So…
To look, or not to look?
Yu Qing’s fingertip was almost touching the cold phone screen, her heartbeat pounding like a drum, making her brain feel dizzy.
Zhou Min’s phone lay under the pillow, its screen still lit, playing a funny short video—like a Pandora’s Box within easy reach.
What could be inside the phone?
A chat record with Fu Yi?
Or their private album for the three of them?
Or perhaps other information related to Fu Yi?
The immense temptation lay before Yu Qing, like the Sea Siren’s Song from a fairy tale, whispering madly in her ear.
However, just as her finger was about to touch, Yu Qing suddenly jerked her hand back, as if struck by an invisible current.
No… No.
The timing’s not right.
Zhou Min could come out of the kitchen at any moment, and though Lin Wei was watching TV, who knew when she’d suddenly look over?
The risk was too high, and there was no guarantee of an equal reward.
And even if she looked, so what?
What key information could she find in just a few minutes?
Apart from increasing the risk of exposure, it wouldn’t help her at all.
Besides… this was Zhou Min’s privacy.
“……”
Come on, man, are you kidding?
You’re already prepared to take over someone’s life, but still care about invading their privacy?
Yu Qing laughed at herself, but for some reason, she did hesitate.
This near-instinctive resistance even surprised her a little.
What the hell, isn’t it just that even if you looked, you might not gain anything?
The gain doesn’t match the risk—don’t try to make yourself look noble.
Ever since she decided to play the junior, Yu Qing had already become a complete jerk.
Annoyed, Yu Qing put the pillow back over the phone until it completely covered the light, as if that could block out the temptation.
She slumped back onto the sofa, grabbed the Water Cup, and took several big gulps, trying to calm her restlessness.
When she looked at Lin Wei again, she was laughing out loud at a variety show activity, looking like a child who never grew up.
Dinner was ready soon.
Zhou Min’s cooking skills were surprisingly good.
She turned a simple tomato meat sauce pasta into something tangy and appetizing, with noodles of perfect firmness.
The three sat together, the warm yellow light overhead making the atmosphere cozy.
Lin Wei ate without a care for her image, chattering away with comments about the TV show between bites.
Zhou Min listened quietly, occasionally chiming in, but more often she was giving noodles from her own bowl to Yu Qing and Lin Wei, acting naturally, as if afraid they wouldn’t eat enough—like a nagging mother.
As for Yu Qing, she wasn’t nearly as at ease.
Most of the time at the table, she just ate in silence.
The pasta was delicious, but her worries made it taste like wax.
She could feel Zhou Min’s gaze occasionally fall on her.
Honestly, she couldn’t read the meaning in those eyes, but a chill ran down her spine for no reason.
The three plates of pasta were quickly finished.
Lin Wei’s appetite was surprisingly large, and to fill her up, Yu Qing even gave her some of her own noodles—but this only earned her a scrutinizing look from Zhou Min, making Yu Qing’s teeth ache.
After dinner, Lin Wei volunteered to wash the dishes.
Yu Qing, wanting to clear her head, decided to help and tidy up the kitchen.
Yu Qing had thought this would go smoothly—but the problem came from someone else.
“Weiwei… you’re not using Dishwashing Liquid to wash the plates?”
Watching Lin Wei rinse the plates a couple of times and then put them straight into the cupboard, Yu Qing couldn’t help a Soul Inquiry.
“Nope! This is already clean enough! Tableware used by a beautiful girl doesn’t leave stains!”
Lin Wei said matter-of-factly.
“Besides, if you wash it clean, then next time you can’t use the plate Yiyi used! That won’t do. I can’t let Yiyi find out!”
Hey, I already know! What kind of normal person says their inner thoughts out loud?
Are you really only satisfied if I lower my opinion of you to a paramecium?
“Let’s not even talk about where your weird theory comes from! From now on, you’re not allowed to wash the plates!”
Yu Qing held her forehead in helplessness and promptly pushed Lin Wei out of the kitchen.
With this paramecium around, who knew how much more trouble she’d cause.
The sound of running water echoed.
Yu Qing was the only one left in the kitchen.
