As if to repay every bit of torment Ji Yueyi had inflicted on her, Mu Yue Ran went on a frenzied shopping spree for clothes. Though she disliked wearing skirts herself, that didn’t mean she had a straight guy’s taste. Quite the opposite—she had a sharp eye for girls’ fashion. Before long, she’d gathered armfuls of dresses from every boutique, then pushed a flustered Ji Yueyi into the fitting room.
Waiting outside, Mu Yue Ran shifted uncomfortably under the lingering glances and murmured compliments from passersby. A faint blush colored her cheeks as she tugged self-consciously at her own skirt hem—this kind of attention was utterly foreign to her male self.
Gradually, the stares drifted away. Mu Yue Ran looked up just as Ji Yueyi parted the curtain, stepping out hesitantly in tiny, careful strides. Head bowed, Ji Yueyi examined the dress clinging to her frame, novelty warring with uncertainty. Finally, she lifted her gaze, a hint of shyness in her eyes as she met Mu Yue Ran’s stunned stare. "Do I look okay?"
Mu Yue Ran’s eyes traveled downward. A snow-white skirt set off Ji Yueyi’s youthful, dewy complexion. Golden hair spilled past her waist, framing the delicate spiral patterns embroidered along the neckline like blossoms swaying in a wheat field. If the top radiated the soft warmth of sunlight, the lower half whispered of summer dusk—starlight and shadows. Black silk draped perfectly over her slender legs, glimmering faintly under the store lights like deep-sea pearls untouched by time.
"Beautiful… absolutely beautiful…" Mu Yue Ran breathed without hesitation. Ji Yueyi beamed, turning to retreat back into the fitting room, but Mu Yue Ran caught her wrist, voice pleading. "Just… keep it on?"
"But… it’ll get dirty."
"You look stunning. Let me enjoy it a little longer. Clothes are meant to be worn, right?"
The blunt praise made Ji Yueyi’s heart bloom like spring flowers, though she hid her delight behind a modest nod. Mu Yue Ran promptly dragged her to the checkout counter. Ji Yueyi had planned to pay herself—her old landlord had kindly refunded her remaining rent—but panic seized her as Mu Yue Ran piled *every* outfit Ji Yueyi had tried onto the counter. "Sister Yue Ran, just this one set is enough! I can’t possibly wear all these!" She clutched Mu Yue Ran’s arm, glancing helplessly at her empty pockets.
Mu Yue Ran, however, was lost in fervor. Seeing this hidden gem finally polished free of her drab school uniform, radiating brilliance—she felt an irresistible urge to wrap Ji Yueyi in every beautiful thing she owned. It was like unearthing treasure, a rush she couldn’t quit.
"Nonsense! We’re taking them all home!"
"Really, I don’t need—"
But Ji Yueyi’s protests were drowned out. Minutes later, she trudged out of the store burdened by shopping bags, sighing as she watched Mu Yue Ran’s exhilarated smile. *I owe her more than I can ever repay… Maybe not even in a lifetime…*
*Wait. A lifetime?*
Ji Yueyi’s eyes widened abruptly. A mental lock shattered. Clarity flooded in—this was her gateway to a new world. *Of course! Staying by her side forever is the most common way to repay kindness!* If she was destined to spend her life with Mu Yue Ran… surely falling for her was only natural? The panic over her own feelings vanished, replaced by justified warmth. She hadn’t betrayed Sister Yue Ran’s kindness at all.
But… Ji Yueyi stole a glance at Mu Yue Ran’s hand gripping her wrist. It felt safe, comforting—but held no trace of anything beyond friendship. *How does Sister Yue Ran truly see me? A little sister? A roommate?* One thing was certain: Mu Yue Ran didn’t view her as a romantic interest.
*How do I make her see me… that way?* Ji Yueyi mused. *This will be a long road…*
"Huh? What was that?" Mu Yue Ran turned, having caught only fragments.
"Nothing! Just… nothing!" Ji Yueyi waved frantically.
"Alright~_~" Mu Yue Ran chuckled, steering her toward the household goods section. They picked out bedding, a desk lamp, and arranged delivery for their mountain of purchases.
Two stunning girls—one sharp and vibrant, the other soft and luminous—naturally drew stares wherever they walked. Among the onlookers, one girl froze, her gaze locked on Mu Yue Ran’s retreating back. A deep familiarity stirred within her, like echoes of countless shared glances. A voice screamed in her head: *Chase her! Now!*
She sprinted forward. With every step, Mu Yue Ran’s silhouette grew taller, merging with a ghost from memory. Just before Mu Yue Ran could vanish into the crowd outside the mall, the girl grabbed her sleeve.
"Wait! Please!"
Mu Yue Ran turned. Her pupils contracted sharply at the sight of the girl’s face. Her lips parted—to utter a name—but the moment passed. Calmly, she asked, "Can I help you?"
The stranger’s voice shattered the girl’s illusion. Blinking, she saw only a pretty face she didn’t recognize. Disappointment dimmed her eyes. She released Mu Yue Ran’s sleeve, stepping back with a deep bow. "I’m sorry… I must have mistaken you for someone else."
Mu Yue Ran gave a curt nod and walked on. Ji Yueyi glanced back at the dejected girl, then at Mu Yue Ran’s impassive profile. "Sister Yue Ran… do you know her?"
Mu Yue Ran smiled faintly. "She said she made a mistake, didn’t she?"
"Hmm… it felt strange."
"Don’t overthink it." Mu Yue Ran ruffled Ji Yueyi’s hair, her gaze lifting to the blood-red setting sun hanging low in the sky. "Let’s go home."
