Xuye Cheng stepped out after washing his face and saw Zheng Wenxuan holding that mask, about to stick it on his face.

Xuye Cheng froze. This wasn’t…

He reached into his pocket and found it empty.

What Zheng Wenxuan held was…

“Don’t!”

He cried out, but Zheng Wenxuan had already pressed the mask onto his face and smoothed it down twice.

Startled by the shout, Zheng Wenxuan froze. He peeled the mask off and waved it before Xuye Cheng. “What’s this? Yours?”

Xuye Cheng stood rooted to the spot.

The scene he’d imagined hadn’t happened…

He walked over, took the mask back. “Mine.” He tucked it into his pocket as he spoke.

Zheng Wenxuan grew suspicious. “Why buy this? It doesn’t feel normal.” A sly grin spread on his face. “I think you’re the one with weird hobbies! What’s it even for?”

“Uh…” Xuye Cheng hesitated. “Just a new face mask. No weird hobbies.” He kept his tone deliberately calm.

“Really…” Zheng Wenxuan scratched his head. “But it’s so dry. How do you use it?”

Xuye Cheng’s mind raced. “Apply serum, then slap it on. Done.”

Zheng Wenxuan’s eyes lit up. “So you really are a meticulous piggy boy.”

Xuye Cheng found the reduplication oddly profound. “Give me a break. I’m not meticulous.”

Zheng Wenxuan studied Xuye Cheng’s face. “Why so many pimples?” He touched his own smooth cheek. “Look at me—zero breakouts.”

“Been lazy lately,” Xuye Cheng chuckled, shooting back bluntly. “Even without pimples, I’m still hotter.”

“Stop being narcissistic.” Zheng Wenxuan slapped his shoulder.

“Fact.” Xuye Cheng walked back to the bathroom, still uneasy about what just happened.

“I won’t argue with my kid,” Zheng Wenxuan grumbled, magnanimously dropping the bickering.

Xuye Cheng snorted softly. He locked the bathroom door behind him and pulled the mask from his pocket.

What was going on? Logically, sticking it on like Zheng Wenxuan did should’ve changed his appearance.

He spread the mask out. That soft texture lingered on his fingers.

Had it stopped working?

Then how to explain everything before?

What even was this thing?

Xuye Cheng frowned deeply, flipping the mask over. Nothing unusual.

Try wearing it again?

He quickly dismissed the thought.

What if he couldn’t remove it?

He held the mask up to the lightbulb. Thick, yet surprisingly translucent.

What material was this…

As he pondered, a sharp pain shot through his ankle. His hand jerked, and the mask dropped.

Instinctively, he looked down and pulled his foot back. A long, black centipede wriggled on the floor.

Startled, Xuye Cheng stomped down as it tried to escape. He ground his heel, hearing crisp cracks.

He lifted his foot, sighed at the crushed remains.

What the hell…

Xuye Cheng panted heavily, heart pounding. Pain throbbed in his ankle; his whole body trembled.

“What’s wrong?” Zheng Wenxuan’s voice came from outside, laced with worry.

“Fine. Just got bitten by a centipede…” Xuye Cheng took a shaky breath.

“Holy shit!? While taking a dump?” Zheng Wenxuan’s concern deepened.

Xuye Cheng felt touched but snapped back, “Idiot, I wasn’t on the toilet. Moron.”

“Come out! I’ll treat the wound.”

Xuye Cheng glared at the bleeding bite, irritation flaring. He reached for the lock—then froze.

Where was his mask!?

A bad feeling surged. He glanced at the mirror—and froze again.

The face in the glass had turned feminine…

Good news: the mask still worked. This face looked stunning, easy to stare at… ahem.

Bad news: no idea how to remove it…

Oh no!! What now!?

Panic spiked. Adrenaline made him lightheaded.

Calm down! Recall how it came off last time…

He took a deep breath, struggling to focus.

His fingers brushed his lower lip. That delicate sensation scattered his thoughts again.

“Baby Cheng! You okay? Come out! Something wrong?” Zheng Wenxuan pounded the door.

“I’m fine!” Xuye Cheng called back, flustered.

Need to get him away…

“Wenxuan, grab ointment from the infirmary,” Xuye Cheng blurted after a pause. “Say I got centipede-bitten. Go!”

“Show me the wound first.”

Why so caring now…

Xuye Cheng inhaled sharply.

“I… I’m on the toilet.”

Zheng Wenxuan: ?

“You got bitten and are calmly shitting?” His tone turned exasperated.

“I… have diarrhea.” Xuye Cheng’s face flushed.

So damn embarrassing!

“Fine… I’m going. Hang in there, Baby Cheng.” Zheng Wenxuan’s voice firmed up.

Xuye Cheng exhaled quietly. Footsteps faded; he waited extra seconds to be safe.

He faced the mirror. That breathtaking face now looked pale. Rosy lips had whitened; cold sweat dotted his forehead and nose.

So realistic…

He marveled inwardly, then cracked the door open—only to lock eyes with Zheng Wenxuan.

“Bang!”

Xuye Cheng slammed the door shut and locked it.

Damn, why hadn’t he left!?

“Yecheng, you—”

“I… stomach pain again!” Xuye Cheng yelled.

Zheng Wenxuan stood dumbfounded. Through that crack, why had Xuye Cheng’s eyes looked so dewy and bright?