Classes resumed at 1:30 PM, leaving over an hour for lunch and a nap. Most students would head back to the dorms to rest a bit and recharge before the afternoon. Mondays, with their packed schedules, made skipping a nap practically unbearable in the afternoon.

But Fang Jingcheng still felt that hint of excitement and wasn’t ready to part ways with Xia Fu just yet. After finishing lunch, he turned to her and suggested, “I don’t usually nap. How about we go to a café and discuss the contract?”

Xia Fu had recently been added to a part-time group chat, which was more or less a marketplace connecting people with services for the wealthy second-generation types. The group admin specifically warned her to steer clear of trouble. Although those people could pull off all sorts of stunts if things went wrong, they generally drew up basic agreements to protect both parties.

Since she was the one who initiated this collaboration, Xia Fu couldn’t exactly say no to her client. If I get too sleepy, I can just dab a little essential balm on my temples. With that thought, she returned her lunch tray and softly agreed, “Alright.”

The café was on the first floor of the library’s main hall, directly across from the classroom building. Its decor had a classic, elegant feel, and it offered a menu filled with trendy seasonal drinks that made it popular among students. Those with a touch of “artsy” flair would grab a seat here for a study session right after class.

They were in luck. Upon arrival, there was an empty corner seat available. Fang Jingcheng casually ordered a drink at the counter. “One iced Americano for me. How about you? A sweet mocha, maybe?”

The only downside to this place was the prices, almost as steep as the Starbucks in the mall, and if you wanted to occupy a seat for a long time, they had a minimum spend per head.

Xia Fu glanced at the price list, feeling her eyelids twitch. She declined immediately, “Oh, no, I can’t handle coffee. I don’t sleep well already, and if I drink that, I’ll be awake all night.”

Fang Jingcheng’s gaze dropped slightly as he took in her somewhat tired face. He chuckled, his eyes narrowing playfully. “That’s on me. The food took longer to arrive, and I accidentally kept you out late. How about I treat you to something soothing today?”

Since lunch, Xia Fu’s speech had been slow and deliberate—was she used to napping? With that thought, Fang Jingcheng scanned the extensive drink menu and eventually settled on a hot milk drink for her.

Xia Fu, meanwhile, needed to confirm some formulas with her teacher that afternoon, so she had her laptop in her backpack, along with the last contract she’d used as a sample. With Fang Jingcheng dictating terms, she drafted a new contract. They’d meet for at least eight hours a week, and regardless of whether he won any awards, her initial fee, along with the tutoring pay, would be hers to keep, not deducted from the final payout. If they met off-campus during meal times, he’d cover all food, transport, and accommodation.

There were only three months until the competition, and Xia Fu figured she could probably make more off this than if she went full-time as a tutor after graduation.

The windfall left her a little dizzy, so she turned her laptop toward Fang Jingcheng, earnestly seeking his opinion on any edits—especially about the tutoring fees.

Fang Jingcheng lifted his eyelids, scanned it briefly, then leaned back against the couch cushion, clearly unconcerned about the amount. “Let’s go with this for now. As for the schedule, we can decide that later. I still need to organize some materials.”

He looked stunning, even when lounging casually, glancing up at her with a slight air of indifference—it was like a movie poster for Interview with the Vampire.

Maybe he genuinely didn’t care about the money. During a bathroom break between classes, Xia Fu checked the logo of Fang Jingcheng’s car from memory; that sleek, black, slightly business-like vehicle had a starting price in the millions.

“I plan to stay here until class. Are you heading back?” Fang Jingcheng asked as he noticed her glancing at her phone with hesitation.

There were still forty-five minutes until class, and while the coffee shop was only a five-minute walk away, the dorms were a full twenty-minute trek. It wouldn’t be enough time.

Besides, the drink Fang Jingcheng had ordered for her, called “Dr. Louis Milk Tea,” was indeed calming. Made from an African shrub, it had no caffeine, tasting like a mild, tea-infused latte.

The warm, rich aroma soothed her tense nerves as she took small sips, and soon she began feeling drowsy. Fang Jingcheng’s relaxed, measured speech didn’t help, either; each time she blinked, her head would drop slightly, like a chick pecking at grains.

She’d managed to stay alert during their earlier conversation purely on sheer willpower.

