For some reason, Wen Yang felt that Ning Chu's attitude toward him had subtly changed.
It seemed… softer?
During class, instead of focusing on the lecture and taking notes as he should, his gaze repeatedly drifted toward Ning Chu, unable to resist.
Ning Chu was still slouched lazily on her desk, completely uninterested in the class. Occasionally, she yawned, but whenever she noticed his gaze, a visible blush crept up her face. She avoided meeting his eyes, looking shy like a kitten in a new home.
Soon enough, Ning Chu leaned closer and whispered, "What days are you taking leave?"
"Thursday and Friday, so I'll have four days off."
"Four days!" she exclaimed, her voice rising involuntarily.
"Hm?"
"Nothing."
Ning Chu slumped back onto the desk. Just hearing that Wen Yang would be away for four days made her chest tighten painfully.
But Wen Yang's reason for leaving was legitimate—visiting his uncle, who was undergoing surgery. She couldn't find any grounds to object.
They had never been apart for this long before...
What if during those four days, Wen Yang got seduced by some wicked woman and was led astray?
What if, during those four days, she encountered some pervert and couldn't defend herself?
What if...
Her chaotic thoughts suddenly halted. Over the weekend, Yan Xinya's words echoed in her mind once again.
"Stop lying to yourself~"
Maybe she simply didn't want Wen Yang to leave her side. Was there really a need for so many excuses?
Lowering her gaze, Ning Chu glanced anxiously and nervously at Wen Yang.
Her eyes accidentally met Wen Yang's, which were filled with warmth and a possessive intensity. Startled, she quickly shifted her focus to her phone.
"Who are you chatting with?" Wen Yang noticed the messaging app on her screen.
"No one."
"Hm?"
"Just some lunatic who suddenly added me, saying they liked me," Ning Chu muttered, pausing briefly to observe Wen Yang's increasingly tense expression. "I'm just messing with them, chatting for fun."
She was curious to ask this lunatic why they liked her—was there anything worth liking? Could it still be changed?
"Delete them," Wen Yang said, his tone calm yet firm.
Though his words weren't harsh, Ning Chu obediently deleted the contact. "Okay."
Unable to hold back any longer, she leaned closer toward Wen Yang and softly suggested, "How about I go with you?"
Generally speaking, if a man brought a woman to visit a hospitalized relative, they would most likely be seen as a couple. Even if that wasn't the case, the relatives would assume so.
Afraid of Wen Yang misunderstanding her intentions, she hurried to explain, "If I come along, I could help take care of things. You're visiting your uncle, and I can treat it as a trip."
Seeing Wen Yang remain silent, she asked timidly, "No good?"
"The issue is what excuse you'll use to request leave… That old hag isn't easy to deal with."
"True..."
Ning Chu frowned, racking her brain for a legitimate excuse.
The new counselor was notoriously strict about leave requests, which had sparked complaints among many students. The nickname "old hag" had started circulating privately.
The only reason Wen Yang managed to secure two days off was because of his protagonist halo—and his good looks.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Ning Chu couldn't help but glance at Wen Yang's face again. "How about… just not going back?"
Wen Yang lowered his head to look at Ning Chu's face, which was filled with expectation. Her eyes carried a hint of pleading, and she looked pitiful, like a kitten about to be abandoned.
He almost agreed on the spot.
But he shook his head, refusing gently. "My uncle is having surgery; I can't not go back..."
He hoped she would understand. "After my parents passed away, my uncle's family helped me. If not for them, I might have dropped out in middle school to work. Even now, most of my living expenses come from my uncle."
"..."
Seeing the light in Ning Chu's eyes dim, her head drooping despondently, Wen Yang steeled himself and reassured her, "It's only four days. I'll come back as soon as I can."
"Okay."
It was as if he were coaxing a reluctant girlfriend.
Wen Yang sighed helplessly. He suddenly realized that Ning Chu seemed more straightforward today than usual.
"What's wrong?" He gave up on paying attention in class, lowering his voice to probe. "Reluctant to see me go?"
"Of course not!" Ning Chu shook her head vehemently, sitting bolt upright. Then she lowered her head, muttering softly, "I'm just… worried some bad woman might trick you."
She had used the same excuse before.
But this time, she hesitated before using it again.
As Wen Yang's departure loomed closer, the feelings of loss and unease verified that she had grown accustomed to relying on him. She couldn't imagine being without him.
"Alright then."
Wen Yang had thought she was improving, but in the end, she was still so stubborn.
"Leaving Thursday?"
"Wednesday night by bus," Wen Yang replied, glancing at the time. "I'll bring my luggage to class Wednesday and leave right after."
"I see..."
Ning Chu gazed at the teacher on the podium, resting her chin in her hand.
On the bright side, she could use Wen Yang's absence to retrain herself to be independent!
Whether she had inadvertently developed feelings for Wen Yang or simply relied on his protagonist aura in this dangerous novel world, as an adult, she couldn't allow herself to remain dependent.
Besides, with the hypnosis spray he gave her, she could protect herself now. No need to constantly fear predators like before.
Her only concern was that in these four days, Wen Yang might accidentally disrupt some plotline, causing her to lose control and trigger that kind of scenario.
With this thought, Ning Chu turned to Yan Xinya. "Xinya, your dorm still has an empty bed, right?"
"Yep, Ling Ling's bed. She moved out to live with her boyfriend."
"Then I'll—"
"Sure!"
Staying in the boys' dorm without Wen Yang's cover didn't feel safe. Ning Chu couldn't fully trust Zhang Shaoqing or Wang Jie. It had taken Wen Yang multiple tests to earn her trust.
Living in the girls' dorm felt more secure. Even if something did happen under Yan Xinya or Lily's watch, one wouldn't care, and the other—a succubus—wasn't in a position to criticize her.
"By the way, did they catch the underwear thief?" Ning Chu suddenly remembered, afraid she'd be walking into trouble.
"Not yet." Yan Xinya sighed. "I was planning to check with security later. Even if the footage is long, it should've been reviewed by now, right?"
"Okay, I'll go with you later."
Hopefully, they could catch that pervert before Thursday.