Chen Xuanqiu’s heart sank, chilled to the core. She despised herself for such carelessness, for trifling with her own life.
“What?”
Melissa asked, bewildered.
“‘He’ seems to have bandages wrapped around him inside?”
Grandma Chen carefully recalled the sensation she had felt, then spoke.
“Bandages?”
Melissa’s eyes snapped open. “Qiu, why did you do that?” she asked, her voice laced with anxiety. “Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m not hurt.”
Chen Xuanqiu shook her head rapidly.
“Then why are you wearing bandages? Let me see.”
Melissa stood up directly from the sofa.
“I said I’m not hurt, there’s no need to look.”
Chen Xuanqiu also rose. Seeing Mother Chen approaching, she panicked and rushed upstairs.
“Qiu…”
Her mother’s hurried footsteps echoed from behind.
Chen Xuanqiu retreated to her bedroom, locking the door behind her. She sat on the large bed, her heart a frantic flutter, her hands itching to slap herself for her foolishness.
‘What am I going to do now?’
Chen Xuanqiu pondered, restless.
‘Should I pretend I’m injured again and that’s why I’m wrapped in cloth strips?’
Chen Xuanqiu considered using her old trick, but quickly abandoned the foolish idea. She knew that if she dared to say such a thing again, her parents would immediately pack her off to the hospital for a full body check-up.
“Qiu! Open the door! Open the door!”
Just then, her mother’s knocking echoed from outside.
Chen Xuanqiu’s face crumpled, tears welling up, unsure whether to open the door.
“Qiu, please let Mommy see, okay? I’m begging you.”
Melissa pleaded from outside the door.
Guilt gnawed at Chen Xuanqiu’s heart, yet reason dictated she couldn’t open the door.
Soon after, Grandpa and Grandma Chen also called out from outside. However, Chen Xuanqiu had already steeled her resolve and remained unyielding.
After calling for a long time, the three family members finally gave up, and the entire villa at last fell silent.
‘They finally gave up.’
Chen Xuanqiu breathed a sigh of relief, then took out her makeup to continue practicing.
After two days of relentless effort, Chen Xuanqiu’s makeup skills had significantly improved. It was the perfect time to push through and claim victory.
Time passed unnoticed until noon. Chen Xuanqiu was still absorbed in her makeup when suddenly, a series of urgent knocks resounded.
“Chen Xuanqiu, open the door for me.”
Chen Xuanzhu’s voice rang out from beyond the door.
Chen Xuanqiu’s hands trembled. If there was anyone in this household she feared most, it was undoubtedly her queen-like younger sister.
“Do… do you need something?”
Chen Xuanqiu stammered.
“Why are you wrapped in bandages?”
Chen Xuanzhu demanded.
“No… nothing, just wrapped it for fun.”
Chen Xuanqiu had no good excuse, so she could only offer a weak pretense.
“Wrapped it for fun? Do you think you’re a mummy?”
Of course, Chen Xuanzhu wouldn’t believe such a ridiculous excuse.
“What mummy? I have just this one small hobby, and you have to slander it?”
Chen Xuanqiu accused, her face flushing with indignation.
“Enough nonsense, open the door quickly.”
Chen Xuanzhu grew angry, and began violently kicking the door with her long legs.
Chen Xuanqiu felt as though an earthquake was striking, yet she stubbornly held her ground.
“Chen Xuanqiu, I’ll tell you honestly, Mom and Dad asked me to talk to you. If you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, I’ll immediately have Captain Bao and his team break down the door. By then, even if you truly are a mummy, I’ll still strip your skin off.”
Chen Xuanzhu, tired from kicking, threatened her, panting softly.
Chen Xuanqiu instantly lost her composure. The fact that she was a girl absolutely could not be revealed to outsiders. After a moment of hesitation, she reluctantly opened the door.
“What? Scared?”
Outside the door, Chen Xuanzhu, dressed in her school uniform skirt, leaned against the wall, panting delicately like an orchid. Her fair, long legs visibly trembled, a clear testament to the immense force she had exerted earlier.
Chen Xuanqiu fearfully retreated into the room, feeling like a lamb awaiting slaughter.
“Speak. What exactly is going on?”
