Chapter 175: A Late-Night Encounter with a Cross-dresser
Huo Ningning was happy. The birthday party had been a success, a good start. With patience and persistence, she would eventually win Yu Linna back. She returned home with a smile on her face, Fang Jiangning teasing her for being so cheerful when it wasn’t even her birthday.
Ye Zhiyun, however, wasn’t happy. She had been in a foul mood since leaving the cinema, her coldness making the other girls wary of approaching her.
The party ended, and everyone went home, the next day being a school day, their time for leisure limited. As Yu Linna was leaving, Ye Zhiyun caught up to her, offering to walk her home.
“It’s okay, I’m going to the convenience store. You go home.”
“I have plenty of time…” Ye Zhiyun started to say.
“It’s late. Go home. I’m not a child; I can take care of myself.”
Yu Linna smiled, walking in the opposite direction, leaving Ye Zhiyun standing there, watching her go.
“Zhiyun, let’s go. What are you thinking about?”
Dai Wenqian nudged her, reminding her it was getting late. This girl had been acting strange since the cinema; what was wrong with her?
Ye Zhiyun, clearly unhappy, kept replaying the scene of Huo Ningning giving Yu Linna her jacket, her annoyance growing with each replay. She clicked her tongue and turned to leave.
“This girl…”
Even Dai Wenqian, despite her obliviousness, could tell she was angry, though the reason escaped her.
Yu Linna walked alone in the night, yawning. The movie had been incredibly boring; next time, she would check the reviews first. Feeling tired, she decided to buy some coffee at the convenience store and perhaps a manga magazine.
Entering the store, she headed towards the coffee section when she noticed a figure at the checkout counter. The young man, with long hair tied in a ponytail, his figure slender and feminine, his complexion fair, if it weren’t for his men’s clothing, could be mistaken for a girl. He reached for a box of…
…condoms.
Yu Linna almost choked. Such a delicate-looking boy, buying condoms? And at this hour?
Wait, that face… it looked familiar…
That hairstyle, those features, the slightly flushed cheeks…
“Bai Chen-sensei?”
The young man, startled, turned, his hand holding the box of condoms frozen mid-air, his eyes widening as he saw the golden-haired girl.
“Shion-sensei?”
An awkward silence hung in the air, their eyes locked in a mutual stare.
Yu Linna’s gaze drifted to the condoms in his hand, her mind reeling. Was this the same cross-dressing author she knew? So, even feminine-looking boys…
“No! It’s not… you misunderstand! This isn’t…”
Tang Yulong’s face flushed crimson as he quickly put the box back on the shelf, stammering, his explanation only making things worse.
“Sir, are you buying this or not? You’ve been standing there for a while. Don’t be shy. If you want to… have fun with your girlfriend, be bold! Be a man!”
The cashier, though seemingly innocent, her words were surprisingly suggestive, almost making Tang Yulong choke. How could she say such a thing?!
Yu Linna, though not personally experienced, having lived as a boy for ten years, understood such… urges.
“It’s okay, Bai Chen-sensei, I understand. You’re at that age.”
“No! You misunderstand!”
“I won’t tell Big Sis Yuyan.”
“It’s not like that! You have to believe me! I’m just… doing research for my second novel! Really!”
Tang Yulong’s explanation was unconvincing. Buying condoms at a convenience store late at night… who would believe it was for research?
Well, Yu Linna did… eventually.
Tang Yulong, too embarrassed to buy the condoms with a girl present, eventually convinced Yu Linna he wasn’t planning a late-night rendezvous. Yu Linna bought her coffee and a magazine, then prepared to leave.
“Bai Chen-sensei, your face is really red. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine… Just… don’t tell Air-sensei about this. It’s so embarrassing.”
“…Okay, I won’t.”
This cross-dressing author, buying condoms late at night, caught red-handed… it was definitely a story he wouldn’t want to be shared, a permanent stain on his reputation. And he was a virgin; what did he even need condoms for?
Yu Linna was also embarrassed, having witnessed such a scene, a reminder of her own gender. Talking to him now felt strangely awkward.
