying, maybe even cops called to "examine" him.
Wu stared at his bowl, shoveling wontons into his mouth like a man on the run.
The woman slid into the seat across from him, her movements graceful. She'd swapped her charcoal blazer for a plum-colored evening gown—simple, but the fabric shimmered, hinting at a price tag that would make Ye Xiwen gasp. Wu recognized it from Ye's rants: a new designer line, six figures, "impossible to get unless you're *somebody*."
She ate slowly, her chopsticks moving with precision, glancing up every so often. Each time, Wu's neck prickled.
He slammed his bowl down, dropped five yuan on the table, and stood. *Escape now, ask questions later.*
"Wait." Her voice was soft, but he froze.
She followed him out, her heels clicking on the sidewalk. Wu groaned. *Why me?*
He'd helped her out of a bind, sure, but that didn't mean he wanted a sequel. She was in a world of private jets and boardrooms; he was a KTV security guard with a secret superpower. Oil and water.
Wu stopped, turning to face her. He pasted on a gruff, world-weary expression—channeling the "mysterious drifter" vibe from old movies. "Why are you following me?" His voice came out hoarse, deeper than usual.
The woman blinked, as if taken aback. For a second, she looked flustered—almost shy—her composure cracking. "I… I wanted to thank you. Properly. For the other day."
Wu lit a Marlboro, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I was just passing by. Let it go. I'm trying to live a normal life. You get that, right?"
Her eyes widened. *Normal?* This man, who'd outrun a motorcycle like it was standing still, who carried himself like he knew secrets the world didn't? He wanted *normal*?
She recovered quickly, her smile warm but cautious. "I understand. Heroes… often crave anonymity. But I meant what I said—thank you. And I swear—your secret's safe with me. No one will hear it from me."
"Good." Wu nodded, turning to leave.
"Wait!" She stepped forward. "Can I… at least know your name?"
"Wu Yifan." He spit it out, then加快了脚步 (picked up his pace), eager to put distance between them.
He didn't look back, weaving through the crowd until he reached Infinity KTV. Glancing over his shoulder to make sure she wasn't tailing him, he ducked inside, his heart still racing. *Close call.*
Outside, Wang Xuefei watched him vanish into the KTV, a faint smile playing on her lips. She slid into her black Audi A6, the leather seats cool beneath her.
"Infinity KTV…" she murmured, tapping her steering wheel. So the man who'd outrun fate—and her—worked for Ye Xiwen. Interesting.
As CEO of Yingjie Group, she'd been weighing whether to hike Infinity's rent into oblivion. Ye was sharp, but Wang had little patience for small-time operators. But now? Wu Yifan, with his "normal life" act and his lightning speed… he'd piqued her curiosity.
"Maybe I'll give Ye a break," she mused, starting the engine. "This could get entertaining."
She pulled away, the Audi purring down the street, leaving the chaos of Liu's Wonton Shop behind.
Inside Infinity, Wu collapsed into his security booth, wiping sweat from his brow. He'd dodged a bullet—for now. But as he stared at his watch, the silver face glinting, he had a feeling this wasn't the last he'd see of that woman.
Two women, now, keeping tabs on him: Ye, with her gathering and her schemes, and this mystery lady with her designer gown and her secrets.
Wu sighed, lighting another cigarette.
Normal life? Yeah, right.
His life was turning into a soap opera. And he had a sinking feeling—he was the star.
Outside, the sun climbed higher, casting golden light over Beitian. Somewhere, a phone rang. A deal was made. A secret was kept.
And Wu Yifan? He settled in, waiting for the next twist.
It was going to be a long day.