The Reward Day

A good day, indeed.

Though no music played in the dorm, the melody of ‘A Good Day’ inexplicably surfaced in Xi Ruo’s mind, prompting her to hum it softly.

Today marked Xi Yao’s day of reward, a ceremony Xi Ruo herself would meticulously orchestrate.

Even now, looking back, Xi Ruo found the memory ethereal, almost dreamlike.

Their rendezvous atop the bell tower last weekend, where she had cradled Xi Yao’s lustrous, pale thighs, had felt like embracing the entire world.

That single moment had been exhilarating, cementing ‘climbing the snow mountain’ as her formidable long-term objective.

Yet, upon returning and enduring her friends’ incessant teasing, coupled with the sight of Xi Yao in a tiny vest, jogging before two stunning women on Wednesday, a furious indignation had surged within her.

A wicked impulse had taken root, compelling her to abruptly propose a ‘reward’ for Xi Yao.

In the heat of the moment, consumed by her pique, she hadn’t considered the implications.

Only after cooling down and reflecting did she realize this represented an unprecedented leap in their relationship.

The possibilities for this ‘reward’ were vast, extending far beyond merely scaling the snow mountain, which now seemed almost trivial in comparison!

It was all too perfect, a beauty so profound it bordered on overwhelming.

****

“Sister Ruo, you’re up remarkably early today.”

From the opposite bunk, Xiang Qian, still groggy from sleep, heard the cheerful humming of ‘A Good Day’ permeate the dorm room, even before her eyes had fully opened.

Upon finally prying them open, she saw her roommate—the undisputed campus goddess—humming contentedly while stowing items into a small backpack.

Dressed for an outing, Xi Ruo’s attire was undeniably alluring: a brief sports vest paired with ultra-short shorts, complemented only by a light jacket draped over her shoulders.

With the jacket unzipped, the alluring contours of her ‘snow mountains’ (TL Note: A euphemism for breasts, often used in Chinese web novels to describe prominent cleavage or chest curves.) and her seductively flat abdomen were plainly visible.

From Xiang Qian’s decidedly ‘straight’ perspective, the ensemble seemed perfectly practical for athletic pursuits.

Could Sister Ruo be heading out for a workout today?

“Sister Ruo, what wonderful news has you so jubilant?” she inquired, her curiosity piqued.

“It’s not entirely good news… actually, no, it’s unequivocally excellent news,” Xi Ruo conceded, pausing her packing to turn and face her roommate.

“It’s simply *too* good, to the point where I feel a little, well, overwhelmed.”

Xiang Qian tumbled from her bed.

“What’s there to be overwhelmed about? If it’s a good thing, seize it! Don’t get lost in overthinking.”

“But wouldn’t that be too impulsive?” Xi Ruo demurred, a hint of hesitation in her voice.

Xiang Qian was renowned in their class as the ‘Brave Girl,’ famed for her philosophy of tackling any situation head-on, no matter how audacious.

“Nonsense. You yourself admitted this situation is ‘too good,’ meaning it’s beyond both your expectations. You’re surprised, and she’s equally surprised, isn’t that right?”

Xi Ruo nodded slowly.

It was true.

In the heat of the moment, Xi Yao had been visibly unnerved by her sudden outburst of anger, and perhaps a touch of guilt had prevented her from overthinking, leading her to agree so readily.

Once she regained her composure, she might very well come to the same conclusion as Xi Ruo: that things were progressing far too swiftly…

“Precisely at such moments, you must charge forward boldly!” Xiang Qian declared, stomping her foot emphatically.

“Have you not heard the adage: ‘First rush, then decline, then exhaustion?'”

Xi Ruo offered a wry smile; of course, she was familiar with that particular idiom.

“Then you surely remember the subsequent line,” Xiang Qian pressed on, vigorously pumping a small fist.

” ‘When they are exhausted, I am full, and thus I conquer!’ Essentially, if she falters and you are ready, victory is yours! Be swift, be ruthless, and grant her no time to react!”

A sudden clarity washed over Xi Ruo.

Indeed, hadn’t she diligently practiced her ‘flower hand’ (TL Note: A playful euphemism for flirting or seduction techniques.) and striven to enhance her ‘elemental charging efficiency’ over the past two days precisely for this moment?

“I understand now. Thank you.”

