Chapter 25: Thrilling

“Exhausted in both body and mind…”

‘I thought I’d come out ahead with 500 bucks, but this is way too much.’

Bai Yao appeared in front of the dormitory building like a thief.

He first glanced around to his left and right before pulling off his mask.

He waved his face in front of the facial recognition scanner, and the door opened with a beep.

Fortunately, even though the system said he had become more beautiful, the facial recognition still worked.

‘Maybe the change isn’t that big?’

Anxious to get back to the dorm to look in a mirror and change his clothes, Bai Yao hurried toward the stairs.

He had barely taken two steps when he saw a short, plump woman coming down the stairs, putting them face-to-face.

“!!!”

The Dorm Mother! What were the odds?

“This is the boys’ dormitory. Who brought you in?”

The woman’s eyes widened.

Bai Yao was scared out of his wits; he turned and bolted.

It was lucky he had just gained some “experience” outside.

If he had run into the Dorm Mother right after leaving in women’s clothing, his legs would have turned to jelly, and he would have frozen on the spot.

“Why are you running? What’s your major and class? What’s your name?”

‘Holy crap! Who wouldn’t run?!’

If he was caught and his major and name were discovered, Bai Yao would suffer Social Death at school for the next few years!

Fortunately, the Dorm Mother was short, plump, and couldn’t run fast.

Bai Yao scurried out of the dormitory building like a rabbit and vanished in the blink of an eye.

The woman arrived late, standing on the stairs in front of the main entrance to look around.

When she couldn’t find anyone, she finally gave up.

‘This is bad! There’s a boss at the dormitory entrance!’

Bai Yao, of course, wouldn’t be so foolish as to challenge the boss again.

After a moment of thought, he wandered along the dormitory fence until he reached the “back door.”

The so-called back door was actually just an Iron Fence that someone had pried open.

The gaps in the Iron Fence were already large, and after being bent another few centimeters to the left and right, the space was wide enough for a slender male to pass through.

Whenever the dormitory lights were turned off and the curfew began, delivery drivers and students returning late would enter through here.

Bai Yao turned sideways, stepped one foot in first, and easily slipped through the gap in the fence.

He was small and thin, so it was no pressure at all.

If it had been a big guy like Wang Zuhao, he probably would have gotten stuck in the gap, unable to move forward or backward.

Lightening his footsteps and holding his breath, Bai Yao kept his eyes and ears open.

He pursed his lips tightly and jogged up the stairs on his tiptoes.

Without even taking a moment to catch his breath, he reached the door of Room 522.

‘I’m finally back!’

It felt as thrilling as completing a dangerous adventure!

Bai Yao grabbed the doorknob and was about to turn it when he suddenly heard the sound of a hairdryer inside…

“Who’s there?”

Lin Mingxin’s voice came from within.

‘Why is this guy back?! Wasn’t he off being shameless with that senior?! He hasn’t been back for days! Why did it have to be at a time like this?!’

Bai Yao heard the screech of chair legs moving—Lin Mingxin had stood up!

‘I absolutely cannot be seen!’

The door was opened.

Lin Mingxin poked his head out into the hallway, his hair still dripping wet.

He only heard the sound of light footsteps and saw a blurry figure disappear at the end of the hallway.

“A girl?”

He muttered to himself in confusion, guessing that some girl had come to find her boyfriend late at night and accidentally found the wrong door.

‘Her legs were so white…’

Lin Mingxin yawned and went back into the room.

“Where’s Bai Yao?”

After living together for over a month, he had never seen Bai Yao disappear late at night.

He originally thought Bai Yao had gone to the convenience store or the cafeteria, but even after finishing his shower, there was still no sign of him.

Could he have gone out to have fun? That would be a miracle!

On the dormitory rooftop, Bai Yao leaned against the railing dejectedly, anxiously biting his thumb.

The night wind whistled.

Even though it was summer, the breeze on the rooftop at night still made him feel a chill.

His exposed thighs, in particular, were shivering from the cold, breaking out in goosebumps.

He subconsciously pressed his legs together.

“What am I going to do?”

‘Should I sneak back after Mingxin falls asleep?’

But Lin Mingxin was usually the one who stayed up the latest.

He often got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, and Bai Yao could often see the light from Lin Mingxin’s bedside.

‘I can only hope that senior was effective enough!’

Lin Mingxin was so handsome; the senior couldn’t possibly be unmoved, right?

He didn’t believe the guy hadn’t been drained! He would definitely crash as soon as he got back to the dorm!

“Or should I go get a hotel room?”

But Bai Yao hadn’t even brought his ID card.

He didn’t know if he could find a hotel… Could he use facial recognition at the small hotels near the school?

Or maybe the management was lax enough that he could get a room without an ID?

His phone popped up a low battery warning; it was already under 20%.

To Bai Yao, this was practically a death warrant.

He covered his face in despair.

‘If I’d known, I would have rented a power bank when I passed the convenience store. Even if it was a bit expensive, at least it would have ensured my phone didn’t die.’

Bai Yao went back to the rooftop stairwell, pulled his skirt under his butt, and sat on the steps.

He fiddled with his phone, his thumb hovering over the nine-key layout as he carefully composed a message, deleting and retyping…

“Are you coming back tonight?”

“Already back. Where are you?”

“I went to see a movie. What time are you sleeping? Leave the door unlocked for me.”

Although it was a bit clumsy, Lin Mingxin didn’t think much of it and replied bluntly, “OK!”

‘OK my ass! What time are you actually going to sleep?’

Anxious, Bai Yao asked directly:

“What time are you going to sleep?”

“In a bit? Why?”

“Then I won’t bring you any late-night snacks.”

‘Maybe I’ll sneak back in about half an hour?’

Bai Yao shook his legs restlessly.

Being out in women’s clothing made every minute and every second feel like an ordeal for him.

It was lucky it was National Day.

Otherwise, he would have been caught long ago.

He finally endured enough time.

Just after 9:00 PM, Bai Yao sneakily crept down from the rooftop and returned to the door of Room 522.

First, he pressed his ear against the door to listen.

Hearing no movement, he tapped gently on the door twice.

‘Is he asleep? That senior really is something.’

After waiting a few more minutes and still hearing no movement inside, Bai Yao opened the door a crack, peeking into the room with one eye.

The dormitory was pitch black, with only the balcony light still on.

It was so quiet he could hear his own heartbeat.

He opened the door wider and tiptoed into the room.

His heart racing, he stood on his toes and peered at Lin Mingxin’s bed, confirming that the blankets were bunched up.

“Who’s there?”

Lin Mingxin was still disturbed.

He opened his eyes and looked down from his bed, seeing only a slender back darting toward the balcony.

“???”

Those white legs looked so familiar…

A moment later, he saw Bai Yao return to the room wearing pajamas and clutching a pile of clothes.

Without saying a word, he sat down at his computer to play with his phone.

‘Oh, it’s just Bai Yao… No wonder the figure looked like a girl’s. His legs are white, too.’

He had almost thought it was that girl who had found the wrong door earlier.

Lin Mingxin was so tired his brain couldn’t process anything.

He let his head drop and rolled over sleepily.

Bai Yao’s heart was thumping wildly.

He sat frozen in his chair like a prisoner waiting for sentencing.

‘Was I seen? Was I seen?!’

It wasn’t until he heard Lin Mingxin’s breathing gradually turn heavy that his stiff body slumped, and he collapsed onto the desk.

Ever since the system appeared, his life had become far too exciting!

His little heart couldn’t take it!

‘But 500 bucks! 500 bucks!’

Bai Yao excitedly clenched his fist and happily opened a shopping app.