Xia Ning felt like she had just woken from a nightmare.
Lately, her roommate had slipped out in the dead of night twice. When Xia Ning asked why, she didn’t hide a thing—she was off to meet a man. The first time, she left at eleven-thirty and didn’t come back until two-thirty in the morning. But this time… she had actually brought a man home with her.
How could she do that?! In Xia Ning’s intuition, her roommate was absolutely the cold, scheming top type—no ordinary man could catch her eye. Like attracted like, and Xia Ning was certain she herself harbored subtle feelings for women too. She’d confirmed it the moment they met: those mesmerizing eyes had kept her up all night, dreaming of wedding dresses and everything.
The happiest moment in Xia Ning’s life had been when she casually suggested rooming together with Jiang Lingxue, and Jiang Lingxue nodded offhandedly in agreement. That indifferent glance from her eyes had plunged Xia Ning into a world of colorful bubbles. Sure, living together brought some disillusionment—the room was always a mess—but she got to see Jiang Lingxue lounging at home in a sexy nightgown. Heh heh heh, that slender waist, those long, pale legs. She had to have feelings for me, Xia Ning thought, or why else wear something so tantalizing?
Heh heh heh. Every time she dwelled on it, Xia Ning couldn’t help wiping the drool from her mouth.
They had been roommates for three months now. Their friendship had deepened just a touch, but nothing beyond that. Jiang Lingxue remained aloof toward her. Even when Xia Ning had tied herself up tight on the sofa right before Jiang Lingxue was due home, pretending she couldn’t untie the ropes and gazing at her with teary eyes, all she got was a cool “Idiot” before Jiang Lingxue deftly undid the intricate knots.
Just that one word—”Idiot”—had made Xia Ning’s body tremble on the edge of ecstasy. She had no doubt that a few more words would have her on her knees, kissing those porcelain-smooth feet and pledging her loyalty.
So she was absolutely, positively the Master sent by heaven to guide Xia Ning into a beautiful new world.
But now…
Xia Ning pressed her ear tight against the door, unwilling to miss a single sound from the living room. Her mental tendrils had even slipped through the crack, parsing everything happening out there. Her heart had already shattered into pieces from the start—her fated Master had another Little Dog… and worst of all, it was a man. But the moment she saw the truth…
Her heart didn’t just break.
It exploded.
The promised cold, scheming Mistress was playing… the Little Dog role?
It was three in the morning when Jiang Lingxue returned to her room.
Xia Ning was certain the mysterious man had left. Unable to contain her emotions any longer, she opened her door and slowly pushed open Jiang Lingxue’s. Her eyes locked straight onto her.
At that moment, Jiang Lingxue was wiping her ankle with a wet wipe.
“You…!” Xia Ning’s eyes blazed with fury.
But the instant Jiang Lingxue looked up, her gaze dripping with disdain and contempt, all of Xia Ning’s flames extinguished. She lowered her head instinctively, her voice thick with guilt. “Who was that man?”
“None of your business.” Jiang Lingxue’s tone was icily detached. She tossed the wet wipe aside and picked up the nail polish from the table, starting to apply it carefully. She was still wearing that black backless nightgown, though red marks marred the skin on her back. As she lifted her leg to paint her nails, the hem rode up slightly, revealing red rope burns on her pale thigh.
“I… was just… curious.” Xia Ning’s voice turned meek. She’d rehearsed a hundred angry accusations in her room, but one look into Jiang Lingxue’s eyes had her legs pressing together.
“Go get me a glass of water. My throat’s dry.”
Jiang Lingxue was a natural at giving orders. Xia Ning hadn’t even responded before her legs carried her off. She returned quickly with the water, though her expression carried a hint of reluctance. Clinging to her lingering fantasies, she gritted her teeth, looking faintly humiliated. “If anyone’s bullying you… tell me. Tomorrow, I’ll turn him into scraps.”
Jiang Lingxue took a sip, soothing her throat. “Has nothing to do with you.”
“How can you say that? We’re… we’re good friends! I can’t just stand by while someone bullies you…”
“I like it.” Jiang Lingxue’s eyes lifted again as she tossed the nail polish bottle into Xia Ning’s hands. “Paint them for me.”
Xia Ning wanted to argue, maybe even pick a fight, but she caught the bottle on reflex. The motion reminded her of a dog fetching a frisbee. She unscrewed the cap slowly and approached the bed, muttering under her breath, “Stretch your leg out a bit.”
But Jiang Lingxue lifted her other foot—the one already painted—and hooked Xia Ning’s chin with her toe. Her eyes met Xia Ning’s coolly, without a trace of teasing, her voice pure ice. “Why not kneel and do it?”
