As summer arrived in full force, the trio found their usual cuddle piles becoming uncomfortably warm, forcing them to rely on air conditioning at night.

But Lin Youxi had a sensitivity to AC—prolonged exposure left her sneezing and sniffling. They compromised with timed settings and a gentle sleep mode.

Then there was Youxi’s aversion to cold. Mei Fang’s solution? Tucking her snugly against him each night.

Youxi slept curled on her side, limbs inevitably tangling around him like ivy. Once she latched on, any attempt to “balance the scales” by reaching for Xia Yuan became impossible. Yuan had to settle for spooning Mei Fang’s back instead.

This arrangement was tolerable—if a bit sweaty by dawn, with Yuan inevitably waking with a mouthful of hair.

Until biology intervened.

At seventeen, Mei Fang’s mornings often arrived with… enthusiasm. This invariably roused light-sleeper Youxi, who—once awake—saw no reason to let the opportunity go to waste.

What began as playful intimacy soon became a health hazard. After ten consecutive days of sleep deprivation, Mei Fang called an emergency household meeting.

“We’ve been too careless about boundaries lately. To sustain our relationship long-term, we need to reintroduce some distance.” He cleared his throat. “Starting tonight, separate beds. It’s more appropriate for students anyway.”

Xia Yuan’s jaw dropped. “But Youxi’s the one waking you up every morning! Why do I get punished? This is unfair! We should at least take turns like before!”

“No rotations either—Youxi’s banned for a month. I need to focus on exams,” Mei Fang insisted. And a certain eighteenth birthday surprise…

Yuan whirled to Youxi with puppy-dog eyes. “Can’t you just resist? You keep playing with him behind my back!”

Youxi blinked. “I get itchy hands.”

A beat. Then, matter-of-factly: “Besides, he’s obviously encouraging me. Wouldn’t ignoring that make me a bad girlfriend?”

“Then—then I’ll be the one he holds! You can hug me instead—”

“Enough,” Mei Fang interjected. “A break is healthy. You’ll still get pre-sleep cuddles, Yuan.”

“Whimper…“

Yuan spent the next day sulking at her desk, face buried in her arms. Even Liu Xiaoyu’s coaxing failed to lift her spirits. When Mei Fang stopped by after class, Xiaoyu cornered him with hands on hips.

“Did you two fight? She’s been like this all day.”

“Just a minor disagreement. She’ll bounce back—”

“Minor?” Xiaoyu’s eyes narrowed. “When Yuan withdraws, it means she’s deeply hurt. With your… unique relationship, you have to be extra attentive. Got it?”

“Y-yes, ma’am.” Mei Fang rubbed his neck. “I’ve never seen you so fierce.”

Xiaoyu considered this. “I’m like this with my little brother during homework time.”

“He seems quiet at school.”

“At home? A menace. Once, he—”

Their chat dissolved into shared sibling horror stories—until Mei Fang felt a prickling sensation. Glancing up, he caught Xia Yuan hastily flopping back into her “depressed” pose.

Liu Xiaoyu caught herself mid-lecture and immediately softened. “Let me try talking to Yuan again. Sulking isn’t good for her.”

“I’ll handle it.”

With the confidence of a returning hero, Mei Fang strolled into Xia Yuan’s classroom under the gawking gaze of classmates. He slid into the seat beside his star-girlfriend, whispering something that made her squirm away—until he suddenly pulled her into a bear hug, murmuring more words that turned her ears scarlet. By the time he sauntered out, the whole class was buzzing.

Xiaoyu chased after him. “Fixed already?”

“Should be.” Mei Fang nodded toward the classroom, where Yuan was now pretending to adjust her hair while stealing glances at him, her blush betraying her.

“You really are the Yuan-whisperer.” Xiaoyu gave an impressed thumbs-up. “Decades of childhood bonds show.”

“Eh heh.”

After basking in praise, Mei Fang casually asked, “Found an electric piano yet?”

“Tested a few at shops. Narrowed it down.”

“Need a loan?”

“Dad actually let me keep the money from your part-time offer.” Xiaoyu smiled. “Said it was mine to spend.”

“Your father’s one of the good ones. His business will recover.”

“I believe so too…”

As Mei Fang left, he spotted Lin Youxi juggling a tower of workbooks. He rushed to help.

“Why not ask for assistance?”

“The girls in class don’t listen to me lately,” Youxi admitted. “And asking boys might make someone jealous.”

“Guilty as charged.” Mei Fang took half the stack. “Why the cold shoulder from classmates?”

“After Yuan and Xiaoyu left, the local girls clique up with Shang Ce’s crew.” Youxi shrugged. “Not that I mind.”

“Still feuding?”

“More like mutual ignoring.” A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes. “Honestly? I enjoy their frustration. It’s… satisfying.”

“You’re kinda terrifying sometimes—”

Youxi suddenly leaned in, her breath tickling his ear. “Let Yuan sneak into your bed tonight. She’s sulking hard.”

“Funny, I was about to suggest the same. Wanted your blessing first.”

“Why ask?” Her fingers traced his collar. “I’d monopolize you daily if I could.”

“Keep your voice down—“

Youxi sighed dramatically. “But love means compromise. Our Yuan bottles things up. We have to pamper her.”

“Mm…”

Yet that night, no Yuan appeared. When Mei Fang peeked into her room, he found her trapped in Youxi’s octopus embrace, her expression screaming “send help.”

Attempts to tickle Youxi “awake” failed spectacularly—the girl had suddenly developed superhuman grip strength. Defeated, Mei Fang spooned Yuan from behind instead, earning contented wiggles until she finally drifted off.

Dawn brought poetic justice: Yuan now experienced the “morning alarm” firsthand. When confronted later, she echoed Youxi’s defense verbatim—

“Couldn’t help it!”

And so, Mei Fang’s brief taste of freedom ended as abruptly as it began.

(TL: What a satisfyingly spicy chapter)