At that moment, Xu Wanrou’s mouth formed a perfect ‘O’, as if she’d witnessed something utterly unbelievable. She bit her lip lightly and stood three meters away from me. "Who knows if that was just a magic trick? I need to test it myself to believe it. Go on—attack me with your inner energy!"
"Jie-jie, I’m afraid I might hurt you…"
"Don’t worry. I’ve trained in taekwondo. I’m not that fragile. Come on!"
Seeing this beautiful older sister wouldn’t take no for an answer, I had no choice but to cast Wind Blade again. I deliberately weakened the spell with my clumsy mana control, aiming only for her shoulder. Still, Xu Wanrou staggered back several steps before slamming into the wall. Tears welled in her eyes as she clutched her tender shoulder. Being a normal high school boy, I rushed over to support her. "I’m so sorry, Wanqing jie-jie! Are you okay?"
"I’m fine…" Xu Wanqing didn’t pull away from my arm. Her gaze shifted, suddenly filled with awe. "I never thought China’s inner energy arts were real. Truly, the greatest masters hide among ordinary people…"
As I helped her up, my arm accidentally brushed against the soft swell of her chest. The startlingly plush sensation made my heart skip a beat. My cheeks flushed slightly. I cleared my throat to hide my fluster. "Honestly, it’s no wonder you doubted me. So many frauds have been scamming people under the banner of ‘ancient martial arts’ lately. Real inheritors like us stay low-key—we’d never recruit disciples publicly or give TV interviews!"
Having just experienced that miraculous "inner energy" firsthand, Xu Wanqing believed every word. She gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Guess I really was a frog at the bottom of a well. Thought I knew so much, unaware of the vast sky beyond."
"It’s okay. I wouldn’t have believed it either…" *Though honestly, I still don’t buy this inner energy stuff.*
"A legendary martial arts master… who’s actually a beautiful high school girl? This feels straight out of a manga!" Xu Wanqing’s eyes softened as she studied me. "Dressing as a boy at school has its perks too. At least you won’t be swarmed by hormone-crazed monkeys."
I sensed these sisters held a dim view of men. Curious, I probed gently, "Um… Wanqing jie-jie, you’re so pretty. Why not find a good boyfriend? If you had one, that taekwondo coach wouldn’t dare bother you."
Her expression darkened instantly. "A boyfriend? Hmph! Listen, Tongtong—girls like us are just premium prey in men’s eyes. They plot day and night to sweet-talk us into bed, abuse us, then discard us for fresh targets."
"Uh… it’s not that extreme! Love is natural. Girls need affection too!" I defended my gender half-heartedly.
Xu Wanqing just shook her head. "Different upbringings, different views. No point arguing. Oh! You’re a senior too, right? Decided on a university yet?"
"I’d love to attend East Sea University—it’s where my parents met. But with my grades? Probably not. I’ll aim for something realistic later, like East Sea Geological University."
My honest reply made her frown slightly. "You still have a whole year of senior year. Isn’t it too early to give up? Hey—East Sea University isn’t far from here. I’m a student there. How about I give you a campus tour? Get familiar with your future alma mater?"
Frankly, college campuses bored me—just oversized high schools. But my eyes drifted to Xu Wanqing’s curves and the alluring black stockings beneath her skirt. Walking beside such a stunning older sister? That’d be… thrilling. Besides, my daily routine of homework was suffocating. A little fresh air sounded perfect.
Before leaving the restaurant, I reached for my Skin Mask and glasses. Xu Wanqing stopped me. "Tongtong, Wanrou told me your situation. But you’re a girl—you must be exhausted wearing this ugly mask and those blurry glasses all the time."
*Ugly mask… mask… mask…*
Unaware her words had shattered a teenage boy’s soul, she continued, "We’re off-campus now. No one will recognize you without the disguise. Let’s buy you new clothes nearby. Even if classmates see you, they’ll just think you’re a random pretty girl!"
*Wait—more cross-dressing? No way!* I knew my face was pretty, but biologically, I was male. Curiosity aside, I resisted the idea. Yet Xu Wanqing was stubborn. After paying the bill, she dragged me to a nearby boutique, thrusting a pale pink knee-length chiffon dress into my hands. "My fashion sense never fails. Try it on!"
The cramped fitting room held only a stool and a mirror. I clutched the flimsy fabric, heart pounding. Refusing meant losing this chance to get closer to her…
"Tongtong? Still not ready?" Her voice pressed from outside.
*Fine. It’s just fabric. No one I know will see me. What’s there to fear?*
I folded my old clothes into my backpack, trembling as I slipped into the dress. Shy yet curious, I faced the mirror.
A serene, delicate face. Slightly messy chin-length hair. Slender, pale legs. The thin waistband accentuated my narrow waist. Clever pleats disguised my flat chest. The girl in the mirror radiated quiet grace—a true Yamato Nadeshiko. My heart skipped a beat. *I’d marry this delicate girl in a heartbeat… cherish her… have a dozen kids with her…*
*Wait—that girl was me!* Since when did I get this narcissistic?!
Xu Wanqing’s impatient knocks forced me out. Her eyes lit up immediately. She circled me, beaming. "Told you! Your flat-chested frame is perfect for pure, cute dresses. Want to try more? This shop specializes in ladylike styles—just your vibe!"
"Uh… this one’s great. I’ll take it." Partly to avoid hassle, partly because the mirror’s reflection had stunned me.
At checkout, I nearly choked—the flimsy dress cost over $150, a month’s allowance! But Xu Wanqing insisted on paying, calling it thanks for last Saturday’s help. She even warned me to hide it from my parents.
Next, she dragged me to a shoe store for strappy wedge sandals. Finally, we hailed a taxi. About fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the gates of East Sea University.
