Chapter 334: Childhood Friends Must Be Cultivated from a Young Age (17)

In the middle of the night, Shen Mubai asked, “System, what time is it?”

The system replied, “It’s two o’clock.”

Shen Mubai said, “Oh, no rush; let’s play a little longer.”

After some time had passed, she asked again, “System, what time is it?”

The system was startled by her voice, its health bar dropping by a third, and it replied through gritted teeth, “Three-thirty.”

Shen Mubai was shocked.

“No way; I need to sleep, or I won’t be able to get up tomorrow.”

She closed her eyes sleepily but didn’t forget to add, “System, you lost.”

Only then did the system remember their bet, and its internal components were in disarray for a while, leading it to question its own existence.

The next morning, Shen Mubai woke up with dark circles under her eyes. Her habit of morning runs had continued since middle school, but she was almost half asleep while running.

An Ziyu kept stopping and starting, always waiting for her.

Shen Mubai sluggishly ran up to the young male lead, her eyelids drooping.

An Ziyu looked at her, pursed his lips, and said, “Luoluo, you stayed up late again last night.”

There was a hint of unhappiness in his tone.

Shen Mubai yawned and laughed dryly, “I’ve just been sleeping a bit late these past few days.”

An Ziyu said, “If you stay up late playing games again, I’ll tell Aunt Xiao.”

Shen Mubai panicked and quickly grabbed his sleeve, “Ancestor, little ancestor, please don’t tell my empress dowager at home.”

An Ziyu looked at the dark circles under her eyes and said seriously, “You have to promise me that you won’t stay up late playing games anymore.”

Shen Mubai regretted her past mistake, wishing she hadn’t told the young male lead. She never expected he would start threatening her.

She could only agree reluctantly, “Alright.”

After breakfast, they hurried to school, almost arriving late.

Shen Mubai spent the whole day lying on her desk whenever she could. Some classmates thought she was unwell, but seeing the dark circles under her eyes, they were left speechless.

Shen Mubai had no choice. After all, games were just too fun.

“Don’t you agree, System?” she said as she packed her school bag.

The system didn’t argue.

Shen Mubai excitedly rubbed her hands together.

“How about we stay up again tonight?”

The system poured cold water on her enthusiasm, “The male lead has leverage over you.”

Shen Mubai deflated, “Oh, right.”

Then she weakly walked out of the classroom.

They met at their usual spot and walked home together.

They were lucky; both their middle and elementary schools were close to home.

But they didn’t expect to encounter a robbery shortly after leaving the school gate.

Three yellow-haired delinquents, clearly troublemakers, dressed in fake gold and silver accessories, approached them.

One of them, with popcorn-haired hair and wearing black punk pants, took a puff of his cigarette and said, “Can you lend us some money?”

With that movement, the chains on his pants clinked noisily.

Though a bit scared, An Ziyu still shielded Shen Mubai, staring intently at the group and saying, “Robbery is illegal.”

One of the yellow-haired boys, with a gold tooth, laughed loudly while clutching his stomach.

“Hahaha, little brother, do you see anyone around?”

Indeed, it was very unlucky; not only was the area deserted, but it was also quite remote.

Shen Mubai pushed aside An Ziyu’s protective hand and said, “Don’t be afraid.”

Seeing that she was about to step out from behind him, An Ziyu got nervous and said, “Luoluo, don’t come out.”