Zhang Lexuan: Bei Bei, I'm Sorry...

While they were busy with more important matters, a man's voice suddenly came from outside the window.

"Lexuan, are you there? Xuan Zu said you've been able to get out of bed recently, so I came to see you."

"Who's that? Calling you 'Lexuan' so intimately, Senior Sister—could he be some pretty boy you're keeping?"

Ling Tianchen bent down and whispered into her ear.

Though his tone was gentle, to Zhang Lexuan, it sounded like a devil's whisper.

She hurriedly twisted her waist, pulling herself apart from him, then turned back to look at him in panic.

"Tianchen, don't overthink it. He's just... just my younger brother. There was never anything between us... My heart is devoted entirely to you now, really..."

"No, no, no. It's just that nothing has happened yet, right? You little slut, eating from the bowl while eyeing what's outside. Let's see how I punish you!"

His hand suddenly tightened, grabbing her hard in front. The force was so great that several clear red marks immediately appeared on her pale, tender skin.

"Mm!"

Zhang Lexuan cried out in pain, but she failed to control her voice, and Bei Bei outside the courtyard heard it.

"Lexuan? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Does something hurt? I'll climb over the wall right now!"

The voice outside abruptly became anxious.

"Bei Bei, don't!" Zhang Lexuan practically shouted.

"What is it, Lexuan? What exactly is going on with you?" Bei Bei stopped outside the courtyard wall, his tone filled with confusion.

"I..."

Feeling Ling Tianchen start again, with even greater force, she could only cover her mouth tightly to keep her voice from carrying too far.

"Ahh... Bei Bei, go back first. It's not convenient for me right now..."

"Oh, then I'll head back first. Lexuan, if anything happens, you have to tell me."

Though somewhat puzzled, Bei Bei still prepared to leave, his footsteps already moving farther away.

"Who gave you permission to send him away? Make him wait outside the courtyard gate!"

Ling Tianchen whispered coldly.

"How can you do this? I really won't be able to hold back my voice. He'll hear me."

Zhang Lexuan lifted her face, her eyes full of pleading.

Even though her heart was no longer with Bei Bei, she still wanted to preserve the image of a gentle, dignified, intellectual big sister in front of him.

"So what? Don't tell me you still want to keep him as a backup?"

"He... he already has a girlfriend... Besides, you've already made such a mess of me. I'm yours now."

"Then prove it with your actions. Call him back, and we'll go over by the window."

"Y-you don't mean..." Zhang Lexuan finally realized what he intended to do, and her pupils suddenly widened. "I really won't be able to hide it if we do that."

"That's your problem. What does it have to do with me? If you don't want him to notice anything strange, figure it out yourself. But I won't go easy on you."

As Ling Tianchen spoke, he stood up unsteadily while still joined with her and moved toward the window.

"At least let me put on a top."

Zhang Lexuan bit her lip, clearly resigned to her fate.

"Whatever you want. Remember to manage your expression, Senior Sister~."

Trembling, Zhang Lexuan picked up the black shirt. Since she was not wearing a bra, she had no choice but to button every button one by one.

Yet no matter how she tried, the buttons would not close. The shirt had already been tight-fitting, and after what had happened just now, she had become more than a size larger. The fabric was stretched so taut it seemed ready to burst, yet it still would not fit.

In the end, she had to tear open the hem at the back of the shirt, leaving her entire smooth back exposed before she could barely squeeze into it.

"You're too cruel, Tianchen. Once Bei Bei leaves, I'll definitely punish you properly."

She took a deep breath and tried to restore the steady voice of a Senior Sister, but the faint tremble at the end still betrayed her.

"Fine. When the time comes, please squeeze tight and punish me to your heart's content. But for now, I really need to keep you under control."

Ling Tianchen brought her to the window and had her lean her upper body outside.

Zhang Lexuan's hands barely supported her on the windowsill. Her long legs, barely wrapped in shredded black stockings, were pressed together and trembling slightly.

She took a deep breath and tried to make her voice sound no different from usual.

"Bei Bei, don't leave yet. If you have something to say, just say it from outside. I'm feeling a little unwell right now, so I won't come down to open the door for you."

Zhang Lexuan covered her chest with one hand and swept her disheveled hair behind her with the other, trying not to look as if she had just been through a fierce battle.

"Lexuan, why is your face so red? You must have a fever. I should climb over and make you some medicine."

Bei Bei spoke with concern.

By then, Ling Tianchen had completely pressed against her from behind, his hands on her body as he intensified his assault.

"Mm... Tianchen, don't push so far out, and don't put your hands there either. Bei Bei will see."

She bit her lip and lowered her voice until only the person behind her could hear it. Her whole body leaned farther forward, trying to block the hands below her from Bei Bei's sight.

"Why are you worrying about so much? I told you, he won't see."

Ling Tianchen had long since concealed his body with a simulation soul skill. From below, Bei Bei could only see Zhang Lexuan's chest constantly changing shape, while her body moved in small, rhythmic motions.

"Bei Bei, there's really no need... I-I, ah, I'm really fine. Do you have anything else to say? Ugh..."

"Lexuan, you really aren't acting right today. I'm coming in!"

As Bei Bei spoke, he leaped over the wall and landed in the courtyard.

"Don't come over! Go back!"

Zhang Lexuan's voice suddenly became stern. In that instant, the authority belonging to the Senior Sister briefly returned to her.

"I told you to wait outside! Don't leave!"

She absolutely could not let Bei Bei see her in such an improper state, nor could she allow anyone to ruin what she had with Ling Tianchen.

Bei Bei was stunned in place by her shout.

In his memory, Lexuan had never spoken to him in that tone before.

He could only awkwardly climb back over the wall to stand outside the courtyard gate, his face full of question marks.

She would not let him enter, yet she would not let him leave either. Wasn't that making him stand there as punishment?

Under Ling Tianchen's fierce solo assault as the T side, she finally failed to hold the B corridor, and even the B bombsite was breached.

As the countdown ended, the C4 exploded with a deafening blast, and the powerful shockwave threw everything at the B bombsite into chaos...

"Bei Bei, I'm sorry... Ohh... Bei Bei, I'm sorry. Don't look at me anymore. I-I'm fine. Go back..."

Her body rocked violently back and forth, as if she were a swaying boat caught in a storm. Had her hands not still been gripping the edge of the bed, she would likely have collapsed to the floor long ago.

The pleasure in her body and the guilt in her heart intertwined, making her seem as though she were on the verge of death.

"Lexuan, why are you apologizing? What happened just now was my fault. I shouldn't have climbed into the courtyard without your permission. I'm the one who should apologize."

Though seeing Zhang Lexuan like this made him vaguely suspect something, there was indeed no one behind her, so he could only dismiss his doubts.

She was probably just uncomfortable because of her period, he convinced himself, and thought no more about it.

"Y-you should go. I'm the one who wronged you. Don't come to the inner courtyard to see me anymore. I'm afraid it'll cause unnecessary misunderstandings."

The round had finally ended. It was time to tally the results.

Zhang Lexuan barely steadied her breathing and straightened her waist a little, though her body still swayed lightly beyond her control.

"A misunderstanding? That's true."

Bei Bei nodded. He thought she was referring to Tang Ya.

Indeed, he already had Xiaoya, yet he kept running to the inner courtyard. If someone with ulterior motives saw him, gossip was inevitable. Lexuan was thinking of him.

"I understand."

He turned and left. This time, Zhang Lexuan did not stop him.

Watching his back disappear around the corner of the courtyard wall, she buried her face in Ling Tianchen's arm, her shoulders trembling almost imperceptibly.