The rain kept falling. The atmosphere was far from harmonious.
Of course, that was just Qin Xin’s one-sided thought. In reality, across the dining table, her sister and Bai Ningning were getting along perfectly fine.
No—“harmonious” didn’t even cover it. Sweet?
“If you’re not eating it,” Qin Yue threatened, “I’ll feed you.”
Bai Ningning kept a blank expression. “Oh? Where?”
“Everywhere.”
Qin Xin: …
She couldn’t even listen to this.
“Shouldn’t you watch your image?” Bai Ningning grumbled. “Your junior’s watching.”
Qin Yue smirked. “Sorry, but my family fully supports this. They all agree someone as mischievous as you needs disciplining.” She glanced at her sister. “Right, Qin Xin?”
Yes. She *had* said that.
Qin Xin remembered praising her sister aloud just hours ago: *Good discipline. So well handled.*
She wanted to slap herself.
Now, recalling that entire afternoon—the soft whimpers, the fragmented lullaby, a reality mirroring her dream but with roles swapped…
It was *her* Senior Bai!
The one her sister had spent the whole afternoon “disciplining” was *her* Senior Bai!
“Qin Xin?” Qin Yue called again.
“Mm,” Qin Xin replied stiffly. “Yes.”
*Endure.*
Her only comfort? Senior Bai looked utterly unamused—icy-faced, never blushing no matter how suggestive Qin Yue got.
*She must feel the same,* Qin Xin thought. *Sunny outside, raining inside.*
Like those sad rainy-day love songs…
*“Vast forest, leaving behind the rain… pitter-patter… raindrops hugging the stream… green forest~~~”*
Qin Yue slid a phone to Bai Ningning. “How childish.”
Using Zhuzhuxia’s ending theme as a ringtone.
Bai Ningning huffed. “You recognizing it proves *your* credentials are questionable too.”
*Who are you to talk?*
She checked the screen—not a call, but her custom reminder:
**[Class Monitor]: GPA points confirmed. Congrats.**
Expected. Half a month playing the gentle, caring senior? Failing would’ve been weird.
Still, she owed thanks to the junior who gave the review.
Bai Ningning nodded slightly at Qin Xin, the girl in black thigh-high socks. “Thank you, Qin Xin.”
Qin Xin, still lost in *green forest*, blinked. “Huh?”
“I mean, thank you for the positive review,” Bai Ningning clarified. “Volunteer GPA requires your feedback.”
Qin Xin froze.
Right. Senior Bai had said it from the start: *Taking care of you was just volunteer duty.*
Now the review was in. GPA secured. Was her usefulness… gone?
A tiny seed of anger took root in her hollow heart.
“Positive review?” Qin Yue squeezed Bai Ningning’s shoulder. “I’ll give you one too. No—*many*.”
Slip dresses were convenient. Touchable anywhere.
Qin Xin stared down, shoveling rice into her mouth.
*Pain +10. Rage +1.*
Thus began the cohabitation of the Qin sisters and Senior Bai.
“You’ll stay here. The room… maids prepared it?”
“Mm.”
“Close to the corridor—easy for mornings. I sleep in on rest days.”
“Mm.”
“Maids know you. Ask them for anything.”
“Mm.”
Qin Xin listened absently.
Qin Yue was even more distracted. She turned abruptly. “Rest early. *We’re* turning in.”
*We?*
She strode to the living room, swept Bai Ningning into her arms, and carried her off.
The delicate Senior Bai flustered. “Wh-what are you doing?”
“Don’t ask obvious questions.”
*Kill!*
Qin Xin heard the tapping footsteps. Rain pitter-pattered outside; AC hummed cool inside her room.
*This life… hard to endure.*
*Do homework. Forget everything.*
Dusk deepened. The drizzle since daytime hadn’t stopped—it grew heavier, shamelessly persistent.
To Qin Xin, the rain seemed laced with faint, familiar sounds.
She sighed, plugged in headphones, opened NetEase Cloud Music.
No Jay Chou. Copyright issues. Only anime tracks.
*Sigh. Green Diamond membership it is.*
*“Rain falls all night… my love overflows like rainwater~”*
Homework ends. Songs end.
Late night. Qin Xin headed to shower. Passing the corridor, her heart fluttered. She drifted toward her sister’s door.
“Was I wrong? Was I wrong?”
“No… Hmph.”
“Meow or not? Meow or not?”
“Hmph… Mm… No meow.”
Qin Xin winced. *Green forest.* *Green Diamond.* That diamond was *very* green.
“Second Young Miss?”
A voice stiffened her spine. Aunt Zou stood at the corridor’s end.
Heavy rain kept the maids overnight in guest rooms.
“I—I was looking for the bathroom,” Qin Xin improvised. “First day here… easy to get lost.”
“That’s the Elder Young Miss’s room,” Aunt Zou said gently. “Bathroom’s the other way. I’ll show you.”
“Mm.”
*Phew.* She exhaled relief.
As they walked, Qin Xin seized the moment. “Aunt Zou… about my senior—my sister’s girlfriend—how did they meet? Why… this?” She glanced away casually. “Just curious.”
Aunt Zou hesitated, then sighed. “It’s a long story. If Second Young Miss doesn’t mind the time… I’ll tell you.”
Qin Xin perked up her ears, listening intently.
