"Haha, what good is Zheng Hai being taller than me? I'll crush him under the net."
"You keep bragging, he’ll mark you down next dorm inspection."
"Why should I bow to power?" Zhang Ning pulled out his keys to unlock the door.
"Huh, it’s unlocked. Guyen’s back?"
Zhang Ning pushed inside. Pitch darkness swallowed the dorm. "This guy—doesn’t even lock the door when he leaves."
"You’re back." A male voice cut through the silence from the top bunk. A ghastly phone glow illuminated a face.
"Holy shit!" Zhang Ning jolted, slapping the light switch.
Guyen sat propped against the wall, phone clutched in his hand, eyes glued to the screen.
"Summoning ghosts up there?" Even Zhao Zhuoyang’s arms prickled with goosebumps.
"Damn it, messing with us?" Zhang Ning snatched a tissue box off his desk and hurled it at Guyen.
Guyen didn’t flinch. The box slid off his shoulder.
"What’s wrong with you?"
"Leave me alone. Do your own thing." Guyen glanced down at them, then back at his screen. His thumb kept refreshing the livestream.
*18:43. Still no sign of wifey.*
*KK Civil Servant, huh? Always ‘resting’.*
*Wifey, open up!*
*LOL. Still calling her ‘wifey’? Got caught shacking up with her boyfriend yesterday. Too scared to show today.*
*Next season of *Pleasant Goat* filming on the top donor’s bald head!*
*Trash like her still gets viewers? Spend that money on real dates instead of virtual gifts.*
Comments flooded past. The livestream remained dark.
Guyen had never felt such agony. Since six o’clock, he’d been waiting here, refreshing endlessly, desperate for an answer.
"What’s gotten into him?"
"Drop it. He said leave him alone. You showering? I’m going first."
"With your speed? I’ll beat you to it." Zhang Ning tossed his backpack onto his bed and headed for the bathroom.
"Aren’t you grabbing fresh clothes?" Zhao Zhuoyang sighed.
"We’re all guys. Who cares." The bathroom door clicked shut. Rustling sounds faded into the steady rush of water.
"Eat dinner?" Zhao Zhuoyang hung his bag on his chair, glancing at Guyen.
"Not hungry."
Zhao Zhuoyang fell silent, sinking into his chair to scroll his phone.
Just as Guyen refreshed again, a voice finally crackled through his earphones.
"Sorry, fam. Felt sick today—had to go to the hospital. Just got back."
The screen flickered to life. First, the delicate black lace collar. Then the slender swan neck beneath an oversized black KAWS-print tee layered over a plaid shirt. Wide-leg jeans. Red, black, and white sneakers.
*CatBae’s here!*
*Why so late today?*
*She’s a bus. Everyone in A-Ent knows. Only you simp idiots treat her like gold.*
User *LiuLiJunA* banned by mod *TeaTea* for 24 hours.
*TeaTea: CatBae, you okay? You cut off suddenly yesterday. Scared me.*
"Thanks for worrying, TeaTea-jie. Just low blood sugar. Got checked out."
*JuanerCat’sKeeper: What happened yesterday? Whose tracksuit was that?*
*The main wife demands answers.*
*He’s been cheated on. CHEATED ON.*
*Love is a green light that blinds you.*
"That’s personal. None of your business." Juaner Cat’s voice stayed soft, but her words were sharp.
"Scared to admit you’re living with your boyfriend?"
"CatBae never said she was single. What’s there to hide?"
"I stan skill. Her love life? Whatever."
*Virgin simp army, reporting for duty!*
"Since you’re all so curious…" Juaner Cat’s laugh tinkled. "I’m a 22-year-old grandma. Can’t exactly wear high school tracksuits. That was my little brother’s. He visited and forgot it."
*Imaginary brother unlocked.*
*I BELIEVE IN WIFEE! SHE’D NEVER BETRAY ME!*
"Alright, alright. I’m already an hour late. Let’s do three ranked matches. Spam ‘Juaner Cat is the cutest in the world’ to enter the fan giveaway!" She set up the raffle. The screen instantly drowned in: *Juaner Cat is the cutest in the world*.
Guyen stared silently at his phone. *Right. It was her brother’s tracksuit. Totally normal. So many Jordan fans out there… someone else must’ve drawn on theirs too. Same style. Just… coincidence. Yeah. Coincidence.*
He watched Juaner Cat’s sweet smile, her gentle eyes. Then he pictured Jiang Juan’s perpetually fake grin. Guyen’s face twisted.
*Impossible. I don’t believe it. I REFUSE to accept this!*
