Zhang Yemiao knew full well Wang Qi would never abandon Li Pingtian… No, that wasn’t quite right. The truth was, Wang Qi had already made his choice the moment Li Pingtian entered their home.

*Typical self-sabotage,* Zhang Yemiao thought bitterly. *Should’ve never let Wang Qi come over…* But that was just wishful thinking. How could anyone ignore Li Pingtian facing danger like this? At the very least, his conscience wouldn’t allow it.

Wang Qi had been on the verge of collapse—Zhang Yemiao’s timing had been perfect. Yet Li Pingtian had intervened.

*Divine Art. Seriously absurd.*

That calming skill was tough to counter. Zhang Yemiao sprang into action. She pulled out her loom again, weaving special components. At the very least, she needed Divine Art resistance—if she found another opening only to be blocked again, she’d lose her mind.

The days that followed grew awkward. Even Zou Moan sensed the tense "battlefield" atmosphere thickening the air. Whenever Zhang Yemiao and Li Pingtian appeared together, sparks seemed to fly from their eyes.

Wang Qi, caught in the middle, felt utterly overwhelmed. His training intensified. With his level barely rising, he feared the day these two would surpass him—then they’d probably *take him by force*. Ridiculous! As the only guy in the dorm, that outcome was utterly unacceptable.

Though… if he *had* to choose between them? Honestly, no dilemma at all.

Fed up, Zou Moan cornered Wang Qi: "Wang Qi, you damn dog! Fix this mess you caused! I can’t stand the tension between Dorm Leader and Pingtian anymore!"

Her accusatory tone made Wang Qi scratch his head awkwardly. He couldn’t deny it, yet blaming him felt unfair—he hadn’t done anything wrong. He could swear on his conscience his actions were justified.

But the awkwardness between Zhang Yemiao and Li Pingtian was undeniable.

Watching his expression, Zou Moan narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You’re not… planning a harem, are you?!" The horrifying possibility struck her. "I knew it! You absolutely want a harem! Dorm Leader and Pingtian…" She suddenly hugged herself like a startled animal, pressing her back against the door as if ready to bolt. "Am *I*… one of your targets too?"

"…"

Wang Qi shot her a deadpan look. "Don’t flatter yourself. Forget Dorm Leader and Pingtian—I’d rather date a native girl from this world. Any of them’s cuter than you."

Relieved, Zou Moan swaggered over and slapped his shoulder. "Yeah, fair point! Girls here *are* adorable—beastkin, elves… total jackpot." Her brow furrowed. "Then why mess with Dorm Leader and Pingtian?"

Wang Qi froze, staring at her in disbelief. "*I* messed with them?"

"Aren’t you?"

"Impossible!"

"Then why would they fight over you unless your friendship levels were sky-high? What’s going on?" Zou Moan pondered, poking his chest. "Unless… you’re actually that handsome?"

Her violet hair lent her an air of mystery. If she stood quietly observing, she’d seem enigmatic—but her personality was anything but. She was lively, energetic.

She pinched Wang Qi’s biceps. "Gotta admit, these muscles are insane. I always wanted a build like yours. Too bad I’m stuck like this now—muscles would look weird on me. Honestly, zero talent for Physical Enhancement."

"Maybe they both like muscular guys? But seriously… who *wouldn’t* like muscles like yours?" She seemed mesmerized, hands roaming.

Wang Qi stepped back sharply. "Stop touching me! I’m scared you’ll mess with my head too."

Zou Moan glared. "Who’re you looking down on? *I’ll* mess with *your* head? Think having two admirers makes you hot stuff? Listen up—this one," she declared, striking a pose despite her feminine form, "is absolutely *not* conquerable by a dog like you. I’ll use this body to seduce nobles—princes, destined heroes, even the Demon King! Then I’ll soar to glory! A yuri route? Maybe. But with *you*?" She clicked her tongue. "No chance."

"You dream big. Dorm Leader and Pingtian already give me a headache. If it were just you? Easier—just beat you up."

"Huh? Wang Qi, picking a fight?"

"Give it up. You just came to pick a fight. Go home. I’ll handle them."

Satisfied, Zou Moan finally left his room.

*Time to cut the knot.*

So—

"Are you here to reject me?"

When Wang Qi found Li Pingtian alone, she spoke before he could. "Naturally. Because in your heart, Dorm Leader matters more."

Her tone was certain, as if reading his soul.

Wang Qi fell silent. Li Pingtian knew him too well. She’d anticipated this moment, his words. He could only nod.

"You didn’t have to do this," Li Pingtian said softly—unlike her usual icy demeanor toward others. Wang Qi even glimpsed sorrow on her face.

"Dorm Leader loves you. You might love her too. But… what does that have to do with *my* feelings for you?" Rarely did she speak so much at once. "You may believe two people in love form an absolute world, shutting out others. But emotions… are beyond human control."

Her resolve surfaced—fierce, fearless. "You two can love each other. Ignore me. But *I* won’t give up, Wang Qi."

Love. Wang Qi felt its weight radiating from her—a crushing, tangible thing called "love."

"I won’t give up," she continued. "No matter how many times you reject me, no matter how you ignore me… I won’t stop. Unless my life ends… or you come to hate me. If you believe the best way to love me is for me to vanish… then I’ll disappear."

The weight of her love pressed down. Even Wang Qi’s enhanced physique felt burdened. He’d never imagined her feelings ran this deep.

"Dorm Leader is a good person. A truly wonderful woman." Her tone shifted abruptly. "She acts stubborn now, but you know—even if you kept a harem, she’d just pout before forgiving you. She’d even help manage the conflicts." A faint, bitter smile touched her lips. "But I’m not like that. I’m selfish. I want you all to myself. So… don’t worry about me. Unless one day you abandon everything—choose only me, stay only with me—I won’t be satisfied. That’s impossible for you. So…" Her voice trembled. "Just ignore me."

Bitter. Sorrowful. Heavy with love and selfish possession.

What kind of smile was that?

Wang Qi could barely breathe. He nearly fled the room. The silver-haired girl—the one who’d always stood behind him, supporting him—was fading. Had she changed? Or had he been blind all along… to her? To *him*?

Tears glistened in her eyes. Or was it a smile? Wang Qi couldn’t recall the last expression he saw. He gasped for air, stumbling unconsciously toward Zhang Yemiao’s room.

The golden-haired girl sat on her bed like warm sunlight, hand outstretched.

He lay down, resting his head on her lap. The sweet, honey-like fragrance of her filled his senses.

Zhang Yemiao’s slender fingers gently massaged his scalp—a soothing rhythm. She didn’t ask what happened. She knew Wang Qi needed no words right now.

Just a place to breathe.

*He came to me.* The thought made her eyes crinkle with quiet joy. *Like a safe harbor.*

It felt like raising a child. The Wang Qi who’d always been their sturdy tree, shielding them from storms, now lay curled like a child on her lap.

*Would it feel like this with my own kids someday?*

Wang Qi’s breathing deepened, evened out. Asleep.

She remembered last time—her leg had gone numb. But this time, she was prepared. The stamina-enhanced bed existed for moments like this. (Though that wasn’t its *original* purpose.)

*This is enough.*

Zhang Yemiao gazed out the window. *If only we were back home… I’d see the flowers we planted.*

But this was enough.

All she wanted… was this.