Not Even a Cup of Tea?

"Teacher Song, you finally came out. I've been waiting for you forever. Let's go," Wang Haoran said.

"Teacher Song, what is this..." Chu Bai was a little bewildered.

"Wang Haoran told me about it beforehand. He said he'd take me home today. Sorry," Song Zhenyu said awkwardly.

After Evening Self-Study, she could have left right away.

The only reason she had delayed for so long was to avoid suspicion.

After all, it would not look good if other students saw Wang Haoran taking her home.

"You've been waiting a long time, haven't you?" Song Zhenyu apologized to Wang Haoran.

"Only around twenty minutes. It's fine." Wang Haoran shrugged indifferently.

Just waiting around would definitely have been boring.

But Wang Haoran had not been idle just now. While waiting, he had specifically taken Wen Jing home and played the considerate guy for once.

Given Wen Jing's condition, riding a bicycle really was inconvenient.

Although Wang Haoran regarded Wen Jing as nothing more than a secret girlfriend, even a pawn,

he would still look after whatever he could.

He had nothing better to do anyway.

Of course, his hands had not been idle during the trip either, and he had thoroughly satisfied his cravings.

"Teacher Song, please."

Wang Haoran gallantly opened the car door for Song Zhenyu.

"We're taking this car?" Song Zhenyu froze for a moment.

Though she did not know much about cars, she knew what a Rolls-Royce Cullinan was.

To be honest, Song Zhenyu had never even ridden in a Mercedes-Benz or BMW in her life, let alone a Cullinan.

It left her feeling dazed.

"Yeah, I take this car to and from school every day. If you think it's too stuffy, I can walk you home instead?" Wang Haoran teased.

If they walked, they would have more time together. That would be even better.

"Let's take the car instead." Song Zhenyu immediately rejected the idea.

Since there was a car available, why would she walk?

Besides, she really wanted to experience what it felt like to ride in a Rolls-Royce.

Song Zhenyu got into the car.

Where Song Zhenyu could not see, Wang Haoran gave Chu Bai a thumbs-up, then turned it upside down.

Very soon,

the Cullinan started up and drove away under Chu Bai's resentful, hateful gaze.

"So what if you have money? One day, I'll be richer than your Wang Family, and then I'll grind you, Wang Haoran, beneath my feet! I'll crush you to death! Crush you to death!"

Unable to control his rage, Chu Bai treated his bicycle as if it were Wang Haoran, kicking it wildly while roaring.

System Notification: The host has successfully dealt a blow to protagonist Chu Bai, causing his mentality to become unbalanced. Awarded 300 Villain Points. Chu Bai's Protagonist Halo -20. Host's Villain Halo +20.

Wang Haoran, seated in the Cullinan, received the system notification.

You call yourself a protagonist, yet your mentality is already unbalanced?

Wang Haoran was somewhat surprised, but after thinking about it, he found it perfectly normal.

Chu Bai was only eighteen, after all. Young, hot-tempered, and fond of fighting—how good could his mentality be? Wang Haoran had repeatedly ruined Chu Bai's attempts to pick up girls.

It would have been strange if Chu Bai had not lost his composure.

Song Zhenyu had rented a guesthouse near the school, and it was not far away.

Before long, the Cullinan arrived downstairs from the guesthouse.

Song Zhenyu got out of the car.

"Wang Haoran, thank you. I'll head back first."

"Uh, Teacher Song, I've already come all this way. You're not going to deny me even a cup of tea, are you?"

"Come with me."

Song Zhenyu led Wang Haoran upstairs.

The moment she opened the room door, a faint, delicate fragrance wafted out.

The room was not large, but it had everything it needed.

The decor was ordinary, but it was clean and tidy.

Clearly, the person living here knew how to live well.

Some women's clothing was hanging on the small balcony.

Wang Haoran's gaze inadvertently swept over it, making Song Zhenyu feel awkward.

What relieved Song Zhenyu was that Wang Haoran quickly looked away.

Staring at a woman's private clothing was the sort of thing only loser protagonists did.

Wang Haoran was a rich and handsome guy. He would never be that low-class.

