In the dormitory with just the two of them.
Song Qiuyu chose the spot with the best lighting to stand.
To ensure the best impression for the person beside her and the best look on camera, she straightened her chest and lifted her chin, resting one small hand on her hip.
“We look like a couple on vacation taking photos together.”
Looking at the two people leaning against each other on the phone screen, Jiang Xiao suddenly spoke as if struck by some feeling.
At his words, Song Qiuyu’s heart suddenly sped up, and the smile she gave the camera froze a little on her face.
For some reason, a memory that didn’t belong to her surfaced in her mind.
Drunk, she had acted coquettishly toward Jiang Xiao; he had stroked her head, tousled her hair, then lowered his head and said something similar to those words…
Come to think of it, she had gotten drunk again the night before last, and the things that happened after drinking were all fuzzy in her memory…
Could she ask?
Could she ask Jiang Xiao if he had said those words that night?
She felt like a flammable material set alight; once ignited, her whole body blazed up. Within a few breaths, her neck, ears, and face had all flushed a deep, shameful red.
“Now it looks even more like it.”
Jiang Xiao turned his face, smiling as he looked at her flushed expression, his gaze gentle and pure.
Song Qiuyu didn’t look at him but instead nervously glanced at the person looking back at her on the phone screen, biting her lip.
What’s up with this Jiang Xiao? Turns out he’s pretty good at flirting?
If he were flirting with some other girl, she might have already been so overwhelmed that she’d be imagining getting beaten with a stick.
But now, flirting with her, his male dorm mate, what’s his intention?
“Haah…”
Her thoughts were a mess. She took a low breath, trying not to let him notice, steadying her breathing. Her fair legs clenched tightly.
Standing beside Jiang Xiao was kind of torturous.
But…
She probably was overthinking it. Jiang Xiao wouldn’t have any reason to flirt with her. Maybe… it was just her imagination? Because the pressure lately was too much, nerves too tense?
Her facial expression was about to lose control.
She forced a smile, then accidentally caught sight of Jiang Xiao’s large hand that had quietly moved around her waist—yet hadn’t done anything. Her expression froze for a moment.
Was Jiang Xiao trying to hold her waist?
A pure, innocent boy like Jiang Xiao wouldn’t have any bad intentions—maybe he just wanted to feel what it’s like to hold a girl’s waist.
Luckily, this girl was a male dorm mate, not a real girl he couldn’t just touch freely…
But bound by all kinds of boundaries, unwilling to act—that’s simply one word:
Cowardly.
Thinking this, Song Qiuyu’s mood became complicated. She didn’t want to think further, treating it as atonement and decisively grabbed his hand resting on her side.
Jiang Xiao was stunned, his hand stiffened when caught.
“This looks even more like it!”
Song Qiuyu tilted her delicate face up, her beautiful apricot eyes blinking at Jiang Xiao. She believed this excuse was flawless.
Be grateful, Jiang Xiao—this is Shen Xi’s waist!
Jiang Xiao looked down at her smiling face, his pupils gradually dilating, somewhat unable to believe it.
The hand she grabbed and placed on her side gradually heated up, a little lost on whether to let her keep holding or to pull away.
Her way of retaliatory teasing always surprised him.
He couldn’t deny that his heart was cheering uncontrollably from her move and the close contact.
So close, it was the kind of distance where he could pretend to accidentally kiss her forehead.
Song Qiuyu’s eyelashes fluttered, instinctively sensing danger.
She couldn’t explain it, but her body really wanted to leave this spot—as if if she didn’t move now, something would pull her deep into a mire, trapping her.
Suddenly, Jiang Xiao laughed.
Song Qiuyu tensed, stunned, as Jiang Xiao’s face gradually returned to the handsome, sunny image she remembered.
Those cold, pond-like, emotionless eyes now revealed a gentleness anyone could see.
Under such a gentle gaze, her expression became a little blank. But when she noticed him about to press the shutter button, she hurriedly regained composure.
Calm down. Stay calm.
If Jiang Xiao noticed anything unusual, her secret would be blown!
Jiang Xiao saw her forced composure, pretended to be blind, and smiled wider.
Click.
The photo froze on the moment he held her waist and smiled back at her.
In the end, Jiang Xiao didn’t follow the impulse that suddenly flashed through his mind to kiss her forehead, restraining his wicked thoughts just in time.
He was no fool; once something like that started, it probably wouldn’t stop easily.
Not something that could be solved with a few forehead kisses.
As soon as she let go of his hand, Jiang Xiao immediately pulled back his hand from her side.
Fragrant, soft… the scent on her and the feeling of her waist all lingered on his palm.
His fingers curled tightly, knuckles faintly whitening.
