Chapter 41: Rainy Night
Exhausted from earlier, Ning Chu slept soundly this time.
She woke up feeling refreshed, only to realize that she had slept for a full four hours.
"Looks like I'll be up all night again."
Fortunately, it was the weekend, and staying up late had become a habit for her anyway.
Stretching lazily, she glanced down between her legs and, for once, didn’t need to change her pants upon waking.
So refreshing!
Clearly, Wen Yang hadn’t triggered any major plot developments while tutoring this time. Given how cautious he had become, avoiding girls and brushing off anyone persistent with stern words, the plot probably ended before it could even start.
"Maybe I can handle two more punishments?"
She figured that after disrupting the plot twice, she’d have to find a way to vent the tension she had been holding back. Otherwise, she might lose control again and end up seducing a man and begging for affection.
That would be a nightmare... the ultimate black mark on her record!
Leaning against the wall by her bed, Ning Chu debated whether she should move out of the boys' dorm.
If she left, she’d have more freedom—whether renting a place or moving into the girls' dorm, she could manage the punishments more easily without worrying about a chaotic confrontation in the boys' dorm.
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But if she left, she wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on Wen Yang.
Without her around to watch over him, the persistent bad women would eventually get to him, and if he slipped up just once, he’d start down the path to becoming the novel’s male protagonist. At that point, she wouldn’t be able to avoid being caught up in the story.
"Stuck between a rock and a hard place~"
“What punishment? Stuck between what?” Wen Yang’s voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts, startling Ning Chu.
She glanced down in panic to see him sitting quietly at the computer desk. She hadn’t noticed him come back.
“It’s only five! You’re back already?”
“The student had a family emergency, so I only tutored for two hours,” Wen Yang explained, still curious. “What were you just talking to yourself about?”
"Nothing important," she replied, quickly coming up with an excuse. "Just a game I’ve been playing. It’s a strategy game; you wouldn’t be interested."
"You're right, I wouldn’t." He pointed to her desk. "I brought you dinner."
"Thanks."
Ning Chu stretched again, lazily climbing out of bed before slipping into her slippers and jogging to the bathroom.
She was getting used to this...
At first, she used to forget to wipe after using the bathroom. Now, she instinctively wiped from front to back.
As a first-time woman, her browser history was filled with all kinds of weird searches.
Things like "How to buy sanitary pads," "What should girls pay attention to daily," and "What to do when aroused in the dorm."
If not for the internet, she’d still be confused about basic things like the different types of sanitary pads.
When she returned to the dorm, she saw Wen Yang staring directly at her. Looking down, she realized she was still wearing his jacket.
Casually, she took it off and tossed it to him. “I was too lazy to find another jacket, so I just wore yours. You don’t mind, right?”
Even though she had complained about him wearing it for two days...
“Of course not.”
Wen Yang caught the jacket and, for a moment, thought he caught a whiff of something strange but pleasant. Dismissing the thought, he draped the jacket over his chair and turned on the sound of the computer. “Want to watch TV together?”
“What show?”
“A new Japanese drama—light and funny,” Wen Yang offered. “Want to join?”
Ning Chu didn’t have anything else to do, so she scooted her chair next to Wen Yang, keeping a bit of distance between them to avoid any awkwardness, and started watching while eating the takeout he brought her.
Wen Yang started the first episode, and they began watching together.
It was a heartwarming comedy, just Ning Chu’s type. She laughed out loud several times, enjoying the lighthearted tone and secretly envying the relationship between the main characters.
She admired how the male lead had a sweet and understanding girlfriend, even though her possessiveness caused him a lot of trouble.
“So nice~” Ning Chu sighed, genuinely envious.
Wen Yang glanced at her, then at the male lead on the screen, carefully comparing himself.
Hmm, the male lead was the sunny and handsome type, kind of like him. But he was a bit quieter, whereas the male lead had a lively personality that made his girlfriend laugh all the time.
Got it, Ning Chu likes this type of guy, huh?
Before they realized it, several episodes had passed, and the sky outside had grown dark.
Suddenly, the sound of torrential rain could be heard outside, the raindrops pelting the windows in a steady rhythm. The sound of the wind and rain created a noisy backdrop to the otherwise quiet night.
The cold rain brought a noticeable chill, and after just a moment, Ning Chu’s arms were covered in goosebumps.
“Looks like a cold front is coming in again. It’ll drop to around ten degrees tomorrow.”
Wen Yang got up and headed to the balcony, working with Ning Chu to quickly gather the laundry before it got soaked in the downpour.
“We’ll need to wear long sleeves again.”
Ning Chu liked this kind of weather, especially rainy nights.
The cool air made the bed feel even cozier, and the sound of rain was the perfect lullaby to help her sleep.
She grabbed a jacket and glanced at the time. It was already eight o’clock.
Caught up in the drama, she hadn’t even noticed how much time had passed, and despite the late hour, she wasn’t the least bit tired.
As Wen Yang clicked on the next episode, she adjusted her position, getting comfortable in her chair, but just as they were about to start watching, the dorm was suddenly plunged into darkness.
“...”
By the faint light of the laptop screen, they looked at each other in confusion.
“When was the last time you paid the electricity bill?”
“I forgot...”
Ning Chu sighed. “Couldn’t you have paid a little extra?”
“I didn’t have enough money for that.”
She turned to look out the window, watching the pitch-black rain-soaked night. Standing up, she said, “Let’s just go to bed. We’ll pay the bill tomorrow.”
“It’s only eight o’clock. The service center should still be open.” Wen Yang grabbed an umbrella and headed for the door.
“Hey!” Ning Chu called after him, but by the time she turned around, she only saw his back disappearing out the door. She hurried to follow. “It’s already past eight!”
Wen Yang turned back, puzzled. “You wouldn’t be able to sleep this early anyway.”
Since when was eight considered late? Isn’t this when the night just begins?
“I...”
It was true—Ning Chu had slept too much in the afternoon. She probably wouldn’t be able to fall asleep until well past midnight.
She glanced out the hallway windows, seeing the stormy night outside. Despite the rain, there were still a few delivery drivers making their rounds in the storm.
It was only eight, and the campus library was probably still full of dedicated students. The chances of encountering any ghosts were low.
After a brief hesitation, she quickly caught up with Wen Yang. “I’ll come with you.”
“If we run into a ghost, make sure to run fast, alright?”
“???”