The second day of classes carried on as usual, with only one difference—Liu Xie.
She seemed to have arrived a bit late today. When the teacher called her name and asked why she hadn’t checked in, she had just reached the doorway, and at the same time, Zhu Niao, who had stood up, spoke as well.
“Teacher, I’m Liu Xie. My phone ran out of battery.”
“Teacher, I’m Liu Xie. I just went to the restroom.”
Their gazes met midair.
Zhu Niao let out an exasperated laugh.
As Liu Xie took her seat, a private “dorm meeting” among the few of them began.
“Hey, what’s going on with you today?” Zhu Niao leaned over, looking at her. “I know your brother dragged you off yesterday, but no way that made you sleep in this much, right?”
Ye Qingchang looked worried. “Honestly, even though we don’t want to think this way… second sister, you didn’t actually get taken down by your brother, did you? He really looked like he was craving you.”
Normally, during her cycle, Liu Anran would bring Liu Xie from home before the first class every day. Even when picking her up from outside campus, he always made sure there was plenty of time—sometimes she even arrived early enough to grab seats.
She had never been late before.
“You don’t know anything,” Liu Xie scoffed, straightening her collar. “Just a brat going through puberty. I’ve got him completely under control. I was late this morning because I took some time to ‘educate’ him—had him crying his eyes out. Restored my authority as the older one.”
“Oh? Really?” Zhu Niao tilted her head and glanced at Ye Qingchang.
Their expressions clearly showed doubt.
“Of course it’s true.” Liu Xie patted her chest, the motion making both of her roommates’ eyelids twitch. “After I set him straight, he had no choice but to agree to my demands. Instead of going home with him every day, now it’s just weekends.”
“Why does that sound like you compromised?” Zhu Niao shot back.
“I admit there was a tiny bit of compromise,” Liu Xie said, crossing her arms with a serious look. “At first, I completely rejected his idea. But he kept begging and agreeing to all sorts of conditions, so I reluctantly agreed to weekends.”
“Something feels off,” Zhu Niao muttered, rubbing her chin with a finger-gun gesture.
“I think the truth is he suggested living together every day, and she’s the one who begged to reduce it to weekends,” Ye Qingchang said decisively.
“You’re both overthinking it. My authority as the older one is still intact. When we’re alone, he doesn’t even dare lift his head,” Liu Xie insisted stubbornly.
‘What are we eating for lunch today?’ Yang Shuli asked in the group chat.
The three ignored her.
Liu Xie lightly tapped the desk. “I’m serious. There’s still a day before the weekend. Just watch whether Liu Anran picks me up today.”
“Bro, that’s not what we’re focused on,” Zhu Niao gestured.
“Just trust me. I’ve got my own rhythm.”
“Hm?” Ye Qingchang suddenly looked up. “Since when do you say something like that?”
‘So what are we eating for lunch? Lao Xu has something to do today, I’ll join you guys,’ Yang Shuli added.
Still no response.
“I just think that phrase suddenly fits,” Liu Xie said. “As long as you trust me, I’ll make Liu Anran suffer a crushing defeat.”
That’s what she said.
Unfortunately, she didn’t even dare lower her collar.
Thankfully, it didn’t look too strange raised like that. Otherwise, her dear roommates would definitely have pulled it down to take a look.
And then they would have seen the red mark on her collarbone.
Left there by Liu Anran this morning.
Liu Xie had already been annoyed about having to wake up early. She had squirmed in bed for a long time, the thought of skipping class echoing in her mind.
That was always the moment when the urge to take leave was strongest—yet most of the time, she had to talk herself into going anyway.
But this time, she didn’t have to convince herself.
Liu Anran walked over with coffee, the smell of breakfast ready in the air.
Then he told her, if she didn’t want to go, she didn’t have to.
She knew he wasn’t saying it like a parent making empty threats. He meant it.
Still, she felt it wasn’t necessary. So she threw off the blanket.
Then she quickly pulled her slipped strap back onto her shoulder.
Only then did she realize Liu Anran was right there—and not the same Liu Anran as before. Now he was like a wolf baring its fangs.
She hurriedly covered herself, even though there wasn’t much to cover. But Liu Anran simply turned around calmly and told her to eat breakfast.
That was when confusion took over.
She knew she looked quite alluring in that state—probably the most provocative among her dormmates. It didn’t make sense that Liu Anran, who had already stopped pretending, showed no interest at all.
Even at night, when they slept, he only held her from behind by the waist.
That made her start to wonder.
Her dear little brother—well, not so “dear” anymore.
She began to suspect something might be wrong with him.
So she decided to test him.
The test subject, naturally, was herself.
She loosened her collar slightly, then dropped her hair tie on the floor while washing up.
Facing Liu Anran, she bent down deliberately, ensuring the view from his angle would be… unobstructed.
To make it foolproof, she even called him over to help look for it.
And casually brushed against him.
Just as she thought her plan was flawless, her hands were suddenly pinned, and she was pressed against the wall facing him.
Her mind went blank, but she clearly remembered his voice, strained with restraint.
“Don’t do this. I don’t want to hurt you,” he said. “You need to learn.”
That was how the red mark appeared on her collarbone.
She had been wrong.
Her body was indeed very enticing.
She had also been wrong about him—there was nothing wrong with Liu Anran. Even through the fabric, she had felt it clearly.
And she was wrong about one more thing.
She wouldn’t dare try that again.