Pillow talk. Zhang Yemiao had only ever fantasized about napping comfortably on a girl’s lap. But now? That seemed far less likely.

Yet resting her head on Wang Qi’s lap while he gently stroked her hair felt strangely comforting.

Her thoughts tangled. The terrifying alien prairie night—once filled with imagined horrors—now felt peaceful beside Wang Qi.

She fell asleep.

When Wang Qi noticed the girl on his lap had drifted off, he simply shook his head, gazing into the darkness while his fingers traced her silky hair. He waited in silence.

Dawn broke. Sunlight spilled over the horizon as the girl slowly opened her eyes.

Zhang Yemiao woke refreshed, no morning grumpiness. Energy surged through her—but so did a wave of shame.

"Wang Qi..." Still resting on his lap, she turned her face away, unable to meet his eyes. "Sorry... I promised to keep watch with you, but I fell asleep." Guilt tightened her throat.

Wang Qi shook his head. "No worries. Dorm Leader’s almost up anyway. My leg’s asleep."

Zhang Yemiao’s face flushed crimson. She scrambled up—too late. Wang Qi lurched to stand, legs buckling beneath him.

She reached out to steady him. But her body was weak now.

She got pinned.

Wang Qi braced himself on his palms, avoiding crushing her. Zhang Yemiao stared blankly at his face inches from hers, mind utterly blank.

The position was... awkwardly intimate.

"Hold on," Wang Qi murmured, breath warm against her ear. "My legs are numb. Physical Enhancement should fix it soon."

Zhang Yemiao’s cheeks burned. She averted her gaze, giving a tiny nod.

The air thickened. Neither understood why. Only their breathing filled the silence...

From the corner of her eye, Zhang Yemiao saw his face drawing closer. Above her, Wang Qi was utterly captivated by the flustered girl beneath him.

"*Ahem!*"

A sharp cough shattered the moment. Both jumped.

"What are you two doing?" Li Pingtian stood behind them, silver hair gleaming, voice icy with displeasure.

Wang Qi sprang up—wobbly but steady. "Just... a little accident," he said, scratching his head with an awkward grin.

Zhang Yemiao stayed silent. She rose quietly, brushing dust off her clothes, eyes darting everywhere but Li Pingtian’s face.

"...You’re up early, Pingtian?" Wang Qi forced a chuckle, desperate to break the tension. Though he wasn’t sure why he felt so flustered.

A faint, unsettling smile curved Li Pingtian’s lips. The guilty pair felt chills down their spines. "Did my early rising... interrupt something important?"

"No! It’s not like that!" Zhang Yemiao blurted. "Wang Qi’s leg went numb because I fell asleep on it, and then—"

"*Ohhh~*" Li Pingtian drawled, eyes narrowing as she scanned Wang Qi head to toe. "Sleeping on laps now? When did you two get so close?"

*Is she... jealous?* Zhang Yemiao wondered wildly. *But why? She has no right to be suspicious... unless...*

A horrifying thought struck her. *Those two used to be inseparable—even in games, they’d always duo bot lane. What if... they’re gay?*

Guilt stabbed her. *I should’ve let Pingtian keep watch with him last night. No wonder she came to check up this morning.*

"Wang Qi," Zhang Yemiao turned abruptly, "aren’t you tired? You guarded all night. Go rest. We’ll wait." She thrust a compact tent at him. "I need to tinker with something. Pingtian can cover for you." She ducked inside her own tent.

Only when the zipper sealed her in did she collapse, rolling frantically in the cramped space.

"*Get a grip!* So what if I slept on his lap? So what if he fell on me? What’s wrong with me?!" She wrestled with her racing heart.

Truth was, last night’s real shame wasn’t this. It was when she’d clutched Wang Qi’s shirt and whispered, *"Don’t leave me."*

*How could I say that?* she cringed. *Sounded like I’m some useless leech who can’t stand alone.*

She curled into a ball. Memories surfaced—back in their original world, she’d almost had a girlfriend.

*Sorry, would-be girlfriend. Your almost-boyfriend nearly became a good-for-nothing who clings to others’ legs.* Her thoughts knotted like tangled thread. Chaos reigned—but thanks to that deep sleep, she wasn’t tired.

*Wait... I’m a girl now.* Her legs pressed together nervously. Her hands drifted downward...

Outside, Wang Qi glanced at Li Pingtian after receiving his tent. "You should rest too. I’ll take the next watch."

Her calm tone was reassuring. Wang Qi retreated into his tent. His body ached from staying still all night. But his mind replayed Dorm Leader’s tearful plea: *"Don’t leave me."*

*She was so damn cute.*

*What do I do? I’m falling for my male roommate who’s now a girl. Online help needed. This is urgent.*

*She’s a golden-haired beauty with a sweet personality. Honestly? Not a bad wife candidate... But she’s DORM LEADER! I’d be struck by lightning for thinking this!*

Self-reproach warred with drowsiness. Amidst absurd daydreams, Wang Qi finally drifted off.

Soon after, Zou Moan appeared.

"Well?" she asked, unsurprised to find only Li Pingtian awake. "Told you early birds get the show. Convinced now?"

Li Pingtian turned. The violet-haired girl stretched lazily, yawning.

"What’s your plan? Really build a life here?" Zou Moan’s voice turned serious. "Even with our cheat-like powers, it won’t be easy."

She fixed Li Pingtian with a piercing look. "Do you want to go back?"

The question struck deep. Li Pingtian’s usual composure cracked. She shook her head—not in denial, but uncertainty. "Does it matter?"

"It matters. You know it does." Zou Moan’s playful mask vanished. She spoke like a sage. "You see it too. Wang Qi doesn’t share our resolve. He doesn’t *need* to return. Or... he’s decided the price isn’t worth paying."

For Wang Qi, the cost of returning—whether through supreme magic or Divine Art—was clear from day one. He’d deemed it too high.

But Li Pingtian and Zou Moan? They had reasons to pay *any* price. For themselves. For their families.

"What about Dorm Leader?" Li Pingtian asked softly.

"Dorm Leader?" Zou Moan smiled, but it tasted bitter. "She drifts with the current. She’ll follow us—or Wang Qi. Never alone." Her gaze lifted to the rising sun, identical to Earth’s. Backlit, she looked radiant. "After what you saw this morning? She’s already chosen."

Zou Moan turned fully toward Li Pingtian, confidence blazing in her eyes. "So it’s just us two now. While Wang Qi’s still here, we level up. We *must* gain enough strength to protect ourselves. Or this face," she tapped her cheek, "will bring trouble."

Two genuine beauties in a lawless world? Their future would be dark without power.

What could Li Pingtian say to that? She simply nodded. "Then we work hard from now on."

In this strange world, four roommates played pretend. Years of shared meals and dorm life had taught them each other’s truths. Yet no one spoke them aloud. They waited in silence for the day they’d reach a human city.

What would goodbye look like then?