Chen Xuanzhu entered the room, then closed the door behind her, as if she were about to interrogate a prisoner.
“Didn’t… didn’t I just say?”
Chen Xuanqiu reiterated weakly, backing away.
“You won’t tell me, huh? Then don’t blame me for being impolite.”
Without another word, Chen Xuanzhu swiftly pounced towards her “older brother.”
Having transformed into a girl, Chen Xuanqiu’s body was delicate and soft. Before she could even react, her younger sister had tackled her onto the large bed.
Fearing her sister might touch her chest, Chen Xuanqiu reached out and vigorously pushed her sister’s chest. In her panic, she completely disregarded any notions of “gender differences,” thus touching something she shouldn’t have.
Chen Xuanqiu felt the uncontrollable, soft elasticity in her palms. She froze as if struck by lightning, completely forgetting to resist.
Naturally, Chen Xuanzhu had no defenses against her own “older brother.” She assertively gripped “his” hands with one hand, then reached with her other hand to feel “his” back.
Chen Xuanqiu instantly snapped back to reality and struggled desperately. To her dismay, she discovered that after turning into a girl, she couldn’t even overpower her younger sister.
“There’s definitely something there,” Chen Xuanzhu said. “The width feels just like a woman’s vest.”
Chen Xuanzhu quickly found the chest-binding cloth, a mischievous, impish smile spreading across her beautiful face.
“Wait, stop touching! I’ll confess honestly, it really is a woman’s vest.”
A flash of inspiration struck Chen Xuanqiu, and she pleaded.
“Wh-what?”
Chen Xuanzhu’s movements froze instantly.
Chen Xuanqiu’s face flushed crimson, and she seized the opportunity to push her sister away.
“You… you’re really wearing a woman’s vest?”
Chen Xuanzhu asked, utterly shocked.
“Yes… yes, I am wearing a woman’s vest. Do you remember when I told you last time? I have a penchant for cross-dressing.”
Chen Xuanqiu bit her lip, then plunged ahead, her voice strained. After speaking, she dared not look at her sister, instead staring down at her own toes.
Chen Xuanzhu’s expression was a sight to behold. After scrutinizing her “older brother” for a long moment, she finally spoke softly, “I thought you were joking.”
“It’s true! It’s true! That’s why I didn’t dare let them know. I hope you can keep my secret.”
Seeing a glimmer of hope to muddle through, Chen Xuanqiu earnestly pleaded.
“Sigh! I never thought you actually had such a strange hobby.”
Chen Xuanzhu sighed, looking at her “older brother” with a complicated gaze.
Chen Xuanqiu felt scorned by her younger sister. Her face burned crimson, and she wished she could jump out the window immediately.
‘Forget it. My body is already that of a girl now. If it’s cross-dressing, then so be it.’
Ultimately, Chen Xuanqiu was too afraid to die, so she could only console herself this way.
“Alright, cross-dressing is cross-dressing then,” Chen Xuanzhu said suddenly, with a magnanimous air, after a long silence. “As you said, everyone has their own hobbies, and it’s not against the law. I’ll explain it to Mom and Dad for you.”
“How will you explain it to them, then?”
Chen Xuanqiu finally relaxed, though she still asked, a hint of unease in her voice.
“I’ll just tell them that your back ached from sitting too long, so you put on some medicated patches.”
Chen Xuanzhu pondered for a moment before replying.
“Thank you then.”
Chen Xuanqiu expressed her heartfelt gratitude.
“Let’s go, it’s time to eat.”
Chen Xuanzhu called out to her “older brother.”
“You go first. I’ll be right there.”
Chen Xuanqiu hesitated.
Chen Xuanzhu glanced at her “older brother” with a puzzled expression, but ultimately, she left the room, looking back every few steps.
After her sister left, Chen Xuanqiu immediately opened her wardrobe and pulled out a thicker sweater to put on. As the saying goes, ‘it’s never too late to mend the fold after the sheep have strayed.’ After this lesson, she no longer dared to prioritize comfort.
Once dressed, Chen Xuanqiu went downstairs, where her family immediately gathered around her.
“Qiu, your sister said you had medicated patches on your back?”
Melissa quickly confirmed.
“Yes, my lower back has been aching from sitting too long these past couple of days, so I put on a few medicated patches.”
