Lin Feng looked at the messages and curled his lips into a cold smirk.
Unhurried, like an emperor reviewing memorials, he first opened Zhou Xiaomeng's chat and slowly replied with a single word:
Ferry Me, Not Her: Here.
Then he switched to Jiang Xiaoya's chat and replied with the same single word:
Ferry Me, Not Her: Here.
Perfectly even-handed — a bowl of water held level.
Meanwhile, in the girls' dorm.
Just finishing a day of classes, the door to Room 502 swung open. Zhou Xiaomeng walked in beaming, carrying a large delivery bag that looked like it might burst at the seams.
"Wow, Mengmeng, did you empty the courier station?" Zhang Li, her roommate who was applying a face mask, exclaimed dramatically.
Liu Qian, another roommate watching a drama, poked her head out: "Oh my god, so much! Your boyfriend must really spoil you!"
Listening to their envious comments, Zhou Xiaomeng's vanity surged with satisfaction, her face glowing with pride.
She dropped the bag on the floor — whoosh — and all the contents spilled out, instantly piling into a small mountain.
"La Mer essence! Damn, this tiny bottle's over two grand!"
"CPB foundation! Mengmeng, you're so extravagant!"
"That dress is from that internet-famous designer brand, right? Hundreds!"
The roommates gathered around, gasping in awe. Zhou Xiaomeng reveled in the spotlight, unwrapping packages as she casually remarked, "He wouldn't really buy this for me."
She stopped abruptly — keep talking and she'd slip up.
Quickly changing tack, she grabbed a few lipstick boxes and trinkets and shoved them into her roommates' hands: "Oh, I bought too many of these little things — take them, treat them as my treat!"
"Wow! Thanks, Mengmeng! You're the best!"
"Mengmeng, you're so kind and beautiful!"
Amid the thanks and compliments, Zhou Xiaomeng felt like the heroine of a TV drama.
Just then, the dorm door opened again. Jiang Xiaoya walked in.
She was Zhou Xiaomeng's roommate and closest friend.
The moment Zhou Xiaomeng saw her, she picked up a newly opened face mask from the desk and held it out smugly: "Xiaoya, you're back! Look what I bought! The one you mentioned — 300 yuan for 20 sheets. Today I'm treating — we'll use it together!"
Watching Zhou Xiaomeng's triumphant look, Jiang Xiaoya's heart burned with jealousy.
So what if she latched onto that "Ferry Me, Not Her"? Big deal!
Once I reel him in completely, I'll buy even more luxurious things than you!
But outwardly, she kept her sweet smile, affectionately looping her arm through Zhou Xiaomeng's: "Thanks, Mengmeng, you're always so good to me!"
A classic plastic friendship.
"Oh, my delivery came too." Jiang Xiaoya lifted a large parcel from behind the door.
Under the roommates' curious gazes, she unwrapped it.
But the contents froze the air in the room.
Not a single branded skincare product or everyday clothing.
There was a black lace camisole nightgown, so thin it was like a cicada's wing, with barely enough fabric to cover anything.
A nurse-themed uniform with an absurdly short skirt, paired with a toy stethoscope.
And a set of white maid outfits with cat ears and a fluffy tail…
"Holy crap, Xiaoya, are you…" Zhang Li's eyes widened. "Prepping for a comic con or… some cosplay?"
Jiang Xiaoya's cheeks flushed slightly, but her eyes sparkled with pride.
She quickly stuffed the clothes into her closet, tossing the roommates a flirty glance: "It's a personal hobby — you wouldn't understand!"
Then, clutching the black lace nightgown, she walked to the mirror and draped it over herself, oblivious to everyone else.
She turned slightly, pressing the fabric to her body, imagining how it would look on. Then she pushed out her chest, arched her hips back into an S-curve, eyes dreamy, lips parted — as if a man she adored stood in the mirror.
Satisfied, she saw a deadly allure in her reflection.
Then, through the mirror, she glanced at Zhou Xiaomeng, whose face was growing uneasy, and her gaze held a flicker of disdain and pity.
This stupid woman!
She'd hooked a rich sugar daddy, but instead of figuring out his real interests and pleasing him, she just spent money on cosmetics and clothes to feed her vanity!
Jiang Xiaoya's clothes might be unwearable normally, but she could send photos to her sugar daddy! Once she figured out his preferences and made him obsessed, then she'd truly reap the rewards.
Watching Jiang Xiaoya strike poses in those scandalous outfits, Zhou Xiaomeng's anxiety grew.
She subtly picked up a new perfume bottle and casually asked, "Xiaoya, have you… Gotten rich lately? You've bought so much."
Jiang Xiaoya put down the nightgown, turned slowly, and curled her lips into a meaningful smile.
"Rich? Not exactly. Just… met a super generous brother who insisted on sending me small gifts. What could I do? I'm helpless too."
Brother?
Zhou Xiaomeng's heart sank!
Was Jiang Xiaoya's "brother" her own "Ferry Me, Not Her"?
Otherwise, why the coincidence? Just days ago, she was so broke she could only use sample masks. But after seeing Zhou Xiaomeng's online shopping spree, she suddenly had money?
And right after that, Ferry Me, Not Her stopped contacting her!
This bitch! She really went behind my back to chase my sugar daddy!
A surge of betrayal and panic at losing her sugar daddy flooded her. Her fingers gripped the perfume bottle so tight they turned pale.
"Well, congrats then." Zhou Xiaomeng forced a fake smile through clenched teeth. "Just… don't get scammed. There are lots of bad people online."
"Relax, my brother's great — handsome, thoughtful, and most importantly, I get him."
Jiang Xiaoya emphasized, "I get him," her challenge barely concealed in her eyes.
The dorm's atmosphere plummeted to freezing, tension crackling like a wire pulled taut.
Just then —
Buzz! Buzz!
Their phones vibrated at almost the same time.
Zhou Xiaomeng and Jiang Xiaoya reflexively grabbed their phones.
When they saw the familiar "Ferry Me, Not Her" avatar onscreen, both their pupils shrank!