“By the way, Bai Chen-sensei, why are you interested in Big Sis Yuyan?”
“W-what are you talking about?! I don’t like her!”
“Don’t pretend. I’m not stupid. I can tell.”
“…”
Tang Yulong covered his face. Was he that obvious?
Zhao Yuyan was his… everything. And now, her neighbor knew his secret. How was he supposed to visit Zhao Yuyan’s apartment now?
“Please… keep it a secret…”
“Sure, no problem. But… what do you like about her?”
“She’s cute.”
“And?”
“She’s… serious when she plays games. I like that.”
“…”
Was that a compliment?
A girl who was addicted to games, pulled all-nighters, procrastinated until the last minute, constantly on the verge of being threatened by Chen Xi… and he liked her?
Zhao Yuyan, obsessed with online games, mobile games, anime, manga, movies, and TV dramas, rarely leaving her dorm room in university, not participating in any club activities, her grades barely passing… and someone actually liked her?
Yu Linna couldn’t understand.
“Well, good luck.”
She waved goodbye, feeling mentally exhausted.
It was getting late; she should go home. She had early morning self-study tomorrow.
“By the way, Shion-sensei, you won this round. Your Ballad of the Enchantress is really good. I bought five copies. But I won’t lose next time.”
“Oh, good luck with that.”
“Shion-sensei, let me walk you home.”
“…Whatever.”
Yu Linna didn’t refuse. This cross-dressing author, though male, seemed harmless, like Li Muqing, the epitome of a nice guy.
And he liked Zhao Yuyan… that was interesting. Yu Linna, her curiosity piqued, decided to gather some intel.
“Bai Chen-sensei, how did you meet Big Sis Yuyan?”
“…”
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll tell Big Sis Yuyan.”
“No! Please don’t!”
“And… I’m hungry. Buy me a late-night snack.”
“Okay, okay, anything you want.”
Perfect, another free meal, Yu Linna thought, delighted.
As long as she could get free food, she was happy. And why refuse a free meal? Better to be a happy freeloader than a virtuous pauper.
Because delicious food was the ultimate temptation!
Tang Yulong, afraid of Yu Linna revealing his secret, took her to a late-night eatery, ordering two servings of cheung fun, which Yu Linna devoured with gusto.
“Please, Shion-sensei, don’t tell anyone about this! I’ll be mortified!”
“Hmm, depends on your performance.”
Yu Linna found Tang Yulong amusing, easily manipulated, and a source of free food. It was a win-win situation.
And once he successfully wooed Big Sis Yuyan, she, the matchmaker, would take all the credit. Perhaps she would even be a bridesmaid at their wedding. It was a good investment.
Tang Yulong, watching her eat, thought, She’s actually quite pretty. Why doesn’t Wenqing market her as an idol author? She has so much commercial potential. Even he had revealed his face, using his appearance to promote his novel, generating interest.
But Yu Linna hadn’t even shown her face.
If he hadn’t visited Zhao Yuyan’s apartment and met her by chance, he wouldn’t have known Shion was a girl.
“Why are you staring at me? Want some of my cheung fun?” Yu Linna glared at him protectively, pulling her plate closer.
“No, no, of course not… haha…”
Another embarrassing moment added to his growing list of failures.
If his sister found out, he would never live it down.
Yu Linna, satisfied, picked up a toothpick, then sent Tang Yulong to pay the bill. She stretched, ready to go home. It was getting late.
“Bai Chen-sensei, I’ll be going now. See you later.”
“Oh, okay.”
As she was about to cross the street, he suddenly called out to her.
“Shion-sensei.”
“Yes? Is there something else?”
Yu Linna turned, her face illuminated by the streetlights, her beauty even more striking in the night.
“No… I mean… I’ll win next time. We’ll compete again… in sales.”
“I look forward to it.”
Yu Linna waved goodbye and disappeared into the night.
Tang Yulong, watching her go, then turned to leave, slapping himself lightly. He had to work harder. He would consider Shion-sensei his greatest rival.
He realized, however, that his “research trip” hadn’t yielded any useful information.
