Who would put a green hat on themselves? - Chapter 18

“Ten, nine, eight, seven…”

As the numbers dwindled in the man’s voice, Yun Yue grew increasingly anxious.

She shouldn’t have stuffed so much cotton into her clothes; even her movements had become sluggish.

Having covered some distance, she heard the man’s voice coming from afar, filled with deep amusement, “Yue Yue, I’m coming to catch you!”

Yun Yue’s heart sank as she scrambled forward. Despite her efforts, the man, skilled in pursuit, closed the distance quickly and caught up with her.

In a moment of desperation, Yun Yue grabbed a handful of gravel mixed with sand and threw it at the man’s face.

Not only did the man easily dodge, but he also spoke gently, “Yue Yue, be careful not to hurt yourself. Injuries can be painful and heartbreaking.” His voice was like spring water—clear, melodious, and tender, evoking fondness.

Under different circumstances, such a gentle voice would be heartwarming. But in this situation, his tenderness felt jarring, making her more wary.

This was a soft blade meant to take her life.

Yun Yue knew she couldn’t escape being caught, but she still wasn’t ready to give up. If captured, she would have to face Yun Qing’s furious wrath.

“I’ve got you!” The man’s voice carried a hint of excitement.

“You, you…”

Yun Yue’s eyes met those of the masked man, filled with fear. Her mind raced, trying to find a way to escape.

“Please, let me go? If no one can find me, my brother can’t blame only you. I have a lot of silver notes, I’ll give them all to you!” She tried to bribe him.

As soon as she spoke, Yun Yue’s eyes fell on the bundle the man carried on his back.

Damn! Her silver notes were with him; what good were her offers? The man’s smug look made her blush.

“Not possible.” The man refused without a second thought.

Just as Yun Yue felt despair, the man offered another condition.

“Yue Yue, you know me, but you don’t remember. How about this: I’ll give you a chance. If you can tell me who I am, I’ll betray your brother and let you go. What do you say?” For her sake, he could betray his closest friend… as long as she remembered him, he would do anything.

Yun Yue remained on high alert. The man’s words made her confused.

Why did she understand each word but not the whole sentence?

How cryptic! Couldn’t he be clearer?

Despite her frustration, Yun Yue couldn’t miss this opportunity. Even without a clue, she took a deep breath and tried to think hard.

The masked man’s lips curved into a slight smile as he watched her struggle. It was as if he enjoyed toying with her, like a cat playing with a ball of yarn.

The more tangled the yarn got, the more pleased he became. As Yun Yue racked her brain, the man began to remove the pimples from her face.

“What… what are you doing?”

The man continued his actions without pausing, smiling at her. “Yue Yue, are you worried about what I’m doing? You don’t have forever to think. Your brother has likely searched the entire city and might even be out of the city now, looking for you. It’s not just me!”

With so many experts sent to find her, she wouldn’t have come this far without his deliberate help. But such details were best kept from her. How pitiful!

Yun Yue was shocked and continued to search her memory. Did she have any connection with this man?

As the disguise on Yun Yue’s face was gradually removed, revealing her exceptionally beautiful features, the masked man’s eyes showed evident admiration.

No, she had no recollection of him!

After his fascination faded, it was replaced by deep disappointment. Clearly, her lack of recognition had let him down.

“Yue Yue, you promised you wouldn’t leave me, but you’ve broken your promise!”

The man looked dejected. “Twice now, you’ve left me behind!”

His accusation left her puzzled.

Had she ever made such a promise? She couldn’t remember! Yet, as she pondered, a flicker of deeper memory stirred, as if she was about to recall something!

Before she could think more, her consciousness began to fade. The scene before her blurred, the sounds grew distant, and her body was too heavy to move, her mouth unable to open.

“Yue Yue, you’ve forgotten, but I remember… Next time, we’ll play hide and seek again…” The man murmured to himself, holding her unconscious body close, resting his head on hers, gently caressing her.

He frowned slightly, noticing something amiss. He unfastened her belt, removed her outer garment, and pulled out all the cotton stuffing inside.

Holding her slender waist, he continued to caress her neck, finally revealing a satisfied smile.

He lowered his head, slowly approaching her face. Despite her extreme fear and tension, even in unconsciousness, her fists remained clenched, her brows furrowed with worry.

The man embraced her, sitting by the slope. Through the mask, he kissed her forehead. Still not enough, he removed the mask and pressed his lips to her brow, then greedily kissed down her eyes.

Beneath the mask was an exceptionally handsome face.

For a man, it was rare to see such beauty. He had a heroic appearance with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, a high, straight nose, and features sculpted by nature’s craftsmanship.

The most captivating part of his face was his lush, red lips. The upper lip was thin and delicate, while the lower lip was full and inviting, like droplets of water, slightly curved in a smile, making him irresistible.

With an excellent bone structure, his broad forehead and well-defined cheekbones created a perfect harmony, akin to a masterpiece in landscape painting—unbearably beautiful and distant, evoking both desire and distance.

Now, this deity descended from his pedestal to be close to the girl he had long admired.