Fell in Love with the Crazy Young Lady - Chapter 15

After blow-drying her hair, Hua Man didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she took out her phone and said, “Please leave your contact information.”

Yang Zhao didn’t like her formal tone, addressing her with “you” so politely, but she didn’t mention it now. Instead, she looked at her meaningfully and said, “What for? My contact details aren’t something I just hand out to anyone.”

She had been by her side for so long—wasn’t it a bit late to ask for her number now?

Yang Zhao naturally had to put on a bit of an act, lest Hua Man think her contact information was something anyone could get.

“It’s inconvenient,” Hua Man replied, completely unaware that the young miss had already misunderstood. She explained seriously, “Sometimes when you leave, I can’t find you.”

Yang Zhao frowned.

After a long pause, she spoke coldly, “If you can’t find me, that’s your failure in duty.”

Hua Man was left speechless. That did make sense—it really was her responsibility.

But tomorrow’s event was outdoors, and anything could happen. She absolutely needed the young miss’s contact information.

She tried to persuade her, “It’s just a precaution. There’ll be so many people tomorrow—I’m worried we might get separated.”

“If you’re determined, how could we get separated?”

Yang Zhao refused to relent.

Hua Man fell silent, quietly looking at the young miss, who met her gaze unflinchingly, like a little pufferfish, looking all puffed up with indignation.

Remembering how she had treated her before, Hua Man suddenly had an epiphany. Hesitantly, she tentatively said, “Actually, everything I said earlier was just an excuse. The truth is… I just wanted your contact information for myself.”

Yang Zhao raised an eyebrow.

The atmosphere grew awkward as she fell silent. Hua Man’s face instantly grew warm, but since she’d already started the act, she had to see it through. Just as she was racking her brain for what to say next, her phone was snatched away.

“Fine,” Yang Zhao said, her voice laced with amusement. “Since you want it so badly, I’ll reluctantly give it to you.”

She made it sound like such a hardship, but the smile at the corners of her eyes was unmistakable.

Hua Man’s gaze flickered slightly.

It seemed she had found a way to handle the young miss.

–

At four in the morning the next day, Hua Man followed the young miss to the event site.

The Wilderness Archery Competition was held in a vast stone forest scenic area. The young miss had woken up early specifically to watch the sunrise there.

This was Hua Man’s first time seeing such a breathtaking sunrise. As golden light pierced through the mist, every corner of the land was bathed in gold, and the bizarrely shaped stone forest was draped in a mysterious golden veil.

Instinctively, she glanced at the young miss.

The young miss was looking up, completely absorbed. The usual sharp, domineering aura she carried was gone, replaced by a softness as the golden light washed over her fair face, smoothing out her features.

The sunrise was beautiful, but the young miss watching it so intently was even more captivating.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Yang Zhao turned her head.

Hua Man immediately averted her gaze, pretending to look into the distance. “Yes, beautiful.”

“Right?” Yang Zhao didn’t notice her odd behavior. They were standing high up, with a clear view of the horizon. Gazing at the vast stretch of morning glow, she lifted her hand, as if cradling the golden light in her palm. “Every time I watch the sunrise, it feels like I’ve been reborn.”

“Sometimes, it feels like my heart has been purified.”

Hua Man didn’t share the young miss’s profound sentiments. To her, the sunrise was just beautiful—nothing more. But hearing the young miss’s last remark, she perked up. “Really?”

If her heart had been purified, maybe she wouldn’t cause any more trouble?

Yang Zhao nodded: “Of course, I feel completely rejuvenated, like I could tear ten people apart with my bare hands—no fear at all.”

Hua Man: “…”

Is this how spiritual purification works?

As the crimson clouds gradually dispersed and dawn broke, Yang Zhao turned to descend without hesitation: “Back to the car.”

There was still plenty of time, allowing them to rest in the vehicle a while longer.

The path was strewn with small stones and uneven terrain. Yang Zhao walked briskly, but within a few steps, her foot slipped sideways, sending her tumbling forward.

Before she could even gasp, an arm steadied her, holding her firmly upright.

Hua Man frowned: “Be careful.”

Not daring to let go, she gripped the young mistress’s arm, her attention fixed on the ground.

Yang Zhao averted her gaze but found it hard to focus fully on the descent. Her eyes kept drifting to her arm, to the hand supporting her.

She had noticed it before—she genuinely enjoyed physical contact with Hua Man. When they weren’t touching, it felt like ants crawling restlessly in her heart; when they did, the sensation was indescribable.

More exhilarating than leaping from ten thousand feet, more thrilling than anything she’d ever experienced.

It was addictive, making her crave more contact.

Like some kind of pervert.

Coming to this realization, Yang Zhao couldn’t help but chuckle.

Noticing Hua Man’s questioning glance, Yang Zhao met her gaze and deliberately drawled, “Manman… don’t you think we look like we’re eloping right now?”

“Or maybe a pair of lovers on the run?”

