Night had passed quietly in the small apartment.
After their late conversation and simple dinner, the room slowly fell silent. Lin Yue had eventually drifted to sleep on the sofa again, wrapped tightly in the blanket. The long day of walking and talking had completely exhausted her.
Mo Chen, as usual, remained awake.
He sat by the window, watching the quiet city beneath the night sky. The streetlights flickered softly below, and the occasional car passed through the empty streets.
For someone who had once ruled through fear and power, this peaceful scene still felt unfamiliar.
Behind him, Lin Yue turned slightly in her sleep.
Mo Chen glanced back.
She had unconsciously curled into the blanket, her hair messy across her face. For a moment, he simply watched her quietly.
Then he stood and gently adjusted the blanket so it covered her shoulders properly.
The Night Sovereign of a thousand years ago had never done such a thing.
But tonight, it felt natural.
Morning arrived quickly.
The sunlight slipped through the curtains and lit the small living room.
Lin Yue stretched lazily as she opened her eyes.
"…Morning."
Then she noticed Mo Chen sitting calmly at the table.
"You're already awake?"
"I never slept."
She groaned.
"You're making me feel lazy."
Lin Yue slowly stood up and stretched again.
"We have class today."
Mo Chen nodded.
"I am aware."
Twenty minutes later, they left the apartment together and walked toward the bus stop.
The morning air was fresh and lively. Students and office workers crowded the streets as the city began its daily routine.
The bus soon arrived, and they boarded with the other passengers.
This time there were a few empty seats.
Lin Yue sat near the window while Mo Chen sat beside her.
The bus moved through the busy streets of the city toward Jiangnan University.
Lin Yue rested her chin on her hand and looked outside.
"Being a student is tiring."
Mo Chen looked at her.
"You complain every morning."
"That's because mornings are terrible."
He did not respond.
After a few minutes, the university gate appeared outside the window.
The bus stopped.
Students poured out onto the campus.
Lin Yue and Mo Chen stepped down together.
The campus was already lively with students walking across the pathways.
Just as they entered the main courtyard—
"Lin Yue!"
A familiar voice called.
Her friend Chen Xinyi ran toward her excitedly.
Before Lin Yue could react, Chen Xinyi grabbed her arm and began swinging it back and forth dramatically.
"Where were you yesterday?!"
Lin Yue almost lost her balance.
"Hey—hey—stop shaking me!"
Another friend, Zhao Lian, joined them.
"Seriously," Zhao Lian said suspiciously, "you disappeared all day."
Chen Xinyi suddenly noticed Mo Chen standing beside them.
Her eyes sparkled.
"You came together again!"
Lin Yue froze.
"…Again?"
Chen Xinyi leaned closer with a mischievous grin.
"You two look suspicious."
Lin Yue quickly waved her hands.
"No! I told you already."
She pointed at Mo Chen.
"He lives near my house."
Then she added another lie smoothly.
"Our mothers are friends."
Chen Xinyi blinked.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Lin Yue nodded confidently.
"My mother told me to show him around the university."
Zhao Lian crossed his arms.
"That's a very convenient explanation."
Lin Yue forced a smile.
"Because it's true!"
Meanwhile, another boy from their class walked over.
His name was Gu Tianhao, the basketball star of the university.
He looked at Mo Chen with a playful grin.
"Hey."
Mo Chen looked at him calmly.
Gu Tianhao leaned closer.
"So… do you have feelings for Lin Yue?"
Lin Yue nearly choked.
"WHAT?!"
Mo Chen answered calmly in a low voice.
"That question is illogical."
Gu Tianhao blinked.
"…What?"
Mo Chen continued speaking calmly.
"Emotional analysis requires long-term observation."
Gu Tianhao stared at him.
"…I have no idea what you just said."
Lin Yue covered her face.
"He does that a lot."
Their group continued walking toward the classroom building.
Soon they reached their lecture hall and took their usual seats.
The professor entered a few minutes later and began the lecture.
Everything seemed normal.
Until—
"Lin Yue."
The professor suddenly looked up from his notes.
"Yes, professor?"
"Come to my office after this."
Lin Yue blinked.
"…Okay."
The class finished soon after.
As students began leaving the room, Lin Yue stood up.
Mo Chen immediately stood as well.
She looked at him.
"Why are you coming?"
"I will accompany you."
"No."
She crossed her arms.
"You are not invited."
Mo Chen didn't move.
Lin Yue leaned closer and whispered dramatically.
"If you follow me, I will not buy you lunch."
Mo Chen paused.
After a moment, he sat back down.
"…Understood."
Lin Yue nodded proudly.
"Good."
She walked down the hallway toward the professor's office.
When she reached the door, she knocked gently.
"Come in."
Lin Yue pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"Professor, you called—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Inside the office, two unfamiliar men were already seated across from the professor.
One of them was a tall man with a calm but sharp presence.
The other looked slightly younger, watching her carefully.
The professor gestured toward them.
"Lin Yue, I want you to meet these two."
He smiled politely.
"They are from the Eastern Research Institute of Cultural Studies."
Lin Yue frowned slightly.
The tall man stood up.
"My name is Liang Feng."
He extended his hand calmly.
"And this is my assistant…"
The younger man stepped forward.
"Shen Wuyan."
Lin Yue's eyes widened slightly.
Something about the way they looked at her felt… strange.
And suddenly—
The room felt much colder.
End of Chapter 22...