8:00 PM. Qiu Li'er, Nan Shi, and Yuenina finally trudged back to their dorm room.

To cut to the chase: after hours of effort, they’d uncovered absolutely nothing.

The magic broom shop’s closure held no answers; the lakeside incident site left no traces. Not a single clue to grasp. In the end, they grabbed a quick dinner outside before returning.

“Honestly, it doesn’t take a genius to know we’d find zero useful clues,” Yuenina stated seriously.

“Why?”

“We’re not professionals.” She wagged a finger. “Just ordinary students. If real clues existed, would they wait for us? This needs a professional team.”

“A professional team?” Nan Shi frowned slightly. “Meaning… we still need that detective?”

*Well. After all that effort, right back where we started. Hours of work—for nothing.*

Qiu Li'er sighed. “So far, every single effort has been completely in vain.”

Yuenina added, “Suspicious as she is, Detective C’s skills are undeniably sharp.”

“Like?” Qiu Li'er asked curiously.

“The student council election earlier this year. Candidate One led by nearly two thousand votes—until Detective C exposed their animal abuse habit on the final day. The campaign collapsed instantly. Lost the election. Vanished for half a year.”

“Oh~ I saw that on the Magic Net,” Qiu Li'er said.

“What about the ‘mistress-catching’ case?” Nan Shi chimed in with a grin. “Two married academy teachers cohabited half a year. One cheated—regularly taking a pretty female student to hotels, ‘imparting knowledge,’ staying out all night.”

Hearing this juicy detail, Qiu Li'er perked up. “And then?”

“Detective C gave the evidence to the other teacher… and then…” Nan Shi suddenly wrapped an arm around both girls, voice dropping to a playful whisper: “...the three of them lived happily ever after.”

“…Huh?” Qiu Li'er blinked in confusion. “Why?”

*Just forgiven? No issue with being cheated on?*

Nan Shi rubbed their slender arms gently, smiling brightly. “Because all three are lovely girls~”

A citrus-scented warmth filled the room. Only the girls’ slightly quickened breaths broke the silence.

Yuenina stayed stone-faced and pinched Nan Shi’s waist. Qiu Li'er’s tail swayed once—*Ah!*

*Ohhh—yuri NTR!*

Since all were girls, the betrayal was “reluctantly” forgiven. *Yeah, I’ve heard “yuri doesn’t count as NTR”… but I’m a pure-love purist.*

Unless the betrayed teacher genuinely fell for the student, Qiu Li'er would lock that pair in a room and teach them the brutal consequences of NTR!

…Though revenge aside, the pure-love route always wins. Happy ending for three. Always a *good ending*.

Citrus truly is a wondrous fruit—sweet, tangy, utterly addictive.

The three held each other, flushed and breathless, until Nan Shi let go.

Not from shyness. Her arms were just sore.

...

“Little Fox~ Little Nina~”

Half an hour later, Nan Shi leaned against the bathroom door, half-teasing. “Shower together?”

She’d stripped down to a white tee and pearl-colored silk panties, radiating effortless allure.

Yuenina, long accustomed, didn’t glance up from her book. “Our relationship isn’t there yet.”

Qiu Li'er’s tail swayed rhythmically; her heartbeat spiked.

The thin fabric traced elegant curves. Fair legs crossed lightly. Her ample bosom strained the shirt, revealing creamy skin and deep cleavage beneath a confident, radiant smile…

Still not enough to fluster Qiu Li'er. The real killer?

Nan Shi was braless.

“N-no… You go first,” Qiu Li'er stammered, turning away. Her tail spun like a frantic fan.

*Not today. Next time!*

“Alright then~” Nan Shi chirped. Soon, the rush of shower water filled the room.

*Even in a girls’ dorm… this is too bold. Women would struggle to resist.*

“And wait—”

“Nan Shi… hasn’t worn a bra *all day*?” Qiu Li'er gasped.

“Get used to it,” Yuenina said flatly. “She sleeps naked. Wakes up groggy, forgets underwear.”

Nan Shi existed in Schrödinger’s braless state.

“But…” Qiu Li'er’s eyes widened. “So she *can* drink without hands… even braless?”

*Flashback:* That afternoon, sipping watermelon juice, Nan Shi muttered: “Seriously, does anyone *actually* use hands to drink? Come on, really?” Then unbuttoned two buttons, tucked the cup into her cleavage, and drank. Both girls froze.

“Sigh…” Yuenina exhaled deeply, voice hollow. “Just… get used to it.”

She looked utterly defeated.

Qiu Li'er cupped her own chest, silently comforting herself: *Big chests must make sleeping hard… hard to breathe…*

[“Not at all.”] The system chimed suddenly.

*Huh? System! I almost forgot—you! What do today’s rewards even mean?*

After risking everything to hug Xi Kefeng, she’d gained [Iai Strike] and [Blade Enhancement]—but had no clue how to use them.

[“You’re such an idiot. Must I explain everything?”]

Two glowing halos seeped into her body. Knowledge flooded her mind.

[Iai Strike—quick-draw swordsmanship. Draw, strike, kill. One move. No survivors.]

[This razor-sharp technique, paired with [Blade Enhancement]? A perfect match. Be grateful for your European bloodline.]

*You tampered with the rewards,* Qiu Li'er grumbled inwardly.

Disappointed. Iai looked cool, but useless in real fights. She’d hoped for [Magic Missile], [Shield]… even [Self-Heal] would’ve been better.

[“This system upholds fairness, justice, transparency. Don’t like it? Don’t learn.”]

Qiu Li'er twitched her lips. *Not learning isn’t an option. I won’t become useless.*

Bored and unable to practice in-dorm, she opened her phone—chat window with Detective C.

[Qiu Li'er: Hey? Online? Where to meet Saturday?]

True to her roommates’ warnings, she kept the other two a secret.

One minute… no reply.

Five minutes… silence.

Her delicate brows furrowed.

*She’s online. Why ignore me? What is this person even doing all day?*

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