Fu Yuan turned crimson with fury at Ning Yunhuan's words, her chest heaving with suppressed emotion. Yet years of cultivating a gentle demure persona kept her from erupting in class - she wouldn't let this petty spat sully her reputation. Her eyes burned with resentment as she sidestepped away.

The disruption had soured Ning Yunhan's mood completely. As soon as the lecture ended, she gathered her things and shot Fu Yuan an imperious glance before making a hasty exit. There was no way she'd entertain another apology from that sanctimonious woman - their history told her all too well how fickle Fu Yuan could be.

Lan Lingyan's call came the moment she stepped outside. The man had memorized every minute of her schedule, leaving not an instant for privacy. Ning Yunhuan sprinted through campus to his waiting vehicle - a sleek black car that radiated aristocratic elegance even in stillness.

The air conditioning hit her like a balm as the door opened, cooling her flushed skin after the run. Lan Lingyan half-lifted her into the passenger seat with effortless strength.

"Rushing so fast?" His voice remained cool despite the furrow between his brows. The mirrored aviators obscuring his gaze had vanished, revealing sharp phoenix eyes framed by loose bangs that glinted with warning light.

Though frosty in tone, he handed over a warm water bottle and draped a thin cashmere shawl around her shoulders. "It's too hot," Ning Yunhuan protested as sweat clung to her skin, but Lan Lingyan simply arched an eyebrow at her refusal before replacing the blanket himself. The jade-infused water in his offered tumbler surprised her with its perfect temperature - neither scalding nor icy.

"Meng Meng." He traced a calloused finger through her hair. "I'll have Lin Jiu drive you back after lunch."

The mention of Lan Jiu, his imposing driver, sent another shiver down Ning Yunhuan's spine. As he leaned closer to whisper in her ear, the car temperature seemed to drop ten degrees: "Call me when you miss me."

"I don't want..."

A sudden gust of icy air blew through the cabin as Lan Lingyan's expression darkened imperceptibly. Realizing her faux pas too late, Ning Yunhuan hastily surrendered both the water bottle and her trembling hands into his keeping. "I mean... I'll stay by your side instead of class! Please let me prove myself!"

The satisfied smirk on Lan Lingyan's lips deepened as he ruffled her hair. "Approved."

Ning Yunhuan suppressed a whimper beneath her conciliatory smile, heart pounding at the tangled web she'd woven with this man whose kindness could so easily turn lethal. His polished manners masked something far more dangerous than cold indifference - unlike those fictional villains who merely looked menacing, he was charming enough to make people forget his capacity for cruelty entirely.

Just like that pretty dog who barks but doesn't bite, Lan Lingyan's elegance and refinement were the most terrifying kind of weapon. And now she'd tied herself so tightly into his orbit...