Chapter 190
After eating her fill, Liu Woxing stared at the empty bowl in front of her, feeling a little dazed.
She was now sitting outside a convenience store by the roadside, watching the endless stream of cars and listening to the noisy sounds of the city.
It was hard to imagine that just half an hour ago, she had been sitting in that suffocating room, trying to ease her breathlessness by watching recorded clips of past shows.
By her ears came the voices of Xie Mi and Lai Bingxuan chatting.
“So why exactly did you kidnap Liu Woxing?”
“Because she blocked me.”
“Just because of that?”
“Yes.”
“Seriously… Xie Mi, sometimes you’re really just inexplicable, you know that?”
“Fair enough, fair enough.”
“…”
Liu Woxing’s gaze fell on Xie Mi, her heart a tangle of emotions.
This short-lived escape from reality was something Teacher Xie had carved out for her.
But… could she really keep escaping like this?
The breeze rustled the leaves by the roadside, and a wildflower drifted down onto the table in front of Liu Woxing.
“…”
She suddenly picked up the flower and plucked the petals one by one.
Like a child, she murmured in her heart: Leave, stay, leave, stay…
When she reached the last petal, the answer was leave.
The odd number of petals seemed like some kind of omen.
Her fingers froze, and a wave of sorrow welled up in her chest.
She knew this was meaningless, yet she still felt wronged by an answer she didn’t want.
She only wanted a bit of comfort. Why couldn’t even a flimsy, made-up reassurance be given to her?
Suddenly—
Xie Mi reached out and tore the last petal in half.
Her voice was calm.
“If you don’t get the answer you want, then create it yourself.”
Liu Woxing froze, staring in shock at the torn petal.
Now there was an even number, and the answer had changed to stay.
Xie Mi’s voice echoed in her ears.
“No one gets to decide your life for you.”
“……!”
Like words striking her straight in the heart, Liu Woxing jerked her head up.
And met Xie Mi’s lazy, free-spirited gaze.
She was propping her chin with one hand, loose strands of hair lifted by the breeze, lips curved in a bold, carefree smile—like the wind itself.
Liu Woxing stared, entranced.
“Hey, Xie Mi, something’s wrong! Why are we trending on hot search?!” Lai Bingxuan suddenly jabbed at her shoulder with her phone.
Xie Mi leaned over. “Let me see.”
#XieLiuBing Dating Leak#
The leaked paparazzi photos showed the three of them eating instant noodles outside the convenience store. The marketing accounts praised them as down-to-earth, and netizens were gossiping in droves.
But that wasn’t the point.
The point was—they were literally still sitting here at this convenience store, which meant their location had been exposed.
“We’re in the middle of kidnapping Liu Woxing! Now that our location is out, won’t the Liu family find us right away?!” Lai Bingxuan panicked.
Hearing this, Liu Woxing snapped back to her senses, brows furrowing. “When did it hit trending?”
“About ten minutes ago, but the earliest paparazzi upload was twenty minutes back,” Lai Bingxuan replied.
Liu Woxing frowned deeper. “If it’s been twenty minutes, they’ll probably find this place soon. We need to change locations fast.”
“What?! Then we’d better hurry and—wait, why are you so anxious? Aren’t you the kidnapped one?” Lai Bingxuan looked at her suspiciously.
Only then did Liu Woxing realize she had slipped up. She opened her mouth but couldn’t speak. The air turned awkward.
Xie Mi was the one who broke the silence.
“I know you’re anxious, but no need.”
Lai Bingxuan’s attention shifted. “You’ve thought of a plan?”
“Nope.”
Xie Mi shook her head, then pointed to the street in front of them. “Because the Liu family’s already here.”
Lai Bingxuan & Liu Woxing: “!!”
A luxury sports car had stopped by the roadside.
The rear window rolled down slowly, revealing a young man inside. He turned his head lazily, lips curling into a malicious grin.
“Found you, Liu Woxing.”
Psssh—
Xie Mi calmly lifted a whipped cream canister and sprayed.
The man, who had been posturing coolly just a second ago, immediately sputtered with cream all over his face, rolling his eyes and screeching incoherently:
“What the—pfft—pfft, close—pfft—close the damn window!!”
With cream gagging his words, it took a full five seconds of agony before the window finally slid shut.
Lai Bingxuan and Liu Woxing were both dumbstruck.
Especially Liu Woxing—
She hadn’t even had time to feel nervous before she was floored by Xie Mi’s outrageous move.
“You bought whipped cream… for this? Not to eat?!” Lai Bingxuan’s worldview shattered.
Xie Mi grinned and waggled the canister. “Learn it, and it’s profit.”
Lai Bingxuan stared in silence for two seconds, then suddenly dashed back into the convenience store.
Liu Woxing, realizing the seriousness of the situation, hurried to grab Xie Mi.
“Teacher Xie, that guy is—”
“Who he is doesn’t matter.”
Xie Mi turned and pressed Liu Woxing back into her chair.
“What matters is—I’m kidnapping you. So whoever comes, I’ll beat them all the same.”
Liu Woxing gaped. “You…”
“Are you tired of living?!”
The roar cut her off.
The young man had wiped off the cream and stepped out of the car, storming toward them in fury. “Do you even know who I am?!”
“Who you are doesn’t matter.”
Xie Mi calmly repeated herself.
The man’s lip curled, about to explode.
But Xie Mi struck first—a sudden headbutt that sent him flying.
“But I’m your dad!!!”
“AHHHH—!!”
His scream split the sky.
He stumbled back, slamming into the car, clutching his ribs in pain.
Finally, he couldn’t hold back his rage and shouted at Liu Woxing:
“Liu Woxing! Mom was right—you really have lost your mind! You’re hanging around with these shady nobodies, disobeying her will, and even skipped today’s blind date! Do you think the Liu family owes you face?!!”
Liu Woxing’s face went pale.
“What did you say?”
Lai Bingxuan, just returning from the store, overheard. Her brows knit.
“You’re saying Liu Woxing was supposed to go on a blind date today? That her so-called private reason was a blind date? And it wasn’t even her choice?”
“You must be Lai Bingxuan. I advise you to mind your own business,” the man sneered.
“Well, today I’ll make it my business!”
Lai Bingxuan’s temper flared.
“When I went to your house earlier, I already thought it strange. Liu Woxing is clearly a Liu family daughter, yet even a butler dares to order her around and monitor her every move.”
“She was even sneaking her phone to watch Love Watch replays—that shows she never wanted to quit. You forced her out, didn’t you?!”
Xie Mi turned in shock. Since when had Lai Bingxuan evolved like this?
“This is Liu family business, not yours.” The man clicked his tongue and reached for Liu Woxing’s hand. “You’re coming back with me!”
Xie Mi rammed him away like a charging bull.
“Miss Lai, take the hostage!”
Before Liu Woxing could react, Lai Bingxuan had already grabbed her hand and was dragging her toward her own car. As they ran, she looked back at Liu Woxing with exasperation.
“I get it now!
Xie Mi is actually trying to help you. I don’t know everything that’s happened, but from how things are at your house, it’s clear you didn’t quit the show willingly.
She must have figured it out, so she’s trying to help you keep participating!”
“Being mad at you for blocking her, kidnapping you—all just excuses! Haven’t you realized it yet, you slowpoke?!”
Dragged along, Liu Woxing froze.
She knew this wasn’t the time or place, but she still wanted to say one thing—
Isn’t it possible… that the real slowpoke is you?
