12.7 Monday

“Jie-jie, why are you still holding that chest binder? Give it to me. This pink bra is what you should be wearing.” HuiXiang had been monitoring Qinmu’s dressing since dawn, refusing to let her touch any male clothing again.

“Alright, alright, I get it. But… I can’t change with you watching,” Qinmu complained, lowering the T-shirt she’d halfway pulled off. She couldn’t stand her sister blatantly staring while she changed.

“No. I must ensure you fully embrace being a girl. No more living like a boy.” HuiXiang’s stern, unyielding expression gave Qinmu a headache. Just how desperately did she want Qinmu to become a “real girl” overnight?

Qinmu clipped the pink hairpin HuiXiang handed her into her hair, changed into the well-fitting red girls’ uniform, and even swapped her shoes for feminine ones in the same size. Her bag, her voice—everything was adjusted to fit a girl’s mold.

Fully transformed, Qinmu and HuiXiang stepped into a brand-new day—their first as twin sisters heading to school together.

On the long slope to school, HuiXiang’s classmates greeted her politely (proof of her popularity), then froze in shock at the sudden appearance of another “HuiXiang.” Who was this? Only HuiXiang’s smooth explanation—that this was her rumored twin sister—kept their surprise from spiraling.

“See, Jie-jie? This suits you best. I’ve dreamed of this for so long—sisters walking to school together. It’s perfect!” HuiXiang’s radiant smile warmed like a winter sunrise, full of tender care.

“As you wish. I’ve shed all my old chains and am stepping into your world. I just hope I don’t stand out too much,” Qinmu sighed. Though freed physically after discarding her male identity, her heart still felt distant from true girlhood. She couldn’t yet move freely in women-only spaces. But now, she gathered her strength, determined to become a real girl.

“Take it slow. Everything will be fine,” HuiXiang encouraged, boosting her spirits.

“I hope so. I want the future to feel bright and clear,” Qinmu replied, her face alight with longing.

And so, her first day living as a girl began!

---

**Class 13, Grade 11**

From the moment Qinmu neared the classroom, boys’ gazes in the hallway locked onto the new class beauty. Her curvaceous figure, sky-blue shoulder-length hair, the eye-catching pink sakura hairpin, and her lightly made-up, refreshingly pretty face—new class beauty, *sugoi*!

She avoided the usual back entrance. After all, she no longer belonged to the boys’ circle. Interacting with them felt risky now, without her old boldness.

Entering through the front door, she met girls’ eyes filled with regret and jealousy. The chilly atmosphere made Qinmu shiver. Their cold stares—so unlike their past excited cheers—were punishment for her fully revealed identity. She’d shattered some girls’ dreams and earned their resentment.

Under the barrage of hostile, intimidating glares, Qinmu hurried to her seat. Only when the classroom’s focus faded and eyes turned away did she exhale in relief.

“You look amazing. Truly worthy of being class beauty,” Yue Yang complimented warmly, gently tucking a windblown strand of Qinmu’s hair behind her ear—except for that one stubborn sky-blue cowlick.

“I’m no class beauty! I hate being stared at like this. It’s embarrassing,” Qinmu muttered. She still wasn’t used to the boys’ stares—like prey watched by wolves. And the girls’ jealous, unfriendly glances hurt most. They used to adore her.

“Give it time. People will stop staring eventually. Just stay calm,” Yue Yang soothed, watching the class’s reactions.

“Yeah… I’ll adjust,” Qinmu mumbled.

Yufei Han rushed to Qinmu’s desk the moment she entered, not even dropping her bag. “Wow, *beauty*, you really surprised me! Admitting it so fast? Did a door slam on your head?” she teased.

Qinmu bristled at her arrogant tone. “I’m perfectly fine. And I see nothing wrong with going public.”

“Tsk. What a waste. If I’d known earlier, I could’ve blackmailed you a few times. Now you’ve got no weaknesses left for me to exploit. Ugh, so annoying.” Yufei Han sighed dramatically. Her only leverage was gone. Qinmu could do whatever she wanted now, untouchable.

“Too bad for you. Hahaha! What can you even do to me now?” Qinmu laughed defiantly. After enduring Yufei’s tyranny for so long, freedom tasted sweet. It was time to knock this bully down a peg.

But Yufei didn’t falter. A sly grin spread across her face. “Are you *sure* you’ve got no secrets left in my hands?”

