"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to cause such a mess," Lui Cheng exclaimed, flustered, as he frantically tried to dab the spilled wine off the stranger's clothes with a napkin.
"It's alright," the man said calmly, placing a firm hand over Lui Cheng's to stop him. His touch was gentle, but his voice carried quiet authority. "You shouldn't be playing around in a bar—you could end up causing more trouble than you realize."
"I really am sorry," Lui Cheng mumbled again, eyes filled with genuine remorse. But as he looked up, the apology caught in his throat.
The man was... breathtaking. He had a strong, statuesque build, broad shoulders framed by a sleek black blazer, and an effortlessly magnetic presence. Long black hair fell just above his nape, slightly tousled. His dark, almond-shaped eyes were intense, almost predatory, and his sharp jawline looked sculpted from marble. A cool smirk tugged at his lips, one that made Lui Cheng's heart skip.
In contrast, Lui Cheng looked like a porcelain doll—delicate and graceful. His petite frame, soft features, and gentle pink lips gave him an innocent charm. His curly black Caesar haircut framed his face perfectly, and the glint of his earrings only added to his youthful allure. People often said he looked more like a pretty boy than a man—especially Li-Cheng, who never missed a chance to tease him for being a "femboi."
"You really shouldn't bite your lips like that," the stranger teased, leaning a little closer. "It's... distracting."
Lui Cheng's eyes widened. He hadn't even realized he was doing it. "I-I didn't mean to," he stammered, cheeks flushing bright pink.
The man chuckled. "I've actually been watching you since you walked in. I thought that guy chasing you around was your boyfriend."
"Oh? No—he's not," Lui Cheng said quickly. "He's just my best friend."
"I see... So you're a playful one. I noticed you smacked him on the head before running off. Naughty," the man grinned, reaching out to gently pinch Lui Cheng's cheek.
Lui Cheng blinked in surprise, his heart pounding.
"So," the man said, lowering his voice a bit, "what's your name?"
"Lui Cheng," he replied, voice soft. "And you?"
"Liam. Liam Hemsworth." His name rolled off his tongue with a casual confidence. "Nice to meet you, pretty boy."
"Nice to meet you too," Lui Cheng murmured, eyes lowering bashfully.
"You're not from around here, are you?" he asked.
"I could ask you the same," Lui Cheng said with a playful lift of his brow.
Liam smiled. "Touché. I'm half-Chinese, half-American. Dad's from the States, Mom's from Guangzhou. I'm just visiting for a while."
"That's pretty cool."
Liam's gaze lingered on Lui Cheng. "You're really cute, you know. Tell me… you don't have a boyfriend, do you?"
Lui Cheng shook his head with a shy smile. "No. I'm single—for now."
"Well," Liam said, brushing a strand of hair behind Lui Cheng's ear, "I might have to change that. What do you say, sweetheart?"
Lui Cheng's face flushed an even deeper red. He looked away, giggling softly. "You're dangerous."
Liam leaned closer, his lips near Lui Cheng's ear. "Only if you want me to be."