I was jogging along the roadside.

Honestly, my dad wasn’t biased between us two brothers. I got why he was stricter with my older brother—he’d inherit the family business. I knew I wasn’t cut out for it. I couldn’t match his personality. The business world didn’t suit someone as guileless as me. Plus, with this feminine face of mine, I knew Dad would never pick me to run his company.

Mom, though… she was the real biased one. Her care for me bordered on obsessive—attentive to every tiny detail. Maybe because I looked so much like her. Or maybe she’d always wanted a daughter. From the moment I was born, her catchphrase shifted from “I want a daughter” to “Donghui, you’re the cutest.” I had the perfect term for her: a son-obsessed mom (though she really wanted a daughter).

“Hey~ beautiful, jogging? Join me?” A muscular jogger suddenly sidled up beside me.

“…” I’d seen this countless times. Still, it always left me speechless.

“Huh? What’s wrong, gorgeous?”

“I’m a guy.” I replied calmly.

“Huh!?” He’d heard me—he just hadn’t processed it.

“I’m a guy.” I repeated.

“…” The musclehead froze. He scanned me head to toe again, then silently walked away.

That reaction was new. People usually reacted wildly when mistaking me for a girl: some gaped speechless, others mocked me, a few even got weirdly smitten or complimented my looks. But this guy? He just gave me a “you do you” glance and left. First time ever.

Whatever. I needed to jog longer, train harder, build some muscle. Become more manly, faster.

As I ran, a wobbly figure in white appeared around the corner.

Just as I reached her, her legs gave way. She crashed to the ground.

“Miss? You okay?” I rushed over to help her up.

“Water… give me water…” Huh? That voice sounded familiar.

Before I could react, she snapped her head up!

“Ah!” I gasped. A white mask with a creepy grin covered her face. She yanked a small bottle from her robe and sprayed it straight at me!

“What the—?!” I shrieked.

Sleepiness hit me instantly. My eyes shut. I collapsed.

Was I running into another pervert? That was my last thought before blacking out. I’d actually been drugged and assaulted before.

But what happened next? If I could choose, I’d take the assault any day.

“Huff… cough…” I stirred awake, shaking my head hard to clear the fog. I scanned my surroundings.

The place looked like a hospital operating room—but something felt deeply wrong.

It was abandoned. Long abandoned. Rotting walls peeled away. Yellowed, torn documents littered the floor. Yet the surgical lamp above the table flickered on, casting harsh white light. Heavy iron bars sealed the door. Darkness pressed in outside.

This reminded me of that game, Silent Hill.

Left alone here? I’d pee my pants—I’m not ashamed to admit it.

But I wasn’t alone. Two others lay in the ruined room: a guy and a girl.

Silence hung thick. I could hear their steady breaths. They were just asleep, like I’d been—not corpses.

In horror-game scenarios, teammates were a blessing.

“Hey! Wake up! Classmate, wake up!” I crouched beside the closer guy, shaking his shoulder.

Bandages wrapped his neck and arms. His white T-shirt hinted at more beneath.

“Hey! Wake up!” I patted his cheek.

His eyes snapped open without warning!

“Ah!” I yelped, slipping backward in shock.

It wasn’t just the sudden movement. One of his eyes glowed yellow—like a wild beast’s pupil!

“Ah~ miss, you okay?” He moved fast. In a flash, he grabbed my hand and pulled me up, his other arm snaking around my waist.

“I’m fine.” I stood, glancing back. His yellow eye was gone—just a normal pupil now.

Did I imagine it?

“Miss? You alright?” he asked.

“Sorry, spaced out.”

“I’m Li Xiaobai. What’s your name, miss? What happened?” His eyes sparkled—that look… I’d seen it too many times.

“I’m Luo Donghui… and I’m a guy.” How many times had I said that in my life? Wait—Li Xiaobai? That name rang a bell.

“Luo Donghui? Sounds familiar…” He stroked his chin, then froze. “What?! A guy?!”

Like the jogger, he scanned me head to toe, jaw slack, utterly stunned.

Classic. Too shocked to speak.

“…” I stayed quiet, letting him process.

Finally, he clapped my shoulder, face grim. “S-sorry, bro. Mistook you for a girl… and had dirty thoughts. I’m trash!”

“Heh~ it’s fine.” I sighed. First time someone admitted it so bluntly.

“You’re Luo Donghui… so Luo Dongba’s your brother?”

“Dongba’s my older brother. Wait—you’re Li Xiaobai? The freshman who beat my brother at university?” I remembered—Mom mentioned it over dinner.

“Uh… yeah, that’s me.” He scratched his head, awkward.

“No worries. Dongba and I aren’t close. Honestly, I’ve been happier these past few dinners without him.” I grinned.

To everyone, Dongba was the perfect rich, handsome heir. But nobody’s flawless. His hidden flaw? He was a mama’s boy—obsessed with Mom. And Mom? She was son-obsessed… just not with him. She doted on me instead. Dongba hated that. He mocked me for looking like a girl.

Once, he insulted me in front of Mom. She ignored him after that. He’s treated me like an enemy ever since.

If he hated me, why would I like him?

“Oh… good.” He smiled weakly, still flustered.

He didn’t look strong. His goofy grin made me wonder: how did he beat my brother? Dongba was cunning and trained in karate.

“Mm… mm?” A girl’s voice cut in.

We’d forgotten the other sleeper. She was waking up now, slowly pushing herself upright in her short-skirted school uniform—just a high schooler (forgetting I was one too).

I helped her sit. “You okay?”

She shoved me away instantly, pressing against the wall. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. But seeing my harmless face—or maybe my feminine looks—she relaxed slightly. “Who are you? Where is this?”

“I’m Luo Donghui. No idea where ‘this’ is.”

“You… are a guy?” she whispered, shocked.

“Yes!” I nearly cheered. Finally, someone who saw it right away!

“I’m Moxiaoi. I… you!” Her eyes locked on Li Xiaobai behind me. They widened in pure terror. “You! How are you here? Could it be—?”

“Huh? Xiaobai what?” I was lost.

In a flash, Xiaobai darted past me. His hand shot out, clamping around the girl’s throat. He slammed her onto the operating table.

“Cough…!” She choked.

“Xiaobai, what are you doing?!” I lunged to pull them apart. But his grip was iron—unmovable. The goofy boy was gone. Cold. Deadly serious. Radiating killing intent. If I didn’t stop him, I knew he’d kill her.