Cheng Yu and Lu Manman exaggeratedly described to Xia Tian how her mom stood by the edge of the playground, watching her daughter and another man in an affectionate manner.

Pale-faced and trembling, Xia Tian was frightened, leaning against the wall and holding her chest.

“You’re deliberately scaring me, right? My mom is overseas for business, she couldn’t possibly be at the school playground,” Xia Tian held her head. “I don’t believe it!”

Cheng Yu placed a notebook computer in front of her, “The Hermes limited edition handbag, the one your mom is carrying, right? It’s highly recognizable.”

Peeking at the computer screen, Xia Tian looked like she was about to collapse, her face filled with despair, “I’m doomed, doomed, doomed.”

Sitting on a rattan chair by the table, Lu Manman casually remarked, “I can’t understand. If your mom came to see you, why wouldn’t she let you know?”

“My mom is like that. Once she thought my dad was having an affair, she held it in for half a month before confronting him, only to find out it was a misunderstanding,” Xia Tian lamented. “In our family, the night before the storm is eerily calm.”

“You’re 21 this year, it’s normal to date,” Lu Manman couldn’t comprehend. “What are you afraid of?”

“My mom doesn’t allow me to date,” Xia Tian sighed. “She wants me to focus on my studies, pass the exams in my fourth year, apply to foreign schools, and study abroad for my postgraduate studies.”

“I think it’s not a big deal,” Cheng Yu reassured her, patting her shoulder. “Explain it well to your mom, assure her that it won’t affect your studies, she should understand.”

“You don’t understand my mom, she would never agree, and she’d be very angry,” Xia Tian shook her head. “To her, anything other than studying is a waste of time, especially dating. Because I will study abroad in the future, so…”

“Wait a minute,” Lu Manman suddenly realized. “By the way, does Zhou Yan know about your plan to study abroad?”

“I told him, and he said it’s okay, he can wait for me.”

“He’s really good to you.”

“You can never fully trust a man’s words,” Cheng Yu, being rational, placed a firm hand on Lu Manman’s face, pushing her away, then calmly asked Xia Tian, “Let’s focus on the present issue. Are you planning to confront your mom?”

“I absolutely dare not!” Xia Tian shook her head repeatedly. “My mom is really scary. She just sits on the sofa, straightens her back, stays silent with a cold expression. It’s enough to scare me to death.”

Lu Manman remarked, “I can imagine. Whenever I upset my Dad Louis, he looks the same way, but luckily, my Dad Alex always helps me out.”

Cheng Yu disagreed, “But Xia Tian didn’t do anything wrong; there’s nothing wrong with dating.”

Xia Tian shook her head, “No, in my mom’s eyes, dating is a waste of time. She wants me to aim for Harvard, so there can’t be any slack at all.”

“That’s a quite challenging goal,” Lu Manman remarked. “I think you can adjust your nightly reading routine from until 1 a.m. to 4 a.m.”

Xia Tian sighed, bowing her head.

“If you don’t want to confront her,” Cheng Yu pondered, “since your mom has come to the school to investigate, it’s likely not just for today. During this time, avoid meeting Zhou Yan. Be a good girl, stick to the routine of the library, cafeteria, and dormitory every day. This way, the situation might just blow over.”

“I was thinking the same thing!” Xia Tian quickly took out her phone to send a message to Zhou Yan.

…

During this time, Xia Tian stopped dressing up, stopped wearing makeup, and ditched her colored contact lenses.

She reverted back to her studious look from before her romantic endeavors, donning thick-framed glasses.

Occasionally, professional clubs contacted Lu Manman, discussing her future career plans, but there was no sincere invitation to join the team. It seemed more like a test.

As per Xia Tian’s unique information gathering skills, she learned that Chen Jingming from the athletic club had signed with the KT team, becoming an official member.

Among the top ten in the national competition, many players had already signed contracts, stepping onto the path of professionalism.

However, Lu Manman and Cheng Yu had yet to receive any offers.

After her conversation with Yang Chen, Lu Manman began to realize that professional teams were hesitant to have girls join. Regardless of her excellent performance in amateur matches, she couldn’t convince them. It seemed she needed to shine in professional matches, but without joining a professional team, how could she compete professionally?

It felt like hitting a dead end.

Feeling disheartened, Lu Manman, while Cheng Yu comforted her, said, “All beginnings are difficult, someone with insight will surely notice us. Let’s just be patient.”

Cheng Yu, being slightly older than Lu Manman and Xia Tian, had a more mature perspective and took care of the girls in both big and small matters in life.

