I dragged myself out of bed at dawn, dark circles under my eyes. Waking up wasn't hard; the real struggle was not crawling back to sleep after serving my slave-driving master.

“When did you get back yesterday?”

I bumped into Jiang Xiaoyu in the first-floor bathroom. Our messy hair and haggard faces matched perfectly. In the mirror, we looked like ragged siblings crawling from the same trench to brush our teeth.

“None of your business!”

By then, I’d completely forgotten last night’s weird cram school. But seeing Xiaoyu’s bloodshot eyes, I felt a pang of sympathy for her overexertion. I forgave her grumpy morning mood.

“How’s Sister Qin?”

“She’s full of life.”

I was already exhausted from last night’s breakfast. Just thinking about school after my sandwich deepened my despair. What’s the point of living if you can’t sleep till noon? Even the ham and cheese tasted like cardboard.

“What about Xiao Qiuqian? She’ll start middle school next year, right?” Back when we struggled hardest against the “imperialist tyranny,” Mrs. Nalan indirectly supported us. So Xiaoyu cared deeply about her boss’s family.

“No, she’s different from us. She’s in a six-year elementary program.”

“I see.”

Xiaoyu bit into her sandwich, combed her hair, and absentmindedly applied skincare. She hesitated several times, biting her tongue.

“What exactly do you want to say?”

Xiaoyu lowered her head, unable to meet my eyes. She whispered, “That philosophy teacher last night is a lunatic. Don’t tell anyone about him—not even Sister Qin!”

Sorry, too late. To save my skin, I told her you have a boyfriend.

Can a lunatic even teach? When did you study philosophy? I was so sleepy my brain regressed to a primitive state. I couldn’t recall that person’s name or face, let alone complain. I just nodded absentmindedly.

“My school’s farther. I’m leaving first. Leave the plates in the sink; I’ll wash them tonight.”

“Huh? Oh.”

Xiaoyu seemed confused her good-for-nothing brother left before her. She forgot to ask why I suddenly wanted school.

After a quick explanation, I grabbed my shoulder bag and headed out. I walked slowly on the sidewalk to avoid dying from drowsiness. I felt like I’d just flown in from the other hemisphere, jet-lagged.

I dragged my heavy body into class like a possessed person. The school was quieter on day two. Even dazed, I avoided the morning rush. Thanks to Xu Xian’s sister failing to snatch the unreasonable “Evergreen Goddess” title from me...

“Ah, forgot my pillow. Whatever.” I leaned against the window, glanced at sports clubs’ morning assembly, muttered a complaint, and fell asleep.

Waking up, the click of high heels faded with the bell. The classroom buzzed back to life. A soft voice chatted nearby.

“Ugh, Flawless Flower didn’t stream last night. His million Yihua Palace fans are lost. I feel awful missing a day.”

My half-awake body shuddered as if falling into an abyss. Anyone who’s battled a desk for sleep knows this. Normally, I’d wipe drool, peek up like an ostrich, then collapse. But Jia Baoyu’s familiar voice sent chills down my spine.

“The Way of Flawless Flower is great.” Yan Qing gave his usual concise comment. This made me even more reluctant to look up.

“Flawless Flower... who’s that?”

Idiot! I silently cursed Nan Dongye, praying she’d stop pressing.

“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t know, ignorant Earthling.”

Good job, Yan Qing. Let this slide. I just need to wake naturally and copy homework.

“I-ignorant? Earthling!? Yan Qing, you haven’t turned in yesterday’s advanced worksheet.”

“Uh, sorry, class monitor. We Martians are uncultured weaklings... forgive me.”

“Just a midnight female streamer.”

Jia Baoyu’s timely interjection made me want to strangle him. I sat up, glaring at his round face. “How do you know she’s a girl?”

All three stared, confused why I was so insistent.

I coughed, spreading my hands. “I’ve watched Flawless Flower. His gameplay’s decent, but nothing special—a normal gaming streamer. How could he be a girl?”

“That makes sense. He never shows his face. Forum photos are all fake.”

“Yeah, he’s called ‘Master’ anyway.”

Nan Dongye had no clue but pretended to know. Since she was on my side, I didn’t call her out.

The instigator, Jia Baoyu, thought seriously. He declared firmly, “No! She must be a girl! Even with no face cam and different voices daily, she’s female!”

“Why!” I punched his impenetrable fortress of thick fat.

Jia Baoyu broke his Mr. Nice Guy act, stubbornly insisting. He roared, “Faith!”

Many turned to the last row. Some looked surprised seeing my face. They’d never realized a “popular female high schooler” sat in their class corner.

So under Jia Baoyu’s unwavering faith, I collapsed on the desk in defeat. He was a die-hard fan worth respecting. My... die-hard fan.

“What are you guys so fired up about?”

Xu Xian walked over, yawning and stretching. He’d just woken up, jet-lagged. Worst scenario—he was the troublemaker I least wanted.

“That Flawless Flower guy!”

Nan Dongye, clueless moments ago, now acted like a veteran, raising a finger to pontificate. Your dignity’s yours, but can we drop this topic!

“Oh? That erotic streamer, Flawless Flower?” Xu Xian glanced at me thoughtfully, squinting. “Interesting. I’d love to see his true face someday.”

The sharpest troublemaker wasn’t clueless as I’d hoped. Honestly, I never thought so many watched my streams. Midnight viewers are rare.

“Erotic streamer? Why?” the other troublemaker, Nan Dongye, pressed.

Xu Xian shrugged. “He’s a human voice changer. Mimics any voice uncannily. Donate enough gifts, you can request a voice change—mostly famous actresses from adult films. Occasionally Wu Yanzu’s voice too.”

Hearing my own cringy act live was awful. If I could shut them up without exposing myself, I’d take down all four!

“But you reminded me. Next donation, I’ll make her use her real voice. That’ll prove my faith right!”

I gritted my teeth. “Baoyu, why’d you wake so early? Why not sleep through the day?”

The chubby boy smiled shyly.

Yan Qing shook his head. “He never sleeps in Teacher Gu’s class.”

So the fading high heels were Gu Hengbo.

As if hearing my plea, Xu Xian tapped the table twice. “Alright, PE time. Jiang Lan, I need a favor.”

Anything to change the subject. I asked calmly, “What is it?”

Xu Xian glanced at fiery gazes from girls behind him. He sighed. “Tennis class today. Pairs of two. So... please be my partner.”

This guy was popular everywhere. I pouted. “Makes sense.”

Nan Dongye froze, then glared fiercely at Xu Xian. She seemed to realize what she’d forgotten, regretting it.