250: Chapter 25 Top Bodyguard Mr. Lin

As soon as the lounge door was pulled open, a hand shot out and roughly yanked Ye Xi back inside.

"My little ancestor, where do you think you're going dressed in that Haute Couture Gown?"

Without waiting for an answer, her agent, Sister Yang, shoved a set of Casual Clothes into her arms.

"The media outside haven't cleared out yet. If you walk out in that outfit, you'll be swarmed in under a minute!"

Ye Xi's mind was filled with the embarrassment of her confession being interrupted by that guy and the urgent need to confront him in person.

She completely ignored Sister Yang's nagging from behind, grabbed the clothes, and rushed into the changing room.

In less than five minutes, the gorgeous Haute Couture Gown was off.

She slipped on a simple White Printed T-shirt and Faded Denim Shorts, stepping into a pair of Flat Canvas Shoes.

The carefully styled updo she had worn for the performance was casually undone.

She tied it into a high, brisk ponytail with a Black Elastic.

However, the stunning Stage Makeup she had applied to withstand the Golden Hall's lights was left untouched, with no time to remove it.

The pure and casual outfit, paired with the aggressively stunning eye makeup, created a striking, Charming Contrast on Ye Xi.

"I'm heading out first, Sister Yang!"

Grabbing her Canvas Bag, Ye Xi darted out of the lounge while Sister Yang turned to fetch the Makeup Remover.

The night breeze in Vienna was slightly cool.

Like a cat on a stealthy mission, Ye Xi slipped out through the most inconspicuous side door of the Golden Hall.

She glanced left and right, let out a sigh of relief, and was about to pull out her phone to send her location.

A few lingering Music Fans were gathered under a streetlight, puffing away at their cigarettes.

One of the blond young men glanced over, and the cigarette between his fingers jerked violently, scattering sparks onto his pant leg.

Ignoring the burn, he widened his eyes, pointed in her direction, and let out a startled shout:

"Hey! Look! It's Ye!"

That shout was like a bomb dropped into a calm lake.

The previously quiet Side Alley instantly swarmed with dozens of people from all directions.

They held up phones and cameras, thrusting the lenses right at her.

"Ye! What's the name of that Original Piece?"

"Will you be touring other European countries next? Where's your next stop?"

Camera flashes merged into a blinding expanse of white light.

Ye Xi was forced to retreat step by step until her back pressed against a cold Stone Wall.

Accustomed to being protected by her team, this sudden, unprepared ambush left her instantly flustered and helpless.

"Move!"

From the edge of the crowd came a gruff, impatient shout.

A guy wearing a Black Baseball Cap and a Loose Hoodie forcefully pushed past two tall, Burly Caucasian Men.

He positioned himself protectively in front of Ye Xi, raising a hand to rudely block the lenses that were almost in her face.

Lin Que didn't waste any words, not even giving the crowd a chance to raise their cameras properly.

He stepped in front of Ye Xi, his broad frame acting like a wall that blocked their view.

He roughly shoved away the camera Lens thrust in their faces.

His low voice was laced with obvious irritation.

"Back off."

Though his voice wasn't particularly loud, his aura was overwhelmingly strong.

Coupled with his irritable, keep-away demeanor, he looked every bit the experienced, Top-Tier Bodyguard.

A few fervent fans at the front were startled by his shout and instinctively took half a step back.

Seizing that half-second opening.

Lin Que reached back and firmly grasped Ye Xi's slender wrist.

"Run!"

He commanded in a low voice, pulling Ye Xi as they plunged into Vienna's labyrinth of ancient alleyways.

The sound of shutters faded behind them as Vienna's old cobblestone streets retreated swiftly beneath their feet.

The night wind rushed into her collar, loosening her High Ponytail, strands of hair whipping against her cheeks.

Where their palms met was startlingly hot; Ye Xi could even feel the rhythm of his pulse.

The wind billowed the hood of his sweatshirt.

Staring at the back of the figure pulling her along in a mad dash, her ears were filled with the roaring wind and her own ragged breathing.

In this moment, she was no longer the genius pianist receiving adoration in the Golden Hall.

She felt like a high school student skipping class and climbing walls, being dragged by an accomplice to escape the Dean of Students.

They ran for three blocks without stopping.

Only when the clamor behind them had completely faded did Lin Que finally halt under the glow of a dim gas streetlamp.

