The Sanitary Pad Debacle and a Sister’s Surprise

“So, you genuinely admitted that you were using these for a research project?”

Lin Shujing gazed silently at the pile of sanitary pads strewn across the living room table.

She struggled to suppress her laughter, her pretty face flushing crimson as she fixed me with an odd look.

‘Forget it, Class Monitor, you should just laugh it out. Don’t hurt yourself holding it in.’

I shrugged helplessly, saying to the Class Monitor, “What could I do? At that time, I could only go along with what they said, right?”

“But who told you to buy so many… Hahaha…”

The Class Monitor finally couldn’t bear it any longer.

She bent over, clutching her stomach, and burst into a fit of chuckles.

I could only watch the Class Monitor laugh, my face bitter.

‘There was nothing I could do. After all, I had laughed at her earlier. Was this perhaps the legendary karmic retribution?’

Finally, the Class Monitor seemed to have had her fill of laughter, and her chuckles slowly subsided.

“Alright, be serious now,” the Class Monitor said.

‘Hey, hey, you’re the least serious one here, Class Monitor!’

Lin Shujing looked at the sanitary pad packaging, searched for a moment, then picked one out and said to me, “Actually, you only needed to buy this kind.”

I sat on the sofa, displeased, and rolled my eyes. “You should have told me about this earlier! I was so embarrassed!”

“Alright, alright, Li Qingchen, I’m sorry.”

The Class Monitor clasped her hands together and apologized to me.

What more could I say in the face of the Class Monitor’s apology?

I could only sigh and shake my head.

“Then I’ll go up and change your sister’s for her? Oh, what’s your sister’s name?” Lin Shujing asked.

“Li Qingcheng.”

“Li Qingchen? Is it the same as your name?” Lin Shujing immediately looked puzzled.

“No, it’s not.”

I waved my hand and explained, “It’s the ‘Qingcheng’ from ‘alluring enough to topple cities and kingdoms,’ different from mine.”

“Oh, I see.”

The Class Monitor touched her cheek with her index finger, indicating she understood, then turned and walked upstairs.

“I’ll head up then.”

“Oh.”

I remained seated on the sofa, resting.

Since the Class Monitor changing sanitary pads for Li Qingcheng had nothing to do with me, I saw no need to join in.

‘Still, today truly benefited from the Class Monitor being here. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known what to do, couldn’t even manage the basic task of changing the girl’s underwear.’

‘Even though the Class Monitor is usually so strict with people, she’s absolutely exceptional at taking care of others. If I could marry her as my wife someday, wouldn’t that be…’

‘No, no, what am I thinking? I’m definitely not thinking about marrying the Class Monitor in the future!’

‘Damn it, I must be too tired today. I should just get some sleep first.’

I lay sideways on the sofa, a heavy sense of sleepiness washing over me.

Slowly, I closed my eyes and gradually drifted into slumber.

“Li…”

“…Qingchen…”

‘Hmm? Who’s calling me?’

I groggily opened my eyes, and the Class Monitor’s pretty face immediately appeared in my vision.

“Li Qingchen?”

The Class Monitor looked at me with concern, a slight smile playing on her lips.

‘Oh no, how did I fall asleep?’

I hastily wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth and stood up from the sofa.

“Li Qingchen, you’re awake,” the Class Monitor said.

“I’m sorry, Class Monitor, I accidentally fell asleep,” I said, scratching the back of my head.

“It’s alright.”

The Class Monitor smiled and said, “I’ve already dealt with your sister Li Qingcheng’s menstrual cramps. I’ve also left some brown sugar water in the kitchen; remember to have her drink some before bed. She shouldn’t go to class tomorrow. In the future, remember to pay close attention to your sister. She absolutely shouldn’t eat cold things before her period, understand?”

The Class Monitor continued to give me instructions like a doctor, and I nodded as I listened, indicating my absolute compliance.

“It’s getting late, I should head home too.” The Class Monitor suddenly checked the time and said.

I was startled and said, “Leaving already? Class Monitor, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? Won’t you stay for dinner?”

“No need.”

Lin Shujing shook her head, refusing my kind offer. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and walked towards the entryway.

“Class Monitor, I’ll walk you out then,” I continued.

“No need.”

Lin Shujing reiterated, but then her tone abruptly shifted as she glared at me unpleasantly. “Li Qingchen, I haven’t forgotten about you following me today. I’ll be waiting for your explanation tomorrow.”

‘Seriously, Class Monitor, you remember such a small thing? If you’d just forgotten it earlier, there wouldn’t be so much trouble!’

“Yes…” I replied with a bitter expression.

“Then I’m off.”

The Class Monitor, having said this, had already stepped out of the entryway and opened the front door.

“Class Monitor, thank you for today. Are you really sure you don’t need me to see you off?” I followed her to the entryway, poking my head out to ask.

“I said no!”

The Class Monitor turned her head and gave me a glare.

“Thanks to you, I was originally planning to visit Ji Qianluo today, but now that’s ruined. Well, she’ll be back at school tomorrow anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”

“Is that so?” I nodded, my heart silently weeping.

‘So Ji Qianluo only took one day off? Then why did I go to all that trouble following the Class Monitor for half the day?’

“I’m leaving now.”

Lin Shujing waved her hand, finally bidding me farewell.

“Goodbye, Class Monitor, see you tomorrow.”

I watched the Class Monitor’s retreating back, sighing after a long while before returning inside.

‘Tomorrow, I’ll have to come up with an excuse to fool the Class Monitor about following her. It’s hard to think of one. I might as well just pin it all on Chen Shen; his reputation isn’t great anyway, and a few more debts won’t hurt him!’

Having devised a plan, I smiled and headed to the second floor to check on my sister.

Somewhere far away, Chen Shen suddenly sneezed violently, wiping cold sweat from his back.

I ascended the stairs, thinking my sister might still be asleep, so I tried to be as light-footed as possible, careful not to disturb her.

Arriving at Li Qingcheng’s door, I reached for the doorknob, twisted it, and opened the door.

I looked inside the room, only to find the covers thrown back on the bed, no one lying there.

A small figure sat in a corner, their back to me, doing something I couldn’t discern.

‘This scene, such strong déjà vu! I think I saw this yesterday too. Back then, Li Qingcheng seemed to have cut up my comic con ticket.’

“Little sister, what are you doing over there? Come back to bed.”

I walked forward with an ominous feeling and patted Li Qingcheng’s shoulder.

“Big brother.” The girl’s back was still to me, and her tone sounded a bit off.

“Wh-what’s wrong?” I asked, beads of sweat forming.

Li Qingcheng, however, suddenly turned around, holding a pink-packaged box in her hand.

She stared at me expressionlessly and said, “H, oh.”

I froze for half a second before realizing.

‘Damn it, that’s the thing I forgot to return to Chen Shen, still in my backpack! I’d left my backpack in Li Qingcheng’s room and forgotten to take it out!’

“Holy crap, you little devil, give that back to me!”

It seemed the trials bestowed upon me by the Demon God had yet to reach their conclusion.