Qirong understood that survival was paramount. Therefore, his desire to become Chen Xuanqiu represented a compromise with this unknown world.
However, this transformation was not merely a matter of words. It was akin to acting: to portray a role convincingly, one must first immerse oneself in it. Conveniently, the brief ‘illusion’ he had just experienced provided the perfect prerequisite, allowing him to truly feel what it was like to be Chen Xuanqiu.
Consequently, Qirong began to embody the role, effectively ‘becoming’ Chen Xuanqiu.
Chen Xuanqiu leaned back in his chair, recalling the things he had just witnessed. He found it difficult to discern their true nature. If it had been a dream, he certainly hadn’t been asleep at the time.
‘Could it be the memories carried by this body?’
Chen Xuanqiu gradually became aware of this possibility, a surge of excitement rising within him. If it were true, did it mean the body was slowly transmitting the original owner’s memories to him? Did it imply that, given enough time, he would learn the entire life story of the genuine Chen Xuanqiu?
‘Then I won’t have to worry about being exposed.’
With his mind put at ease, Chen Xuanqiu calmly observed his classmates’ physical activities. Watching the male students run, drenched in sweat, a shiver of apprehension ran through him. ‘If I sweat that much, my classmates are bound to notice something amiss.’
Realizing this, Chen Xuanqiu had to concede that the body’s original owner was exceptionally clever. They had found a perfect justification for their makeup and long hair, incidentally allowing them to avoid physical education classes. After all, solar dermatitis genuinely meant one couldn’t expose their skin to the sun.
How did Chen Xuanqiu know this? Before his transmigration, he had a female neighbor who suffered from the very same condition. Her skin couldn’t be exposed to sunlight without causing a stinging sensation, so she always applied various creams to her face before going out, effectively blocking out UV rays.
Understanding the underlying reason, Chen Xuanqiu felt a renewed sense of calm. He knew that the more he understood about the original owner, the safer he would be.
As soon as school finally ended, Chen Xuanqiu grabbed his makeup bag and exited the classroom. He knew his most urgent task was to master makeup application as quickly as possible, lest he find himself in another predicament.
Chen Xuanqiu stood at the bus stop outside the school gates, waiting for a ride. He observed that it was rush hour, and every bus was packed with people, except for the women-only buses, of course.
Recalling the embarrassment he had faced that morning, Chen Xuanqiu decided to wait for a less crowded bus. Yet, none appeared.
‘Am I destined to be groped?’
Remembering the morning’s incident, Chen Xuanqiu nearly vomited on the spot.
‘No, I’d rather die than get on a regular bus again.’
Chen Xuanqiu quickly made up his mind. He looked around in a daze. Walking was clearly impractical; it was too far. Taking a taxi was financially out of the question. The only way to get back, then, was to take a women-only bus.
‘Damn it, if I have to ride it, I will. It’s not like I’ll lose a limb.’
With no other choice, Chen Xuanqiu had to give up his struggle. While it would undoubtedly bruise his ego, at least he wouldn’t be groped by men.
Having made his decision, Chen Xuanqiu prepared to find a secluded spot to remove his makeup first. He feared encountering acquaintances if he boarded the bus as he was, and also worried that his appearance might not be feminine enough, leading to questioning and an embarrassing exposure.
Following his memories, Chen Xuanqiu traversed two streets. He finally found a familiar faucet in a quiet alley and began to wash the makeup from his face with clear water.
After cleansing, Chen Xuanqiu checked his face in a small mirror. Only after confirming everything was in order did he timidly step out of the alley.
Arriving at a nearby bus stop, Chen Xuanqiu immediately became the focal point of everyone around him. Many men secretly appraised him, clearly trying to restrain themselves, but to little avail. Indeed, with so few women left in the world, encountering such an astonishingly beautiful, mixed-race ‘young girl’ was a feast for the eyes, causing all negative emotions to be forgotten.
“Is that little girl a foreigner? She’s incredibly beautiful.”
“With her blonde hair and blue eyes, she must be a foreigner.”
“Whose daughter is that? Anyone who gave birth to such a girl would be like winning the lottery. Rich men would probably wear down their doorstep.”
“Rich men? In this world, if a man doesn’t have some capability, he can’t even marry a wife, let alone a foreign wife. Do you think they’d lack money?”
Chen Xuanqiu faintly heard the discussions around him. A typical woman would secretly revel in such attention, but he was different. His heart was filled with unease, terrified that someone might spot a flaw in his disguise.
Amidst his growing agitation, a pink and white women-only bus finally approached the stop. Chen Xuanqiu couldn’t bear to wait another moment, so he bravely waved it down.
‘What if the driver doesn’t stop for me?’
This thought unconsciously surfaced, making his nerves instantly taut. However, it turned out he had overthought the situation. If he didn’t look like a woman now, then there were hardly any women left in the world.
The bus driver decisively pulled over, patiently awaiting Chen Xuanqiu’s arrival.
Chen Xuanqiu had longed to flee, but now, seeing the empty bus interior, his steps faltered. He didn’t know the consequences a man would face if discovered on a women-only bus, leaving him in a dilemma. Fortunately, an elderly man next to him, also intending to board, provided a buffer, making Chen Xuanqiu appear to be showing respect for the elderly.
The elderly man, likely suffering from poor eyesight, shuffled his somewhat inflexible feet towards the bus.
“Old man, this is a women-only bus. Men aren’t allowed on.” The bus driver, a middle-aged man in his forties, hastily reminded him.
“Why are there so many women-only buses? There are hardly any women left, yet you’re still hogging so many public resources. What’s wrong with you people?” The old man, feeling embarrassed, demanded angrily.
“If you have any complaints, you can take them up with the bus company. It’s no use telling me,” the driver replied indifferently. Then, he turned to Chen Xuanqiu. “Little girl, come on!”
‘Let fate decide.’
With no other recourse, Chen Xuanqiu steeled himself and boarded, his trembling hand dropping three yuan into the coin box.
“Little girl, this is a women-only bus. It only costs one yuan. Did you forget?” The middle-aged driver kindly reminded him as he started the bus.
“S-sorry!” Chen Xuanqiu, startled and frightened, apologized profusely.
“I’m the one who should apologize. I can’t give you change,” the bus driver joked warmly.
Chen Xuanqiu, however, lacked the courage to prolong the interaction. He hurriedly found an empty seat and sat down.
Taking a long, deep breath, Chen Xuanqiu finally dared to survey the interior of the bus. He realized that this women-only bus was a world apart from a regular one. Firstly, it wasn’t crowded; there were only about a dozen women in total. Secondly, it was clean and hygienic, with a pleasant fragrance even lingering in the air. Thirdly, the service was comprehensive, offering complimentary tissues and bottled water, almost like stepping into a hotel room.
‘This women-only bus probably doesn’t make much money, does it?’
Chen Xuanqiu mused silently. Fearing he might be recognized by an acquaintance, he kept his head bowed low, simply wishing the driver would speed up.
Unfortunately, his fears manifested. Chen Xuanqiu suddenly heard crisp footsteps approaching from behind. As a fragrant breeze wafted over him, a woman’s voice chimed, “Is that really you? I thought I saw wrong.”
‘Oh, damn it, why am I so unlucky?’
Chen Xuanqiu was on the verge of tears.