Moonlight faded silently, giving way to the faint glow of dawn.
It was 6 a.m. on January 2nd. There weren’t many days left until exam week.
“Meow~”
Morning light filtered into Room 1102 as an orange kitten climbed onto the bed, softly calling out to its owner.
When it saw no response, the orange cat hurried over to the bedside, tiptoed across the blanket, and began licking the girl’s cheek with its little tongue.
It looked almost anxious, as if confirming something.
“Mm… Xiaoju…”
The girl’s voice was incredibly soft.
She didn’t open her eyes. She just reached out instinctively and pulled the kitten into her arms, then continued dozing off in a haze.
“Meow.”
Seeing its owner still fast asleep, Xiaoju curled up and went back to sleep as well.
And that’s when Xia Rou started having a nightmare.
In her dream, she was running from someone she didn’t recognize. The surroundings were dark and suffocating. After a while, the dream changed—to one where Su Xiaoyun and Qin Xue were on the bed…
Then, just as suddenly, it switched back again. Someone was chasing her.
The dream kept shifting like that, back and forth.
When she was just about to get caught, Xia Rou abruptly woke up with a gasp.
She opened her eyes, and only after confirming her surroundings did her tense body start to relax.
Pulling the quilt tighter around herself, she tried to soothe the unease left behind by the dream.
Maybe I’m just stressed out lately… she thought.
But when Xia Rou closed her eyes again, hoping to get back to sleep, her mind began to wander uncontrollably. In the end, she couldn’t fall asleep at all.
In the images that formed in her imagination, Su Xiaoyun curled up pitifully on a big white bed, while the Qin Xue beside her wore a wicked grin and leaned in—face to face.
Then… things she couldn’t describe.
During it, Su Xiaoyun let out helpless, pitiful cries.
“……”
Xia Rou was flustered just imagining it. Her body heated up inexplicably, and she had no choice but to fling half the quilt off of herself.
It had all started with her coming back early the day before.
Last night, Qin Xuanxuan had driven Xia Rou home. Originally, they’d planned to go upstairs to visit Qin Xue and Su Xiaoyun. It had been a week since they last saw them—who knew what things were like now?
Qin Xuanxuan even brought clothes and books for Qin Xue.
But when they got into the elevator and reached Room 1101, just as they were about to knock, a sharp, heart-wrenching cry came from inside.
The voice was lovely—and devastatingly fragile…
(It was when Qin Xue was pinning Su Yun under the covers wearing her clothes.)
After that, Qin Xuanxuan silently turned around and drove off, while Xia Rou returned to her apartment to play with Xiaoju.
“Xiaoyun… I hope you’re okay…”
Lying on her bed, Xia Rou prayed quietly in her heart.
Still, their relationship seemed to be going well, and the gift she had prepared hadn’t gone to waste.
“Ah!”
Just as her heated emotions finally began to cool, another sound came from the window across the hall.
That heartbreaking voice—she immediately recognized it as Su Xiaoyun’s.
Seven in the morning.
Already?
Xia Rou was a little stunned.
“Hah…”
Her breathing grew quicker. That strange heat flared up again, and she couldn’t help perking up her ears, trying to catch more sounds.
Unfortunately, nothing else followed.
First thing in the morning… already?
Xia Rou thought back to the material she had recently looked up online, and her face flushed red.
If it was happening this frequently, then the gift she prepared had to be delivered soon.
After all, it was for Su Xiaoyun’s health. Physical well-being was the foundation of everything.
“You… let go of me! Ugh… mmph!”
Meanwhile, in Room 1101, Su Yun was struggling in Qin Xue’s arms.
Her tiny hands weakly pushed at the other girl’s shoulders, but it was completely ineffective.
She honestly wanted to call the police.
She’d been sleeping perfectly fine when this lunatic randomly woke her up!
When she finally managed to poke her head out of the blankets, she looked up, hoping Qin Xue would explain, only to find the girl had already turned around and gone back to sleep, ignoring her entirely.
“Sister Xue… what are you doing…”
Su Yun was flushed and breathless, poking at Qin Xue’s shoulder with a trace of complaint.
“……”
“Hugging you—is that not allowed?”
Qin Xue’s cold voice floated in from ahead.
“…Ugh.”
“…Fine.”
Hearing such a ridiculous answer, Su Yun was left speechless.
But instead of getting mad, she simply curled up again and closed her eyes.
After all, soft, fragrant, and warm—who could stay angry at a big, fluffy pillow like that?
Still, something felt off.
That tone from Qin Xue… it sounded like she was upset with her.
