The call connected almost immediately.

Luo Yu’s heart skipped a beat as he stood up and quickly made his way out of the research office, jogging down the hallway until he reached a quiet corner. Clutching his phone, he whispered:

“Hello, President Song?…”

“Luo Yu.”

Song Lingyuan’s voice sounded a bit weary, lighter than his usual solemn tone.

Luo Yu suddenly realized that this was likely their first time talking on the phone.

Hearing Song Lingyuan’s voice through the receiver made him feel as though they were a bit closer…

Luo Yu took a deep breath. “Are…are you okay?”

On the other end, he heard steady footsteps as someone approached, followed by a low conversation between Song Lingyuan and the newcomer.

Luo Yu bit his lip and waited quietly for a while until he finally heard Song Lingyuan speak again:

“Sorry, something just came up… Thanks to you, Luo Yu, everything’s fine now.”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Luo Yu rubbed the back of his neck.

“Thanks to me? I didn’t really do anything.”

Song Lingyuan’s voice was calm:

“When I was locked in the Management Committee’s top-floor conference room, and Duan Yixun was pressuring me to sign a document holding the Association accountable for everything, the ad screen on the building across from the conference room window happened to start displaying your broadcast.”

He paused, and his tone grew a bit lighter:

“Duan Yixun flew into a rage and called in a group of tech people, but they couldn’t turn off the screen no matter what they did. His expression was priceless.”

“Thanks to you, Luo Yu, I got to see Duan Yixun flailing helplessly—something I never thought I’d witness in my lifetime.”

Luo Yu couldn’t help but smile. “So…your big brother didn’t give you any trouble in the end, right?”

He thought it was a simple question, but the other end fell silent.

Luo Yu’s heart felt like it was in his throat—did Duan Yixun do something to Song Lingyuan?

Just then, a low chuckle came through the line.

Confused, Luo Yu’s heartbeat quickened. “What…what are you laughing at?”

“Luo Yu, why are you so concerned about me?”

Luo Yu was taken aback.

His cheeks suddenly warmed, flushing a bit uncontrollably.

Fortunately, Song Lingyuan didn’t wait for him to respond and continued on his own:

“Well, he was giving me trouble, but thanks to the large crowd you rallied outside the Management Committee it became impossible for him to keep pushing.”

On the other end of the call, Luo Yu heard the sound of a car door opening, followed by some shuffling, as if Song Lingyuan had just gotten into a car.

His voice, which had been quiet, rose slightly.

“Although Duan Yixun is the President, the Management Committee doesn’t belong to him alone.”

“The other ten committee members have long held grudges against him but had to endure his authority in silence.”

“This time, things have gotten so out of hand that the remaining committee members saw an opportunity and joined forces. If Duan Yixun doesn’t release the detainees soon, they may collectively vote him out, forcing an early resignation…”

Song Lingyuan changed the subject.

“These matters are rather tedious, so I’ll leave it at that.”

“I’ve safely left the Management Committee, and all the detained members of the Hypnos League are being gradually released. Now, it’s up to the committee to sort out their own infighting.”

Hearing this, Luo Yu finally exhaled in relief!

He felt a sense of exhaustion from head to toe, leaning his chin on the windowsill at the end of the hallway.

“That’s good…”

It really is.

Everything he had done finally led to a positive outcome.

“Luo Yu.”

Song Lingyuan suddenly called his name.

Luo Yu’s heart raced. “I’m here.”

Leaning back against the seat in the car, Song Lingyuan stared into the deep night outside, recalling the night they fled together. He sighed softly.

“There are a lot of loose ends to tie up. I won’t be able to come see you for now.”

Come to see him?

Instinctively, Luo Yu asked, “See me for what…?”

“I’ll send a team of bodyguards to A University to protect you until Duan Yixun is fully removed and this matter is over.”

“I don’t need that!” Luo Yu blurted out, quickly waving his hand before remembering that Song Lingyuan couldn’t see him, and weakly put it down. “I’m sure you need people by your side more than I do. Don’t worry about me.”

“Your safety is important.”

Song Lingyuan’s voice was calm, and he quickly added,

“As this year’s recipient of the Human Progress Highest Honor, the Association has an obligation to protect you.”

