The Rabbit at the End of Her Rope

The weekly group reports usually made Guo Peng as nervous as if he were facing a life-or-death trial. In contrast, Zheng Xiaorou and Ye Nanzhi appeared much more composed.

Today was no different. After listening to the three reports, Professor Song nodded with satisfaction, expressing his approval.

“By the way, how is Xiao Ye’s foot? Are you getting used to staying with Teacher Chu?” Professor Song asked at the end of the meeting.

At the question, the memory of those two red marks on Chu Ran’s neck from this morning flashed through Ye Nanzhi’s mind, and her face heated up instantly.

“It’s… it’s quite good,” she stammered.

“That’s good.” Professor Song smiled. “Don’t let Teacher Chu’s youth fool you; she handles matters very steadily. Once this whole affair is over, I’ll really have to thank her properly.”

After a few more casual instructions, the meeting concluded.

The moment the video call ended, Guo Peng stretched luxuriously. “Phew, another week down. I’m going to have a good rest during the weekend.”

“Rest? You think you’re Xiao Ye?” Zheng Xiaorou looked at Ye Nanzhi with envy. “She already has her survey data in hand, while yours is still a blank slate.”

Beside them, Ye Nanzhi was hurriedly packing her backpack.

“Xiao Ye, you’re not… you’re not seriously going to lead the ‘involution’ race, are you? Your progress is already so fast!” Guo Peng looked shocked and tried to persuade her: “Let’s make a deal. Take a day off. Give me a path to survive and let me rest too. We can work hard together next week.”

“I’m not trying to outwork anyone. I need to go back to the dorm to get some things.” Ye Nanzhi tucked her tablet into her bag. “I booked a hotel, remember? I need to grab some stuff from the dorm and then head over there to rest. I really can’t go back and ‘disturb’ Teacher Chu again tonight.”

Ye Nanzhi felt extremely guilty using the word “disturb,” but fortunately, Guo Peng and Zheng Xiaorou didn’t notice.

“True. Staying with a teacher does bring a lot of pressure.” Guo Peng nodded in understanding.

“Xiao Ye, it’s hard for you to get around. I’ll walk back with you later and then see you off to the hotel,” Zheng Xiaorou suggested.

“Yeah, I have my brother’s car today. I’ll drive you, Xiao Ye, and I can drop Xiao Rou off at home on the way.” Guo Peng twirled his car keys.

Since both of them insisted, Ye Nanzhi didn’t refuse further. “Alright then. Let’s get together tonight. My treat—how about hot pot?”

Just as the words left her mouth, Ye Nanzhi’s phone rang, and simultaneously, a delivery man appeared at the door of the research lab.

“Is Miss Ye here? Your order has arrived.” The delivery man offered the bag with both hands, a bright smile on his face.

Seeing Ye Nanzhi’s difficulty moving, Guo Peng stepped up to take the bag. As soon as he took it, he heard Ye Nanzhi say, “I didn’t order anything. Is it a mistake?”

The delivery man took a step back, checked the room number again, and answered firmly: “This is the room. No mistake. A Miss Chu ordered this for Miss Ye.”

The delivery man stuffed the bag into Guo Peng’s hands, added, “Please ask Miss Chu to give me a good rating,” and hurried off to his next delivery.

At that moment, a message from Chu Ran arrived.

[Chu Ran: Treating you and your two friends to some snacks. Thank them for taking care of you today.]

[The weather is getting cold. Drink cold things slowly, or your stomach will hurt.]

Ye Nanzhi looked up at the bag in Guo Peng’s hand.

Perhaps because she knew Ye Nanzhi was never one to waste things, Chu Ran dared to place this order so unscrupulously.

“Well, since Teacher Chu is treating, let’s not waste it. Let’s eat together,” Ye Nanzhi broke the silence.

Inside the bag were three drinks and several exquisite pastries, all clearly expensive.

Guo Peng and Zheng Xiaorou looked at each other, neither daring to move first. Then, with mutual understanding, they both turned their gaze toward Ye Nanzhi.

“This shop must be very expensive. And it’s so far from the school.”

“Yeah, no wonder the delivery man was so happy. He must have made a lot from this single order,” Zheng Xiaorou echoed.

