"I'm going to leave the academy for a while, probably two or three days. Wait for me to come back," Gu Qingnian told Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong.
"What? What are you going to do?" Huo Yuhao asked in confusion.
"We were just attacked! It's dangerous for you to go out now!" Wang Dong hurriedly added, her expression fraught with anxiety.
Gu Qingnian smiled faintly. "I have something urgent to take care of. Relax. With my strength, what are you worried about?"
With that, Gu Qingnian stood up, patted the two dazed children, and headed out the door, bound for Zhou Yi's office!
The two left behind exchanged a glance. Watching Gu Qingnian's retreating back, they somehow felt as though he had grown more distant from them... especially Wang Dong. An inexplicable sense of estrangement swept over her, followed by a hollow feeling of loss...
Meanwhile, Gu Qingnian soon arrived at Zhou Yi's office. Because of what had happened the previous night, Zhou Yi had gone without sleep, so Wang Yan was covering her classes today while she rested in her office.
Gu Qingnian entered the office with practiced ease. After checking that no one else was there, he walked straight toward Zhou Yi, who was working at her desk. Before she could react or get a single word out, he pulled the mask off her face, scooped her up, and settled her on his lap. Then he rested his head on her shoulder.
The entire sequence flowed like drifting clouds and running water, as though he had rehearsed it beforehand.
Initially bewildered, Zhou Yi was startled by Gu Qingnian's sudden actions. But when she saw the weariness in his face, her heart softened.
"What's wrong?" she asked gently.
"I'd like four days off," Gu Qingnian replied in an equally