It was only 6 a.m. The sun had just risen, and all three roommates were still fast asleep. But the churning in Jiang Xuehan’s lower abdomen had completely stolen her sleep.
Something felt off. Her previous periods hadn’t been this severe.
The earlier ones had been like… a faint, trickling sensation—like trying to pee but never quite emptying your bladder. You couldn’t force it out all at once; you just had to wait for it to trickle away on its own. Uncomfortable, sure, but manageable.
This time was different. It felt like someone had shoved a knife deep inside her and was twisting it in her lower belly. The pressure shifted between sharp and dull, making her skin and organs spasm in waves. At its worst, cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
*Why is this so much worse than the first three times?*
Jiang Xuehan wasn’t a doctor. She’d only had three periods in her life and knew next to nothing about them. Too shy to wake her sleeping roommates, she curled up alone, scrolling through her phone to distract herself.
By 7 a.m., her roommates were up and washing up. Only Jiang Xuehan remained buried under her blanket like a snail in its shell.
Xia Ziying leaned over her bed after brushing her teeth. "Xiao Han, still not awake? You’ve been up early all week."
"Mmm… I’m awake…" came a muffled voice from under the covers.
"Then stop lazing around! Get up and wash, or you’ll be late for class."
"I… I think I’ll skip class today. Not feeling well."
"Not feeling well?" Xia Ziying blinked in surprise, then realization dawned. "Xiao Han… is it *that* time?"
"Mmm…" Jiang Xuehan just curled tighter under the blanket, too embarrassed to answer.
"Yours must be pretty bad this time. Rest up then. We’ll cover for you if the professor takes attendance."
After a few more comforting words, the roommates left for class, leaving Jiang Xuehan shivering alone under the covers.
Chilling waves spread from her belly to her whole body, as if icy breaths were pulsing inside her womb with every spasm. She pulled the blanket tighter, desperate for warmth.
Online searches said period cramps could be chronic or sudden. Hers seemed sudden—and there was no real fix but to tough it out.
The pain didn’t fade. It ebbed and flowed. If not for sheer stubborn pride, she might’ve cried out loud.
Just thinking about the *next* period made her mood plummet. So low, she fantasized about grabbing a knife and taking it to the streets—*if I can’t be happy, why should anyone else be?*
*Click.* The dorm door unlocked.
Li Xinglan stood there, having doubled back alone. She tossed something onto the bed. "Fresh hot water bottle. Press it to your stomach. Should help."
Jiang Xuehan did as told. The warmth seeped into her belly, easing the ache just enough for her to sigh in relief. She peeked out gratefully. "Xinglan… did you come back just for me?"
"Tch. Don’t flatter yourself. Morning lectures are boring anyway." Li Xinglan plopped into the chair below the bed, her hair cascading like a waterfall as she looked up. "Xiao Han, do you get cramps often?"
"I’m not sure… but it wasn’t this bad before."
"Probably sudden onset. Stress or bad food lately?" She shrugged. "Tell me if you need anything. You’ve helped me twice—I owe you."
"Thank you, Xinglan." Jiang Xuehan wriggled out from the covers, her voice sincere.
Li Xinglan’s cheeks flushed faintly. She looked away. "I’m gaming. If it gets too bad, chat with me to distract yourself. I’ll refill the water bottle when it cools."
Li Xinglan booted up her computer and launched *PUBG*. Jiang Xuehan rested her chin on the bed railing, watching the screen diagonally across the room.
She wasn’t up for playing, but watching helped distract her.
Twenty minutes later, Li Xinglan placed 21st out of 100. She pulled off her headset with a sigh. "Ugh. Practiced all summer and still can’t clutch chicken dinners."
"You’re actually really good, Xinglan! Your long-range sniping is insane—especially with that Kar98k." Jiang Xuehan offered earnest praise from bed.
"Flatterer. But this game’s not just about aim. I keep getting jumped by campers hiding in bushes or toilets."
"Snipers like you should squad up. Hard to find rifles and scopes solo, and teammates can cover your back."
"I… I just prefer solo queue."
"Xinglan, don’t tell me you can’t find teammates? There are squad-up groups everywhere. And as a girl, guys would line up to carry you."
Li Xinglan scoffed. "Pfft. I’d rather not deal with gross guys fawning over me to my face while scheming behind my back. Solo’s fine—keeps things exciting."
*So the young miss has some serious issues with men,* Jiang Xuehan thought. She almost defended her former gender—most guys just enjoyed the thrill of duoing with girls or the pride of carrying them to victory. Truly creepy ones were rare.
But then she remembered: *I’m a girl now too.* Her argument lost all credibility. She stayed silent.
Li Xinglan minimized the game and opened the LiveFish streaming platform. She scrolled, then closed the tab with a disappointed sigh. "He still hasn’t come back…"
"Who?" Jiang Xuehan asked.
"Him. Top-ranked *PUBG* streamer. Vanished without a trace three months ago. No news since…"
Jiang Xuehan wasn’t slow. "You mean… Meng Han?"
"Eh? You know him? Right—you streamed this game too. Must be deep in the scene."
Jiang Xuehan had known she had female fans. But she’d never imagined this stunning girl right here was one of them. A complicated wave washed over her.
Little did Li Xinglan know—the male streamer she idolized was right here. Writhing in period cramps.
