Chapter 18: Only a Door Between Us 

Collapsing onto her own sofa, Su Yao let out a long breath.

That whole library ordeal was like bungee jumping without a harness.

Her blood pressure had practically launched into orbit, and her heart had nearly flatlined—

All thanks to the rollercoaster encounter with Mu Nanqiu.

Luckily, the goddess had shown mercy, and she’d landed safely.

That was all in the past now.

But a new problem loomed on the horizon—

A future-tense dilemma.

Su Yao stared at the friend request still pending in her QQ app.

After a moment’s hesitation, she finally tapped “Accept” and added a remark: Yun Qing.

Moments after her acceptance, Yun Qing immediately sent over the meeting location.

A KTV…?

Su Yao blinked at the map link in disbelief.

A quick browser search:

“What is KTV?”

Encyclopedia entry:

A term originating from the Sakura Province, KTVs are venues offering karaoke, audiovisual rooms, and alcohol. Mainly nightlife establishments…

Su Yao’s face twisted with unease.

Alcohol? Nightlife?

Yeah nope, I’m out.

Her social experience was barely above “talking to the cashier.”

She had never been to a place that sounded this shady.

Wait… maybe she had?

Vague memories of being dragged into one back in high school floated up, but as a certified escapist, Su Yao had long buried anything “unpleasant.”

The only thing she remembered clearly was:

It was loud. Very, very loud.

“Nnn…”

She pouted.

Her gut screamed don’t go.

Yun Qing’s motives were unclear—

Was she trying to threaten her? Manipulate her? Lure her into something?

Su Yao tugged at her now-slightly-tamed hair.

It had finally grown to a decent length—

No longer the wild mop it used to be.

Still don’t want to go. Not even a little.

Yet beneath that resistance…

A strange curiosity stirred.

Maybe… a part of me kinda wants to try?

Her phone buzzed.

A message from Yun Qing:

“It’s not any of our classmates. Relax. No one will recognize you. I told them you’re just a friend of mine.”

Su Yao stared at the screen, not replying.

She was trying to find a gentle way to refuse.

But Yun Qing didn’t give her the chance.

“So, you’re coming… right, Su Yao?”

Su Yao frowned, typing cautiously:

“What if I say no?”

Yun Qing responded with just three words:

“Take a guess.”

Her brows knitted tighter.

Knew it. She’s threatening me!

Fueled by sudden rebellion, Su Yao shot back:

“Then I’m not going.”

To her surprise—

“Mhm, see you tonight~”

Huh? What kind of answer is that?!

Su Yao puffed out her cheeks.

I literally just said I’m not going! What’s with the “see you tonight”?!

Is she gonna teleport to my house or something?

Shrugging it off, Su Yao went to prepare dinner.

Some rice, reheated leftovers from the fridge—

Simple, but filling.

Just as she was about to start gaming, her phone buzzed again.

5:30 PM.

The message made her freeze.

“I’m outside your door. If you don’t want me to knock nonstop, I suggest you come open it.”

This woman is insane…

At first, Su Yao didn’t believe it.

But the moment she read the text—

Knock knock knock—!

Loud, incessant knocking echoed through the hallway like an execution drum.

She’s serious?!

How does she even know where I live?!

Then Su Yao remembered—

Their class group chat had a pinned address form with everyone’s details.

She’d stupidly filled in her full door number without thinking anyone would actually use it.

Damn it…

Knock knock knock—

It wouldn’t stop.

Worse, the knocks were loud enough to wake the neighbors—

Embarrassment burned her ears.

Su Yao considered pretending not to be home,

But Yun Qing’s knock rhythm screamed:

I will not leave until you open this door.

Afraid of causing a scene, Su Yao reluctantly crept to the entrance and cracked the door open—

Just enough for a face-to-face conversation.

Outside stood Yun Qing, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

Su Yao immediately wanted to slam the door shut.

But she knew—

If she did, the knocking would return.

Louder.

Longer.

So, swallowing her frustration, she kept the door at its narrow opening.

Just enough space for them to talk.

What she didn’t expect…

Was Yun Qing trying to widen that gap.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in to sit?”

“Whatever it is, just say it here. And for the record, I’m not going to a place like that. We’re not even that close.”

Su Yao wasn’t trying to be polite anymore.

“Say whatever you want. I’m not going.”

Her tone made it painfully clear—

She had no interest in Yun Qing.

Despite Yun Qing being the class monitor—popular with both boys and girls—

She and Su Yao had barely exchanged ten words since the semester began.

There was no specific reason behind it.

Su Yao simply disliked her.

