Qin Xin’s thoughts grew more restless the more she pondered—and instead of drowsiness, alertness took hold.

Damn this midsummer night. Why so unbearably hot?

No. Tossing in bed with eyes shut wouldn’t bring sleep. Qin Xin had had enough. She grabbed her phone and searched: “cat-themed lingerie.”

Models were cute—2D anime, 3D real-life—but the vibe was all wrong.

She closed the browser, cut mobile data, and opened her local album. Days ago, she’d scraped senior girls’ photos from school forum rankings.

All fully clothed? No problem. Qin Xin’s imagination filled in the rest. What mattered was the *right* reference vibe.

Yet… the more she scrolled, the more awake she felt. Sleepiness had vanished miles away.

Nope. Time for Plan B.

Gritting her teeth, Qin Xin reached out her hand.

...

Dawn broke on a new day.

Early bird gets the worm. As for Ningning—who rose early? Well.

Thanks to an early bedtime, she woke refreshed, energy buzzing. Even a lazy stretch felt gloriously invigorating.

Good thing her sleepwear had no collar—otherwise, *that* stretch might’ve caused trouble.

Bai Ningning tilted her head. Senior Sister Qin Yue lay beside her pillow, sleepwear loosely draped. Stirred by the movement but still drowsy, Qin Yue simply rolled over with lazy grace.

Lovely? Absolutely. But Ningning was worried.

Last night, both had turned in early—Qin Yue right after the massage. Nearly twelve hours had passed.

Sleeping this long without waking… was something wrong?

Ningning decided to check.

“Senior Yueyue, are you—”

“Shut. Up.”

Qin Yue’s eyes snapped open mid-drowse, locking straight onto her. “Say one more word, and you’re not leaving this bedroom today.”

“…”

Okay then… meow.

Dressed in yesterday’s outfit, Bai Ningning packed up and headed out.

Another day for the long-legged, lovely senior had begun.

“Senior Bai, wait!”

Aunt Zou called her near the garden.

“Hmm?”

“Miss Ningning, recall what I said before term started? Time to learn massage skills,” Aunt Zou said earnestly. “The young mistress’s body is nearing its limit. If you don’t learn soon…”

“I’ve been busy lately.”

“No matter. Just keep it in mind.” Aunt Zou handed her a worn book. “Glance through it in spare moments. Build familiarity.”

Yellowed pages showed traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture diagrams.

“Understood,” Bai Ningning accepted it. “I’ll read it.”

Reading never hurts—it’s a useful skill.

At school, she bought supplies for the field again. Thanks to Qin Yue’s thousand yuan—and zero shopping spent—her petty cash held up.

“Senior Bai, morning! Thank you!”

“Stay strong with training.”

“Senior, so early today?”

“Mm. Stay strong.”

“Senior Bai, you’re stunning again—are people sneaking glances?”

“Drink your milk. And stay strong.”

After delivering to three underclassmen, Bai Ningning headed to Squad 17. This time, she went straight to little loli Nana, handing her water first.

Nana shrank back, flustered. “For me too… today?”

Bai Ningning offered a faint smile. “Every day.”

While Nana stood speechless with emotion, Bai Ningning calmly walked on. One more underclassman to find.

Swift and decisive—like autumn winds sweeping leaves, a blade cutting hemp—finish fast before *that* girl noticed her.

Her plan was perfect.

But after circling the back row? No trace of the girl.

What? Where’d she go?

“Looking for Qin Xin?”

“Yes, I—”

Bai Ningning froze. Wheat-toned skin. Tall frame. Standing *right behind her*.

This build… no. This stance… no. Just… dangerous!

*Hehehe.* The tall girl chuckled low. “So tense? I won’t *eat* you.”

Bai Ningning almost whispered: *What kind of ‘eat’?*

The pure kind?

“Qin Xin took leave today,” she said. “Not feeling well.”

“Not well?” Bai Ningning blinked, concern flickering. “Serious?”

“For girls? Totally normal. No need to ask details,” the girl waved. “Once leave’s filed, the instructor approves.”

Wait—do boys not get that?

A cold shiver ran down Bai Ningning’s spine… then she remembered. *She* was a girl now too.

Oh. Right. Fine.

“Senior, since you can’t find your underclassman…” The tall girl leaned closer. “How about—”

“Here.”

Bai Ningning thrust the icy water into her hand, stepped back. “My underclassman’s unwell. I should visit her now.”

And she left.

Just as the tall girl reached out—

“REST PERIOD ENDS! RISE—ATTEN-TION!” boomed the drill instructor.

...

*Finally escaped.* Bai Ningning patted her chest at the dorm steps, heart still pounding.

Soft pillow. Racing pulse.

She’d barely lingered at Squad 17… yet still got caught.

Was she being watched?

Anyway—thank goodness Qin Xin was absent today. Who knows what’d happen otherwise.

Bai Ningning lifted her swan-like neck, gazing up at the dorm tower, heart swelling.

*Not feeling well? Good. Very good.*

No words needed. For this today, senior sister promises: no letting you down. If it’s a minor illness? I’ll fix it.

Not arrogance—just common sense. A quick chat, school pharmacy run. Done.

She rarely spoke in the underclassman group chat, but they shared room numbers freely.

Scrolled. Found it.

“Room 521. Lucky number.”

She’d hesitated about entering the girls’ dorm… then shrugged. *After enduring (you know what) as a girl… why hold back?*

Qin Xin—wait up. Your senior’s coming.