The air became a bit still again, broken only by bursts of laughter from the TV, but none of it stirred Yu Qing’s heart.
After finishing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen, Yu Qing stepped out.
At this moment, only Zhou Min was on the sofa.
Looking around, she saw the Shower Room light was on—Lin Wei had probably gone to take a bath.
“She’s always like that—clumsy.”
Zhou Min suddenly spoke, looking toward the bathroom, her tone carrying helpless affection.
“Mm… she’s kind of cute.”
Yu Qing replied dryly, choosing a small single armchair to sit in, trying to keep her distance from Zhou Min.
Zhou Min turned to look at her, a faint smile on her lips.
“Yeah, silly and simple-minded. Not like some people.”
Her gaze seemed to carry a deeper meaning.
“Why sit so far away? Come closer—let me get a good look at our precious Yiyi.”
Yu Qing’s heart skipped a beat.
She pretended not to hear, lowering her head and fiddling with the hem of her clothes.
Zhou Min, seeing this, just chuckled softly and didn’t push further.
The air grew tense for a moment.
Fortunately, Lin Wei soon emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a bath towel, her wet hair dripping, and called out for Yu Qing to hurry and shower.
Yu Qing, as if granted amnesty, immediately got up and almost fled into the Shower Room.
Only after locking the door and leaning against the cold frosted glass did she let out a long breath.
The bathroom was still filled with the sweet scent of Shower Gel and steam left by Lin Wei.
Thinking that this bathroom had just been used by Lin Wei, Yu Qing couldn’t help but blush.
She surveyed the oversized bathroom.
It had everything—a Sink Counter, Vanity Mirror, a Bathtub large enough for four, and even a Dressing Wardrobe like those in a bathhouse.
There were plenty of toiletries on the Sink Counter too, most of them labeled in English.
Luckily, Yu Qing had some English skills; otherwise, she might not even be able to tell Shampoo from Shower Gel, which would’ve been embarrassing.
After checking her surroundings, Yu Qing looked at herself in the Vanity Mirror.
Looking at the glamorous “her” in the mirror, a blush crept up her cheeks.
Actually, it wasn’t the first time she’d seen this body.
Back when she’d dressed herself up like a dress-up doll, she’d spent a lot of time admiring it in the mirror.
But this was the first time she’d used it for a bath.
Because that meant she really had to face this body openly.
It was a step she had to take eventually.
Yu Qing consoled herself internally.
Standing before the mirror, she slowly removed the ornate dress, folding it carefully and placing it in the Dressing Wardrobe.
As for the Black Pearl, Yu Qing had turned it into a necklace and wore it around her neck.
To prevent accidents, she didn’t put the necklace in the wardrobe, intending to bathe with it on.
The mirror gradually fogged up with steam, blurring the reflection of her body and making it hard to see clearly.
Yu Qing couldn’t tell if she felt relieved or disappointed.
Every time she looked at this body, it brought a strong visual impact—but this time felt different from all the others.
She groped for the shower, turning it on.
Warm water cascaded down, washing away her fatigue and tension for a while.
Yu Qing closed her eyes, letting the water run over her cheeks, trying to clear her mind of the mess.
At that moment—
“Click.”
A faint sound.
The bathroom lock had been opened from the outside!
?
I locked it, and you still pick it open—isn’t that crossing the line?
Yu Qing’s eyes snapped open, her heart leaping to her throat.
She instinctively grabbed a towel to cover herself, staring in terror at the door.
Through the swirling steam, Zhou Min’s figure appeared at the doorway, wearing only a silky camisole nightdress that outlined her shapely figure.
Her expression was unreadable, and she held a matching silk garment in her hand.
“Running in to shower without even bringing your pajamas? What, planning to go out naked? Aren’t you afraid Weiwei will eat you up?”
Zhou Min said with a light laugh.
Her gaze swept over Yu Qing, a flash of admiration quickly hidden, then she walked straight to the Bathtub and began filling it.
“Perfect timing. I wanted a bath too. Let’s do it together—saves water.”
Together?!
Yu Qing’s brain crashed.
All the blood rushed to her head, her face so hot it could fry an egg.