The match heated up. Ling Xu and Qinmu leapt to return spikes, then dropped low to set up long shots for their teammates. Within minutes, Class Three dominated Class Seven, their momentum surging.

Qinmu and Ling Xu stayed sharp. Victory demanded no slack—no letting enemies escape. True dominance meant crushing Class Seven completely to cement Class Three’s reputation.

Just then, Yufei Han appeared on the field. Still annoyed by Qinmu’s abrupt hang-up yesterday, she scanned the courts, searching for that aloof figure.

“Whatever. Find him first,” she muttered to herself.

She strolled around the unfamiliar campus, wide-eyed with curiosity. After circling the track field and watching some races, she found no trace of Qinmu. Reluctantly, she headed toward the last place she hadn’t checked: the volleyball court.

The sun glared as she shielded her eyes. Then—a flash of brilliant sky-blue hair caught her gaze. Not the sky. A girl’s short locks.

Intrigued, Yufei leaned closer. The girl sprang up, smashed a forehand spike that left opponents scrambling. As she landed, sweat beaded on her delicate, flushed face.

Yufei’s little school flag slipped from her trembling fingers. That face… *Nangong Qinmu?* Her expression froze. Words died in her throat.

*Nangong Qinmu is a girl.* The truth crashed over her. It explained the identical looks, the vanished “boy” she’d searched for everywhere—only to find him here, on the girls’ team.

But… she’d claimed to be male. Was it all a lie? A three-year online charade? Yufei had never doubted it. Even when meeting “him,” she’d ignored the feminine hints, clinging to the fantasy. She’d fallen harder each year, dreaming of romance… How could she have been so blind?

Rage shook her. Her fists clenched, unclenched. She wanted to drag that girl over and shake her senseless.

Yet… how could she? That face was too precious, too easy to cradle in one’s palms.

Yufei forced herself calm. *Not here. Not during the match.* She’d corner Qinmu after the final whistle.

Nearby, Yue Yang watched the same game—but saw only Qinmu’s twin sister, Huixiang. Every fierce spike, every determined leap made her doubt. Yet she couldn’t accept it. Since middle school, she’d cherished Qinmu as her prince. How could she face him now? Would she still love him if he wasn’t the boy she adored?

Class Three clinched the first set. During the break, Qinmu gulped water, her fingers trembling slightly from the impact of spikes. *No one knows my secret,* she thought. *Just finish this. For Huixiang.*

The second set began badly. Class Seven surged ahead 7-1. Sweat streamed down Qinmu’s face as she gritted her teeth. They needed a miracle—or a counterattack.

At the net, Qinmu stayed sharp. She and Ling Xu blocked shot after shot, their defense flawless. Then—Class Three struck back. Unbreakable defense met ruthless spikes. Class Seven’s morale crumbled.

The score evened at 7-7. The teams switched sides, but Class Seven’s spirit stayed broken. Class Three sealed the set 25-16.

Final score: 3-1. Victory. Exhausted, Qinmu collapsed onto the court. As the crowd dispersed, Yue Yang slipped away—too shy to approach “Huixiang.”

A cold voice cut through the quiet behind Qinmu: “Nangong Qinmu. Explain.”

Qinmu looked up. Yufei Han. Her online friend. Here. At Jintang.

Panic flared, but Qinmu forced her voice steady: “I—I’m not Nangong Qinmu. I’m his sister, Nangong Huixiang. Can I help you find my brother?”

Yufei’s eyes narrowed. “Spare me the act. ‘Sister’? Why not ‘twin’? How long will you keep lying?”

Qinmu’s mind raced. *She doesn’t believe I have a sister… Does she think I’ve been pretending to be a boy all this time?* This was a mess she couldn’t wash away in the Yellow River. How to make her understand?

“I’m really Huixiang,” Qinmu insisted, mimicking her sister’s gentle tone. “My brother’s absent today. Ask my classmates—they’ll vouch for me.”

Yufei studied her face. *What if I’m wrong? What if I’m bullying his sister?* But if this *was* Qinmu… She needed proof.

“Fine, Huixiang,” Yufei sighed, feigning disappointment. “Since your brother’s not here… would you mind showing me around campus? Only if you’re free.”

Qinmu’s stomach dropped. She’d planned to change back into her Sports VP uniform after the match. Now? Trapped in this dress, playing tour guide? Impossible.

Yufei turned away, shoulders slumped. “No, forget it. It’s rude of me to impose. I’ll wander alone.”

Guilt pricked Qinmu. This girl came all this way… only to be abandoned. “Wait. I can spare a little time.”

Yufei spun back, a bright smile flashing—then quickly tempered. “Wonderful.”

*Got you,* Yufei thought, teeth gritted inwardly. *You can’t stand seeing me hurt. So I’ll use that. Trap you in your own lies. Then you’ll learn what happens when you deceive me.*

This time, Qinmu was doomed.