Shen Yue took the hot water, "This isn't very good, is it?"
Zhuang Wan'er quickly waved her hand, "There's nothing wrong with it. I live alone anyway, and it's snowing so heavily outside. It's fine to stay here for a night."
Before Shen Yue could say anything else, the system chimed in: [An important plot point is coming. The villain's parents were framed and died in a car accident.]
Shen Yue was taken aback: [Then where is the villain now?]
System: [The villain hasn't received the news yet. He's still waiting for you at the apartment.]
Shen Yue paused for a moment, then said to Zhuang Wan'er, "Then I'll stay here tonight."
Zhuang Wan'er, who had been eagerly anticipating this, immediately broke into a smile. Forgetting her leg injury, she lunged to hug Shen Yue, rubbing her neck.
The warm breath she exhaled made Shen Yue feel a little uncomfortable.
The girl giggled secretly.
"Yueyue, you smell so good."
Shen Yue, afraid of aggravating her injury, merely tilted her head and didn't pull away. "Really? I don't smell anything."
A sickly flush appeared on the girl's fair face. "Really, it smells wonderful."
Shen Yue felt very uncomfortable under her intense gaze.
After showering, they lay in bed. Shen Yue fell asleep quickly but had a nightmare. In her dream, she felt a dense, sticky gaze fixed upon her, making her entire being feel sticky.
When she woke up, she found herself still in Zhuang Wan'er's embrace.
Zhuang Wan'er was holding her almost entirely, her arm around her waist. Shen Yue was about to quietly remove her hand when the person woke up before she could move it.
Zhuang Wan'er groggily opened her eyes and revealed a sweet, intoxicating smile when she saw Shen Yue.
"Sleep a little longer."
She nuzzled Shen Yue's face in a charming manner.
Shen Yue was still unaccustomed to such intimate treatment and pushed Zhuang Wan'er's hand away.
"You sleep a little longer. I'll go get washed."
Although displeased, Zhuang Wan'er didn't show it. After the girl went to the bathroom, she moved to where Shen Yue had been sleeping.
It was still warm, and the scent was incredibly intoxicating.
She burrowed into the covers, her shoulders trembling slightly.
The bathroom had clean toiletries. As Shen Yue washed her face, she noticed a red mark on her neck, unsure how it got there. Her skin was so fair that the mark was rather conspicuous.
Shen Yue: [Do you know how this mark got here?]
System: [Mmm... it looks quite familiar. It's a bit like a hickey from the villain.]
Shen Yue's heart sank. The mark on her neck couldn't possibly have been from Wei Jingzhou. And this color was so vibrant, it looked like...
Impossible. Shen Yue immediately dismissed the thought, figuring it was probably just from something brushing against her.
After Shen Yue finished washing up, Zhuang Wan'er was still lying in bed, her head covered by the blanket. It was unclear if she was asleep. Shen Yue quietly put on her clothes and left.
—
Wei Jingzhou hadn't appeared since that day, nor had he come to school. Shen Yue called him several times, but he didn't answer, and her messages went unanswered.
It was likely that Wei Jingzhou was busy with funeral arrangements. The Wei family was probably in chaos, and like cats smelling blood, everyone wanted a piece of the pie.
The school was holding a New Year's Eve party, and each class had to present a performance. Shen Yue signed up for a recitation and rehearsed with her classmates.
The party was held in the school's auditorium, filled with an audience. The class participated in the recitation together, and their large numbers created a powerful presence, ultimately completing the performance successfully.
Glancing up by chance, Shen Yue saw an unexpected person. He was sitting in the same seat Shen Yue had occupied during the previous year's arts festival, but his gaze was no longer fervent and gentle, but cold and dark.
While everyone was applauding, the young man didn't move at all, merely staring intently at the person on stage.
After the performance, Shen Yue was chatting and laughing with her friends when a tall figure suddenly appeared before her.
"Shen Yue."
The young man's voice was magnetic, and his handsome face wore his usual smile.
Shen Yue hesitated, then asked, "Is there something you need?"
Bai Bo's smile deepened. "Would you mind chatting with me nearby?"
The confession on Christmas Day had been a huge spectacle, and almost everyone in the school knew Bai Bo liked Shen Yue. Seeing the strange atmosphere between the two, they knew the two of them had likely not ended up together.
Shen Yue considered it and agreed.
Bai Bo turned and led the way, Shen Yue following behind him.
In a quiet, secluded spot backstage, Bai Bo stopped. He turned around again, his face devoid of any smile.
Shen Yue felt uneasy under his gaze, her long, dense eyelashes fluttering slightly. "Just say what you want to say."
Bai Bo gazed greedily at the girl, his complex, dark eyes like the opening of a cold, deep well, occasionally flashing with a gentle light like moonlight, but quickly swallowed by the dense darkness.
He remained silent for a long time, his voice hoarse when he finally spoke.
"Wei Jingzhou is in trouble."
The innocent and beautiful girl before him widened her eyes in disbelief, as if she didn't understand, and asked urgently, "What do you mean?"
Bai Bo let out a light chuckle, his gaze filled with schadenfreude and jealousy, his voice soft and gentle. "Didn't Wei Jingzhou tell you? Indeed, he probably wouldn't have the face to, would he?"
The girl's face turned pale, and she bit her lip. "Explain yourself clearly."
Bai Bo seemed to enjoy seeing the girl look so pitiful. He truly did, otherwise, he wouldn't have fallen so hard for her. He was so lowly to have fallen for someone so outwardly pure but inwardly dirty.
And yet, he was so lowly that he couldn't forget her. He was even more lowly than Shen Yue.
The handsome contours of the young man were filled with distorted shadows, his eyes bloodshot, and a chilling smile played on his lips.
"The Wei family has fallen. Wei Jingzhou is nothing now. He probably doesn't have the face to see you, does he? Tell me, what's the use of someone like him? He can't even protect his own things and was suppressed into becoming a nobody. His parents are dead, and he probably can't even protect himself now. Shen Yue, I'm not trying to be mean, but your taste is really bad. Only you would fancy someone like that."
The girl stared blankly, her eyes wide, seemingly unable to process the overwhelming information. She unconsciously tightened her lips, the once pale pink now dyed a vibrant red. Her lashes drooped, looking pitiful.
Bai Bo lowered his gaze to the girl's lips, a dark glint flashing in his eyes. He then reached out and gently caressed her lower lip, freeing the bitten, raw flesh.
An aggressive masculine aura washed over her. The girl tried to pull away but was forcibly held by her nape, trembling in place.