“We’re skipping the next class. I need to go to the hospital for a follow-up.”
“Why not just ask for a leave of absence?”
“It’s a total pain. I can’t be bothered to deal with the counselor.”
After the first class ended, Qiu Ye gave Chen Zhilong a heads-up and led Bai Yao out of the teaching building. He had scheduled the follow-up for 11:00 AM, so they weren’t in a rush.
“Back to the dorm first? I need to use the bathroom.”
“Okay.”
Bai Yao didn’t really want to go to the hospital. He followed behind Qiu Ye with a worried pout, his footsteps sluggish.
Noticing his mood, Qiu Ye casually teased him. “I’ve never been to the hospital alone in my life. I’m scared to death. Luckily, I have you to accompany me.”
“Really?” Bai Yao immediately perked up. “It’s fine, it’s fine. What’s there to be scared of? Just follow me.”
He liked being relied upon; it made him feel like a dependable man. Although it was tiring, it gave him a great sense of accomplishment. Especially since Qiu Ye wasn’t stingy with praise—he could compliment Bai Yao until the boy was blushing with embarrassment.
“What about your checkup?”
“I don’t have the money…” Bai Yao brushed it off. “We’ll see. Let’s do your follow-up first. I don’t feel uncomfortable anywhere anyway.”
He knew his own situation. It was the system’s “rewards” that were making his body and appearance more feminine; a standard checkup wouldn’t find anything. He wanted a comprehensive exam to avoid the serious illness that was supposed to strike in six months… or maybe it was a car accident or some other disaster?
But those exams were expensive. If Qiu Ye hadn’t been avoiding his debt, Bai Yao would have saved enough by now.
The paths between the cafeteria and the teaching buildings were crowded with students rushing to grab breakfast during the break. Bai Yao and Qiu Ye returned to the dorm first to drop off their textbooks and tidy up their appearances.
Bai Yao still cared about his image, even if his standard was just being clean and fresh. He pressed his face almost against the mirror, sweeping his bangs to try and cover his forehead. He picked at a small bump on his chin with his fingernail.
‘Is the face mask completely useless?’
He took a step back, frowning as he looked at his slender figure in the mirror.
‘My chest is becoming a bit noticeable…’
Even though the large pattern on his T-shirt acted as camouflage, the curves of his chest were still quite apparent. He looked down and tugged at his waistband.
These were the new women’s trousers he had bought. Originally, the fabric only hugged his rear when he bent down or squatted, but now his butt seemed to have grown a bit rounder, filling out the pants completely. Fortunately, the trousers had good elasticity, creating a snug, comfortable fit.
Bai Yao placed his hands on his hips. His waist, hidden under the loose shirt, was pulled into a defined line. It was so thin it looked like it wasn’t even a hand-span wide, which only served to make his hips look broader.
His figure was completely that of a girl. He used to be a scrawny kid, but now that he had more body fat, he looked softer—and all that weight was going straight to his chest and hips.
It felt like his body proportions were undergoing a subtle change, becoming more… suggestive?
“Whoa! Being vain, are we?”
Bai Yao dropped his hands and turned around. “Are we leaving?”
“I need to clean up a bit, too.”
Qiu Ye usually wasn’t vain, right? He wasn’t like Lin Mingxin, who spent half an hour styling his hair every time he went out with a senior girl. Even though Qiu Ye was handsome, his unkempt look was usually seen as “rugged and carefree.”
Bai Yao leaned against the bunk ladder, looking down at his phone to read a novel. Before long, he heard Qiu Ye call out, “Let’s go.”
“Oh.”
He jogged to catch up.
“Do I look handsome?” Qiu Ye brushed his bangs aside and winked at Bai Yao.
“You’re okay,” Bai Yao replied flatly after a quick glance.
While Qiu Ye did look sharper after tidying up, didn’t that just make the contrast more obvious? It only made Bai Yao feel like he looked uglier in comparison!
—
A taxi would have only cost 10 yuan, but the two of them chose to take the bus instead.
