"Xiao Xi, why were you gone so long? You're finally back… wah wah wah."

Xu Qianqian clung to my arm, teary-eyed. Several sweatdrops rolled down my temple.

*So long?* I left at two, back by three. Anyone who knows gets it—I had an interview. Anyone who doesn’t would think I just took a stroll.

And hey—don’t press so close! Girl, your chest is right against my arm…

"Want to hang at the club this afternoon?" Xu Qianqian asked. "Everyone heard you were hospitalized and got worried. Even people who’ve never met you are asking if you’re okay."

Wait… same club, but some haven’t even seen each other? And if they’ve never met me, how are they "concerned"? Contradiction much. I paused. "Who told them I was hospitalized?"

Xu Qianqian blinked her big, supposedly innocent eyes. "Me."

"…"

Not innocent at all. You’re the culprit.

"No thanks," I declined gently. "Finals are right around the corner. Being hospitalized set me back—I need to catch up."

Partly true. Mostly, I didn’t have the energy to navigate not exposing myself… especially surrounded by people who already knew me. Plus, job trial tomorrow morning. Gotta rest early.

"Okaaay…" Xu Qianqian drooped her head. "I’ll head out then."

Don’t *you* have to study?! Why are you always playing around?!

"Finals are finals," she grumbled, as if reading my mind. "Pass = luck. Fail = fate. Worst case? Retake."

"…" Speechless at my roommate’s carefree attitude.

The afternoon slipped by. I pulled this semester’s textbooks from the shelf and skimmed them at lightning speed.

Back in college, I wasn’t a top student—but I never slacked. Couldn’t afford retake fees. As they say, my college self was "full of youthful drive: career in one hand, studies in the other."

Cost? Mediocre classmate bonds. Girls? I probably spoke to female students fewer than ten times across four years.

Now I talk to girls daily… and honestly? I’d rather be that quiet, gentle girl again.

Funny thing—I was literature major back then too. Not by choice, just randomly assigned. Reviewing this semester’s material felt like a refresher.

"No big deal."

After one book, I felt confident.

*Click.*

The door unlocked. I looked up—Qin Xue. The girl with long, straight black hair met my gaze the moment she stepped in. A flicker of surprise crossed her face.

Gone in an instant. Replaced by her usual emotionless calm.

"Qin Xue, you’re back," I greeted first.

The photo incident still had too many unanswered questions… but I couldn’t ask outright. Just live day by day. Probe gently later.

"Mm." Her reply was icy.

Was it my imagination? Her coldness felt… forced. At lunch earlier, we’d gotten along fine—she’d even cracked a tiny joke.

Whatever. Too much on my plate. No time to "read the room."

I closed the last calculus book. Confident.

Qin Xue soon left for the study room. Chen Meier popped in, packed her things, and signed the departure list—boarding students could head home now.

"My cute Xiao Xi~ Next semester, I’ll spoil you properly," she tossed over her shoulder.

I gave a stiff, awkward laugh. Thanks to Qin Xue, I knew this curvy, mature beauty was all talk. Zero need to take it seriously.

Xu Qianqian returned last, smelling faintly of fruit wine. Her face was flushed. I frowned. "You drank?"

She slumped against me, troubled. "Club president lied! She said this wouldn’t get me drunk…"

…Fruit wine’s mild, but if RIO knocks you out? Pineapple beer won’t save you.

"It’s Xiao Xi’s fault… wah…" Drunk Xu Qianqian’s eyes welled up. "They made me drink ’cause I didn’t bring you… wah wah wah…"

"…" Seriously? I was just studying in the dorm and still got blamed.

"Nope nope! Next gathering—you *have* to come!" Wine-addled, she buried my arm deep in her chest. I couldn’t pull free. "I’ll drag you there myself!"

I surrendered. "Fine, fine—I’ll go. When?"

Gotta face it eventually.

"The evening finals end!"

She finished the sentence… then *plop*—collapsed onto me, fast asleep. Amused and exasperated, I heaved her onto bed.

First day back at school: one roommate gone home, one icy silent, one drunk and snoring softly.

So much for "romance" on my first night in the girls’ dorm. Just quiet. And the faint, almost imperceptible sound of breathing.

Time to sleep. Good night.