Hua Xin chewed on a cookie while she scrubbed her dripping hair with a towel like mad.

Long hair is such a hassle…

She’d thought it wouldn’t be any different from short hair at first.

Heh.

She was wrong, meow.

Summer heat made it stuffy, her neck sticky, and washing always meant a long dry time.

She grabbed a few strands with a grimace. The towel wasn’t doing much. Still damp.

She draped the towel over her neck, flipped onto the bed, and sat by the edge. Cool morning wind drifted in through the wide‑open window, lifting Hua Xin’s hair a little. A plain shampoo scent curled around her nose.

She’d used that men’s 13‑in‑1 for ages. A special smell, kind of like some flower.

No hair dryer meant going with the breeze.

At least it’s summer. Air‑drying won’t give her a cold.

After that R‑18, humiliating dream, every time Hua Xin shut her eyes she saw Do— uh, Xia Yan’s shrimp‑head face with that lewd grin.

No way she could sleep.

Fine. Get up and wash. She had a whole day outside, matching wits with Xia Yan, then settling things.

As a man, washing your hair before something important or going out is basic respect.

There wasn’t much to see outside. Just ordinary apartments and roads. But she hadn’t looked in a long time, even though it only took pulling the curtains open.

Ever since she was the only one left.

But the sky was beautiful.

Half black, half blue, faintly lit by a sun that hadn’t yet risen. Quiet. No daytime clamor. No cars grinding the road and honking.

Clouds drifted forward, slow, heading who knows where.

As a kid, she loved lying on the grass outside, zoning out at the clouds. That way, she didn’t have to hear the yelling and the sound of cups smashing. Sometimes a kind old granny would share a piece of fruit, and her stomach wouldn’t ache so much.

But the sour was always more than the sweet.

Now, only crickets and wind in the leaves remained.

The usually optimistic, abstract girl sat unusually still at the bedside, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Today was actually important for her. But if it was just her alone, it felt… less important.

When she tried to forget, it crept back in all the same.

Hua Xin didn’t think being alone like this was something pathetic.

After all, she’d done it for years.

For some reason, she slowly stretched out a hand, as if to catch something. Her arm reached beyond the window, and even her body leaned forward a little.

As a child, she wished she could snatch a star with her hand. Stars were so high, so precious. If she plucked one down, wouldn’t it sell for a lot?

Then maybe they wouldn’t leave her.

Maybe she could eat her fill and stop that thing from happening.

If only time could change the way her gender did.

Hua Xin pulled back her clenched little fist and gently opened it.

“Empty‑handed?”

She smiled and murmured, and though she was smiling, her eyes brimmed with long‑suppressed loss.

There was nothing in her palm. Just air.

Yeah… what could she hold?

Once.

Twice.

Three times…

She couldn’t hold anything. She could only scrape by, alone.

“Am I that legendary cursed lone star…?”

“Sounds kind of badass, doesn’t it?”

Hua Xin braced both hands on the bed, closed her eyes, and let the breeze wash over her. Her hair floated lightly against her shoulders. Cool and fresh.

She seemed to forget what came before. She smiled and chattered to herself, happy:

“Let’s go home and eat meat today.”

“I want meat.”

“Eat till I’m stuffed!!”

—

Six in the morning.

Xia Yan ran steady laps around the track, breathing even. His T‑shirt was already soaked.

Even with hosting duties for the student show and a speech with the school leaders, plus his solo singing performance, he wouldn’t drop his discipline.

After all, training and how your day goes are directly proportional.

“Hah…”

He checked his fitness band. Ten kilometers. He slowed to a stop and sat on a plastic seat nearby.

The track was huge. The stage and equipment were already going up this morning. It wasn’t just student performances—there was even an open‑air music festival segment.

People hustled in his line of sight. This usually quiet field felt unexpectedly lively.

Xia Yan guzzled his mineral water, then grabbed his phone.

“Hm?”

He arched a brow at a QQ message.

Wife (note): “Did you wake up?”

Laoshui: “Awake, wife. Why are you up so early?”

Wife: “Had a weird dream. It woke me.”

“What kind of dream?”

Xia Yan wiped sweat from his forehead while typing back.

“…”

“I dreamed of someone I hate. That man who approached me before for unknown reasons.”

Flames shot up in Xia Yan’s chest. Instinct kicked in, and he went serious at once:

“Don’t be scared, wife. I’ve got you.”

“If he harasses you again, tell me. One punch and I’ll have him crawling 😡👊🏻.”

“What a creep. Does he have zero self‑awareness??”

The girl’s reply wasn’t her usual snark or calling him shrimp‑head. It caught him off guard. He stared at the message, blank for a second.

“Okay.”

“I… I’m really happy.”

Then nothing more.

Xia Yan figured she’d fallen back asleep, so he didn’t send more and bother her.

Really happy?

Did something happen today worth celebrating?

Kinda unlike her…

Eh… maybe that one left, and she’s in a better mood?

Xia Yan crushed the bottle and tossed it in the trash. By chance, when he looked up, he spotted a familiar silhouette.

“Caught you again?”

Lin Qingyu crossed her arms and watched him with a half‑smile. Her outfit had shifted from long sleeves and pants to a pure‑white, below‑the‑knee dress.

“Your turn to be drenched?”

“You won’t mind me, will you, senpai?”

Lin Qingyu shrugged, her gaze flitting over the faint lines of his abs. “If someone would finally pay back that meal, I could consider it.”

Xia Yan thought for a moment, then smiled. “Sour‑spicy noodles? There’s a great place by the gate. But morning might be a heavy bite for you, senpai.”

“I don’t mind.”

“What you like, I’ll probably like too.”

Lin Qingyu dropped her usual reserved, cautious approach and said it boldly.

Buzz buzz.

Xia Yan’s phone vibrated.

“I’ll lead the way.”

He smiled, walked past Lin Qingyu without falling into step beside her, and lifted his phone to check the notification.

On the WeChat avatar, some elegant cursive stood out. The design was pretty.

Mufei Cake Shop.