Revenge is a dish best served cold, and luckily, Shen Nian is no gentleman.

In the bathroom, Xia Yanchun tied up her hair, letting the hot water cascade over her body.

The only sound was the steady patter of water—it was as if Shen Nian wasn’t even outside.

Both their apartments were simple three-bedroom units. One of Shen Nian’s spare rooms had been turned into a storage space, crammed with all sorts of random junk.

Xia Yanchun, on the other hand, was an only child. Her home had an extra furnished bedroom, which she cleaned whenever her parents visited so they’d have a place to rest.

That guy Shen Nian had even messaged her on QQ earlier, saying something about sleeping on the floor...

Did he really think she’d let him share her room? Sleeping on the floor? Ha! The couch was more than enough for him.

Freshly showered and clad in clean school uniform pants, Xia Yanchun stepped out of the bathroom, her skin fragrant and still radiating warmth.

But Shen Nian wasn’t in the living room. Instead, the sound of short videos blared from her bedroom.

Xia Yanchun stood at the door, staring at Shen Nian, who had already laid out a bamboo mat, a pillow, and even a thin blanket on the floor. He lounged like an emperor, one leg crossed over the other as he scrolled through his phone.

Her head itched—it felt like something was sprouting inside.

"Where’d you get that mat?"

"Went back to my place and grabbed it while you were showering," Shen Nian answered without missing a beat.

"Get up. Go sleep in my parents’ room."

"Goodnight, Makka Pakka."

Shen Nian immediately turned off his phone and lay down peacefully, as if preparing for eternal rest.

Compared to the cold, impersonal guest room, he much preferred Xia Yanchun’s warm, sweet-smelling space.

"You—!" Xia Yanchun’s temper flared. Channeling her innate talent for affection-fueled violence, she climbed onto the bed and started smacking him with a pillow.

Shen Nian’s "corpse" remained warm. Not even his eyelids twitched. "You hit like you’re flirting."

Seeing him shamelessly cling to his spot, Xia Yanchun didn’t know what else to say.

Unwilling to admit defeat—to acknowledge that Shen Nian had outmaneuvered her—she decided to indulge him this once.

He was already like this—why not humor him?

Still, she wasn’t about to move to her parents’ room herself. That bed hadn’t been used in ages, and remaking it would be a hassle.

Sharing a room with Shen Nian wasn’t that unbearable. Sure, they bickered constantly, but they’d grown up together. As long as he didn’t pull any stunts, she could tolerate it.

Besides, he was on the floor. She had the bed.

In a way, this arrangement reinforced the hierarchy between them.

Xia Yanchun deliberately scooted to the edge of the bed, resting her head near the side to peer down at Shen Nian, who was still pretending to sleep.

This guy—putting on an act just to avoid being kicked out. Unbelievable.

"Quit faking. Get up and try again."

"Shut it." Shen Nian opened his eyes, then rolled over, turning his back to her.

He looked exactly like a disinterested husband post-marriage, desperately trying to fall asleep to avoid certain obligations.

Xia Yanchun suppressed a laugh and poked his back with her fair-skinned arm.

"Turn off the light."

"Don’t be like that… I’m shy…"

"Shy my foot. Keep talking and I’ll kick you into next week."

"Can you wear stockings first?"

"How about my size-36 sweaty foot meeting your face instead?"

Shen Nian clicked his tongue. At home, Shen Yue bossed him around. Here, Xia Yanchun did the same. One was his sister—fair enough. The other was Xia Yanchun—under her roof, he had to comply.

Trembling with rage, he wondered when men would finally rise up.

"Gonna post about this on the forums later."

Shen Nian got up and switched off the light, plunging the room into darkness.

"Sleeping now. Keep bothering me, and I’m climbing into your bed." He lay back down obediently.

"You dare?" Xia Yanchun didn’t believe it. If he tried, she’d boot him off.

"Wouldn’t I?"

"I’ll tell Shen Yue tomorrow."

"Ugh. Always hiding behind family. Even as a kid, you bullied me, and I never tattled."

"Should’ve cried harder, then. Only the loudest kids get candy."

Shen Nian’s face darkened. Raised on the idea that boys should yield to girls—and unable to beat Xia Yanchun in a fight—he’d endured her torment without complaint.

And now she had the nerve to say that? As if all that suffering meant nothing?

BIG mistake.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He threw off the covers and stood up—then went to the bathroom.

What else could he do? Jump into bed and turn Xia Yanchun into a cream puff?

As a kid, he couldn’t win against her. Now, he didn’t dare. His life was over.

But this debt would be repaid. A gentleman might wait ten years for vengeance—but Shen Nian was no gentleman. His retaliation would come soon.

He just needed the right moment.

Silence settled between them. When Shen Nian returned, Xia Yanchun remained propped on the bed’s edge, watching him.

"Shen Nian… wanna come up here?"

"Wait, seriously?"

"Just asking. Doesn’t mean you can."

"Then why even bring it up?!" Shen Nian groaned.

Xia Yanchun teased him a few more times, but he ignored her, facing away as he tried to sleep. Yet, sleep eluded him, so he struck up another conversation.

"Xia Yanchun, lend me your earbuds."

"What for?"

"Gonna listen to something… stimulating."

"?"

The audacity! Talking about that in front of a girl!

"Are you sick? How dare you! I’m still a girl, you know. Do whatever you want in your own room, but here—" She huffed and refused.

"I meant English. What are you thinking about?"

"Liar. Since when does English get your blood pumping?"

"It does. The incomprehensible parts make me rage."

"...You’re hopeless." Xia Yanchun tossed her wireless earbuds at him. "You better be listening to English."

"I am. Wanna hear?"

"No thanks."

Shen Nian turned on his phone’s Bluetooth, and the earbuds connected instantly. He even offered one to Xia Yanchun. "Here."

She took it, inserting it into her ear. Sure enough, it was a basic English essay.

Listening to English before bed was a common study method—but Shen Nian adopting it was unexpected.

No wonder Teacher Yan Yuzhu kept praising him lately.

"Say you won’t listen, yet here you are. Tsundere much, Chun-bao? Heh."

"Shut up. I’m sleeping."

Xia Yanchun returned the earbud and turned away.

Her eyes had adjusted to the dark, tracking Shen Nian’s every move. Despite skipping his nap, he still had energy to study at night. She didn’t know whether to commend his diligence or not.

Goodnight.

The next morning, at six sharp, Shen Nian woke before his alarm.

Maybe it was the effect of [High Spirits], but he felt unusually refreshed.

Even last night, he hadn’t been that tired—probably for the same reason.

Rest was meant to restore the body, and [High Spirits] didn’t just enhance his daily learning—it upgraded his recovery, too.

Less sleep, higher quality. A short nap could recharge him completely.

Damn it, what kind of cursed overtime grind is this? Never becoming a programmer again.

The sound of light, peaceful breathing filled the air. Shen Nian sat up straight and glanced to the side, catching a glimpse of Xia Yanchun’s delicate, serene face.

A trace of something unreadable lingered at the corners of her eyes.

Ugh, damn it. This wicked woman—I should wake her up just to spite her.

Xia Yanchun slept soundly, lying perfectly still, looking utterly content. Feeling a sudden lack of interest, Shen Nian tiptoed back to his own place, figuring he’d deal with the bedding and pillows later that night.

While brushing his teeth and washing up, a system notification popped up.

[Side Quest Unlocked: Muscle Up! Get Stronger!

An adventurer needs a powerful physique. Train for one hour daily for seven consecutive days!

Reward: 1,000 gold coins.]

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