Gan Lan felt like he’d played her for a fool.

But she had no proof.

Under Ye Yubai’s knowing smile, she felt as if she were standing at the edge of some unspeakable abyss.

One more step, and she’d be doomed beyond redemption.

She couldn’t bring herself to look Ye Yubai in the eye.

Even accidental physical contact was enough to leave her flustered.

She’d misunderstood.

She’d actually misunderstood.

What’s with anime these days? It’s leading people astray.

He was only rubbing her back. Why’d she have to make such a melodious sound?

Ye Yubai patted her shoulder. “Get some sleep. Don’t overthink it.”

Gan Lan let out a breath. “I’m sorry.”

She apologized at once.

Ye Yubai chuckled. “It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Quick, take the chance to pat her head.

Feeling guilty, Gan Lan unusually let him keep his hand there.

Ye Yubai couldn’t help petting her for a little longer.

Mm.

Her hair was so soft.

Just like a tiny kitten at a cat café.

As he stroked her hair, his gaze drifted down along her pretty neck.

Her loose pajamas had slipped off one shoulder.

Gan Lan’s shoulder was pale and flawless, like a girl’s.

It’d probably feel amazing to touch.

But Ye Yubai only dared think about it. He didn’t dare actually touch her.

Knowing Gan Lan, she’d definitely hit him.

“Guess I’ll have to find a chance to bathe with him and sneak a feel while things are chaotic,” Ye Yubai thought with a sly grin.

Suddenly—

Ye Yubai spotted something strange.

What was that strap-shaped thing near Gan Lan’s shoulder?

Just as he reached out to touch it—

Gan Lan abruptly stood up and hurried toward the bedroom.

“I-I’m going to bed. Good night. Don’t bother me.”

After dropping that line, she slammed the bedroom door shut.

The lock Ye Yubai had broken had already been repaired.

Ye Yubai stood up, still wondering what that strap-shaped thing had been. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t figure it out.

“Could it be some new kind of men’s undershirt?”

It didn’t look like one, though.

The strap was so thin. Wouldn’t it dig in?

……

The day the lottery’s third prize was drawn came around soon enough.

Gan Lan skipped her two afternoon study periods and slipped out through the back door of the classroom.

When Ye Yubai saw her sneak out, he quickly packed up his schoolbag and followed.

“Gan Lan, wait for me!”

Downstairs, Ye Yubai reached out and grabbed the back of her collar.

“Why are you skipping study period? Where are you rushing off to?”

Gan Lan said expressionlessly, “To buy a lottery ticket.”

Lottery tickets again.

Ye Yubai was at a loss for words.

Had this girl still not given up on her dream of getting rich overnight?

Seeing her about to march straight out through the school gate, Ye Yubai hurriedly grabbed her.

“It’s not dismissal time yet. The guard won’t open the gate for you.”

Gan Lan froze for a moment.

Oh, right.

It wasn’t dismissal time yet.

Ye Yubai said, “Come with me. I know a secret way out.”

As he spoke, he led Gan Lan into the bike shed.

The farther in they went, the more bicycles there were, and the more crowded it got.

Gan Lan looked at him in confusion. “What secret way?”

Ye Yubai said, “The seniors from the previous year left it behind. I used it once.”

As they talked, they reached the very back of the bike shed.

Gan Lan looked at the hole in the wall, now blocked up with bricks, then turned to Ye Yubai.

“This is the secret way you meant?”

Ye Yubai gave an awkward smile.

“There… used to be a hole this big here. I just don’t know why it’s…”

Gan Lan sighed.

She shook her head and turned to leave.

Ye Yubai grabbed her by the collar again and easily hauled her back.

“Don’t rush. I said I could get you out, and I will.”

As he spoke, he crouched down and patted his shoulder.

“Here, step on my shoulders and climb up.”

Looking at his spotless new white shirt, Gan Lan’s mouth twitched. She rejected his suggestion without a second thought.

Step on his shoulders and climb up?

Whether she fell and hurt herself was one thing. If she got his brand-new shirt dirty, he’d probably make her wash it by hand!

“It’s fine. I won’t make you do the laundry,” Ye Yubai said, patting his shoulder again.

“No, I don’t want to!” Gan Lan turned to leave again.

Seeing her hesitate like this, Ye Yubai grew impatient. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back, then lifted her with little effort, supporting her under her backside as he boosted her up to the top of the wall.

Gan Lan said, “Huh? W-wait…”

Was she really that light?

No, that wasn’t the point.

The point was, he’d just taken advantage of her again, hadn’t he?

“Ye Yubai, what’s wrong with you?” Gan Lan was so mad she wanted to punch him.

“It was an emergency. I couldn’t worry about that stuff,” Ye Yubai replied carelessly.

The moment he poked his head out, he heard a security guard shouting angrily nearby.

Ye Yubai urged her on. “Quick, grab the rope ladder on the other side and climb down from the tree. If the guard catches us, we’ll both get in trouble!”

Gan Lan had no choice.

She could only do as Ye Yubai said.

She’d only just grabbed the rope ladder and started climbing down when Ye Yubai followed, scaling the wall and leaping lightly to the ground.

The security guard’s shouts grew angrier on the other side of the wall.

But there was no way he’d catch them now.

They’d only just bricked up the hole here, and there hadn’t been time to install a security camera yet.

……

At that moment, on the other side of the wall, Ye Yubai crouched on the ground, watching Gan Lan climb down the rope ladder in a panic.

“Hurry up. Why are you taking so long?”

“If you’re so good, why don’t you do it?”

Gan Lan was afraid of heights.

In either of her two lifetimes, she’d never done anything this daring.

“Hey, careful! Your foot—hey!”

She was almost at the ground when Gan Lan’s foot slipped. She lost her grip and tumbled straight down.

Ye Yubai hurriedly reached out and caught her.

The force of gravity sent them tumbling together.

The soft artificial turf on the ground cushioned their fall considerably.

Otherwise, they’d both have ended up with battered faces.

Once they’d come to a stop, Gan Lan quickly scrambled out of his arms.

With her back to him, she hurriedly straightened her clothes and brushed the dead grass and leaves off herself.

A long rip ran down the sleeve of her school uniform jacket where a branch had snagged it.

She’d have to sew it back up when she got home!

Gan Lan complained, “What kind of lousy plan was that? I told you it wouldn’t work! Look what happened to my clothes!”

Ye Yubai smiled. “You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”

As he spoke, he moved behind her again.

“Let me take a look at your clothes…”

His hand moved from her waist up to her shoulder.

He touched that strange thin strap again.

“Hey, Gan Lan, what’s this?”

Through the fabric of her school uniform, he pinched the thin strap, lifting it and letting it drop.

A very faint “twang” sounded.

Gan Lan turned and glared at him furiously.

A stab of pain came from her shoulder.

He’d nearly snapped the strap.

“Ye Yubai, there’s definitely something wrong with you, isn’t there?”