Can't afford to pay for the takeout? Stunning CEO: Then pay with your body!

The body in his arms was incredibly soft, and its warmth emanated from it through the thin fabric, mixed with that familiar, cool yet slightly sweet fragrance, domineeringly invading all of Zhang Yan's senses.

"You have to take responsibility."

The voice was soft and alluring, like a feather gently tickling his eardrum.

Zhang Yan's body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed.

He didn't push her away, nor did he stand up. He simply lowered his eyes, looking at the pair of straight, slender legs wrapped around his waist, and spoke calmly:

"How will you take responsibility?"

This question was like a bucket of cold water poured on the flame that Nie Qingcheng had just started to ignite.

She was stunned.

The script shouldn't be like this.

Shouldn't he be panicked, blushing, and then pinned down on the sofa and given whatever he wants?

Why is he asking me that question back?

Nie Qingcheng refused to believe it and hugged him even tighter, rubbing her chin against his shoulder, her voice drawn out with a hint of coquetry:

"Of course... I'll take responsibility for you for the rest of your life."

Zhang Yan didn't say anything, but silently raised his left hand, which was wrapped tightly in gauze, and waved it in front of Nie Qingcheng.

"I hurt my hand."

He paused, then added.

"I have classes this afternoon."

The implication is quite clear.

Have you made enough of a scene?

I've had enough of this, so I should leave.

Looking at the white "zongzi" (rice dumpling), and then at Zhang Yan's clear and honest face, devoid of any romantic thoughts, Nie Qingcheng felt a surge of anger.

That clueless blockhead!

But that anger miraculously vanished when he met his clear eyes.

Instead, she felt a sense of guilt and unease that even she herself found unfamiliar.

he got hurt.

He's still fooling around here.

Nie Qingcheng pouted and reluctantly slid off his arms, straightened up, and casually straightened her slightly disheveled suit skirt.

"Okay, okay, you stingy little thing."

She muttered something under her breath, but her face reverted to its usual haughty, queen-like demeanor. "Is your afternoon class more important, or your hand?"

She walked to the desk, picked up a small black bottle, and tossed it to Zhang Yan.

"This is wound medicine that was airlifted here. Change it once a day, and it will be healed in three days."

After saying that, she added another sentence, her tone domineering and leaving no room for negotiation.

"For these three days, you are not allowed to touch water, lift heavy objects, or cook for yourself!"

"Did you hear me?"

Zhang Yan took the small, cool-to-the-touch medicine bottle and nodded: "Mm."

Seeing his obedient and well-behaved appearance, Nie Qingcheng's frustration finally dissipated.

She sat back down in the huge boss's chair, waving her hand as if shooing away an eyesore.

"Alright, get out of here, go to your class."

"Come home early tonight."

……

When the matte black Cullinan reappeared in the parking lot of Jiangzhou University, it immediately caused a small commotion.

"Holy crap! It's that Cullinan again!"

"Who exactly owns this car? Why is it so conspicuous? Does it come to school every day?"

Zhang Yan got out of the car, ignoring the curious stares around him, and walked straight towards the teaching building.

He had just stepped downstairs when a figure rushed towards him like a cannonball.

"Brother Yan! My dear brother! You've finally arrived!"

Wang Hao grabbed his arm, his chubby face filled with excitement, gossip, and a hint of undisguised awe.

"Something terrible has happened! Something catastrophic!"

Zhang Yan felt a little dizzy from being shaken, and frowned: "Get to the point."

"Zhao Yu! Zhao Yu dropped out of school!"

Wang Hao lowered his voice, but he couldn't hide his excitement.

Zhang Yan paused in his steps.

Dropped out of school?

Seeing that he reacted, Wang Hao became even more enthusiastic. He mysteriously took out his phone, opened a trending search page, and shoved it in front of Zhang Yan.

"Look at this again!"

On the screen, a bold, red title stung the eyes.

#Jinghai Zhao's Group announces bankruptcy liquidation; chairman taken away for investigation on suspicion of multiple violations#

The accompanying photo shows Zhao Yu's usually spirited father being held up by two uniformed men, his hair gray and his face full of dejection.

Zhang Yan's expression remained unchanged.

He had anticipated this outcome.

Nie Qingcheng once said that the weather was getting colder and Jinghai no longer needed the Zhao family.

She never jokes.

Seeing Zhang Yan's calm expression, as if he were just reading an insignificant news story, Wang Hao swallowed hard and lowered his voice even further, so that only the two of them could hear him.

"Brother Yan...it's all over the school forum now..."

"They said... that Zhao Yu brought some men to ambush you yesterday afternoon, and... and then his house was gone that night..."

Wang Hao carefully observed Zhang Yan's expression; his small eyes were filled with fear and curiosity about the unknown power.

"Brother Yan, this matter... it can't... really be related to you, can it?"

Zhang Yan withdrew his gaze, put the hand wrapped in gauze into his pocket, and continued walking forward.

He did not answer.

He simply uttered two words.

"Attend class."

These two seemingly casual words, however, sounded like a thunderclap to Wang Hao.

They neither admitted it nor denied it!

This nonchalant attitude is a million times more terrifying than directly admitting, "Yes, I did it!"

Wang Hao followed behind Zhang Yan, looking at his tall and straight back, feeling as if he were following a god walking among mortals.

From that moment on, the atmosphere in the teaching building became unusually eerie.

All the students who saw Zhang Yan, regardless of gender, subconsciously stopped talking and stepped aside to make way for him.

The gazes directed at them no longer held the admiration, jealousy, or curiosity they once did.

Instead, a complex emotion arose, a mixture of awe, fear, and an inability to look directly at the situation.

It was as if he wasn't an ordinary student.

Rather, he was a behind-the-scenes emperor who held the power of life and death.

The whispers ceased abruptly where he walked.

The seat he sat in created a vacuum zone within three meters around him, a zone that no one dared to approach.

Zhang Yan didn't care at all.

As usual, he took out his textbook, opened it, and listened intently as the professor on the stage lectured on dry macroeconomics.

It was as if everything in the outside world had nothing to do with him.

However, the more nonchalant he seemed, the more terrified those around him became.

The invisible pressure of "destroying enemy ships and forts in the blink of an eye" made the atmosphere in the entire lecture hall heavy.

The class is over.

Zhang Yan packed his things and got up to leave.

He had just stepped out of the classroom and into the corridor.

A slender figure blocked his way.

It's Su Wanqing.

This talented music student, hailed as the campus belle of Jiangnan University, stood there gracefully, her white dress gleaming in the afternoon sunlight.

She didn't have her usual gentle smile.

Her beautiful face was drained of color, appearing somewhat pale.

She looked at Zhang Yan, and those eyes, which were always as clear as a deer's, were now churning with extremely complex emotions.

There was fear, curiosity, and a hint of...

It was an inexplicable attraction that even she couldn't explain.

She bit her lower lip, as if she had mustered a lot of courage, before finally speaking.

"Zhang Yan..."

Her voice trembled slightly, carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension.

"I have something I want to tell you."