Sheng Qi frowned at Bai Tang, grinding his teeth in warning. "Shut up!"
Bai Tang completely ignored Sheng Qi's warning, his smile growing even brighter as he spoke in a syrupy, coquettish tone. "Oh, beauty, I'm so scared..."
The veins on Sheng Qi's forehead throbbed with irritation, and he regretted making a move earlier. Glancing sideways at the excited glint in the other's eyes, Sheng Qi furrowed his brow and directly let go of the hand he was holding.
Bai Tang froze for a moment, then looked down. Seeing Sheng Qi about to walk away, Bai Tang reached out and grabbed his palm.
Sheng Qi's entire body stiffened. The girl's palm was cool and soft, boneless, like a hot potato he wanted to shake off immediately.
Bai Tang smirked mischievously. Trying to shake me off? Dream on!
The moment Sheng Qi raised his hand, Bai Tang spread his fingers and interlaced them with Sheng Qi's in a perfect ten-finger lock.
Sheng Qi: "..."
Raising their joined hands in front of him, Bai Tang grinned roguishly. "Beauty, have you ever heard a saying?"
Sheng Qi stared at him expressionlessly, his gaze icy enough to freeze someone solid. "Let go!"
Bai Tang tightened his grip and blinked at Sheng Qi. The girl's face beamed with the most radiant smile, dazzling yet utterly infuriating!
"Don't you think this is exactly like that line—'Hold your hand, grow old with you'?"
Sheng Qi stared coldly. "Let go!"
Bai Tang laughed cheerfully, meeting his eyes. "Stuck now."
Bai Xi'er watched the scene, gnashing her teeth in fury, cursing Bai Tang's shamelessness under her breath.
The four thugs, completely ignored, were thoroughly annoyed.
"Damn it, is this the time for you two to be lovey-dovey?" the lead thug in black snapped angrily. Couldn't they show some respect for their "profession"?
"Fight time!" the black-clad thug roared. "Everyone, get serious!"
Bai Tang turned to look at them, his smiling face instantly turning ferocious. "Shut the hell up, can't you see I'm flirting with a hottie? What's your rush, you idiot!"
The black-clad thug stammered, "I... I don't have a sister..."
Realizing what he'd said under the pressure of that aura, the thug felt utterly humiliated. What the hell did he just say?!
"You dare curse me? Tired of living, are you?" the black-clad thug snarled at Bai Tang.
But Bai Tang had already turned back, beaming like a flower at Sheng Qi. "Beauty, let's continue our... chat!"
Sheng Qi took a deep breath, his gaze dropping to the stubborn claw that wouldn't let go. A sinister smile curled at the corner of his lips, and he tightened his grip on Bai Tang's hand in return.
Now it was truly a ten-finger lock!
Bai Tang's eyebrows lifted in delight as he grinned at Sheng Qi, about to speak when he felt the pressure of Sheng Qi's grip steadily increasing.
Bai Tang's expression didn't waver. Even as his hand ached from the squeeze, he kept smiling brightly at Sheng Qi. "Like it that much? I'll let you hold it every day from now on, okay?" he teased with a roguish grin.
"Yeah, I love it!" Sheng Qi met his gaze, his thin lips curling into a faint, captivating smile. "I'd rather hold it every second... so let's chop it off!"
Bai Tang clicked his tongue twice. "Ah, beauty truly is beauty, whispering such bloody sweet nothings to your Tangtang in the gentlest tone."
"But if you really like it, why chop it off? I'll let you hold it twenty-four hours a day!" Bai Tang said calmly, continuing his flirtation.
"Damn it, do you two even see me?!" the black-clad thug roared in fury. "Think I've got no authority, huh?"
Bai Tang took a deep breath, flashed a sweet smile at Sheng Qi, and said, "Beauty, wait for me. Let me deal with these flies first, then we can continue our... chat!"