Han Meina simply led Zhang Han away, and Gong Yiying’s alcohol-induced stupor was only half cleared. She hadn't expected to actually go through with such a thing. Then, she cautiously glanced around, especially at Deng Zhi, only to find him still engrossed in drinking and chatting, which brought her immense relief. However, a rather strange thought followed closely behind.

Wang Qiqi saw it was getting late, and since the dramatic scene anticipated at the dinner table hadn't materialized, she figured Shi Man and the others waiting in the adjacent private room must be disappointed. “I’ve eaten just about enough; I’m heading back now.” The main show was over, and there was no reason for her to linger here any longer.

Naturally, Bai Ge and the others didn't wish to stay either. All the men were getting thoroughly drunk, so it was better to leave early. “Let’s go together.”

After thanking Deng Zhi for his hospitality one by one, Bai Ge and her friends walked out of the private room door. Shi Man and her group, waiting impatiently in their own room, had heard no commotion—oh wait, not no commotion, just the sounds of men shouting to drink more. Finally hearing the sound of doors opening and closing, Shi Man stealthily cracked open her door, catching sight of Han Meina leaving with her arm linked through Zhang Han’s. Hearing the sound of doors opening and closing again from the next room, Shi Man finally saw familiar faces and immediately flung her door open. “Qiqi, heading back together?”

Wang Qiqi gave an 'oh,' turned, said goodbye to Bai Ge and the others, and stepped into Shi Man’s private room.

The moment Jiang Xin saw Wang Qiqi enter, she leaned in and pressed her voice low, urgently inquiring, “How was it? It seemed rather quiet today?” She had fully expected a massive confrontation, but all she’d heard was the sound of men drinking, which made Jiang Xin feel this outing was a total waste.

Wang Qiqi smiled, sat down, picked up a fresh pair of chopsticks, and took a few bites of rice. After setting a deliberate mood, she recounted what had transpired in the private room that day. “Listen carefully to some of this, and especially you, Jiang Xin—don’t breathe a word of it for the next few days. Mark my words, it won’t be long before someone’s business gets out.”

Wang Qiqi mused to herself how Deng Zhi and Gong Yiying would manage to fake affection then, even if they tried. Just the strange looks everyone kept giving Deng Zhi would serve as a constant reminder for him to watch out for a change in the color atop his head.

Even if Wang Qiqi hadn’t explicitly warned her, Jiang Xin wouldn’t have mentioned it. This matter wasn't monumental, but it wasn't insignificant either. “I know, but Qiqi, what is Gong Yiying’s attitude? Even if she used to like Zhang Han, she has a good relationship with Han Meina now; why would she still...” Sigh. Not only did Zhang Han have a girlfriend with whom he shared genuine feelings, but this dinner was a celebration of Gong Yiying and Deng Zhi being together, yet she still acted like that.

“A flighty jade butterfly,” Shi Man commented bluntly. “When I saw Han Meina leave, didn’t her expression look terrible? I actually thought you had managed to provoke her.” At the time, Shi Man had wondered if the men were deliberately pushing the drinking just to drown out the women fighting, never imagining this was the real situation. Impressive, truly impressive.

“Exactly. If it were me, I would have slapped her already,” Zhu Lina said without reservation. “Doesn’t she realize how many people were present? Does she think a simple excuse of being drunk can cover everything up?”

What a thoughtless act. Didn’t they know that actions taken while intoxicated often reveal a person's truest inner thoughts? And it wasn't like there hadn't been any signs of Gong Yiying liking Zhang Han.

Dai Lijun quietly ate on the side, not joining the conversation, knowing that interjecting would only draw the fire of the women present.

Regarding Gong Yiying’s motivations, Wang Qiqi claimed she neither understood nor cared to understand. “Let her deal with her own mess. If Han Meina and I hadn't ended up talking well today, I might have been the one to lose control.” Wang Qiqi certainly wouldn't pity that sort of person; such individuals didn't deserve sympathy. They pretend to be pitiful while constantly plotting against you—they are the definition of a thankless viper.

Lose control? Shi Man and Zhu Lina looked at Wang Qiqi in surprise. “They were planning to take action against you?” They had suspected this specific girl wouldn't be so kind as to let Wang Qiqi off easy.

“They planned to ply me with alcohol,” Wang Qiqi put down her chopsticks, patting her full stomach. “Alright, let’s go back. We can walk it off; I ate a bit too much today.”

Zhu Lina rolled her eyes at Wang Qiqi, noting that despite only having a few bites, she still managed to eat that much. “You won’t get indigestion.”

Wang Qiqi stuck out her tongue. “I’m in a good mood; today’s meal was definitely worth it. Come on, hurry up; I don’t want to be seen by them at the end and have to support a drunkard back upstairs.” Wang Qiqi suddenly remembered that Bai Ge and the others had already left, leaving only seven men in that private room. Wang Qiqi certainly didn’t want them to see her, nor did she want to escort a drunk person upstairs.

Hearing this, Shi Man and the others understood the urgency and quickly settled the bill to leave.

