The alley was dimly lit, with several overflowing trash cans lining the roadside, buzzing with flies and emanating a foul odor.
The two tall men squeezed into the corner. With no one else passing by, they pressed in even more brazenly.
"Little sister, heard you're good at playing? Why not play with us?"
As he spoke, the other man let out a laugh.
"Stay away from me."
The girl's soft, sweet tone held no threat; it sounded more like a pout. Even with a cold expression, she was incredibly beautiful.
These two men had never seen anyone so beautiful, more so than any celebrity.
They had only intended to scare her, but upon seeing the girl, both of them changed their minds.
Shen Yue wore a school uniform for autumn, the zipper pulled up to her neck, revealing only a small section. Yet, that sliver was enough to attract attention; she was so fair. They imagined she was even fairer beneath her clothes.
The men's gazes grew hotter, their eyes greedy, wishing they could rip away the bothersome clothing to see if she was indeed that fair underneath.
He involuntarily raised his hand, intending to caress her snow-white, jade-like face, but his wrist was caught by a cool hand midway.
The soft palm stunned the man. He felt an inexplicable unease and met a pair of dark, moist eyes, clear and limpid like a lake reflecting the night sky.
System: [I have an invincibility halo here. Do you need it?]
Shen Yue: [How much?]
System: […It's free.]
Shen Yue hesitated: [Really?]
System: […If you don't want it, forget it.]
Shen Yue quickly said: [Yes, yes, I want it.]
The man stood frozen, feeling a tingling sensation from his wrist. Before he could savor it, he felt a sharp pain.
He let out a belated cry and met the girl's cold, emotionless eyes.
Just as Shen Yue prepared to kick the man away, the system suddenly spoke.
[Bai Qingzhen is here.]
Shen Yue was a little confused but couldn't break character. She immediately changed her expression.
The girl raised her face tremblingly. Her skin, as pale and soft as milk, was transparent. Her dark eyes quickly welled up with moisture, tears dangling precariously on her long lashes. Her slender frame was delicate, like a chick that had stumbled into danger, flustered and lost.
Bai Qingzhen hid in a corner, poking her head out, and immediately saw the scene.
The two tall men had cornered the girl, their shadows engulfing her. One man reached out to touch her face, and the girl trembled, as if in fear.
Her heart sank. Bai Qingzhen had only intended for them to scare Shen Yue, not to go too far. She had come only to check on the situation, but the current scene made her nervous.
"Help!"
"Is anyone there? Help…"
The girl's face was pale, her voice trembling uncontrollably.
Bai Qingzhen's expression changed. She saw the man becoming more aggressive, like a hyena discovering a delicious meal, pouncing towards the girl.
In a panic, the girl dodged aside but stumbled into the arms of the other man.
The girl's anxious cries tightened Bai Qingzhen's nerves. Soon, the girl's voice was tinged with tears.
If she left now, what unspeakable things might happen next?
This was not the outcome Bai Qingzhen desired. She hadn't expected things to escalate this severely and couldn't bear to watch.
Gritting her teeth, Bai Qingzhen found a wooden stick nearby and crept closer.
The two men were solely focused on Shen Yue and didn't notice another person stealthily approaching.
*Bang—*
The man's movements froze. He touched the back of his head and brought his hand to his eyes, seeing his palm covered in blood.
Bai Qingzhen seized the opportunity to pull Shen Yue behind her, gripping the wooden stick tightly as she slowly retreated.
The man who had been struck on the head turned around, his face contorted in a grimace. He took a step forward, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
The other man reacted, his eyes fierce. He picked up a nearby stone and swiftly lunged forward.
Bai Qingzhen waved the wooden stick wildly, keeping the man at bay. However, his lewd gaze remained fixed on the girl behind her.
Bai Qingzhen turned her head and said to Shen Yue, "I'll hold him off here. You go outside and call for help."
The girl bit her lip, her fair, luminous face streaked with tears. She clutched Bai Qingzhen's clothes uneasily, not running away immediately, but asking, "This will be very dangerous for you."
She still worried about her at this moment.
Bai Qingzhen's heart was filled with complex emotions, but time was critical, and there was no room for lengthy explanations. She pretended to be relaxed.
"It will be even more dangerous if both of us stay here. If you really worry about me, then hurry and run out to get someone to help. The longer you waste here, the more danger I'm in."
Shen Yue clenched her fists, her eyes red, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
"Then wait for me."
After saying this, she seemed still not entirely reassured and added, "I'll be back soon."
Bai Qingzhen urged, "Go quickly!"
Shen Yue glanced at her one last time, then turned and ran.
Watching the girl leave, the man who had hesitated to attack was enraged. He wanted to chase after her, but there was a foolish person blocking his path, constantly getting in his way.
He threw the brick he was holding in a fit of anger.
Shen Yue ran forward desperately. There were very few people on the roadside.
Shen Yue's stamina was not good; every passing second felt urgent.
Shen Yue eventually flagged down a car by the roadside. Just by a narrow margin, Shen Yue was not sent flying by the vehicle.
A middle-aged man got out of the car, muttering curses. But when he saw the girl's face, he froze for a moment.
"Please, save her…"
After reporting to the police, she rushed back.
Due to running too fast, Shen Yue's heart was pounding violently. But when she saw the scene in the alley, her heart seemed to stop for a second.
It was all red.
The man was smashing the red brick onto Bai Qingzhen's head. Her face was already stained with blood, making it impossible to discern.
The strong smell of blood reached her nostrils. The ground was covered in blood, staining the earth and her clothes.
Crimson blood gushed out. The man was restrained, and the dazed girl walked over. She knelt down and trembled as she reached out. Instantly, blood stained her fingertips and her clothes.