The two stood in front of the bathroom sink wearing matching "sibling-style pajamas." Qiao Meina was washing her face with cleanser when Lin Can handed her a towel. She waved him off.
"No need for that one… I'll just use my own face towel."
"Sis Meina, are you avoiding using the towel just because I did?"
"No, no. I'm just used to using face towels, that's all. Don't overthink it."
Qiao Meina let out a soft snort-laugh.
"Alright~ it's getting late. Goodnight."
She turned and walked back to her bedroom, her figure swaying beneath her silky nightdress. She sat down at her desk, casually smoothing her skirt, put on a face mask, and started watching her favorite drama.
Before long—knock knock knock
Lin Can knocked and came in, sitting beside her.
"Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"Sis Meina, I wanted to thank you for letting me take pictures earlier, so I ordered the newest styles of stockings from Balenciaga, Falke, Atsugi, and Cervin for you."
"So generous?"
"It's only fair."
After all, Qiao Meina had helped him win 13 million in the contest—getting her a few gifts was the least he could do.
"They should arrive the day after tomorrow. Once you try them on, send me some pics so I can check the quality."
"…"
Qiao Meina knew Lin Can far too well. That "check the quality" excuse was just a cover—he just wanted to see her long legs in stockings.
Actually, all four girls already knew about Lin Can's thing for long legs. Especially his particular interest in dainty feet.
It was obvious. In their group chat, whenever someone posted selfies, he'd stay quiet. But if someone shared a pic trying on new stockings and asked, "What do you think, ladies?"—
That's when Lin Can would show up, with a comment or two.
But one time, Miao Youxi had posted a photo of her dipping her little feet into a crystal-clear stream in Dali, captioning it: "Blue skies, white clouds, look how clear this water is~"
Lin Can suddenly popped up in the chat, and he wouldn't stop talking—"Youxi-jie, take more like that! Great shots!"—leaving Miao Youxi totally flustered. That little rascal only had eyes for her dainty feet.
Back in the present, Qiao Meina peeled off her mask and smiled.
"Fine. When the stockings arrive, I'll put on my office-lady outfit and record a try-on video for you. Happy now?"
"Perfect. Settled! One hug before I head to bed."
Qiao Meina let out a humph. This little rascal, always making requests.
"Alright, come on, let's take a photo for the memory."
"Sure!"
Lin Can hugged her.
"…Wait, you're not wearing a bra?"
"It's bedtime—why would I wear one? Ugh! I said I wasn't wearing one and you're hugging so tight it's suffocating me. Focus—look at the camera!"
Just as she pressed the camera shutter on her phone—beep!—a group video call request came through from their besties' chat. Her finger accidentally hit the wrong button and accepted the call.
"Meina-jie, I—"
"Zip it! Get down!"
Reacting fast, Qiao Meina shoved Lin Can downward and pressed him tightly between her legs under the desk.
Uh-oh…
The more Lin Can struggled, the harder Meina pinned him down.
At the same time, the group video fully connected.
Miao Youxi:
"Meina, that waist-slimming trick you told me about is amazing! I've been practicing, and my waist really got slimmer—look!"
On camera, Miao Youxi stepped back. She wore a plain oversized white tee—innocent on top, but paired with tight red shorts clinging snugly to every curve.
"Don't be jealous of this figure, alright?"
She crossed her legs and tugged the tee tight, her S-shaped silhouette fully revealed.
Ayi Re:
"Wow~ I didn't expect someone with such a baby face to have that kind of body. Still no boyfriend, though."
Miao Youxi:
"Shut it!"
Chu Qingning:
"Pfft~ That's nothing. Check out this bod—how do I look?"
Ayi Re:
"You're in PJs, we can't see anything. Go on, lift it up if you dare."
Chu Qingning:
"One-second preview coming up~"
Hearing this, Lin Can began struggling again.
"Meina-jie! I want to see!"
"I'll watch for you. Sit still!"
Qiao Meina summoned all her strength and kept him firmly pinned.
Survival—beneath the desk!
