8:10, in a small grove.
A man held a brown-haired girl in his arms. His expression was solemn; hers was tense.
Someone’s coming?
Why would anyone come to this grove?
Even if they did, it should be at night!
Mujin was still puzzled when distant footsteps crunched on dry leaves.
Her eyes widened. Someone really was approaching?
She looked up at Zhou Ruiyang and mouthed,
Who is it?
Trapped in his embrace, she couldn’t turn to see.
Zhou Ruiyang peeked from behind a tree, then ducked back. “Director Xiao,” he whispered.
Mujin’s eyes went blank.
Director Xiao!?
Their department’s academic director—a middle-aged man, 1.6 meters tall, in his forties, with a bald patch.
He was rigidly conservative, disapproving of college dating.
If he caught them hugging here, punishment was certain. A public notice might even go up.
Mujin wouldn’t face discipline, but this wasn’t good.
If he questioned her identity and she couldn’t answer, Zhou Ruiyang would grow suspicious.
She’d be labeled a trespasser. Later transformations at school could get her expelled.
Worse, she had one absolute reason not to be found.
Don’t forget…
Her panties weren’t on yet!
The white underwear had slipped from her thigh to her ankle during Zhou Ruiyang’s run, dangling precariously.
A boy and girl hiding in a grove, her panties hanging loose.
Even the best lawyer couldn’t save this situation.
Director Xiao hadn’t stumbled here by chance.
He’d spotted Mujin rushing into the grove earlier.
Her brown hair stood out too much—it was part of her character design.
He frowned. Students should be in class now. Why was she out?
Mujin alone might be fine, but Zhou Ruiyang following her? Suspicious.
Skipping class for a daytime rendezvous? Serious trouble.
He abandoned his errands and marched straight in.
But inside the grove, no one was visible.
Strange? Where were they?
The grove ended at the teaching building’s wall. They had to be here.
Director Xiao paced slowly forward.
Each step tightened Mujin’s chest. She squeezed her eyes shut, praying he’d overlook them.
Zhou Ruiyang felt her tension—her grip nearly choked him.
Unfortunately, Murphy’s Law struck.
“Come out now! I saw you earlier. Confess lightly, or face harsher consequences!” Director Xiao called after searching fruitlessly.
His ultimatum pressed like an invisible hand on Mujin’s throat.
An autumn breeze chilled the skin under her skirt.
But that cold was nothing compared to her dread.
They were caught!
Mujin was mischievous sometimes, but deep down, a rule-follower.
Teachers and students had that innate hierarchy—like police and thieves.
Just as panic peaked, the System chimed in.
【Task ‘Arrogant Performer’ triggered: Tell Director Xiao the host plans something naughty here and drive him out. Reward: 3% progress bar + ‘Four-Dimensional Space Anklet’—a 60L void storage that shrinks to anklet size when transformed into a Sparrow. Failure: Get caught. Mortifying embarrassment.】
Damn it! Who’d dare do this!?
Mujin craved the reward, but this task defied carbon-based logic.
【Reply: This System is high-tech AI, not a lowly carbon-based lifeform.】
“You think I was complimenting you? Even microbes wouldn’t invent this! Only absurd beings would!”
‘Arrogant Performer’?
This is a suicide mission!
While Mujin fumed inwardly, Zhou Ruiyang whispered, “We’re found.”
“What… what do we do?”
“We explain. We’ve done nothing. Put your panties on first.” He moved to set her down, but her hands clamped his collar.
“No!” She pursed her lips, shaking her head.
“What? Not wear panties?” Zhou Ruiyang raised an eyebrow. *Still so bold.*
“No—we shouldn’t go out.”
“Why?”
“No reason…” She lifted her tear-streaked, flushed face like a ripe apple. “You promised to take responsibility. So listen to me.”
Zhou Ruiyang froze.
He’d seen her intimately. Benefits demanded effort—that was his code.
“Hmm… Go tell Director Xiao we’re doing something naughty here. Drive him away. Can you?” Mujin asked.
He thought she joked—until he saw her serious eyes.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
She believed Zhou Ruiyang could pull it off, like fans trusting UZI to work miracles.
He scanned the grove. “Small” meant area, not trees—towering poplars, over ten meters high.
Autumn leaves carpeted the ground, but the branches stayed thickly foliaged.
That density sparked an idea.
He sighed. “Alright. I’ll try.”
That glance paid off.
“You have a plan?” she gasped.
“Yes. One condition.”
“What?”
“Put on your panties first.”
“…”