The moment the words left her mouth, the supporting hand was abruptly withdrawn.

Hua Man’s tone was stern: “I don’t think so.”

Yang Zhao laughed: “If you don’t think so, why are you being so defensive? Just hold me properly.”

With that, she extended her arm again.

In the sunlight, her jade-like skin appeared almost translucent. Hua Man took a deep breath and steadied her once more.

With the generous salary the Yang family paid, she couldn’t very well do nothing.

If the young mistress got hurt again, even Yu Shan would think her utterly useless.

Thankfully, the rest of the journey passed without incident.

The wilderness archery competition’s opening ceremony began at 8:30 AM. Hua Man’s seat was right next to Yang Zhao’s, though the latter showed no interest in the archery dance performance, instead fiddling with her bow.

Hua Man, however, watched intently. It was her first time seeing such a performance—unique and awe-inspiring.

The show lasted less than half an hour before the main event began.

Targets were scattered throughout the scenic area, allowing competitors to enjoy the landscape—an innovative competition format.

Hua Man had only learned the basics and was there more for the experience, so her performance was unremarkable. Yang Zhao, on the other hand, stood out immediately, hitting every target with precision regardless of environment or distance.

Her exceptional skill drew considerable attention, and by lunchtime, many approached her for contact details.

Unfortunately, Yang Zhao was exhausted from the morning’s activities and irritated by the interruptions to her meal. Her expression darkened; though she initially refrained from lashing out, she was clearly nearing her limit. Hua Man quickly intervened: “Sorry, but we can’t give out contact information.”

Yang Zhao instinctively glanced at her.

“Are you two a couple?” The person misunderstood.

This wasn’t the first time someone had gotten the wrong idea. They had been sticking together all morning, even eating together, looking quite intimate.

Especially since Yang Zhao wouldn’t allow Hua Man to act too obviously, lest anyone realize she was a bodyguard.

Hua Man immediately denied it. “No.”

The person’s face instantly twisted with disdain. “If you’re not, then what right do you have—”

Before they could finish, Yang Zhao impatiently cut in. “What if we’re in the ambiguous stage? Get lost!”

She was being rude again.

Hua Man didn’t have time to dwell on the implications of her words, focusing instead on whether the person might retaliate because of the young miss’s sharp tongue.

Fortunately, the person just cursed under their breath and left, still muttering insults like “damn lesbians” and “shameless” even from a distance.

In today’s society, while things were relatively open, the LGBTQ+ community still wasn’t fully accepted. Some people still viewed them through a prejudiced lens.

Hua Man had a faint suspicion that the young miss might prefer women—though she had no concrete evidence to support it.

At this thought, she instinctively glanced at Yang Zhao again.

Their eyes met once more.

Hua Man’s heart raced, and she quickly averted her gaze.

It seemed like every time she looked at the young miss, she found Yang Zhao already watching her.

Perhaps… that was the evidence.

Proof that the young miss liked women.

–

“I think the ‘couple’ label is pretty good,” Yang Zhao remarked casually.

Hua Man tensed. “The ‘friends’ label is enough for me.”

“How is it enough?” Yang Zhao raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you hear what that person just said? If you’re not my partner, what right do you have to reject people for me?”

She decisively laid down the law. “From now on, we’re a couple.”

Hua Man: “…”

She was always so domineering.

But then again, given the environment she grew up in, where everyone likely obeyed her every word, this kind of personality wasn’t surprising.

“Use this identity whenever we’re out from now on.” Seeing Hua Man’s hesitation, Yang Zhao added, “I mean the kind of girlfriend who’s possessive and overprotective. If someone hits on me, you step in immediately. Got it?”

“…Got it.”

Though Hua Man felt awkward about it, having this identity did make certain things much easier—especially when dealing with Yang Zhao’s admirers. It saved a lot of trouble.

At first, Hua Man had been uncomfortable, her words lacking conviction. But the more she did it, the more natural it became.

Even if it was embarrassing, it was better than letting the young miss offend someone with her sharp tongue and escalate things into a fight.

“What’s a beauty like you doing hiding over here?”

A voice suddenly cut in. The speaker had a head full of dreadlocks, ears adorned with flashy piercings, and even a lip ring—instantly reminding Hua Man of the delinquent girls she’d seen before.

Their tone was teasing, almost like they were looking for trouble. If Yang Zhao engaged, things could explode.

Instinctively stepping in front of Yang Zhao, Hua Man didn’t hesitate. “She has a girlfriend.”

Li Miaohe froze, then burst out laughing. “Yang Zhao! Since when did you get yourself such a jealous girlfriend? She won’t even let anyone talk to you? Like a dog guarding its food!”

Hua Man stiffened.

The girl with dreadlocks before them clearly knew the young lady, and since the young lady didn’t show much hostility toward her, they were probably friends…

Hua Man recalled what she had just said and couldn’t help but mentally dig out an entire villa in embarrassment.