The Villain's Redemption

It was Mo Li, sitting comfortably in one unlucky cubicle. This— this does not make any sense at all!

"What are you doing here?" Li Yue frowned. Questions upon questions started swirling in her head. "And why the hell is the cubicle unlocked?" Exactly what the hell is wrong with this absurd situation?

"I should be the one asking that question. Are you going to stand there forever?" the latter asked calmly, ignoring her questions before pulling her inside. He stood away from the bowl and gestured by tilting his head. "Sit."

Instead of sitting down, Li Yue only stared at the man who is now standing just a few inches away from her, his tall frame towering over her small body. Snapping away from her initial shock, she said in a fluster, "Huh? What is happening?"

"I’m hiding." Mo Li said.

"In an open cubicle?"

"No one checks an open cubicle."

"Hah?" Li Yue’s mouth fell. "Where did that logic come from?"

Shrugging, he looked at her and pointed at his face. "Me."

"You know—"

"You are hiding too?" he asked. She nodded slowly.

"From who?"

"Muggers."

"There are people who want to rob you?" he squinted, disbelief apparent within his expression. "Are you sure it’s not you who tried to rob them?"

"Do you really think that lowly of me?"

"Yes."

"You— " Li Yue gulped. Irritation flashed inside her. This man... This man is indeed the absolute villain!

"Where are you going?" he grabbed hold of her arm when she tried to open the door.

"Leaving. Isn’t that obvious?"

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?" She tried to shrug his hands off her arm. Alas, the firm muscles of the man’s arms weren’t just for show. "I’m a woman with a sense of honor, that’s why!" she hissed. "I don’t want people to think that we are doing something... nasty."

"Nasty?"

She widened her eyes. ’Is this person dumb?’

’As far as my database goes, no.’ The robotic voice answered inside her head.

"I’m not asking you!!" Realizing her mistake, Li Yue let out a sigh as she stared at his curious eyes. "I am a woman, you are a man. What would people think if they saw us together? Not to mention the fact that you’re an idol! I’m not ready to get bashed by your fans."

"Oh. You think they’ll see you as my girlfriend?"

"Of course they will! What do you think will they think after seeing us

"They will think that... we are hiding."

Li Yue’s mind blanked out for a few seconds, her gaze was one filled with incredulity. This guy is definitely dumb. He must have some sort of problem in his brain.

"But, isn’t this good? Now, your pursuers won’t think that you are inside as you are with me. And mine won’t suspect that I am the person hiding with you. They will think that we are doing something."

Li Yue immediately nodded. At least what little brains he had in his head still functioned.

The loud sound of the door being opened hurriedly made her flinch. She widened her eyes as she turned towards Mo Li.

"She’s not here." A gruff voice echoed.

"Are you sure?"

"What about that one?"

"Lovers."

"Oh!"

"Are you sure you saw her enter this place?"

"Positive."

"I think she jumped out of the window."

"Isn’t that too high?"

"Damn it! Just search! We need to find her or Miss Lu will kill us!"

"I know! Look harder!"

Slowly, the voice disappeared as the two men left the men’s toilet.

"They are— "

"Shh." Mo Li covered her mouth with his hand. "They might still be around." He lowered his voice. In response, Li Yue nodded. She pushed away his hand and leaned her head towards the door of the cubicle, listening. "I think they’re gone." Mo Li whispered, his hot breath touched her face and made her freeze. The smell of mint caused her face to frown in displeasure. She hated mint.

"Stop that!" she hissed.

"Stop what?"

"Don’t get too close!"

"Why?" he asked.

This guy... Li Yue really wanted to smack her head. How could this Mo Li be so clueless? ’Can I smack the villain?’

Silence. As usual, the robot left her when she needed it the most.

"I think they’re gone now." Mo Li repeated his words.

"I know."

"But you can’t leave me alone."

She lifted an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"I helped you get rid of your pursuers. You help me get rid of mine."

She was about to retort when the gurgling of her stomach reached their ears. She sighed. "I’m hungry."

"Then let’s eat here."

Disbelief flashed in Li Yue’s eyes. Is this guy serious?

"Is there any way to leave this place without going through the front door?" Mo Li asked.

Without saying anything, she pointed at the window. "You can’t really leave through the fire exit. Those people might be there waiting for you." She let out another sigh. "I’m hungry and I can’t eat here."

"Then... let’s go out through the window?"

She immediately shook her head in response. "Can’t." This body is weak. Barely any exercise, an unhealthy diet, skinny and frail bones. How is she supposed to survive jumping from the second floor of a building?

"I can catch you."

For a few seconds, she remained silent as she considered his suggestion.

"I don’t trust you." She said. "You’re too small to catch me."

"I’m about six feet tall and I exercise. I am sure I can lift you if— "

"Whoa! Don’t you dare try to carry me!"

"Why not?"

"If you do that, you will have to marry me." She answered almost immediately. "That is... a family custom."

"But as of now, you don’t have a family, right?"

Li Yue really doesn’t know if she should laugh or cry at the man’s blunt attitude. How could he be this naive? Was he written this way?

"Alright... if you don’t want to use the window then... how are we going to leave without them noticing?

Li Yue eyed Mo Li’s clothes. As usual, he was wearing a hoodie underneath his coat. His coat was made of leather, black and shiny. His dark hair sloppily hung on his face, making him look rugged— something that immediately reminded her of a rock star, minus the dark eyeliner and dangling huge chains.

Now that she had a good look at him, she realized that he seemed to have become a little bigger than when she first met him, maybe taller?

"Let’s switch coats." Li Yue said after a few seconds of silence.