Once they were out in public, Bai Yao’s expression grew colder. He hugged his stomach, staring out the window at the streets with his lips pressed tight, turning much quieter.
Qiu Ye, however, wouldn’t stop chatting. “That shop is pretty good. I’ve been there before. When I have money, I’ll take you there.”
“I suddenly really want all-you-can-eat barbecue. I’m so broke lately I haven’t been eating much meat.”
“Bai Yao, I’m hungry. What are we eating for lunch?”
“I’m not hungry…”
“You had breakfast, so of course you’re not hungry. I’m starving over here.”
‘Who told you not to eat?’
Bai Yao grumbled inwardly. ‘Is this guy trying to trade a 5-yuan breakfast for a 15- or 20-yuan lunch?! How sinister!’
“Eat after the follow-up?”
“That works too.”
Qiu Ye also looked out the window, but his gaze was drawn to Bai Yao, who was sitting by the glass.
Lately, Bai Yao liked tying his hair into a short ponytail, revealing his delicate ears and long, pale neck. Even as he turned his head to look outside, there were no visible lines on his skin. His arms emerged from his sleeves, rounded and slender. There were almost no visible biceps, and his forearms were so smooth you couldn’t see any hair or veins. His skin had a pearly white glow under the light.
“We’re almost there.”
Qiu Ye’s gaze flickered away as he looked down at his phone.
Bai Yao was naturally sensitive. He vaguely felt that the guy was acting strange today. Why did the atmosphere feel so awkward?
“Did you do something bad while I was sleeping last night?” he couldn’t help but ask.
“Were you looking forward to something?”
“???”
Bai Yao rolled his eyes in annoyance. Just as the bus reached the stop, he nudged Qiu Ye’s shoulder urgently. “Get off.”
They arrived at the hospital once again.
Back when he was staying with Qiu Ye during his hospitalization, Bai Yao had become very familiar with the **Orthopedics Department**. He even knew which orthopedic interns and residents were the most handsome… Every time he ran into a good-looking guy, the system would trigger a **Conversation Task**, so how could he not know them?
He led Qiu Ye to find the doctor with ease, got the checkup forms, and took Qiu Ye to get an **X-ray**, paying nearly 100 yuan upfront.
“We’ll probably have to wait until the afternoon to come back. The **X-ray** won’t be out that fast.”
Qiu Ye walked out of the **Radiology Department** and immediately spotted Bai Yao leaning against a corner wall, playing on his phone.
He leaned in to take a look. “You’re pretty loaded, huh?”
“That was another 100 yuan. Don’t forget to pay me back.”
“Don’t worry, don’t worry. Where should we go have fun first? We can come back to see the doctor in the afternoon.”
As soon as he heard the word “fun,” Bai Yao’s brow furrowed. He had worked so hard, lowering his standards just to earn 100 yuan from the system, only to spend it all on Qiu Ye. If they went out to play for the afternoon, there was no telling how much more it would cost.
“Don’t you feel bad always spending my money?” Bai Yao muttered.
“It’s not like I’m not going to pay you back.”
That’s what they all say! What if he actually didn’t? After a high school friend went AWOL while owing him several hundred yuan, Bai Yao had become much more sensitive about money. He gave Qiu Ye a suspicious side-eye.
“Hey! Don’t we have any trust between us?” Qiu Ye said, looking heartbroken. “I even slept with you last night!”
Several nearby patients and families waiting in the hall suddenly turned their curious gazes toward them.
Bai Yao’s face instantly flushed a deep red. He grabbed Qiu Ye’s arm and dragged him toward the exit, his voice low and furious. “Keep your voice down!”
“Well, isn’t it true? It was my first time, after all.”
“You…”
Bai Yao finally lost his patience and jabbed his elbow into Qiu Ye’s waist. However, to Qiu Ye, the attack felt like a kitten scratching—it stung a bit, but he wasn’t annoyed at all.
Still, he straightened up a bit and glared at a nearby bystander who was eavesdropping. The aggression in his eyes was enough to make the person immediately back off.
“So, where are we going for lunch?”
“The internet cafe?”