In the corner restaurant, Lu You was feeling the weight of solitude as he sat on the second floor, trapped in a dimly lit room.

The atmosphere was tense, a stark contrast to the lively hustle of the restaurant that used to be filled with patrons. Now, the only sound came from the howling cold wind outside, creeping in through the cracks and chilling him to the bone.

Lu You was huddled in a blanket on the bed, but even that couldn’t fend off the chill. The room was barren, stripped of warmth and comfort, much like the situation he found himself in. 

His mind wandered to the events of the previous night, and he felt a pang of loneliness settle in. He had hoped to find companionship in the restaurant, but now he felt more isolated than ever.

The hour was late, and the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses echoed faintly from the first floor, where Renault and Wanqing were likely still mingling. Lu You had chosen to remain upstairs, feeling the burden of his own worries.

As midnight approached, the mood in the restaurant shifted. The drunken laughter below escalated into raucous shouts, and then came a sudden commotion—a loud crash that reverberated through the walls.

Lu You's heart raced as he stood up, peering out into the hallway. He could hear the voices growing louder, filled with anger and aggression. The air turned heavy with tension, and he felt an unsettling chill creep up his spine.

Moments later, a group of rowdy patrons burst into the second-floor dining area, their faces flushed with intoxication. Lu You’s instincts kicked in; he knew this wasn’t going to end well.

The group of five staggered around, their words slurred but their intentions clear. They were looking for trouble, and they seemed to find it with Lu You.

“Hey! What’s a pretty boy like you doing up here all alone?” one of them slurred, a leering smile on his face as he stumbled closer.

Lu You tried to keep his composure. “I’m just enjoying some peace and quiet. You should head back downstairs,” he replied, trying to defuse the situation.

But the man wasn’t having it. “Peace and quiet? Not on my watch! We’re here to have some fun!”

Before Lu You could react, the man lunged at him, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him roughly to his feet. “Let’s show this little brat a good time!”

Lu You struggled to break free, but the grip was too tight. “Let go of me!” he shouted, but his words only fueled their amusement.

The others joined in, shoving Lu You towards the wall. He felt the cold surface against his back, the air rushing out of his lungs as panic set in.

“Stop it!” he pleaded, but his voice fell on deaf ears. The leader of the group, emboldened by alcohol, took a step back, then swung his fist at Lu You's face.

The punch connected, sending a shock of pain through Lu You’s head. He staggered, trying to regain his balance, but the group was relentless. They began to close in on him, their laughter ringing in his ears like a death knell.

Just as the situation escalated, a loud horn blared from outside. The sound cut through the chaos, momentarily startling everyone. It was a police siren—help was on the way.

“Damn it, we’ve got to get out of here!” one of the patrons shouted, glancing nervously towards the stairs.

But the others weren’t done yet. “Let’s have a little more fun before we go!” another one shouted, grabbing Lu You again.

“Get off me!” Lu You yelled, summoning all his strength as he pushed back against his aggressors.

The group hesitated, but the leader pushed forward, determined to keep the assault going. “You think you can get away that easily?”

In that moment, Lu You spotted a broken beer bottle on the floor. Without thinking, he lunged for it, gripping the sharp edge tightly as he faced the group.

“Back off!” he shouted, the desperation in his voice cutting through the haze of their drunken bravado.

For a brief moment, the group halted, surprised by Lu You’s sudden courage. “You really think you can use that against us?” the leader taunted, but the glint in Lu You’s eyes suggested otherwise.

“Don’t test me!” Lu You warned, brandishing the bottle as a shield.

The ruckus continued to grow, and in that chaotic moment, Renault burst through the door, having heard the commotion from downstairs. He quickly assessed the situation, his eyes narrowing as he recognized Lu You in distress.

“What the hell is going on here?” Renault demanded, his voice low and commanding.

The drunken group turned, taken aback by Renault's sudden appearance. They had heard of his reputation and were wary of the strength he possessed.

Renault stepped closer, exuding an air of confidence that made the leader falter. “I suggest you leave him alone. You’re outnumbered, and it’s clear you’re not in a position to win this fight,” he warned.

The leader hesitated, glancing at his friends, who were clearly more interested in their own safety than continuing the fight. “Let’s go, guys. This isn’t worth it,” he muttered, slowly backing away.

As they turned to leave, Lu You felt a wave of relief wash over him, though he still held the bottle tightly, ready to defend himself if needed.

Renault stepped closer to Lu You, concern etched on his face. “Are you alright?” he asked, his tone softening.

“I… I think so,” Lu You replied, still shaken but relieved to see Renault. “Thank you for coming. I didn’t know how far they’d take it.”

Renault nodded, his expression serious. “You need to be more careful. This city is dangerous, especially right now. You can’t let your guard down.”

Lu You took a deep breath, realizing just how close he had come to a serious situation. “I know. I thought I could just get a drink and relax, but…”

Renault placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him. “You’re not alone. We’re all in this together. Just remember that.”

As they left the restaurant together, the sirens grew louder, filling the air with the promise of safety. Lu You felt a sense of gratitude towards Renault. In a world turned upside down, it was the connections they forged that truly mattered.

And as the night faded away, Lu You knew he could trust Renault to have his back, no matter what challenges lay ahead.