Something about Yun Qing’s overly polished appearance and those strategically messy braids
screamed fake.

Not just a regular “green tea” type…

She was premium grade manipulative.

And Su Yao’s instincts told her to keep her distance.

Yun Qing, however, was totally unfazed.

Her expression remained calm and casual, as if she had expected this resistance all along.

“We’re not close now… But after tonight, we will be. Don’t you think?”

“I said I’m not going.”

Su Yao glared, eyes sharp and defensive.

To her, this was a predator trying to sneak into her den.

Yun Qing just smiled gently back.

In her eyes, Su Yao looked more like a puffed-up kitten than a threat.

Fierce in appearance—

But actually kind of adorable.

Peeking through the narrow crack in the door, Yun Qing continued:

“You know, I used to be just like you. But look at me now—

Going door-to-door inviting strangers out to hang.”

“What… does that mean?”

Su Yao frowned. Used to be like me?

Was she just saying that to sound relatable?

Then, Yun Qing pulled out her phone.

She flipped through her gallery and turned the screen toward the door.

The photo showed a girl with yellowish skin, choppy bangs, and outdated rural clothes.

“This was me. Grew up in the countryside, went to school in a tiny town. Didn’t make it to the city until college. Looks super frumpy, right? Even I think so.”

She gave a half-spin to show off her current look—

Stylish autumn outfit, sleek hair, makeup just right.

Su Yao had to admit—

Yun Qing was pretty. Maybe even rivaling Wang Jing.

But nowhere near Mu Nanqiu.

So it’s the classic ugly-duckling-becomes-swan backstory, huh?

Still…

And?

Su Yao shot her a look that said, get to the point.

Yun Qing tilted her head, half-joking.

“Don’t you want to become someone like me?”

“…”

Su Yao nearly slammed the door in her face.

In fact, she did.

Click. Deadbolt engaged.

Become like you? Ugh, I’d rather DIE.

Outside, Yun Qing blinked in surprise, then chuckled and raised her voice.

“Just joking~ Don’t be mad!”

A minute or two passed.

Yun Qing reached out, about to knock again—

But before her hand landed, the lock clicked again.

The door cracked open.

Same gap.

Same faces.

Same defensive posture.

Su Yao looked away, refusing to meet her eyes.

Yun Qing remained composed, her usual faint smile still in place.

Beautiful, yes—

But something about that smile made Su Yao’s skin crawl.

It was too calm.

Too knowing.

Su Yao took a deep breath and tried to steady herself.

“If you make another joke like that, I won’t open the door again.”

“Okay.”

Yun Qing nodded, then gave her a look.

Su Yao knew what she was asking.

Still, she didn’t want to go.

“I said I’m not going.”

Yun Qing’s reply was casual:

“It’s Hua-senpai who asked me to bring you. You know, Wang Jing-senpai’s friend.”

Su Yao flinched.

She remembered the eye contact—brief but unforgettable—with Hua Mingye.

Why is she asking for me?

Before she could process it, Yun Qing delivered another blow:

“Oh, and Wang Jing-senpai will be there too~”

“What about… Mu-senpai?”

This time, Yun Qing hesitated.

She thought for a moment before answering:

“She’s not invited.”

“Why me? I don’t… I don’t like that kind of environment.”

Su Yao didn’t believe a single brief interaction was enough to draw Hua Mingye’s attention.

She had to know their real motives.

Until then, no way was she leaving her home base.

If it comes down to it… I’ll just go full hermit mode.

Yun Qing’s eyes flickered for just a second—

A trace of amusement—

But her tone remained light and sincere:

“Wang Jing-senpai seems to have feelings for you. This is her way of… making a move. I’m just the wingwoman.”

“…”

So that’s what this is about.

A matchmaking attempt?

But Su Yao had already made things clear to Wang Jing.

They were friends. Nothing more.

She didn’t want things getting messy.

Especially now, in this unfamiliar, still-changing body…

It was better to keep things simple.

Keep a door between herself and the world.

Just like this—

A crack wide enough to talk, but not enough to let anyone in.

“I…”

“Su Yao, don’t you like it… when someone invites you to hang out?”

That one hit her like a dart to the chest.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go.

She just didn’t know how to be the one who says yes first.

She wasn’t good at reaching out—

That’s all.

She glanced up at Yun Qing’s straight posture, that unwavering smile.

Then lowered her eyes again and mumbled:

“You should go.”

She shut the door.

Click.

Locked again.

Yun Qing grinned as she turned and walked away.

She’ll come.

She knew the type.

Because once upon a time,

She was that type—

Until the day she met Onee-sama.