"Why the sudden question?"

Tang Zhe never expected Li Mo—who usually hated being called girly—to ask this himself.

But seeing the seriousness in his eyes, Tang Zhe dropped the jokes. "I actually thought about this when I first transferred here. With your looks and voice? Anyone who doesn’t know you would assume you’re a girl. No guessing needed."

"I’m asking about *you*…"

Li Mo’s voice tightened. Impatience flickered—not anger, just a desperate need to cut to the chase. *Just spit it out, man.*

"Brutal honesty time: your personality’s kinda girly too. No idea if Auntie Wang raised you this way on purpose or what…"

As he spoke, Tang Zhe’s gaze swept over Li Mo’s outfit. Li Mo flushed, shrinking back slightly.

Thankfully, the darkness hid her blush. Tang Zhe only worried his stare had creeped him out.

"So if you *were* a girl? Yeah, I’d need time to adjust. Our whole dynamic would change."

Li Mo watched Tang Zhe’s earnest face. His answer left her torn—relieved yet uneasy.

"Unless you’d be cool with casual physical contact as a girl… otherwise, buddy, I’ll just stay your childhood friend."

But his seriousness lasted all of two seconds. Grinning lecherously, he slung an arm over Li Mo’s shoulders. "Though honestly? Having a pretty childhood friend like you’d boost my street cred."

"*Pretty*…?"

*Shit. I fucked up.*

Li Mo’s voice dropped an octave. Tang Zhe’s blood ran cold—he’d gotten carried away. *He’s gonna hit me.*

He yanked his arm back, bracing for impact.

But Li Mo didn’t move. Head bowed, face shadowed. No fists. No reaction at all.

*Weird. What’s gotten into him?*

"Whatever. Staying bros is better anyway, right?"

Just as Tang Zhe leaned down to check his expression, Li Mo snapped her head up, smiling. She slapped his back—*thwack, thwack*—hard enough to echo off his broad shoulders.

It didn’t hurt. But the force sent a shiver down his spine, blinding him to the faint flush in her eyes.

"Like hell I’d be your childhood friend. Bet what you’ve got down there’s bigger than mine."

"Shut up."

A kick silenced Tang Zhe. Li Mo fell quiet.

*Yeah. Bros are better.*

His rambling had one clear takeaway: if he knew she was a girl, their easy closeness would vanish. Gender barriers. Awkwardness. Drifting apart… *Ugh.*

She’d already lost that ease with Shen Yi’s crew—guys she knew were bad news. But Tang Zhe? Her oldest friend. She couldn’t lose him too, even after pushing him away at their reunion.

And if he found out she’d *become* a girl? Disaster.

"Mo Mo!"

"Mom."

Auntie Wang rushed over. She’d circled the neighborhood searching after finding the house empty—only to discover Li Mo had taken the scenic route home.

"Where were you?! We were frantic! Your grandpa nearly collapsed!"

"S-sorry…"

*Ugh. Caused trouble again.*

"Zhe, thank you! If you hadn’t found this brat—this *boy*—he’d be sleeping on a park bench tonight."

"No problem. Ran into him by chance."

The trio headed upstairs. Auntie Wang gushed gratitude the whole way, insisting Tang Zhe come for lunch tomorrow as thanks.

"We’ll talk stage stuff tomorrow. Too late tonight."

Before parting, Tang Zhe nudged Li Mo about the performance, shooting a meaningful glance.

*Log back in.*

But that look stirred old memories.

"O-okay…"

Li Mo avoided his eyes, mumbled agreement, and bolted inside.

"What’d he say? You look…"

Auntie Wang’s gossipy radar pinged instantly. Her daughter’s flushed cheeks screamed *shyness*.

"Are you *blushing*?"

"Blushing?! I’m *pissed*! He called me *pretty*!"

Li Mo flared like a startled cat, shouting before slamming her bedroom door.

"*He thinks I’m a guy!*"

"So what? Just tell him!"

Auntie Wang’s shout hit a closed door. Only then did she remember the urgent task:

"Call your grandpa on video to apologize!"

"*Fine!*"

Li Mo stomped her foot but didn’t move. Instead, she face-planted onto her bed, burying her head under a pillow like an ostrich fleeing reality.

*When Tang Zhe called me pretty…*

*…I actually felt happy. My heart raced.*

A totally new feeling—but undeniably real.

*This is wrong. He’s my brother!*

Unbeknownst to her, Tang Zhe sat frozen next door.

He hadn’t shown it, but something felt… off. About his feelings for Li Mo.

*Bro mode activated*, he told himself. *Of course I’d comfort him on that bench. Totally normal.*

But that pang in his chest when he saw Li Mo sitting alone? That was *pity*.

The feeling had faded during their chat. Now, replaying that moment, he faced the truth:

*He was into his cross-dressing childhood friend.*

"Tang Zhe, I’m heading out tomorrow, so—"

Tang Yunmeng paused in his doorway. Her son sat slumped at his desk, face drained of color.

"Mom… I think your son’s losing his mind."

"…What nonsense are you spouting now?"