Chapter 46: Unusual Warmth, Irresistible Gentleness

When Yellow Hair heard the beautiful girl wanted a ride on his motorcycle, he was overjoyed and didn't hesitate to agree. His eyes lit up as he eagerly said, "I'd be happy to—"

But after just three words, his voice abruptly stopped. His lively expression suddenly went blank, replaced by a dull, emotionless stare.

"I'm… hot? What does that mean?"

Anran frowned, puzzled. "Huh? So, what's the deal?"

Yellow Hair's face was expressionless as he replied in an unusually slow and monotone voice, "Sorry, miss. I'm busy. I have to rush to a place and can't take you home."

What? Anran was stunned. She hadn't expected Yellow Hair to refuse her. She'd been looking forward to experiencing the modifications on his motorcycle. Moreover, something about his tone felt off—almost robotic, completely unlike his usual lively manner.

Though Anran found his reaction strange, she didn't press him. If he said he was busy, she wouldn't force him.

She waved it off casually. "Alright, if you're busy, go ahead."

As soon as she finished speaking, Yellow Hair didn't even say goodbye. He quickly mounted his bike, revved the engine, and sped off in a cloud of dust.

Watching the motorcycle disappear, Anran sighed and turned to Zhang Ning. It seemed she'd have to rely on her friend to help her home. But looking at Zhang Ning's frail frame, she wondered if it was even possible.

Before she could say anything, Zhang Ning spoke up, "Anran, it's already late. I need to hurry home."

Then, she bowed slightly to Lester and added, "Mr. President, I'll leave Anran in your care."

Lester smiled and nodded. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of her."

"Wait, Ning…" Anran was speechless, watching Zhang Ning practically run away.

What kind of joke was this? Zhang Ning, who usually stood by her side even in dangerous situations, had just abandoned her without a second thought.

"Anran, I believe this is our first meeting, isn't it?" Lester asked, his voice deep and smooth, like the night itself, carrying an almost hypnotic quality.

Anran turned her head to look at the man beside her. The streetlight cast a soft glow on his pale face, giving him an ethereal, almost dreamlike appearance. His silver and violet heterochromatic eyes shimmered like dazzling gemstones, and his short silver hair seemed otherworldly.

His handsome face was so close that Anran's heart skipped a beat. For some reason, his gentle yet distant demeanor gave off an almost enchanting aura, as if he could bewitch anyone with ease.

However, Anran quickly composed herself and answered honestly, "Yes, Mr. President. This is indeed our first meeting."

Lester's expression turned curious as he asked, "But I feel like you and your friend seem a bit distant toward me. Can you tell me why?"

His gentleness made it hard for Anran to refuse. She didn't want to lie, but telling the truth felt awkward. After some hesitation, she decided to be honest. "Zhang Ning mentioned you to me once."

Ah… That's probably why Zhang Ning was so eager to leave. She must've had some unpleasant experiences with the Student Council President. Anran could understand that. After all, Zhang Ning had suffered quite a bit because of him.

---

Earlier, Lester had asked, "If you're part of the Night Riders, how did this happen? I recall your motorcycles don't have mufflers. Sometimes I hear them at night."

If people had heard the roar of the motorcycle earlier, even if they were deep in conversation, they would've noticed and moved out of the way.

"Ah, it's a long story," Yellow Hair replied with a sigh. "Some brat showed up out of nowhere, challenging the Night Riders. He said if he won, we'd have to put mufflers back on our bikes. And, well…"

He trailed off, clearly annoyed. Rosewood Town had suddenly gained this new figure, and the kid was surprisingly skilled—so much so that even Wolf, their leader, had lost to him. Though reluctant, they had to admit defeat.

Anran, who had been listening, froze. She coughed lightly, feeling a twinge of guilt, and asked, "Ahem… what does the muffler have to do with your brakes failing?"

Yellow Hair grinned, clearly pleased with himself. "You don't get it, do you? Since we had to modify the bikes anyway, we figured we might as well upgrade other parts too. I was just testing out the modifications, but I didn't expect it to mess with the brake system."

Anran was speechless. So, the accident was indirectly her fault? This wasn't the kind of karmic cycle she'd imagined. She'd done something good, yet ended up paying for it. What kind of twisted logic was this?

"Then you'd better check what's wrong with your bike," Anran said flatly. "Lucky for you… this didn't turn into a serious accident."

Yellow Hair scratched his blond hair, looking embarrassed. "Yeah, sorry about that. Let me take a look."

He rummaged through the motorcycle's storage compartment, pulling out tools and getting to work.

"Hey, could you hold this flashlight for me? The streetlight's too dim," Yellow Hair said, handing Anran a flashlight.

This guy's way too casual, Anran thought, but she silently took the flashlight and held it steady.

Yellow Hair worked quickly, soon identifying the problem—a loose screw. After tightening it, he started the engine, flipping his bangs out of his face with a grin. "Okay! Should be good now."

"Hey, Yellow Hair, you're the reason I twisted my ankle. You'd better make sure I get home safely," Anran said bluntly.

Now that the motorcycle was fixed, Anran didn't feel like being polite. Her injury wasn't as minor as she'd made it out to be—her ankle was swollen like a ball. She had no intention of limping home, and as a motorcycle enthusiast, she was curious to see how Yellow Hair's modifications performed.

Zhang Ning, however, didn't look pleased. Even if Yellow Hair hadn't meant any harm, students shouldn't associate with people like him. His bleached hair and overall appearance screamed "troublemaker." Besides, there was someone else here…

Her eyes flicked toward Lester, only to catch a fleeting red glint in his silver and violet eyes. The brief flash was enough to make her gaze go blank, her expression losing all focus.