Xu Chuyao and Shen Ning lived in the same dormitory building, not far from each other—just not on the same floor. That’s why, back then, she could “borrow” takeaway chopsticks with ease—it was just a matter of grabbing them on the way downstairs.
Now, walking into the dorm building together and passing the delivery locker downstairs, Shen Ning couldn’t help but recall that stolen takeout incident. And now, the perpetrator of that heinous crime—the thunderstruck girl herself—was right beside her, cheerfully walking up to her room.
“I’ve actually always wanted to visit Shen Ning’s dorm.”
“What a clean floor and tidy desk—Shen Ning really is as neat as she looks.”
“Even living alone, you manage to keep everything so lovely. I’m seriously impressed.”
Something’s off. Very off. Like, 90% off.
As soon as Xu Chuyao entered Shen Ning’s dorm, she turned into the Queen of Flattery. First praising the overall ambiance, then the décor, and finally emphasizing how tough it must be to do it all alone. After that, she zoomed in on the little details:
“This pillow is so small and cute!”
“The blanket doesn’t have any flashy prints—I like this simple and elegant style too!”
“Curtains say a lot about a person’s taste. These European-style ones? Totally Fibonacci aesthetics… Just kidding! I’m actually a pre-Awakening era cultural expert. Totally not making up random names.”
“This cup is cute too. But… um, where’s the lid?”
“You stole it,” Shen Ning said, deadpan.
Xu Chuyao’s cute, well-behaved expression froze. She quickly set the cup down and shifted to a new topic: “Look what I found—a pair of reusable bamboo chopsticks! Clean, hygienic, eco-friendly… How thoughtful of you to keep a pair in your room, Shen Ning!”
Still expressionless, Shen Ning replied, her red eyes boring into her: “Because someone stole my takeout chopsticks, I was forced to buy these. And it’s not just one pair. There’s an entire pack hidden under my mattress. Just in case you steal again.”
The memory of that injustice clenched her fists without her even realizing it.
“Hahaha, you’re so funny, Shen Ning~ I only temporarily borrowed them… Anyway, let’s not dwell on the past.”
Xu Chuyao sat obediently on the edge of the bed, her fair, glossy legs modestly together and her hands neatly folded on her lap—like an elementary school kid attentively listening in class.
Except elementary schoolers don’t have that kind of slime-level chest.
“You invited me over, Shen Ning. You must have something important to show me, right? I can’t wait to see your new clothes!”
Aren’t you just reading the script aloud now? Self-Q&A, really?
Whatever. Let’s just get this mission done.
Shen Ning walked to the other side of the bed, opened a few shopping bags, and began taking off her gray hoodie. But halfway through, she felt something was… off. Lifting her head, she caught sight of Xu Chuyao staring at her with sparkling eyes.
“What?” Shen Ning asked. “Feeling shy watching me change?”
Xu Chuyao blinked playfully. “Need me to turn around?”
“No need. I’m just changing my outerwear.”
Shen Ning figured if she got flustered now, it’d make her look weak. Besides, she was wearing a sports bra underneath—nothing to be shy about. So, in one swift motion, she whipped off the hoodie.
“You have such a great figure, Shen Ning! That waist—so slim! And your skin—so pale! And your chest, well… small, but still adorable!”
“…Turn around. Now.”
Because the white-haired girl failed to maintain frontal resistance, Chuyao got sentenced to play the role of the “Steel-Backed Beast.”
A few minutes later, Shen Ning stood at the bed’s edge, staring at Xu Chuyao’s back and—for the first time ever—feeling a little nervous.
“You can turn around now. What do you think of this one?”
She’d been looking forward to this for days. Even when crushing it at the mall earlier, it was in the back of her mind. And now, she was finally wearing it, dying to hear what her future wife thought.
“It’s great!” Xu Chuyao’s eyes lit up. “Blue-and-white, sailor-style school uniform—so pure and clean!”
Sounded like a compliment. And Shen Ning’s earlier nerves melted a little. But something felt… lacking. “Can you be a bit more sincere? Don’t make it sound like your usual flattery.”
You praised a pair of chopsticks like that earlier. One might think you were planning to steal them next time.
Xu Chuyao pouted. “But I am being sincere! That was from the heart! I didn’t even make up a random name this time!”
So that “Fibonacci aesthetics” was made up, huh?
Shen Ning changed out of the sailor outfit and tried another: “What about this one?”
“Looks amazing! White short-sleeve blouse with a high-waisted coffee-colored skirt—emphasizes your waist and legs, perfectly shows off your figure. Your fashion sense is top-tier!”
“Really? That good?” Shen Ning said, stiff-faced but internally fidgety.
The fashion sense wasn’t hers—it was her future self’s. But still, her future self was also her, right?
No, no, focus! The mission’s not done yet.
She rummaged through the shopping bags, gritted her teeth, and pulled out that outfit.
“How about this one?”
Xu Chuyao turned and her eyes practically sparkled: “Black pantyhose—yes yes yes! They’re perfect with your usual shorts. And with your long, slender legs? Ideal.”
Although she wasn’t wearing shorts now but the same high-waisted skirt from earlier, those black nylon legs standing by the bed still looked impossibly elegant.
“Do you like it?” Shen Ning asked nervously. Even she couldn’t tell whether it was mission anxiety or… something else.
Xu Chuyao’s cherry lips parted and, without thinking, she blurted out, “You’re not letting me play, so what’s the point of asking if I like it or not?”
The moment Shen Ning’s expression dropped and the system flashed [Villain Points +150], Xu Chuyao shivered. Remembering her “good girl” persona, she quickly changed her answer:
“I like it—I really like it!”
Whew. Almost broke character there.
Shen Ning took a deep breath. Only one step left. She suppressed her frustration.
“I want you to say it again. But not using ‘like.’ Use its other synonym.”
“No problem. I’m fond of it.”
Xu Chuyao didn’t know why, but she obeyed—because Chuyao is a good girl.
“Not that one,” Shen Ning said, practically spelling it out. “The one-character word.”
Xu Chuyao froze… then giggled: “Wait, seriously? You want me to say love? Oh my god, you’re hilarious.”
A symbol of fury appeared above Shen Ning’s clenched fist.
“Try that one I picked for last,” said the voice from her reflection. “The shark hoodie.”
Would it work?
At this point, only the final step of the mission could calm the fury that had reached [Villain Points +200].
“It’ll definitely work. Chuyao told me more than once—creative genius, total artistic brilliance.”
Shen Ning didn’t doubt the advice from her future self. She quickly changed, pulled on the hoodie, and—with the reflection’s instructions—pulled the hood all the way down over her face. A strand of white hair peeked out, swinging like a tongue, swaying playfully.
She looked like a little monster sticking out its tongue.
Sure enough, Xu Chuyao noticed immediately and gasped: “How did you know about this idea? Wait… have you seen…? Hold on.”
After a few seconds of silence, she burst out laughing.
“No way—your hair color doesn’t work for this at all. That tongue’s all pale! You look like a monster with anemia! HAHAHAHAHAHA!”
“DAMN IT!” screamed the reflection. “F@#%! HER!!!”
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Did her future self… trick her? 😭
Her future self got tricked.