Chapter 1

Our roommate Ah Qiu looked at her, then at me.

“Good heavens. Two gorgeous women moved in at once. I’m blessed.”

Ah Qiu was an avid shipper. She grinned, happily lost in whatever fantasy was playing in her head.

Pei Ruoqing glanced at me, then walked straight to her own bed.

I stood rooted to the spot, still reeling from the shock of being reborn.

There were only three of us in the dorm, and Ah Qiu was in a different program.

Pei Ruoqing’s bed stood beside mine. As she unpacked at her desk, all I could see was her profile.

From our brief first glance, she seemed cool and aloof, already showing the detached, goddess-like air that would put her at the top of the campus beauty rankings.

Yet compared with the formidable woman who would later fight her way through the business world, she was much gentler now, and far more innocent.

Thrown back in time and reunited with her so suddenly, I had a twenty-seven-year-old soul inside this young body. For a moment, I had no idea what expression or tone to use with the freshman she was now.

Ah Qiu, our resident icebreaker, left to chat with classmates. The dorm fell silent.

In my previous life, people were always comparing Pei Ruoqing and me—our looks, our grades. Somehow, rumors began calling us mortal rivals.

By the time I realized I loved her, we’d already settled into acting like sworn enemies.

Worse, she was straight. That made confessing my feelings even more impossible.

So I grew awkward and contrary. Reason told me to stay away, yet I couldn’t stop clinging to her and provoking her.

At our five-year reunion, the class president, who had liked her since college, chose the perfect moment to shower her with attention. Everyone cheered him on.

Pei Ruoqing looked as indifferent as ever. She even had the leisure to needle me: “Our superstar finally found the time to come.”

I downed one glass after another, then used my drunkenness to interrupt the confession the class president was about to make.

Pei Ruoqing’s face darkened completely.

Bitterness welled inside me. I thought she blamed me for ruining her perfect match.

After all, people had called us romantic rivals since college.

Ridiculous. She was the one I loved.

Jealousy churning in my chest, I shamelessly climbed into her car.

Then, saying the opposite of what I meant, I mocked the farce at the reunion.

At last, she couldn’t take it anymore. “He likes me,” she demanded coldly. “Does that really make you so jealous?”

In that instant, I almost blurted out that I loved her. So what if this straight woman hated me afterward?

But the crash came without warning. Instinctively, I threw myself over her and shielded her in my arms.

I wanted to speak, but my body hurt so much.

Maybe even heaven thought I shouldn’t say it, so it silenced me for good.

I died before I could see her expression clearly.

She survived, didn’t she?

Would she be sad for me?

My nose stung. I didn’t know whether I was grieving for the woman I’d been in my last life or rejoicing over this reunion.

Since I’d been given another chance, I would retreat to where I belonged and stop crossing the line. At least I could remain by her side as a friend.

I drew a deep breath, forced back my tears, and held out a hand to break the ice.

“Hi, Pei Ruoqing. We’re roommates now. Here’s to getting along!”

Pei Ruoqing lowered her eyes to my palm. Her voice betrayed no emotion. “How do you know my name?”

My mind spun. “I saw the bed assignment list with the dorm supervisor. There are only three of us. You’re in Bed Two, Ah Qiu’s in Bed Three, and I’m Shen Yuqi in Bed One.”

Only then did she take my hand. Before letting go, her fingertips brushed across my palm, making it tingle.

“Qi-Qi.”

The intimate nickname fell softly from her lips. Startled and embarrassed, I said, “Huh?”

She looked perfectly composed. “May I call you that? You seem younger than me. Your full name feels too formal.”

Pei Ruoqing had never called me that in my previous life. Close friends and classmates usually called me Qiqi.

She, however, had always used my full name: “Shen Yuqi.”

Was it because I had offered friendship first this time, so she was returning the gesture?

Still, hearing Qi-Qi from her lips filled me with a strange mix of embarrassment and excitement.

After all, the person inside this body was twenty-seven, while Pei Ruoqing was only…

“Sure. Call me whatever you like.” To hell with it. I accepted.

She was a little taller than me. With her head slightly bowed, she murmured again, “Qi-Qi.”

Good lord.

The straight-girl charm was strong with this one.