“Huff… huff…”
Quietly peeking at Cheng Yuexin sleeping soundly in bed, Chen Yiyi, unable to sleep herself, stared at the half-empty bottle on the desk and silently got up.
“Gulp.”
She forcibly swallowed her saliva. Ever since returning to the dorm, she hadn’t touched that bottle, waiting for the right moment.
Now that Cheng Yuexin was peacefully asleep, this was the perfect time to savor it.
Muffling the sound of her slippers as much as possible, she took small, cautious steps.
Her fingers touched the bottle she cherished like a treasure. Her clear eyes grew hazy.
“Hah… huff… calm down.”
She whispered to soothe her excited heart. Chen Yiyi didn’t want to wait any longer.
Though she moved stealthily, she took three steps in two, eager to reach the bathroom faster.
Even if it was just a temporary enclosed space, it was enough.
“Ahh… ahh…”
Her hungry breaths hit the bottle’s rim. Her deep pupils narrowed slightly, not hiding the greedy light.
“Yuexin… haah…”
She put her mouth to the bottle, rotating it to swallow every trace of flavor—all of it belonging to Cheng Yuexin.
A faint salty taste and an indescribable fragrance were what Chen Yiyi’s tongue could detect.
Compared to that indirect kiss under the tree shade, the flavor was much weaker.
But it was better than nothing, and it could fill the greed in her heart.
“Yuexin… ahmm…”
Her mind conjured images of Cheng Yuexin’s delicate red lips, as if she were exchanging a passionate kiss with her.
Her face was crimson and burning, wearing a sickly smile.
She could already picture Cheng Yuexin being kissed breathless by her, holding her quietly and whispering sweet nothings.
Unconsciously, she had developed an inappropriate attachment, and the desire for exclusive possession welled up.
But thinking of the disdainful look Gu Linxue had thrown at her, Chen Yiyi’s eyes turned fierce.
‘Damn Gu Linxue…’
When the cold water mixed with Cheng Yuexin’s taste was drunk dry, the light in her dark pupils faded dimly.
The unexpected lavender scent was still keenly caught by the root of her tongue.
‘Damn it!’
Chen Yiyi growled, clenching her fist and hitting the wall. Her teeth were locked tight, and the bottle in her hand was severely deformed from squeezing.
All the joy vanished due to the sudden change.
The speculation in her heart had become fact.
The truth before her was that the stunning flower she dared not pluck had already been picked by someone else.
She didn’t want to believe it, but she had to.
‘Hmph, I already figured…’
The hatred in her eyes turned tangible.
If Gu Linxue were standing right in front of her, she might have been pierced through many times by those blade-like stares.
She connected the fragmented pieces of information.
That meant the relationship between Cheng Yuexin and Gu Linxue was not ordinary. Last night, Cheng Yuexin had accompanied Gu Linxue.
As for going to the hospital to sleep with Cheng Yueqing, that was never the case.
Chen Yiyi grabbed her hair and slowly crouched down.
She threw the abused bottle aside, making a noise, but she couldn’t care less.
She would rather believe Cheng Yuexin’s lie.
Maybe accompanying Cheng Yueqing was real, and Gu Linxue had only met up with her for a moment of intimacy.
That’s why she said that.
But recalling how anxious Cheng Yuexin had been to hide something at the dinner table only confirmed her suspicions.
The more Chen Yiyi thought about it, the more painful it became, and the more she hated Gu Linxue.
At least Cheng Yuexin wouldn’t like Gu Linxue.
That was her chance.
‘I haven’t lost yet…’
Even if Gu Linxue had already claimed her body, she hadn’t won her heart. Chen Yiyi still had a chance.
Finding a reason to comfort herself, Chen Yiyi let out a relaxed breath.
‘Yuexin… I still have a chance.’
*
Afternoon military training ended. The sun that had scorched the earth all day began its journey home.
Not until night had fully fallen, and the stars and moon took their posts.
After a full meal, Chen Yiyi and Cheng Yuexin happily strolled down the street.
Cheng Yuexin rarely went shopping with Chen Yiyi. After all, this period of military training was a torment to both body and soul.
