---o---
In a secret room that no one could find, Kiana's bright, snow-white hair was splayed out, cascading down.
Though the young woman was drenched in fragrant sweat, her messy hair sticking to her delicate body and cheeks, her expression was proud. She looked down on Ye Feng from above, wearing the posture of a victor.
"Hmph, Ye Feng, now you've had a taste of my power."
"Ooh, the bug is so powerful," Ye Feng deadpanned.
"Even if you won't admit it, the final victor can only be me. Look, the number has only gone down by 3."
Kiana triumphantly showed Ye Feng the honeysuckle tattoo.
At the center of the crimson pattern, the number 66 inside the heart was incredibly conspicuous.
The young woman braced her hands on Ye Feng's chest, lifted her chin, glanced at the clock on the wall, and provoked him, "There are only 30 minutes left, Mister Ye~ Feng~."
"So if the bug wins, what's your wish?"
Seeing Ye Feng feign weakness, Kiana felt victory was in her grasp and revealed her wolfish ambition.
"Hmph, my wish is that you must agree to three conditions of mine."
"Where did you learn that from? Ji Lin?"
It was, in fact, from Ji Lin.
During dinner in the Valkyrie cafeteria today, the two had been talking, and Ji Lin had mentioned the matter of agreeing to Ye Feng's three requests.
To this day, Ye Feng still hadn't made a single request.
To be honest, Ji Lin was very worried.
The bug clenched her small fist and thumped Ye Feng's chest.
"Where I learned it is none of your business! In short, if I win, you have to properly fulfill your promise to me."
"Then tell me, what are the three conditions?"
"First, you are not allowed to make a move on Mei."
"Why? Do you want to monopolize my [Bleep]? Bug, you're too greedy."
The summer night was sweltering, and the air conditioning in the room was off.
Kiana looked down at Ye Feng.
Her legs were slightly bent in a horse stance, and beads of glistening sweat dripped from her forehead.
The young woman showed a disgusted expression.
"Pah, pah, pah! Who wants to monopolize your... your stinky thing! What a self-important guy," Kiana said, turning her head away, her eyes moist.
"Then why?"
"In short, no means no!" Kiana declared, her tone serious and earnest.
"I refuse. I was originally thinking of letting the bug win for once to make you happy, but I can't accept your very first request."
"What?"
The bug froze for a moment. "You're going to break your promise?"
"Break my promise? Not quite. The bug hasn't beaten me yet."
"There's less than half an hour left and still 66 times to go. How are you going to beat me?"
"There are too many ways. But compressing 66 times into half an hour... I'm a little worried about the bug."
Half an hour, 66 to zero.
That sounded quite terrifying.
Kiana's expression was disdainful. "Tch, still talking tough."
"Have I not told the bug that the flow of time in this world can be adjusted? Before the counter reaches zero, midnight on Monday is a golden truth you will never reach."
"Eh~~?"
---o---
Not long after Kiana left, Ji Lin began to feel that something was wrong with her body.
No, something was very wrong...
Several of her acupoints were being attacked simultaneously.
Ji Lin was an expert in the human body's meridians and acupoints, thanks to the teachings of Red Kite.
The brilliant Ji Lin had even compiled a book based on this knowledge, the Huangdi Neijing, for the exploration of future generations.
And now, she was suffering an unprecedented assault on those very acupoints.
She could feel that her attacker had mastered the secrets of the human body; every strike hit a vital point.
But the question was, who was it?
Ye... Master?
Ji Lin quickly thought of Ye Feng.
Only he could accomplish such incomprehensible, almost "supernatural" things here.
"...What curse has Master placed upon me?"
Ji Lin clamped her thighs together. The snow-white silk fabric clung tightly to her smooth and tender body, stretching taut over her voluptuous curves.
Her skin was scalding hot, seemingly shrouded in a sensual steam.
Ji Lin did her utmost to endure it, walking step by step towards her residence.
Having never been with a man, Ji Lin didn't know what was happening, but she felt an instinctual shame.
She felt that her current state was not suitable for being seen outside.
"Are you... Lady Ji Lin?"
A familiar voice came from behind her.
Ji Lin whipped her head around, her pupils contracting as her face turned slightly pale.
...Mei?
The person who had arrived was none other than Mei.
Their eyes met.
Mei... it was really her! She lived on the same dorm floor as Red Kite, and sometimes they even ate together. If she found out about her current state, would she tell Red Kite? Ji Lin was panicking.
Why, of all times, now?
Ji Lin's body trembled slightly, her clothes dampened by sweat.
"Are you alright? You look very unwell."
Mei walked forward, looking at Ji Lin with concern.
Ji Lin subconsciously took half a step back.
This movement couldn't help but remind Mei of Kiana. Back then, it seemed to be just like this.
Ji Lin didn't notice the strange look in Mei's eyes. All she knew was that if Mei discovered her abnormal state, her life would be over.
Her breath came out in fragrant puffs. She gritted her teeth and said softly, "...This one is fine. Please pay it no mind."
"This is no time to be stubborn. Let me take you to the infirmary."
Seeing Mei approach, Ji Lin retreated in a panic, her shoulders trembling.
A sound was about to force its way out of her throat. She desperately curled her toes, her body nearly arching into the shape of a shrimp.
Ji Lin exhaled a breath of hot, fragrant air. She threw her elegant, snow-white neck back, her almond eyes hazy. Her moist, cherry lips held a lock of her hair, and sweat trickled down her smooth skin, dripping into small puddles on the floor.
At this moment, her skin seemed to be coated in a watery sheen, glowing with a silver-honey luster, as tempting as the juiciest peach.
"Miss Ji Lin?" Mei took another step forward.
"N- no, don't touch this one..."
Ji Lin felt like her body was a balloon filled to its absolute limit with water. The slightest touch—
"...Miss Ji Lin? Are you really alright?"
Mei stood frozen in place, her hand hovering in mid-air, not knowing whether to move closer or pull back.
Seeing Mei's awkward posture, Ji Lin's heart filled with guilt.
She wanted to explain the current misunderstanding.
However, right now she didn't even dare to get close to her...
Using the last of her strength, Ji Lin said, "Thank you for your concern. I- I'm sorry... This one is just... a little unwell. If I go home and rest... I'll be fine. Really... please don't worry about this one..."
"Um, alright then."
Mei straightened her posture and stepped aside, clearing the path.
Ji Lin walked past in silence.
The way she walked was extremely strange.
She looked very weak, as if she might collapse at any moment...
Mei watched her retreating back, a worry creeping into her heart: Is she really going to be okay?
However, Ji Lin's appearance gave Mei a slight sense of déjà vu...? It must be her imagination.