Lu Manman frowned, saying, “I’m not in a rush, I’m just afraid you’ll lose confidence in me.”

Cheng Yu exaggeratedly remarked, “Seriously, you’re the smiling goddess. I can almost grab onto the goddess’s thigh, and I can vaguely see the future paved with gold bricks, blindingly bright.”

Lu Manman chuckled lightly, “Wow, please don’t say that. The goddess expresses feeling under immense pressure.”

Yuan Xiu messaged Lu Manman, informing her that he could deliver various skincare products from South Korea over the weekend. Lu Manman felt a bit shy about having him bring the items and personally deliver them, so she arranged to pick them up from the club with Yuan Xiu.

Today, the X Club had a rare day off. Ah Heng met three young ladies at the entrance of the villa area and ushered them inside.

The white sofa was as soft as a sponge, providing a comfortable seating experience. Various snacks were placed on the coffee table, along with a few bottles of cola.

“We cleaned this morning, but these guys still managed to make it a bit messy,” Ah Heng said nervously. “Please don’t mind, feel free to have a seat.”

Xia Tian adjusted her glasses, “I must say, it’s much cleaner than our dorm room.”

Cheng Yu placed some snacks and cakes on the table, saying, “Sorry for the intrusion, this is a little token of our appreciation.”

As soon as Gu Zhefeng saw the snacks, he hurried over, reaching out to grab one. Ah Heng opened his hand, whispering, “Don’t be so eager, show some restraint.”

Gu Zhefeng muttered to himself and swiftly grabbed a macaron out of his mouth while Ah Heng wasn’t looking.

At that moment, the door upstairs clicked open, followed by the sound of steady footsteps descending the stairs.

The group looked up towards the staircase, where they saw Ren Xiang in a black jacket, sporting black sunglasses, with his hair styled back in a trendy manner, exuding a confident stride as he walked down the stairs.

However, just as Xia Tian curiously pointed out, “Wow, your club even has a bodyguard, that’s top-notch service,” Ren Xiang stumbled slightly, almost losing his balance.

Approaching Xia Tian, he lowered his voice with restraint, “Little sister, how severe is your myopia?”

“Um,” Xia Tian sensed his implication and apologized obediently, “I’m sorry.”

Ah Heng walked over and remarked, “Who allowed you to dress like a character from a Hong Kong gangster movie today?”

Unconvinced, Ren Xiang took off his sunglasses and exclaimed, “I am a man leading the international fashion trend. You guys are not worthy to appreciate my beauty.”

Lu Manman asked Ah Heng, “Where is Yuan Xiu?”

“The captain is still asleep,” Ah Heng replied. “It’s a rare day off today. He stayed up late playing games last night. It’s okay, everything you need is over there.”

Ren Xiang carried a big bag of facial masks and skincare products to the sofa, squeezing next to Xia Tian, and said to her, “Little sister, this is what your brother brought back from afar for you. How can you thank me?”

“Oh, how can I thank you…”

“I might consider some more intimate ways of gratitude…”

“Get lost!” Ah Heng kicked Ren Xiang away, saying, “You dare flirt with the captain’s woman on the side?!”

“Captain’s woman on the side? That’s a tough riddle.” Gu Zhefeng furrowed his brows, then turned to Lu Manman, asking sincerely, “Are you the captain’s woman on the side?”

Lu Manman was speechless, internally cursing: “What’s it got to do with me, Ah Heng making a fuss over nothing…”

“Oh, let’s calculate the price,” Cheng Yu suggested. “How much would it be in RMB?”

“These were all bought by the captain, only he knows the prices,” Ah Heng said to Gu Zhefeng. “Go wake him up.”

Gu Zhefeng shook his head in refusal, “I’m not going.”

Ah Heng then turned to Ren Xiang.

“What are you staring at? I still want to live a few more years,” Ren Xiang retorted.

With a grumpy Yuan Xiu, whoever goes will be in for it.

Ah Heng cleared his throat and said to Lu Manman, “Um, would you mind going to wake up the captain?”

“Why me?” Lu Manman asked.

“If we go, the captain will definitely beat us up, but he won’t hit a girl. It’s safer for you to go, plus you and the captain need to settle the prices for these items,” Ah Heng explained.

After some consideration, Lu Manman got up to go upstairs.

Once she was upstairs, Ren Xiang muttered, “You guys are really bad.”

Gu Zhefeng suggested, “Should we bring out the first aid kit?”

….

Lu Manman lightly knocked on Yuan Xiu’s bedroom door.

“Yuan Xiu.”

No response came.

She pressed the handle, and with a creak, the door opened.

