Holding Lin Meng Qiu, who was practically wrapped around him with her eyes squeezed shut, Chen Shi'an finally stepped through the heavy door marked "Exit," leaving the sinister atmosphere inside behind.
Dazzling winter sunlight poured down unobstructed, instantly dispelling the clammy chill around them, with its mingled smells of hospital disinfectant and mildew.
Chen Shi'an stopped again, still holding her up, and lowered his gaze to the girl pressed against him.
Lin Meng Qiu really was like a baby koala. They were already out of the Haunted House, yet she still clung to him without moving.
"Class Monitor."
"..."
"Class Monitor?"
"-Keep walking."
The girl mumbled, nuzzling her face a little deeper into his neck.
She felt the brightness outside and the warmth of the winter sunshine, and guessed they were out. But precisely because of that, she was too embarrassed to know what to do-
When she realized she was still wrapped tightly around Chen Shi'an like a koala, her arms around his neck,
her legs around his waist, the Class Monitor's deathly pale face began to redden little by little, all the way to her ears. Even her neck took on a faint blush.
"We're already out."
"-Keep walking."
"Where are we going?"
Seeing her like this, Chen Shi'an found her funny and a little cute.
He knew the Class Monitor wasn't very brave, but who would have thought she was this timid? Frightened out of her wits and clinging to him, refusing to get down-where was even a trace of her usual aloofness?
Her slender, delicate body was easy to hold, and Chen Shi'an could readily smell her distinctive scent, like dewy lilies of the valley.
Her soft warmth and her youthful, hurried heartbeat pressed against his chest. After holding her like this for so long, Chen