Ye Nanzhi acted casual. “Oh, don’t overthink it. It’s definitely out of respect for our mentor. She’s a teacher; why would she spend money on a ‘connection’ as distant as me for no reason?”

Guo Peng and Zheng Xiaorou hesitated, but thinking back to Professor Song’s high praise for Teacher Chu during the meeting, it made sense. For a new teacher like Chu Ran, establishing a relationship with an experienced professor held nothing but benefits.

Ye Nanzhi breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, they didn’t ask further.

Chu Ran had ordered three milk teas, and Ye Nanzhi recognized hers at a glance.

Less ice, her usual habit—Chu Ran still remembered.

Looking at the cup in her hand, she recalled the one Li Huan had brought her—full sugar and no ice. Chu Ran was far more attentive than her.

By the time they finished and she was settled in her hotel suite, it was nearly four o’clock.

“Let’s go eat,” Ye Nanzhi said. Chu Ran’s meeting should be ending soon.

She wondered what Chu Ran’s reaction would be once she realized she was hiding. Ye Nanzhi forced herself to push all thoughts of Chu Ran to the back of her mind and happily invited the other two to a hot pot restaurant near the school.

The three of them chatted and laughed, reminiscing about when they first met.

“The first time I saw you two, I knew you were both ‘good girls.’ Especially Xiao Ye—with that ponytail, you looked exactly like a model student.”

“You still remember that!” Ye Nanzhi laughed. “The first time you met the professor, you had just finished playing basketball, right? You were covered in sweat and your clothes were filthy. The professor mistook you for a renovation worker come to fix the lab.”

With the laughter and talk, time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was almost eight o’clock.

Ye Nanzhi glanced at her phone screen. “It’s so late. Thank you guys for helping me out all day. Go back and rest.” She stood up to signal the waiter for the bill.

Guo Peng wouldn’t let her pay. “There’s no reason for a man to let a girl pay the bill. Besides, I’ve already benefited from Xiao Ye’s luck today. This meal is on me.”

Ye Nanzhi only let Guo Peng drop her at the hotel entrance, saying she could walk the rest of the way herself.

Guo Peng understood that Ye Nanzhi was worried about Xiao Rou going home alone too late, so she didn’t want to take up any more of their time.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Don’t worry!” Ye Nanzhi stood in front of the car and waved. “It’s late, go back and rest. Thanks for staying with me all day.”

Only after Guo Peng’s car pulled away from the hotel entrance did Ye Nanzhi dare to take out her phone.

Before four o’clock, she had purposefully sent a very long message to Chu Ran. Every line was filled with a student’s gratitude toward a teacher, stating she was embarrassed to keep disturbing her. She didn’t forget to promise that she would organize the survey data over the weekend and produce an analysis chart that would satisfy Chu Ran by Monday.

Finally, she added: she could take care of herself, so Teacher Chu shouldn’t worry.

Then, she had immediately turned on airplane mode.

Ye Nanzhi looked at the small airplane icon in the top left corner and finally turned it off.

Instantly, the delayed messages came flooding in.

[Where are you?]

[Reply.]

[Ye Nanzhi, I’m giving you three minutes to tell me where you are, or face the consequences.]

The last message was just the first emoji in the list: a yellow smiling face.

It looked like a smile, but Ye Nanzhi felt she could see Chu Ran’s fuming expression through that little yellow face.

Fortunately, after six o’clock, Chu Ran hadn’t sent any more messages.

Based on Chu Ran’s personality—Ye Nanzhi thought—she would probably be blacklisted, and from then on, they would go their separate ways, with nothing between them but academics.

Actually, that would be for the best, Ye Nanzhi thought.

After all that had happened before, she felt she and Chu Ran weren’t suited to be together anyway.

The breeze lifted her hair, and Ye Nanzhi realized that in her hurry this morning, she hadn’t found a hair tie, so the rabbit hair clip Chu Ran gave her was still in her hair.

The little rabbit had pink cheeks, looking shy and lifelike.

She hadn’t expected Chu Ran to still have it.

Ye Nanzhi tucked it into the innermost pocket of her bag and then used a hair tie from her wrist to pull her hair back into a ponytail—it was the one with a crystal carrot that she had specifically gone back to find before leaving the dorm.

