Nov. 21st, Saturday Night

"Promise? What promise? Don’t tell me you made plans with another girl—who is she?" Tu Shen shot back, instantly picturing her rival Yue Yang. She’d been slacking on enemy surveillance lately while gaming outdoors, so she had no clue how far Yue Yang’s advances had gone.

"What’s it to you? We’ll reschedule. I’m not going anywhere," Qinmu said impatiently.

"No way. You tell me her name right now. Is it Yue Yang? Qinmu, you traitor! I’ve kept your huge secret without asking for anything in return, and now you’re cheating on me behind my back? Bold move." Tu Shen’s tone turned utterly unreasonable.

"Fine, fine—you wouldn’t know her anyway. And we’re not even together. Stop talking like we’re some old married couple. Who I eat with or date is none of your business," Qinmu retorted firmly, unfazed by her tantrum.

"Hey! What about my first kiss? And that time you forced a hug on me? Forgotten already? Dumping me now? Typical Chen Shimei—you heartless cad, chasing new flames while ditching the old." Tu Shen grew even more unreasonable.

"Sis, get your facts straight. Who kissed whom? Who pinned whom to the ground? If your hands hadn’t been in the wrong place, I wouldn’t have been caught!" Qinmu argued logically.

"Text me tomorrow’s date spot now. I’m monitoring you 24/7 to prevent cheating. I despise unfaithful wives like you—flirting with girls everywhere, worse than beasts."

"Not happening. It’s none of your business. Stop meddling." Qinmu refused flatly, unshaken by the demand.

"Then tomorrow, the whole school learns Nangong Qinmu of Class 13 is a girl. You’ll be campus-famous, *Nangong Qinmu*." Tu Shen’s voice turned threatening.

"Ugh, fine! Take it. But behave tomorrow, or I’ll tear up this unfair treaty—even if it kills me." Qinmu hated the blackmail but had no choice.

"Tsk tsk, should’ve cooperated sooner. Got your text. See you tomorrow, my dear wifey~" Ever since sitting beside Yue Yang, this crazy girl called her "wife" nightly—past madness, now utterly shameless.

The bathwater had gone cold. Qinmu stepped out, drying off with a towel.

Qingyu had just returned home, leaving her dripping umbrella on the balcony. Outside, light rain had escalated into a tropical storm—a brutal downpour for winter. Qingyu sat on the sofa, waiting for the bathroom to free up so she could change her soaked coat and pants.

Qinmu crept out of the bathroom in just a white T-shirt and plain white underwear, unaware Qingyu was home.

"Qinmu, aren’t you freezing in that?" Qingyu blurted, startled to see her brother in his underwear. Her eyes accidentally caught the T-shirt’s outline. "Qinmu... why do you have *breasts*?"

Qinmu froze like she’d been electrocuted, trying to bolt—but Qingyu caught her arm. Sensing something off, Qingyu slipped a hand under the shirt. Soft. Undeniably feminine. She stared, stunned. "Qinmu... are you a *girl*?"

Reality shattered for the third time. Qinmu collapsed onto the sofa, hollow-eyed and limp. Qingyu couldn’t grasp how her brother became a sister. Qinmu sat petrified, so Qingyu called HuiXiang instead. "HuiXiang, I need the truth. No lies."

"Sure, sis! Anything for you!" HuiXiang chirped, oblivious to the chaos.

"Why is Qinmu a girl now? I always thought she was male. Did you and Mom lie? Was she always female?"

*Ugh, Brother’s useless—exposed again.* HuiXiang sighed internally. *Should’ve just told everyone. Now it’s awkward.* Aloud, she explained: "Brother *was* male. Recently... he just became a full girl. She made me swear secrecy. Don’t tell Mom—she wants as few people as possible to know. But honestly? Counting you, *four* people know now. She’s so gullible..." HuiXiang facepalmed at Qinmu’s naivety.

Qingyu pieced it together. Seeing Qinmu’s broken spirit, she chuckled softly. "So getting caught by me broke you? Go put on clothes. I won’t tell anyone."

When Qinmu refused to move, Qingyu scooped her up in a princess carry, tucking her under blankets. Qinmu’s wary eyes pleaded: "You *must* keep my secret."

Qingyu nodded. "What’s in it for me?"

"What do you want?" Qinmu glared.

"A proper talk."

Qingyu then shared why she’d left for Australia, her life there, and why she rarely called home. Qinmu listened from under the covers, resistant but attentive.

"So I thought we’d spoken on the phone... but it was always HuiXiang. I emailed you too—if your account’s active, check your inbox."

Qinmu logged into her old QQ email. Dozens of unread messages filled the inbox, mostly about Australian life. She’d never checked them, assuming Qingyu had forgotten her.

"I’m sorry," Qinmu whispered, guilt-ridden. "I’ve been so cold to you lately... selfish and childish."

Qingyu’s heart swelled. "It’s okay. My brother—no, *sister*—understanding me? This is the happiest moment for me." She gently stroked Qinmu’s hair. The fierce kitten had calmed, all sharp edges gone, now pliant as a docile pet.

Qingyu stood, wiping Qinmu’s tears. "I’ll shower now. Stay put—the blanket’s thin. I’ll bring another later." She left the room, her own hands trembling slightly.