The Price of Transformation

Ling Chen intervened, stopping my self-deprecating antics.

“My sister gets all withdrawn after just a few words. I wonder how she’s managed to live alone all these years.”

“Living alone is wonderful! I have games and my two-dimensional wives to keep me company. I don’t envy those ‘normies’ at all!”

“Then who’s the one who posts negative rants online every Qixi Festival and rallies the FFF Brigade to burn down couples?”

“Well, those couples just love to flaunt their affection! As a shut-in who loses a fortune in game skins every holiday, shouldn’t I be allowed to express my indignation?”

“If you have money to spend on games, why not go out with girls?”

“Hmm, about that… it’s still better to spend money on my wives.”

“It seems my sister has completely become a social recluse. Oh, and you can’t go around with messy hair like before, Sister. Since you have long hair now, you need to take good care of it. If you want to be popular, you have to start by changing your image.”

As Ling Chen blow-dried my hair, he taught me how to use hair products and style it.

It was such a bother.

Why did becoming a girl have to be so troublesome? Before I could even experience any benefits, I was already overwhelmed by a myriad of things to pay attention to.

Why could everyone else adapt to their new identity so quickly, while I felt so awkward? Was there no upside to this transformation?

This treatment made me suspect that my brother, Ling Chen, was the true protagonist.

He was handsome, physically strong, and seemingly omniscient. He clearly fit the mold of a top-tier campus heartthrob, a complete protagonist template.

In contrast, I had merely muddled through high school, idle and decadent, neglecting my studies, possessing a terrible personality, and having few friends. I was the quintessential side character, clearly destined to be cannon fodder, coveting the goddess and creating opportunities for the protagonist to be a hero.

How tragic. My life hadn’t changed at all; becoming a girl might even make me a target for the male lead’s affections.

However, a shut-in like me, no different from a useless ornament, shouldn’t have to worry about boys liking me. I was good for nothing but a pretty face.

Being unpopular had become an excuse to comfort myself—how utterly pathetic.

“Alright, Sister, take a look at your hair.”

I looked up at the mirror. Ling Chen had styled my hair into a princess braid. With a few more accessories and a dress, I truly exuded the elegant and graceful aura of a lady.

“It looks good. Besides lacking the innate grace, it suits me quite well.”

“Sister, would you like to learn how to style your hair? It’s really simple.”

“Emmmmm, let me give it a try.”

Under Ling Chen’s meticulous guidance, I learned several ways to tie my hair.

“Sister, that twin-tail hairstyle looks great!”

“Really? Cough, cough…”

Facing the mirror, I cleared my throat and struck a chuunibyo-esque pose of shame, launching into a Kugimiya Rie-style tsundere rant.

“Baka! Hentai! うるさい! うるさい!”

It had that authentic flavor!

And surprisingly, my voice truly had the feel of a tsundere character.

“Sister is so cute!”

“Really?” I asked, a little shyly.

“Sister, do you want to try other hairstyles?”

“Yes!”

Suddenly, I felt something was amiss.

Wait, what exactly am I doing…

I was being completely drawn into the feminine side of my inner self!

I noticed Ling Chen, who had been flattering me all this time. His smiling eyes held a triumphant, sinister grin.

Could this be the legendary ‘praise to kill’? I was actually getting carried away by the compliments and had fallen into his trap!

Omniscient and an ultimate ladies’ man, Ling Chen was truly terrifying!

I lightly tapped his head. “Don’t try to coax out my feminine psychology.”

Ling Chen clutched his head, looking wronged. “Why?”

I scoffed. “No reason. Girls spend too much time on themselves; it’s a hassle. The time it takes to get ready is enough to finish a game.”

“Isn’t it good to care about beauty?”

“What good is caring about beauty for a tough guy like me? I don’t need to dress up for others.”

Seeing my complete disinterest in dressing up, Ling Chen gave a wicked smile. Like a seductive demon, he slowly whispered into my ear:

“I knew my sister would say that. But, Sister, what do you think your goddess’s opinion of you will be now that you’ve become a girl?”

I gasped.

Oh no, I completely forgot about that point!

I used to be like a devoted admirer to my goddess. She never explicitly showed her opinion of me, but she did seem to care.

Now that I was a girl, with the barrier between genders gone, how would my goddess see me?

Will the goddess treat me as a friend?

“You’re wrong, Sister. According to the new setting, you’re your goddess’s best friend!”

Best friend?

That doesn’t sound bad…

Wait, best friend!

“AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

“Sister, could you please stop wriggling on the bed like a maggot?”

Excitedly, I put my hand on Ling Chen’s shoulder and asked with anticipation, “Are the goddess and I really good friends?”

“Probably to the extent of going shopping together.”

“Shopping, shopping, shopping… A date!?”

I bit my finger, lost in fantasy.

My goddess and I, as close as sisters, intimately shopping together…

“Ling Jiu, do you think this lingerie looks good on me?”

“Everything looks good on you, because I like you the most.”

“Oh, you! Don’t say such improper things. You’re cute too, Ling Jiu.”

“Huh, why are you suddenly getting so close to me… Wait, there are a lot of people here… Mmm…”

This yuri-like feeling…

Isn’t this the ultimate dream for a devoted admirer like me?

Hooray, it’s great to be a girl!

My eyes sparkled. “Ling Chen, no, Teacher Ling Chen, can you teach me how girls dress up?”

Ling Chen pushed up his non-existent glasses, confidently stating, “No problem! I’ll teach you how to become the brightest star beside your goddess within a day! First, we’ll start with clothing. Mori girl style suits my sister well, but a JK uniform also perfectly matches a sister in the prime of her youth…”

“Your account balance: ¥0.”

“Your Huabei outstanding balance: ¥1500.”

I had amnesia.

Who was that person who so generously cleared their shopping cart just now?

Who was that person who excitedly picked out women’s clothes?

Who was that girl who thought white stockings were cute?

Who was that yuri fan who believed girls and girls could be together?

I didn’t recognize any of those children.

So, who was I?

“Sister, the pajamas you picked are adorable. The little dinosaurs couldn’t be more perfect for you.”

I looked left and right, asking doubtfully, “Who is your sister? Is your sister here? I don’t know, I’m just air.”

“…”

“Ow, ow, ow…”

Ling Chen pinched my cheek and sighed. “Sister, you have to face what you have to face. Since you want to get along well with your goddess, just try your best. You only live once; you can’t run away forever.”

“I’m afraid I’ll mess it up…”

“What are you afraid of? It’s not a confession! You just need to build a good relationship with her! Is it that hard to act as a best friend who knows each other inside and out? I don’t even know why she would have a good impression of such a slow-witted sister.”

“Eh, Ling Chen, what did you say at the end?”

Ling Chen replied exasperatedly, “Nothing! You idiot sister!”