Page 198 of Cruel Devotion

I widened my eyes. “Well. . .I hope Duck said nice things.”

Fengge smirked. “Probablytoo manynice things.”

Lei frowned.

Glad to be out of that chaos, I leaned against Lei and was grateful for his protection and the safety of his presence. That walk had been a rough reminder of the life Lei lived—one where privacy was a luxury and every moment was under scrutiny.

Lei kept his arm around me and traced small circles on my hip. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

Lei's expression softened. “You'll never have to deal with shit like that on your own. Okay?”

“Yes.”

“We would always face that together.”

“Okay.”

The elevator stopped.

The doors opened and tons of bald-headed women in blue cookie monster pajamas greeted me.

These chicks are crazy.

Chapter thirty-one

The Craziness Just Keeps on Coming

Monique

“Lei, let us satisfy you!”

Bolin stepped forward and placed his foot in the way of the door so it wouldn't begin to close.

“Lei, baby! Come here!”

Meanwhile, Lei and I didn't even step off the elevator.

We just stood there in shock.

It was like we had stumbled upon a secret society of Cookie Monster enthusiasts, preparing some elaborate seance.

Thank God, palace security had formed a human barricade between us and them because they looked like a group of obsessive fans trying to get to their beloved icon.

However, the palace guards—in their crisp, sky-blue uniforms—were clearly unprepared for this peculiar challenge. With arms outstretched and stern expressions, they tried to maintain a perimeter, keeping the eager women several feet back. However, their task was anything but easy. The women continuously tried to sidestep, duck under, or even sweet-talk their way past the guards.

Plus, they kept calling out to Lei, their voices a blend of pleading and playful taunts, as if they were all part of some bizarre fan club. They waved, blew kisses, and a few flashed their breasts.

I just. . .don't know what to say. . .

One woman shoved a guard aside and raced forward to only be captured by a guard and dragged back.“Lei, we need to talk! Right! Now!”

Still rooted in place on the elevator, I scanned all of the women and thought back to when I had been trying out dresses in the room with Aunt Min and Aunt Suzi and overheard their conversation.

Aunt Suzi had kept her voice low. “I was thoroughly shocked by the bald head.”

“Me too,” Aunt Min had muttered. “But with that face, who needs hair.”

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