Chapter 12: Riley’s Strict Morning Coaching
Late at night, Tessa was exhausted in both body and soul.
She had just escaped Seraphina Frost’s gentle yet terrifyingly pressuring “interrogation,” and she had thought Room 407 would be a safe harbor where she could finally breathe.
She was far too naive.
Waiting for her were three pairs of eyes glittering with strange light.
“Tessa, baby, come see the surprise we prepared for you!” Chloe Hart bounced over like an excited rabbit, mysteriously holding a beautifully wrapped box.
Vanessa Rose and Iris Lane cut off her escape routes from the left and right, wearing matching smiles that made Tessa’s scalp tingle.
The box opened, revealing a silk camisole nightdress made of thin, soft fabric that shimmered under the light.
It was pure black, with a low neckline and delicate straps that looked far too fragile. The silky material would cling to the body, and it was not hard to imagine what it would look like once worn.
“Pretty, right? We picked it out just for you!” Chloe unfolded the nightdress like she was presenting treasure.
Vanessa leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, looked over Tessa’s conservative T-shirt and long pants, and clicked her tongue. “Tessa, with a face and body like yours, how can you keep burying yourself in this kind of fabric every day? This is a waste of beauty, understand?”
“N-No thanks. I think what I’m wearing is fine…” Tessa shook her head like a rattle.
“No!” all three of them said at once.
Seeing the three roommates about to pounce and dress her themselves, Tessa’s survival instinct took over. With a tiny scream, she grabbed the nightdress and fled into the bathroom at light speed.
A few minutes later, when the bathroom door opened again, the dorm room went silent.
Tessa stepped out with her face red and her head lowered, like a frightened little animal.
The black silk nightdress outlined the balanced curves of her upper body just right. Against the black fabric, her pale skin seemed to glow. Her pretty shoulders, slim neck, and delicate collarbones were fully exposed. Below, the hem barely reached mid-thigh, and as she walked, her long, straight legs appeared and vanished beneath the shifting fabric with a dazzling flash of pale skin.
More importantly, the outfit felt far too light and unsafe. She had no idea where to put her hands.
“Wow…” Chloe let out a sincere sigh of admiration.
Vanessa gave a satisfied whistle and walked over. She lifted Tessa’s chin lightly with one finger, looked at that mortified face red enough to bleed, and laughed until her shoulders trembled. “My little darling, are you trying to kill me?”
[Ding! Received “Amazement” from Vanessa Rose. Affection Points +3!]
[Ding! Received “Fondness” from Chloe Hart. Affection Points +2!]
[Ding! Received “Admiration” from Iris Lane. Affection Points +1!]
Amid laughter, teasing, and playful chaos, Tessa was pushed down onto the bed by her three equally lightly dressed roommates. Her face burned, her heart raced, and eventually, after a day of total exhaustion, she fell into a deep sleep.
Unfortunately, peace was brief.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
At exactly 5:55 the next morning, a series of sharp, powerful knocks shattered the quiet of Room 407.
Tessa woke with a start and hugged the thin blanket in confusion. The silk nightdress had become messy because of her sleeping posture. One of the delicate straps had slipped down her arm, revealing a wide stretch of smooth, pale shoulder.
Vanessa, wearing a sleek silk robe, yawned as she went to open the door.
Outside stood Riley Summers in fitted athletic wear, her whole body carrying the bright, sunlit energy of sweat and morning exercise.
Vanessa leaned against the doorframe and looked Riley up and down with teasing eyes. A playful curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.
“Oh my, is this Tessa’s personal trainer? Coming this early for a private lesson? You’ll have to be gentle. Our Tessa is delicate. She can’t handle too much.”
Riley frowned slightly and ignored Vanessa’s teasing. Her sharp gaze went straight through the doorway and locked onto the beautiful girl sitting on the bed, still half-asleep and clutching her blanket in confusion.
When Riley’s eyes landed on Tessa’s fallen strap and bare shoulder, her throat moved without permission, and her gaze instantly deepened.
At that moment, the familiar system notification popped into Tessa’s mind with a bright little “biu.”
[Ding! Perfect quest trigger detected. Limited-Time Quest issued.]
[Quest Name: Strict Morning Training Guidance]
[Objective: During this morning training session, receive more than three instances of “posture correction” guidance.]
