Bai Yao had no idea what his parents were thinking.
His son had turned into a daughter, yet they acted as if nothing had happened.
It wasn’t like the pessimistic imagination—where they’d be devastated, fall into a slump, or have a hysterical breakdown with other extreme reactions.
Nor was it the optimistic scenario—where they’d be overjoyed to have a “little cotton-padded jacket,” take the initiative to buy her clothes, or teach her female living habits.
After more than ten days in the hospital, with only a few days left before the New Year, his mother brought good news.
As soon as she entered the room, she saw Bai Yao, with Qiu Ye’s assistance, carefully walking around the ward using a crutch.
This was the rehabilitation exercise the doctor had ordered.
Qiu Ye was so nervous he was sweating, his hands hovering protectively beside her, ready to catch her if she fell.
“Mom?”
Bai Yao turned her head to look at her mother.
Her mother gazed at her daughter’s shoulder-length hair.
Even in the fleece pajamas, the small bumps on her chest were hard to hide.
Her fair, clean face—who did she inherit that from?
Then she looked at the overly enthusiastic male classmate beside her…
Her feelings were inevitably complicated and heavy.
Although she had tried hard to find connections and better doctors, every doctor who examined Bai Yao advised her to give up on the “son” and accept the “daughter.”
“Your ID card is here.”
She took out Bai Yao’s new ID card from her purse.
Qiu Ye immediately stepped forward to take it, then jogged back to Bai Yao’s side.
He glanced at the ID card and said loudly, “Gender: Female?!”
“Are you a little too happy about this?”
Mother couldn’t help but say.
“Show some understanding—the injured party who just lost his ‘brother’ is here, and this old mother still has to bear children.”
Bai Yao responded with a flat, soft “Mm.”
“Help me put it on the table.”
Leaning on her crutch, she followed Qiu Ye step by step, gently sat on the edge of the bed, and then looked up to observe her mother’s expression.
Though her expression wasn’t great, she didn’t look particularly unhappy either.
Bai Yao picked up the ID card and glanced at the photo.
The girl in the photo had a sickly pallor to her skin, her long hair neatly combed, looking dignified and quiet.
Even in the most plain ID photo, she was beautiful enough to be called a pretty girl, with slightly pointed ears and a fair forehead, her features delicate.
The photo was taken in the hospital room.
Bai Yao had just learned that you could now take ID photos yourself without having to go to the police station.
“So now I’m really a girl…”
Both physically and socially, she was a girl.
Bai Yao couldn’t tell if she was happy or sad.
Feeling a mix of emotions, she simply tossed the ID card onto the table without much care.
She had been teased for being girlish since she was little, often bullied because of her looks, and had almost no friends.
Now that she was an adult, she had actually turned into a pretty girl.
“Bai Yao?”
Bai Yao looked at Qiu Ye with a confused expression.
She thought for a moment, then could only comment, “It’s fine.”
Her mother hesitated, as if wanting to speak.
“It can’t be helped. Don’t take it too hard. Mom and Dad just want you to be okay.”
She had thought Bai Yao would have trouble accepting it, or even break down emotionally.
But the Bai Yao in front of her had accepted it so quickly, with a calmness that was actually worrying.
Her mother kept wondering how she was supposed to accept suddenly becoming a girl.
Seeing Bai Yao preparing to play on the computer as usual, her mother finally couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t you have any thoughts on this?”
“It is what it is.”
Bai Yao was so blunt that it made her mother worry she might be giving up on herself.
“Being a girl is actually pretty good,” Mother racked her brain for words.
“And you’re so pretty, a lot of people will probably like you.”
Bai Yao nervously exchanged a glance with Qiu Ye.
Why bring that up all of a sudden? Had Qiu Ye given something away?
She lowered her head to play on the computer, hiding her expression, and answered, “Mm, but I’m not planning to get a boyfriend.”
“I’m not telling you to get a boyfriend. It’s way too soon for that. You’ll get used to it slowly.”
Mentioning this topic, Mother suddenly turned to Qiu Ye with a wary look.
“Are you two really that close? It’s almost New Year’s, and you’re still not going home? You’re not after my ‘son’ for his body, are you?”
“Little Ye, it’s almost New Year’s. Hasn’t your family called you back?”
Qiu Ye’s heart tightened, but he kept his face calm.
“No, I wasn’t planning to go back this year anyway. There’s a school competition I need to prepare for. I’m just staying at school to study for it and dropping by to see Bai Yao occasionally.”
He had rehearsed that a few times, and finally got it out.
“Competition?” Mother was taken aback, muttering under her breath, “Bai Yao, look at him.”
“He’s playing basketball. Me? I’m not even 5’6″. How could I play basketball?”
Bai Yao lied casually.
“Oh, I see.”
Mother extended a polite invitation.
“Well, Little Ye, how about spending the New Year with us at the hospital?”
According to the doctor’s estimate, Bai Yao would be hospitalized until after the New Year, but actually there were only a few days left.
“Sure.”
Qiu Ye agreed without hesitation.
Agreed that quickly?
Mother’s expression stiffened slightly.
She had only been polite.
But during this time, having Qiu Ye around really did seem to make Bai Yao happier.
Otherwise, when it was just mother and daughter in the hospital room, Bai Yao was visibly listless.
After all, a mother and son—no, mother and daughter—had little in common to talk about.
Plus, Mother had a habit of nagging Bai Yao, from messy hair to messy blankets, from short brushing time to not eating enough fruit.
She could nitpick every little detail, leaving Bai Yao no room to argue.
She could only respond with a cold expression.
Actually, Bai Yao did like her mother, as long as they didn’t live together or call each other every day.
Seeing each other once in a while, with a little distance, was probably the best way to get along.
“It’s almost New Year’s. Let me buy you a couple of new outfits?”
“No need,” Bai Yao muttered.
“Waste of money.”
She didn’t like wearing men’s clothes now anyway, and winter only had two months left.
A single trench coat could handle the southern winter.
“A girl still needs some decent clothes.”
Bai Yao froze.
“Women’s clothes?”
“Don’t you like women’s clothes? You have to wear them eventually. You can’t keep dressing like a man.”
Mother didn’t even need to persuade her much before Bai Yao nodded without hesitation.
“That works.”
She was starting to wonder if her son had already wanted to be a girl all along.
Why else would he let his hair grow so long? Or was he just thick-skinned and adapting quickly?
“Then I’ll go buy you clothes. The mall might be closed by tomorrow.”
Mother came in a hurry and left in a hurry.
Qiu Ye hadn’t gotten a word in edgewise.
As soon as his “future mother-in-law” left, he quickly leaned in close to Bai Yao.
“Auntie accepted it pretty fast? She’s already buying you women’s clothes. I thought she’d have a hard time with it.”
Bai Yao picked up the ID card again.
“Look, the picture came out pretty nice.”
“Yeah. Good enough for us to get a marriage license.”
“No way. We’re not old enough yet.”
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