Chapter 53: Mischief

This was something no one had anticipated. The turn of events was so sudden that the group behind Long Fei was caught off guard. Fortunately, though Wen Qi had always harbored some reservations about Long Fei, she was quick to stop several security guards from making any further moves. Anyone with a hint of sense could see that the person Yang Danni missed every day was none other than Long Fei; otherwise, how could she have thrown herself into his arms and wept so desperately? This was the first time such a thing had ever happened to Yang Danni.

Everyone looked at each other, bewildered. Each man who had rushed in wore a dark expression and eyed Long Fei with open hostility. It wasn’t just that Long Fei didn’t appear particularly handsome; even if he were a paragon of beauty, at this moment, he was holding everyone’s idol in his arms—who would look kindly on him?

Yet, they all stood there awkwardly, reluctant to leave yet finding the atmosphere too bright for their liking, feeling like unnecessary onlookers.

Gently patting Yang Danni’s shoulder, Long Fei gazed at this woman who was a few years older than himself, and a bitter feeling welled up inside him. Clearly, the torment Yang Danni had endured over these days was far greater than he had imagined.

Wen Qi, frowning in curiosity, studied Long Fei for a long time but could only sigh and shake her head. No matter how she looked at him, he wasn’t her type at all. She couldn’t fathom how Yang Danni could love him so madly and persistently. Not to speak for Xie Qingquan, but in Wen Qi’s eyes, Long Fei was certainly no match for him. Whenever Xie Qingquan brought flowers, it was always in generous bouquets, and despite daily setbacks, he never wavered in his pursuit. Long Fei, however, gave only a single flower the first time—and that rose looked as if it had been picked out of a trash bin rather than bought.

No one knew what Long Fei whispered into Yang Danni’s ear, but at last, her tears ceased. Her face flushed with nervous color, as if only now realizing how many people were in the room. Embarrassed, she turned her head away, feigning ignorance of their presence.

As a man, if Long Fei still didn’t know what to do in such a moment, he would truly be a fool. But was Long Fei a fool? Certainly not.

Turning around, Long Fei gave everyone an ambiguous smile. “Ladies and gentlemen, if you have no further business here, shouldn’t you be leaving? And, what you witnessed today was nothing but an illusion—nothing but an illusion, understood?”

The station chief’s surname was Kou, nicknamed “Kou the Bald”—not only because he’d lost his hair early in life, but for other reasons as well.

Kou the Bald was notoriously harsh with his subordinates, docking their pay at the slightest provocation, earning him his nickname. However, he always took special care of Yang Danni, not merely for her looks, but also because he had long been aware of her background.

To reach the rank of station chief at Shanghai Television, one must have a certain understanding of political circles. If he were truly ignorant, he’d have been ousted long ago. Although Yang Danni usually kept a low profile, she hadn’t hidden her origins from Beijing’s Yang family, so it was unsurprising that Chief Kou knew her background.

All the others left, leaving only Kou the Bald and Wen Qi behind.

At this point, however, Kou the Bald seemed not to understand Long Fei’s meaning, staring at him with a puzzled look.

Long Fei sighed helplessly and explained, “Do you really not understand, or are you pretending? Make sure your staff keeps their mouths shut about this, or I’m afraid Danni won’t last long at your station. Surely you understand the consequences?”

Kou the Bald was no fool. With this reminder, his mind raced, and he quickly grasped the situation.

Currently, the news program hosted by Yang Danni had the highest ratings on Shanghai Television. While her skill as a host was a factor, Chief Kou knew the greater reason was her immense popularity. The loyal viewers didn’t care about national affairs; they just wanted to see Yang Danni at seven o’clock every evening.

If these viewers learned that Yang Danni had a boyfriend, perhaps the show would gain short-term buzz, but in the long run, it would not be good. Disillusioned fans would inevitably drift away.

Kou the Bald hurriedly nodded and rushed after the group of reluctant staff who had withdrawn but lingered nearby. He declared sternly, “No one is to speak a word of what happened today. If anyone does, you’ll bear the consequences. Don’t say I didn’t warn you—this is now a top secret for our station. Anyone who leaks it will be treated as if they’ve divulged company secrets, and that’s not just a simple matter of dismissal—the law will follow you!”

Whether it was strictly legal or not, Kou the Bald wanted to inoculate his people against any loose talk. Seeing their nervous, obedient nods, he ordered, “Back to work—everyone, return to your posts!”

Wen Qi also left. At this moment, she had no desire to play the third wheel, though she still couldn’t help but feel Yang Danni deserved better. Long Fei remained unimpressive in her eyes, no matter how she looked at him.

As she walked toward the elevator, Wen Qi mused to herself, perhaps this is what they mean by “to each their own, every heart has its favorite.”

Once everyone else had left, Long Fei asked Yang Danni with a hint of curiosity, “Is your office different from the others?”

Still basking in happiness, Yang Danni replied, “How so?”

“The glass—doesn’t it seem different?” Long Fei nodded. He remembered that, when he’d entered earlier, he couldn’t see inside at all, but now, standing within, he could clearly see out. People passing by looked this way, yet seemed to see nothing.

“Oh, it is a bit different. You can see out from inside, but not in from outside,” Yang Danni replied, her cheeks tinged with red.

Long Fei didn’t pursue the matter further. Suddenly, a mischievous smile flickered across his lips, and he gazed at Yang Danni with a look that was both ambiguous and wild. A shiver ran through her as she recalled that incident from more than a year ago.

During a visit home to Beijing, feeling down, Yang Danni went to a bar for some fun. By then, she had already made a name for herself at the TV station. Unexpectedly, she caught the eye of a local gang boss. However, knowing her background, he dared not act openly. Instead, he drugged her, intending to drag her into a private room.

As fate would have it, Long Fei was also at the bar that night and intervened to save her. Using his signature Deadly Leg technique, he kicked the gang boss so hard the man would never recover. Unfortunately, he arrived a little late—by then, Yang Danni had been stripped down to her underwear.

As stories would have it, just as Long Fei was about to wake her, Yang Danni’s brother arrived, and a fight broke out between the two. That brawl turned them into friends, and from that moment, Yang Danni fell deeply in love with Long Fei.

Afterward, Beijing launched a three-month crackdown. Every criminal gang was wiped out—any who survived vanished from the city. To this day, those remnants probably still don’t know why the usually calm city erupted in a sudden, merciless purge. The real reason was that someone from the Yang family made a single phone call to the city’s police chief. It’s said only one sentence was spoken, casually but with unusual force. What was actually said, no one knows except those involved.

The tears on Yang Danni’s face had already been wiped away by Long Fei. Though her show was about to start, she had never been one for heavy makeup—her natural beauty needed no embellishment, and her tears had not marred her looks in the least.

In this moment, Yang Danni was truly breathtaking. Long Fei, a consummate rogue, felt it would be a shame not to make a move. Under her expectant gaze, he drew closer, and as she closed her eyes, kissed her fiercely on the lips, his tongue stirring up a storm within her mouth.

Hearing Yang Danni’s heavy breaths, Long Fei slipped his hand under the hem of her skirt, caressing her shapely hips. His other hand ventured upward beneath her blouse, and amid her soft cries of surprise, he found and fondled her firm, inviting curves.