Suddenly, a pair of strong arms wrapped around my shoulders.
"Hm? Know what?"
"Ah! N-nothing..." I stammered, wriggling like an eel to slip free. I shot a glare at the tall guy. "It’s you again! Li Xiaoyao—stop popping out of nowhere to scare me!"
Unfazed—no, smug—he slung his arm around me again. "Haha, Xiao Xi, little bro! After all these years, still zero vigilance. If I were an assassin, you’d be dead by my hidden blade already."
*Sigh.* Li Xiaoyao and his chuunibyou habits… still unchanged in high school.
I rolled my eyes hard. Seriously? Broad daylight, crowds everywhere—where’s this "assassin" coming from?
"By the way, Xiao Xi, has my stealth skill leveled up? Think I could sneak into the girls’ bathhouse unnoticed?"
"With your frame? Only a blind person wouldn’t spot you."
"True. Wish I could turn invisible. Heard invisibility potions are sold online—order one? One bottle each, night raid the bathhouse!"
"You suicidal? Might get poisoned."
Bantering all the way, we walked into class.
This uniquely wired tall guy? Li Xiaoyao. My desk mate for three middle school years. My only friend here.
They say complementary personalities bond people—but we match in personality *and* physique. Li Xiaoyao: tall, handsome, easily a head above me. Got into Haide Middle School on sports merit alone—especially soccer. Special admission.
His build isn’t bulky, but never underestimate him. Stamina and agility? Top-tier schoolwide. His soccer skills? Outplays amateur adults regularly.
Honestly… I envy him. I wish I could be that kind of athletic, sunshine guy—
Bright, easygoing, the warm big brother everyone knows. His clueless sincerity even made him a secret crush for girls from other classes… though he remained totally oblivious.
Reality? Cruel. Unlike him, I’m a tiny 165cm shrimp. Always last in PE line. Zero athletic talent. My scores lag behind many girls. Teased since childhood: "sissy," "Lin Xiao Si," "Cai Xuxi"...
Ugh. Why must Li Xiaoyao shine *right next to me*?
He caught my gaze but misread it entirely. Flexing arms with clean, defined lines: "Jealous, little bro? Stay after school. My special training awaits."
*Gulp*… I kinda wanted that… just a little muscle…
"How’s the routine?" I asked, forcing calm.
"Easy! 5K warm-up run. 500 push-ups. 300 sit-ups. Then—"
"Uh… pass."
I know my limits. That’d kill me instantly.
Li Xiaoyao pressed on earnestly: "Xiao Xi, no offense—but girls want guys like me: sunny, upright, strong, safe."
"Sounds like *you’re* dating someone."
"Hah! My standards are high. Only an internet celeb girl deserves a man like me."
Wait… what absurd logic?
Before I processed it, he whipped out his phone, grinning mysteriously. "Truth? I fell head over heels for this girl. Super cute. Totally my type."
Hm?
His lock screen looked… familiar.
He unlocked it, tapped open a Bilibili homepage video, and popped an earphone into my ear.
On screen: a "cute girl" in a frilly maid outfit and cat-ear hairband, mic in hand, eyes sparkling with stars, singing joyfully.
…Yeah, I’ve seen this.
My eyes drifted to the corner:
"Likes: 743,057"
"Comments: 3,819"
"Favorites: 31,498"
"Ugh!"
I rubbed my eyes. One night?! Top three daily chart?! The duet video with Wang Yi—in a maid outfit—*blew up*?!
I don’t recall the stage… but that "girl" is unmistakably me.
Worse: danmaku flooded with praise—
"What a bright, sunny girl!"
"Mmm! Feels like love!"
"First time seeing such a pure, cute girl! Which company? New idol?"
Mmm… called "pure and cute"…
My cheeks burned. I wished I could vanish.
Cross-dressing was embarrassing enough—but Taobao modeling? Anonymous. Buyers ignore models.
This? Thousands liking, saving…
"New artist under Chengyu Culture Media? Qianxun Group’s subsidiary?"
"Eh? *That* Qianxun Group? No wonder she’s flawless…"
"Where’s Chengyu? I wanna meet Sister Xixi!"
Comments dissecting my life. My throat tightened. Couldn’t scroll further.
What if… someone recognizes me…?
I stole a cautious glance at Li Xiaoyao.
He showed me this *immediately*…
Could he have… figured it out…?
