This was likely the first truly undisturbed morning of Lin Beixing’s life.

The sun blazed overhead, its heat stinging her skin.

Lu Yu’s body could weather wind and rain—a world apart from Lin Beixing’s own fragile strolls.

Heat waves brushed her face: freedom’s breath. Clouds veiled the sun: she longed for a storm.

Through these worn, narrow alleys, she stepped lightly, savoring an unfamiliar peace.

Unfamiliar with the area and wary of straying far, she stopped at a fried snack stall about two hundred meters from the compound.

No fried chicken, but chicken wings, skewers, and sweet beverages.

The counter was cluttered with crumbs and scraps—messy, questionable hygiene.

But… in Lu Yu’s body? Probably fine.

The stifling shop had no AC, not even as cool as Lu Yu’s apartment. She packed the food to eat at home.

At checkout, seventy-six yuan for the whole bag—far cheaper than she’d guessed.

On the way back, she grabbed soda, ice, and snacks she’d seen but never tried.

She even bought a brand-new toiletry set. If the body swap didn’t reverse tonight… a shower was unavoidable.

Otherwise, she’d start to smell.

A little excessive—she’d be washing *Lu Yu’s* body—but Lin Beixing insisted on fresh supplies. Just her quirk.

Arms full, she headed home, utterly content.

The moment she stepped inside, before she could even taste the blissful junk food spread before her, Lu Yu’s phone buzzed.

*He replied!* She wiped her hands, lifted the phone, unlocked it with Face ID.

Brother Jie is Here: Bro, I can’t sleep without you!

Lin Beixing froze. Then shock flashed across her face.

What?!

Fingers flying—the fastest of her life—she tapped the profile of “Brother Jie is Here.”

Avatar: a gender-ambiguous blue robotic cat. She scrolled into Moments.

All game screenshots.

After flipping through pages, she found one photo at the very end: a fiery crimson sunset. Caption: *“Today’s sunset is extra vivid~~”*

Her brow furrowed.

The background… Jiangshui No.1 High School. *Their* school.

Lu Yu’s… friend?

“What does ‘can’t sleep without you’ even mean?”

Did they… sleep together often?

Her mind instantly conjured Lu Yu cuddling a blurry-faced e-sports girl.

The phone suddenly felt heavy, nearly slipping from her grip.

Brother Jie is Here: Tossed and turned all night! Lost ’cause I skipped the tower plate. My Nasus would’ve crushed your Darius!

Another buzz. Lin Beixing stared, sinking into silence.

…Zero clue what this meant.

Brother Jie is Here: So mad I can’t sleep! Lunch done—wanna play a few more? We can sleep in tomorrow anyway.

The phone vibrated repeatedly. She almost admired his typing speed.

Silent, she typed nothing.

More than replying, she wondered: *Who is this?*

And—critically—*male or female?*

*Ding-ding-ding-ding…*

A barrage of voice calls blasted through. She nearly dropped the phone.

“…Hello?”

“HELLO!!”

That voice—*click*.

Lu Yu’s deskmate.

“Brother Jie” was Ren Jie’s online alias!

Relief washed over her, warm and sudden.

Phew. No secret romance. No shared bed. As class monitor, she *would’ve* intervened.

…Probably.

“Knew it! If you were asleep, the call wouldn’t connect, Bro Lu!”

Ren Jie knew Lu Yu better than anyone outside his family.

Lu Yu slept lightly. Always powered off before bed. Once out, only an alarm woke him.

(Truth was, he powered off mostly to block Ren Jie.)

After all, this guy called anytime to log in.

“LOG IN!!” Ren Jie cheered.

“CARRY ME!!!”

Lin Beixing froze, utterly lost.

“Fly… fly where?” she asked honestly—gaming was alien to her.

Ren Jie cackled.

“Bro Lu, still groggy? Summoner’s Rift, obviously!”

*Summoner’s Rift?* She guessed a game map. No idea which.

“*Whimper* Bro, you promised to carry me up ranks this week! Don’t be a heartbreaker! *Whimper*!!”

Hearing a grown man’s exaggerated whimpers, her lips twitched.

*Do guys really talk like this?*

Girls ditched the “*whimper*” act ages ago!

How had Lu Yu endured this? *She* was barely coping!

Swallowing the shock, she kept her voice calm:

“Still eating. Then sleeping.”

“YAMETE!! Don’t abandon me, Bro Lu!!”

His shout vibrated her eardrum. She instinctively pulled the phone ten centimeters away—

*Exactly* how Lu Yu always did when annoyed by Ren Jie.

“We’ll talk after I wake. You didn’t rest well last night either. I’m turning in,” she said, tone measured—neither cold nor warm.

Silence stretched on the other end.

Her pulse quickened. *Did I mess up Lu Yu’s act?*

She’d observed him, knew his habits—but not this private dynamic.

Still… Lu Yu wouldn’t indulge Ren Jie much.

“Sigh… fine. A forced melon isn’t sweet. I’ll shower and crash. Game tomorrow!”

Ren Jie paused. *Huh. Bro Lu’s weirdly gentle today.*

Normally? Disturb his sleep? “Get lost.”

Start *whimpering*? “Get lost” *immediately*.

But today’s tone… soft. Must be exhausted.

Health first. “Tomorrow for sure! One custom Nasus game, then bed!”

“Mm. Rest well,” Lin Beixing replied.

“Bye, Bro Lu! Tomorrow for sure!”

“Tomorrow for sure.”

*(Though “tomorrow” was… flexible.)*

For Lin Beixing, delay was victory. She couldn’t game. Couldn’t carry anyone.

After hanging up, she finally dove into her feast.

Fried skewers, sweet drinks, chili powder glittering on golden crunch—her eyes sparkled.

Iced + fried + spice.

Clueless about basic life wisdom, Lin Beixing had no idea this combo was a guaranteed recipe for the runs.