Who doesn’t have some regrets in their youth? That’s what makes it youth. Ye Nanzhi thought as she walked. A hair tie was better; it was more convenient to tie up her hair.

Just as she reached the hotel entrance and was about to step onto the last stair, a sudden white light from behind halted her.

In the corner of the parking lot, a black sedan was parked quietly, its high beams projecting directly onto her.

A bad premonition clouded her heart. Ye Nanzhi turned around mechanically, squinting against the light.

Her vision focused on the driver’s seat. As expected…

The headlights died. The car door opened and closed. Chu Ran walked toward Ye Nanzhi, step by step.

With a slight curl of her lips, Chu Ran’s gaze swept over Ye Nanzhi’s ponytail. “Look at that. Our Zhizhi has grown up; she even dares to learn how to run away secretly.”

If she hadn’t accidentally seen the room booking confirmation on Ye Nanzhi’s phone last night, she really wouldn’t have caught this rabbit today.

Gripping Ye Nanzhi’s waist, Chu Ran forced the girl to feel her heartbeat. “Didn’t you promise me faithfully that you’d have dinner with me tonight?”

Ye Nanzhi lowered her head in embarrassment and gave a sheepish laugh. “I… I saw that Teacher Chu didn’t rest well yesterday and didn’t want to disturb you. I sent Teacher Chu a message; didn’t you see it?”

Mentioning that message only made Chu Ran’s expression darker. “Ye Nanzhi, I’m telling you for the last time.”

“Forget about when people are around. When we’re alone, you are not allowed to call me that!”

“Then what should I call you?” Ye Nanzhi asked, knowing full well the answer. “Teacher… Chu Ran?”

“You—” Chu Ran didn’t feel like arguing, especially since the girl had an injury and standing for too long would surely be painful.

“Come on, come back with me.” Without another word, Chu Ran snatched her crutch and prepared to pick her up.

Ye Nanzhi hopped back on one foot to hide. But she was no match for Chu Ran. Forget her “disability”; even without the injury, she couldn’t win against her.

In her desperation, she blurted out instinctively: “I don’t want to trouble you!”

That simple sentence made Chu Ran freeze.

The girl was currently balanced on one foot, without her crutch, swaying unsteadily, yet she still refused to lean on her.

When did they become so distant that they needed the word “trouble” to describe each other?

The strength in Chu Ran’s hands gradually softened. She lightly circled Ye Nanzhi’s swaying body to help her balance.

“But I have never felt that you are a trouble.”

Realizing she had spoken too hastily, Ye Nanzhi turned her face away, refusing to look at Chu Ran. But her weak voice remained stubborn: “But I feel that I am.”

So, that was why she was hiding. Realizing this, Chu Ran gently took Ye Nanzhi’s hand, her thumb rubbing back and forth over the back of it. Her voice sounded aggrieved, yet her eyes were full of tenderness, as if afraid of scaring her. “I waited for you all night and haven’t eaten anything yet. Zhizhi, you have to keep your word.”

Knowing Chu Ran was still hungry while she was already full, Ye Nanzhi felt even more embarrassed. She mumbled softly, “But… but I already paid for the room. Today’s can’t be refunded. It would be a waste not to stay.”

Ye Nanzhi was not one to waste things easily. She knew Chu Ran wasn’t either.

“That’s simple.” Chu Ran smiled, handed the crutch back to Ye Nanzhi, and then picked her up in a princess carry.

“Since it can’t be refunded, then we’ll just eat here tonight.” Chu Ran carried Ye Nanzhi inside with long strides.

The bright spotlights in the courtyard had already attracted the attention of the staff on duty. After the two had been pulling at each other at the door for so long, and now seeing them carried in, everyone instantly understood.

It must be a young couple having a spat—one ran away secretly, and the other came chasing after her to coax his girlfriend back.

“Chu Ran! Chu Ran, put me down!” Ye Nanzhi’s cheeks were burning as she struggled in Chu Ran’s arms. “Who eats dinner in a hotel! Besides, it’s so late. Tomorrow… I’ll eat with you tomorrow, okay? Tomorrow I’ll eat as many meals with you as you want! Put me down!”

“You said it. Then we’ll start with breakfast tomorrow.”