If she returned to the dorm, she might even bump into Bao Zhiwei waking up from his nap… That unpleasant possibility made her instinctively clutch her mug tighter.

Slowly rubbing the smooth ceramic, she asked Fang Jingcheng, “Actually, would it be alright if I napped here? Otherwise, I’ll be too sleepy for Advanced Math in the afternoon.”

“Sure, go ahead. I’ll set an alarm and wake you up in time.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

It felt a bit odd to fall asleep in front of someone she’d only known for a few days, but Fang Jingcheng was a gentleman about it. He busied himself with a magazine from the shelf, clearly not paying her much mind.

Xia Fu sneaked a few glances his way. Leaning back against the couch, she made some slight adjustments, burrowing into the soft cushions and closing her eyes.

This café, as it turned out, justified its price. The plush velvet sofa was so comfortable she didn’t want to get up. She hadn’t expected to sleep so easily near a guy, but soon enough, exhaustion took over, and she drifted off to sleep.

Once her breathing became steady, Fang Jingcheng put down the magazine.

She had a delicate, graceful face that didn’t grab attention at first glance but held a quiet charm that grew on you, stirring a sense of protectiveness.

What struck him was her childlike demeanor—sleeping on the couch, she held her backpack close like she was hugging an unhatched dream.

He was reminded of an art exhibit he’d seen with friends last month, one that had a piece titled Modern Sleeping Beauty. Did she also clutch a pillow while sleeping, curled up like a small ball, with her face nestled in the soft fabric and her toes tucked under the edge of a cozy skirt?

Fang Jingcheng had an odd urge to poke her cheek.

Watching her quietly, he took a sip of his iced Americano. The bitterness hit immediately, and he grimaced, sticking out his tongue.

Ugh, so bitter. The coffee here clearly wasn’t made with high-quality beans, tasting more like muddy water with cigarette butts steeped in it. It was all bitterness, nothing else. He should have just ordered one of the fun, syrupy milk teas.

But he had a duty to wake up Xia Fu, so he’d have to endure this caffeine for now.

Ten minutes before Advanced Math class, Fang Jingcheng dutifully woke Xia Fu. In the lecture hall, she couldn’t avoid running into Bao Zhiwei from her class.

He looked visibly sour, a dark, moody aura hanging over him like a storm cloud. As they brushed past each other, he lifted his swollen eyelids to give her a withering glance, then hurriedly quickened his pace, as if she were some smelly garbage he wanted to avoid.

Though he acted indifferent, Xia Fu couldn’t shake the feeling of his icy glares throughout class, making her uneasy. She kept telling herself, Stay calm and focus on class. If Bao Zhiwei hasn’t come over to cause a scene or sent weird messages, then the counselor’s words must have had some effect.

Bao Zhiwei spent most of class sulking and glaring, but by their evening English course, he was animatedly discussing trending news with his male friends. His loud conversation reached Xia Fu in the front row, catching her attention: it seemed to be about a man who had entered a campus with a knife.

It was an ordinary criminal case, but the man’s statements had caught netizens’ interest. He claimed he had dated the victim for three years, even using his job money to support her tuition, only to find she’d cheated on him. He’d only come to campus to “talk things over” and break up.

“He’s just unlucky. Just an honest guy who got cheated on,” one of the boys said with a sigh.

“Three years, man! That girl’s got no heart,” another chimed in.

Their sympathetic tone made Xia Fu uncomfortable. Who brings a knife to a break-up discussion? She couldn’t help but feel uneasy about this twisted “sympathy for the killer.” If Bao Zhiwei suddenly tried something similar, she’d have no idea how to handle it.

Fortunately, he just scoffed, “That guy’s an idiot. I wouldn’t ruin my future over some girl like that.”

It seemed he was just too prideful to accept rejection. There were plenty of other girls out there, and after a few days, he’d probably move on…

After class at 8:30 PM, Xia Fu packed her books and ran up to the third floor, weaving through the corridors until she found a quiet corner classroom to sit in.

Perfect, a nice, hidden spot.

Surrounded by students preparing for grad school and civil service exams, the atmosphere was charged with focus. Once she confirmed her safety, she took out her phone and texted Fang Jingcheng: “Are you out of class?”

