“Xiaoxue, looks like trouble found you again today.” The text popped up like a stray cat scratching at her door.

Steam still clung to Xiao Qianxue as she sank into her cotton‑candy pink bed; the phone at her bedside chirped like a sparrow. “Nana? How does she even know?” Her gaze flicked over the glowing screen, suspicion crawling like a spider’s thread. “Did she sneak a bug on me?”

“Relax, I’m fine.” Little Loli fired the message back, then flopped onto her back, a leaf landing soft on a lake. “So comfy…” The duvet cupped her like a giant cocoon; the spot under her dipped like fresh snow, the rest puffed up like dunes. Skin met soft quilt, warmth blooming; her big gold‑and‑red eyes narrowed, lazy as a cat in sun.

Of course the phone buzzed right then, a mosquito in a quiet room. Little Loli frowned at the flashing screen. “A call?”

“Heeello—” she drawled, voice stretching like taffy. “Xiaoxue?”

“Lin Fan!” The voice knifed straight into familiarity. “How do you even know my number—okay, dumb question. Don’t tell me you also know what happened today?”

“Mm‑hmm.” Lin Fan sounded certain, rock solid as a gatepost.

“So annoying… feels like my life’s got no curtains. One person peeks, then another.” Cheeks puffed, she rolled across the bed, a golden furball tumbling over pink. Cute enough to melt sugar.

“How could I not know? Those two staffers who busted in? They’re mine.” Lin Fan’s pride warmed the line like tea steam.

“Oh, so impressive.” Her tone was flat as calm water.

“Not surprised?” He sounded puzzled, a tilt in the breeze. “Even if a spy was crawling outside my window, I wouldn’t blink,” Little Loli said, sprawled on her stomach, feet kicking like dragonfly wings.

“Say that and I really do want to send a couple.” His voice perked up, a spark catching dry grass.

“Alright, alright, Young Master Lin. I yield.” Her tone softened, a ribbon loosening.

“Tough day, huh, with your abilities off the table.” Lin Fan’s voice cooled, steady as stone. “I remember your baseline’s solid. How’d a few girls tie you up?” His fingers tightened around a photo, ink heavy as stormclouds—Little Loli half‑supine on the floor, white dress nearly torn, gold hair spilled messy like sunlit straw.

“Ugh, blame that bead from the island. It turned me into this…” Little Loli pouted, a peach with a bite missing.

“Then let me handle them,” Lin Fan murmured, voice rich as velvet and edged like a blade. “I’ll make them regret breathing this world’s air.”

“No need. One of those girls used to be my good friend…”

“Alright. If Xiaoxue says so, I’ll spare them.”

“I’m hanging up. I know you’re busy, great young lord. Good night!”

“Night.”

Beep—beep—beep. Lin Fan watched the screen dim, a crescent smile tugging up like a tide. “That sweet voice… never gets old. If only it came with that familiar jasmine scent.”

“Finally, sleep.” She powered down the phone and tossed it aside like a skimming stone, then hugged her giant bear plush and closed her eyes, drifting into velvet night.

Monday morning. The school field heaved like a sea; the sports meet’s opening ceremony unfurled like banners in wind. “Where’s Xiaoxue?” Joanna scanned left and right, eyes sweeping like swallows. Her wristwatch’s hands speared ten. “I’ll call her…” “The number you dialed is powered off.” “…”

“Slept like a log.” Little Loli wriggled out of the blankets, dawn puddling on her floor. Phone on: three missed calls—two from Joanna, one from the class leader. “Eh! It’s already ten!” Panic jumped like sparks; she scrambled up, yanked on her uniform and black stockings, and dashed into the bathroom like a gust.

“Mom, why didn’t you wake me?” She pouted, lips like cherries, at her mother plating breakfast.

“After yesterday, I figured you needed more sleep.” Her mom laughed, shy as moonlight behind clouds.

“Fine, fine. It’s just the sports meet anyway.” Breakfast vanished fast as steam; Little Loli hailed a ride and headed for school, the city rolling by like waves.

At the gate, she flashed the guard a sugar‑sweet smile; the uncle melted like ice under sun and waved her through. Back in the classroom, she dropped her bag—empty as a shell. “Joanna, where are you guys?” She called her bestie.

Following the call’s breadcrumbs, she found Joanna on the field. Joanna stepped in close, serious as a judge, the air tightening like string. “N‑Nana, what are you doing?” Little Loli folded her arms and backed up a couple steps, a rabbit edging from a hawk’s shadow.

Joanna tugged her into a corner, quick hands fussing like a tailor’s. After a moment, she exhaled. “Good. No injuries.” A small wave of her hand, tension unwinding like thread. Little Loli’s cheeks warmed; she tugged her clothes back down, rose blush on snow. “It wasn’t a big deal…”

“Hmph. Be careful next time.” Joanna’s hand brushed her golden hair, worry clinging like dew. “Alright, alright. Keep nagging and you’ll turn into an old granny…” Little Loli muttered, head ducked like a guilty sparrow.

“What!?” Joanna heard it clear as a bell. Her hands landed square on Little Loli’s chest, swift as a cat pounce. “Don’t!” A cry echoed from a quiet corner of campus, a startled bird taking off.

“Boo‑hoo…” Joanna stepped out looking refreshed, a breeze after rain, leaving Little Loli kneeling, clothes rumpled and tears beading like pearls.

The opening ceremony wrapped while the two played, the curtain dropping like dusk. At lunch, Joanna nudged her with an elbow, a friendly tap. “Xiaoxue, our event’s tomorrow morning…”

“Got it!” Her tsundere tone bristled like a porcupine, still prickly from the morning’s skirmish.

“There you are.” Cai Wenbin popped out from the side, a jack‑in‑the‑box. “Where else would we be?” Joanna’s words curved like a gentle river. “Cai Wenbin, did you sign up for anything?” Little Loli tossed the question like a ball.

“Of course. As Class Three’s monitor, I’ve got to lead.” He nodded, solid as a post. “Basketball this afternoon. Want to come watch?” He aimed the invite at Little Loli, heart thumping like drums, but he kept his voice easy, a breeze over grass.

“We’re free this afternoon. Let’s go?” Joanna looked at Little Loli, eyes bright as stars.

“Sure!”