[Reward: Unlock new item [Absolute Zone Athletic Shorts]. When worn, they slightly improve body coordination and include anti-exposure protection.]
[Failure Penalty: Random Debuff [Increased Body Sensitivity] will activate. For the next hour, your sense of touch will become unusually sharp.]
No!
Tessa let out a silent wail in her heart. The moment she thought of that failure penalty, she felt the scythe of social death press against her neck again.
Before she could react, Riley strode in and tossed a brand-new set of fitted athletic clothes onto her bed. They were obviously one size too small.
“Five minutes. Change,” Riley ordered. “I need to check how your muscles engage.”
In the end, Tessa was forced to change into the outfit that sent her shame through the roof. The fitted fabric outlined her breathtaking curves, while a wide stretch of pale waist and long legs were exposed in the faint morning light. Riley’s eyes grew even deeper.
The air on the athletic field in the early morning was cool.
Riley’s “devil transformation plan” began with the most basic stretches.
“Sit down. Legs straight. Lean forward. Touch your toes,” Riley instructed, sounding like a strict drill coach.
Tessa did as she was told, but her movements were soft and weak.
“Wrong posture.” Riley’s brows drew together. She walked behind Tessa, crouched halfway down, placed both hands on Tessa’s lower back, and helped press her down with a force that allowed no resistance.
“Ah!”
Tessa let out a short cry.
Riley was far too close. The heat of her body, separated only by thin athletic fabric, made Tessa’s mind go blank. Worse still, Riley leaned down to guide her better, and as she explained, her warm breath brushed faintly against Tessa’s ear.
“You’re flexible, but you need to learn how to engage the right muscles,” Riley said. Her cool voice carried a slight rasp, perhaps from the chill of morning.
The close-range instruction made Tessa shiver all over. Her body tensed without permission, and a visible pink flush spread across her face.
That was the first posture correction.
Next came the lunge stretch.
Tessa had barely gotten into position before Riley crouched down. One hand supported her waist to steady her, while the other rested lightly above her knee, guiding her thigh outward.
“Open your leg more. Lower your center of gravity.”
The warmth of Riley’s palm made Tessa’s body stiffen at once.
That was the second posture correction.
Then came side stretches.
“Use your waist. Is your waist just decoration?” Riley was dissatisfied with Tessa’s completely powerless movement. She simply stood behind her, stabilized her side waist with one hand, and guided Tessa’s arm with the other, helping her stretch to the proper angle.
Finally, it was time for squats.
After a series of “tortures,” Tessa’s legs had already gone weak. Her body wobbled like she might collapse at any second.
Riley looked at her helpless state and sighed. She quickly stepped forward, stood behind Tessa, and placed both hands at her waist to fix her center of gravity.
“Stay steady. Feel the rhythm I’m guiding you through.”
Riley’s voice sounded right beside her ear, serious and commanding.
Her palms supported Tessa through the thin workout clothes, steady and strong, forcing Tessa’s unstable body into place.
That was the third posture correction.
At such a close distance, Riley could clearly feel the shocking flexibility of the body under her hands. She frowned, half talking to herself and half asking Tessa, “This is strange… How does your body have no muscle memory at all, but your flexibility is this good?”
[Ding! Limited-Time Quest: Strict Morning Training Guidance has been completed! Reward [Absolute Zone Athletic Shorts] has been issued to the system inventory.]
The system alert rang out, and Tessa felt as if she had been granted mercy.
By the time morning training ended, Riley was covered in sweat. Under the sunlight, clear drops slid down the firm, smooth lines of her muscles, giving her a wild and healthy beauty.
She twisted open a bottle of mineral water, tilted her head back, and drank several large gulps. Her throat moved as she swallowed, looking unfairly attractive.
Then, under Tessa’s stunned gaze, Riley handed over the bottle she had just drunk from.
“Drink. Get some electrolytes back.”
Seeing Tessa’s face turn red with hesitation, a trace of satisfaction and fondness flashed through Riley’s eyes, one she did not even seem to notice herself.
“Tomorrow morning. Same time. I’ll come get you.”
After leaving those words behind, she turned and walked away, leaving only a clean, athletic silhouette.
[Ding! Received deep “Protective Desire” from Riley Summers. Affection Points +15!]
Tessa dragged her softened legs across the field, moving step by step back toward the dorm under countless stunned, admiring gazes.