“…” Only then did Luo Yu remember the honor.

An award that allowed him to ride public transport and visit national landmarks for free.

He had no choice but to agree.

Song Lingyuan glanced at the 99+ new messages on his phone, which continued to rise, and pressed his fingers to his temples.

“Anything else you want to tell me?”

Luo Yu pursed his lips. “You… take care of yourself, too.”

“Alright.” Song Lingyuan paused for a few seconds before saying, “I’ll hang up now.”

“Bye,” Luo Yu said softly, looking at the stars outside the window.

“By the way—”

Just as Luo Yu was about to press the end call button, Song Lingyuan’s voice suddenly came through again, and he quickly pulled his finger away. “What?”

Song Lingyuan glanced at the message that Mr. S had just sent in his chat app and asked, seemingly offhandedly,

“Did your top supporter, Mr. S, check in on you?”

“Huh?” Luo Yu was a bit taken aback, not understanding why Song Lingyuan would ask this, and he glanced down at his messages, finally remembering that S had indeed sent him one earlier. “I nearly forgot to reply…”

Song Lingyuan seemed pleased with this response.

It appeared he was more important than S.

“Alright, nothing else. I’m hanging up.”

That was it? Luo Yu replied, still somewhat confused.

After responding to S’s message, he turned around and saw Wen Li standing not far away, silently watching him.

“Senior?” For some reason, Luo Yu felt a bit guilty, quickly pocketing his phone. “What are you doing here?”

Wen Li’s voice was gentle, though his concern didn’t reach his eyes. “Were you talking to President Song? How is he?”

“He’s fine!” Luo Yu smiled happily. “Everyone from the Hypnos League has been released!”

Wen Li nodded but didn’t smile, hinting at something. “Luo Yu, you’re getting a bit too close to Song Lingyuan.”

“Too close? I think it’s fine…” Luo Yu blinked quickly, lowering his head as he tried to head back to the History research office.

Wen Li followed him, speaking in a low voice:

“Now that everything is over, there’s no need for you to keep in touch with him. Song Lingyuan isn’t an ordinary person. People of his status and power don’t think the way we do. Getting too close could only lead to you being hurt.”

Luo Yu bit his lip. “We’re not that close… It’s just that he helped me, and I helped him back. We were just checking in with each other.”

Wen Li gave him a light pat on the head, his gaze unreadable. “I hope that’s all.”

…

At midnight, five days later.

District A’s Supreme Council held a new election.

With widespread support, Duan Yixun was voted out of his position as President and wasn’t even re-elected as a council member, officially removed from A City’s Management Committee.

By the afternoon, the military command had transferred.

All military forces deployed by Duan Yixun to guard the Sleep Hospital, Xiao Xiang Village, and other areas linked to the poisoning incident were recalled one by one.

Association security immediately initiated investigations, and numerous pieces of evidence surfaced!

That evening, Duan Yixun was arrested!

—Meanwhile,

All members of the Hypnos League gathered at the underground base of Hypnos League base II construction site to throw a massive party!

To avoid retaliation from Duan Yixun, Luo Yu had spent the past week on campus, sleeping on the couch in the lounge with Wen Li’s help and feeling quite stifled.

Finally, it was all over!

As Luo Yu walked out of A University’s gates, even the air felt fresher.

When he followed Wen Li down a flight of stairs into the underground base, he saw that the basement, previously a sleeping quarters, had been decorated to look like a lively nightclub!

Colorful spotlights and a disco ball had been installed on the ceiling, casting vibrant hues across the floor as a crowd swayed in the hallway’s center!

On either side, people sat on the communal beds, each holding a glass cup, clinking them together with resounding “cheers!”

Luo Yu had been here so many times before, but he had never seen everyone so joyful!

“The famous Luo Yu is here!”

“Welcome, Luo Yu!”

“Come on, Luo Yu, join us for a dance!”

The crowd surged forward, treating Luo Yu like a hero, nearly lifting him off the ground!

Luo Yu couldn’t stop laughing. “Help, help, put me down!”

Wen Li stepped forward, waving off the group of men and women around Luo Yu. They shot Wen Li playful glares.

“Oh, relax! We weren’t bullying Luo Yu.”

