The next day’s sports meet was one Li Mo wished she could erase from her memory forever. She’d become infamous across the entire senior year. After everyone learned the piano beauty from the arts festival was actually a boy in disguise, crowds had swarmed near her class’s spectator zone since dawn, pointing and whispering whenever they spotted her. To make things worse, their homeroom teacher had guarded them all day over their poor performance odds, leaving Li Mo feeling utterly ill at ease—even nauseous.
She’d hoped today would be better. But today… felt even worse.
“Take a shower, change clothes, and stick this on.”
Following Auntie Wang’s instructions, Li Mo checked the time. Logically, it did make sense.
“It’s a bit late this time, but still within normal range. Remember this date for the future. Don’t forget to prepare.”
After being bombarded with her mom’s chatter and instructions, Li Mo stumbled back to her room in the dead of night. She collapsed face-first onto fresh sheets her mom had changed while she showered, eyes closing to snatch a few more hours of sleep.
Her lower abdomen ached.
Sleep was impossible.
Who’d have thought Aunt Flo would ambush her at 3 a.m.? Already miserable, she’d thrown off the covers in the freezing cold, wailed like a banshee, and caught another chill. The most ridiculous—and stupid—part? In her panic, she’d initially rinsed with *cold water*…
She doubted it was *that* dramatic—probably psychological—but still…
Her stomach couldn’t take it.
Thankfully, she wasn’t the type who got crippling cramps. Lucky her. But this pain wasn’t ordinary tummy trouble. It was the kind that grated on your nerves. The kind that never let up.
She lay there, half-conscious, until her alarm blared. Groggily, she dragged herself upright and shuffled out.
“Aren’t you freezing???”
Her mom, prepping breakfast, froze at the sight. So did her dad, waiting hungrily at the table. And her cousin, fresh out of the bathroom.
“Get back in there and dress properly! Are you trying to defy winter itself?!”
Seeing Li Mo still dazed in the doorway, her Bengbu-born mom completely lost her composure. She yanked Li Mo back to her room.
“Wear thick layers today. Top and bottom.”
Li Mo sat obediently on her bed, watching her mom rummage through her closet. “Mom… I still have school today.”
“…Oh. Right.”
Snapping back to reality, her mom shoved the dress she’d pulled out back inside and grabbed thermal underwear instead.
“At least wear these thermals underneath. Non-negotiable. Girls are fragile during their period—you can’t push yourself like usual.”
“Yeah, yeah…”
Li Mo sighed. She was the type who wore the same jeans year-round. Thermals? No thanks. But since her mom meant well, she’d just wear them now and ditch them at school.
“And take these. Change them on time.”
A rectangular packet landed beside the thermals.
“…Okay.”
She stuffed it into her backpack. The thought of monthly visits from this uninvited guest gave her a headache.
After her mom left, Li Mo dragged herself to breakfast. She barely managed half a bowl of clear noodle soup.
“That’s all you’re eating?”
Her dad frowned, ignoring their usual strained dynamic. He noticed her dark under-eye circles and recalled his wife’s warning about their daughter’s “special time.” “You didn’t sleep well, did you? Stay home today.”
“No. I have a race.”
Li Mo stood weakly, grabbed her backpack, and headed for the door. Her cousin Wang Ziheng called a quick goodbye and followed. Their mom, still drying dishes, couldn’t stop them.
Li Mo just felt drained—from the cramps, the sleepless night. Her stomach churned.
“Uh-huh, got it… I’ll… uh… tell her.”
Outside school, Wang Ziheng hung up his mom’s call. “Jie, Auntie says no intense exercise today.”
“Mm. Okay.” (Distracted)
Li Mo hadn’t really listened. All she wanted was to dump her bag and curl up on the bleachers for a nap.
It was freezing. Colder than usual. *Guess I’ll keep the thermals on.*
“Holy crap, you look wrecked. Stay up doing… *cardio* last night?”
When Li Mo slumped beside Tang Zhe in class, his eyes widened. Her face was pale, shadows under her eyes. She looked seconds from passing out.
“Couldn’t sleep…” She yawned. The homeroom teacher hadn’t arrived yet. Li Mo dropped her head onto her arms on the desk.
*Ah. The 1500m’s this morning, right?*
“Wake me for the race.”
“Sure. I’ll nudge you if anything comes up.”
“Mm.”
With a human alarm clock beside her, Li Mo finally relaxed.
She was out cold in seconds.
But…
“I can’t sleep!”
*Slap.*
“JESUS!”
A small hand suddenly grabbed Tang Zhe’s wrist. He jumped, his in-game character instantly dying.
“What the hell?!” (Annoyed, but genuinely startled)
“My stomach hurts.”
“Then drink hot water! Why grab me?!”
He’d nearly died with his avatar.
Around them, whispers erupted—not about the pain, but the *scene*.
“Childhood friends trope!”
“I ship the tsundere uke so hard.”
“What if he’s actually the seme?”
Their class had no shortage of fujoshi. Tang Zhe’s eye twitched as the giggles reached him.
“💢”
Li Mo ignored them.
*Hot water my ass! May your whole family drink nothing but hot water! Then again… where’s mine?*
“Pour me some. Please. Good people go to heaven.”
The cold wind cut deep. She couldn’t bear to stand, let alone sit up straight.
“Call me ‘Dad’.”
Tang Zhe finally processed her state.
“…I’d rather call you ‘get lost’.”
