"Holy crap! Who’s that?"

"Must be Li Mo."

Liu Shishi, her bestie Zhang Wanting, and Liu Jia arrived at their class’s spectator zone. From afar, they spotted a statue-like figure standing rigidly. Liu Shishi jumped slightly.

But Zhang Wanting’s sharp eyes recognized Li Mo first.

The trio crept closer silently—though even normal footsteps wouldn’t have roused Li Mo now. Up close, they confirmed it was her. Her expression made them wonder…

*Only a girl heartbroken over love would look like this.*

"What’s wrong with him?"

"Since when’s his uniform this huge?"

"So cute…"

A strange remark slipped into their whispers. Zhang Wanting and Liu Jia instantly turned, shooting Liu Shishi suspicious looks.

"You’ve got a crush on him?"

"No way—you like this type? I couldn’t. Feels like dating my sister."

"Heh. Pretend I said nothing."

Caught with her perverted thoughts exposed, Liu Shishi backpedaled fast: "I just meant she’s cute-looking! Nothing else! Don’t overthink it!"

"…Actually…" Zhang Wanting frowned, feeling her pride in her own looks quietly defeated. *Where exactly does she lose to her?*

"Holy shit, guys—she’s crying!" Liu Jia suddenly slapped her friends’ arms like she’d seen a ghost. They looked. Sure enough, tears glistened at Li Mo’s eyes.

"Breakup?"

"Seriously though—no offense—but would any girl even *like* Li Mo’s type?"

"Wow… rude. But true. Wait—that oversized uniform’s gotta be Tang Zhe’s. Only he wears XXL in our class."

"Holy shit! Could it be—"

"Shut up! Don’t go there! But… they *are* childhood friends. And honestly? Their ship is kinda tasty."

"You’re worse than me!"

"…"

Truth was, Zhang Wanting and Liu Jia barely knew Li Mo. Two years in, they still avoided the "delinquent." Liu Shishi wasn’t much closer—except she knew Li Mo’s secret. Watching her now, she stayed quiet while the other two gossiped.

*Though… my thoughts aren’t so different.*

"Hey. You okay?" Ignoring the chatter, Liu Shishi flashed a playful grin and waved a hand before Li Mo’s dazed eyes.

"Liu Shishi? What’re you doing?" Startled, Li Mo snapped back. Seeing Liu Shishi’s smile inches away, she shrank back warily—but ignored the tear still clinging to her lashes.

"Hmph. Wipe that." Liu Shishi nodded at her cheek. Li Mo only then realized she’d been crying. She frantically wiped them away. Meanwhile, Liu Jia and Zhang Wanting approached, shooting her knowing smiles before grabbing props from the front row.

*This feels like a terrible misunderstanding…* Li Mo’s eye twitched. Zhang Wanting might keep quiet, but Liu Jia was a total blabbermouth. If she spread rumors, disaster would follow.

"Go back first. Tell Ms. Zhu I’ll return before the event starts." Before Li Mo could fix this, Liu Shishi shooed the pair away—whispering something in Zhang Wanting’s ear as they left.

"Alright then, cute Mo-Mo." Liu Shishi plopped beside her. When Li Mo immediately scooted away, she sighed. "Relax. I’m not a demon. So? What’s wrong? Boy trouble? Or did someone bully you?"

"Nobody bullied me. You’re imagining things."

"I see…" Liu Shishi’s eyes glinted. "Was it Shen Yi’s gang?"

"No."

"Another class?"

"Nothing’s wrong, I told you!"

"Hoo~" Liu Shishi hummed meaningfully, eyeing Tang Zhe’s oversized uniform on her. "Could it be… Tang Zhe?"

"Not him! Who does he think he is? Why would I care?!"

"Ho-ho~ Knew it. You tsundere girls are so easy to hook. Adorably naive."

"I said it’s not him! We’re childhood buddies! I bully *him*, not the other way! If he ever messed with me, I’d—"

"You’d what?"

"—kick his ass."

*…Though I might lose.*

"Pfft— You’re *so* cute. How did I never notice before? Hahaha—"

*What’s so funny…* Li Mo scowled. Liu Shishi’s mind worked too fast; she couldn’t keep up in verbal sparring.

"Come on, just tell me. I won’t spill. Might even help. Don’t doubt me—I’m actually great at relationship stuff."

"…It’s not about feelings. I could never like him."

The topic looped back. Li Mo deflated.

But the anxiety swirling in her chest screamed to be heard.

Liu Shishi wasn’t a gossip. She kept secrets. Li Mo knew that.

And the trace of seriousness beneath her smile made the urge to confess even stronger.

"…Fine. But don’t tell anyone. Or use this against me."

"I know what’s off-limits for jokes." Liu Shishi turned solemn. Li Mo exhaled—dumping every pent-up worry in one breath.

…

…

"So… you’re scared Tang Zhe will pull away if he finds out you’re a girl?" Liu Shishi summarized.

*Basically.*

She figured any guy would be shocked learning his childhood friend was female.

As for pulling away…

*Probably not after all these years. But distance? Definitely.*

(Though Li Mo had conveniently skipped the part about *becoming* a girl midway.)

"Yeah."

"Ah… some distance is inevitable…"

"…"

Li Mo slumped lower.

*So it’s true. Maybe I should just make him forget.*

"Boys and girls *are* different. If he kept slinging arms after knowing, I’d question his character… But! He won’t ditch you. Years of friendship? Might even spark something new, right?"

Seeing Li Mo’s panic spike, Liu Shishi tried redirecting—only to backfire spectacularly. Li Mo shot her a look that could erase memories.

"Uh… how’d he even suspect?"

"He barged into my room. Saw… some personal stuff… on my bed."

"He didn’t touch anything? Didn’t… sniff them or anything gross?"

"Of course not! He’s not like that!"

*…And she’s already defending him. Classic tsundere.*

*No wonder these girls lose at love.*

Still…

"Decent character, then…"

"Is ‘not sniffing underwear’ your gold standard for decency?"

"Here’s the plan!" Liu Shishi slapped her thigh, ignoring the glare. "Let me test him for you."