12.2 Wednesday

The night streets were packed with people. Near Jintang Hall, this area was already a bustling commercial district. As darkness fell, folks strolled out for late-night snacks or casual walks—a simple city pastime. On winter nights, blending into the crowd brought warmth and eased loneliness.

"Qinmu, let’s check out the snack alley ahead. There should be plenty of tasty bites," Qingyu suggested with a slight smile, pointing to a brightly lit, crowded spot nearby.

"Sister, didn’t you just eat? Snacking more won’t make you gain weight?" Qinmu was deeply puzzled. She was already uncomfortably full. At dinner, Qingyu had insisted on no waste, forcing Qinmu to overeat. Now, just seeing food made her head spin.

Qingyu smiled faintly, gently stroking Qinmu’s hair. "I’m the type who never gains weight, no matter how much I eat. So, Qinmu, you’re coming with me for a stroll."

The thought of accompanying her made Qinmu dizzy. Only HuiXiang was with her now. Seeing HuiXiang lean against a tree, looking queasy, Qinmu knew her stomach was just as upset.

"Can I skip eating?" Qinmu struggled against Qingyu’s enthusiasm. Qingyu wasn’t a hardcore foodie, but like many Chinese, she loved joining the buzz. Worse, Qinmu couldn’t fathom why Qingyu wasn’t full yet.

"Hmm, seeing how miserable you are, I won’t push you," Qingyu said perkily.

Qinmu sighed in relief, clutching her stomach. She’d eaten so much her chest binder felt painfully tight. She keenly sensed the benefit of revealing her true identity soon—no more of this unbearably constricting cloth.

"Sister, can I skip it? I need to rest somewhere," HuiXiang pleaded, her expression strained.

Qingyu eyed her two unreliable sisters helplessly. She’d barely eaten, yet they could barely walk. "Find a nearby café to sit. I’ll pick you up later." She sent them off this way. They left briskly, like pardoned prisoners, hurrying from Qingyu’s spot.

Qingyu watched their backs suspiciously. "These girls probably just don’t want to shop with me." With a hint of melancholy, she tucked her phone away and headed toward the bustling downtown.

------------------CAFE

"Well, Sister, are you okay? Let’s just order two coffees," HuiXiang said, flipping the menu repeatedly. Nothing else appealed to her.

Qinmu slumped in her seat, stammering, "You decide... I don’t care anymore..."

HuiXiang ordered two lattes from the waiter, then her gaze returned to Qinmu. "So, Sister, did you enjoy tonight?" She almost laughed, recalling Qinmu’s pained face as Qingyu piled food onto her plate.

Qinmu was gloomy. She hadn’t wanted to be discovered, but her older sister refused to understand—even getting angry. Now her stomach ached from overload and constant bloating. Worse, Qi Yao seemed to believe her on the surface but still doubted her inside. If she ever slipped up, he wouldn’t let her off easily.

"Enjoyable? Pure torture. Sister Qingyu’s such a handful—who knew she was this lively? She says and does whatever she wants. I feel wrecked," Qinmu complained, still uneasy.

"It’s fine. This was her first big gathering since returning to China. She’s excited. Cut her slack—she’s busy and needs to unwind," HuiXiang said, defending Qingyu while comforting Qinmu.

"Forget it. I won’t mention her again. Just keep classmates away from her." Qinmu was still jittery. Qingyu’s last words stunned her—changing her gender on official IDs. It seemed Qingyu was dead set on erasing the "little brother" title forever.

"What’s your plan? Honestly, Sister Qingyu has a point. Come summer, will you still wear that chest binder? People will spot you’re a girl instantly," HuiXiang said seriously, no joke in her eyes. She was clearly siding with Qingyu.

Qinmu wasn’t sure. She’d wanted to hide as long as possible, but with the messy harem rumors swirling, she was wavering. Admitting she was a girl might silence some gossip. Yet revealing it would bring big problems—starting with why she was ever a boy. She couldn’t claim she’d had surgery...

"Sister, I urge you to come out. It’s good for you. As a girl, you won’t wear boys’ clothes or use men’s restrooms. No more forced joking and buddy-ups with boys. Most importantly, everyone will know the girls around you are just best friends—not a secret harem," HuiXiang analyzed earnestly.

"But... I’m not ready. Forget worst-case scenarios—I can’t even face Qi Yao. We’ve been buddies for six years. Suddenly becoming siblings? What a mess." Qinmu couldn’t imagine interacting with boys like Qi Yao as a girl.

"Sister, I’ve called you Sister for so long. You must know I see you as fully a girl now. Some hurdles must be crossed. If not in one leap, then step by step. In your youth, I want you free of shackles. Trust your judgment—some things you face now or later."

"So, come out?" Qinmu had survived over half a month at Jintang, never expecting this cruel end.

"Find the perfect reason—a girl who disguised herself as a boy to enroll. Most will believe it."

"But—" Qinmu still hesitated.

"No buts. Even if not in December, you must by May or June next year. Secrets can’t stay hidden forever." HuiXiang’s voice grew passionate. She truly wanted Qinmu to live as her real sister.

"Then what?" Qinmu was lost, eyes pleading with HuiXiang.

"Tomorrow morning, I’ll go to your class and smooth things over. Leave the rest to Sister Qingyu—she’s been waiting for this."

"You two didn’t plan this, did you?" Qinmu felt set up.

HuiXiang chuckled slyly. "How could that be, Sister? You’re too suspicious."