Waking up early, Lin Yu found himself lounging in bed, unmotivated to move until his soul felt awakened enough to start the day.

Face wash, tooth brushing.

Glancing in the mirror, Lin noticed his right side appeared somewhat lighter. Instinctively, he lifted the yellow hair covering the left side of his face for a comparison.

Well, what do you know.

Observing the stark contrast, with the right side of his face several shades darker, Lin grimaced and dropped the yellow hair back in place. Those few strands proved somewhat useful after all.

Today being Sunday, Lin Yu pondered over his to-do list while brushing his teeth.

First off, it seemed his homework hadn't been touched, his mind solely fixated on getting closer to the second female lead yesterday. Reflecting on Xia Mu Zhu, Lin Yu picked up his phone, sending her the selected videos on female victims he carefully chose last night. As the messages were swiftly marked as read, he sighed softly.

Xia Mu Zhu, sending you these types of videos during the day is already my final act of kindness. Don't blame me. It's all for your sake!

Soon, Xia Mu Zhu replied with a frightened emoji sticker.

Lin Yu swiftly responded.

: Sis, you've got to be extra cautious when you're out alone.

: It's not about being scared for nothing; it's about the "just in case." Always carry the stun baton with you; it truly comes in handy!

: Got it! (hamster nodding emoji)

After their brief chat, Lin Yu placed his phone on the vanity, mentally sorting out the rest of his day's goals.

Scaring Xia Mu Zhu into being cautious (done)!

That left only homework and whatever Li Yuan needed from him.

In his head, Lin Yu muttered to himself that the homework could wait given his reputation at school; avoiding it wouldn't really matter — at most, they'd call his parents.

But that was the least of his worries. After all, they were in a world of adult manga, not a horror story!

Thus, he had only one task remaining for the day.

Li Yuan had asked him to swing by the mahjong parlor, though for what Lin Yu couldn't fathom.

Might as well check it out.

Perfect time to scam some money!

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

...

"The soup's ready, take this to Qin Qin," Tang's mother handed her the thermos, advising, "Make sure your sister finishes the chicken soup. I followed the doctor's advice and added some herbs, which Qin Qin dislikes. If you don't watch her, she'll probably share it with others in the ward once you leave."

"Okay."

Tang Manman obediently nodded, taking the heavy silver thermos and placing it in a yellow fabric bag.

"Oh, and Yu Kai said he'd like to visit Qin Qin, too. He'll be here soon, wait for him, and you can go together," her mother added.

After a moment's thought, Tang Manman agreed without objection.

Not long after, Yu Kai arrived. After greeting her mother, Tang Manman left with Yu Kai for the hospital.

Along the way, Yu Kai kept talking while Tang Manman listened, offering the occasional response.

Having had time to think, Tang Manman was no longer angry with Yu Kai. She had reevaluated their relationship. They were just childhood friends, after all. Considering Yu Kai had stepped in to help her when she was bullied, as a friend, that was commendable enough, even if the outcome wasn't ideal.

So, she no longer grimaced, even managing a smile at some of the funnier topics he brought up.

Yu Kai, unaware of Tang Manman's internal musings and seeing her smile, breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he had been forgiven.

As they neared the bus station, Tang Manman spotted a familiar figure in front of a pharmacy.

Lin Yu?

Halting, she scrutinized the tall, thin silhouette by the pharmacy entrance.

After the figure shifted direction, Tang Manman confirmed his identity, spotting Lin Yu's trademark yellow hair partially covering his face.

Was he injured again?

Her eyes caught the thick bandage wrapped around Lin Yu’s head, prompting a sudden thought. Or was it the original injury that hadn’t healed?

She quickly jogged over to Lin Yu, calling out, "Lin Yu!"

Upon reaching him and seeing his resigned expression of 'not you again,' Tang Manman felt a twinge of dejection but mostly a familiar sense of security.

It seemed today's Lin Yu was the stoically kind Lin Yu, "Lin Yu, are you injured again?"

It's just before dawn, and Lin Yu is loath to leave the warmth of his bed but eventually rises to start his day.

He goes through his morning routine, noticing that the right side of his face seems somewhat lighter compared to the covered left side. He lifts the blonde hair covering the left side and examines the contrast in the mirror.

Shocked at the visible difference, Lin Yu grimaces and lets his hair fall back into place. It turns out, his hair did serve some purpose.

It's Sunday, and as Lin Yu brushes his teeth, he contemplates his tasks for the day. First on his list, he realizes he hasn't started his homework, having been too focused on planning how to get closer to the second female lead yesterday.

He takes a moment to message Xia Mu Zhu, sending her chosen videos depicting female victimization, sighing softly as they're seen. Xia Mu Zhu quickly responds with a frightened emoji, prompting Lin Yu to advise her to always be cautious, mentioning the stun baton's effectiveness in emergencies.

Completing their brief exchange, Lin Yu gets back to his daily planning, which now consists solely of doing his homework and dealing with Li Yuan's request.

Considering his school reputation, Lin Yu figures skipping homework won’t matter much anyway. After all, this isn't a ghost story world but an adult manga one. Hence, the only remaining task is to visit Li Yuan.

As Lin Yu ponders this, his mother tasks Tang Manman to take soup to her sister Qin Qin in the hospital and ensure she drinks it, given the added medicinal herbs. Yu Kai offers to accompany Tang Manman, and they head to the hospital together.

On the way, Tang Manman has had time to reflect on her feelings and recognizes Yu Kai simply as a dear friend. Upon seeing Lin Yu at a pharmacy during their walk, Tang Manman is compelled to check on him, noticing his distinctive hairstyle and assuming he's been injured again.

Approaching Lin Yu, Tang Manman expresses concern over his wellbeing, indicating the growth in their acquaintanceship. Lin Yu, bemused by his hairstyle's attention, presents a half-hearted explanation for retaining it.