An Unsettling Transformation

Gu Wei had not lied that night. Lying naked on her luxurious, tens-of-thousands-worth leather bed, she held a photo Xiang Qing had sent. Tsk, tsk, those legs are truly something. Gu Wei licked her lips, her gaze fixed on the slender, fair legs displayed on the screen. Her hand slowly slid downwards as she closed her eyes, beginning to conjure the image of Xiang Qing’s blushing face. Little nanny, do you even realize what you’re helping me do right now? A soft laugh escaped her, and she quickly became lost in her own world of fantasy.

****

Meanwhile, in her own dilapidated apartment, Xiang Qing was questioning the very fabric of her existence. Clutching her ID card, her eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. What in the world is going on?! The ID card starkly declared: Xiang Qing, Female…

‘This isn’t right! I’m clearly a man! How have all my documents turned female?!’

Xiang Qing frantically rummaged through every drawer and cabinet, pulling out anything that could prove her identity. Student ID, bank cards, various membership cards…

‘Every single one of them is female, damn it!’

‘Damn it, damn it, damn it!’ Xiang Qing clutched her head, rolling on the bed. ‘Has this world gone mad? Or have I gone mad?!’

She stumbled into the bathroom, gazing at the exquisitely beautiful face reflected in the mirror, and the more she looked, the more she felt like crying.

‘Who did this?!’

While showering, Xiang Qing discovered an even more vexing problem. Her hair was incredibly long! When she was a man, she had never considered long hair to be an issue. But now, truly transformed into a woman, washing this long mane was an absolute nightmare!

‘So annoying, so annoying!’ Xiang Qing grumbled, scrubbing her hair. ‘Why are women so much trouble?!’

Despite the complaints, she diligently washed her hair until it was spotlessly clean. She even used conditioner.

‘What’s happening to me?’ Xiang Qing stared blankly at her reflection, meticulously conditioning her hair.

After showering, Xiang Qing lay on the bed, scrolling through her phone. The moment she opened it, the screen was flooded with beautiful women. Women dancing, women in JK uniforms, women in various types of stockings…

Xiang Qing had watched many such videos before, in an effort to learn how to become a female streamer. Now, the algorithm was relentlessly pushing these videos to her.

‘Never mind, I’m idle anyway, so a little ‘learning’ won’t hurt.’

Thinking this, Xiang Qing continued to scroll down. Yet, as she scrolled, she realized something was amiss. A strange sensation welled up within her as she watched the girls on screen, dressed in various beautiful outfits. It wasn’t the way a man used to look at beautiful women. It was… envy?

Wow, that JK skirt is so pretty. Those white stockings are absolutely fantastic. I want to try that makeup look too. The more Xiang Qing watched, the more excited she became, her mind filled with images of herself wearing these very outfits.

Then, a sudden realization struck her, and her entire body froze.

‘Damn it! What am I thinking?!’

She quickly tossed the phone aside and pulled the blanket over her head.

‘I’m a man! How can I even think about wearing these things?!’

Yet, beneath the covers, Xiang Qing’s heart pounded faster and faster. She had actually found those recent images quite beautiful. There was even a hint of anticipation.

‘It’s over, it’s truly over for me.’

Xiang Qing groaned in agony beneath the blanket. She realized that not only had her body changed, but her very thoughts were beginning to shift as well. Most terrifying of all, she actually believed that none of the girls on screen were as attractive as her.

‘This thought is utterly terrifying!’

‘I’m going crazy, I’m going crazy!’

Xiang Qing scrambled out from under the covers, staring at the dim, yellow lightbulb on the ceiling. She recalled what had happened earlier that day at Gu Wei’s house. When that crazy woman touched her leg, she had actually… actually felt a little comfortable?

‘No, no! I was just startled! It wasn’t comfort!’

Xiang Qing quickly shook her head, trying to banish the dreadful thought. But the more she tried to forget, the clearer the sensation became. Gu Wei’s warm hands, the gentle caress on her calf…

Argh! I don’t want to think about it anymore!

Xiang Qing thrashed wildly on the bed, hugging her pillow. Just then, her phone rang again.

Xiang Qing stared at the screen, hesitating for a long moment before answering.

“Hello?”

“Little nanny, are you asleep?” Gu Wei’s voice, laced with amusement, drifted through the line.

“N-not yet.”

“I just used the photos you sent me,” Gu Wei’s voice suddenly dropped, becoming low and suggestive. “They were quite good. I’m very satisfied.”

Xiang Qing’s face instantly flushed crimson.

