Part25：Stop! Get back here!
The sudden assault left Zoe momentarily stunned. Instinctively, she turned her head to dodge, but it was too late—a sticky, slick liquid splashed across her head, neck, and clothes.
"Stay away from my brother, you shameless leech!" the girl—who had looked so sweet just moments ago—now snarled, her face twisted in fury, her voice shrill and grating like nails on glass. "Next time I see you clinging to him for attention, it won't just be tomato juice!"
"Security!" Lan screamed as she rushed over, horrified by the scene. She bolted towards Zoe, but the young girl had already turned and fled.
"Stop! Get back here!" Lan yelled, ready to chase after her, but paused to check on Zoe.
Expressionless, Zoe wiped the dripping tomato juice from her face and hair. She felt all eyes on her; people had gathered, drawn by the commotion, and several had already started snapping photos. Some even whispered, recognizing her.
To her surprise, Zoe felt an eerie calm settle over her—a steadiness even she hadn't anticipated. Someone nearby handed her a tissue. She hesitated, took it, and murmured a quiet thank you as she continued wiping herself down.
Lan didn't pursue the girl beyond the VIP lounge. She couldn't leave Zoe like this, humiliated and alone. Instead, she guided Zoe to the restroom, helping her clean up the mess.
Five minutes later, an airport official arrived. Lan, still furious, demanded, "Isn't there supposed to be security? How did she get in with tomato juice?"
The official looked flustered. "We're reviewing the surveillance footage. We'll contact the authorities as soon as we identify the perpetrator."
Zoe had changed into a fresh outfit, though her hair was still damp. She pulled on her sunglasses and mask, concealing her face.
"Lan, we should board soon. Let them handle this from here," Zoe said quietly.
But Lan was visibly shaken, her chest heaving with rage. Just imagining what could have happened made her hands tremble. What if the girl had thrown acid instead of tomato juice? Zoe's face could have been ruined in an instant.
"No, we are pressing charges. This can't go unpunished!" Lan spat out, seething. "What kind of people raise a child to do something like this?"
The airport official exchanged contact details with Lan, promising, "I'll keep you updated with any new information."
Lan fixed him with a glare. "I expect you to find her."
The incident had been so sudden and shocking. Though Zoe had cleaned herself up, the embarrassment lingered, gnawing at her. From the girl's words, it was clear she was an obsessive fan of Song, furious about the rumors linking Zoe to him and assuming she was using him to gain attention.
Zoe didn't even need to look at her phone to know that this would blow up online. The bystanders had no doubt heard the girl's tirade and would post about it on social media, drawing endless speculation and criticism.
At this moment, Zoe couldn't bear to open her phone. She didn't want to see the ridicule or scorn that would inevitably follow, especially not now.