Once inside the car, Su Wanwan took the initiative to steer the conversation. "I heard from Lanlan that you and Xie Cheng went looking for Fu Ziyang?"
Fu Liangmu nodded calmly. "Cough, cough… where is he now?"
"Xie Cheng just messaged—he saw Fu Ziyang enter a bar but couldn't find him inside." Fu Liangmu parked the car in front of the bar and reminded Su Wanwan before stepping out, "Stay here; I'll go look for him."
Quick as a flash, Su Wanwan grasped his wrist with a gentle smile. "I'll come with you."
After a brief pause, Fu Liangmu consented, repeating earnestly, "Stay close to me. Don't wander off."
"Mm-hmm." The two entered the bar together, spotting Xie Cheng by the entrance. Amidst the flashing lights and intoxicating music, men and women danced passionately. Su Wanwan's gaze swept the crowd and suddenly she murmured, as if recalling something. Had she just locked eyes with someone?
"Liangmu, Fu Ziyang seems to be over there."
Fu Liangmu stepped forward, then suddenly paused and turned back to clasp her hand firmly, intertwining their fingers. Noticing Su Wanwan's puzzled look, he explained with an unreadable expression, "This bar's a bit chaotic."
Watching their interaction, Xie Cheng felt like a mere ghost. Su Wanwan nodded and, gently squeezing Fu Liangmu's hand, they pressed through the crowd toward where Fu Ziyang had vanished.
"How strange, he should be this way…" Just as Su Wanwan spoke, a broad-shouldered woman's silhouette suddenly appeared. She tugged Fu Liangmu's sleeve and pointed ahead.
At the end of the corridor stood a woman.
"Look at that woman."
Fu Liangmu glanced casually before withdrawing his gaze. "So, what do you think? Is she attractive?"
Su Wanwan's face lit up with anticipation.
Fu Liangmu furrowed his brow slightly, meeting her eyes before stealing a glance at Xie Cheng, who nodded confidently.
Fu Liangmu recalled advice Xie Cheng once gave him: "Women always ask, 'Who's prettier, her or me?' Just flatter her shamelessly and she'll be delighted."
Thoughtfully, Fu Liangmu nodded and replied earnestly, "There's no contest."
"In my eyes, you are the most beautiful woman in the world."
"You're smaller, have a better figure, and your skin is fairer…" His voice faltered briefly, throat moving nervously.
Su Wanwan stared, stunned. "What are you saying…"
Maintaining a gentlemanly demeanor, Fu Liangmu looked serious, showing no hint of deceit. "In short, you're the most beautiful."
Su Wanwan's lips twitched, then she burst into laughter, her bright, star-like eyes shimmering with mischief as she tilted her head playfully.
"Really? But I think he's quite handsome."
"Xie Cheng, what do you think?"
Xie Cheng's eyes roamed over the woman from a distance—too far to see clearly, but her poise and silhouette suggested a shapely figure. Big waves of hair, a short skirt, black stockings, long straight legs—entirely different from Xia Kelan's cute style.
His response was ambiguous: "Not bad."
Su Wanwan nodded, dropping the topic. She linked arms with Fu Liangmu and said casually, "No one else here. Let's try somewhere else."
Xie Cheng muttered distractedly, eyes flickering with a gleam. "You go first. I'll use the restroom, then we split up to search. We'll contact each other when we find him."
Su Wanwan nodded decisively and walked away. But at the corner, she halted and circled behind a pillar, trying to return to their original spot.
Just as Fu Liangmu was about to speak, Su Wanwan's soft, fragrant hand covered his mouth.
"Shh, don't speak."
Hiding behind the pillar, they watched Xie Cheng pacing nearby. After a couple of minutes, he moved farther away, scanning as if confirming Su Wanwan and Fu Liangmu had left.
Xie Cheng tugged his collar, cleared his throat, and approached the woman.
The closer he got, the more he noticed… wow, this girl is really tall! Yet those long legs, the curve of her hips, and her slender waist were utterly captivating.
Fu Ziyang stood facing the wall, head bowed low, barely daring to breathe. The oversized high heels he wore were digging painfully into his feet, making his walk wobbly and awkward.
In his anxious state, he had somehow lost his way in this all-too-familiar bar. The corridor ahead ended in a wall.
With no choice, Fu Ziyang remained frozen, waiting for Su Wanwan and the others to leave before sneaking away.
But why were those footsteps behind growing louder?!
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Fu Ziyang panted softly.
Suddenly, a teasing slap landed on his rear, accompanied by Xie Cheng's familiar chuckle.
"Hey beautiful, all alone?"
Fu Ziyang twitched his lips, wishing he could slap him back—this traitor not only exposed him but also allied with Fu Liangmu to track him down.
If only he hadn't been afraid of Big Brother catching him, would he have dressed like this? And… Su Wanwan even saw him!
Frustrated, Fu Ziyang coughed lightly, letting his long hair shield half his face as he turned away.
"Go away."
His androgynous voice caught Xie Cheng off guard.
Seeing her shy demeanor, Xie Cheng teased, "Don't be afraid, I'm not bad—I'm just worried you're lonely here."
Fu Ziyang groaned inwardly, "Oh heavens, as if I haven't suffered enough!"
"Did you drink too much?" Xie Cheng noticed Fu Ziyang's movements and, thinking he had a headache, kindly offered, "My car is right outside. How about I take you home?"
Before Fu Ziyang could respond, a hand with ambiguous intent landed on his waist, sending a chill down his spine.
Without hesitation, Fu Ziyang shoved Xie Cheng away.
Xie Cheng was caught off guard and fell to the ground, stunned.
Who knew this woman had such strength!
He scrambled up, glanced around to make sure no one saw his embarrassment, then pressed on.
"Hey beautiful, we—"
Before he finished, Xie Cheng was slammed hard against the wall.