Chapter 26.1

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“What did you do to me?”

Qiao Ziman: “???”

“N-no,” Qiao Ziman was so shocked she could barely form a sentence. “What could I have done to you?”

Chi Yin glanced down at her completely bare body, raised an eyebrow, and asked, “Did you take advantage of me?”

Wait, had it really come to that?

Qiao Ziman crossed her arms, staring at Chi Yin, who looked just as startled. Unable to contain her frustration, she let out a sharp laugh. “You seriously don’t remember anything after drinking?”

Chi Yin, without missing a beat, replied confidently, “Nope.”

Qiao Ziman: “!!!”

After all the effort she had put in, not only did she not get any credit, but now she was being accused. This was a nightmare. Qiao Ziman laughed—there was a slight madness in her smile, the kind that comes from complete resignation.

But before she could say anything, Chi Yin casually dropped another bombshell, “Did we… do it last night?” She paused, thinking for a moment before rephrasing, “Did you… touch me?”

Qiao Ziman’s smile froze. It was as if she’d been struck by lightning. Her whole body stiffened, unable to move. It took Qiao Ziman a long time to finally stammer out a question, “Wait, don’t you feel anything in your own body to know if I touched you or not?”

“Nope,” Chi Yin lifted her head again, her expression serious. “But… I do kind of remember something.”

Qiao Ziman: “!!!” Now she remembers, huh?

“I was just wiping you down. You asked for it! You even threatened me!” Qiao Ziman protested.

Chi Yin, still perfectly composed, replied, “I don’t remember that.”

Oh, really? Fine.

Chi Yin pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders and glanced hesitantly at Qiao Ziman. “Because I heard you making that sound.”

That sound? What sound? Qiao Ziman suddenly recalled the dream she just had. Her face flushed bright red, and she looked like a boiled crab.

“And you called my name. You said…”

Before Chi Yin could finish, Qiao Ziman was overwhelmed with embarrassment and fury, her fingertips gripping the wall so hard they turned white. “Shut up!” Chi Yin flinched and obediently clamped her mouth shut.

“You misheard. You were dreaming,” Qiao Ziman snapped. If she can twist things, so can I. “And another thing, if you dare spread this nonsense around, you’re dead.”

Threatening someone? Yeah, I can do that too.

Chi Yin nodded vigorously like a bobblehead.

You know, when you go through the same awkward situations enough times, you eventually get used to them. The same goes for embarrassment. After so many explosive moments, this little misunderstanding didn’t really seem like much anymore.

Qiao Ziman was no longer as flustered or anxious as she had been before. She tilted her chin up with confidence and said, “Last time, you saw me, and now I saw you. We’re even. And to clear up any doubts you might have, I’ve decided to tell you something—I could never make a move on you because…”

Her voice suddenly weakened, her eyes drifting uncomfortably to the floor. Her lips moved for a long moment, but no follow-up came.

Chi Yin, confused, asked, “Because what?”

“Because…”

Chi Yin: “Hmm?”

“Because…”

Chi Yin: “So, what is it???”

What’s with that expression? She looked like she didn’t believe a word of it.

Qiao Ziman finally gave in, hands on her hips, glaring at her in frustration. “Because I’m straight! I wouldn’t even know how!!! Happy now?!”

Then, she slammed the door and stormed out.

After returning to her bedroom, Qiao Ziman initially planned to get some more sleep. But no matter how much she tossed and turned, she just couldn’t fall asleep. She finally endured until daylight, threw on her clothes, and slipped out the door like a gust of wind.

Just to clarify, she wasn’t running away this time. Everything had been said out loud—there was no harm done on either side, nothing to avoid.

Except…

That dream. It had been so vivid, so lifelike. Every detail was still fresh in her mind. Every time she lay down, the images would jump back into her brain, refusing to leave. She needed some fresh air.

Qiao Ziman wandered aimlessly along the street, trying to figure out why she had such an explicit dream. She had never even kissed anyone, so how could she have had such an explosive dream, with Chi Yin of all people, as the object of her fantasy? After all, she was straight. It didn’t make sense—it was completely illogical.

As she mentally replayed yesterday’s events, she managed to pinpoint two key details.

First, it was because of Ji Yun’s ridiculous video. That explained why the dream’s setting matched the video scene exactly.

Second, dreams come from what occupies your thoughts during the day.

Chi Yin had stuck to her like glue the entire night, practically inseparable. It made sense that Qiao Ziman would dream about her. There was no one else it could have been. In conclusion, Ji Yun and Chi Yin were to blame for everything.

And also, why was Chi Yin the one bullying her in the dream? Shouldn’t it have been the other way around? Qiao Ziman couldn’t shake off the frustration building inside her.

Her phone buzzed in her jeans pocket. Who could it be, so early in the morning? Qiao Ziman kicked a small rock by her feet, annoyed, as she fumbled for her phone. Ji Yun’s name flashed brightly on the screen.

Well, speak of the devil. Without even reading the message, Qiao Ziman hit the call button. “What do you want?” she snapped.

Ji Yun paused, confused. “Whoa, what’s wrong, babe? Why are you so mad this early?”

Because of that stupid video, of course! The words were on the tip of Qiao Ziman’s tongue, but she swallowed them back down. “Forget it, nothing,” she muttered. She thought about it—complaining to Ji Yun wouldn’t do any good.

This embarrassing situation was something she would take to her grave.