After tucking the large box—stuffed with clothes, tiny shoes, and socks—under the computer desk, I resisted the urge to try on a few outfits right away. I locked it with the password pad and scrambled the digits.

*Ding dong!*

Just then, a notification popped up on my phone from the Hua Li Mao APP: a new review had arrived.

["She’s truly a stunning, cheerful, and bright girl—so thoughtful and optimistic. For the first time in my life, I experienced seven hours of pure happiness. I sincerely wish her continued success on her path, and hope those with ill intentions leave her be." —Wang Lei, General Manager of Nian Shao You Wei Clothing Co., Ltd., real-name five-star review]

Reading the words and seeing my personal credit score climb from -5 to 0, a faint flicker of emotion welled up in my chest.

["Thank you, Boss. You’re so kind—you took me to a huge park, we had so much fun, and you were really sweet to me."]

My fingers flew across the screen, typing the reply. But just as my thumb hovered over "Submit," I hesitated.

*Ding dong!*

Another chime cut through the silence.

[You’ve received a tip of 233 yuan from user "Wang Lei," with a note: "Please accept it. I wanted to send 520 or 1314, but I likely won’t book companion time again. I know you wouldn’t take too much—and since you’ve looked into me, you know this is nothing to me. Wishing you a bright future."]

Staring at the new balance—576 yuan—I deleted the long reply I’d typed. Left only two words: "Thank you."

Then added a cute emoticon (*^▽^*) and tapped "Submit."

*Ding dong! Review submitted successfully!*

As I closed the Hua Li Mao app, I glanced at the registered "rental girlfriend" and "rental boyfriend" services. Over 200 users now.

In other words… competition just got real.

Opening QQ, I saw Wang Lei’s account "Du Yao" had updated its signature over ten minutes ago:

*"If only I’d been confident and accomplished in my youth… if only I’d known what was truly precious…"*

"Did Chen Xiaorui say where she was going?"

I tucked my phone away, stood, and turned to our e-commerce class monitor, who was hunched over a spreadsheet.

"Nope. She called her boyfriend—takes forever to answer, sounded super impatient. Chen Xiaorui totally blew up."

"Oh… I’ll go look for her. It’s already 8:30."

"Hey, Monitor," Song Huijie chimed in, "since Chen Xiaorui’s out, why not pitch the shop idea to Xiao Xue? She’d be perfect as our brand ambassador."

"A shop?" I paused at the door. "You’re opening one?"

"We’re e-commerce majors—we need hands-on experience. Physical stores are the roots of e-commerce," Jiang Yuqing said, standing up. "We applied last week to open a mini-store near the girls’ dorms. Approved at noon today. Suppliers locked in, spot chosen—right by the first-floor admin office. Just need staff."

"Wait… seriously? The school allowed this?"

I’d been to college before—but a dorm-based shop? Never heard of it. Approval alone stunned me.

"Hehe, took ages to negotiate!" Jiang Yuqing grinned, pointing at Song Huijie. "We’ll tweak our room into a warehouse. Target customers: girls from Dorms 1, 2, 3, plus passersby. And Huijie suggested—let’s pull in the boys across the way too."

"Will that work?" I frowned. "Girls here might buy for convenience. But boys? Supermarket’s closer. What’re you selling anyway?"

"Snacks and drinks—spicy gluten strips, drunken peanuts, chips, cheese curls, spicy fish bites, mineral water, cola, green tea. Fast-turnover stuff. Thin margins, high volume."

She strode over and gave my shoulder a firm pat. "And attracting the boys? That’s your job, Xiao Xue."

"Eh? Me? What can I do?"

"You’re the campus beauty voted top on the school forum! Just wear a maid outfit, Lolita dress, or JK uniform while serving downstairs—I guarantee lines."

Crouching, Jiang Yuqing trailed a hand slowly down my leg sheathed in black sheer pantyhose. "Look at this waist… these legs… Ah! I’m sold."

"Wait—stop."

I stepped back, flustered. "I… might not have time."

"No worries! Open after school till 9 PM. Swap shifts based on class schedules. After 10 PM, focus on girls in this building. And you get a cut!"

"A cut?" Interest flickered. "How much?"

"30% to school, 10% to dorm auntie. Remaining 60% split among us—if Chen Xiaorui sits out, five ways. Conservative estimate: 3,000 yuan monthly. ~300 yuan each. Realistically? 500–600. With your popularity pulling in boys too? Easily over 1,000."

She gestured to a petite, bespectacled girl with short dark hair (~155 cm): "This is Zhou Mengya—call her Mengya. Her family runs a shop at Heping Mall in Gongjiang District. She handles sourcing and warehouse."

Then to another: "Zhang Qi, our life committee member. Grew up managing her family’s grocery store. She handles finances and forum promotions."

Pointing between herself, Song Huijie, and me: "We three handle sales. I’ll borrow cosplay outfits from the anime club—maid sets if possible. Boys eat that up."

She shot me a mischievous grin. "Can’t wait to see Xiao Xue in a maid outfit."

…You guys.

Hearing Jiang Yuqing’s "grand plan," genuine admiration bloomed for our monitor.

"So… will you join? Wear cosplay gear downstairs on free days?"

"Uh… I’ll… think about it." I forced a troubled smile. "Gotta find Chen Xiaorui first—she’s probably crying alone."

"Okay! If you decide, tell me. Our shop can’t run without you, Xiao Xue~"

Even after my uniform shoes *click-clacked* down the hall, her voice chased me.

*Phew…*

Outside the dorm, I popped into the supermarket: bamboo skewers for crafts, needle-nose pliers, super glue, two rolls of colored paper—16 yuan total. Then grabbed a milk tea next door.

Our campus? Average-sized. At this hour, boys gamed indoors, girls binged dramas. Only scattered couples lingered. I found Chen Xiaorui alone on a bench by the soccer field in minutes.

"Still upset?"

I sat beside her, offering the cup. "Here."

"Ah…" She blinked, waving it off. "You drink it."

"Already finished mine walking here." I smiled. "You want me doubled up with a stomachache?"

"…Okay. Thanks."

She took it, pierced the seal with the straw.

"What’s all this?" She peeked into my bag, mood softening slightly. "Going for barbecue?"

"Nope. Making a handmade gift—tiny wooden house or manor from cut skewers. For a friend’s birthday."

"Oh…" Cheeks puffed. "Lucky. My boyfriend never does stuff like that."

"Then ignore him a few days." I gazed toward the field. "We girls don’t need men to thrive, right?"

Twenty is a girl’s most radiant year.

For boys? It’s the age of naivety, immaturity, emptiness.

Unless born privileged, they can’t promise love or security. Confused. Adrift. Prone to stumble.

Clashes at twenty? Inevitable.

"Since he keeps hurting you, let him game alone. Wait till *he* realizes his mistake and apologizes. We live our lives."

Leaning close, I gently wiped the tear at her eye’s corner.

"There. Don’t cry. Anger ages you. Hurts your skin. Breathe."

"X…Xiao Xue?"

She stared, startled. "I never knew you could be this… charming."

"Didn’t you say this morning we’re besties?" I smiled softly. "A bestie comforts her friend. That’s all."

I stood up and reached out my hand to the girl.

"Let's go. It's time to head back."