"Hey, no need to be so mad, right?"

Li Mo hadn’t spared Tang Zhe a single glance all the way until school ended. She acted like they’d never met, leaving Tang Zhe feeling wronged. Sure, it was his fault—but back then, she’d just punch him once and forget about it.

*Since when did he get such a girly temper…*

Though… Li Mo’s face really was stunning.

If you didn’t know better, you’d mistake him for a girl at first glance.

But look lower—no chest, no hips. For a girl his age, that figure was absurdly flat. Pathetically flat.

"What’re you staring at?!"

Sensing the gaze beside her, Li Mo snapped her head up, eyes sharp with warning.

"N-nothing."

Who’d dare admit he was checking out his body? One wrong word, and he’d get another bat to the head.

"Didn’t know you were into peeping at guys. Pervert."

*You knew that already?!*

Ignoring Tang Zhe’s face flushing purple and green, Li Mo slung her backpack over her shoulder and turned to leave.

"Wait up!"

"Walk yourself home!"

Tang Zhe was still packing his bag, but she didn’t care. She’d planned to hit the bathroom with her buddies first.

"Yo, Brother Mo’s here! Done catching up with your sworn brother already?"

The moment she stepped into the restroom, thick smoke and alcohol hit her nose. Li Mo involuntarily wrinkled her brow—three months without cigarettes, and the stench felt strangely harsh. Unfamiliar.

"Catching up? I don’t know him."

She reached for a cigarette.

"Don’t bullshit us. By now, you two should’ve been brawling."

Shen Yi tossed his cigarette to the floor and handed her his lighter. "Didn’t you say you had a childhood friend?"

*Click.*

"I said I don’t know him. Drop it. Or I’ll burn this butt on your junk."

Li Mo lit up—but the first drag sent her into a coughing fit.

"Rough when you haven’t smoked in months."

"Annoying."

She angrily flicked the cigarette away. Then, glancing down, she froze.

Shen Yi was unzipping his pants.

*Wait—WAIT!*

Something felt off.

She’d been so caught up in chatting, she hadn’t noticed at first. But now it hit her.

She was… technically a girl now.

Forget whether entering a boys’ restroom was normal—watching guys pee was definitely not.

"STOP!!!"

Her shout was explosive. Shen Yi jolted, hands jerking back mid-motion. "What the hell?! I almost pissed my pants!"

"N-nothing! Just remembered something urgent. You… you go ahead. Bye!"

Li Mo bolted out without looking back, narrowly avoiding disaster.

Only confusion lingered behind.

"Did he just…"

One of Shen Yi’s buddies exhaled smoke, thoughtful. "His face looked red."

"Damn. Did getting sick flip his sexuality too?"

"Nah, can’t be."

The chatter grew louder.

"Sounded like a girl just now."

"Shut up—I really almost pissed myself."

Shen Yi stayed silent. He just stared down at his crotch and muttered one last line:

"…………"

The room fell dead quiet.

………………

………………

"Bathrooms are gonna be a nightmare… I’ll get exposed sooner or later…"

Li Mo marched straight out of school, muttering about the mess. Blasting into boys’ restrooms wasn’t exactly low-key. Her mom had warned her about this—among other things she’d completely forgotten.

But walking into girls’ restrooms? Impossible.

"Hey. Earth to Li Mo?"

"???"

A familiar-yet-strange voice startled her. She looked up—Tang Zhe was walking beside her.

"What do you want?"

Wary.

"Walk home together? Forgot we live next door?"

"…………Fine. Don’t make it a habit."

*Tch.*

Right. Their moms were thick as thieves. So thick, their houses shared a wall.

At this rate, her secret would slip to Tang Zhe anyway—thanks to their moms’ meddling.

Truth be told…

She stole a glance at the boy beside her.

Without realizing it, she now had to look up at his face. He was a full head taller.

The gender correction surgery hadn’t changed her height. Even without the illness…

She’d been ordinary—girlish face, terrible temper, short. He was tall, handsome, sunny. Worlds apart.

He’d changed too. Three years ago, he’d been a scruffy troublemaker her height. This easygoing banter clashed with his current sharp looks. He should’ve been the cold, aloof type. Pity he was still an idiot.

*…Though I guess I’m worse. I even switched genders.*

"No need to be so mad. Let me treat you to dinner this weekend? Chill, bro. We haven’t seen each other in years—we should feast and catch up."

Tang Zhe slung an arm over Li Mo’s shoulders. "Seriously, man. Three years apart shouldn’t cool us down. Finding a solid-as-hell brother in this life? That’s rare."

"…………"

So awkward.

She wanted to shove him away—but his earnestness made her hesitate. He was right. Sworn brothers didn’t just drift apart…

"Holy shit."

Tang Zhe suddenly sniffed the air near her, eyes widening like he’d uncovered treasure. "Li Mo—you’re wearing perfume?! Why do you smell like flowers?!"

"Ew—"

The words triggered it. Li Mo’s neck prickled with goosebumps. Her mind hadn’t accepted her new body yet. This felt like… being gay. Every nerve revolted.

*Thwack!*

The only cure? A stomp—hard.

"OW! WHAT THE HELL, LI MO?!"

Tang Zhe’s face twisted purple. He crouched, clutching his foot, roaring at the culprit.

But the culprit was already gone—bolted like a rabbit.

*That idiot’s lost his damn mind. Just wait till I get him home.*