I’m Actually Pretty Cute

“Haa~”

I yawned, sitting up and rubbing my eyes.

The new day had dawned like any other. The sun rose without regard for my gender change—nature doesn’t care about human drama.

Gritting my teeth against the lingering soreness between my legs, I stood and staggered toward the wardrobe to change.

But my eyes were drawn to the full-length mirror beside it.

There, in the reflection, stood a girl wearing only a loose shirt—its hem barely covering a third of her thighs, leaving most of her legs exposed.

Her chest was modest—soft, delicate mounds, just enough to cup in one hand.

Her legs were straight, slender, elegant.

She looked like a little sister sneaking into her boyfriend’s clothes—adorably awkward.

Not that I’d ever have a boyfriend. Probably not in this lifetime.

The girl’s face was oval-shaped, like a goose egg—smooth, fair skin with a faint pink blush on her cheeks.

She blinked—large, expressive grayish-brown almond eyes fluttering with life. Her long lashes trembled slightly.

Thick, dark eyebrows framed a cute, upturned nose—petite and playful.

And her lips—pink, plump, so moist they looked like they could drip juice. The kind you’d want to kiss just to see if they were real.

“Huh? That’s… me?”

I poked my soft cheek. The girl in the mirror did the same—her slender, pale fingers pressing gently into the plush flesh of her face.

“Well, well. Looks like I’m actually kinda cute. No wonder that woman jumped me right then and there.”

I raised my hands and mimicked a kitten waving its paws in front of the mirror.

…I was moe’d by myself.

At least my looks didn’t suffer from the transformation. That was a relief.

But there were still issues.

For some reason, I’d shrunk by a full ten centimeters.

I used to be a respectable 1.7m—now I’m a mere 1.6m, practically a dwarf.

And my hair—black yesterday, now a shimmering golden blonde.

I wasn’t malnourished! In fact, I was one of the few healthy people in this starving world.

Before the transformation, I even had a little belly.

Ah, all thanks to those foolish girls—easily swayed by sweet words, lured away from their lovers, then drained of supplies.

I ran my fingers through the golden strands now reaching my shoulders.

I had no idea how to style it. No clue how to tie a ponytail.

So I just let it fall.

Should I cut it? The thought crossed my mind—but I quickly dismissed it.

Opening the wardrobe, I hurriedly pulled on light blue boxers and a pair of black pants that were now too long.

Humming a tune, I began clearing the water and food off the bookshelf.

“Mmm~ Nongfu Spring, Master Kang, Wahaha—these are treasures. No way I’m letting that evil leader steal them.”

One by one, I took the bottles down, crawled under the bed, lifted a thin wooden panel, and stashed over a dozen bottles beneath.

In this world, most people drink filtered sewage—water still tainted by radiation.

Uncontaminated mineral water like this is rare.

Sure, it’s expired—but still safer than mutant meat.

“Braised beef cans, potato and brisket, mackerel—five of each. All must be hidden. As expected of me—such a skilled collector.”

Most of these canned goods were expired too.

But still healthier than meat sliced from mutated animals—or worse, mutated humans.

Looking at my hoard, I felt pride—no regret.

I earned this through my own talent. Why feel guilty?

As for the girls I stole from their lovers, drained, then abandoned to die…

I didn’t care.

It’s been four years since society collapsed.

I’m twenty now.

Maybe I should be grateful—back then, I was still underage.

I didn’t have to join the army.

Didn’t have to die in the war.

Or get torn apart by vengeful survivors afterward.

After the global nuclear war, habitable land became scarce.

Most places were poisoned. Water undrinkable. Crops impossible to grow.

Animals and plants twisted into grotesque mutants by radiation.

Governments worldwide collapsed.

People saw through the politicians’ lies—they started the war. We lost our families.

In their place rose armed factions—survivor camps.

We scavenged, built shelters, and started over.

The old politicians and their loyal soldiers? Torn apart by the public.

Especially in America.

I heard the politicians and capitalists there died the most horribly.

Even now, there are riots celebrating the fall of their government.

“Huh? This is the can the leader gave out…”

I picked up the labeled tin from yesterday’s ration.

“…Yeah, this one’s best left for the leader herself.”

A can made from my ex-lover’s flesh.

Just looking at it made me nauseous.

I may be trash—but I’m not a cannibal.

I finished hiding my supplies quickly.

Collapsing onto the bed, I panted, exhausted.

“Seriously… why am I so weak now? Even worse than before.”

I touched my chest, then adjusted my loose wristwatch.

“Twelve o’clock. Time to eat.”

I crawled back under the bed, pulling out a can of potato and brisket.

I really got dumber as a girl. Should’ve saved one earlier.

Outside, I gathered dry grass and twigs, found a few flat stones, and quickly lit a fire.

Placing the can over the flames, I waited for it to heat.

“Tsk tsk. That brat Qin Yue again—got another poor girl, didn’t he?”

“What a sweet little thing… never thought she’d fall for that little monster.”

Two gaunt neighbors passed by, loudly gossiping—mistaking me for one of my own victims.

They knew my true nature.

But they were so thin and weak—no match for my (former) health.

And I never broke camp rules. Just morals.

So no matter how much they hated me, they could do nothing.

I wouldn’t lose a single gram.

“Uncle, Auntie~ Brother Yue is wonderful! So gentle and kind! I didn’t get tricked—I came here willingly to be with him!”

With a bright smile, I cheerfully praised my past self—no idea why I even said that.

The neighbors stared, speechless.

One muttered, “She’s beyond saving…”

And they shuffled back into their homes.