Li Mo, still in her school uniform, returned to campus after a two-month absence.

Had she not recovered quickly—and with senior year’s crunch looming—her mom might’ve kept her home for months and switched schools.

Transferring had crossed her mind too, but Li Mo refused. She insisted on finishing her final year as Li Mo.

Her mom initially protested: "What kind of girl spends all day with a bunch of rowdy boys?"

Li Mo threw a tantrum, locking herself in her room all night. Only her godmother’s intervention swayed her mother.

Tang Yunmeng had merely whispered a few words into her mom’s ear. The woman’s face twisted into a spectacular, grotesque expression before she reluctantly agreed.

Li Mo never learned what was said.

*At least Tang Yunmeng did one decent thing.*

"Yo, Mo-ge’s back?"

Barely two minutes in her seat, her buddies spotted her returning from the restroom before class.

"Mm."

Pathetic, really.

After over two years of high school, the only ones greeting her post-recovery were these same deadbeats she’d idled away days with.

*This tragic social life.*

"Hold up…" One guy squinted. "Mo-ge, did hospital food spoil you? You look… softer somehow."

"Fuck off, Shen Yi! You piece of shit!"

The burly creep’s jab hit a nerve. Li Mo slapped away his groping hand before she could stop herself.

"Holy shit—your voice got higher too? And your hair… Wait, did you get a sex change?!"

*Voice?*

Right. Without an Adam’s apple, her voice was naturally higher-pitched. She’d always forced it deeper. Months of laxness had nearly blown her cover.

"Still recovering. Hair’s just lazy. I’ll braid it later—looks cool anyway."

She shot them a glare, realizing she’d need extreme caution if she wanted to keep her secret. Things couldn’t stay as they were.

Their loud chatter drew curious glances, but no real fuss. To classmates, Li Mo had always been that boyish-looking guy. Nothing new.

"If it weren’t so unrealistic, I’d swear you actually got surgery."

The bell rang. Since it was homeroom, the boys shuffled back to their seats.

"Damn jinxed mouth…"

To minimize disruptions, their seats were isolated in the back row. Li Mo’s muttered curse went unheard.

"Quiet down!"

Homeroom teacher Zhu stormed in, dumped a stack of papers on the lectern, and announced: "We have a transfer student joining us for senior year due to his parents’ job relocation. Welcome him."

*Clap… clap… clap…*

Half-hearted applause filled the room. It didn’t faze the boy stepping onto the podium.

"Hello everyone. I’m Tang Zhe."

*Who?*

Li Mo nearly dropped her phone. She snapped her head up.

…His aura felt different.

Taller. Sharper features. Gone was the scruffy kid she remembered—he’d cleaned up well. She hadn’t recognized him at first.

But those eyes… unmistakably her childhood friend.

*Bullshit!* No wonder her mom and Tang Yunmeng had those weird smirks this morning.

"Sit there. No other seats free. We’ll reshuffle after monthly exams."

Ms. Zhu pointed to the empty desk beside Li Mo.

Tang Zhe nodded, backpack slung over his shoulder, and walked over. Oblivious, the teacher sat down, barked "Self-study," and began grading papers.

Li Mo sat completely frozen.

"Hey, *mei mei*," Tang Zhe grinned, sliding into his seat. "I’m Tang Zhe. What’s your name? Let’s get along."

*Snort—*

The student ahead choked back a laugh. A glare from Ms. Zhu silenced him instantly.

"You’re the *mei mei*…" Li Mo hissed.

"Huh?"

Tang Zhe blinked. He’d just greeted his new seatmate, but her face flushed crimson with suppressed rage. Her pen trembled in a white-knuckled grip, inches from stabbing him.

"S-sorry!"

*Apologize first.* Her mom’s temper had scarred her—women could be irrational. Starting off on the wrong foot with a stranger was the last thing he needed.

He shut up. They endured the rest of class in suffocating silence.

"Hey, bro."

The second the bell rang, Tang Zhe turned to the guy across the aisle. "Is there a Li Mo in this class? Haven’t seen him."

"Li Mo?"

"Yeah."

Confused, the boy rocked his chair back. He leaned past Tang Zhe toward Li Mo, who was burying her head like an ostrich. "Mo-ge! Says he’s your childhood friend. Hilarious!"

"Holy shit?!"

Tang Zhe whipped around. Li Mo finally looked up, eyes blazing.

"Holy crap—you *are* Li Mo!"

The changes were drastic, but those familiar eyes…

His brain short-circuited:

"How’d you turn into a girl?!"

"…Go die."

A thick English dictionary rose like a guillotine.

*THWACK!*