The night was still alive with laughter and fireworks, but here at the far edge of the festival, the world felt silent, suffocating.
Liang Meiyu's hands tightened around the stuffed bunny, her knuckles white. Her pulse hammered as the shadowed figure drew closer.
"W-Who are you?" Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper.
The figure chuckled low, a sound that sent chills down her spine. "You don't need to know who I am. What matters is… everyone's about to know who you really are."
Meiyu's heart lurched. "What do you mean?"
The figure tilted their head, amusement lacing their tone. "Poor little Meiyu. Acting sweet, playing innocent, clinging to the attention of two boys like some heroine in a cheap romance. Don't you realize how pathetic you look?"
Her throat closed up. She had heard whispers like this before, but never spoken so directly, never with such venom.
"You don't belong here," the figure continued, stepping closer. The faint glow of a lantern behind them cast their outline tall and imposing. "And I'm going to make sure everyone sees that."
Meiyu stumbled back, her shoes scraping against the pavement. "Why… why are you doing this?"
"Because girls like you make me sick." The voice hardened. "You smile like you don't care, but deep down, you do. You want them to fight over you. You want the attention. Don't you?"
Her lips trembled. "That's not true—"
"Liar." The figure's hand darted forward, snatching her wrist. "The festival's the perfect place. Everyone will see what kind of girl you really are."
Meiyu gasped, struggling against the grip, but the more she pulled, the tighter it became. Panic clawed at her chest.
No. I can't let this happen. Not again. I won't just be the victim anymore.
"Let me go!" she cried, twisting sharply. To her surprise, her nails raked across the figure's arm, and they hissed in pain, releasing her.
She stumbled backward, nearly falling, but before she could run, the figure lunged again.
And then—
"Meiyu!"
The voice tore through the darkness like a blade.
Her breath caught. She turned to see Wen Haoran sprinting toward her, his usually calm expression broken by raw panic. Behind him, Zhao Yichen wasn't far, his eyes blazing like fire.
The figure froze for only a second before shoving Meiyu hard to the ground and darting into the shadows.
"Meiyu!" Haoran dropped to her side immediately, pulling her up gently but firmly. His hands shook as he brushed dirt from her scraped knees. "Are you hurt? Did they—"
"I-I'm fine," she stammered, though her body trembled violently.
Yichen skidded to a halt beside them, his gaze darting between her pale face and the darkness where the figure had vanished. His fists clenched so tight the veins in his arms bulged.
"Who was it?" His voice was low, dangerous. "Tell me who it was."
Meiyu swallowed hard, shaking her head. "I—I couldn't see… they didn't show their face."
Yichen cursed under his breath, punching the nearby wall with a crack that made her flinch. His knuckles split, blood blooming across his skin, but he didn't seem to notice.
Haoran's jaw tightened, his usual warmth gone. "They won't get away with this." His arm curled protectively around Meiyu's shoulders, holding her closer. "From now on, I'll be with you every second. They won't even get near you."
Yichen's eyes snapped to him, sharp with challenge. "Like hell you will. She's not your responsibility."
"She's not yours either," Haoran retorted coldly. "But you treat her like she's some toy to guard and scold. If you really cared, you'd put her safety first—not your ego."
Meiyu's chest tightened, her gaze darting between them. The air crackled with their hostility, louder than the fireworks still bursting in the sky.
"Stop," she whispered. But neither boy heard.
"Both of you—please stop!" she cried louder, her voice breaking.
The sharpness in their eyes dulled, if only slightly. Haoran loosened his grip, his expression softening as he looked at her trembling frame. Yichen looked away, his jaw tight, his fists still clenched.
Meiyu hugged the bunny closer, her voice small but steady. "I don't want either of you fighting because of me. I… I can't take it."
Silence fell.
For once, even Yichen didn't have a sharp retort. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his gaze dropped to the ground.
Haoran sighed quietly, but his hand lingered at the small of her back, steadying her. "We'll talk later. For now, let's get you somewhere safe."
Meiyu nodded faintly, but deep inside, her thoughts twisted.
The figure's words echoed in her ears: Everyone will know who you really are.
And though she was safe for now, she knew this wasn't over.
Whoever was behind the threats wouldn't stop until they broke her completely.
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