I'm Back.

Back at school, standing before the dorm door, I whimsically murmured those words. But the moment I pushed it open—my eyes were covered, my face sinking deep into softness.

Squish!

"Waaahhhhh!" A girl’s sorrowful wail followed.

"Calm down," I grunted, nudging Xu Qianqian back slightly. "What happened?"

"I don’t know!" she sobbed. "I woke up this morning and the dorm was empty! I’ve been alone all day!"

"...Isn’t that normal?" I deadpanned. "Everyone has stuff to do."

Xu Qianqian’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "So to you, Xiaoxi… leaving me here alone is *normal*?"

"Yep."

"Waaahhh—"

She pressed harder. Suffocating. I could barely breathe…

After ages of coaxing, Qianqian finally calmed, released me, and asked, "You left so early for work today… how’d it go?"

"Smooth enough to sound unreal," I shrugged. "Don’t worry."

"How can I *not* worry?" Qianqian pouted. "Honestly? I’m disappointed. I hoped it’d go badly."

"Why?" I froze. Was my roommate a traitor too?

"If it went badly, you might quit early," Qianqian schemed aloud. "Then we could hang out all summer!"

Not happening. Quit one job? I’d just find another.

"Hey Qianqian—got my old number? Gotta run to the service center for a SIM replacement."

At Zhenzhong University, every student gets an ID-linked SIM for campus Wi-Fi. All I needed was the number and my ID.

"Call me Qianqian, I’ll tell you. Full name? Nope."

"...Qianqian."

From the tsundere single-ponytail girl, I got the number. ID in hand, I dashed downstairs. Replacement SIM: done. Twenty yuan gone… ouch.

Holding the powered-on phone, my nerves tingled. First time using something this expensive—of course I was excited. Fingers trembling slightly, terrified of a single scratch.

Then—violent vibration nearly flung it from my grip.

Bzzzzzz!

I’d replaced Su Xiaoxi’s SIM. Messages flooded in. Most were caring notes from her hospital days.

Too bad she hadn’t synced contacts to the SIM. No clue who anyone was. Skimming through… same well-wishes… until one recent text snagged my attention.

"Sent today?"

Opened it. Unknown sender. One line:

*Cutie, see you next semester. Don’t forget what you promised me that day—I let you off the hook.*

"...Hiss." Goosebumps prickled my skin.

There it was—the bullies who’d tormented Su Xiaoxi. Finally showing their hand. Too bad I didn’t know who "she" was. I’d dig later.

Message hinted she’d left campus. Wouldn’t return till after summer.

"We’ll cross that bridge when we get there," I steadied myself. "No use panicking now."

Only one contact saved: "Qin Ning." I texted my new number. Boss Qin replied with a chilly "Mm."

"So unreadable…" I muttered. "Is this how the rich live?"

Guess wealthy folks really do have quirks.

First thing after getting a phone? Log into QQ, obviously. WeChat’s for older folks. Us otaku stick with QQ.

My old account was dead. Su Xiaoxi’s password? Unknown. Lucky I had a clean gaming QQ account—perfect timing. Logged in, tapped "Add Friend," added today’s honey-gold twin-tailed interviewer.

Friend request note:

"I’m your interviewer—and your future boss."

Believe it or not, it’s true. Don’t underestimate a loli just ‘cause she’s young.

Request accepted. Aili sent a surprised emoji first.

"I suspected… but wow, it’s really you? (#Surprised)"

I replied: "(#Calm) Don’t judge by looks. I’m nineteen."

Aili: "What should I call you? I’m two years older… but you’re my boss? (#Question)"

Me: "Whatever. Doesn’t matter."

But the honey-gold twin-tailed, well-endowed girl took titles seriously. After thirty seconds of silence—

"Daddy?"

"Pfft!"