The ripple she caused inside him refused to calm, but his handsome, cold face had to maintain a controlled expression.
Yet the girl beside him was like a mischievous little succubus, her tank top pressed against his chest with slight wrinkles as she shifted.
Because it was fake breasts, she unknowingly pressed too close.
For her, probably no big deal. But for him, it was different.
Never having experienced the real thing, Jiang Xiao was already struggling to hold steady just from encountering the fake, and of course, ultimately because the wearer was the reason.
Song Qiuyi…
“I’m going to change.”
Without lingering, Song Qiuyu blushed and turned to head to the bathroom.
At that moment, her phone on her seat beeped—a new QQ message arrived.
Instantly, Song Qiuyu slammed on the brakes.
She didn’t know if it was important, but since there was a message, she definitely needed to check it quickly.
It wouldn’t do to miss something urgent.
She sighed lightly, her unsettled mood accompanying her as she turned back, walked directly to her seat, and picked up the phone.
Opening it, she saw Party A reminding them that the items had been delivered to the school gate and asking if they had time to pick them up now.
Before she could react—
“What’s wrong? Who sent the message?”
Jiang Xiao’s voice came from behind.
“It’s Party A. The goods and the Catgirl Costume have arrived at the school gate.” Song Qiuyu paused, took a deep breath, and said.
Hearing this, Jiang Xiao also walked over and stood beside her, his gaze falling on her phone screen.
Only Party A had messaged in the group chat so far; others seemed not to have seen it yet.
“I’ll go get it.”
Jiang Xiao glanced at the group chat message, then looked up at her and said decisively.
“Hmm?”
Song Qiuyu instinctively turned her head—but in doing so, half her face nearly buried in his solid chest, causing her heart to beat faster.
So close.
And looking up close, this guy’s chest muscles were quite large—bigger than hers as a girl.
Why did this bring a strange sense of defeat?
She didn’t want a chest that big.
Before she could respond, Jiang Xiao lowered his eyes and calmly repeated his words.
Upon hearing that, Song Qiuyu seemed to come to her senses, shook her head, and said, “No need, let Xie and Zhu go get it. They’re already outside anyway, so it’s just a quick errand.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Xiao nodded in quiet agreement.
Then Song Qiuyu privately messaged the two roommates outside, got the replies she wanted, and immediately replied to Party A.
“All right, I’ll go change first.”
Done, she put down the phone, quickly walked past Jiang Xiao, and rushed into the bathroom.
Like a frightened rabbit narrowly escaping a carefully set trap, she hopped back to the refuge she believed safe.
Jiang Xiao turned to watch her but said nothing.
The bathroom door closed, freeing their tense nerves and chaotic heartbeats.
Leaning against the door, Song Qiuyu gasped, sweating despite it being late November winter.
The sweat under her clothes was sticky and hot, making her feel uncomfortable all over.
Her heartbeat was deafening; she ignored it and hurriedly took off the cosplay costume, then thought it over and simply turned on the water.
Since the Catgirl Costume had arrived, once Xie Zhuran and the others brought the clothes back, she would need to try it on.
She couldn’t wear it with sweat still on her.
A shower was best.
The sound of running water filtered into Jiang Xiao’s ears. He frowned, quietly walked back to his seat, pulled out his chair, and sat down.
He stared at the photo on his phone, lost in thought, seemingly immersed in memories.
Some time passed before the bathroom water stopped.
With a creak, the bathroom door opened.
“Phew, hot showers feel so good!”
Song Qiuyu sighed contentedly, lazily stepping out of the bathroom, already dressed in the same clothes she’d worn at first.
As for underwear, though they weren’t dirty, she normally didn’t want to change them. But ever since she became a girl, she had developed a habit of changing everything after showering.
If she didn’t put on new ones, that small spot on her body felt indescribably uncomfortable.
But today she only remembered she hadn’t brought any spare underwear after showering…
And it was awkward to ask Jiang Xiao again.
So, she wasn’t wearing any.
Feigning calm, she tossed the dirty cosplay costume into the basin. After all, she’d bought it with her own money. It wasn’t like underwear, which needed special care, so she planned to wash it first.
Then, taking a deep breath, she forced herself to walk past Jiang Xiao from behind, climbed up the stairs, and got onto the bed.
Fortunately, Jiang Xiao hadn’t looked at her once during the whole walk, so it was relatively easy.
Right after, she opened the wardrobe, found clean underwear, and thinking that taking it downstairs to the bathroom would expose the fact she wasn’t wearing any, bit the bullet and carefully put it on while still on the bed.
However, the subtle movement on the bed was clearly heard by Jiang Xiao, who turned his head and looked at the person on the adjacent bed with a silent smile.
Living in the dorm was like this—kind of troublesome—but renting a place outside would be more convenient.