Shu Xiang Yuan wasn’t the kind of school district apartment Yu Qing had imagined, but a high-end residential complex adjacent to University Town, quiet and elegant.
As night fell, warm yellow streetlights stood on both sides of the road, their light dividing the greenery and darkness in layers.
At a glance, you could tell this was a place only the wealthy could afford.
But no matter how you looked at it, this wasn’t a place Yu Qing should be.
After getting off the subway, Yu Qing keenly sensed something strange.
Usually calm and rational, Zhou Min had started exuding an uncontrollable sense of joy the moment they left the station.
It wasn’t just Yu Qing; even Lin Wei, who was usually focused only on herself, frowned and noticed.
“Strange, isn’t it autumn now?”
Lin Wei mumbled out of nowhere, as if hinting at something.
Yu Qing shot her a puzzled look but was quickly defeated by Lin Wei’s cute antics.
Damn it, how could this primate be so disgustingly adorable!
Zhou Min heard the mutter too, but she would never argue with such a brainless woman.
The real offensive should be saved for the end—battles between the smart are usually won in one move!
So… where is this?
Yu Qing frowned and surveyed the surroundings.
She hadn’t seen these landscapes or buildings before, and in her memory, this wasn’t the road to school.
Rationality screamed warnings in her mind, signaling her to find a reason to leave quickly, but that would risk exposing her identity.
It was a tricky dilemma, one she’d been facing for days.
How could she make her abnormal behavior match Yimei’s unknown actions as closely as possible, reducing the risk of others realizing there were actually two Fu Yis?
While she pondered, the three arrived at the entrance of Shu Xiang Yuan.
Seeing the three characters for Shu Xiang Yuan, Yu Qing jolted.
Normally, she would have found an excuse to leave during a casual stroll, not waited until confronted with the answer to realize the crisis.
Damn, today she’d been thrown off by Da Lei and the camera, unconsciously wandering down this line of thought!
Shu Xiang Yuan… apartment…
She should have realized it sooner.
Why did Zhou Min always look at her so meaningfully whenever the dorm was mentioned?
So the problem was here all along!
Now there was a reason for Zhou Min’s oddness toward her!
She’d discovered the issue from the start!
“Weiwei, I suddenly feel a bit unwell. Let go of my hand—I need to take care of something alone.”
After much thought, Yu Qing finally chose the pee-escape, even if it would ruin Yimei’s image.
“Take care of it? Here?”
As expected, even someone as clueless as Lin Wei sensed the problem quickly.
She looked around uncertainly.
“This doesn’t seem right…”
“Aiya, Weiwei, I really can’t hold it anymore! Otherwise I wouldn’t say it out loud!”
Yu Qing finally decided to break, willing to risk all of Yimei’s reputation just to run!
Losing face was nothing.
If she went back to the apartment and ran into Yimei, that would be the end of the world!
Lin Wei hesitated, her grip on Yu Qing’s arm loosening.
Yu Qing’s heart leapt. She hurried to add fuel to the fire.
“In that case, Yiyi, I’ll keep watch for you.”
“Okay… huh?”
Yu Qing instinctively agreed, but at the last sentence, she stared at Zhou Min in shock.
At that moment, Zhou Min was standing with arms crossed, looking at her with interest.
“That… that’s not right, I should go alone…”
Yu Qing’s brain was overloaded, wanting to refuse.
“What’s wrong with it? Forget going to the bathroom together! We even shower together! Did you forget? Every time we shower, you make us hold you while we wash~”
?
Yu Qing’s lips parted slightly, unsure what to say.
Deep down, she didn’t believe Zhou Min, but from what she’d read in those novels, girls hugging and holding each other was normal.
Forget showering together—if the relationship was good, even doing those things to satisfy physiological needs was just daily routine.
She felt Zhou Min was lying, but didn’t dare to question it.
“I… I still think…”
By instinct, Yu Qing tried to struggle one last time.
“She’s not here~”
Zhou Min whispered in Yu Qing’s ear.
“She won’t be back tonight either. I asked.”
Then what was the point? If you say so, why am I still hesitating? I’m out.
“Suddenly not in a hurry anymore. Let’s go back.”
A hint of bitterness crept into Yu Qing’s smile.
Her tactics had failed before the battle even began; she’d even played the Empty City strategy, only to find out her opponent was Dian Wei all along.
She’d planned on a tug-of-war, but Zhou Min just slammed two kings in her face.
What’s left to play?
Fine, you win.
The elevator ascended smoothly.
In the cramped space, Lin Wei clung to Yu Qing’s arm like a koala, humming an off-key tune, as if nothing had left a mark in her mind.
Zhou Min stood on the other side, silently watching the floor numbers climb, her slender hand occasionally toying with the hair hanging at Yu Qing’s waist.
“Ding——”
The elevator door opened onto a quiet hallway.
Zhou Min stepped out first, took out a key, and unlocked a deep brown security door.
Yu Qing hesitated but couldn’t resist Lin Wei’s strength and was half-dragged inside.
The lights flicked on, and a warm glow washed over her, mingling with the scent of gardenias and a faint trace of food.
Yu Qing pressed down her unease, forgot her manners, and started observing the apartment in this high-end complex.
“We’re finally home!”
Lin Wei cheered, finally letting go of Yu Qing, kicked off her shoes, and dashed barefoot to collapse onto the soft, cream-colored sofa in the living room.
“So tired!”
Yu Qing stood at the entryway, feeling awkward.
Before her was a spacious, bright living room, decorated in a modern, minimalist ins style with cream, light gray, and natural wood tones.
Green plants and plenty of soft pillows decorated the space, making it cozy and comfortable.
Abstract paintings hung on the walls, the bookshelf was crammed full, and a standing lamp in the corner cast a gentle glow.
“Yiyi, what are you daydreaming about? Come in.”
Zhou Min’s voice broke Yu Qing’s daze.
Zhou Min had already changed into slippers and was taking out a pair of brand-new women’s slippers with cute pom-poms from the shoe cabinet, placing them at Yu Qing’s feet.
“These are new, never worn. But if you want hers, I can get those too.”
“N-no… it’s fine…”
Yu Qing thanked her softly, her cheeks already flushed.
“……”
“If possible, please get them for me anyway.”
Zhou Min gave Yu Qing a meaningful look.
At this moment, her face was so red it looked like blood might drip.
If she didn’t have to keep things from Lin Wei, Yu Qing would never have chosen to wear Yimei’s slippers!
She bent down, carefully took off her own little leather shoes, and put on the new slippers Zhou Min offered.
Her small feet, wrapped in black stockings, slipped inside, soft fuzz embracing her ankles.
It felt comfortable—though she was wearing them for the first time, it was as if they’d been tailored for her, making her feel like she was stepping on clouds, light and unreal.
Of course they weren’t really tailored.
Yu Qing gave a bitter smile, but also felt an inexplicable joy and excitement.