Wen Li smiled casually and walked over to a makeshift bar nearby, looking back at Luo Yu. “Can you drink, Luoyu?”

Without thinking, Luo Yu nodded. “Of course!”

Though he didn’t have a strong tolerance, on such a good night, getting a bit tipsy wouldn’t be a problem!

…

Ten minutes later.

Luo Yu’s brain felt fuzzy.

With innocent, half-lidded eyes, he found a bed, sat down, and leaned against the red brick wall, listening to a nearby conversation:

“So, do you all plan to keep sleeping in the future?”

“Honestly, if I don’t sleep a little every day now, it feels weird.”

“Yeah, even if it takes up some time, sleeping feels pretty good.”

“But before, we slept to survive and resist the Association, right?” The speaker looked around. “Now that the anti-sleep drug poisoning incident is over and the Association even helped us, maybe it’s time we stopped causing trouble for them…”

“Good point…”

“Alright, I’ll go back to taking my anti-sleep meds on schedule starting tomorrow.”

“Such a pity, though. I really wish I could sleep every day.”

“No need to be sad!”

Luo Yu suddenly stood up from the bed!

His cheeks were flushed, but his eyes shone brightly.

“Don’t worry, soon you’ll all be able to sleep openly every day!”

The women next to him laughed, seeing how tipsy he was. They teased, “If you can overthrow the Association, we’ll sleep every day.”

“I’m serious!” Luo Yu stomped his foot, his brain kicking into high gear for a moment—

The biggest obstacle to bringing sleep back was the Association’s failure to develop a sleep tablet.

If he handed over his sleep tablet research to Song Lingyuan, wouldn’t that accelerate the Association’s progress?

If sleep became recognized as a leisure activity in society, wouldn’t it be only a matter of time?

Not far away, Wen Li, who had been talking to someone, noticed the commotion and walked over quickly to support Luo Yu.

“Do you want to rest in a bedroom?”

Luo Yu shook his head vigorously. “No, I’m not drunk.”

Why didn’t anyone believe him? He was perfectly sober! Otherwise, he wouldn’t be thinking so clearly!

To prove he was fine, Luo Yu pulled out his phone and directly called Song Lingyuan.

“President Song, I need to talk to you!”

Wen Li stared in surprise at Luo Yu’s actions.

Luo Yu didn’t notice Wen Li’s reaction, and after a long wait, he finally heard the familiar low, calm voice on the other end.

“Have you been drinking?”

Luo Yu glanced at the glass in his hand and blinked.

“Just a little, nothing serious… don’t change the subject, I have something important to say!”

“Alright.” Song Lingyuan sounded completely unperturbed. “Where are you?”

Why did he want to know that?

Puzzled, Luo Yu gave his current location.

“I’m almost done here. I’ll come pick you up.”

With that, Song Lingyuan hung up.

Luo Yu stared at his phone in disbelief.

He hadn’t even told Song Lingyuan what he wanted to discuss!

…

Twenty minutes later.

Song Lingyuan had his driver park at the entrance of Hypnos League base II. He got out and walked into the neighborhood, spotting a familiar figure in the distance, craning his neck to look around.

Song Lingyuan found the sight rather amusing.

“Luo Yu.”

His low voice rang out.

A few people strolling nearby turned their heads, and Luo Yu looked up, as if finally remembering why he was there, and ran over with excitement.

Like a fluffy bunny, he leapt into Song Lingyuan’s arms.

Song Lingyuan stiffened, his heartbeat drumming loudly in his ears. Slowly, he lifted his hand, placing it on Luo Yu’s back as he gazed down at the young man.

“What’s wrong?”

Luo Yu looked up at him with a radiant smile. “Why’d you take so long? I’ve been waiting forever!”

His smile carried a strong hint of alcohol.

Yes, he was definitely drunk.

Song Lingyuan sobered up slightly and withdrew his hand. “Get in the car.”

After Luo Yu climbed into the car, Song Lingyuan was about to follow when he sensed a hostile gaze from a distance.

He turned to see Wen Li standing behind a pine tree, staring straight at him.

Song Lingyuan nodded curtly in acknowledgment.

Then he got into the car and closed the door with a firm click.