Now that everyone was caught, Ning Yunhuan didn't immediately bolt. With so many people around, she didn't believe Xie Zhuoyin would dare to do anything to her. Even if this man was ruthless, if she started making a scene, Xie Zhuoyin would certainly lose face. Still, to prevent him from going too far, Ning Yunhuan backed up two steps, just in case he lunged and grabbed her, preventing her from seeing anything truly disgusting. She frowned. "It was me."

In the dark corners of her mind, she suspected Xie Zhuoyin had kidney problems. Why finish so early? Why finish now? They had just sat down, and it was already over. So fast—it must be overuse, a complete breakdown! She silently cursed him, finally understanding who it was that had taken Gu Yingxi's first time previously. No wonder Xie Zhuoyin had suddenly shown up in her classroom; he probably knew she had peeped that time.

"Are you stalking me because you have a crush on me?" After his face darkened with vicious intent, Xie Zhuoyin lowered his voice and snapped at Ning Yunhuan.

Hearing this, Ning Yunhuan nearly burst out laughing. She appraised Xie Zhuoyin up and down with utter disdain. "Someone like you? And you think I have a crush on you? I wouldn't spare a glance for anything others have already used!"

Borrowing the exact words Lan Lingyan had once used, the usually arrogant Xie Zhuoyin’s expression instantly became grim; he looked thoroughly infuriated.

"Your Ning family is just a tiny company. Do you believe I can crush you as easily as squashing an ant? You had better keep your mouth firmly shut about what happened today. The next time I'm handling business, I don't want to see you around, or else…" Xie Zhuoyin trailed off with a cold snort, a flash of killing intent momentarily crossing his eyes.

No one understood the sheer viciousness of the man before her better than Ning Yunhuan. She had known it in her previous life. At first, she had been somewhat afraid of him, but after witnessing the great BOSS Lan Lingyan, looking at a minor figure like Xie Zhuoyin, she barely batted an eyelid. Compared to Lan Lingyan, Xie Zhuoyin’s threats were merely surface-level aggression. After all, as the saying goes, the dog that barks doesn't bite; that principle applied everywhere.

"Don't try to scare me. I'm awfully timid. If I get too frightened, I might start sobbing loudly," Ning Yunhuan tilted her chin up, shaking the phone in her hand toward Xie Zhuoyin. Only when she saw his face turn ashen did she let out a cold laugh, mutter something about bad luck, and finally turn to leave.

"Damn it!" Xie Zhuoyin narrowed his eyes, his vicious gaze lingering on Ning Yunhuan’s retreating back for a long moment. After a while, he clenched his fist in impotent rage. Beside him, Gu Yingxi, completely stripped bare, struggled to keep her thighs together. The area between her legs was a mess, and her legs trembled slightly. Her fair, tender body was exposed, and her large eyes still held a residue of shock, making her look particularly fragile and lovable right after intimacy.

Seeing her startled expression, like a frightened fawn, the anger Xie Zhuoyin had swallowed from the confrontation with Ning Yunhuan instantly transformed into lust. He immediately shoved Gu Yingxi back onto the grass, pressing himself down on her. The grass that had just settled began to host another round of fierce battle, and the girl’s cat-like, whimpering sounds began to fill the air again, intimately and ambiguously.

Ning Yunhuan had no idea the pair behind her had resumed their passion after she left. All she knew was that she must be walking under a cloud of bad luck, stumbling upon a live peep show just by sitting down on a chair. Even if she were forced to watch Xie Zhuoyin again, she would probably throw up!

By the time the car sent by Lan Lingyan arrived, he himself was not inside. Due to the morning’s events, Ning Yunhuan decided to skip the rest of the day's classes. Since she had been a model student in her past life, all the necessary knowledge was already in her head; skipping class wouldn't result in failing exams. If a professor called attendance, she could always delegate that task to Lan Lingyan. With this in mind, she settled down in the manor for the afternoon to catch up on sleep, feeling completely justified.

She really hadn't slept soundly in ages. She fell into a deep, dreamless slumber. Just as she was enjoying the sweet repose, she felt a light, tickling sensation on her face. She dodged it several times, burying her face deeper into the pillow, but the light, itchy touch wouldn't leave her alone. Soon, her back started to feel uncomfortable too. Drowsily, her body grew heavy. She didn't realize her legs were being forced apart, or that something cool was being pressed against her body. She frowned slightly in discomfort, letting out a soft hum. After a moment of touch, her body seemed to grow heavier still, and a sharp, unwelcome pressure spread as her body was forcefully parted. The weight on her was intense, making her gasp for air before she reluctantly forced her eyes open.

"Awake?" The moment Lan Lingyan returned, he saw her sleeping soundly—small and delicate, resting without a shred of defense on his bed. The inherent feeling that she belonged there, that this was her rightful place, was too much for him to bear. He had entered her while she was asleep. Seeing her still groggy and appearing somewhat distressed, his brow furrowed. He gripped both of her hands, bracing them above her head, and then began to move within her.

Roused violently from a deep sleep, Ning Yunhuan felt soft and weak, only able to manage a soft moan. The gentle sound scratched deep into his heart, causing Lan Lingyan's gaze upon her to soften further as kisses like raindrops fell upon her forehead and eyelids.

Having eaten his fill, Lan Lingyan retreated from her body, satisfied. He gazed contentedly at her frail form lying there, then lifted her up, washed her personally, and wrapped her in a silk dressing gown before placing her against the pillows to rest. Lan Lingyan took a shower himself. When he emerged, he found her cheeks and eyelids tinged with a delicate pink—utterly charming.

"Why did you decide against going to class this afternoon?" Lan Lingyan wiped his hair dry, tossing the towel onto a nearby small sofa before climbing into bed and drawing her into his embrace, his hand stroking her waist.

"I didn't want to go. I saw Gu Yingxi again when I came back this morning." Ning Yunhuan felt utterly limp, unable to muster any strength, content to be held by him.

Lan Lingyan had positioned them in such a way that she constantly felt as if she might slip off, compelling her to hook her arm around his neck and lean intimately against his chest to prevent him from jostling her off the bed. The cunning hunter noticed her action and subtly closed the space between them even further. Feeling her press closer and tighten her hold, Lan Lingyan finally kissed her lips with satisfaction.

"It's that woman from the other day," Ning Yunhuan explained, worried he wouldn't recall who Gu Yingxi was. "It's the one we saw on the grass by the library last time. I saw her again today, and it turns out that person was Xie Zhuoyin. No wonder he came looking for me that day."