12.2 Wednesday

-----------Afternoon, Neardō High School Gate

“Why isn’t Sister here yet?” HuiXiang kept dialing that most familiar number. But since her phone was left at home, every call went unanswered.

“Over here, HuiXiang~” Qinmu waved, stepping out of the school gate. Behind her trailed three girls—Yufei Han, Tu Shen, and Yue Yang.

HuiXiang froze. Qinmu looked like a gang boss flanked by henchgirls.

*Brother… what happened while I was gone?* Cold sweat dotted HuiXiang’s brow. She couldn’t process so many girls clinging to Qinmu.

“Ah, they’re all my friends. I invited them along. You’re not mad, are you?” Qinmu asked carefully.

“Of course not. Friends are fine. Let’s go together,” HuiXiang smiled, forcing cheer.

“They look so alike! If you don’t look closely, they’re identical!” Yufei Han gasped. She hadn’t believed Qinmu actually had a twin sister.

Just as Yufei finished speaking, Qinmu spotted an unwelcome guest nearby—Qi Yao.

He sprinted over. “Qinmu! How could you skip me on such an important day?”

“I didn’t invite you. Go back where you came from,” Qinmu shot back, tone icy and final.

“How can you say that, bro? We’ve known each other since middle school! Don’t ditch your oldest friend just ‘cause you’ve got girlfriends—ugh, *female* friends!” Qi Yao pleaded earnestly.

“What do you think, HuiXiang?” Qinmu wavered slightly. Dinner with one extra wouldn’t hurt.

“Let him come. More people means more fun. He’s your friend, right, Brother?” HuiXiang said.

With HuiXiang’s approval, Qinmu had no reason to refuse. “Stay quiet. My sister’s coming too. Don’t say anything stupid in front of her.”

“Aye aye, Captain!” Qi Yao snapped a crisp salute.

“And don’t cause trouble,” Qinmu added sharply. “Or I’ll send you home immediately.”

Yufei Han scowled at Qi Yao. “You again? I warned you never to show your face near me. How dare you come?”

Qi Yao grinned. “Sorry, Miss. My best bro’s here. Skipping out would be rude, right Qinmu?”

“Shut up. Come if you must, but keep your mouth closed.” Qinmu’s expression turned stern.

Yufei stifled a giggle.

“And you, Yufei Han—no trouble either!” Qinmu snapped at the smirking girl.

Silence fell. Qinmu led the group to a reserved restaurant.

Tu Shen frowned. “Weren’t we eating takoyaki? Why Chinese food now?”

Qinmu shot her a look. “Takoyaki for this many people? Ridiculous. That’s why my sister booked this place. Drop your grudges for one meal, alright?” She glared pointedly at Tu Shen and Yufei. Both girls quieted down, waiting in the private room.

Twenty minutes later, Qingyu parked her car, entered the restaurant, and calmly walked to Room 208. Inside, her two sisters and their classmates were already seated.

“Sorry I’m late. Traffic was awful,” Qingyu apologized warmly.

Yufei Han and Qi Yao froze. Her mature elegance, stunning features, and chic outfit radiated noble grace. They’d never imagined Qinmu’s sister could be this sophisticated—more shocking than learning HuiXiang and Qinmu were twins.

“No problem!” they chorused.

Yufei shot Qi Yao a venomous glare for syncing with her. He didn’t flinch, just smirked coldly.

“Today celebrates my two sisters’ birthdays *and* HuiXiang’s full recovery,” Qingyu announced.

“Two sisters? But Qinmu’s a guy!” Qi Yao blurted.

“Sis, you’re mistaken. I’m a boy. *Currently* a boy…” Qinmu whispered urgently.

“It’s fine. Your friends already know you’re a girl. Besides, you two forgot your own birthdays?” Qingyu laughed loudly.

Qi Yao blinked, bewildered.

“No, this is serious! One person *doesn’t* know I’m a girl… And who remembers lunar calendar birthdays anyway?” Qinmu protested under her breath, cheeks flushing slightly.

