Chapter Nineteen: An Incident Occurs

Unnoticed, more than four hours had passed, and the sky was gradually growing dark. On the grass beside the lake, Angel stood quietly, her body wrapped in a cocoon of shimmering colors that enveloped her tightly.

Nearby, on the ground, Nangong Yuchen showed no signs of waking.

Suddenly, a loud crack sounded from Angel’s cocoon. The colorful shell began to fracture, splitting into spiderweb-like fissures. As the gaps widened, the cocoon peeled away and fell off, revealing Angel once more.

“I've wasted too much time on this noisy earth,” Angel sighed softly to herself, touching her body as she opened her eyes.

After a long pause, she glanced at the darkening sky, waved her small hand, and the broken pieces of cocoon faded, dissolving into countless points of light that disappeared into the air.

She scanned her surroundings cautiously; finding nothing amiss, she walked back to Nangong Yuchen’s side. Looking at his still unconscious face, her expression grew complicated. “Nangong Yuchen, please wake up soon!”

A while later, her expression returned to normal. She crouched down, shook Nangong Yuchen, and called out loudly, “Nangong, what's wrong with you?”

Her clear, pleasant voice was laced with deep concern.

“Huh? Why am I lying here?” Nangong Yuchen finally woke up, rubbing his blurry eyes. When he saw the darkening sky, he jumped to his feet. “What’s going on? How is it already night?”

“Hmph, you dare ask!” Angel pouted angrily. “You promised to bring me here to play, but you slept the whole afternoon. I had to take care of you for so long and didn’t even get to enjoy the scenery!”

“Uh… Is that so?” Nangong Yuchen scratched his head, embarrassed and puzzled. “I felt fine, how did I suddenly pass out?”

“Angel, I’m really sorry. Next time, I’ll bring you here again!” he said, patting his clothes and pulling out his phone. The screen read 18:46!

“Oh no, my job!” He had planned to return in the afternoon and still make it to work, but now, it would be nearly nine by the time he got back. How could he possibly make it? And at this hour, would there even be a bus to the city?

Angel, hearing his words, stomped her little foot in anger. “You’re still thinking about your job? It’s so late—getting back is a problem! If we can’t go home, where will we even spend the night?”

Knowing he was at fault, Nangong Yuchen hung his head, enduring her scolding as they hurried to the bus station.

At the somewhat empty station entrance, Angel covered her flat little stomach. “Nangong, I’m hungry. Go buy me something to eat!”

“Alright!”

Luckily, there was a convenience store next to the station, open twenty-four hours. Otherwise, Nangong Yuchen wouldn’t know how to handle this demanding lady!

But if he knew the truth of the situation, he’d probably be furious.

“Beep beep…”

“Hello, is this Sister Yue?”

“Yes! What’s up, little Yuchen, why are you calling me all of a sudden?”

“Uh… Sister Yue, I won’t be able to work tonight. Could you please ask the boss for leave on my behalf?”

“……”

After the call, Nangong Yuchen bought some snacks and returned to sit with Angel at the station, waiting for the last bus. He’d just asked the convenience store owner; there was a final bus at seven thirty, headed to the outskirts of Ruxia City. It wasn’t ideal, but it was far better than being stranded.

As Angel ate her bread, she spoke up again. “Nangong, I’m thirsty!”

“……”

Nangong Yuchen’s face darkened, and he went back to buy a bottle of water, handing it over. “Here, make do with this for now.”

But Angel pushed it away, grumbling, “I don’t want this. Buy me jasmine tea!”

“I…” This time, Nangong Yuchen couldn’t hold back. He snapped, “Class leader, you really think you’re my girlfriend, don’t you? Bossing me around—if you want a drink, get it yourself!”

He plopped down on the bench, twisted open the cap, and gulped down half the bottle.

Angel knocked the bottle from his hand, furious. “Go to hell! If I were your girlfriend, I’d rather date a pig!”

“I can’t believe you! If a pig is better, then don’t follow me. Stay here by yourself!” Nangong Yuchen brushed water off himself, clearly annoyed. Never in his life had he dealt with such a troublesome girl.

“You… boo hoo!” Tears welled in Angel’s eyes and she began to cry, her voice full of grievance, tugging at the heartstrings.

Though the station was quiet, her sobs drew the attention of several passengers.

As luck would have it, just then the bus arrived, and passengers hurried out to board.

A woman in her forties, passing by, sneered, “These days, what kind of men are there? His girlfriend only asks for a drink and he can’t do it. Poor girl!”

She shook her head and climbed onto the bus.

“Pfft…” Nangong Yuchen nearly choked on his water, speechless. “My girlfriend? If she were, I wouldn’t want to live!”

Though he thought this, he turned to Angel and comforted her, “Alright, I was wrong, okay? If you keep crying, the bus will leave and we’ll have to spend the night here!”

“Boo hoo…”

With the bus about to depart, Nangong Yuchen scooped Angel up from the bench, ignoring her struggles, and hurried onto the bus.

Despite his words earlier, he couldn’t bring himself to leave Angel alone in this desolate place.

“Let me go!”

Once on the bus, he set her down in the back row, taking the seat behind her. He’d had enough of Angel’s antics and couldn’t fathom what she was up to.

In school, he’d only known Angel as mysterious, never like this. Now, interacting with her in such a way, he was both confused and wary.

Angel, meanwhile, quieted down after boarding. She gazed out the window at the night, lost in thought.

When they arrived at the C District station and got off, she still hung her head silently, not saying a word. Whether she was still angry or pondering something, he couldn’t tell.

But this tense atmosphere was soon broken by the ringing of a phone.

Nangong Yuchen took out his phone and froze—the caller ID read “Kexin!”

He answered, excitement in his voice, “Kexin!”

But on the other end came a cacophony of noise and an unfamiliar female voice, “You’re Kexin’s brother, Nangong Yuchen, right? You need to come quickly. Kexin is in danger!”