Friday, November 13th

Two days later, Friday arrived. It was time for Kintou High’s biweekly cooking class, with bread-baking as today’s theme. Students were paired up by the teacher, everyone silently hoping to be grouped with their crush or best friend.

To Qinmu’s surprise—and delight—he was paired with Yue Yang. She’d been his first crush since high school, though purely one-sided.

Qinmu knew bread-making well; even HuiXiang loved his homemade loaves. He barely glanced at the teacher’s demo. Yue Yang, however, was lost. The techniques confused her, and the idea of doing it alone seemed impossible.

Thus, the expert and the novice began. Qinmu effortlessly mixed ingredients and shaped the dough.

Watching his skill, Yue Yang felt immense pressure. She tried adding eggs and water to flour but fumbled, turning it into a sticky mess instead of dough.

Qinmu rushed to salvage the ingredients, rebalancing proportions just in time.

Yue Yang’s face flushed with shame as she watched him fix everything.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

“No need. We’re partners—I won’t leave you hanging. Just watch me from here on,” Qinmu smiled, heart skipping a beat. This was his first real close talk with his goddess.

“You’re amazing. You must be really good at cooking,” Yue Yang said.

“Well, my sister loves my dishes. I enjoy experimenting, so I got better over time,” Qinmu replied, a hint of pride in his voice.

“I’d love to try your bread later,” she added shyly.

“Sure, but it’ll take a while. The next steps need time.”

Qinmu placed the dough in the proofing box, then transferred the risen loaf to the oven. After busy minutes, their bread was done—the first pair in class to finish. Envious glances followed.

“Seriously? My dough’s not even ready yet. How’d they do it so fast?”

“Double class beauties—even their cooking skills are insane. I surrender! Hey, how many years for bigamy again…?”

“Unreal. Are they even human?”

Qinmu shared slices with nearby classmates. They praised him:

“Master-level skills!”

“Sweet but not cloying, melts in your mouth. A true chef!”

Their exaggerated reviews drew more students, but portions were limited. Qinmu saved the last piece for Yue Yang.

“For you~” He handed her the bread wrapped in a napkin.

She took a careful bite. “It’s really good! You’re incredible, Qinmu. I hope we’re partners again next class.”

Her blunt praise flustered him. “It’s just okay. Glad you liked it.”

Yue Yang nodded, smiling sincerely—the first time he’d seen her smile at him.

---

Afternoon PE class. Clear skies, perfect for soccer. Qinmu and Qi Yao raced across the field, neck and neck. But Qinmu, the team’s star striker, stole the ball from Qi Yao and scored.

Qi Yao suddenly plopped onto the grass. “Dude, I’m dead tired. Quitting. Gonna rest.”

Qinmu’s excitement soured. “What? One goal and you quit? Man up! What’s a little tired? Get up and play!”

Qi Yao ignored him, sitting by the goalpost, fanning his sweaty T-shirt.

“Lame.” Qinmu slumped onto the grass with the ball. The sunny afternoon lost its shine.

“Qinmu, you’ve been grinning all day. Find money or something?” Qi Yao called over.

“Dream on. No money. Can’t I just be in a good mood?” Qinmu tossed the ball to him. Qi Yao caught it easily.

“Yeah right. No reason? I don’t buy it. You were baking with Yue Yang this morning—think I’m blind?”

“So? I shared bread with you too. Not enough?”

“It’s not the bread—it’s *who* you baked with. You two were chatting nonstop. Seriously jealous.”

“What’s wrong with chatting? We’re classmates.” Qinmu kept his tone light.

“Nothing wrong. But Yue Yang’s an iceberg goddess. How’d you get her laughing? Teach me your ways. Even I can’t crack her!”

“We just talked. Since when does chatting mean dating for life? Normal stuff.”

“Oh please. I’ve known you liked her forever. You planned this. But don’t worry—I won’t steal your girl. Just teach me how to talk to icebergs like her.”

“I’ve got nothing to teach. Ask your QQ buddies.”

“They’re useless. I trust *you*, Great Qinmu. Spill your girl-getting secrets.”

“Get lost. I said no. Ask again and I’ll kick you.” Qinmu’s patience snapped. *This guy never takes anything seriously. All he cares about is picking up girls.*

---

Qinmu got home at 5:30 PM, sweaty from soccer. He rushed to shower. HuiXiang’s voice floated from outside the bathroom: “Bro, it’s late. Are you cooking dinner?”

“Not today. Grab takeout. I’m exhausted—need rest.”

“Okay. No chili for you, right?”

“Yeah. Chili ‘causes heatiness.’ Keep it light.”

“Got it.”

Ten minutes later, Qinmu emerged, dried his hair, and waited at the table. A headache crept in. He stripped off his clothes and collapsed onto bed.

Silence settled over the apartment. A girl in white slipped through the window, grinning. “Ha! Finally found you again, blue-haired boy.”

