It wasn't even six o'clock in the evening, yet the sky outside the window was already a dim yellow.
Ning Chu lay idly on her desk, uninterested in the English lesson. Her English level was abysmal—probably not even middle school standard.
Back in the day, she had crammed relentlessly to pass the CET-4 exam. But the moment she walked out of the exam room, she promptly forgot everything.
Thinking about having to retake the exam in her sophomore year made her head throb.
"Wen Yang, tonight I'll stay at Xinya's dorm for a night," Ning Chu said, poking Wen Yang's arm. "If it doesn't work out, I can still adjust."
"Okay."
She planned to test the waters for a night. Since Wen Yang was still on campus, she could call for help if anything went wrong after leaving him. If things turned sour, she'd shamelessly cling to him, even without taking leave.
If Wen Yang left campus and then ran into trouble, she wouldn't be able to help him, no matter how loudly she screamed for help.
"Be careful tonight. Call me if anything happens."
"Mm, don't worry."
She had already set Wen Yang's number as her emergency contact. A few presses on the power button would instantly send a distress call to him.
She believed everyone should activate this function; you never know when an emergency might arise.
"Class dismissed."
The bell rang, and cheerful music played over the PA system. The teacher finally announced the end of class.
Ning Chu tugged on Wen Yang's sleeve and gestured toward the cat girl Qiaoqiao behind them, reminding him not to forget her earlier instructions.
"Got it." Wen Yang packed up his books and stood up.
He glanced at Qiaoqiao's cute face and petite figure, imagining the confrontation that was about to unfold.
It really did feel like bullying a little girl.
Fortunately, Ning Chu is with him…
But when he turned his head, he was dumbfounded to see Ning Chu dragging Yan Xinya and bolting out of the classroom.
"I'm going to the bathroom!"
"Wait, what..." Left with no choice, Wen Yang placed a hand on Zhang Shaoqing's shoulder. "You're coming with me."
"For what? I haven't finished my daily tasks yet!"
"It'll just take a few minutes."
After some deliberation, Wen Yang led Zhang Shaoqing over to Qiaoqiao.
As they got closer, Qiaoqiao's face lit up with delight. She jumped to her feet and ran eagerly toward Wen Yang, looking up at him with eyes full of expectation.
That adorable face made Wen Yang feel incredibly guilty.
Although he knew Qiaoqiao's intentions, her behavior wasn't clingy or annoying. Unlike those shameless women who practically threw themselves at him, Qiaoqiao's demeanor was much more subdued.
Wen Yang could easily steel himself and unleash a verbal barrage against the latter, but he just couldn't bring himself to be harsh with Qiaoqiao.
After some internal debate, he met Qiaoqiao's expectant gaze and said, "Um, I already have a girlfriend."
"Yeah, right! Who? Ning Chu?" Zhang Shaoqing blurted out.
"..."
In the restroom, Ning Chu was hiding in a stall in the women's bathroom, pacing anxiously back and forth in the confined space.
Outside the stall, there was a cacophony of footsteps and voices. Judging by the sounds, there were at least seven or eight girls outside.
Even though her official identity at school was male, she chose to use the women's restroom. After all, if she accidentally made any noise while enduring the lust punishment in the men's restroom, she might attract the attention of some perverted weirdo.
In the women's restroom, the worst-case scenario was dying of embarrassment, and Yan Xinya could still cover for her.
Why wasn't she feeling anything yet?!
After waiting for five minutes, Ning Chu felt no changes in her lower abdomen.
Could it be that Wen Yang had actually been won over by that cat girl?
But the protagonist that she wrote has no interest in flat-chested lolis!
He only saw Qiaoqiao as a little sister. If not for a few mouth-related wake-up calls from Qiaoqiao while co-renting during a part-time job, there wouldn't have been any further developments between them.
Could it be that Wen Yang's preferences had shifted, and now he was into flat-chested girls because of her influence?
Ning Chu lowered her head and glanced at her modest chest.
Though not large, she was at least an A+. Maybe it didn't compare to the C-cup baseline most of the supporting female characters had, but surely she was leagues better than Qiaoqiao's washboard chest!
That girl wasn't just flat—she was practically a steel plate!
"You done yet?" Yan Xinya called from outside, impatient. "Why are you taking so long in there?"
"Uh... give me two more minutes, I've got diarrhea."
"Diarrhea? Are you sure it's not... you know, that time?"
"No, it's not!"
"Sure~"
Privacy was a lost cause when dealing with someone with a dog's nose.
As a blush crept across her cheeks, Ning Chu realized that her overactive imagination, filled with inappropriate thoughts, had already stirred her emotions—before the punishment even started.
Was it because of last weekend's solo "study session" opening the door to a whole new world for her?
As time passed, only Yan Xinya—idly playing with her tail—and Lily—fiddling with her phone—remained in the restroom.
Ning Chu couldn't wait any longer. She shoved the stall door open.
"What were you even doing in there?" Yan Xinya sniffed the air with a tilt of her nose.
"My stomach hurt; I couldn't go."
She made up an excuse and hurried out of the restroom.
Just as she stepped outside, she spotted Wen Yang chatting and laughing with Qiaoqiao in the hallway, surrounded by their dorm mates.
Her blood pressure skyrocketed.
"Ning Chu."
Seeing her, Wen Yang strode over, looking a little guilty. "It's all sorted... I think."
"Huh?"
Then why didn't I feel anything at all?!
Ning Chu stared at him, full of doubt. "How did you 'sort' it?"
Before Wen Yang could answer, Qiaoqiao came running over. "Big brother~ Where are you going? Weren't we having dinner together?"
Big brother?! Having dinner?!
Are you kidding me? That's your solution? Isn't this just going along with the plot as it was written?!
Ning Chu's pupils contracted in shock. She looked at the innocent, sweet smile on Qiaoqiao's face, utterly unable to comprehend how things had taken such a turn.
Wasn't he supposed to scold her into leaving, angrily chasing her off?!
She opened her mouth to voice her doubts but swallowed her anger instead.
Better to give Wen Yang a little face in public...
"No worries, we cleared it up," Zhang Shaoqing interjected smugly, stepping forward. "Turns out Qiaoqiao just likes attending our English teacher's lectures. Wen Yang thought she had a crush on him and rushed over to reject her, haha!"
But as he met Ning Chu's murderous glare, Zhang Shaoqing's grin faltered.
So you're the idiot who ruined everything?!
Traitor!
With her cute, oblivious expression, Qiaoqiao nodded rapidly. "Exactly, exactly!"
Her youthful face and petite figure made her look like a girl in her early teens. Her innocent charm, bolstered by her appearance, was kryptonite to men.
But Ning Chu knew better. This girl was a full-grown adult, already a third-year senior, older than Wen Yang by a year!
Trying her best not to show jealousy in front of Zhang Shaoqing and Wang Jie, Ning Chu scowled, grabbed Yan Xinya with one hand and Lily with the other, and stormed toward the stairs.
"Hey! Aren't you coming to the cafeteria for dinner?"
"No!"
I'm already full—full of rage!