Qiu Li’er was, of course, not that kind of frivolous person. Xiao Shi was merely a girl she’d happened to meet—so the matter was simply left behind.

Only one match remained tomorrow morning. Win it, and they’d enjoy a carefree weekend. Naturally, the three girls ate well, drank well, returned to their dorm early, and headed straight to bed to rest up.

Just then, an uninvited guest arrived…

“Again you?” Nan Shi glared at Fischer standing outside the door, grinding her teeth. “Our dorm doesn’t welcome Paladins. Beat it!”

Qiu Li’er whispered softly, “Nan Shi, she doesn’t seem here to move in…”

“I’m here for Qiu Li’er,” Fischer said, stepping inside with three small boxes. “And to apologize for my rashness yesterday.”

“Discussing things? Apologizing?” Nan Shi sneered, twitching her nose. “I bet you’re just after our Little Fox’s body. What’s in those boxes?”

“Gifts for the apology,” Fischer replied calmly. “Strawberry nougat, hawthorn milk balls, salted egg yolk pastries… I didn’t bring more—I wasn’t sure what you liked.”

Silence fell over the dorm. Seeing no one spoke, Fischer placed a box into each girl’s hands, then pulled up a chair and sat.

Qiu Li’er stared at the mouth-watering treats, eyes lighting up. “Fischer, did you make these yourself?!”

Nan Shi and Yuenina shot her a resentful glance. *This Little Fox can’t even resist a tiny temptation without wagging her tail.*

“Yes,” Fischer said earnestly. “My mother is a renowned pastry chef in the kingdom. I picked up a little… Do you like them?”

“Mm-hmm! I absolutely love them!”

Since her past life, Qiu Li’er had been someone who couldn’t live without sweetness. In a materialistic world, it was her only solace—only when sweetness touched her tongue did she feel a hint of warmth. Reborn as a fox girl, that craving hadn’t faded; it had only intensified. Fischer had perfectly won over Little Fox’s stomach.

“I’m glad,” Fischer said.

Watching them exchange sweet nothings, Nan Shi and Yuenina clenched their fists. *Is she here to apologize or stir trouble? Flirting with our Little Fox right before us—does she not see us, her rightful roommates?*

(Though… they did like the sweets.)

Yuenina quietly tucked away her box and cleared her throat. “Your apology is sincere. We’ll accept the sweets. But your timing is poor.”

Fischer frowned slightly. “Why?”

“We’re about to shower,” Nan Shi said, pointing to the bathroom.

“You… all three together?” Fischer asked, disbelief clear.

“Mm-hmm~ Problem?” Nan Shi wrapped an arm around each roommate’s slender waist. “A sign of closeness. Jealous?”

Fischer shook her head. She’d only ever bathed with her mother. Showering with classmates? Unthinkable.

“But you’ll have time after.”

“After showering, we sleep. No discussion,” Yuenina stated.

The spacious dorm felt too small for a fourth soul. They wanted Fischer gone—now.

Yet Fischer calmly replied, “It’s fine. Bed is better for talking.”

“Huh?”

Nan Shi raised a fist. “What’d you say? Asking for a beating?”

*With Yuenina and me right here—what “discussion” does she want with Little Fox in bed? Is she trying to NTR her in front of us?!*

“Calm down, Nan Shi. She didn’t mean it that way,” Qiu Li’er urged.

Fischer blinked, bewildered. *I just meant lying down is more comfortable… Why is everyone angry?*

Nan Shi took a slow breath. “We’re showering first. Wait here if you want.” She shot Yuenina a look. Yuenina instantly scooped up Qiu Li’er and headed for the bathroom.

“Don’t barge in,” Nan Shi said, unbuttoning her top to reveal soft, fair skin. She gave the Paladin girl a sly smile. “Though… if you *really* want in, strip first~”

The door clicked shut. Fischer sat alone.

“Why would she think I’d want to enter?” Fischer murmured. “It’s just showering. Nothing to see.”

She wasn’t shameless. Dragon blood ran in her veins, yes—but her upbringing made peeping unthinkable. She was, and always would be, an upright, kind-hearted Paladin.

Still, waiting idly wasted time. She closed her eyes to meditate.

“Little Fox~ Let me check if your development’s normal~”

“Mm… no… stop…”

A coquettish cry pierced the wall, sharp against the rush of water. Fischer’s eyes flew open.

She glanced back. “Aren’t they just showering?”

*Maybe scrubbing each other’s backs… a sign of closeness.*

She closed her eyes again, breathing deep like a meditating monk.

“Wait—don’t there…”

“Little Fox, does it feel good?”

“Yuenina, gentler… it hurts.”

Inside, the three played without a care for the girl outside. Fischer trembled slightly but stayed perfectly still.

*Stay calm. Their aura’s mischievous, but they’re her roommates. Qiu Li’er’s safe.*

“Hurts,” “good,” “gentle”—normal words. Her mother heard them too during baths. Nothing wrong.

*They’re just showering.*

Yet her breath grew unsteady.

“Eep!!! Nan Shi, stop pinching—”

“Haha! Yuenina’s weak spot! Now I’ve got you both~”

“Sorry, Yuenina… but Nan Shi feels so good…”

Eyes closed, Fischer heard every sound with painful clarity—warm, tender, lingering.

*It’s just a good massage. They’re fine.*

But her breathing quickened anyway.

*What… are they really doing in there?*

Thirty minutes later, the three emerged wrapped in towels. Fischer sat in the corner, back turned.

“You okay?”

“Don’t mind me… meditating…”

“Tsk. Paladins and their weird habits,” Nan Shi muttered.

Fischer wiped a bead of sweat from her cheek. Her flushed face slowly calmed.

She had lost. Completely and utterly.