As the sun dipped below the horizon, Anran and Richard strolled along the tree-lined path of the campus.
It was long past school hours, and only a few scattered students hurried out, none daring to glance their way.
It was then that Anran realized—she had, once again, skipped class without even noticing!
It was all because of the guy beside her. Definitely.
Just as they stepped out of the school gates, Richard's sharp gaze swept to the right. "Who's sneaking around there?" he demanded.
"S-sorry… Lord Morris. I didn't know you were here too," a short girl with thick glasses and bangs popped out, nervously stammering.
"Aning, what are you doing hiding here?" Anran asked, surprised.
"I… I…" Zhangning was so nervous she couldn't speak properly.
She thought, who wouldn't feel like running away after being stared at with such cold eyes by Lord Morris? Only Anran could remain unfazed by the icy aura he exuded.
Seeing Zhangning on the verge of tears, Anran shot Richard a glare. His expressionless face had scared her friend.
"Aning, were you waiting here to walk home with me?" Anran guessed, asking.
At this, Zhangning immediately nodded like a pecking chick. "I… I didn't know Lord Morris was with you. I… I'll leave now…"
Earlier, she had hidden upon noticing Lord Morris beside Anran, but now she had been found out. Lord Morris's gaze was terrifying!
"Hey! Aning…" Anran quickly called out.
She wanted to stop Zhangning from leaving on her own, but Zhangning pretended not to hear.
"Stop."
The deep voice made Zhangning freeze in her tracks—it was Lord Morris speaking.
"Let's go together," Richard added.
He hadn't recognized the girl at first, thinking she might be a suspicious person, which was why he had exuded such an intimidating presence. After learning she was Anran's friend, he had already toned it down. Why was she still trembling like this? This girl was too timid.
So, the walk home became a journey of three. Throughout, Zhangning kept her head down, though she occasionally sneaked glances at Anran and Lord Morris. She noticed there was none of the usual intimacy between couples, which puzzled her. Yet, even without holding hands, their figures walking side by side seemed surprisingly harmonious.
Finally, when they reached the fork in the road, Zhangning said, "This is my house. Lord Morris, Anran, I'll head home now."
"Alright, see you at school tomorrow," Anran replied.
At this moment, Richard suddenly spoke up. "Zhangning, right?"
"Y-yes," Zhangning stammered, astonished. Lord Morris actually knew her name? She felt both flustered and honored.
"I'll have someone accompany you home tomorrow," Richard said casually.
"N-no… I mean, yes…"
Zhangning had initially wanted to refuse, but this was Richard Morris! She quickly agreed before scurrying away.
The scene left Anran speechless. Though Richard and Zhangning's conversation sounded ordinary, Anran couldn't shake the feeling that Zhangning had been somewhat pressured by authority.
Outside the An residence.
"See you tomorrow," Richard said softly, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
Anran didn't notice the smile, but the simple words were enough to make her blush. Did Richard mean he would accompany her to school again tomorrow?
"Yeah, see you tomorrow," Anran replied. To hide the surge of emotion in her heart, she quickly pushed open the front door.
As soon as she stepped inside, she heard her grandfather's laughter.
"Hahaha… I never thought you'd like fish so much!"
Anran couldn't help but call out, "Grandpa, do we have a guest?"
At that moment, a dark shadow suddenly darted past her. The next thing she knew, she had been knocked to the ground.