Ye Xi let go, bending over with her hands on her knees, gasping for air.

She looked up and, in the lamplight's halo, finally got a clear look at the outfit of this "savior."

A loose gray hoodie, light blue casual pants, topped with a baseball cap he'd brought from home.

Add in the pair of cheap Black Sunglasses he'd just bought from a street vendor, and he had practically worn the word "slob" on his sleeve.

Ye Xi couldn't hold back a snort of laughter.

Pointing at Lin Que's cap, she doubled over laughing:

"Great Author Lin, dressed like this in Vienna, people might think you're a Multi-Level Marketing Rep here for a shopping spree."

Lin Que casually adjusted his slipping sunglasses.

His gaze swept over her aggressively stunning Stage Makeup, finally settling on her eyes with their Sharply Winged Eyeliner.

"You're laughing at me? You've got some nerve too," he chuckled.

"Daring to dive into a crowd with a face that Could Topple Cities and Ruin States,

Aren't you afraid those Rabid Fans might kidnap you and make you play 'Flight of the Bumblebee' all night?"

Ye Xi instinctively covered her face, glaring at him angrily.

After the joking, the atmosphere in the alley grew subtly awkward.

Ye Xi caught her breath.

She lowered her hands, her eyes, lined with exquisite makeup, shining brightly as she stared at Lin Que.

"Why did you really come all the way here?" she asked softly.

Seeing the message on WeChat, she had thought he was just joking.

Who would have imagined he'd actually cross half the globe and appear on a foreign street thousands of kilometers away.

Lin Que leaned against the lamppost.

Looking at the girl whose cheeks were flushed from running, he dropped his playful expression.

His tone was unusually serious:

"Someone sent me a gift in front of a crowd of thousands. Wouldn't it be rude of me not to come collect it in person?"

The streetlamp stretched their shadows long.

Remembering her bold declaration on stage, Ye Xi's ears instantly burned red, the heat spreading down her neck.

She waved her hands frantically, stumbling over her words in explanation:

"Don't get the wrong idea! I was... I was just thanking a friend for their encouragement.

Yes, just gratitude between friends, absolutely nothing more!"

Lin Que watched her flustered explanation without responding.

He simply chuckled softly and turned to walk towards the Danube.

"Come on, you've been too busy preparing for the Tour to sightsee. Let's go see the city's night view."

This tactful understanding, seeing through without saying it, was just right.

They walked side by side Along the Danube. The Early Summer night breeze in Vienna carried a slight chill.

Two Local Girls in light-colored T-shirts walked towards them.

Each held a book with a Deep Blue Cover,

discussing something in low voices as they walked, one of them constantly wiping away tears.

Lin Que glanced at the familiar cover, the corner of his mouth lifting almost imperceptibly.

Ye Xi clearly noticed that too.

Following his gaze, her eyes immediately lit up.

They walked a bit further.

Not far ahead was the bookstore named "The Silent Mozart."

The bookstore owner, Hans, was standing on a ladder, putting up a huge poster in the most prominent spot of the Display Window.

It was Official Promotional Material he had obtained through connections at the Austrian National Library.

On the poster, a Lone Boat drifted on Ink-Black Waters.

Ye Xi suddenly grabbed Lin Que's sleeve, pointing at the poster in the window, her eyes shining as if filled with stars:

"Look! It's a poster for 'the ferryman'! Teacher Jian Shen has really gone all out this time, even conquering Vienna!"

Lin Que rubbed his nose, barely suppressing a laugh:

"Oh? That's good."

Ye Xi looked at the poster, her eyes full of admiration:

"To write a story that strikes straight at the soul, and to depict that Sense of World-Weariness so profoundly...

I bet Teacher Jian Shen must be an experienced Old Man.

Probably has a beard, likes to sit alone by the window smoking."

Lin Que pressed his lips together, forcing back the laughter that threatened to escape.

He stroked his chin with feigned seriousness, his tone grave:

"You guessed all that?

I hear the old guy isn't just bald, but also has serious athlete's foot,

and has to scratch his feet for inspiration while writing."

"Don't talk nonsense!" Ye Xi glared at him, as if defending her idol.

"That's called the Dignified Bearing of a Literary Scholar, Teacher Jian Shen."

Laughing and chatting, they pushed open the bookstore door.

...