She zipped her jacket, hoisted her small backpack, and made her way to the door, only to pause, a sudden realization dawning upon her.

“Wait, how did you know I was going to meet someone in particular…?”

“Oh, please, what’s there *not* to know?” Xiang Qian waved a dismissive hand.

“The gossip about ‘The Goddess in Love’ has been tearing through your inner circle like wildfire. How could I possibly be ignorant of it?”

…Right, of course.

As Xi Ruo opened the door and stepped out, Xiang Qian’s spirited cheer followed her.

“Remember: be swift, be ruthless! When they are exhausted, *you* shall be full!”

****

Meanwhile, in the university section, while Xi Ruo prepared, Xi Yao had also settled upon her attire for the day.

Since Xi Ruo had explicitly forbidden her from feigning innocence last time, Xi Yao’s options were limited to two: a pair of white hot pants or a black pleated mini-skirt.

Despite the mini-skirt offering slightly more coverage, Xi Yao ultimately opted for the white hot pants.

This decision wasn’t about ‘armor proficiency’ or a fear of accidental exposure; rather, it stemmed from a pragmatic consideration: hot pants would guarantee easier cleanup after the ‘reward’ ceremony.

A short skirt, she reasoned, might tempt Xi Ruo to insist she keep it on.

Such was the intricate dance of human nature and calculated foresight.

Unbeknownst to Xi Yao, however, her dear Sister Xi Ruo had already prepared a special outfit for her to wear today—a matching couple’s ensemble, no less.

Jiang Li, stirring slightly from her slumber, turned her head, her gaze immediately falling upon a pair of long, exquisitely fair, and slender legs.

The young woman blinked in surprise.

“Xi Yao, why are you dressed so… *lightly* today for going out?”

‘Is she meeting some girl?’

“It’s quite hot today, and this attire is perfect for outdoor activities,” Xi Yao retorted without missing a beat.

“Besides, I’m not worried about accidental exposure.”

Jiang Li’s eyelid gave an involuntary twitch.

‘She might not fear exposure, but… merely gazing upon those two pale thighs was enough to stir attention.’

“I’m off now, see you this afternoon. Oh, Jiang Li, it’s the weekend, so there’s no need to rise so early,” Xi Yao said, slinging her small backpack over her shoulder as she reached the door.

She offered a parting, almost patronizing, piece of advice to her roommate, who was left to guard the dorm alone.

“Do sleep in a bit, get some extra rest.”

“…”

‘ *You’re* leaving, and you tell *me* to sleep? How am I supposed to relax now?’

Jiang Li sighed, surveying the now-empty room before silently pushing herself upright.

Perhaps reading would be a better use of her time—the ‘Love Guide’ she’d borrowed just yesterday.

Hmm… the book suggests that if someone leaves you alone to go out, especially when dressed beautifully and provocatively, it might well indicate…

****

Aileen was ready.

No, to be precise, she was already seated within the cubicle.

The central air conditioning hummed at a low power, silently circulating cool air into the small room.

The mini-fridge was plugged in, holding a bottle of floral tea.

Aileen adored its delicate floral scent; she recalled smelling a similar aroma once in dorm 520, likely after Jiang Li and Xi Yao had just finished drinking it.

Thus, the blonde girl could brazenly sit there, enjoying the cool air and her favorite floral tea, all while eavesdropping on Xi Yao seeking advice from her sister.

Speaking of which, Xi Yao was truly diligent, wasn’t she?

Even during her precious weekend reunion with her sister, she didn’t forget to seek solutions for her predicament.

This was commendable, a fitting attitude for a Student Union President, and Aileen felt compelled to redouble her own efforts.

In truth, Aileen already had a definitive plan, though it was rather aggressive and involved the school administration.

She intended to listen to any advice the esteemed senior, Xi Ruo—the campus goddess—might offer, then compare it with her own strategy.

If necessary, she could even step out and join the conversation.

After all, they were supposedly meeting to play Genshin Impact online, and she played Genshin Impact too.

She could easily concoct a reason for her presence.

Just as she was pondering this, a distinct click echoed from the main hall, followed by two sets of footsteps.

“Sister Xi Ruo, so this is the place you chose.”

Xi Yao’s docile voice floated to her.

Aileen’s eyes sharpened.

They were here!