Night quietly descended, and the sky gradually darkened.
Ji Yueniang went out for dinner, and on her way back she ran into Luo Yikang and Liu Yao.
Strangely enough, ever since Liu Yao moved into 802, Luo Yikang’s “playboy” tendencies seemed to have disappeared. No more flirting with girls, no more jokes, and not even any late-night discussions of risqué topics.
Usually, everyone in the group would share lewd pictures, debate over whether black stockings were sexier or if white ones were more exciting, and banter about which type of legs they liked best. When needed, they’d even recommend video resources to each other, and Luo Yikang had always been the most enthusiastic.
You had to know, this guy used to constantly send out ambiguous photos—one hand holding a hotel room card, the other holding hands with a girl. But now, Luo Yikang was like an enlightened monk who had seen through the vanity of the world: pure-hearted, free of desire, and with a wise, detached expression.
Ji Yueniang chalked it up to “you become like those you spend time with”—maybe Liu Yao was just that quality bro who’d subtly influenced Luo Yikang’s playboy ways.
“Shhh-shhh-shhh,” the faint sound of the showerhead came from the bathroom; clearly, someone was bathing. Ji Yueniang didn’t pay it much attention and opened her recent Crusader King save file, transforming herself into a “Minotaur Warrior,” going wild as a powerhouse.
“Old Yao, I forgot something, it’s in my drawer, the red bag. Can you grab it for me? You don’t need to open the bag.” Suddenly, a voice tinged with a hint of shyness called out from the bathroom.
“Right away, you keep showering, I’ll grab it after this round.” Yao Shiming replied quickly, his hands still deftly working his game controller.
“Okay.”
Ji Yueniang glanced over. Hu Li’s drawer wasn’t far, just beside her. She only needed to stretch out a hand to grab it.
“Old Hu, I’ll get it for you.”
As she spoke, Ji Yueniang reached to pull open the drawer, but before Hu Li in the bathroom could answer, Yao Shiming—still gaming nearby—suddenly jumped up, hurriedly put down his phone, and snatched up the red bag.
“Old Ji, no need to trouble yourself with such a small thing, let me handle it.” Yao Shiming said as he briskly walked to the bathroom door and handed the red cloth bag inside.
Ji Yueniang: ???
When Hu Li finished showering, she came out with wet hair. Immediately, Liu Yao grabbed Luo Yikang by the ear and forcibly dragged him into the bathroom, insisting that Luo Yikang help scrub her back.
About half an hour later, Liu Yao emerged from the bathroom looking fresh and relaxed, but behind her, Yikang’s steps were unsteady and weak, his whole body swaying as if he might collapse at any moment.
Night grew deeper, and almost everyone in dorm 802 was already asleep—even Ji Yueniang was no exception. Outside, the night wind rustled the tree branches; the moonlight spilled down, casting a wavering shadow on the balcony.
No one knew when Hu Li woke up and came to the balcony, gazing up at the brilliant moon embedded in the night sky. Suddenly, a faint sound came from behind her.
“How’s the moon tonight?” Liu Yao came over, also looking up at the night sky.
“It’s pretty curved.” Hu Li glanced sideways at Liu Yao’s two bouncing bulges, unabashedly swaying, and said flatly, “Classmate Liu Yao, your pecs are quite showy.”
“Thanks for the compliment. Yours are…,” Liu Yao smiled, covering her mouth, but then noticed Hu Li’s only slightly raised chest and quickly changed her words, “…there’s a lot of room for growth.”
“What are you doing in our dorm?”
“For a certain someone. And now I’m also part of 802, so 802 is my dorm too.”
“You like him?”
“Wrong, I love him. Without him, I wouldn’t have known how to get through those two years.”
… “Whatever’s between you and him is none of my business, but I need to study for the college entrance exam and get into a good university. I want to study in peace, so I hope you two don’t make too much noise.”
“Got it, got it, Hu Li is such a good student. But isn’t there a boy who seems to like you? Don’t you want a passionate romance before graduation?”
“He’s got a fiancée, and I’m not interested in boys.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, I used to think the same way.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean let’s speak frankly. When are you planning your surgery? Who knows, as someone who’s been through it, maybe I can give you some advice.”
“No need.”
“Really? Little sister, you don’t want a mistake in your student records to cost you your exam eligibility, do you?”
“What are you trying to do?”
“Nothing much. Just, over the next year, let’s cover for each other. You don’t have to worry about the one who likes you, but our dear dorm leader—I can’t figure her out. So, for my Kangkang and for your exams, why not work together?”
Hu Li was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”
“Little sister, remember to call me ‘Big Sis’ in private.”
“Get lost.”
“Lame.” Liu Yao shrugged, her fair hand extended, lips curling up: “Let’s get acquainted all over again.”
“Liu Yao.”
“Lin Li.”
Their two pale hands clasped lightly, the brief touch carrying a subtle probe before letting go quickly.
Silvery moonlight poured down again, casting over their slender figures. The two exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them.
Ji Yueniang felt like she was being given the cold shoulder.
As a campus tyrant, it was ironic to be bullied by others. Strangely, the new Liu Yao and Hu Li seemed to be conspiring to deliberately isolate her.
Although they still called her “Old Ji” and “Brother Ji” with their mouths, their actions were honest—there was definitely something they were hiding from her.
It made Ji Yueniang exceptionally troubled.
“So, what do you plan to do?” Jiang Chi sat on the bed, cradling a cup of tea, and handed it to the person in front of him.
The girl on the bed lounged lazily against the headboard. The flush on her slender neck hadn’t faded yet, her long hair spilling loosely, revealing a delicate, beautiful collarbone. Looking a little closer, a hint of spring could be glimpsed, captivating to the eye.
“No clue.” She took the tea, blew on it gently, looking rather melancholy.
Just after enjoying herself, taking advantage of her good mood, Ji Yueniang treated Jiang Chi like a confession box, half venting her frustrations, half sighing as she recounted everything about her dorm situation.
She hadn’t expected that, after two years of being dorm leader and getting along well with her roommates, she’d now be facing isolation. That kind of feeling couldn’t be summed up in a few words.
“Why not move out and live with me?” Jiang Chi suggested.
Of course, he didn’t mean moving to the Jiang family home, but to this rental apartment—which Ji Yueniang originally leased when she disguised herself as “Ji Qingchan,” but which Jiang Chi later tracked down the landlord for and spent several hundred thousand yuan to get the property deed transferred to his name.
“In your dreams.” Ji Yueniang snorted.
“I know you’re into me, but I’m really not into girls. If I moved in, you’d pin me to the bed sooner or later.
“I told you, right now it’s just mutual need—pure friends with benefits… No, actually, since you’re still a virgin, calling it friends with benefits is giving you too much credit.”
“Chi Bao, wake up, let’s not even talk about going public—I’m such a macho girl, you don’t stand a chance.”
The beauty tilted her head proudly, her bright eyes full of confidence and pride. Yet those two bouncing, sinful orbs seemed to silently mock something.
“…,” Jiang Chi fell silent.
After a while, he took out the golden bell and shook it: “In that case, let’s play a game first.”
I know you’re into me, but I’m really not into girls. If I moved in, you’d pin me to the bed sooner or later.
Isn’t it boys here? Or she joking with him?