*Creak.* The dorm room door swung open once more.

Qiu Li'er leaned against the wall and peered cautiously inside. Her two roommates wore utterly dejected expressions—one lying on the bed gently rubbing her tummy, the other sitting upright, lost in a book.

“I’m back,” Qiu Li'er said, placing a large bag on the desk. “You haven’t eaten yet, right? I brought dinner… and black tea too.”

“Little Fox…” Nan Shi struggled to sit up, squinting. “Were you… taken advantage of by that knight?”

“Huh?” Qiu Li'er blinked in confusion. “Why ‘taken advantage of’?”

“He puts on a decent front,” Nan Shi said coolly, “but who knows what improper thoughts he had.” She gazed steadily at her. “I don’t like using things others have already used.”

“Same here,” Yuenina nodded. “But I can smell it—she only hugged you.”

True, a hug wasn’t *that* kind of thing… but even a hug was unacceptable!

“This is the second one!” Nan Shi yanked Qiu Li'er onto the bed, gently kneading her flushed cheeks. “First that loli detective, now a maiden knight, and even Teacher Xi coming all the way to ‘bless’ you?! Explain—how’d you get close to three girls in one day?!”

“I-I don’t know…” Qiu Li'er pouted innocently, face reddening under the rubs. “We’re just friends!”

“*Friends?!*”

At the word, Nan Shi’s temper flared. What kind of “friends” sneak into a grove at night—*while hugging*? How “intimate.”

She looked so innocently confused… yet tangled with other girls behind their backs.

*No. Too angry. Maybe I should just claim her now.*

Nan Shi seized Qiu Li'er’s arms. Crimson deepened in her pupils; her nails lengthened slightly. She fixed her gaze on Little Fox’s petite frame, lips curving dangerously—just about to pull her close…

“Calm. Down.”

Yuenina smacked her book against Nan Shi’s head, glaring. “Are you an idiot?”

Nan Shi slumped onto the bed. “Sorry…”

*Little Fox is just too tempting. Almost lost it.*

Qiu Li'er tilted her head, carefully helping Nan Shi up—completely unaware she’d narrowly escaped… or rather, missed a happy chance.

“Anyway,” Nan Shi rubbed her faintly red forehead, “Little Fox, you owe us compensation. For the emptiness in our hearts while you were gone.”

“What she means,” Yuenina added calmly, “is physical compensation.”

*Like head pats. Tail strokes. You know.*

Qiu Li'er’s eyes sparkled. “Sure! Sure!”

“Huh? So readily?” Nan Shi blinked.

“I’ve actually wanted to do this for a while~”

With a sweet smile, Qiu Li'er cupped Nan Shi’s chin and *pecked* her rosy cheek.

“E-Eh?!”

Frozen, Nan Shi’s face flushed crimson. “L-Little Fox, you—!”

“Hehe~” Qiu Li'er swayed her fluffy tail. “Enough compensation?”

“I… I…” Nan Shi stammered, red as a ripe apple. She teased others daily with flirty words—but zero real experience. One tiny peck left her utterly flustered.

Yuenina gasped, cheeks blooming pink, lips parted. “S-Since when were you two this close?!”

“Yuenina wants one too?”

Before finishing, Qiu Li'er pounced, hugging her tightly with all her petite strength, and *pecked* her cool, smooth cheek.

“L-Little Fox, you—!” Yuenina ducked her head, face blazing, a wisp of steam rising from her scalp.

*It’s different when she takes the lead.*

Settled between them, Qiu Li'er wrapped small arms around their waists, smiling contentedly.

*Roommates should exchange happy pecks! What problem can’t kisses fix? If one isn’t enough—add more. Once we’re used to pecking… we can try head pats, nuzzles, licks… and other shy things.*

Just as she daydreamed blissfully—

Nan Shi wrapped arms around her from behind.

“Well, well~ Little Fox actually fights back now.”

To punish her boldness, Nan Shi hugged her waist, lips brushing soft hair near the fluffy ear:

“Can I pin you down right here?”

“E-Eh?!” Qiu Li'er panicked. *This isn’t how it was supposed to go! Shouldn’t they blush, forgive me, then eat-bathe-sleep?! Why does it feel like counterattack time?!*

“O-Of course not! It’s the dorm! And Yuenina’s here—!”

*Right! Yuenina always stops her!*

Heart pounding, Qiu Li'er glanced hopefully—only to see Yuenina’s calm, lake-like black eyes now holding a pulsating pink heart.

“Haa… Since you took the first step,” Yuenina murmured, leaning gently against her chest, breath carrying a faint lily scent, “you must take responsibility.”

A cold sweat trickled down Qiu Li'er’s neck. *Xi Xi and Fischer warned me…*

*These two roommates are extremely dangerous.*

Back then, she’d thought it was just a joke. Now… the price was due.

Her fox ears drooped. “S-So… you forgive me…?”

Nan Shi and Yuenina exchanged a glance—and smiled sweetly.

“Of course~”

Nan Shi nuzzled her blushing cheek; Yuenina swept aside orange strands, eyes closed, inhaling softly.

“W-Wait…” Qiu Li'er whispered, heart racing like a wronged little wife. “Let’s eat first… the food’s getting cold.”

“Sure,” Nan Shi purred. “Eat, bathe… then get into bed…”

“To *sleep*! I know!” Qiu Li'er squeaked.

From that day on, Qiu Li'er walked with far more caution.