At the mention of food, Nangong Shiyu froze blankly in place. She glanced down at her lone white shirt, then lifted her head to give Xia Zixin a wry smile.

"I can't even step outside right now."

"So don't go out. Little Shiyu can just cook at home. No need to eat out."

"But if we don't go out, we won't have anything to eat," Nangong Shiyu groaned, rubbing her temples.

"What's wrong?" Xia Zixin tilted her head.

"We've run out of ingredients."

This could've been avoided with a quick grocery trip. But lately, the school's grade-level teaching group had gone rabid—churning out test papers at breakneck speed. Last weekend's homework alone included twenty-one test papers. It was nothing short of insane.

Buried under assignments, Nangong Shiyu hadn't found time to buy rice or vegetables. She'd thought the pack of dried noodles that morning would last until Saturday. But Xia Zixin—uninvited and ravenous—had devoured tomorrow's portion too.

Now they were stuck.

"So you're upset about having no girls' clothes to wear?"

"Yeah! And it's not just about dresses—I don't even have a single decent set of boys' clothes that fit! This is driving me crazy."

*Maybe I could just wear oversized men's clothes and tough it out?* The thought flickered in Nangong Shiyu's mind.

They were both starving. And with Xia Zixin bound to her through the Thunder God's Mystic Pearl, she couldn't send her out alone to buy food. Staying in meant facing a hungry night...

Wait.

If it had to be girls' clothes—wasn't there someone right here wearing some? Not the purple chiffon dress from this morning, but purple plaid pajamas.

*Where does she even keep all her clothes?!*

"Xia Zixin, I need to ask you something."

"Hmm?"

"Where did your clothes come from?"

Nangong Shiyu had never seen a suitcase. This girl had moved in empty-handed.

"Oh, I was just about to tell you!" Xia Zixin suddenly flashed an eerie grin.

"...Why are you smiling like that? It's creepy."

Seeing that smile, Nangong Shiyu felt imaginary bugs crawling under her skin.

"Nothing~ I was just thinking how sad it'll be when my dear little Shiyu wears proper girls' clothes. I'll miss this lovely view."

"What are you talking about? Explain properly!" Sensing a trap, Nangong Shiyu stepped close, face-to-face with Xia Zixin.

*Stare—*

"...You're not even looking at my eyes." Nangong Shiyu's gaze dropped. Two distinct bulges and small points pressed against her shirt.

"Pervert! Where are you looking?!" She crossed her arms over her chest. Heat flooded her face.

"Hehe, we're both girls. Just a peek~" Xia Zixin covered her mouth, giggling. "Looks like little Shiyu's finally accepting her new body. That blush is adorable."

"I—I'm warning you! If you... if you keep this up... n-no dinner tonight!" Nangong Shiyu's voice trembled with shame.

"See? So shy~"

Xia Zixin slid off the bed, advancing step by step.

"W-what are you doing?!" Nangong Shiyu backed away, arms still shielding her chest.

"Hehehe... My cute Shiyu makes me want to do those special things girls do to get closer."

"Stay back!"

Before she knew it, Nangong Shiyu was backed into the corner—trapped.

*Correction:* This year's worst moment wasn't missing dinner. It was this crisis.

"D-don't come closer! I'll fight back!"

"But I'm clearly stronger." Xia Zixin flexed her bicep.

...She wasn't wrong. Since becoming a girl, Nangong Shiyu's strength had dwindled.

"Just stop!" Tears welled as Xia Zixin's hand reached for her.

"Mmm, even crying is cute. Come here, let big sister pamper you."

"No!"

"Denying what you want isn't very obedient, little Shiyu."

"Waaahhh!"

And so, Nangong Shiyu was dragged onto the bed for a very... *thorough* one-hour "lesson."