When you're tired, sleep comes fast.

Squeezing onto buses and subways all morning, then spending the afternoon at the amusement park—it drained everyone. The energetic ones, like Old Mei, could still rally people for games that left *everyone* exhausted. Others? Not so much.

Peng Xiaoxiao was first to feel drowsy. Finding Wei Zhanpeng’s secret stash had thrilled her for a moment—but before she could open any files, a flustered Wei Zhanpeng rushed over and deleted everything right in front of them. Understandable from his side, sure, but it killed her excitement. His computer had games, mostly online ones. The hotel Wi-Fi crawled. The few offline options? Not her style. Boredom set in. Then sleepiness.

Noticing Peng Xiaoxiao yawning nonstop, Shu Yuxin paused. "Tired? Want to hit the sack?"

"Huh? Yeah, sleep sounds good," Peng Xiaoxiao yawned again. "Nothing else to do anyway."

Shu Yuxin glanced back at Jiang Zixuan. "We're turning in."

"Sure. Call us if you need anything," he nodded.

After quick goodnights to the others, the two slipped into their room.

Peng Xiaoxiao flopped onto her bed the second the door closed, stretched deeply, and let out a blissful sigh. "Haa... dead tired..."

Shu Yuxin sat on her own bed, pulled over her tossed-aside travel bag, and rummaged for sleepwear. "You shower first or me?"

"Hmm... me," Peng Xiaoxiao grumbled, dragging herself up while fussing with her clothes. "Ugh... too tired to shower..."

"If you're this wiped, why not come back earlier?" Shu Yuxin set clothes aside.

Peng Xiaoxiao tilted her head back with a sigh. "Didn't feel it then... Now? Zero energy."

Still complaining, she shuffled into the bathroom and clicked the door shut.

Shu Yuxin stared absently at Peng Xiaoxiao’s small bag.

She’d imagined this moment countless times—sharing a room with Xiaoxiao. Even felt a flutter of excitement once, fantasizing about *something* scandalous happening tonight. Now? Nothing.

Just exhaustion. All she wanted was to lie down and sleep.

And honestly? Nothing *had* happened.

Showers were quicker than usual. Straight into bed. Phones in hand. Zero "anime-style moments."

Shu Yuxin just sighed inwardly. *So realistic.*

Lying still made drowsiness hit fast. After a few minutes on her phone, her eyes grew heavy. She yawned, tossed the phone aside, rolled over—

"Wait!" Peng Xiaoxiao’s sudden shout jolted her. "What?"

Peng Xiaoxiao blinked up at the ceiling. "I forgot to drag you to the haunted house..."

Shu Yuxin’s lips twitched. "That’s it?"

"Yeah! Tomorrow! Lighter Paradise Park’s haunted house is super popular. I planned this trip *just* for it—how did I forget?!"

"Umm... honestly? Do whatever you like. No need to force it for me. Really."

"Mm." Peng Xiaoxiao tossed her phone too. "Early sleep. We’ll go at dawn before crowds hit."

"...You really don’t need to worry about me," Shu Yuxin murmured, helpless.

*Why’s she so hung up on the haunted house?*

Peng Xiaoxiao, undeterred, pivoted to a topic that made Shu Yuxin’s head ache more. "Hey—how was your day with Jiang Zixuan?"

"Huh? Fine. Too crowded. Felt packed even without lines." Shu Yuxin rolled over, tone flat.

"Not *that*," Peng Xiaoxiao curled up, eyes gleaming mischievously. "You two were alone, right? I saw you. C’mon—perfect chance! Anything... *happen*?"

Shu Yuxin sighed wearily. "I said it. Zixuan and I are just friends."

"Friends act *that* close? You think I’m blind?" Peng Xiaoxiao snuggled deeper, gossip-mode activated. "You don’t treat him like a backup... So? Is he your male best friend?"

Shu Yuxin froze.

Their relationship was complicated—tied to *her* secret. She couldn’t explain. Outsiders *would* misunderstand.

But... why was Xiaoxiao so fixated on this?

*Is this just... a girl thing?*

"Uh... yeah. He’s my male best friend," Shu Yuxin finally said softly. "We’re close. But not *that* kind of close."

"Ohhh~" Peng Xiaoxiao hummed, then grinned. "Then work harder! Turn that male best friend into a husband~"

"...Why must he become a husband?"

"Don’t you *want* to?"

"Not planning to. Friendship’s enough." Shu Yuxin shook her head.

Peng Xiaoxiao pouted. "Zixuan’s great—handsome, gentle, treats you well... If *I* had a guy like him, I’d fight to keep him. Leaving him just as a friend? What if someone snatches him? Won’t you regret it?" She sighed wistfully. "Ugh... I wish *I* had a boyfriend..."

Shu Yuxin fell quiet.

Since becoming a girl, she’d never seriously considered dating. Before, she’d felt invisible—romance felt distant. She’d only ever *imagined* sweet moments with a crush. Lately? Not even that.

Wait—*if* she dated now... boyfriend or girlfriend?

She was conservative. Never considered same-sex relationships. But now in a female body... pursuing girls felt unlikely. And flirting with girls? She’d be worse than those cringey "sweet" chats she used to have with guy friends.

But... dating a guy? Why did *that* feel so weird?

Shu Yuxin had a rule: if it confused her, drop it. She shifted focus. Peng Xiaoxiao was still staring at the ceiling, lost in daydreams.

*Yep. University really brings out the romance bug...*

Normally, Shu Yuxin might joke, "Want Zixuan? I’ll help you chase him." Today? No energy.

*Must be too tired.*

She steered gently back. "You spent all afternoon with Wei Zhanpeng today, right?"

"Hmm? Yeah."

"Getting close with him?" Shu Yuxin propped herself up, teasing. "Don’t tell me you *like* him?"

Peng Xiaoxiao’s eyes flew wide. "*Me?!* Like *him?!* Are you kidding? Who’d like that otaku?!"

"Tsk. You’re an otaku too..."

"I—I’m *different*!" Peng Xiaoxiao’s cheeks flushed. "Way better than him!"

"Hehe. So what *do* you think of him?"

Peng Xiaoxiao pursed her lips. "Him? Typical otaku. Only games... and worse at them than *me*. What’s there to like?"

"Who knows."

A quiet lull settled.

Then—*click*. Peng Xiaoxiao switched off the light. Darkness swallowed the room.

"Sleep. Early start tomorrow," she murmured.

Shu Yuxin smiled faintly, eyes closing. "Mm."

Just as peace settled—

"Remember!" Peng Xiaoxiao’s voice cut through the dark. "Haunted house. Tomorrow morning. *Together*."

"...Sleep now. We’ll see tomorrow."