“Y-you’re going too far!” Xia Ning’s cheeks flushed, but her knees inexplicably weakened.
Jiang Lingxue’s toe lifted higher, forcing Xia Ning to tilt her head back further. The humiliation left her breathless, strange emotions bubbling up inside her. Then came Jiang Lingxue’s icy question: “Who gave you permission to eavesdrop?”
“I… I was just worried you’d get bullied!”
“He’s my Master. Mine alone. Do it again, and you can pack your bags.”
“W-what am I to you, then? I see you as a good friend, but you…”
Jiang Lingxue’s toe pressed against Xia Ning’s soft lips, silencing her.
“A friend?” Jiang Lingxue’s signature sneer curled her lips. “With your status, what kind of friend can’t you find? Yet you stick to me, fawning and rolling around like a puppy. If you didn’t say otherwise, I’d think you’d already cast yourself as the Little Dog.”
Xia Ning stammered incoherently. All she had to do was grab that slender ankle and pull the foot away, but she couldn’t muster the strength. Worse, her mind flashed with images of her tongue tracing those toes. Damn it.
But… so soft… so fragrant… so small… so white…
Regrettably, two seconds later, Jiang Lingxue lowered her foot. Her pale toes grazed Xia Ning’s collarbone, pressing against the neckline of her nightgown. Xia Ning’s heart pounded wildly. Those toes must be so dexterous. What was she going to do? No… Xia Ning, you can’t sink this low. She’s going too far…
Sadly, Jiang Lingxue simply rested her foot back on Xia Ning’s leg and said coolly, “Paint.”
Xia Ning opened the bottle, took a deep breath, and bent her head. A long moment later, she muttered softly, “So what are we to you, exactly?”
“I think even keeping a Little Dog would be cuter than you.”
“Little Dogs aren’t as cute as me! I…”
“Shut up. You’re annoying.”
Xia Ning obediently closed her mouth.
…She must be going crazy.
Lin Cheng returned to his hospital room.
He’d come back because Xu Wanyue had messaged him at two in the morning, asking why he wasn’t there. He guessed what was up right away. Besides, it wasn’t convenient to stay over at Jiang Lingxue’s with her roommate around—and one who loved eavesdropping, no less.
He had told Jiang Lingxue about it, and she had coolly said she’d handle it. Lin Cheng felt weird about it, though. Somehow, his image was turning more and more depraved, even though he was supposed to be the upright one.
Jiang Lingxue’s XP System was all her own. His was just pure lewdness. But all the ways he’d teased her before? They’d come from her subtle suggestions. Sigh. If lying back and enjoying it worked, who wanted to be the one doing the work?
Lin Cheng looked at Xu Wanyue, who was sitting by his hospital bed, scrolling through short videos.
“Why… are you here?” Lin Cheng met her eyes; the phone screen cast a cold glow on her cheeks.
“Mm, I thought you might not be asleep… but you seem busy. I’m heading home.” Xu Wanyue stood, her ink-black hair like seaweed cascading down her back.
She wore a white strapless bodycon dress and grabbed a light orange cardigan from nearby. Lin Cheng stepped close and gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I just had something to take care of. See? I’m back already.”
Xu Wanyue dipped her head, leaning in to sniff his neck. “Perfume.”
“Are you a Little Dog or something?” Lin Cheng’s eyes widened.
“I didn’t smell anything, but you just admitted it.” Xu Wanyue poked his lips with her finger.
Damn, where was the airheaded girl he knew?
“She dragged me out of the hospital. The second she heard you were here, she ditched me to come back. So… why’d you come?”
“No idea. Couldn’t sleep, went for a walk outside, and ended up here without thinking.” Xu Wanyue’s voice was light. She tried to stand, but Lin Cheng held her fast in his arms.
“I want to go home,” she said.
“You came all this way. Don’t leave me alone.”
“You were never alone. You tricked me.”
“When did I ever trick you?”
Xu Wanyue fell silent for a long while. Finally, she looked up at Lin Cheng. “Does your wound still hurt?”
“It hurts, but I’m used to it by now.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have come…”
“But now that you’re here, no running away.”
Xu Wanyue turned slowly, bringing her face close to his. Their breaths mingled, the distance vanishing. The moment her nose brushed his, she seemed to remember something. “Did you just kiss another woman?”
“…Yeah.”
“Then no kiss for you.” Xu Wanyue pulled back quickly. The bed wasn’t huge, but it could fit two. She lay on her side and patted the mattress. “Come on, time for bed. I’ll stay till you’re asleep, then head home.”