Ye Nanzhi: …

The moment she realized the meaning behind Chu Ran’s words, her face turned completely red!

“You’re staying here tonight! You… you didn’t even bring pajamas, how can you sleep!”

“We have those here!” Before Chu Ran could reply, the manager on duty laid out a row of exquisitely packaged gift boxes on the counter. “Cotton, silk, long, short—which color does the lady need?”

Generally, the money of young couples was the easiest to earn. To keep the other party happy, what was a little money? Especially after seeing the logo on Chu Ran’s car, the manager was determined to boost this month’s revenue tonight.

Thus, everything he displayed was the most expensive style in the shop.

Chu Ran carried Ye Nanzhi to the counter. “Zhizhi, pick one for me!”

Ye Nanzhi was so flushed she couldn’t even look closely. Being carried in like this—how long would people talk about it? She had no heart to distinguish between fabrics or colors; she only wanted to hide in the room as soon as possible.

She reached out and randomly pointed at the box on the far side.

Regarding Ye Nanzhi’s choice, Chu Ran only smiled and said nothing. She paid readily and then took her toward the elevator.

Inside the guest room, Ye Nanzhi, having finished washing up, listened quietly to the sound of running water in the bathroom.

Her gaze swept over the soft, large bed. If she had known, she should have booked a twin room!

Recalling Chu Ran’s expression when they first entered and saw there was only one bed… tsk, tsk, tsk… how were they supposed to sleep.

The sound of water in the bathroom suddenly stopped. Ye Nanzhi quickly dove under the covers and closed her eyes.

Then, in the darkness, she heard the bathroom door being pushed open. Chu Ran’s footsteps faltered at the door, but she didn’t call her. First, the crystal light was turned off, followed by the sound of rubbing.

Perhaps fearing to disturb Ye Nanzhi’s rest, Chu Ran didn’t use a hairdryer, but used a towel to slowly dab the water from her hair.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound stopped. Then the bed dipped, and Chu Ran crawled under the covers from the other side.

Slowly, she moved closer. A warm kiss fell on her ear, and Chu Ran whispered “Good night.”

There was no further pulling. Chu Ran just held her gently from behind, her arm around her waist, her body pressed tight against her.

She hadn’t eaten anything tonight; it seemed she intended to just go to sleep like this.

The air grew quiet, and Ye Nanzhi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she could get through the night like this.

Until—a pair of soft curves pressed against her back, and through the skin, she felt a thumping heartbeat.

Realizing what it was, Ye Nanzhi’s eyes snapped open.

Especially since the other party was becoming more restless—that soft sensation lingered against her back, causing Ye Nanzhi’s body to gradually heat up as well.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she suddenly sat up in bed.

“I said, can’t you be steady…” Before she could finish, her words were replaced by a scream.

On her shoulder, illuminated cold-white by the moonlight, hung a thin silk strap. Below, the lace pattern partially shrouded a “snowy mountain.” The hollowed-out design perfectly covered the key parts, yet triggered endless imagination.

“Why are you wearing that!” Ye Nanzhi covered her eyes, her whole being burning up.

Chu Ran sat up leisurely, the quilt tossed aside. Her long, jade-like legs were crossed, the silk skirt barely reaching her thighs. The soft fabric clung to her waist, perfectly outlining an alluring curve.

She acted innocent on purpose: “Didn’t Zhizhi just pick this dress for me?”

The hand covering her face was pressed down. Chu Ran took the opportunity to lean in, placing it on her own shoulder. “So our Zhizhi likes this style.”

The low voice echoed in Ye Nanzhi’s ear. Especially at the moment her fingertips touched the skin—Chu Ran had just bathed, and her warm skin still held a slight dampness, as soft and smooth as silk.

Realizing what she was touching, Ye Nanzhi’s body went weak, and she collapsed back onto the bed. Fortunately, she didn’t hit her injured right foot.

The moment she lay down, the person in front of her followed. Both hands braced on either side of her body, warm breath brushing against her face.

That pair of soft sensations pressed against her chest this time. Chu Ran pinched the end of her hair and lightly brushed it against Ye Nanzhi’s nose, her tone full of playfulness:

“Weren’t you quite fierce just now? Why don’t you even dare to open your eyes now?”