Fang Jingcheng glanced at the screen displaying Pride and Prejudice and replied, “Not yet, it’s film appreciation today. I’ll be here another thirty minutes.”

“Got it. I’ll be reading in Room 309 in the meantime.”

Wait—what? Class had just ended, and she’d somehow dashed from the first to the third floor in no time?

Is she really that afraid of walking alone?

The image of her trembling under pressure earlier that day came to mind. Fang Jingcheng pondered for a moment, his lips pressed against his fingertips in thought.

Suddenly, he raised his hand and called out in class, “Teacher, I think I ate something bad. I feel like I might be sick. Can I go?”

Their teacher, a fashionable woman with a more open mindset, sighed, “It’s just half an hour. Can’t you hold on?”

“Nope, can’t do!”

This kid was annoyingly charming, and even with his playful excuses, the teacher couldn’t help but smile. “Fine, off you go! But next time, you’re reading your review aloud!”

“Thank you, Teacher!” With that, he drew out the words dramatically and, bag slung over his shoulder, walked out to meet Xia Fu.

…

When Xia Fu saw the tattooed hand on the book in front of her, she looked up at Fang Jingcheng, blinking in surprise. “Wait, is your class over already?”

“Yeah, my teacher had something come up, so she let us watch it later on our own.”

He gave her that familiar smile, then leaned in, wrinkling his nose slightly as he sniffed. “Did you put on some essential balm?”

“Uh-huh, I was trying to read, but I still felt drowsy… This really helps! You should keep some in your car.”

Xia Fu picked up the small glass bottle from her pencil case and held it up proudly in front of Fang Jingcheng.

Usually, she never had anyone show up right when she needed them. This feeling… was it happiness? Just the thought made her want to share her little treasures with him.

He humored her, sounding as if he were talking to a child, “Nice! But hey, it’s been a long day. You should go get some rest.”

“Want me to carry your bag? I’m heading out anyway. You’re looking pretty wobbly,” he said, pointing at her bag in a gentle attempt to ease her guardedness.

“No, no, it’s just a short walk; I’ll be fine.”

He’d done more than enough already.

Though Fang Jingcheng was really kind, Xia Fu didn’t want to trouble him any more. Having a “client” carry her things felt a bit too much.

At the intersection leading to the girls’ dorms, she stopped and pointed to the grassy area by the dorm building, explaining, “You don’t need to walk me all the way. I suddenly remembered I left my blanket out to air this morning. It’ll take me a while, so you should head back.”

F University’s old campus had a charming, classic design, with plenty of greenery between buildings. Just beside the girls’ dorm was a small garden with winding stone paths, overgrown vines, and decorative rock formations donated by alumni. It was a popular spot for couples, a hidden corner for hand-holding strolls or quiet arguments, but nobody would interfere as long as things stayed peaceful. Xia Fu often walked past here after her nightly showers.

Beyond the corridor was a small grassy patch with rusty bars where girls would leave their blankets to air on sunny days, collecting them at lunchtime.

It was a short walk to the girls’ dorm, and from the entrance, you could still see the people inside, so it wasn’t exactly a dangerous shortcut. After a quick glance, Fang Jingcheng bid her goodbye with a smile, “Alright then, see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.” Xia Fu took a deep breath, clutching her bag tightly as she walked into the dimly lit garden. She had lied—there was no blanket to pick up. She just didn’t want the dorm supervisor assuming she had a boyfriend again.

The price for this little white lie was another solo night walk.

Xia Fu hated walking alone at night.

The dim lights barely cast enough glow, looking like glowing insect eggs against the cool night air. The wind brushed her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. The only comforting sound was a couple nearby discussing the age-old “Do you love me?” and “Would you ever hurt me?”

It’s fine, she reassured herself. The exit isn’t far. As long as there are people around, it’s safe.

Through the swaying trees, she caught a faint glimpse of the dorm’s welcoming yellow lights.

Today had been a lot. When she got back, she’d treat herself to a long, hot shower, grab a glass of warm milk from Aunt Xu, and fall into a deep sleep!

Counting her steps to the exit, she estimated there were about a hundred meters left—

But just as she passed the wisteria trellis, a hand suddenly stretched out from the shadows, gripping her shoulder tightly and pulling her into the dark garden filled with foliage.