diff --git a/server/sim/content/bands/meta.js b/server/sim/content/bands/meta.js
index 9606a716..9b70b710 100644
--- a/server/sim/content/bands/meta.js
+++ b/server/sim/content/bands/meta.js
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
 //   give_coin_in_round {round,coin}                    老鲤     income of round `round` = coin (R1/R2 0, R3 15)
 //   prep_start_gain_chess_from_pool_in_round {round}   老鲤     round start of `round`: 1 chess of pool
 //   band_coin_cost_gain_random_char_by_shop_level      绮良     every coin_cnt funds spent → count random chess ≤ shop level
-//   up_shop_next_refresh_must_present_bond_char        佩佩     level-up to a level of lvlist → +1 free refresh (price 0) that prefers <bond>
+//   up_shop_next_refresh_must_present_bond_char        佩佩     level-up to a level of lvlist → the next manual refresh (its usual
+//                                                               price) prefers <bond>
 //   gain_bond_char_per_round {round,preround,bond}     哈洛德   rounds round, round+preround, …: a <bond> chess (≤ shop level, else any tier)
 //   first_buy_in_round_char_price_change {price,bond}  休露丝   first <bond> chess of the round costs `price` (bought in the
 //                                                               shop: onBuy — a free pick / grant never uses it up)
@@ -184,12 +185,15 @@ K.band_coin_cost_gain_random_char_by_shop_level = (ps) => ({
   },
 });
 
+// 佩佩 博学多通 "升级调度中心至2、4和6级后，获得1次特殊刷新：此次刷新出现的干员优先为<萨尔贡>干员": the special refresh is the
+// player's next manual refresh, paid as usual — the text gives no 免费 (德克萨斯's trait says 「获得1次免费刷新」 for a free
+// one), and the community report of 2026-10-06 「佩佩策略的特殊刷新也是要花钱的，不是免费」. Until 0.2.0 a free refresh came
+// with it (blackboard `price` 0 read as its price) [ASSUMED: `cnt` / `price` 0 change nothing].
 K.up_shop_next_refresh_must_present_bond_char = (ps) => ({
   onLevelUp(ctx, ev) {
     const p = ps[0];
     if (!list(p.lvlist).map(Number).includes(ev.level)) return;
     ctx.incCounter('band:pepe:special', 1);
-    if (int(p.price, 0) === 0) ctx.grantFreeRefresh(1);
   },
   onRefresh(ctx) {
     if (ctx.counter('band:pepe:special') <= 0) return;
diff --git a/test/content/bands.test.js b/test/content/bands.test.js
index 40e9f070..a0efc03c 100644
--- a/test/content/bands.test.js
+++ b/test/content/bands.test.js
@@ -223,16 +223,16 @@ test('绮良 通关奖励: every 20 funds spent ⇒ 1 random operator of tier 
   cover('band_kirara');
 });
 
-test('佩佩 博学多通: upgrading to 2 / 4 / 6 gives 1 special (free) refresh whose operators are <萨尔贡> first', () => {
+test('佩佩 博学多通: upgrading to 2 / 4 / 6 makes the next refresh special (paid as usual) — its operators are <萨尔贡> first', () => {
   const seed = seedWithBond('sargonShip', 2, 2);
   const { m, ps } = setup({ band: 'band_pepe', seed });
   ps.shop.upgradePrice = 0;
   assert.deepEqual(m.handle('p_0', { t: 'g.levelUp' }), OK);
   assert.equal(ps.shop.level, 2);
-  assert.equal(ps.shop.freeRefreshes, 1);
+  assert.equal(ps.shop.freeRefreshes, 0, 'no free refresh comes with it (community report of 2026-10-06)');
   const f0 = ps.funds;
   assert.deepEqual(m.handle('p_0', { t: 'g.refresh' }), OK);
-  assert.equal(ps.funds, f0, 'free');
+  assert.equal(ps.funds, f0 - m.gd.refreshPrice, 'the usual refresh price');
   const chess = ps.shop.slots.filter((sl) => sl && sl.kind === 'chess');
   assert.ok(chess.length >= 3 && chess.every((sl) => DATA.chess[sl.id].bonds.includes('sargonShip')), 'all 萨尔贡');
   assert.equal(ps.counters['band:pepe:special'], 0, 'consumed');