‘That perverted woman! She really did something strange with my photos!’

“Um… General Manager Gu, if there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now.”

“Don’t be in such a hurry,” Gu Wei chuckled, even more delighted. “I have a question for you.”

“What question?”

“When you ran off today, weren’t you wearing my coat?”

Xiang Qing’s heart skipped a beat.

‘That’s right! There was that too!’

“I… I…”

“It’s alright, you can keep the coat,” Gu Wei’s voice held a clear note of teasing. “However, since you seem to like my clothes, how about I prepare a few new outfits for you when you come to work tomorrow?”

“New outfits?”

“Yes, all sorts of styles. I guarantee you’ll love them.”

Xiang Qing couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a trap in those words. Yet, she dared not refuse.

“Then… thank you, General Manager Gu.”

“You’re welcome.” Gu Wei’s laughter was exceptionally cheerful. “It’s settled then. Remember to come early tomorrow.”

After hanging up, Xiang Qing felt as though she had agreed to something significant. However, a small sense of anticipation surprisingly stirred within her at the thought of Gu Wei preparing new clothes.

‘What has become of me…’

Xiang Qing buried her face in the pillow, resolving that no matter what, she absolutely couldn’t let anything else go wrong tomorrow.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, a soft knock suddenly sounded at the door. She paused, wondering who could be knocking so late at night. Opening the door, she saw Shen Lanzhi standing outside, clad in pink pajamas, her face terrifyingly pale, and her eyes slightly red-rimmed.

“Sister Lanzhi? What’s wrong?” Xiang Qing was startled.

“Xiao Qing…” Shen Lanzhi’s voice trembled. “I just had a really terrible nightmare and can’t sleep alone. Could I…”

She bit her lip, her eyes brimming with a piteous plea. “Could I sleep at your place? I’m scared to be alone.”

Seeing Shen Lanzhi’s pathetic state, Xiang Qing’s heart softened. After all, she had promised to look after Sister Lanzhi before; this was just a small matter.

“Of course! Wait a moment, I’ll grab a pillow.”

Carrying a pillow, Xiang Qing followed Shen Lanzhi into the adjacent apartment. Although Shen Lanzhi’s apartment was also an old-fashioned one-bedroom, unlike Xiang Qing’s, it was meticulously clean, exuding a feminine refinement everywhere. The bed was adorned with pale purple sheets, emitting a faint scent of lavender.

It seemed almost specially prepared.

“Xiao Qing, thank you.” Shen Lanzhi burrowed under the covers, patting the spot beside her. “You should lie down quickly too.”

Xiang Qing climbed onto the bed, deliberately shifting towards the edge. The memory of Shen Lanzhi straddling her was still vivid, and now, seeing Shen Lanzhi, she felt a pang of guilt.

‘What if this woman tries some seductive move again?’

“Xiao Qing, why are you so far away from me?” Shen Lanzhi turned onto her side, inching closer.

“I’m afraid I’ll crush you,” Xiang Qing offered a dry laugh as an excuse.

Shen Lanzhi suddenly leaned towards her pillow, taking a deep breath. “Wow, Xiao Qing, you smell so good. What shampoo is this?”

Xiang Qing’s face instantly flushed.

‘What is wrong with this woman?!’

“J-just ordinary shampoo. I just washed my hair, so of course it smells good.”

“No, no,” Shen Lanzhi shook her head, her eyes growing somewhat hazy. “This scent also carries your own natural body fragrance; it’s especially lovely.”

Xiang Qing froze completely.

‘Body fragrance? What the hell is that?!’

“And Xiao Qing, your skin is truly exquisite, glowing with fairness.” Shen Lanzhi’s hand unconsciously reached out. “And your face, it’s simply a masterpiece of nature.”

“Sister Lanzhi, please don’t…” Xiang Qing recoiled slightly.

“And your figure,” Shen Lanzhi’s gaze grew increasingly bold. “All the right curves in all the right places, slender where it should be—simply perfect.”

‘What is this woman doing?!’

‘Is she complimenting me?’

‘Why does it sound more like… teasing?!’

“Sister Lanzhi, do you have a fever? Why are you talking so strangely?” Xiang Qing attempted to change the subject.

“I don’t have a fever.” Shen Lanzhi suddenly sat up, her eyes burning as she looked at her. “Xiao Qing, can I touch you?”

“T-touch what?” Xiang Qing’s voice cracked.

Shen Lanzhi extended her hand, pointing towards her chest.

“Just… here.”