Chapter 31: Junior Su Qi, you smell so good
Morning sunlight slipped through the curtains, gently spilling onto the window, the vanity, and finally a cozy bed. Two beautiful girls lay entwined in sleep, their hair cascading like waterfalls over the pillows. The faint dawn glow through the curtain gaps dusted their faces with a soft blush, like ripe apples begging for a bite.
Perhaps their sweet sleeping pose provoked the sun’s jealousy. A mischievous ray pierced the curtains, landing on the eyelids of the peacefully dozing girl.
W-Wah…
Exhausted from yesterday’s events, Su Qi had slept deeply. The sunlight’s intrusion drew a soft whimper from her, a sound so enchanting it could melt bones.
But hearing her own feminine voice snapped her foggy mind awake. Questions flooded her.
Why is my voice still a girl’s? What happened after I fell asleep last night? What’s going on? Why does my chest itch?
With no memories post-sleep and too many questions, Su Qi, though still tired, forced her bleary eyes open.
As her vision cleared, shock doused her lingering drowsiness like cold water. Her head filled with question marks.
In her view—no, in her arms—no, she was in someone’s arms. A familiar, exquisite girl held her close: Lin Xue-jie. Their proximity let Su Qi feel each of Lin Xue’s breaths brushing her face.
Why is Lin Xue-jie in my bed? Why is she holding me so intimately? Did we… sleep together last night?
As a lifelong solo boy, Su Qi had never been this close to a girl. Panic surged, but clarity followed. Whatever happened, I need to separate from her first! TV dramas always showed this as step one.
Propping herself up, she tried to rise, but Lin Xue’s sleeping form clung to her like a human pillow. Her slender hands, perhaps muddled by sleep, nestled in an indescribable spot under Su Qi’s white shirt.
A slight movement sent a tingling sensation through Su Qi’s delicate frame, her fair face flushing. Gazing at Lin Xue’s disheveled sleep—her dress strap slipping off her shoulder—Su Qi felt a mix of shyness and irritation. She’d been whisked away to sleep here without consent!
She raised a hand to wake Lin Xue for answers but hesitated. Lin Xue’s teasing nature would likely turn the tables, making things more awkward. Besides, as a boy, wasn’t Lin Xue the one technically at a disadvantage?
Unsure how to face her, Su Qi lowered her hand. Directly pulling Lin Xue’s hands out risked waking her. Instead, she unbuttoned her shirt to ease them free.
Looking down at her now-prominent chest, she sighed helplessly. Yesterday, her female form was flat; now, it boasted a noticeable curve. Just one level-up, and it’s this drastic? If I revert to male form, will… that part grow too?
Lost in odd thoughts, she freed Lin Xue’s hands and slipped from her jasmine-scented embrace. Standing carefully, she surveyed the room. The girly decor and vanity confirmed this was Lin Xue’s bedroom, not hers.
Unsure of the address, she reached for her phone to check a map, but it was dead. Spotting a charger by the bed, she plugged it in.
Ding~
While it powered up, she lifted her skirt, relieved to find her underwear intact. Last night was just sleeping—pure, nothing more.
But staring at her now-emptier underwear, she recalled her unanswered question: Where did that final EXP come from?
Opening her ability panel’s history, she found two prompts:
[Ding! Detected that the host successfully provided a Crisp Wife bento to a young Holy Gray Rabbit, healing its wandering soul. Young Holy Gray Rabbit affinity +30, ability EXP +250. Current EXP: 1126/1000.]
[Congratulations! Crisp Wife ability EXP has reached the limit. Ability upgraded from LV1 to LV2. Continue healing the world with Crisp Wife’s power!]
The rainbow prompt was expected—EXP overflow triggered the upgrade. But the purple one stunned her. Holy Gray Rabbit?
Recalling the mission board, she remembered the A-rank task above the Spirit Snake Fruit: capturing elusive Holy Gray Rabbits near Ruins’ treasure caches. How did a rabbit eat my bento in the snake forest?
As she pondered, her phone, now charged, sprang to life.
Ding ding ding~
Notifications flooded in like spring bamboo shoots. Su Qi’s heart sank—she wasn’t in any random group chats.
Opening WeChat, her forehead beaded with sweat. The sender was none other than her beloved Wen Yin-jie.
Xiao Qi, what do you want for dinner? I’ll cook!
Xiao Qi, why aren’t you home yet… Xiao Qi…
Regret hit hard. Last night’s shock over her ability upgrade had made her forget her phone. Wen Yin-jie, waiting since afternoon, must be worried sick.
I can’t let her stay mad—she’s always so gentle with me! Hurrying to the foyer, Su Qi slipped her white-stockinged feet into her shoes, ready to rush home and explain.
But as she stepped forward, she froze. Did I step in something? There’s no water, so why are my stockings… sticky?
As she left, puzzled, the door clicked shut. On the bed, the “sleeping” beauty’s eyes snapped open, her lively apricot eyes gleaming with uncontainable excitement, devoid of any morning grogginess.
“Su Qi, little junior, your scent is addictive!”