The off-white curtains kept the harsh sunlight at bay, filling the room with a warm and cozy goose-yellow hue.

On the navy blue king-size bed in the center, the sheets casually draped down from Yuan Xiu’s waist. He lay on the bed, with his bare back exposed, his tanned skin tight and muscular, exuding a smooth muscularity.

His head buried in the pillow, he slept deeply.

Lu Manman took a deep breath, then lightly tapped the bedroom door with clenched fists, “Yuan Xiu, time to wake up.”

From downstairs, Ah Heng’s voice could be heard, “That won’t do, Lu Manman. Be more direct, just pull off the covers.”

Lu Manman walked up to Yuan Xiu, looking down at him from above.

The smooth and toned muscles on his back were the result of years of dedicated exercise, a strength that wasn’t overtly apparent when clothed, not appearing brash. However, when the clothes were off, they revealed a breathtaking sight.

Lu Manman’s breath quickened, unsure of what to do. She debated whether to just let him wake up naturally, but then remembered what Ren Xiang had said – that waiting could mean until afternoon or evening.

She tentatively poked Yuan Xiu’s back with her fingertip, “Yuan Xiu, wake up.”

Feeling the warmth of his skin spread quickly to her fingertips, almost like an electric shock, she quickly withdrew her hand.

“You asked me to come today, and here you are sleeping away,” Lu Manman sighed as she sat on the edge of the bed. “Wake up, don’t sleep anymore.”

“After we finish settling the prices, you can sleep again, okay?”

Before she could finish her sentence, Yuan Xiu suddenly reached out, grabbing her neck, pulling her over and pressing her against the pillow.

Caught off guard, she found herself being pulled into his embrace.

“Gu Zhefeng, are you addicted to being a human alarm clock…” Yuan Xiu’s voice, slightly muddled with drowsiness, threatened, “Keep bothering me, and I’ll give you a hard time.”

Despite the threat, the languid and drowsy tone only added to the sensuality of the moment.

He kept his eyes closed, continuing to sleep, his hand pressing against Lu Manman’s neck, holding her head against the pillow.

She and his naked body were pressed closely together, feeling the scorching heat of his skin even through their clothes.

Lu Manman was on the verge of exploding from nervousness, her face blushing so much it seemed it could drip blood. She held her breath, unmoving, gazing at his features so close to hers.

With his eyes closed, his long eyelashes trembled unconsciously. His lips weren’t very thick, but not thin either, just right to evoke the impulse to bite and taste.

Wide-eyed, Lu Manman watched him.

Feeling the trembling in her arms, Yuan Xiu finally opened his eyes, locking gazes with her in a sudden and intense eye contact.

Furrowing his brows, his eyes held a hint of turbulent emotions as he asked, “Why is it you?”

Lu Manman buried her head into the pillow, mumbling in a muffled voice, “I came to wake you up.”

At that moment, Ah Heng’s and Ren Xiang’s voices could be heard outside the door, “What’s taking so long?”

“We told you to go, what if the captain teases Lu Manman?”

“That’s not possible.”

“He’s always grumpy in the morning, not recognizing people,” Ah Heng said as he pushed open the door. “Captain, Lu Manman came to wake you…”

Inside the room, Yuan Xiu lay on his back with his left arm as a pillow.

“Hmm?”

“You’re awake. Lu Manman just came to wake you up, did you see her?”

Yuan Xiu replied calmly, “She’s gone.”

“Oh, I see. Well, in that case, stop dawdling and get ready to come out. The guests are waiting.”

“Alright.”

As Ah Heng left, he made sure to close the door behind him.

Lu Manman stayed curled up in the blanket, not daring to move, holding her hand tightly over her mouth to avoid revealing her presence.

If Ah Heng and Ren Xiang found out she had been sleeping on Yuan Xiu’s bed, well, that would be quite troublesome.

Her gaze involuntarily swept over his body nearby. The light filtered through the covers, casting a warm goose-yellow hue. His abdominal muscles were like chocolate bars, neatly forming a set of six-pack abs, perfectly even and defined.

Moving further down, his dark-colored underwear had a protruding part in the center, indescribable…

Lu Manman hastily averted her eyes, only relaxing when she heard Ah Heng and the others’ footsteps fading away.

As Yuan Xiu lifted the covers, Lu Manman huddled beside him, her face flushed red, feeling her nose itching.

Seeing her discomfort, Yuan Xiu furrowed his brows, grabbed a tissue from the nearby cabinet, and handed it to her. She was oblivious, “Huh?”

Yuan Xiu sighed, “You have a nosebleed.”