Right up until the lights were turned off and the room was dark, the main subject of the evening never returned. Well, the protagonist of this late-night chat session was clearly out of the running. “I really didn’t expect her to do something so shameless,” Feng Yanjie said, glancing at the empty bed under the moonlight with utter disdain. It was past bedtime, and she hadn't returned. Even if she were drunk, couldn't the dorm supervisor have helped her up, or at least sent someone up to let them know so they could fetch her?

“I thought what happened at dinner was explosive enough, but she actually didn’t come back,” Bai Ge turned over towards the aisle and pulled back her curtain. “I bet Deng Zhi won’t be sleeping in the dorm tonight either.”

Li Xin murmured, “But I wonder what Deng Zhi will think if he finds out what happened at dinner today.” At the table, she seemed to be seducing Zhang Han, but by evening, the situation had flipped, moving towards booking a room with Deng Zhi.

Duan Xiaomin struggled to find the right words. “Okay, maybe Deng Zhi helped book a room, and then he’ll head back to the dorm.” Although Duan Xiaomin herself found this possibility extremely remote, she felt compelled to say it. “Don’t discuss this in class tomorrow.”

Bai Ge flopped onto the bed and pouted. “She used to say such things about Qiqi, speculating what Qiqi might do, but it turns out she’s the one like that. She insists on criticizing Qiqi, and I fully believe she’d say anything to cover up her actions today.”

Feng Yanjie suddenly had an idea. “Do you think they’ve done this before? Remember that time they supposedly snuck out for a ride?”

Once this possibility was raised, the dorm fell silent. Everyone began to consider whether it was plausible. Finally, Duan Xiaomin spoke up. “Alright, regardless of what questionable things they might have done before, it’s their business. It’s late now; let’s sleep. We have an early class tomorrow.”

The thought of the very first class spurred everyone to stop talking and prepare for sleep. That professor was a terror; being late when she took attendance would be disastrous.

Wang Qiqi rolled over toward the inside of the bed to sleep. Just before drifting off, a thought crossed her mind: she wondered if the two of them would have the physical capacity to show up for class tomorrow.

Many people across both dorms likely had the same thought; Wang Qiqi was certainly not alone in considering it.

Mornings were always chaotic, especially with an early first class in winter—the season everyone loved for sleeping in. After a flurry of activity, several dorms settled into deep quiet, while the others without early classes drifted back to sleep.

The professor entered the classroom, but Gong Yiying and Deng Zhi had still not appeared. “Well, they definitely went to get a room,” Bai Ge scribbled a note and passed it around to her roommates.

When the note reached Duan Xiaomin, she wrote back: Should we ask for leave on Gong Yiying’s behalf?

No one supported her suggestion. Most strongly, Bai Ge threatened Duan Xiaomin, saying she would regret it if she dared to ask for leave. Duan Xiaomin shelved the idea immediately. Furthermore, Deng Zhi’s dorm mates hadn't provided any absence slip either, leaving the pair to pray they wouldn't be called on during attendance.

But fate was precisely that coincidental. “Gong Yiying, answer this question.” The terrifying professor picked a name she favored from the roster, calling it out three times without a response. “No leave slip today, right?”

The class monitor stood up. “None.” If there had been one, it would have been submitted already.

The terrifying professor made a note with a sharp 'oh.' “Then I’ll call the next one: Deng Zhi.”

Well, Deng Zhi wasn’t there either, and the professor erupted. “Are these two trying to pull a fast one, perhaps? No leave slip, and no presence. I sincerely hope they both score perfectly on the final exam.” The professor made a mark next to both their names. “I’ll call one more name: Zhang Han.”

Zhang Han had arrived just before classes began and had forgotten to request leave for his good friend. When he realized his buddy was missing, he started engaging with the lesson, unable to file a late request now. Zhang Han could only internally apologize to his friend.

“Good, although Zhang Han’s answer wasn't perfect, it shows he has been studying seriously,” the terrifying professor commented before moving on. For the subsequent questions, those called upon all responded, some poorly, some well. Thankfully, the teacher didn't flare up again, perhaps having already vented her initial anger on the two absent students.

They didn't show up for the second class either, and Zhang Han and the others didn't request leave for Deng Zhi and Gong Yiying. It felt too conspicuous now; sick leave? Why wouldn't they request it at the beginning? Personal leave? One male and one female, another pair requesting absence simultaneously—what would anyone think?

“I wonder what Gong Yiying will think when she finds out about the terrifying professor’s lecture; she’s definitely going to have to make up the class,” Bai Ge remarked, surprised by the professor’s strong reaction to Gong Yiying’s absence without leave.

Duan Xiaomin began to reflect on whether she had made the wrong decision. “Gong Yiying is going to be furious when she finds out.”

Furious? Feng Yanjie scoffed. “Are we the ones who plied her with drinks yesterday? Are we the ones who prevented her from returning to the dorm? Are we the ones stopping her from attending class?” Did she really have the nerve to blame them?

Feng Yanjie’s words were overheard by those nearby, causing an immediate stir. It had all been speculation until now, but the fact that Gong Yiying hadn’t returned to the dorm and had been drinking yesterday made things clear. Those quick-witted enough immediately inquired about Deng Zhi’s whereabouts and, upon learning he hadn't returned to his dorm either, the entire story became obvious. (To be continued.)