Qinmu paled. *What hidden shame could she still have? No way…*

“Photos, Qinmu. Your *full set* of gorgeous shots~” Yufei announced loudly, hands on hips, spreading the nosebleed-inducing news to nearby boys.

Boys instantly crowded around. “Han, how much? I’ll buy them!” “Me too! Sell me a copy!” “Are they spicy? I’ll take a ‘Class Beauty Limited Edition’!”

*Photos?* Qinmu couldn’t recall any photos being taken. That time at her house? Impossible—Yufei hadn’t even held a camera.

“You’re bluffing. I don’t believe you have any photos,” Qinmu shot back, trying to sound confident.

“Oh, my room has hidden cameras. Full surveillance access, all mine. Photos? Videos? I deleted them out of kindness. Aren’t I generous~?” Yufei smirked.

Qinmu gnashed her teeth. Such underhanded tricks were beyond shameless. Calling her a demon had been an understatement—she was a *pervert*. But unsure if the threat was real, Qinmu had no choice. To stop those photos from being sold, she’d have to submit again. Bitterly, she swallowed her pride.

“Well? Still planning to defy me, Qinmu?” Yufei relished tormenting her. (Her room had no cameras—this was just a trick to keep Qinmu obedient.)

“You’re despicable! …Fine. I’ll listen to you,” Qinmu conceded glumly.

“There we go~ I’ll head back now. See you after class~” Yufei turned, flaunting her victory.

The boys stared blankly. “Are the photos still for sale?” “I’ll pay double! Three thousand!”

Yufei laughed openly. “Even if I had them, I’d never sell to you losers. Give up.”

---

**Lunch Break**

Qi Yao hesitantly approached Qinmu’s desk. After holding it in all morning, his mind was a mess. He needed answers.

“What’s wrong? Spit it out. Why so hesitant?” Qinmu found his uncharacteristic shyness odd.

Qi Yao stared at that familiar face—now with a fuller chest, a softer voice, somehow even more captivating than HuiXiang. *How could she be a girl? We were brothers!* Had his memories lied to him?

“Qinmu… were you always a girl?” Qi Yao’s eyes widened as he re-examined her in the red stand-collar uniform. He couldn’t reconcile this girl with the boy he knew.

“No. I *was* a boy. An accident turned me into a girl. That’s what’s been bothering you all morning, right?” Qinmu was blunt. She’d seen his doubts but refused unnecessary explanations. Truth or lies didn’t matter now.

“Turned…? That’s insane! When did this happen? Why didn’t I notice?” Qi Yao’s memories made sense now—but the sudden transformation was unbelievable.

“Right before Sports Day. And the ‘HuiXiang’ you met that day? That was me.”

“No wonder she was so fierce! It *was* you. I’m such an idiot…” Qi Yao sighed. “But why hide it? You could’ve told me. I wouldn’t have blabbed. We’re brothers!”

“*Because* I don’t trust you. What if you used my secret to do something indecent? You’re a playboy—the #1 enemy of girls.” Qinmu laid bare his nature, offering no mercy. She knew him too well.

“Impossible! You’re my brother! I’d never do anything shameless to you!”

“See? You just said ‘shameless’ yourself. Not trusting you was the right call.”

“…Fine. But now that you’re a girl… what about us…?”

Qi Yao didn’t finish. Qinmu cut him off sharply.

“No chance!”

She thought he meant to confess.

“Huh? I meant—are we still brothers? I don’t want to lose a friend of so many years just because you’re a girl. I’d never cross the line with you. Trust me.” Qi Yao’s voice was earnest. Keeping Qinmu as a friend mattered most now.

“Oh. Of course. Friendship doesn’t vanish because of gender or change. We’re still friends~” Qinmu smiled.

In Qi Yao’s eyes, her gaze grew brighter, her voice sweeter, her beauty transcendent—like a goddess of kindness.

“Qinmu… you’d still be my friend? I’m so moved!”

“Why wouldn’t I? Boys and girls can be friends. It’s normal,” Qinmu said, puzzled by his tears.

“No… girls I know are either girlfriends or exes. Real friends? Rare. That’s why I’m emotional…”

“DIE!!” Qinmu roared. The mention of his girlfriends triggered her.

A swift kick. A scream. The dramatic morning ended.