Chen Xuanqiu followed the convenient explanation.
“Then why didn’t you tell us earlier?”
Melissa reproached her.
“I was afraid you’d worry.”
Chen Xuanqiu had already prepared her excuse.
“What a good child, so sensible at such a young age.”
Grandma Chen remarked from the side, full of emotion.
“Indeed,” Grandpa Chen echoed. “‘His’ father caused trouble for us every day when he was this young.”
“Qiu, you’re a good child! But I still hope you won’t hide things from Mommy in the future, okay? Otherwise, I’ll be very worried.”
Melissa walked over and gently stroked her “son’s” head.
“I understand.”
Chen Xuanqiu quickly agreed, feeling a great weight lift from her heart.
Chen Xuanqiu knew that her sister deserved the most thanks for helping her get away with it this time. She cast a grateful glance, but her sister ignored her completely.
Chen Degao was busy with company matters and couldn’t come home, so after the family had gathered, they prepared to eat lunch. Just then, Melissa’s phone rang.
“It’s Fu Yao.”
Melissa said after hanging up the phone.
“What’s he doing here in broad daylight? Is he really that idle?”
Chen Xuanzhu curled her lips in disdain.
“He said he left his keys here last night and wants to come in to look for them, so he asked me to pick him up.”
Melissa explained.
“Daughter-in-law, why don’t you go pick him up? That boy must be quite anxious right now.”
Grandma Chen, kind-hearted, suggested.
“Okay, Mom! You all wait here first.”
Melissa acknowledged, then hurried towards the main gate of the villa complex.
About ten minutes later, Melissa brought Fu Yao into the house.
“Xiaozhu, you’re back!”
The moment Fu Yao saw Chen Xuanzhu, he became rooted to the spot, asking foolishly.
“Mm.”
Chen Xuanzhu let out a helpless hum.
“Have you eaten yet?”
Fu Yao continued to ask, feigning concern.
“Thanks to you, I haven’t had time to eat.”
Chen Xuanzhu forced a smile.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! My keys really are very important, otherwise, I wouldn’t disturb you all in broad daylight.”
Fu Yao quickly apologized.
“If that’s the case, why aren’t you looking for them faster?”
Chen Xuanzhu urged, a hint of impatience in her voice.
“Alright, alright!”
Fu Yao was startled, and immediately began searching frantically around the living room like a headless fly.
‘Sigh! How can the esteemed Young Master Fu have no backbone whatsoever?’
Chen Xuanqiu secretly shook her head at the sight, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she, too, was terrified of her younger sister.
The Chen family saw Fu Yao’s urgency and all helped him search. Unfortunately, after half an hour of effort, they found nothing.
Fu Yao seemed to grow desperate. He accidentally brushed against a sharp piece of glass, and a cut instantly appeared on his finger, blood quickly welling up. Yet, he paid it no mind.
“My heavens, Mr. Fu, your hand is bleeding! Let me bandage it for you.”
Melissa immediately exclaimed upon seeing it.
“It’s nothing. I’m a grown man; such a small cut is nothing to worry about.”
Fu Yao looked at Chen Xuanzhu, proudly lifting his chin.
“You should still bandage it,” Chen Xuanzhu said, her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed. “Otherwise, strangers might think you’re on your period, making a mess all over our living room.”
“Pfft!”
The other people present struggled to suppress their laughter.
“Alright!”
Fu Yao, ever the ‘bootlicker’, was very obedient. He sat docilely on the sofa, allowing Melissa to tend to his wound.
Melissa carefully dabbed Fu Yao’s wound with tissue. Distracted, she accidentally missed the trash can with one of the soiled tissues.
Chen Xuanqiu saw that her sister remained unconcerned, and her grandparents were elderly, so she quickly went to pick it up.
Chen Xuanqiu picked up the tissue and tossed it into the trash can. When she turned back, she noticed a trace of blood on her fingertip.
Chen Xuanqiu’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She intended to wipe it away, but at that exact moment, she froze as if under a paralysis spell. A strange, hot current had abruptly appeared within her body.
The hot current, like a small snake, rapidly slithered through Chen Xuanqiu’s body, swiftly moving down her arm to the fingertip stained with blood.