But why? They’d been fine yesterday… hadn’t they?
Su Yun couldn’t figure it out. She just felt a little cold inside.
“Sister Xue…”
“…Sister Xue…”
She stretched out her small foot and gently tapped Qin Xue’s thigh.
No response.
“…Sister Xue…”
Su Yun nervously leaned in and wrapped her arms around Qin Xue’s waist from behind.
That small act of affection softened Qin Xue’s heart.
“What is it? Feeling cold?”
“Huh? No… I mean, kind of,” Su Yun mumbled timidly in response.
She nearly said she wasn’t cold at all.
“Then come over here yourself.”
“…Eh?”
Su Yun sounded confused, but she still obeyed.
Her small hands crawled along Qin Xue’s waist, then to the mattress on the other side, and with a little flip, she landed in Qin Xue’s arms.
“Good girl.”
Qin Xue pulled her close and began gently stroking her.
“Mm…”
Weird… why does this feel like I’m being treated like a baby…
“There, there~ Not cold, not cold. Sleep tight, Sister Xiaoyun~”
Qin Xue held her close, one hand patting her back, the other gently tapping her rear.
Su Yun, now lying against her chest, rested her hands softly on that warm, ample curve.
Feeling the warmth and rhythm of the gentle pats, the first thing she thought of… was her mother.
…
She resisted the feeling in her heart. But she didn’t act on it.
In the end, wrapped in that scent and warmth, Su Yun drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Ding-a-ling!
Two hours later, her alarm went off.
Su Yun, groggy, slowly wriggled out of Qin Xue’s arms.
“Where are you going?”
Qin Xue opened her eyes at the same time.
But unlike Su Yun, her tone and expression were composed, as if she hadn’t fallen asleep at all.
“…Ugh.”
Su Yun’s first move was to shut off the alarm.
Then she sat at the edge of the bed, eyes still closed, not moving at all.
Her voice was barely audible.
Qin Xue waited patiently, not interrupting her.
“I need to go talk to the advisor about something.”
It was only after a full minute that Su Yun finally opened her eyes and replied.
“I’ll come with you.”
“…That’s… okay, no need. I’ll be quick. I’ll be back soon.”
Faced with Qin Xue’s immediate offer, Su Yun could only politely decline.
If she went along, there was no doubt she be discovered.
No choice.
“…Oh.”
Surprisingly, Qin Xue didn’t insist.
She simply rolled over and went back to bed.
Maybe she was still mad at her for something.
Girls were like that—they’d sulk and never say why, waiting for their “boyfriend” to guess.
First thing Su Yun would do after getting back was comfort her.
She got up and began preparing to head out.
Twenty minutes later, a beautiful and energetic white-haired girl stood in front of the mirror.
“Mm. Looks feminine enough. Should be fine.”
Su Yun nodded to her reflection with satisfaction.
She took one last look around the bedroom.
Qin Xue was sleeping soundly.
With that, she locked the door and left.
Click.
Just as she was about to reach the elevator, the door to Room 1102 opened.
A familiar yet slightly unfamiliar face appeared.
“Xiaoyun, good morning…”
The girl sounded a little tired as she waved at her.
“Morning.”
“You’re here? I thought you wouldn’t be back until noon.”
Su Yun brightened and stepped forward to greet Xia Rou.
“Meow~”
Soon, a familiar little cat dashed out of the apartment and leapt into Su Yun’s arms.
“Hey, Xiaoju. Long time no see… One week, huh? You look fatter!”
Su Yun gently stroked the orange cat in her arms, quickly noticing the weight gain.
“Yeah… I wasn’t home much last week. No one to play with him, and Aunt Liu probably overfed him.”
“Oh, right! Xiaoyun—I’ve got a gift for you. Wait here.”
Xia Rou turned and headed back inside.
“…Huh?”
Su Yun looked pleasantly surprised, waiting with anticipation.
This was the first time a girl had given her a gift.
“This is for Sister Xue to use, okay…”
Soon, Xia Rou came back, her face slightly flushed.
Though the shy girl looked beautiful, Su Yun’s brow furrowed as she took the item.
What… was this?
Why was there a hand on the cover?
“Um… can I ask what this is?”
“It’s… a finger cover…”
Xia Rou mumbled, clearly embarrassed.
She even held the wall like she was thinking of running away.
“…What?”
Su Yun’s whole expression changed.
Xia Rou just said… give it to Sister Xue to wear…
Wait… finger cover?
What the hell does that even mean…?
(End of Chapter)