Ai felt his fingers firmly holding onto her arm. His stance was protective and cold. It wasn't too tight that would hurt her and neither was it too light that would leave her.
His fist looked so unforgiving when he punched the college student and stabbed that robber, she thought.
Jun lowered his head. "Are you hurt?"
Ai quickly looked away. She forgot she had removed the shades and mask. But thankfully for her, her face was smeared with black ink all over, so she wasn't recognizable.
"Yes," she cleared her throat.
Jun pushed back and steadied the shelf. Ai took this chance to pull back her shades and glasses. She patted the boy's back. "It's okay now. Your parents must be worried about you. Go quickly."
The little boy hesitated. "B-But…"
She smiled. "I told you I will handle it. Go."
The boy then quickly left.
Jun raised his brow and watched her in amusement. He saw the books smudged with ink and parted his lips. "MissImperfectlyFine."
Ai froze.
"I am right, am I not?"
She coughed. "How do you…"
"Doesn't matter. The more important thing is that you are the writer of the books which I detest from the bottom of my heart," he coldly sneered.
Ai paused. "Why don't you like my books?"
I hope my voice sounds different with the mask on. Otherwise he would recognize me as Zhou Ai.
Jun narrowed his eyes. He slowly leaned towards her, making her slightly startled.
Don't come too close, or you will recognize me.
"Because I hate tragedies. Why do you write them?"
Ai furrowed her brows. "Why do you read them?"
His mouth twitched in annoyance.
"You don't want readers to read your story?"
"Not if it's not to their taste."
Then she asked, "There are many stories with such endings. Why are you particular about mine?"
Jun's countenance turned icy.
If I knew the answer, I wouldn't be so troubled.
"Is it because I am showing you the reality that you don't want to accept?"
He stiffened and gritted his teeth. "Don't get so arrogant."
"I am simply pointing out the truth."
Jun gave an evil smile. "And the truth is you are in big trouble here. I don't need to tell you what has happened here, right?"
"I know."
"Yet you let the boy leave."
Ai unhurriedly stated, "It wasn't his fault."
"It was."
"But he didn't do it on purpose."
"And you want to act like a hero. Oh no, my bad. Heroine," he disdainfully smiled.
"It's nothing like that. He was already frightened. I simply didn't want to make him any more troubled."
Jun said nothing.
It was around this time that one of the staff members would come here to take another batch of books when he would notice the accident and raise an alarm. From there on, it would be all downfall for MissImperfectlyFine.
It was all up to Jun who saw the real incident happen and could defend Ai now.
"Well, good luck then."
Ai remained silent for a moment and nodded. "Thank you for saving me."
Jun found it odd. Not that she thanked him, but her polite tone reminded her of Ai.
The hell I am always thinking about her!
Jun stared at her and left.
A minute later, Chief Editor Gu Yating's assistant came in and was shocked by all the mess. "Oh my God! Who are you!? A thief? Shit! The books!"
He wanted to faint seeing the ink all smeared on them.
"No…What will happen now!? You! Just wait! It's all your fault! You are also all smeared with ink. What did you do?"
Hearing the commotion, the other staff members of Dream High and Zhan Yahui quickly entered. "What happened here?"
Zhan Yahui saw the sorry state of Guiying's books and was horrified. "What the hell! What happened to these books!?"
The assistant who first saw Ai recounted the events.
She widened her eyes. "What…Who are you!? Do you know what you have done? There is an event going on outside. The stock over there is going to end soon, and these news copies are in this state! What are we gonna give the rest of the fans? These books are all ruined! Speak!"
There was silence.
"Didn't you hear me!?"
Ai stared at her. "Zhou Ai."
She blinked. "...Huh?"
Then as she realized that it was indeed her Zhan Yahui took a sharp breath. "Zhou Ai, what are you doing here?"
"Why wouldn't I be here? Guiying called me here as her friend."
She angrily laughed. "And this is what you do? If you are here as her well-wisher, then why are her books in this state?"
"It was an accident."
"And you think I am supposed to believe that?"
"Yes. I tripped, and the can fell down. The ink spilled," she didn't faze.
"What are you even doing in this store room here in the first place? You have no business here. This place is only to keep stocks of Guiying's books. Only the staff and I can enter! And look at you wearing shades and a mask. You didn't want people to recognize you, did you? You only confessed because you couldn't run away in time."
I only wanted Jun to not recognize me.
"I am sick."
Zhan Yahui gritted her teeth. "We don't have time for this, Zhou Ai! How would you take responsibility for this? It would be impossible to handle the crowd outside if they don't get their signed copies. You totally did this to ruin this event for Guiying, right?"
Ai stated. "I have no such intention."
"Then tell us why are you here?" She folded her arms.
There was silence for a beat.
"I heard someone talking about a plan to ruin this event. So, I came to check."
Zhan Yahui narrowed his eyes. "Who?"
"I just heard the voice."
She shook her head. "All lies. You cannot prove. You are just making up a story."
"I am not."
"Then prove it. Who was this man? Where did you see him?"
"Hey what's happening here?" Just then Guiying stepped in, her face marred in confusion.