Chapter 7

Li Xuan originally intended to pretend he didn't see anything; he had never been the type to burst with a sense of justice. However, the woman happened to turn her head for some reason and revealed a delicate, unadorned face.

It was this fleeting glance that instantly captivated Li Xuan. Since it was such a beauty, the situation was completely different. Li Xuan saw the man next to her who was about to steal her wallet. Although the man was startled by the woman's sudden turn and withdrew his hand, he was unwilling to leave without success.

So, he quickly walked up to her, skillfully wrapped his right arm around the waist of the girl in the white dress, and gently leaned his forehead against her fluffy hair, the faint fragrance making him feel instantly refreshed.

Li Xuan's lips approached the girl's earlobe and whispered in a voice only they could hear, "Be careful with your bag!"

Then he gently turned her half a step, slightly increasing the distance from the suspicious man nearby.

"Brother, this beautiful lady is already taken. Please don't get so close, or I'll be jealous!" Li Xuan's lips curled into a slight smile, deliberately showing a rebellious attitude, and he warned the man with a sidelong glance.

The man, seeing his plan foiled, glared at Li Xuan but didn't dare to stay longer, quickly turning and walking away. The girl in the white dress seemed to be startled by Li Xuan's bold actions, allowing him to continue holding her, but her body was very stiff.

Finally, Li Xuan gently released his hold on the girl's slender waist, feeling somewhat reluctant. The girl, who had been momentarily stunned, finally came to her senses, but she didn't make any extreme reactions; her face just turned bright red.

"Sorry, I was a bit presumptuous just now, but the situation was urgent! I saw him trying to steal your wallet and didn't think much about it!" Li Xuan defended his slightly frivolous actions, "Can we get to know each other? I'm Li Xuan, Li as in 'wood and son,' and Xuan as in 'majestic and dignified'!"

"Hello, I'm Zhong Chuhong!" The girl introduced herself with poise, no longer as shy as before.

"Zhong Chuhong?"

Li Xuan was surprised, staring intently at the beautiful and slightly innocent face before him. It vaguely resembled the elegant and graceful girl Hong Dou from "A Chinese Odyssey," who skillfully navigated between Leslie Cheung and Chow Yun-fat. However, she lacked the later's charm and had more of a neighborly innocence.

"Do you know me?" Zhong Chuhong asked softly.

"How many people in Hong Kong don't know you?" Li Xuan countered.

Zhong Chuhong immediately understood his meaning. She had just participated in this year's Miss Hong Kong contest, finishing fourth, but her fame was already considerable, even though she didn't consider herself a celebrity.

"I remember you said in the newspaper that you were very timid, but I don't think you are at all!" Li Xuan smiled, "Yau Ma Tei is a place for men to visit. For a beautiful girl like you to come alone without a protector is very risky!"

"Is it really that scary?" Zhong Chuhong shot him a glance, the fleeting charm making Li Xuan's heart flutter.

"Didn't you just encounter it? If I hadn't intervened, you might have had to walk home!" Li Xuan nodded toward her bag.

"Right, I haven't thanked you yet!" Zhong Chuhong was somewhat embarrassed.

"Let's go, we shouldn't block the way here!" Li Xuan took her hand and led her forward, "What are you here to buy?"

Zhong Chuhong immediately gently pulled her hand away, and Li Xuan didn't mind, acting as if nothing had happened.

"I'm here to buy a cassette player for my sister!"

"Really?" Li Xuan feigned surprise.

"What's wrong?" Zhong Chuhong was a bit puzzled.

"Look at this!" Li Xuan handed her the cassette player he was holding in his left hand, "We really are on the same wavelength! No wonder we met! I'm also here to buy a cassette player for my sister!"

"Really! That's some coincidence!" Zhong Chuhong felt something was off, "You're so smooth! Do you always flirt with girls like this?"

"Not at all, I'm just speaking from the heart!"

Li Xuan shook his head and suddenly reached out to grab the girl's hand. Zhong Chuhong turned to look at him, puzzled.

At that moment, Li Xuan looked at her with genuine sincerity, "Can I have your phone number?"

"Ah?" Zhong Chuhong was taken aback.

Li Xuan took a half-step back, released her hand, and wore a mischievous smile, "Actually, this is how I flirt with girls, straightforward! Most girls, when they see my sincere eyes, melt and shyly give me their numbers. Your heart is colder than ice, pretending to be clueless and ignoring me, ha ha!"

Li Xuan endured a few playful punches from the beauty, and Zhong Chuhong found herself not rejecting this man she had just met a few minutes ago.

"You said you wanted to thank me, right? I'm a bit thirsty, can you buy me a soda?" Li Xuan pointed to a nearby cold drink shop, not continuing to joke, knowing it was enough for now.

"Are you so quick to demand repayment?" Zhong Chuhong said this but walked toward the shop.

"What have you been up to lately? Filming a movie?"

The two sat in the cold drink shop, enjoying the breeze from the fans. Li Xuan sipped his cola, looking at the girl's wavy long hair, feeling somewhat moved.

"Who would cast me in a movie!" Zhong Chuhong pouted, looking playful, "I didn't even get a role in my TVB audition. Luckily, I got a commercial a few days ago, or I would have starved!"

Zhong Chuhong's family wasn't well-off. She was the eldest daughter, with two younger sisters and a brother. She had just received the payment for her commercial and wanted to buy a cassette player for her sister.

Li Xuan didn't expect that the "Red Lady" who made so many men go crazy, the one who remained beautiful for decades, would have such a humble past. The beautiful face before him was no longer the unattainable goddess of his past life but a simple, down-to-earth girl like himself.

"Want me to read your face?" Li Xuan leaned in, his eyes almost touching her nose, then gazed at her flawless face, "Close your eyes!"

"Hehe!" The girl laughed, suddenly pulling back, "What are you up to? I won't fall for it!"

"Huh? What am I up to!" Li Xuan feigned innocence, "Your eyes are so lively, I can't help but be drawn to them, making it hard to focus on reading your face, so I asked you to close your eyes!"

Li Xuan's frank praise made Zhong Chuhong blush, but she felt a bit happy inside.

"Do you think I'm going to do something bad to you with your eyes closed? Are you going to resist?" Li Xuan deliberately showed a lecherous smile.

"You're so annoying!" Zhong Chuhong was a bit flustered by his teasing.

The two chatted for half an hour in the tea restaurant, and the initial wariness gradually faded as Li Xuan's wit and humor broke down the barriers. Before parting, Li Xuan successfully got Zhong Chuhong's home phone number.

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