Chapter 99 - A Night That Brought Them Closer (7)
Yunru's devilish smile on his sly face that lit up with the disco lights made her heart thump in her chest. It raced like crazy as his gaze filled with tease and amusement was focused on her.
His sarcastic question left her stumped to answer him.
How does he know to dance so well!?
Her face flushed in embarrassment. Inwardly, she just wanted a chance to dance with him, but she couldn't be honest about it. And now the price for that was to feel embarrassed.
But she refused to budge.
Zizi cleared her throat. "So-so. It seems you do know the basics," she averted her gaze.
"Only basics?"
She glared at him. "Don't act so proud. You are nowhere near the classy level."
"But at least now we can dance as equals, I guess. Not as a teacher and student, though I didn't give you any chance to teach me," he shrugged.
Zizi gritted her teeth. But her frustration flew away the moment he gently swirled her again. His arm once again secured her waist as the distance between them closed down to nothing. She felt a breathless sensation in her throat as he smelled his cologne.
It was quite crowded on the dance floor. As Zizi felt lost in a trance, Yunru abruptly pulled her towards him. She blinked her eyes in confusion.
What happened?
She raised her head and saw him squint his eyes at a man. He calmly put his hand on a man's shoulder. It seemed as if he was touching his shoulder, but that man jolted in pain and yelped.
"Y-You...are crushing my shoulder…"
Yunru smiled. "Is that so? Apologize right now or I will do just more than crushing your shoulder."
Zizi had no clue what was going on.
Apologize to me for what?
But her heart was too riled up to think of anything. He had suddenly pulled her and now she was closely hugging him as they stood beside each other. Her lips trembled.
The man turned pale, but he kept his stance. "W-what did I do? I was just dancing."
"Dancing and trying to harass her."
Zizi widened her eyes in disbelief. She felt disgusted.
"How dare you!?"
The man jolted in fear. "No-no...this is a misunderstanding…"
Yunru said, "You thought that nobody would see what you were doing in this crowd. Trying to feel up a woman and disappear with the rush," his gaze turned cold, "I absolutely detest people like you."
Her heart sped in her chest. She stared at him in a trance as he protectively held her.
The molester panicked, seeing the cat out of the bag. He had never been caught before so he couldn't hide his panic and guilt. "T-that I am sorry...I-I won't do it again! Let me go now."
"You!" Zizi gritted her teeth. "Do you think just sorry would do?"
Yunru smiled. "Well, sure I will let you go but in jail. People like you never change."
He quickly called one of his team members to arrest the molester. Everything returned to peace once again.
Outside the bar, Zizi asked, "How did you know that man was trying to…" she was still filled with fury over the matter.
Yunru shrugged. "I noticed him raising his hand towards your waist."
Zizi was shocked. "In that crowd and with such loud music, you figured out what he was doing?"
"Pretty much."
"But we were dancing too. How did your attention even fall on the man?"
He raised his brow. "That is my job as a cop too. Pay attention to detail. Notice my surroundings. Observe. Cops have to use their training every day to thwart all kinds of situations."
Zizi was impressed but frowning at the same time. "Even when you are enjoying and relaxing? Doesn't it seem too tiring? To put your guard up all the time?"
Yunru paused. He looked at her with interest that made her fluster a bit. "W-what?"
"I didn't expect you to say those empathetic words. People hardly say that," he touched his chin.
Zizi was startled herself. Indeed, she wouldn't have said those words. But after how they were enjoying themselves on the dance floor and then suddenly, a case popped in, she couldn't help but wonder.
"Our training is so deeply ingrained in us that it's automatic now to sense any danger," he chuckled, "well, it's a cop's job to protect the citizens so of course, we should-"
"What nonsense!"
For the first time, he got startled.
Zizi snorted in disdain. "Yeah it's your job to protect but that doesn't mean you aren't a human anymore. You shouldn't think of work and observations on your off-duty. There is something called work-life balance. Do you want to become a zombie? Your hair will all turn white pretty soon if you bring work in your fun."
