After an exhausting night, Zhong Yan hadn't gained much useful intel—and he hadn't rested properly either.
He'd only just managed to nap for a bit after getting home when it was already time for school. He was drowsy on the metro, so attending class was out of the question.
On the way to his classroom, the only thing that slightly revived his worn-out spirit was the sight of girls with snow-white thighs exposed under their skirts.
Arriving at the classroom, he shoved his bag into the desk drawer and didn't even care whether the teacher might call on him during class—he slumped forward and fell asleep right on the desk.
He had no idea how long he slept, but at some point, he started having trouble breathing. In his dream, it was as if he were sinking into a pitch-black sea, struggling with all his might but unable to stop himself from being pulled under.
Then he jolted awake—only to find that he really couldn't breathe.
The reason? Two slender fingers—index and middle—were pinching his nose shut.
Following the arm up, Zhong Yan looked up and saw who they belonged to.
It was Ellen.
Apparently unsure of how to wake him, she had chosen a method that was polite, but not entirely courteous.
Zhong Yan, still groggy from sleep, met her eyes with a dazed, blank look—like a fool.
They stared at each other for a long moment before Ellen finally broke the silence. "What the heck were you up to last night? You've been out all morning. I don't think I've ever slept this long at school."
Only then did Zhong Yan realize morning classes were over. Strangely, the teacher hadn't tried to wake him up today.
Honestly, he kind of appreciated that. Hopefully, that balding Mediterranean-looking guy would do the same next time.
As for Ellen's question, Zhong Yan quickly came up with an excuse. "I was pulling an all-nighter to meet a manuscript deadline. That's why I'm so out of it."
Zhong Yan had long since told Ellen about his identity as a writer in order to earn her full trust—after all, he was her only friend at school.
As for that deadline… well, he hadn't written a word in days. Who knew if the editorial team was already chasing him for updates?
The reader forums had definitely exploded. Everyone was complaining about the slow updates, threatening to send him razor blades.
Zhong Yan was terrified. But also, powerless.
"Oh, how thoughtful of our beloved writer," Ellen replied with a mocking lilt.
Still, it was a believable excuse. Given how he normally acted around her, Ellen would never suspect him of being a Hollow Raider.
Zhong Yan laughed awkwardly and quickly changed the subject. "Everyone else already went to the cafeteria. Wanna go together?"
"Sure. I want sweet and sour pork. You're buying," Ellen replied without hesitation—and added her order on top.
Her lips curled into a faint smile after saying it.
Yup. Being at school with him really is the best.
...
The school cafeteria food was, to put it kindly, disappointing. Today's meals were particularly bad—Zhong Yan had to force it down.
Ellen, on the other hand, wasn't picky in the slightest. As a Shark Thiren, she could eat anything. Even the most nightmarish food experiments didn't faze her.
Rumor had it that in Victoria Housekeeping, the head maid Lina—known as the Kitchen Destroyer—made inedible horrors on the regular. And every time, it was Ellen who ate them all, sparing the rest of the staff.
Truly a noble shark girl.
After eating, the two left the cafeteria to return to class. But just then, Ellen suddenly tugged on Zhong Yan's sleeve from behind.
"Hey... do we really have to go back to class? This afternoon's lectures are so boring. What if I just don't go?"
Her voice drifted from behind him, and her fingers pinched his shirt. Zhong Yan turned around, immediately understanding what she was getting at.
"So... we're skipping class?" he asked, testing the waters.
Ellen's eyes instantly lit up. That was exactly what she was about to suggest—and here Zhong Yan beat her to it.
And so, the two of them agreed on the spot. Before the lunch bell even rang, they walked out of the school—bold and unbothered.
Ellen wanted to see a movie at the theater near campus, but Zhong Yan rejected that idea immediately.
There were rules to skipping class. First and foremost: never stay too close to school, or risk being seen by teachers or classmates.
So, following Zhong Yan's suggestion, they headed to the metro station and decided to venture out to a different district for a proper, stress-free escape.
Eventually, they settled on Lumina Square—one of the few unlockable areas in the game.
But unlike its in-game counterpart, the real Lumina Square was enormous—almost the size of several districts combined.
That's why it had become one of New Eridu's few economic zones: highly developed, bustling with activity, and just a river away from the central district.
"So, what should we do?" Ellen asked as they exited the metro station at Lumina Square, turning to face Zhong Yan.
For her, the location didn't matter—what mattered was that he was with her. Skipping school alone and wandering the streets was just too lonely.
"How about we hit a café?" Zhong Yan suggested. "The view by the river's nice. We can drink coffee and talk."
He couldn't help but marvel. No matter how many times he visited Lumina Square, he was always blown away by the sheer liveliness of the place.
Compared to this, his own district—or even the one where the sibling duo lived—felt like a countryside village next to a metropolis.
And this was just the area near the city center. The real central zone probably made this place look modest.
That thought strengthened his resolve: one day, he'd buy a home in the central district. A private island, ideally. He'd spend his days writing in peace—just thinking about it got him pumped.
Next to him, Ellen stood with arms crossed, pretending to be indifferent—but from the corner of her eye, she noticed the increasingly determined expression on Zhong Yan's face.
She frowned, puzzled. What's with him? He's got that "I've made a life decision" look... it's giving me goosebumps.
Her mind raced as she tried to figure it out.
"No way... does this guy have a few screws loose?"