Song Zhenyu turned around and went to pour water from the dispenser.

Wang Haoran watched her back thoughtfully.

Song Zhenyu's identity as one of the Female Leads had already been confirmed beyond doubt.

Should he take the opportunity to force himself on her? As a villain, he needed to have a villain's resolve. Otherwise, how could he fight the protagonist?

If there was a shortcut, why bother grinding for affection with a female lead?

"System, System, is it feasible to force myself on a female lead?"

After that improper thought surfaced, Wang Haoran did not act immediately. To be safe, he first asked the system.

In reply to the host: Regardless of success or failure, this type of extremely low-level villainous behavior will reduce Villain Halo by 100 points. Furthermore, given that the host's current Combat Power is below average, the success rate is low. The host is not advised to attempt this type of action.

"So that's how it is. Forget it, then."

Wang Haoran immediately dismissed the thought.

His Villain Halo Points were not easy to accumulate. Losing 100 Halo Points to commit an evil act with such a low chance of success was simply not worth it.

While Wang Haoran was lost in wild thoughts, Song Zhenyu brought over a glass of water.

Wang Haoran drank the water and could no longer find a reason to linger, so he prepared to leave.

But just then, the light bulb in the room flickered a few times before going out completely. A faint burnt smell filled the air.

Song Zhenyu let out a cry. Frightened, she instinctively grabbed Wang Haoran's sleeve beside her.

"Looks like the light bulb burned out," Wang Haoran said.

"Probably. I'll see what's going on tomorrow," Song Zhenyu said.

"Teacher Song, you seem pretty afraid of the dark. Are you sure you want to wait until tomorrow?" Wang Haoran found it somewhat amusing.

He could clearly feel a pair of hands gripping his arm tightly.

Song Zhenyu realized something was wrong and quickly let go, pretending to be brave. "How could I possibly be afraid of the dark?"

"Do you have a spare light bulb?" Wang Haoran did not expose her and simply asked.

"No."

"Then wait a moment."

Wang Haoran turned on his phone's flashlight, checked the light bulb model, and then called the driver downstairs.

About ten minutes later, the driver delivered the light bulb.

Wang Haoran directly told the driver to return downstairs.

Could the driver replace a light bulb? Of course he could.

But Wang Haoran wanted to do it himself.

The burned-out light bulb was the ordinary fluorescent kind.

Replacing it was actually very simple. Wang Haoran could handle it himself.

Before long, the room was bright again.

"I didn't expect a young master from such a wealthy family to know how to do rough work like changing a light bulb." Song Zhenyu was very surprised, as if she needed to get to know Wang Haoran all over again.

System Notification: The host has changed one of the Female Leads, Song Zhenyu's impression of the host. Affection increased by 10. Current total affection: 30. (Very Friendly)

System Notification: The host has influenced the original plot's development and received 200 Villain Points.

After receiving the system notifications, Wang Haoran remained outwardly calm and said,

"What kind of thing is that to say? Teacher Song, don't tell me you thought I was some spoiled rich kid?"

He had actually learned this skill in his previous life.

"Wang Haoran, don't misunderstand. I didn't mean that," Song Zhenyu explained.

"We're not at school. Don't call me that anymore—it feels strange. Just call me by my name."

"Well... all right, Haoran." Song Zhenyu did not object.

Without the teacher-student identities, they could actually be considered peers. After all, they were only six years apart.

"That's more like it. Then I won't call you Teacher Song anymore either. I'll call you Sister Zhenyu. Mm, that settles it. From now on, you're my elder sister." Wang Haoran blinked.

In those novels, the relationship between the protagonist and a female lead older than him always progressed after he acknowledged her as his elder sister.

Wang Haoran was simply copying the same approach.

But honestly, Wang Haoran felt embarrassed.

Counting his previous life, his actual age was already around thirty.

Calling a woman six years younger than him elder sister

made Wang Haoran feel as if he were being taken advantage of.

But there was no helping it if he wanted to grow closer to Song Zhenyu.

Once he won Song Zhenyu over, he would make her call him back and call him big brother!

Yes, that was the plan!