“Hey, you’re Yuehan’s friend, right? Don’t worry, we’ve got her back,” Ying Shiqian said, strolling out from the back in a fresh uniform.

She’d noticed Bai Yu, who’d been here before—a repeat customer. It was obvious to her that Bai Yu and I were close, so she came over to say hi and get acquainted.

“Hi, I’m Ying Shiqian,” she introduced herself.

“Bai Yu. I’m uh... Yuehan's big sister,” Bai Yu replied with a smile.

“Oh, her sister? That’s awesome! No wonder you’re already at the academy,” Ying Shiqian said, impressed.

“No big deal. Thanks for looking out for Yuehan,” Bai Yu said warmly.

I watched them dive into conversation and figured I’d get back to work. There was a vibe of subtle probing between them, and I knew staying out of it was the smart move.

Bai Yu, calling herself my sister, caught me off guard though. Sure, I called her “Sister Bai Yu” sometimes, but we weren’t actually related—just a nickname.

As they chatted, my weakness at small talk became painfully clear. I couldn’t jump in unless they brought me up, and even then, I could only manage a few words. I mean, I was their only real connection, right?

After a bit, I finished packing my cookies into freebie bags, and set them in a basket by the entrance with little signs saying customers could grab them.

With that done, I went back to my spot to slack off. Their conversation had gotten too deep for me to follow.

Just when I thought they’d keep going, they wrapped it up.

“Yuehan, I’ll swing by tomorrow to hang out. Gotta run for now,” Bai Yu said.

“Huh? Oh, sure,” I replied, caught off guard. She was leaving already? And—unless my eyes were playing tricks—she snagged another bag of freebie cookies on her way out.

Really, Bai Yu? Come on…

I glanced at Ying Shiqian, who was still hanging around, and scooted closer. “Senior, what were you and Bai Yu talking about?”

“Want to know?” she teased, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah!” I nodded eagerly.

“It’s stuff you’re not supposed to know. Still curious?”

“Uh… yeah,” I said after a brief pause, nodding again. If she was saying it like that, it meant I could handle it. Plus, what could possibly be off-limits for me?

“Alright, you asked for it,” Ying Shiqian said, leaning in close, her eyes glinting like she’d seen right through me. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Yuehan… you used to be a cute boy, didn’t you?”

“Uh… what?”

When Ying Shiqian said “boy,” chills ran down my spine. My biggest secret was out. Okay… I regretted asking!

“Did… did Bai Yu tell you?” I blurted out. Bai Yu didn’t seem like the type to spill something like that.

If she did, I’d have to confront her!

“Nope, not her,” Ying Shiqian said with a sly grin. “She tried to cover for you, but I’m an old hand at this academy game. I can spot it a mile away—your speech, your little habits, the way you move. We haven’t talked much, but I’ve got an eye for these things.” She rattled it off like she was showing off her detective skills, practically preening.

I swallowed hard, frozen in embarrassment. Getting called out like this was mortifying. I’d been living as a girl, thinking I’d nailed it. Were my slip-ups that obvious?

“Yuehan? You there?” Ying Shiqian’s voice snapped me back.

“Y-Yeah,” I said, straightening up. With her holding this over me, I didn’t dare act out.

She burst out laughing. “Why so tense? Think I’m going to eat you? You were a boy before, sure, and that doesn't change the fact that you’re still adorable now!”

Ying Shiqian didn’t dwell on how quickly I’d caved. She was clearly soaking up the moment, like she was having the time of her life.

I got a glimpse of how Quan Xiuzhu must’ve felt—being someone’s entertainment. I was her new toy.

“Don’t clam up, Yuehan! You’re still you. I’m not going to treat you any different,” Tang Yihan said, clapping her hands on my shoulders to reassure me.

But Ying Shiqian? She was grinning like she’d hit the jackpot. She’d had her suspicions, but no chance to confirm. Now? She was thrilled. I was like a gift from the universe, spicing up her boring routine. She wasn’t about to let that go.

“Come here, let me show you some love!” Ying Shiqian yanked me into a hug, smothering me in what felt like a full-on faceplant into her chest.

“Mmph! Let… go!” I flailed, pushing her off.

I used to scoff at people saying you could “suffocate” in a hug like that. Fabric’s breathable, right? No way. But now? I got it. The soft, crushing pressure felt like it was squeezing every last bit of air from my lungs. Suffocating was real.

After a struggle, Ying Shiqian finally let me go. I gasped for air, heaving.

Was she always this intense? Knowing I was a boy before and still pulling that? Didn’t she feel… weird about it?

Guess I’ll never get a girl’s thought process.

“Yuehan, you’re so cute! If anyone at the academy messes with you, come to me. Got life problems? I’ll teach you how to be the cutest girl, step by step!” Ying Shiqian teased, pinching my cheeks until my words came out all muffled.

“N-No… I’ve got Bai Yu…” I managed, my voice squeaking as she squished my face.

“You’ve got Bai Yu, sure, but what’s wrong with adding me, your big sis Ying, huh? Cute girls like you are a hot commodity at the academy. Got to stay sharp!” she said with a wink.

“I don’t need a reminder for that!” I huffed, flustered.

“Alright, alright! But if you ever can’t resist, just say the word. I’ll take you to the famous Charm Alley—guaranteed fun!” she teased, grinning.