The fans in that country were famously loyal, but equally famous for their "barbaric" enthusiasm when greeting their idols.
They paid no heed to rules; the only thing that mattered was touching, photographing, or even obtaining the idol's personal belongings. Just one exclusive photo could be sold for a very high price, especially if it was a rare moment like Yu Chen stepping off the plane.
Jiang Fan held his breath, his eyes quickly scanning the crowd. "Yu Chen, don't break through. They could go crazy if we step down just like that."
Yu Chen sighed, tilting his head slightly toward Jiang Fan. "Heh… I know. They might devour me alive."
The screams of the fans intensified, some already pressing against the barrier line. The airport staff looked overwhelmed, and ironically, their personal bodyguards were still held up far below.
"So what now? The airport staff is taking forever…" Jiang Fan was starting to look frustrated, small beads of sweat appearing on his temples.
Yu Chen was silent for a moment, staring at the uncontrollable crowd. Beneath his mask, he muttered softly, almost inaudibly.
"I don't know… just wait. Doesn't this kind of thing happen all the time…?"
Amidst the escalating commotion, a loud voice suddenly cut through the air from the back.
"Hey! Are you people insane?!"
A girl's voice shattered the roar.
All heads instantly turned. A woman in a simple T-shirt and loose cargo pants seemed to be pushing through the crowd. Her face was sour, her hair slightly messy, and it was clear she was thoroughly annoyed.
"Does your grandma own this airport, huh?! To be this obsessed with a human? Are your brains lodged in your knees or something?! I can't get through, damn it!" she yelled, roughly pushing the shoulders of the people in front of her.
The atmosphere instantly became awkward. The fans who had been screaming Yu Chen's name were now staring blankly, some looking at the girl in disbelief some angry, others merely offering a cynical laugh.
And when the girl turned, her face full of irritation, her eyes met the figure on the jetway steps. Her gaze was sharp, crinkling with cynicism towards Wei Yu Chen.
Wei Yu Chen spontaneously froze. Beneath his mask, his lips slightly parted, his eyes widening. An expression of sheer shock was clearly visible, as if he had never expected anyone to dare utter those words amidst a sea of his admirers.
Jiang Fan beside him gaped, his eyes alternating between the girl and Yu Chen. "Crazy… she actually… said that… to the fans…" he muttered quietly, hardly believing it.
For the first time, Yu Chen couldn't hide his astonishment. He just stood rigidly, silently staring at the reckless girl who had suddenly appeared in the midst of the chaos.
The girl looked at Wei Yu Chen sharply, acerbically. "So you're the celebrity? All bark, no bite. If you want to get out safely, follow me."
Strangely, without protest, Wei Yu Chen obeyed. His steps were slow, stiff yet compliant, as if something within the man chose to be silent and follow—either from sheer exhaustion or perhaps an instinctive trust in the girl.
The girl quickly turned, her eyes darting left and right, her brain working fast. Her gaze stopped at a fire extinguisher (APAR) hanging on the airport wall.
Without hesitation, she grabbed it, broke the seal, and looked at the crowd. Her voice rose, loud and clear:
"Step back now! Or I'll spray you all!" The statement was crude, but there was a serious tone that made people pause. The previously hysterical fans froze some laughed briefly, then realized the threat was not a joke. The fans prepared their phone cameras, but their expressions had changed: from hunting for exclusives to concern for their safety.
Jiang Fan immediately stepped forward, tensing his muscles, intending to restrain the girl, but Yu Chen raised a small hand, signaling Jiang Fan not to act. The girl looked back, pointing toward the narrow path leading to the exit corridor
"Come on, hurry up! Follow right behind me if you still want to go home!" They moved.
Yu Chen walked behind, the girl slightly to the side, wielding the fire extinguisher like a very real weapon. Jiang Fan and the girl, having broken through the crowd, formed a human shield around them, swatting away hands that tried to touch. The airport staff, who had been frantic, now moved quickly to organize the line.
The crowd, which had been pushing and shoving, slowly backed away not out of respect, but out of fear of being sprayed by the extinguisher. Some fans complained, while others exchanged disbelieving glances. Cameras recorded every step. Amidst the whispers: "Who is she? So bold…" "Crazy, look she's carrying a fire extinguisher!"
Upon reaching the end of the corridor, the girl placed the extinguisher back on a different wall. Her breath was ragged, her hair slightly messy, her face flushed from adrenaline. She turned to Wei Yu Chen their eyes met again. This time Yu Chen's expression was more than just shock; there was something else, subtle, deepening: curiosity.
"Why did you help me?" Yu Chen asked, his voice low.
The girl lightly nudged his shoulder, cynical but not entirely cold.
"I'm human too. I don't like being pushed around. Besides, you're a person, not a ball."
Jiang Fan interjected, slightly protective. "We need to know your name "
The girl shrugged, half-laughing. "Name? You don't need to know who I am or my name. Just move! Don't cause more ruckus."
Before anyone could ask further, the girl had vanished into the stream of passengers quick, abrasive, and full of confidence.
Wei Yu Chen stood silent for a few seconds, staring at the spot where the girl had disappeared. Around him, the airport life returned to a more normal rhythm: reporters busy writing, fans chatting, and staff checking the lanes. But inside Yu Chen's chest, there was a subtle throb he didn't understand a sudden nagging sense of intrigue.
Jiang Fan gently pulled him toward the car. "We need to leave before someone starts digging up who she is," he said.
Yu Chen nodded, but his eyes glanced back one last time searching for the figure in the T-shirt and cargo pants who had just been a small storm in the jetway.
As the car door closed tightly, the airport noise suddenly subsided. Wei Yu Chen leaned back into his seat, took a deep breath, and pulled the mask from his face.
"Insane… who was that woman?" Jiang Fan still couldn't stop talking about it, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and amazement.
Wei Yu Chen just chuckled softly, his laughter low and heavy. His hand lifted, his long fingers touching his chin, then unconsciously he twisted the thin ring on his middle finger a habit whenever his mind was shaken. His disbelief was clear, but beneath it was a slight admiration.
"Truly… she just appeared, complained fiercely, even carried a fire extinguisher…" Wei Yu Chen shook his head slowly, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips. "I even complied. Crazy, right?"
Jiang Fan slapped his thigh, roaring with laughter.
"Hahaha! But honestly, if it weren't for her, we might still be stuck there. You really might have been devoured alive by those barbaric fans."
Wei Yu Chen sighed, staring out the car window. The airport lights rushed backward behind the glass, but his mind lingered on the figure in the T-shirt.
"She… truly makes me curious," he murmured faintly.
Jiang Fan glanced quickly, smirking. "Be careful, bro. You look like a guy who just fell in love."
Yu Chen looked back, his face flat, but the faint smile still lingered. "I don't know… but there is something about her. Something different."
The car sped away from the airport, but in Yu Chen's heart, the brisk footsteps of a sassy girl with a fire extinguisher continued to echo.