Lu Cheng looked at the woman in front of him, who was tightly wrapped up, still clutching a brick in her hand, and whose eyes were filled with shock; the surprise on his face became even more genuine.
He took half a step forward, seemingly to support Bai Zhi.
"Little girl, are you alright?"
His voice was gentle, carrying just the right amount of concern.
"That loud noise just now, I thought you had fallen."
Bai Zhi's mind went blank.
This script is wrong!
According to her past experience, shouldn't the villain, after a failed sneak attack, be enraged and then try to kill her?
Why is this one in front of her not only not angry, but also concerned about her in return?
Moreover, his face, under the mottled light of the alley, was excessively handsome, and his eyes were filled with pure kindness and worry.
Is this... is this really the arrogant, life-disregarding, destined great villain?
"I... I'm fine."
Bai Zhi forced herself to calm down, her voice a little dry.
She subconsciously tried to hide the brick in her hand behind her back, but her movements were particularly clumsy.
Lu Cheng's gaze, in turn, fell on the brick, and the expression on his face changed from worry to even deeper confusion.
"You... why are you still holding a brick?"
He asked curiously, his tone as innocent as a naive young master who knew nothing of the world.
"A bricklayer?"
"But your outfit doesn't look like it."
Bai Zhi felt her cheeks, hidden beneath her sunglasses and mask, instantly burn.
She had been in this profession for many years, correcting at least thirty, if not fifty, villains; what kind of scene hadn't she seen?
But today, for the first time, she felt what it meant to be "socially mortified."
"I... I got lost."
Bai Zhi, in a moment of quick thinking, came up with an excuse that even she found clumsy.
"It's too remote here, and as a girl, I was scared, so... so I just picked up a brick to defend myself."
"Oh, so that's how it is."
Lu Cheng showed a look of sudden realization, then frowned and said in a somewhat chiding tone.
"Then you're too careless. Watch where you're going. How can you randomly swing a brick? What if you hit the flowers and plants?"
"Even if you don't hit the flowers and plants, it's not good if you hit me."
Bai Zhi: "..."
She was utterly speechless.
Is there something wrong with this guy's thought process?
Why are his points of concern so peculiar?
And just then, Lu Cheng's gaze began to scrutinize her carefully.
He hadn't seen clearly from a distance in the teahouse earlier.
Now that he was closer, he realized that this so-called "Plane Police" was actually a bit... petite.
At most, she was just over one and a half meters tall, wearing an oversized trench coat, like a child playing dress-up in adult clothes.
With those slender arms and legs, looking like she'd fall over in a gust of wind, how did she muster the courage to chase him for several blocks with a brick?
How did she jump so high just now to reach the back of his head?
"Little girl, you're too brave."
Lu Cheng shook his head and said earnestly.
"The alleys of the Demon Capital aren't that safe. How dare a... tiny little thing like you run off to such a deserted place alone?"
"It's a good thing you ran into me. What if you had encountered some bad people?"
His tone was full of the care and concern an elder would show a junior.
Listening to these words, Bai Zhi's heart, however, was in turmoil.
Tiny little thing?
She, actually being described with such a term?
And, you are the biggest bad guy!
However, she couldn't refute; she had to maintain her persona of a "lost little white rabbit."
Lest this guy stop acting and directly lay a poisonous hand on her... "I... I know I was wrong."
Bai Zhi lowered her head, her voice full of "grievance" and "lingering fear."
Lu Cheng looked at Bai Zhi, who was bowing her head, her shoulders slightly shaking, looking pitiful, and secretly chuckled.
This new toy seems even more interesting than he imagined.
"Alright, alright, don't be scared anymore."
Lu Cheng's voice softened even further.
"Since I've met you, I can't just leave you alone."
He said, snapping his fingers.
Snap.
A crisp sound echoed in the quiet alley.
The next second, two figures, like ghosts, appeared silently at both ends of the alley, blocking all exits.
One was Ruzuki Rin, a maid in a meticulously neat maid outfit.
The other was Yukino Shita Chizuru, dressed in a black, tight-fitting combat suit, her eyes as sharp as knives, exuding an aura that warned people to keep their distance.
Their appearance was without any warning, as if they had always been standing there.
"!!!"
Bai Zhi's pupils, once again, suddenly constricted!
She abruptly looked up, incredulously staring at these two suddenly appearing women, then looked at Lu Cheng, who still had a "kind" expression.
What... what is this?
Summoning magic?
