Then, a strange man approached Zhenya. He had an unsettling demeanor, and something about him felt off. He asked where she lived, insisting that he would drop her home. His persistence grew forceful, making Zhenya uneasy.
At that moment, Li Wei noticed the situation. His gaze sharpened, and without hesitation, he stepped forward to intervene.
"What's your problem?" Li Wei demanded, his voice firm. "If you keep harassing women, I'll call the police right now."
The man's face paled. Fear flickered in his eyes as he quickly turned and ran away.
Li Wei turned to Zhenya, his expression softening. "Are you alright?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
"Yes, I am," Zhenya said softly.
Li Wei let out a quiet breath of relief. Though he hadn't realized it, he had been holding his breath, waiting for her answer. Seeing her safe eased the tension in his chest.
"Thank you… for helping me," Zhenya added, her voice laced with sincerity.
Li Wei gave a small nod, his lips curving into a faint smile. "It was nothing."
Before either of them could say more, the restaurant door swung open, and Han Huimin stepped out. Spotting Zhenya, she waved. "Zhenya! I told you to wait for me."
Zhenya turned toward her friend. "I'm coming!" She glanced back at Li Wei and gave him a polite smile. "Goodbye."
Without waiting for a response, she hurried over to Huimin.
Li Wei watched her walk away, his eyes lingering on her retreating figure. It was only when she disappeared into the crowd that he realized something—he had forgotten to ask her name. A quiet chuckle escaped his lips as he shook his head. Fate works in strange ways.
As the two girls walked side by side, Zhenya sighed. "Why did you take so long?"
Huimin grinned mischievously. "Something came up. But never mind that—what happened earlier?"
Zhenya recounted the incident briefly. When she finished, Huimin's eyes lit up with excitement. "So, it turned into a 'hero saves beauty' moment, huh? How romantic!" She nudged Zhenya playfully. "Did you at least ask for his phone number?"
Zhenya rolled her eyes. "No, I didn't. I don't need it."
Huimin gasped in mock horror. "What? Why not?"
Zhenya shrugged. "Because we won't meet again."
Huimin smirked. "You never know, Zhenya. Fate has a way of bringing people together."
Zhenya only smiled, but deep down, she doubted it. After all, in a city this big, what were the chances of crossing paths with a stranger again?
Yet, somewhere behind her, Li Wei stood still, looking at the spot where she had disappeared, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips.
Perhaps, fate had already decided otherwise.
The next morning, as the city buzzed with life, birds chirping in the distance, Yuan Zi slowly opened his eyes. A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts—it must be his assistant. Sure enough, the assistant entered with breakfast, placing it on the table.
"There's an educational shoot at a university in a few days," the assistant informed him. "They've requested you to join and film with the students to help promote the university."
Yuan Zi simply nodded, taking a sip of his coffee before starting his meal. After finishing, he got into the car and headed toward the shooting location.
Meanwhile, at the university, Huimin nearly shrieked when she heard the news. "Zhenya! Yuan Zi is coming!" she exclaimed, grabbing her friend's arm excitedly.
Zhenya's lips curled into a soft smile. Finally, she was going to meet her idol, Yuan Zi.
But when she glanced at the clock, her eyes widened. "I'm going to be late for class!" she gasped, quickly saying goodbye to Huimin before rushing down the hallway.
Inside the classroom, the professor stood at the podium, addressing the students. "As you all may have heard, Yuan Zi will be visiting our university for a shoot. One student will be selected to represent the Finance Department."
A male student immediately spoke up. "I think Zhenya should do it."
Before Zhenya could react, another voice interrupted.
"I refuse."
Tang Xi, a girl with sharp features and an air of confidence, crossed her arms. "I should be the one representing our department."
The professor considered for a moment. "Then we'll settle this with a vote."
The students cast their votes, whispering among themselves, excitement filling the air. When the final count was in, the professor announced, "Zhenya has won."
The room erupted in cheers—except for one person. Tang Xi sat stiffly, her fingers curled into fists beneath her desk. She despised Zhenya, not just for winning this opportunity but for being someone everyone admired. Beautiful, intelligent, well-mannered—everything Tang Xi secretly wished to be.
Her eyes darkened. This wasn't over.
Tang Xi clenched her fists under the desk, her lips pressing into a thin line as the class erupted in applause for Zhenya. Her gaze flickered toward the girl at the center of attention—Zhenya, smiling modestly as her friends congratulated her.
Perfect grades, perfect manners, perfect face.
Tang Xi's nails dug into her palm.
Everyone adores her. But let's see how long that lasts.
She forced a smile, masking the storm brewing inside her.
You want to represent the Finance Department, Zhenya? Let's see if you can still be everyone's favorite when I'm done with you.
Tang Xi leaned back in her chair, tilting her head as if deep in thought. The wheels in her mind had already begun turning.
This wasn't over. Not yet..
Yuan Zi arrived at the university, his tall figure effortlessly drawing attention as he walked through the campus. The professor greeted him with a nod before delivering the news.
"You'll be shooting with Zhenya today."
At the mention of her name, Yuan Zi's gaze shifted.
Zhenya stood a short distance away, looking at him. The moment their eyes met, it felt as if the world had come to a halt. He was even more handsome in person than on screen—so breathtaking that her heart pounded wildly in her chest. But she forced herself to remain composed, suppressing the excitement bubbling inside her..