Thinking back, it was kind of funny—during her last relationship, the most intimate thing Su Qingqing had done was hold hands and hug. In that long-distance, purely Platonic romance, both her love and her sense of being loved had remained stuck in the realm of the spiritual.
So when that soft warmth brushed the left side of her lips, she shuddered as if struck by lightning.
Ming Xue had only touched the corner of her mouth for the briefest instant—like a startled bird passing in a flash. But that entirely new, mysterious sensation bloomed in Su Qingqing’s mind like a firework in the dark, magnified endlessly.
Clearly flustered, Ming Xue hastily shoved the small bag into Su Qingqing’s hand, waved awkwardly, then practically fled with hurried steps.
But Su Qingqing’s inner world had changed again, all because of that kiss.
Like a hatchling cracking open its shell, light finally broke through the cracks.
And at this moment, she had to admit it—she was reluctant.
The crowds, after that brief stillness, flowed again—people ascending, descending. Su Qingqing, clutching her many bags, made her way back up to the fifth floor.
The fifth floor was for two-person dorms. Foot traffic dwindled. She could finally breathe.
She pushed open the dorm room door. The cold air that had built up inside gushed out like a beast uncaged, rushing through the crack and blasting her bare arms and legs. She had just come in from the sun, wearing only a T-shirt and shorts—she shivered hard.
“So cold!”
She walked into the dim dorm, teeth chattering slightly. Yu Zhongmeng had managed to make her bed. Several of her large suitcases were stacked beside the wardrobe. Curled up in the massive blanket like a cat, Yu Zhongmeng’s breathing was steady—she was awake, but still.
Su Qingqing stood in silence for a moment, then took the remote and adjusted the AC to 24°C.
She pulled on a light jacket, poured a cup of steaming hot water, and sat at her desk. Logging into the game account from the new client order, it was time for her to clock in.
Once gaming became work, it was hard to say whether it brought joy or obligation. Su Qingqing couldn’t tell. All she knew was that, under her capable hands, the client’s account climbed easily to Diamond rank.
Normally she would’ve shut the laptop and spaced out on her bed by now, but today she had another job. She’d taken another order from her boss, so the easy yet tedious routine continued.
Who knew how much time passed—after a few more wins, Su Qingqing reached for her drink, only to find it had gone cold. Something felt off. A vague unease made her turn.
Yu Zhongmeng, dressed in a black sheer nightgown, lay curled on her bed. The thick blanket had been kicked off due to the heat. She was clearly awake. One of her straps had slipped down to her upper arm, her pose unintentionally seductive.
Su Qingqing quickly looked away, refilled her cup with hot water, and sat back down.
“What are you playing?”
“A game.”
“I know that. I meant what game?”
“A computer game.”
“I…” Yu Zhongmeng was stunned. When had she ever been treated this way before? She stared at Su Qingqing’s graceful back, her gaze slowly shifting into something like annoyance. What was it about Su Qingqing? That unshakable familiarity?
Same ringtone—《Love Suicide》. Same 24°C AC. Same oversized mug of hot water. The only difference… was the coldness directed at her.
Still, even if someone was the straightest of straight girls—shouldn’t there be some reaction?
Silently, Yu Zhongmeng took a screenshot of the game interface, reverse image searched the title, and without hesitation, bought a gaming laptop online. Watching Su Qingqing’s in-game avatar rack up kill after kill, she subconsciously assumed the game must be easy… probably.
She remembered that a friend had mentioned playing this game too. She shifted to one side to dig through her phone, and with that motion, the loose strap slid farther—half of the thin fabric draped off her chest. If Su Qingqing so much as turned her head, she’d see everything.
But it didn’t matter what Yu Zhongmeng was doing. Not to Su Qingqing. Earning money mattered. Only—Pan wouldn’t shut up in her ear.
“Qingqing, turn around~ You’ve never seen something this spicy~”
“Freak.”
Su Qingqing muttered inwardly, shutting Pan out. She focused completely on the game, ignoring everything else.
By the time she finally looked up, it was dark outside. The dorm light was on. She rolled her neck and glanced around.
Yu Zhongmeng was nowhere to be seen. The only sounds were the faint whirring of the AC. The room was quiet, peaceful.
Her phone lit up with over a dozen unread messages—all from Ming Xue.
“Susu, don’t worry about what happened today. If you’re uncomfortable, that’s okay.”
“But you have to keep your hope alive~”
“You have to come to my graduation photoshoot! After all, I helped you sign up—your story has to be in my ending too~”
“I already bought the underwear. I used your info for delivery. Check for the package notification.”
“…”
The rest were just little stories—funny moments and daily mishaps from Ming Xue’s day. Nothing important. Nothing unimportant. Just the kind of messages close friends send.
And that was what made Su Qingqing’s lips curl into a soft, genuine smile.
Suddenly, she understood that line Ming Xue had once said—“All girls should be beautiful.”
Because Ming Xue was beautiful.
Closing the chat, Su Qingqing propped her chin in one hand. The game still lingered on the screen, enemy Nexus mid-explosion. Her gaze was distant.
Money wasn’t everything. But for Su Qingqing, not having enough money meant nothing else could happen.
She glanced at the shopping bags on the desk. For the first time, she felt the limitations of her ability.
If all she had was boosting orders, she’d never be able to match Ming Xue. She realized that quickly.
“Still gotta go back to companion work.”
She sighed and opened the app.
Truth be told, Su Qingqing wasn’t the most lovable girl. Her selfies were good—but in a sea of filter-enhanced faces, she didn’t exactly stand out.
And in the companion gig world, your face didn’t matter as much. Your voice and personality were key.
In the lobby, all kinds of girls were showing off their charms—loli voices, icy cool tones, even breathy seduction. Now that Su Qingqing had switched from a male account to a female one, she felt the full weight of the increased competition.
Still, her expression remained calm. When her mic came on, she flashed a sweet smile. Her already-pleasant voice softened even more:
“Thank you, host~ This is mic seven. I’m low-key and fierce. Can flex or carry. Jack-of-all-trades. Currently King rank in Canyon. Multiple server accounts. Passing to mic eight~ Thank you~”
Three clients had already skipped her. She had braced herself to wait for the next when something unexpected happened.
A new client chose her—straight from her profile.
No prior chat. No questions. Just a full-day booking.
Then a message popped up:
“Hi, can you teach my friend how to play LoL? She’s played PUBG before but is a total beginner at this. Please be patient.”
The moment Su Qingqing saw the client ID, her pupils shrank.
She knew this name too well.
Back when she was still he, this client had booked her for three whole days—and left the only five-star review she ever received.
The ID was “Summer of Zhongmeng.”
Yu Zhongmeng.
Shared tastes were supposed to be the lubricant of relationships. For Su Qingqing, it was a steel spike jammed into her soul.
Her breathing grew erratic.
But she was Su Qingqing now.
So, in the calmest, sweetest voice, she replied:
“Got it, boss. Thank you~”
(End of Chapter)