“Teacher Song, you finally came out. I’ve been waiting for you for a long time. Shall we go?” Wang Haoran said.

“Teacher Song, what’s going on here…” Chu Bai was a bit confused.

“Wang Haoran had already arranged with me to take me home today. I’m sorry,” Song Zhenyu said, feeling a bit awkward.

She could have left right after the evening self-study session. The reason she delayed was entirely to avoid suspicion. After all, letting Wang Haoran take her home might not look good if other students saw it.

“Have you been waiting long?” Song Zhenyu apologized to Wang Haoran.

“Just about twenty minutes, it’s no big deal,” Wang Haoran shrugged indifferently.

Waiting idly would have been boring, but Wang Haoran hadn’t been idle. During the wait, he had taken the opportunity to escort Wen Jing home, playing the gentleman for once. Given Wen Jing’s condition, riding a bicycle was really inconvenient.

Although Wang Haoran considered Wen Jing just a secret girlfriend, or even a pawn, he still cared for her when he could. After all, he had nothing better to do.

Of course, during the trip, Wang Haoran’s hands weren’t idle, satisfying his cravings.

“Teacher Song, please.”

Wang Haoran opened the car door for Song Zhenyu in a gentlemanly manner.

“This car?” Song Zhenyu was taken aback.

Although she didn’t know much about cars, she recognized a Rolls-Royce Cullinan. To be honest, Song Zhenyu had never even ridden in a Mercedes or BMW, let alone a Cullinan. This left her feeling quite dazed.

“Yes, I take this car to and from school. If you find it too stuffy, I could walk you home instead?” Wang Haoran joked.

Walking would mean more time together, which would be even better.

“Let’s just take the car,” Song Zhenyu immediately decided.

If there’s a car available, why walk? Besides, she was curious about what it felt like to ride in a Rolls-Royce.

Song Zhenyu got into the car.

Out of Song Zhenyu’s sight, Wang Haoran gave Chu Bai a thumbs-up, then rotated it 180 degrees.

Soon, the Cullinan started up and left under Chu Bai’s envious and resentful gaze.

“Is having money so great? One day, I’ll be richer than your Wang family, and I’ll crush you, Wang Haoran, under my feet! Crush you!” Chu Bai couldn’t control his anger, kicking his bicycle as if it were Wang Haoran, shouting in fury.

…

[Ding, the host successfully frustrated the protagonist Chu Bai, causing him to lose his composure. You gain 300 villain points, Chu Bai’s protagonist halo -20, host’s villain halo +20.]

Sitting in the Cullinan, Wang Haoran received a system notification.

And you call yourself a protagonist? Losing your composure so easily?

Wang Haoran was a bit surprised, but after thinking it over, he found it quite normal. After all, Chu Bai was only 18, young and hot-tempered, prone to fighting. How stable could his mindset be?

Wang Haoran had repeatedly thwarted Chu Bai’s attempts to woo girls. It would be strange if Chu Bai didn’t lose his composure.

Song Zhenyu rented a guesthouse near the school, not far away. Soon, the Cullinan arrived at the guesthouse.

Song Zhenyu got out of the car.

“Thank you, Wang Haoran. I’ll head in now.”

“Uh… Teacher Song, I’ve come all this way. You’re not even going to offer me a cup of tea?”

“Come with me.”

Song Zhenyu led Wang Haoran upstairs.

As soon as they entered the room, a faint fragrance greeted them. The room wasn’t large, but it had everything necessary. The decor was simple but clean and tidy, clearly showing that the person living here knew how to live well.

On the small balcony, some women’s clothes were hanging. Wang Haoran’s gaze inadvertently fell on them, making Song Zhenyu feel embarrassed. However, she was relieved when Wang Haoran quickly looked away.

Staring at a woman’s private clothes was something only a lowly protagonist would do. Wang Haoran, being a rich and handsome man, wouldn’t stoop so low.

Song Zhenyu turned around to pour some water from the dispenser. Wang Haoran watched her back, lost in thought.

Song Zhenyu’s status as one of the female leads was already confirmed. Should he take the opportunity to forcefully win her over?

As a villain, one must have the awareness of a villain; otherwise, how could he compete with the protagonist? If he could take a shortcut, why bother trying to win her favor?

“System, system, is it feasible to forcefully win over the female lead?”

After having this improper thought, Wang Haoran didn’t act immediately. To be safe, he consulted the system.

[Response to host: Such low-level villain behavior, whether successful or not, will reduce 100 villain halo points. Moreover, given the host’s current combat power is below average, the success rate is low. It is not recommended for the host to engage in such actions.]

“I see… then forget it.”

Wang Haoran immediately dismissed the idea. His villain halo points were hard-earned, and losing 100 points for such a low-success-rate evil act was not worth it.

While Wang Haoran was lost in thought, Song Zhenyu brought over a glass of water. Wang Haoran drank it and, finding no reason to stay, prepared to leave.

But just then, the light bulb in the room flickered and went out, with a faint smell of something burning in the air.

Song Zhenyu let out a small scream, startled, and instinctively grabbed Wang Haoran’s sleeve.

“It seems the bulb burned out,” Wang Haoran remarked.

“Maybe, I’ll check it out tomorrow,” Song Zhenyu replied.

“Teacher Song, you seem quite afraid of the dark. Are you sure you want to wait until tomorrow?” Wang Haoran chuckled.

He could clearly feel a pair of hands gripping his arm tightly.

Realizing her mistake, Song Zhenyu quickly let go, pretending to be brave: “How could I be afraid of the dark?”

“Do you have a spare bulb?” Wang Haoran asked without pointing out her fear.

“No.”

“Then wait a moment.”

Wang Haoran turned on his phone’s flashlight, checked the bulb’s model, and called the driver downstairs.

About ten minutes later, the driver delivered a bulb. Wang Haoran sent the driver back downstairs.

Could the driver replace the bulb? Of course. But Wang Haoran wanted to do it himself.

The burned-out bulb was a regular fluorescent light. Replacing it was simple enough for Wang Haoran to handle.

Before long, the room was bright again.

“I didn’t expect a young master from a wealthy family like you to know how to change a light bulb,” Song Zhenyu said, surprised, as if seeing Wang Haoran in a new light.

[Ding, changed female lead Song Zhenyu’s perception of the host, increasing favorability by 10. Current total favorability is 30 (very friendly).]

[Ding, host influenced the original plot direction, gaining 200 villain points.]

Receiving the system notification, Wang Haoran remained composed and said, “What do you mean by that? Teacher Song, you don’t think I’m a spoiled rich kid, do you?”

This skill was something he learned in his previous life.

“Wang Haoran, don’t misunderstand. I didn’t mean it that way,” Song Zhenyu explained.

“We’re not at school, so don’t call me that. It feels strange. Just call me by my name.”

“Well… okay, Haoran,” Song Zhenyu agreed.

Without the teacher-student dynamic, they were practically peers, with only a six-year age difference.

“That’s better. Then I won’t call you Teacher Song anymore. I’ll call you Sister Zhenyu. Yes, from now on, you’re my sister,” Wang Haoran said with a wink.

In those novels, the protagonist’s relationship with older female leads often progressed by acknowledging them as sisters. Wang Haoran was following suit.

To be honest, Wang Haoran felt a bit embarrassed. Counting his previous life, his actual age was nearly thirty. Calling a woman six years younger than him “sister” felt like he was taking advantage.

But to get closer to Song Zhenyu, it was a necessary step. Once he won her over, he’d have her call him back, as “brother”!

Yes, that’s the plan!