She hopped onto a chair, watching Qinmu sleep. Then she tiptoed to his bedside, studying his peaceful face.

“Do you know how much trouble I went through to see you again? Hmph~” She gently poked his soft cheek.

Qinmu suddenly rolled over, pinning her wrist. She yelped but clamped a hand over her mouth.

He stirred, eyelids fluttering.

*What do I do?* She tried pulling free but feared waking him. *He’ll think I’m a burglar!*

“Only one way.” She chanted a dream-walking incantation.

It failed. Instead, the Rough Jade pendant around Qinmu’s neck glowed faintly. She gasped—quieter this time—but the light startled him further.

She squinted at the pendant. Two serpentine women were carved into it. *What does this mean?*

The glow flared blindingly—then vanished like a spark.

When she looked back at Qinmu… he was a girl.

“What—WHAT?!” The girl stared in panic at her beloved boy now turned girl. *How do I fix this?*

She chanted again. This time, the Rough Jade stayed dark. Instead, the room dissolved around her…

“Where… am I?”

---

Qinmu woke to darkness. Her neck ached. Her chest felt heavy, breathing tight.

“What… my head…” She rubbed her temples, fingers trailing down long, silky hair past her shoulders. *Since when…?*

She glanced down. Beneath her T-shirt, two unusual bulges strained the fabric.

Instinctively, she touched them. Soft. Warm. *This… is how it feels to be a girl? Amazing!*

But panic cut through the wonder. *This isn’t the time!*

She grabbed her phone, opened the camera app. Her face was unchanged.

*So… I’m a girl now? Like HuiXiang?*

She let out a shriek.

In the living room, HuiXiang heard a woman’s scream from Qinmu’s room. *Did he bring a girl home?!* She burst in.

There sat Qinmu—cerulean hair spilling over bare shoulders, eyes wide with shock. And beneath that T-shirt… two unmistakable curves.

“Eh?! EH?!—Brother, you—you turned into a GIRL!” HuiXiang shrieked back. Her brother was now a sister. *This is insane!*

“Wh-what do I do?!” Qinmu pressed her hands to her chest again. “How am I supposed to face anyone?!”

HuiXiang calmed down and reexamined Qinmu. "Brother, you actually look quite good like this."

"No way… How could I become a girl? I need to change back. This… this is ridiculous!" Qinmu jumped off the bed and dashed to the bathroom in slippers.

Facing the mirror, she closed her eyes and wished fervently, "Please… please turn me back into a boy!"

But when she opened her eyes, she still had the curvy figure of a girl.

Qinmu repeated the wish several times, opening and closing her eyes, until she had no strength left. She collapsed on the bathroom floor, sinking into despair.

"Brother, this won’t work. Even if you smash this mirror, you’d still see yourself as you are now."

"Then how… how can I change back?" Qinmu lowered her head listlessly, having already given up resistance.

HuiXiang stared at Qinmu hesitantly. The girl before her was identical to herself, like natural-born twins—as if heaven had returned the half meant for her. She suddenly couldn’t bear the thought of her brother changing back into a boy.

"Brother, isn’t it good to be a girl?"

"What’s good about it? Look at me now. If others find out, I’d definitely be treated like a monster," Qinmu complained.

"No, it won’t happen, Brother. Trust me. As long as we keep this secret together, you won’t be discovered," HuiXiang said firmly, her eyes gleaming with longing.

"But… secrets can’t stay hidden forever," Qinmu said doubtfully.

"So… so what? Brother, no, Sister. As long as HuiXiang is here, what does Sister have to fear?" HuiXiang squatted down and patted Qinmu’s back soothingly.

"Then what should I do?" Qinmu’s gaze turned to her.

HuiXiang pointed at Qinmu’s chest. "Just bind this down."

"Then no one should discover it, right?" Qinmu knew the reality was fixed now. With no way to change back, she could only hide it to preserve her male identity.

"No problem. I’ll go get it for you. Wait here."

HuiXiang brought out a white chest binder from her room. Qinmu couldn’t imagine she’d have such a thing.

"HuiXiang, where did you get this?"

"It’s mine. I used to want to be like Brother, a boy… but then I realized being a girl is actually nice, so I didn’t need it anymore…" HuiXiang explained with a smile.

"Let me help you bind it." HuiXiang lifted Qinmu’s shirt. Qinmu tried to cover her exposed chest, but HuiXiang brushed her hand away. "We’re both girls, what’s there to be shy about? Come on, lift your arms."

After all that fuss, Qinmu’s chest was greatly compressed. With winter clothing covering it, no significant curves were visible.

"Great~ Get up, Sister. Staying here will give you a cold."

"Mm."

Qinmu stood up with HuiXiang’s support. Only then did she realize the November cold was no joke. Her hands and feet were already icy. She needed to get back to the warm bed quickly, or she’d really catch a cold.