Compared to the torture of training, Gu Linxue’s torment was even worse.
Plus, she was almost at the point of having nothing to wear, so Cheng Yuexin had no choice but to go out for supplies.
A small mall a kilometer away from school had clothing stores.
Cheng Yuexin pulled Chen Yiyi straight to the promotional area on the first floor. Most of her clothes were bought here.
What more could you ask for when it’s ten bucks a piece?
“Yuexin, do you always buy clothes here?”
Chen Yiyi watched Cheng Yuexin inspect a T-shirt of poor quality, and dissatisfaction quietly crept onto her face.
Cheng Yuexin nodded lightly. She was used to it and didn’t think anything was wrong.
Dressing up was just an insignificant expense for her; her main principle was that as long as it could be worn, it was fine.
“Yiyi, what about this shirt with these pants? It looks okay, right?”
Cheng Yuexin held a light blue T-shirt and a pair of jeans in her hands. They seemed like a set, but there was actually a color mismatch.
Chen Yiyi furrowed her brows, unsure what expression to make, so she just showed a hint of pity.
“Yuexin, can’t we change your style?”
Cheng Yuexin tilted her head in confusion.
“Change my style? What style?”
Chen Yiyi cleared her throat, took the bargain clothes from Cheng Yuexin’s hands, and put them down.
“With such a pretty face, why do you always dress so plain? And besides shirts and pants, I’ve never seen you wear a skirt.”
She paused for a moment, then continued.
“There’s not even a single skirt in your closet. Are you even a girl?”
She couldn’t help imagining Cheng Yuexin in a skirt, probably looking especially good.
“Uh… um…”
Cheng Yuexin was a little nervous, clasping her hands together. Her violet eyes dropped to stare at Chen Yiyi’s loafers.
‘You can’t possibly tell I was a handsome man in my past life and then reincarnated here, right? Not that ridiculous.’
As for wearing a skirt, she couldn’t accept it for now.
If she wore something like a nightgown in front of Gu Linxue, that was fine—it would be taken off quickly, and no one else would see it.
But to actually wear one out and about, she at least didn’t have the guts yet.
That chilly feeling gave her no sense of security…
‘I’ve experienced that in my past life, don’t ask…’
“I… I don’t like skirts. Pants suit me better.”
Chen Yiyi was dissatisfied and grabbed her to go somewhere else.
“No can do. Clothes make the person. If you wear something so plain every day, aren’t you wasting yourself?”
“Yiyi, where are you taking me?”
Chen Yiyi forcibly dragged the reluctant Cheng Yuexin away.
“I’m taking you to buy some cute little skirts.”
“No… no… I don’t want to! Chen Yiyi, let go!”
Chen Yiyi’s eyes curled with a smile. She was already imagining what clothes to put on this little cutie.
‘JK, maid outfit, backless dress, or a cute lolita, or maybe some tempting lingerie?’
‘Tsk, tsk, she’d look cute in anything. Cheng Yuexin already doesn’t lack cute points.’
‘And white hair, a siscon and catgirl lover’s dream.’
‘Wait, a white-haired catgirl, that would be amazing!’
Chen Yiyi suddenly snapped her fingers and stared at Cheng Yuexin mischievously.
Cheng Yuexin, under that gaze, inexplicably felt a bad premonition and swallowed hard.
They stopped in front of a shop whose decor exuded cuteness. In the window were all kinds of cute and exquisite dresses.
Chen Yiyi looked at the somewhat flustered Cheng Yuexin, squeezed her hand, and they met eyes.
“Yuexin, tell me, are white-haired cat girls cute?”
Cheng Yuexin answered reflexively.
“Cute!”
But upon deeper thought, she noticed the mischief in Chen Yiyi’s eyes.
“Heehee, then let’s go with a catgirl maid outfit!”
Chen Yiyi dragged Cheng Yuexin into the shop. The first thing she saw was the cat ear headband hanging on the wall, and she already knew her fate.
“Wait, no, this isn’t right! Yiyi, you tricked me!”