“It’ll come out eventually. Today’s about celebration. Let everyone enjoy this for you,” Qingyu smiled, oblivious to the tension.

Qi Yao felt like he’d slipped into an alternate dimension. Six years of friendship—shared bathrooms, showers—he *knew* Qinmu was male…

Yufei and Tu Shen ignored him, eyes fixed on Qinmu and her sisters.

“I’ll toast to Qinmu and HuiXiang’s birthday! Sorry I forgot a gift.” Yufei raised her glass (just low-alcohol cocktail) and drained it.

“Happy birthday, Qinmu and HuiXiang! May we all get along from now on~” Tu Shen added, sitting back down.

Yue Yang shyly lifted her glass. “To Qinmu and HuiXiang’s birthday, and HuiXiang’s recovery. May we all coexist peacefully.”

Others returned the toast—except Qi Yao and Qinmu, radiating awkwardness.

“Qingyu-jie… is Qinmu really a girl?” Qi Yao abruptly broke the meal’s rhythm.

“Yes. Didn’t you know? She’s HuiXiang’s older sister—and my younger sister. Any issue?” Qingyu replied casually.

“But I’m *sure* he’s a guy! And he—” Qi Yao choked, realizing describing locker room memories before girls was wildly inappropriate.

“You must be mistaken. My sister could never be a boy. Even if she pretended, have you ever seen such a cute boy?” Qingyu laughed, cementing the lie.

“Sorry… I must’ve mixed it up.” Qi Yao sank into his seat, feeling like he’d time-traveled to a world where Qinmu was female. *Then why’s she still in boys’ uniform?*

Qinmu couldn’t take it. She dragged Qi Yao outside.

“Don’t listen to her. I’m *not* her sister. She just wants to force me into being her ‘perfect girl’,” Qinmu lied firmly, baffled by Qingyu’s sudden reveal.

“But… it still doesn’t add up. *Are* you a girl?” Qi Yao stared suspiciously.

“Absolutely not!”

“Then why’d she say that? Is she some kind of sis-con?”

“Sis-con my foot! It’s complicated. Just don’t believe her.”

Qi Yao nodded slowly, though Qinmu’s words brimmed with contradictions.

Back at the table, Qinmu sat beside Qingyu and whispered fiercely: “Stop telling that guy I’m a girl. Tomorrow the whole school will know.”

“That bad? But it’s no big deal. If you ask him to keep quiet, he will.” Qingyu remained relaxed, pressure-free.

“Sis, how are you this naive? I’ve *told* you—never reveal I’m a girl in front of my friends!”

“It’s fine. Everyone will love you as a girl. I hate seeing my sister in boys’ uniforms, acting like a boy. It hurts me. So what if the whole school knows? The truth will surface eventually.” Qingyu’s voice softened with persuasion.

“But not now. I’m not ready to be exposed.”

"Come summer, you'll have no choice but to reveal yourself, Qinmu. Everyone will find out you're a girl anyway."

"We'll deal with it when the time comes," Qinmu said, clearly annoyed by the topic.

"Sigh, how long can you keep this up? It's better to just come clean now and correct your gender later. Easier than pretending to be a boy every single day."

"Sister, stop deciding for me! Have you even asked how I feel? Can't I just live as a boy a little longer?" Qinmu's voice trembled slightly with emotion.

"Fine, fine. Do whatever you want—I won't interfere. But if anyone else discovers you're a girl, I'll immediately correct your gender registration. Your fake-boy act ends then, got it?" Qingyu was displeased. Her real goal was to get more people to know Qinmu was a girl, forcing her sister to drop the boy disguise.

"...It won't happen. Trust me. As long as you stay quiet, no one will know," Qinmu said firmly.

Qi Yao still didn't get why Qingyu suddenly said that. Qinmu was obviously a boy, yet she called him a girl. Did she actually want her brother to become a real girl? A sister complex? No—obsessed with cross-dressing guys? ...So this was Qinmu's sister. It sent a chill down his spine.

Qingyu calmly kept eating, silent.