After roughly discussing the details of becoming the spokesperson for Wang Lei’s “Lei Xiang Pet Products,” I returned to the dorm at noon.

Wang Lei had wanted to treat me to lunch nearby, but I declined: “I’ve got afternoon classes—need to nap back at the dorm.”

My schedule’s always tight.

“Mmm— Gege!”

“Ah— Meimei!”

“Your voice sounds kinda like a friend of mine, he…”

“Oh! Got it—you’re *that* Bilibili user! Boss, just say it: how should I flatter you for this order?”

Inside the dorm, Zhou Mengya was watching a drama to my left, Song Huijie scrolling shorts—but Chen Xiaorui? She’d started “neglecting her duties,” too. Arching her little butt, wriggling on bed, phone in hand (clearly playing something), letting out honking laughter now and then.

“Honk honk honk…”

“Whoa, Xiaorui! Watch your image!” Zhou Mengya winced as I entered. “If your bestie or boyfriend sees you like this, your rep’s toast.”

“No worries! My boyfriend won’t care. Xiao Xue’s still out with the boss!” Chen Xiaorui giggled, cheeks flushed. “These companion videos are hilarious! How do they come up with these skits? Honk honk honk…”

“What’re you watching?” I leaned over her bed, gripping the edge, tiptoeing. “Prank show?”

“Ah! Xiao Xue, you’re back!” She jolted awake. “So funny—I’m dying! My abs are gonna pop!”

“Wake up. That’s not abs—that’s snack love.” I smiled. “Eat yet? I’m heading to the canteen. Want me to grab you something?”

“Nope! Waiting for you!” She sprang up in one swift motion, tapped her phone off, rubbed her flushed cheeks. “We promised lunch! You’ve brought me breakfast daily without a dime—I’m treating you today. No arguments.”

*Phew.*

I breathed silent relief.

Guess her character’s not bad. Emotional IQ? Salvageable.

These past days, after morning runs, I’d bring her breakfast—never asked for cash. School canteen breakfasts aren’t pricey, but daily adds up. Four, five yuan a day… fifty in ten days, hundreds over a semester. I feared she’d see it as my duty. Reminded me of my last life: at a tiny company, I’d refill the water dispenser daily since I lived close. One sick day I was late—colleagues scolded me for *not* fetching water. They’d rather go thirsty than do it themselves. I quit. Saw no future there.

Same principle here. A few yuan isn’t much, but don’t treat kindness as obligation. You don’t need to transfer exact amounts instantly—but never think “It’s just pocket change” or “We’re close, skip the math.” It’s about attitude.

Same for couples. Guy pays for movies? Fine. But if the girl thinks “He *should* pay” or “I just look pretty,” that’s wrong. Reciprocity matters: she buys popcorn, sodas, or treats him after. Harmony.

Everyone’s unique. Raised with love. No one owes anyone.

“Then I want clay pot rice.”

I smirked. “The priciest one: beef clay pot rice.”

“I know—beef *and* Chinese sausage! Remembered perfectly, you little foodie, Xiao Xue.” She hopped off bed, messy-haired, darting to the bathroom. “Wait up! Washing my face first.”

“Okay.”

I pulled Wang Lei’s suitcase from under my bed, took out the Tokisaki Kurumi school skirt and pantyhose, soaked them gently in detergent water to prep the fabric, set the bucket aside.

Good. Wash after lunch.

One Rem cosplay, one Kurumi set, white thigh-highs, black ones, cute uniform shoes, flats—enough for most bosses.

No classes Thursday/Friday afternoons. With Hua Li Mao’s recs surging and QQ group shares peaking, my schedule’s likely packed through the weekend.

Helping Grandma sell breakfast earned ~200 yuan (WeChat tips + leftover clothes money). Plus afternoon gaming/volleyball companionship, Liang Zhiming’s 600 yesterday… over 1,000 already. Push hard this week—sweet-talk bosses, book all four days—3,000 yuan’s reachable. Maybe tips push it further. Bubble tea shops, braised chicken stall by the supermarket, wontons/dumplings/rice balls/liangpi/spicy noodles by canteen… even KFC legs, McDonald’s wraps, Wallace roast chicken outside campus—I’m craving *all* of it.

“Let’s go!”

Fresh-faced, Chen Xiaorui linked her arm through mine. “My dearest… Wife-sama!”

“*Now* you call me Wife-sama?” I sighed. “Who refused to share the bed before?”

“Hehe, fair! But *you* were the one sneaking out with stinky guys first.” She tugged me outside, gazing dreamily at the sky. “Watched so many companion videos—it looks fun! Bosses send red packets just for a loli-voice ‘husband’ call. Easy money!”

“So… can *you* do loli voice?”

“Easy! Speak cute, use reduplication—‘eat-eat,’ ‘hungry-hungry’—pronounce every syllable flat-tongued. Done.”

*You learn *that* fast?*

“Come on, Xiao Xue! Try! Your voice is naturally cute—you’ll nail it!” She nudged me walking to canteen. “Flat tongue on every syllable—sound slightly off, babyish.”

“Huh?”

“No ‘huh’! You *do* this job—loli voice is mandatory.”

“Then… Chen Xiaorui, big dummy. A cat can’t resist dried fish snacks. Your bed’s messy as a pigsty…” I mumbled, flustered. “Like this?”

“How *dare* you, Bi Xinxue!” She lunged, claws aimed at my chest. “Insulting me?! Let’s check if your milk’s fermented into yogurt!”

“Yogurt?! Wait—I don’t *have* milk!”

“I don’t care! Gonna squeeze!”

“Wait—so many people watching…”

“Eww!”

“…”

Upstairs at the canteen, after a short queue, I finally held the legendary beef and Chinese sausage clay pot rice.

Sat at a small table, unwrapped chopsticks, lifted a beef slice.

Mmm… delicious.

“Xiao Xue,” Chen Xiaorui mused across the table, “that look… like a stray cat fed fish after years of corn.”

“Mmm… but it *is* good.”

Not that I ate corn daily—school meals always had meat + veg. Bosses like Liang Zhiming ordered plenty too. But those meals felt… indebted. Nothing like this: relaxed, guilt-free, sharing food with a friend.

“Xiao Xue—see? Guys keep sneaking glances at you.” Chen Xiaorui, barely touching her Chongqing chicken, swiveled in her chair. “This outfit’s *so* cute! Where’d you get it?”

“A boss gave it.”

“Wang Lei?” She pondered. “Into him?”

“Just acquaintances. His dad runs a clothing factory—these were unsold stock. He tossed them my way.”

“No wonder. Saw videos: bosses bet triple fees, actually pay. 900 yuan for two hours? Spending thousands daily… wild.” She sighed. “But even clearance stock looks great. Rich people world?”

“Oh—and Xiao Xue… I got an order. 7 to 9 PM tonight.”

“Huh? *Cough cough cough—*” I nearly choked. “For real?”

“Yep. Broke up with girlfriend over gaming. Wants comfort.”

“Not Ye Qing?”

“Nope. Surname Huang. Almost thirty.”

“But you…” I swallowed beef. “Aren’t *you* stressed about your boyfriend gaming? Sure you can comfort others like this?”

“Should… be fine?” She hesitated, eyes drifting to my bear-print hoodie stretched snug over my chest. After a quiet moment, resolve hardened.

“I want to try.”