Chapter 12: Liu Yun Who Hates Boys

“Evening…”

“As expected, it’s still steamed buns for dinner.”

Su Xiaoxiao gave up on thinking, her expression returning to that indifferent look she always had— or rather, this was her true, natural demeanor as a girl.

But finding a job really isn’t easy… she even started doubting how her parents managed to find work for her before.

Wait, that’s not right.

Back then, she was a boy, and quite tall at that—taller than many adults, actually.

Maybe that was why.

“Now…”

Su Xiaoxiao recalled the reflection of herself in the mirror from her past life and the stunningly beautiful girl she saw in the shower yesterday.

She silently compared them.

“Hands are finer, legs are shorter, body’s smaller…”

Looking around at the tall walls and the people passing by, she felt a strange indescribable sensation.

“Well, it can’t be helped…”

Thinking about her rebirth, Su Xiaoxiao stared at her own hands, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Actually, she should still count as pretty good-looking now, even compared to Xiao Li…

“Ah, no lewd thoughts about yourself!”

Startled by her own strange train of thought, Su Xiaoxiao immediately kicked the stone pavement fiercely a few times, trying to forget what she had just been thinking.

This scene caught the attention of some passersby, who deliberately or unintentionally glanced at the girl venting her frustration on the ground.

“Ouch, ouch…”

After a few kicks, Su Xiaoxiao felt her calves ache a bit and immediately hugged them, whining softly.

“Ugh, even this is bullying me now.”

The frail figure of the girl made Su Xiaoxiao feel powerless.

“Sigh, better head back to school and take a nap.”

She tidied up her slightly messy hair and looked around.

This should be the left turn… she had just come from this way…

“Uh,” at that moment, someone was walking straight towards her.

The person glanced at her briefly before quickly looking away.

How strange…

“…”

Then, thinking of something, Su Xiaoxiao set off to return to school.

The road was busy with people coming and going, but unlike yesterday when she walked this path, most of the people now were students out for lunch, all dressed in the school’s white uniform.

She had once thought, it would be great if the school uniform could be a skirt with stockings or something (just a dream).

***

After quite a while, lost in endless daydreams, Su Xiaoxiao finally returned to Class 6, Grade 1.

Her eyes were blank throughout the journey—was it hunger or just her wandering mind?

Even she didn’t know.

“Oh, Xiao Li…”

Standing at the classroom door, she saw a girl who fit her ideal image quietly sitting in the third group, fourth row, head lowered, probably doing homework.

Truly a good student, coming back right after lunch to work…

Compared to her, it was like heaven and earth.

A wave of unworthiness and inferiority swept over her.

Actually, there were about five or six other students studying in class, but Su Xiaoxiao only noticed Xiao Li, ignoring everyone else.

“Should I say something to her?”

As she walked into the classroom, Su Xiaoxiao hesitated whether to talk to her or not, occasionally tilting her head back to sneak a glance at Xiao Li.

“Why do you keep staring at my Xiao Li?”

Just as she was getting a bit excited and her cheeks were flushing, a female voice she used to dislike came from behind her.

It was a voice she feared in her past life.

This girl was Xiao Li’s close best friend.

Whenever Su Xiaoxiao sneaked a peek, she would catch her and call her out. Luckily, Xiao Li never seemed to mind.

“I’m talking about you, your eyes are so suggestive~”

Liu Yun came up beside Su Xiaoxiao, speaking with a somewhat teasing tone.

“N-no…”

The girl sitting at her desk was frightened just as before, trembling slightly with her head down, eyes fixed on the table.

“Haha, little cutie, I’m just teasing.”

Liu Yun laughed and patted Su Xiaoxiao’s shoulder.

Watching the newcomer sitting beneath her, Liu Yun felt a strange sense of familiarity from her reaction just now but couldn’t place it.

But that was normal.

Huh, what did she call me again…

“Little cutie…”

It finally dawned on Su Xiaoxiao that she was now a girl.

It was okay to be caught staring at Xiao Li.

A boy sneaking a glance at a girl—perverted. But a girl sneaking a glance at another girl—totally fine!

Seems like this new situation had some perks after all.

Suddenly, her stomach, which had been growling, stopped feeling hungry.

“Hey, little cutie, why aren’t you going home? What are you doing here?”

Liu Yun’s familiar friendliness made Su Xiaoxiao forget this was the same girl who had called her disgusting before.

“I-I’m just here to study a bit, then maybe take a nap…”

Having been scolded harshly so many times before, Su Xiaoxiao still stuttered slightly from the lingering fear.

“Oh, okay then. I won’t bother you.”

She sounded quite gentle.

“By the way, if you want to say anything, just tell Xiao Li. No need to sneak peeks, you’re not one of those boys with weird thoughts.”

As Liu Yun left, she tugged on Su Xiaoxiao’s sleeve, hoping she’d go talk to Xiao Li.

After Liu Yun’s words, Su Xiaoxiao glanced around at the people in the classroom.

Thankfully, it was all girls… otherwise, hearing that from her would feel a bit…

“Nah, it’s nothing.”

Feeling a little embarrassed, Su Xiaoxiao declined her suggestion, gripping the edge of the desk tightly.

“Hm? Okay then.”

Liu Yun was puzzled by her resistance. It was just talking—why such a big reaction?

But she didn’t think much of it.

“Phew~”

Watching the girl she once considered an enemy finally walk away, Su Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief.

She hadn’t noticed how fortunate that was—Liu Yun had always shown a strong dislike for boys.

But there was something to be thankful for: she always protected Xiao Li, and whenever someone said anything about her, Liu Yun was the first to step up.

She was a good person, in a way.

“Hey…”

With Liu Yun gone, Su Xiaoxiao continued to sneak glances at Xiao Li, this time lying down as usual, which made it harder to be noticed.

Not long after assuming that position, after a nearly full day of activity, Su Xiaoxiao fell asleep just like that.

***

“Wake up, Xiaoxiao, class is starting.”

In the end, it was a gentle girl’s voice, not a teacher’s scolding, that woke Su Xiaoxiao.

“…What’s up?”

She kept her head resting on her arms, nuzzling into the warm spot.

“Aww, don’t be lazy.”

The voice kept gently patting Su Xiaoxiao.

Ugh… so sleepy and hungry.

With the pats, Su Xiaoxiao’s consciousness slowly floated back from the void.

Class must be starting soon… time to get up.

“Rawr~”

She stretched and yawned comfortably, then looked ahead to find that the teacher still hadn’t arrived.

“You’re finally up, feeling better now, right?”

“Here, I bought this outside at lunch, there’s plenty. Take some.”

Ning Xiaoyun pulled out a small bag of bread from her backpack and placed it on Su Xiaoxiao’s desk.

The packaging was varied and looked delicious.

“Really? Can I take this…”

Hesitant, Su Xiaoxiao didn’t feel right just accepting it.

Food… wow.

“It’s no problem, take it. But don’t eat it during class, or you might get scolded.”

She kindly helped tuck the bag into the drawer.

Such a nice person!

“Thanks…”

“Mm.”

Looking at the bread in the drawer, Su Xiaoxiao actually wanted to pull one out right now, but the teacher had already entered the classroom.

No choice—she’d have to wait until the break to eat.