The knocks came slowly, yet rang out with unmistakable clarity.
The two girls in the room froze at once, their faces filled with embarrassment.
Under the bed, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were utterly stunned. They had never expected another expert to join the fray!
Li Xun pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed. Tonight was destined to be a night he could never bring to a neat conclusion.
He could only gesture helplessly. "You two should hide for now, too."
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling exchanged helpless looks, then obediently bent down, lowered themselves, and crawled under the bed.
The already cramped space beneath the bed instantly became packed. Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, who had been pressed close together, had yet to recover from their shyness when two warm bodies squeezed against them, making them tremble slightly.
In that dim, narrow space, the four girls huddled tightly together, shoulders and backs touching, limbs pressed against one another, even their breathing deliberately hushed.
The instant their eyes met, crimson embarrassment spread across every face.
They were all wearing soft pajamas, all visiting secretly in the dead of night, and all knew perfectly well why the others had come. The little thoughts each had hidden in her heart were now laid bare in the cramped space beneath the bed.
Ning Rongrong's cheeks burned, her gaze darting away, too embarrassed to meet anyone's eyes. Zhu Zhuqing's ears were scarlet, her cool features full of unease as she held herself rigidly still.
Dugu Yan froze at first, then flushed with embarrassment, unsure whether to laugh or cry. She had never expected everyone to come confess tonight without so much as arranging it.
Gentle, quiet Ye Lingling lowered her head shyly, her long lashes trembling, her heart filled with bashfulness.
The four