This villain actually carries two such... unscientific bodyguards with him?
Bai Zhi's heart instantly sank to the bottom.
She finally understood why the reward for Option Three was so high.
It turns out the risk wasn't just in the sneak attack itself.
It was also that, even if the sneak attack succeeded, she would have no way to escape from these two outrageous women!
"Rin."
Lu Cheng seemed not to notice Bai Zhi's shocked expression and casually instructed.
"This little girl is lost; take her home."
"Make sure to take her to a safe place!"
"Yes."
Ruzuki Rin bowed in response, her voice devoid of emotion.
Their current job was Lu Cheng's personal bodyguard; although Lu Cheng didn't need it, occasionally handling some errands was still very useful.
Bai Zhi stood frozen, caught between a rock and a hard place.
Have her take her home?
What a joke!
She had no home in this world at all!
She lived in a temporary residence provided by the system!
If they followed her back, wouldn't all her secrets be exposed?
"No... no need!"
Bai Zhi quickly waved her hand, saying urgently.
"I can go back by myself! Really! I know the way!"
"No."
Lu Cheng's tone carried a hint of undeniable resolve.
"You're so small; I'm not at ease."
He looked at Bai Zhi, his eyes incredibly sincere.
"As a young girl, what if you encounter danger again? If I didn't take care of you today, my conscience would trouble me."
Bai Zhi was about to go crazy.
How could this villain so righteously play the role of a good person!
Finally, under Lu Cheng's "undeniable" gentle gaze and the invisible pressure from the two "door gods," Bai Zhi could only give in.
She was "escorted" by Ruzuki Rin out of the alley.
Along the way, Bai Zhi felt like daggers were aimed at her back, her brain racing, thinking of ways to escape.
It wasn't until she reached the entrance of the bustling subway station that she finally found an opportunity.
"This... this is far enough!"
She stopped, saying to the expressionless Ruzuki Rin.
"I'll take the subway; I really don't need to be escorted anymore. Thank you, and... and please thank your boss for me."
Ruzuki Rin looked at her with her sharp eyes, seemingly to confirm that she wasn't lying.
A moment later, she nodded slightly, then turned and blended into the crowd, disappearing without a trace.
Phew... It wasn't until Rin's figure completely vanished that Bai Zhi finally let out a long sigh of relief, feeling utterly exhausted.
She leaned against the subway station wall, recalling this bizarre experience, and an unprecedented feeling of frustration surged straight to her head!
Failed sneak attack!
Mission botched!
And was "escorted" back like a lost child!
Even! She realized this guy was doing it on purpose!
He specifically emphasized "make sure to take her to a safe place"; did he know she had two other options and was stopping her from going to find Jiang Lian!
"Lu Cheng! You bastard! Hypocrite! Big liar!"
She gritted her teeth, cursing wildly in her heart.
And at this very moment, the cold system prompt, with a strong hint of mockery, sounded unseasonably.
"Ding! All host options have failed!"
"Calculating current mission rewards..."
"Congratulations to the host for receiving a consolation prize: a 'Factory Entry Permit'!"
"Title Effect: You have obtained the valuable qualification to enter an electronics factory to screw screws. Please, Host, do not aim too high, recognize reality, start from the grassroots, and contribute your part to building a better tomorrow!"
Seeing this prompt, Bai Zhi was so angry she almost couldn't catch her breath!
She stomped her foot fiercely, venting the anger in her heart.
"Ah ah ah ah! I'm so mad!"
"What a broken system! You go screw screws! Your whole family goes screw screws!"
After the anger, a deep sense of powerlessness welled up in her heart.
She had to admit that this target was different from all the villains she had encountered before.
He was too good at disguising himself.
That gentleness and kindness were so real that she herself had a moment of bewilderment.
Could it be... he really just happened to turn sideways and dodge her brick?
Could it be... he really was just a gentle good person who happened to pass by and helped a lost little girl?
No!
That's not right!
As soon as this thought emerged, Bai Zhi ruthlessly crushed it!
Impossible!
The information given by the system could not be wrong!
He was the root cause of this world's impending collapse!
Everything about him must be an act!
"His acting is too good..."
Bai Zhi murmured to herself, her eyes once again becoming sharp.
"Lu Cheng... I admit, you are the most troublesome opponent I've ever met."
"But, you wait!"
"I, Bai Zhi, will definitely expose your true colors, and then, with the biggest brick, make you deeply understand what the iron fist of justice is!"