While chaos unfolded below, Meina calmly kept her composure, watching her friends flaunt their figures on screen.
Ayi Re:
"Both Qingning and Youxi are super curvy. If Lin Can had to pick one, who would he choose?"
Below the desk, Lin Can raised two fingers.
Qiao Meina grabbed them, bent them back down.
"Mmmpf!!"
Lin Can groaned in muffled pain from under her legs.
"Ahhh~~"
"???"
All three girls looked at Meina's video feed. She'd just cried out and was now slumped on her desk, looking... weirdly flustered.
Chu Qingning:
"Meina, why do you keep moaning today? What's going on with you?"
You dare ask?
Maybe ask your "boyfriend" what he's doing right now.
Qiao Meina discreetly pinched Lin Can a few times and whispered,
"You're driving me crazy. Stop nibbling my thigh. And no licking! Just don't use your mouth at all!"
She was fuming. She couldn't let him up or everyone would see he was in her room—and then Ayi Re would 100% accuse her of seducing her bestie's boyfriend.
So unfair.
Qiao Meina took a breath, forced a weak smile, and said to her friends:
"I… I'm fine…"
Ayi Re:
"Your face is so red and you're fidgety. Spit it out—do you have a man hidden under that desk?"
Qiao Meina:
"Ayi Re, that's too far! Am I that kind of woman to you? I… I just have a bit of a stomachache, okay?"
Ayi Re:
"Ah, then drink warm water. Oh! Has anyone seen that little rascal Lin Can? He's been quiet all day."
Chu Qingning:
"He said he's busy, so I didn't disturb him."
Ayi Re:
"Busy doing what? He's a rich kid—what could he possibly be so busy with? Sneaking around with other girls? You should call him. No, better yet—video call him and see where he is!"
Qiao Meina:
"…"
Chu Qingning:
"No need. I trust Can-Can. If he's mine, he's mine. If he's not, no use forcing it."
Miao Youxi:
"Respect, Qingning. You get it. A woman shouldn't cling too hard. Thumbs up."
Chu Qingning:
"Speaking of which, Youxi, your 19th birthday is coming. Got plans, cutie?"
Miao Youxi:
"I really want to invite you all to Dali, but money's tight. And I don't want you guys to pay out of pocket for my birthday, so maybe let's wait until next year."
Ayi Re:
"No way! You celebrated our birthdays with us—now it's your turn. We're going, that's final. Don't worry about tickets. Just send a few of your 'foot pics' to Lin Can. Maybe he'll be so happy he'll buy all our tickets himself!"
Miao Youxi glanced shyly at Chu Qingning.
"That doesn't feel right… He is Qingning's boyfriend, after all."
Pffft—
Chu Qingning nearly choked.
Ayi Re:
"Aw come on, we're all close friends. Qingning won't mind."
Chu Qingning:
"..."
Ayi Re:
"Okay, since Qingning's not objecting, it's settled. Youxi, send those pics! Meina—oh my gosh, why are you blushing like that? So suspicious!"
Qiao Meina:
"I—I'm fine. Just not feeling well. I'm hanging up now."
Qiao Meina collapsed onto the desk, barely holding it together.
After ending the call, she let Lin Can go.
"Huff, huff!"
He popped his head up, gasping for air.
"You nearly suffocated me!"
"You bit my thigh, you brat!"
Pow, pow! She landed a few light punches.
"I didn't mean to! If your legs weren't clenched so tight, maybe I could've breathed!"
"Oh, so it's my fault? I was trying to protect you! What if they saw you here? Heartless."
"Okay, okay, my bad."
"It was your bad. I'm going to bed—help me up."
"Can't walk now?"
She said nothing, just bit her lip and glared.
Lin Can smiled, helped her to bed, and sat by her side. In the soft glow of the bedside lamp, he looked at the stunning figure beside him—curves wrapped in a delicate nightdress.
Qiao Meina cupped his face, leaned in, and gave him a soft kiss on the forehead.
"Goodnight. That's your reward."
"Goodnight. Sweet dreams."