By the time Su Qingqing returned to her desk after washing her hands, Yu Zhongmeng was still unpacking her seemingly endless luggage.
She looked like she was sulking at something. Biting on a pencil, she silently folded the clothes she had initially planned to hang.
Just judging by the number of massive suitcases behind her, it was clear that even neatly folded, the built-in wardrobe wouldn’t be nearly enough.
Su Qingqing couldn't tell whether she felt satisfied or uneasy. She connected her laptop to the internet, marking the final step of setting it up.
After getting her sheets and quilt spread out, she realized she had a dilemma.
She truly didn’t own any girls’ clothes. Looked like she would need to buy some soon.
She sighed and opened a shopping app to start browsing.
She had to admit—girls’ clothing was a dazzling world. Just looking at them could make her dizzy. Sometimes, seeing something a little sexy, she couldn’t help but imagine what it would look like on her own body.
Sprawling out her legs, her long limbs stuck out from under a pair of oversized cargo shorts. Becoming a girl did have a few unexpected benefits. For example, she could now try out all the playful fantasies she’d only dreamed of before.
Black stockings or white stockings—it was all up to her. Heck, if she really wanted, she could do black on one leg and white on the other. Or thigh-high on one side and ankle sock on the other.
Suddenly, she found herself uncontrollably recalling the time Yu Zhongmeng had worn white stockings.
She turned her head—just in time to meet Yu Zhongmeng’s resentful gaze.
A little awkward, Su Qingqing frowned slightly and casually threw out a topic. “Was that guy earlier your boyfriend?”
Yu Zhongmeng shook her head without a second’s thought. “No. Just an ordinary friend.”
Any spark of hope was extinguished by her next sentence: “I’ve never been in a relationship.”
“Oh~” Su Qingqing replied meaningfully. “I actually had one before.”
“Wow,” Yu Zhongmeng reacted with mild surprise. “What about now?”
“He just died not long ago. Almost time for the seventh-day ritual,” Su Qingqing said in the calmest tone, delivering a wicked curse.
Something about that line struck Yu Zhongmeng’s funny bone. She let out a light chuckle. “You’re kind of funny.”
“As long as you think so,” Su Qingqing shrugged nonchalantly.
“No need to dwell on past relationships. People should focus more on the present and the future.” Yu Zhongmeng’s clothes-folding was clumsy. Her tone was cool, though it was unclear whether she was speaking to Su Qingqing or to herself.
“If the past doesn’t matter, then why do people have memories?” Su Qingqing muttered. She was registering a new gaming companion account—since the identity of ‘Su Qin’ had faded away in this world, her future game gigs would now be carried under ‘Su Qingqing.’
“If you were happy with your ex, why curse them?” Yu Zhongmeng finally gave up folding and plopped down on the hard bed, spinning the pencil rapidly between her fingers. “Clearly, you weren’t satisfied.”
A surge of emotion welled up in Su Qingqing’s chest. She asked, “And what are you dissatisfied with?”
“You’ve gotta have money, right?” Yu Zhongmeng leaned her cheek on her hand, lost in thought.
At the mention of money, Su Qingqing deflated instantly. Her boss messaged her on WeChat with a new order for a gaming boost. She thought for a moment but didn’t take it.
Money was important, but not to Yu Zhongmeng, she had plenty. So her “gotta have money” line was just another excuse.
When someone doesn’t love you, even the way you step through the door can become a reason to break up.
A strange silence fell between them in the double dorm room. One sitting on a chair, the other on a bedboard, their backs turned, each wrapped up in their own thoughts.
Suddenly, a loud ringtone shattered the watery stillness. Su Qingqing answered it immediately, like a breath-holding champion finally gasping for air. She felt like whoever was calling her right now must be guaranteed a spot in heaven.
A bright, cheerful voice came through. “Susu! Why haven’t you accepted my friend request?”
It was Ming Xue. Su Qingqing pulled the phone slightly away from her ear in surprise and finally noticed the little red notification dot. “Sorry, I wasn’t checking my phone. My bad, Sister Ming.”
“Come downstairs. I’m taking you to buy underwear,” Ming Xue said bluntly, then hesitated for a moment and asked, “Susu... do you even have any panties?”
Su Qingqing instinctively looked down at her cargo shorts. Underneath... was a pair of men’s boxer briefs.
Her pretty face immediately flushed crimson. She mumbled and stumbled before finally admitting, “No…”
“...Get down here,” Ming Xue sighed, palm to forehead.
Su Qingqing didn’t have much to pack. She straightened her clothes slightly and was just about to leave when Yu Zhongmeng suddenly called out, “You like this song too?”
She meant the ringtone—Xia Zhiyu’s “Love Suicide.” Su Qingqing nodded.
“A friend of mine liked that song too. Said it was really romantic.”
Romantic didn’t matter.
Without even turning her head, Su Qingqing walked out of the dorm and changed her ringtone back to default. Sometimes, the strange mutual understanding she shared with Yu Zhongmeng was just plain annoying—like now.
Who did Yu Zhongmeng think she was, anyway? The past should stay in the past. What mattered was living in the now—and the future!
Why waste her time obsessing over Yu Zhongmeng when she had someone as amazing as Ming Xue waiting outside—a sporty, pretty big-sister type? Pfft!
When Su Qingqing reached the dorm entrance, her smile bloomed once again like the sun.
“Susu~ Over here!”
Under the shade of a tree, Ming Xue waved. She was holding a small white opaque bag. When Su Qingqing approached, she handed it over, brushing her bangs aside and placing a folded tissue on her forehead. Her fingers fanned tiny breezes over her flushed cheeks as she puffed a little breath.
“So hot I could die.”
“Want me to get you a Coke?”
“Ugh, don’t even bring it up. I didn’t finish my water earlier and left it somewhere. So annoying.” Ming Xue huffed, then pointed at the bag in Su Qingqing’s hands. “That’s... a new pair I bought. If you really don’t have any, use these for now.”
Su Qingqing gave her a strange look. Ming Xue suddenly realized what she’d said and quickly slapped a hand over Su Qingqing’s soft lips, growling, “I’ve never worn them! Still sealed in the packaging! What’s with that look in your eyes?!”
Su Qingqing mumbled a few times—her mouth and nose were completely smothered by that palm.
“Thank you, Sister Ming.” Breathing in fresh air again, Su Qingqing softly murmured her thanks.
“Come on, I’ll take you shopping for underwear.” Ming Xue, whether in appearance or personality, truly embodied the big sister archetype. As Su Qingqing gazed at her, she found the feeling a little strange.
Was this really the same class assistant who liked being scolded?
Suddenly, Su Qingqing patted Ming Xue’s shoulder. “Hey, Sister Ming, do you have a boyfriend?”
Ming Xue snorted and shook her head, ponytail swishing back and forth. “With my looks and my bank account, I’ve got tons of friends—do I look like someone who needs a boyfriend?”
Su Qingqing nodded seriously. “Mm-hmm. So... do you need a girlfriend?”
(End of Chapter)