"That's it for today's live stream. Thanks for watching, everyone. Remember to catch me tomorrow at six PM," Jiang Juan said, making a heart gesture at the screen.

"Wife, good night."

"Don't be late tomorrow."

"Bye."

Jiang Juan turned off the camera and exited the streaming app. His smile vanished instantly. He straightened up, rolled his stiff shoulders, and yanked off the wig.

He moved the guitar case beside his desk, adjusted the bedroom lights to normal brightness, and began tidying slowly.

Jiang Juan put away the streaming tripod near the walk-in closet. He left the bedroom, entered the bathroom, and tossed the hairpiece into the laundry basket. Sweat glistened on his forehead.

He raised his left hand, thumb and index finger framing his lips in a V shape. Staring at his stiff smile in the mirror, he let out a short, dry laugh.

Cold water splashed his cheeks. Clear droplets slid down his fair neck. The soaked black lace choker made his skin itch.

Jiang Juan ripped off the choker. Water droplets rolled freely down his prominent Adam's apple, landing on his slender collarbones.

Ignoring it, he tossed the choker aside and roughly dried his face with a towel. His damp bangs clung to his lake-blue eyes. Against his cool white skin, he radiated an unreal beauty.

Still in his cross-dressing outfit, Jiang Juan left the bathroom, walked to the living room, and opened the fridge.

The chill compartment held instant foods: bread, jam, oatmeal.

He grabbed two slices of toast and ate them plain.

Chewing, he returned to his bedroom, sat at his desk, and pressed his darkened phone. The time read 22:13.

He pulled textbooks from the shelf, took blank paper from the drawer, and began studying.

Jiang Jianguo demanded he enter the University of Cambridge. So Jiang Juan took A-levels: Math, Physics, Economics, Further Math—four subjects.

To earn Cambridge's acceptance, he couldn't slack off. Every day required intense study.

The night thickened like ink. The bright moon cast silver frost. Only now did Jiang Juan's personal time begin.

……

"What's up?" Guyen slung the tracksuit over his right shoulder and faced the girl.

She stood about 165 cm tall, slim-waisted with straight legs. Her delicate face had glossy lips that looked plump and juicy in the sunlight—a rare beauty.

"Guyen, what do you mean by that?" Lin Qingya's voice held a trace of anger.

"What do you mean, 'what do I mean'? Just say it," Guyen frowned, growing impatient.

"What's going on between you and Tang Yuanyuan? Explain yourself."

"Me and Tang Yuanyuan? I should explain to you? Are you crazy?" Guyen turned to leave.

"Aren't you my boyfriend? You ate with her." Lin Qingya grabbed his tracksuit, holding him back.

"When did I become your boyfriend? I didn't know." Guyen laughed bitterly. He stopped, lips pressed tight, staring silently at her.

"Now you deny it after cheating? Guyen, you're such a player." Lin Qingya's eyes reddened, as if deeply wronged.

"Me, cheating?" Guyen's laugh turned sharp. Earlier, a friend had told him Lin Qingya secretly called him handsome and urged him to ask her out.

Young and impulsive, Guyen had felt a flicker of interest. He'd taken her for a walk around the track. But the meeting was dull—no shared topics, her figure unimpressive. His family taught him love was forever or not at all. So he'd suggested friendship to avoid wasting her time. They hadn't spoken since—until now.

Lin Qingya fell silent, eyes slightly red, clutching his shirt hem wordlessly.

Guyen scratched his hair in frustration. Reminding himself she was a girl, he forced calm. "Didn't I make it clear last time? Friends or strangers—you choose."

Suddenly, Lin Qingya yanked the tracksuit hard. Guyen's body leaned down instinctively. She lifted her head to kiss his cheek.

"Holy shit!" Guyen reacted fast. His left hand pulled the tracksuit free. He halted his fall, stepped back with his right leg, and leaned backward.

The only sophomore-year tracksuit with a Jordan sketch on the back made full contact with school beauty queen Lin.

"What are you doing?" A voice cool as a mountain spring cut in. Guyen turned.

Jiang Juan stood in black suit uniform, a student council badge on his left chest. His lake-blue eyes locked unwaveringly on Guyen and Lin Qingya.

"Let me explain," Guyen blurted out.