Stay Safe

Several people gathered on the sofa to eat their late-night snacks.

By then, it was almost midnight. After finishing their food, no one brought up any more ghost stories, and everyone prepared to return to their rooms to rest.

However, the girls were a bit too scared to go back alone.

Tang Ziyun turned to Liu Meng and said, "Mengmeng, let’s sleep together tonight. I’m a little too scared to be alone."

Liu Meng, being one of the braver girls in the group, nodded. "Sure, we can share a room."

"Us too! We want to join you!" Xia Keke and Han Xiaoyu immediately raised their hands.

"But the bed can only fit three people at most. Four would be way too cramped."

Xia Keke got up and grabbed Liu Meng’s arm, pouting. "I don’t care. I’m staying with you guys tonight no matter what."

Liu Meng’s room was on the second floor. She sighed helplessly. "Fine, fine. I’ll sleep on the floor then. The three of you can take the bed."

"Yay! Perfect, now we won’t be as scared!"

Originally, each of them had their own room, but now four people were cramming into one.

Liu Bo, who was standing nearby, thought to himself, They could just sleep with me—I’d make them feel safe!

But he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.

As it was getting late, everyone headed to their respective rooms.

Meng Wenzhou chose a bedroom on the first floor. Just as he stood up, Xia Keke glanced at him.

Their eyes met, and Meng Wenzhou smiled. "Isn’t it too crowded with four of you in one room?"

Liu Meng sighed. "What can we do? They’re all too scared after those scary stories earlier."

"Alright then. Everyone, get some rest early." With that, Meng Wenzhou turned and went back to his room.

Su Yang and Pan Ning also got up and headed upstairs. Shen Yixue naturally went with Zhang Ziming—they picked a bedroom on the second floor.

Liu Bo chose a room on the top floor alone. He glanced at Liu Meng and the others, his heart itching with frustration.

"You guys..."

"What’s up?" Liu Meng turned to look at him.

"Uh… nothing, nothing. Just going to sleep."

---

Su Yang and Pan Ning returned to their room. Pan Ning collapsed onto the bed, exhausted.

"Go sleep in the other room."

Su Yang grinned. "Aren’t you afraid someone might knock on your door in the middle of the night?"

Pan Ning had almost forgotten about that, but his words made her uneasy again.

"Ugh… fine, whatever. Just stay."

"Heh." Su Yang locked the door, then leaped onto the bed in one swift motion.

He turned off the lights and pulled the thin blanket over both of them.

In the pitch-black darkness under the covers, they faced each other, breathing in each other’s scent. Su Yang could even hear Pan Ning’s heartbeat.

"Your heart’s beating so fast."

"Is it?"

"I can hear it."

Pan Ning didn’t respond—instead, she pressed her lips against his...

---

Meanwhile, in Liu Meng’s room on the second floor, Tang Ziyun and Han Xiaoyu fell asleep soon after getting into bed.

Liu Meng, however, was lying on the makeshift floor bedding.

Having never slept on a hard surface before, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

Just then, her phone buzzed. She checked it—it was a message from Liu Bo.

"Still awake?"

"Yeah, what’s up?"

"Nothing, just checking if it’s too crowded."

Liu Meng smirked. She knew exactly what he was hinting at.

But she wasn’t particularly interested in Liu Bo. Even though anyone who could hang out with Meng Wenzhou must have some connections, after spending the whole day with the group, the one who intrigued her the most was Su Yang.

However, once she realized Su Yang and Pan Ning were a couple, she dismissed the idea. Among the others, Meng Wenzhou was the most attractive after Su Yang.

And after learning about Meng Wenzhou’s true background, her interest in him skyrocketed.

But from what she observed throughout the day, Meng Wenzhou seemed more interested in Xia Keke.

At that moment, Xia Keke was also still awake, her heart fluttering as she recalled the way Meng Wenzhou had looked at her earlier.

Just then, her phone lit up.

She picked it up—sure enough, it was a message from Meng Wenzhou.

"Still up?"

"Yep."

"Me too. Want to come out and chat?"

Without hesitation, Xia Keke replied, "Sure!"

After sending the message, she quietly got out of bed.

Liu Meng noticed. "Keke? Where are you going?"

"Oh, Mengjie, you’re still awake?"

"Can’t sleep. The floor’s too hard."

"Then… do you want to take the bed?"

Liu Meng blinked. "You’re not sleeping here anymore?"

Xia Keke hesitated, struggling to explain. "Well, Meng..."

"Ah, I get it. Go ahead."

"Okay… but he just wants to talk."

"Sure, sure. We’re all adults—no need to be shy. Just be safe, alright?" Liu Meng chuckled as she got up and moved to the bed.

Xia Keke’s face flushed red. She grabbed her clothes, dressed quickly, and hurried out with a shy smile.

After Xia Keke left, Liu Meng glanced at Liu Bo’s message again and replied, "Not crowded. Going to sleep now. Goodnight."

---

The next morning, at eight o’clock.

Su Yang stretched and woke up.

Beside him, Pan Ning was still fast asleep.

He carefully sat up and leaned against the headboard.

—System, check in.

[Check-in successful. Reward: 50,000 yuan.]

—Show me the latest stats.

[Host: Su Yang]

[Age: 24]

[Height: 180 cm]

[Weight: 75 kg]

[Appearance: 88]

[Physique: 88]

[Figure: 90]

[Charm: 90]

[Skills: Master of Physique, Professional Racing Driver Skills, Golden Divine Body, Basic Combat Skills, Alcohol Tolerance, Singing Mastery]

[Bonded Characters: Zhao Mengrou (Affection: 70), Lu Yun (Affection: 78), Lin Yiyi (Affection: 50), Gu Xiaoman (Affection: 65), Pan Ning (Affection: 95), Shen Yixue (Affection: 55), Lin Xiaomo (Affection: 60), Tang Ziyun (Affection: 65)]

[Balance: 9,850,000 yuan]

—Almost at 10 million in savings, huh.

—Huh? Shen Yixue’s affection went up by another five points. Well, getting her to 70 might be tough, but whatever.

—Tang Ziyun’s also increased by 15. Nice.

As he was lost in thought, Pan Ning stirred awake beside him.

"Up so early?"

"Yeah, slept well. Woke up early. How about you?"

"Not bad."

After some casual chatter, they got up, freshened up, and headed downstairs.

The living room was empty—no one else was awake yet. Su Yang walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. It was fully stocked with all kinds of ingredients.

He turned to Pan Ning. "What do you want to eat?"

"You’re making breakfast?"

"Yep. Let me show off my skills."

"Anything’s fine. I’m not picky—I’ll eat whatever you make." Pan Ning sat cross-legged on the sofa and started scrolling through her phone.

Su Yang grinned. He took out the ingredients and started preparing breakfast for ten people.

About an hour later, the delicious aroma of food filled the kitchen.

Pan Ning walked in and saw the table covered in mouthwatering dishes.

Stir-fried tomatoes with eggs, shredded pork in garlic sauce, spicy stir-fried shrimp, steamed seafood medley (blue crab, scallops, mantis shrimp, razor clams, etc.), steamed silver pomfret, stir-fried beef with celery, sweet and sour pork ribs, plus a winter melon and corn spare rib soup.

All done.