Yunru rapidly blinked his eyes. He burst into a soft chuckle. "Princess Han Zizi is on a roll today. First, you helped me with the case and now you are saying such nice words. I see...you are not that mean."
Her cheeks flushed furiously.
"I understand your point but if I hadn't stepped in, it would have been bad for you."
She bit her lip. "O-of course I know that...And th-thank you for saving me from him. But I still keep my point."
Yunru nodded. "I will keep that in mind. Let me drop you home now."
She nodded. "Oh wait! My friends are still in the bar. I will just say goodbye and come back."
As she hurried away, Yunru leaned on the wall and checked his phone. He noticed Shuang's unread message that she sent two hours back.
So you finally break the ice huh?
He stared at it for a few moments, contemplating something. Just as he was about to open it, Zizi already returned. "Let's go."
Yunru paused. But then he kept his phone back. "Yup."
---
Han villa.
Outside Han villa's entrance, Yunru stopped his car. Zizi stepped out. But then she felt nervous all of a sudden. She clasped her hands together.
What should I say?
She felt that the ride back home was too short.
Is that bar really that close to my home? She felt annoyed.
"That…"
"Oh look who it is. My favorite Soo Yunru," Han Huizhong's booming voice came from behind her.
"Grandpa," Yunru said, "You are outside so late?"
"Just taking a stroll."
He glanced at the two and raised his brow.
"What happened granddaughter? Is he dropping you from the police station? Did you make another trip to jail?"
"Grandpa!" She was completely embarrassed. She glared at him, feeling indignant.
Yunru smiled. "Not this time, Grandpa. Your granddaughter did some pretty heroic deeds tonight. I mean it."
Han Huizhong stared at her in deep thought. "Hooo...I am curious. Zizi did something nice?"
"It's a long story."
She gritted her teeth. "What do you mean!?"
Han Huizhong ignored her and glanced at Yunru. "Well then stay the night here."
"Ah?"
Zizi froze and her eyes widened in shock.
Han Huizhong shrugged. "You are already here. What does it matter? This is your home as well as much as it is Xinyi's. And it's already late. So stay."
"Really!?" Zizi unconsciously asked in excitement.
Han Huizhong narrowed his eyes. "You seem too happy. What is wrong with you? Are you sure you aren't a doppelganger?"
Zizi stiffened as she realized. She cleared her throat. "I-I mean that it's not bad to do him this favor once…"
Yunru furrowed his brows. He hadn't still read Shuang's message. "I…"
Han Huizhong snorted. "Don't be so formal. Stay the night. That's my order."
A tiny hope lit Zizi's heart.
Yunru let out a sigh. "Alright."
"Aunty!"
Siying dashed towards Zizi at full speed and clutched her leg. His lips curved into an adorable pout. "I was waiting for you!"
Zizi blinked her eyes. "Ah? Wait, you are sleeping with me tonight?"
"Uh-huh. I told you I will not sleep with Mama and Dada."
Her mouth twitched. She thought that it would be just a day or two. She loved Siying a lot but poor her was losing her sleep.
Siying's eyes brightened as he saw Yunru behind her. "Uncle!!"
"Hey champ," he chuckled and took him in his arms. "How is my boy doing?" He lifted him in the air and then caught him, making Siying laugh hard.
"I am good! Uncle, you came to meet me?" His eyes sparkled in delight.
Yunru pinched his nose. "Of course I came to meet my nephew. I will be sleeping for a night."
"Really!? Then we will play a lot!"
"Of course. Tonight will be a bang."
"Yunru?" Xinyi was surprised as she saw her brother. She was curious about the murmurs going on outside so she came to check.
"Yo sis."
She hugged him and smiled. "How are you here?"
"Well it's a long story but I will be staying here tonight. Courtesy - Grandpa."
She beamed. "That's great!"
Zhiyuan stepped out as well. "Well, then why don't we have some late-night snacks and enjoy?"
*****
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