The taxi dropped me off at my residential compound’s entrance. The kind-hearted driver even offered to call the police for me, but I politely declined. Honestly, walking barefoot felt so unnatural—luckily, my building was just a few steps away.
Back home, I immediately peeled off the dress and slipped into comfy men’s pajamas perfect for summer lounging. Sure, I looked stunning in women’s clothes, but after seventeen years of wearing men’s attire, adapting wasn’t that easy.
Especially in short skirts—the hem fluttered lightly, cool breezes sneaking in, giving me that embarrassing illusion of wearing only underwear. I’d constantly glance down to check. Sitting required legs tightly pressed together to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions. Just thinking about it was exhausting. Loose men’s clothes were pure bliss.
Next, I opened my backpack and tackled homework. Senior year assignments were always heavy; before, I’d finish near midnight, then skim web novels or play games before washing up and sleeping. Early next morning, I’d splash water on my face, rush to school, and grab steamed buns and soy milk for breakfast. That was my ordinary school life.
Strangely, my homework speed had skyrocketed these past days—especially for science. Worksheets that took an hour now wrapped up in forty-five minutes, with better accuracy too. My focus felt sharper. After mulling it over, this must be a Mage’s perk. I didn’t grasp the why, but it was a good thing.
Around 10:30 PM, homework done, I pulled otherworldly books from my spatial ring. When I teleported back, thinking I’d never return, I’d packed everything valuable from that cellar—seemingly precious magic materials, introductory texts on the other world and magic. I browsed them in spare time.
That world had many languages. My so-called master hailed from the Cerolos Empire, so most books were in Cerolian. Thankfully, Cerolian learning materials were included. By now, I could recognize the script at a basic level.
Come to think of it, that old man always spoke Chinese with me. Did he learn a whole new language just for his apprentice? If so, this bargain-bin master really cared. Should I set up a spirit tablet for him and burn paper money now and then?
Before sleep, satisfaction filled my chest. Well, another ordinary day. My life plan still seemed on track. Hopefully, it stayed that way…
The next noon, after class, I walked to the cafeteria with Leisurely and Hippo. A mischievous, pretty girl leaped in front, waving brightly. “Tongtong, join us for lunch?”
He Wei’s glare at me turned icy—the look of a traitor scheming to frame a loyal hero.
Luckily, Xu Wanrou barked a new order: “Grab three bubble teas from that shop we visited last time.”
“Yes, goddess!” He Wei yelped, jogging off excitedly.
At the cafeteria table, Xu Wanrou and Gu Yanting sat side by side; I faced them. Xu Wanrou eyed my tray piled with meat, surprised. “Tongtong, aren’t you scared of getting fat eating this much?”
“My family’s naturally slim. I actually want to gain weight,” I answered honestly. A bony guy wasn’t handsome—some meat helped.
Gu Yanting sized me up, nodding. “Wu Tong’s too skinny. He might weigh less than us.”
“Really? Girls should stay slim to look good and match clothes easily,” Xu Wanrou slipped up—again. I didn’t even bother coughing this time.
After lunch, students lingered chatting in small groups. Gu Yanting and Xu Wanrou had their own circle, but an unremarkable boy butted in. She grew visibly annoyed but, respecting Xu Wanrou, just excused herself back to class.
Xu Wanrou sighed, turning to me. “Tongtong, maybe tell Yanting your secret? She’ll keep wondering otherwise.”
“No…” One loose-lipped Xu Wanrou was dangerous enough. What if Gu Yanting was a gossip too?
“Fine, I get it—I’ll keep quiet! Oh! Big news: that creepy coach won’t bother my sister Wanqing anymore!”
“Huh? Really?”
“Mhm! Last night, he messaged her saying he’d found true love and couldn’t make her happy, blah blah. Total narcissist. But it’s all resolved!”
Phew. A happy ending. No more harassment for Wanqing. No martial arts duel for me.
Wait—something felt off. His “true love”… couldn’t be me?
I recalled last night’s humiliation: that creep chasing me publicly, making me lose my new shoes. If he fixated on me, peace was over…
Luckily, I always wore one-way glasses and my Skin Mask. The dojo wasn’t near school, and the city was huge. He’d never find my real identity.
Back in class, Xu Wanrou refused to part. She ruthlessly chased He Wei from his seat and chatted with me. Nearby boys shot me envious, resentful glares. They couldn’t fathom why this skinny, short, plain-looking nobody with average grades and zero talents had the class beauty’s favor.
Honestly, even I was confused. Sure, Xu Wanrou mistook me for a girl—but with so many girls around, why cling to me? Even as a stunning girl, pretty ones often faced same-sex rejection.
After thinking it over, she was probably fascinated by my “ancient martial arts inheritor” and “cross-dressing girl” identities. That’s why she befriended me—to dig deeper.
During the next lesson, Hippo’s stare grew eerily intense. If I recalled right, it mirrored a scheming wife about to poison her husband. Hopefully, I was overthinking it.
