The Black Tiger10:00 PM WAT on Tuesday, August 05, 2025
As the Black Tiger Gang members continued their drunken tirade, Ye Wanwan maintained her delicate, innocent facade. Her heart raced, knowing these men were ones she’d previously clashed with, but her disguise—wholesome attire and thick black-framed glasses—seemed to hold, aided by their inebriated state. She kept up the act, her voice soft and pleading, “Sorry, sorry, big brothers! It was an accident. Please don’t hold it against us! We won’t dare do it again!”
The tattooed hall master, still fuming, sneered, “You think a sorry cuts it? You’ve got some guts, kid!” His lackeys closed in, their postures aggressive, ready to escalate the situation.
Ye Wanwan’s mind raced. She could take them all down without breaking a sweat—her skills as the Fearless Alliance Leader were more than enough. But with Si Yehan by her side, she had to stay in character. In his eyes, she was a fragile, helpless girl who couldn’t even open a bottle cap. Revealing her true strength would blow her carefully crafted cover.
Si Yehan’s expression grew colder, his eyes narrowing at the gang members. The hall master caught it and barked, “What’s that look, punk? Wanna go?”
Ye Wanwan’s stomach dropped. If they recognized her now, the game was up. She tightened her grip on Si Yehan’s arm, playing the part of a frightened girl, and whispered, “Let’s just go, please. I don’t want trouble.” Her voice trembled just enough to sell it, though inside, she was calculating every possible outcome.
The hall master scoffed but seemed to buy her act, his attention shifting from Si Yehan’s glare to her submissive demeanor. “Fine, get lost. But watch where you’re going next time!” His men grumbled but stepped back, letting the couple pass.
Ye Wanwan exhaled quietly, her heart still pounding as they walked away. Si Yehan’s arm was tense under her hand, his silence heavy with restrained anger. She squeezed his arm gently, murmuring, “Thank you for staying calm. I was so scared.” A lie, but one she needed him to believe.
Once they were out of sight, Ye Wanwan’s shoulders relaxed slightly. That was too close. Maintaining her “pure little white flower” persona was exhausting, but necessary. She couldn’t let Si Yehan suspect she was anything other than the sweet, harmless girl he thought he knew. The thought of his kind eyes turning to fear or disgust if he learned she was the Fearless Alliance Leader was unbearable.
As they continued their secluded life, Ye Wanwan remained hyper-vigilant. Every outing carried the risk of running into someone from her past. She’d built this fragile bubble of happiness with Si Yehan, and protecting it meant keeping her true identity locked away, no matter the cost.
Her earlier declaration at the meeting—vowing to be a good person—felt like a fever dream now. No amount of charity or good deeds could erase her history as a “bandit leader.” She’d meant it in the moment, caught up in the fantasy of being someone Si Yehan could love without complication. But reality was messier. The elders’ shock, their bickering about whether she’d been drinking, only underscored how absurd her words sounded. She’d almost convinced herself to come clean, but moments like this street encounter reminded her why she couldn’t.
For now, she’d keep baking those sesame flatbreads he loved, keep playing the role of the gentle girl who’d won his heart. It wasn’t just about protecting herself—it was about protecting *him* from the truth. As long as he saw her as his pure, beautiful flower, they could hold onto this happiness, no matter how precarious it was.