Chapter 46 - 045: Yu Zhi in disguise heading to Lanting Square

Words : 1221 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 46 - 045: Yu Zhi in disguise heading to Lanting Square "Do you understand?" Lu Li asked softly, a faint smile lingering in his long, narrow eyes. The more he spent time with Yu Zhi, the more he found her intriguing. That intrigue wasn't tied to any specific action but seemed to come from her very soul. "Mm, got it," Yu Zhi murmured sleepily, stifling a yawn. Her clear almond-shaped eyes gradually grew misty, resembling mountains wreathed in haze—soft yet breathtakingly beautiful. Lu Li couldn't help but stare for a moment, entranced. He gazed at her eyes as though he was sinking into them, unable to pull himself away. Even when the bell rang and the teacher entered the classroom clutching lecture notes, Lu Li still remained seated next to Yu Zhi, showing no intention of leaving. "Are you not going back to your seat?" A sudden cool voice spoke close to his ear, pulling Lu Li's wandering thoughts back to the present. Realizing his recent lapse, his eyelashes trembled awkwardly, and his heartbeat quickened considerably. Lu Li quickly averted his gaze, glancing at the podium. Discovering that this was a physics class, he muttered nonchalantly, "It's fine, he doesn't mind." Yu Zhi lifted her brows slightly. She glanced at his empty desk, then slid her textbook closer to him. "For now, just use mine." "Alright," Lu Li agreed without hesitation. He subtly shifted closer to her, maintaining a distance neither overly intimate nor too distant. The teacher spoke of something on the podium, but Lu Li didn't catch a single word. All his attention was fixated on the girl beside him, committing to memory every animated expression she wore—whether thoughtful, uncertain, or puzzled. "Why are you staring at me?" Yu Zhi asked softly, her head lowered slightly. Caught off guard, Lu Li awkwardly touched the tip of his nose. "I wasn't—I'm looking at the book." It wasn't that he refused to admit it; he simply didn't want her to think he was some kind of creep. Yu Zhi: "..." Was she imagining things? Before she could carefully recall, the teacher started explaining the next problem. Yu Zhi quickly perked up her ears, afraid of missing even a snippet. Seeing that she no longer pursued the matter, Lu Li breathed a strange sigh of relief and became less blatant with his gazes. "Are you free after school?" Barely had the teacher left when Lu Li eagerly started speaking. "No," Yu Zhi replied lazily, lying on the desk and studying her neatly organized notes. "What about tomorrow?" "Also no." Unwilling to give up, Lu Li asked again, "The day after tomorrow, then? You must have some time then, right?" "It seems...maybe," Yu Zhi thought for a moment and gave a rather ambiguous reply. But Lu Li chose to ignore the words "it seems." Flashing a smile, he said, "I know a place that's pretty good. I'll take you there to try it." "You're inviting me to dinner?" Yu Zhi turned her head to look at him, a trace of curiosity flashing in her eyes. "Why?" Lu Li: "..." That question truly stumped him. After a long pause, Lu Li finally muttered, "Isn't it normal to treat a friend to a meal?" When he mentioned the word "friend," an inexplicable discomfort bubbled in his heart. He felt an unwillingness toward settling for that, yet knew he had no choice but to. Yu Zhi responded with a soft "Mm," her mind recalling someone's warning to steer clear of male classmates at school. Her brows furrowed lightly. Seeing her hesitant expression, Lu Li quickly added, "Then it's settled. I'll go back to my seat for now." Without giving her a chance to refuse, he immediately stood and walked back to his seat up front. Yu Zhi watched his departing figure and mumbled something under her breath, but her words were drowned out by the classroom's noisy chatter. ** In late autumn, the sky darkened quickly. A cold, white crescent moon hung at the dreary horizon, cloaking everything in a hazy veil. The elevator at the end of the corridor in Lanting Square chimed, and two attendants promptly stepped forward to greet. "Welcome." They bowed slightly, hands folded neatly near their waists, maintaining a perfect smile. Both their actions and words were utterly flawless. "Do you have any open seats?" A cool voice reached their ears. When they lifted their heads, they found themselves facing an unfamiliar face. The young woman before them wore a dark blue cropped hoodie paired with pencil jeans and sneakers. Her hair was casually tied at the back of her head, revealing an elegant, swan-like neck. Her features were exquisitely refined, especially her glass-like, lucid eyes that shimmered with an irresistible glow, leaving a lasting impression. Momentarily dazed, the attendants promptly replied with courtesy, "Yes, please present your membership card." At that, a pale, slender hand extended. Between two fingers she held out a black card—it was indeed a Lanting Square membership card. Inside Zhuyun Pavilion, a redwood table bore a small incense burner. Wisps of gray smoke curled whimsically into the air, releasing a faint sandalwood fragrance. The refined ambiance paired with soothing, soft music created a sense of unwitting relaxation. Yu Zhi placed her backpack and the square-shaped box she was carrying onto the side, leaning casually against the white wall by the window as she carefully surveyed the surroundings. Directly across from her was a Fish Appreciation Platform beside an artificial mountain. On either side were several private rooms, spaced apart yet interconnected via a single corridor. Yu Zhi noted the location of all the security cameras in the corners, then returned to the table and pulled out a pre-prepared map from her backpack to check once more. This place was bustling and riddled with prying eyes. The operation would be anything but smooth, and she would have to be exceptionally meticulous. "Beep——" A faint sound came from the watch at her wrist. Yu Zhi lifted her brows gently and began tapping the table lightly with her finger. As the second hand ticked from one mark to the next, the moment the minute hand reached twelve, her movements stilled. She glanced at the time on the watch, and just before the minute hand leapt to its next mark, she exited Zhuyun Pavilion. Quiet footsteps echoed from the stairwell on the second floor, their pace intensifying the eerie, sinister air of the already dim and hollow hallway. At the corner, Yu Zhi retrieved a denim jacket and baseball hat from her backpack and swiftly donned them. The entire process bore no sign of panic; her movements were smooth and practiced, as though instinct embedded deep within her core. When she finally stepped out from the shadows into the light, she had transformed completely, wrapped securely in her disguise. Lowering her baseball cap slightly, she approached the designated door, her hands gripping the open square box containing a complete set of repair tools now glaring under the light. A knock sounded on the door, and a deep voice from within asked, "Who's there?" Yu Zhi remained silent. Hearing footsteps approach, her lips, hidden under the mask, curved into an enigmatic smile.

Chapter 46 - 045: Yu Zhi in disguise heading to Lanting Square

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