Chapter 15: Is This System Missing a Graphic Designer?

Gao Qinghe looked left and right, touching this and that, wandering around Lin Xi's apartment, full of curiosity.

It wasn't that there was anything particularly novel about the apartment itself.

Lin Xi's apartment still had that minimalist, almost cold aesthetic, and the furnishings were mostly unchanged. It was just that before, if he had been snooping around like this, Lin Xi would always frown and tell him to stop, saying his prying behavior was incredibly intrusive and lacked any sense of boundaries.

But now, as a girl, it was as if she had been granted some kind of immunity. All those behaviors that used to annoy Lin Xi were now silently permitted.

Yet, in this home, in every crack and corner, there were traces of Xiang Bei.

A razor, aftershave, hair gel.

Clean underwear, socks, condoms.

Gao Qinghe looked at what was there and imagined what wasn't, the more she looked, the worse she felt, and the worse she felt, the more she wanted to look.

"I put the spare toothbrush here for you. You can use my toothpaste. If you want to do laundry, you can go first. Just call me when you're done. I want to do a load myself later…" The sound of Lin Xi's slippers grew closer.

She saw Gao Qinghe staring blankly at the can of hair gel, and her tone became momentarily unnatural.

"Ah, that's… my boyfriend, Xiang Bei's. I don't know if Gao Jingdong mentioned him to you…"

"What do you even see in him?" Gao Qinghe turned her head, her hair tracing an arc in the air, her voice trembling and broken. "What's so good about him?"

"Uh…" Lin Xi was taken aback by the question, frowned, and seemed to unconsciously reach out a hand. "You… are you okay?"

Only then did Gao Qinghe realize she was crying again. The tears overflowed, streaming down her cheeks, soaking the collar of her silk blouse, making the fabric cling slightly to her curves. The rise and fall of her chest became more and more pronounced.

Sigh… So pathetic, crying for her even at a time like this.

"I know you're worried about your cousin… but we didn't break up because of Xiang Bei. We had our own issues, it has nothing to do with him." Lin Xi sighed, pulling a few tissues from the box and handing them to her.

"You… you really won't ever think of my… my cousin again? Is there really not even a shred of lingering affection for him?" Gao Qinghe took the tissues and unceremoniously blew her nose. But even doing that, she didn't produce the earth-shattering sound she used to as a guy, only soft sniffles.

"No." Lin Xi's tone was direct. She lifted her head, her gaze sharp, but it softened rapidly the moment it met Gao Qinghe's. "I already told you, we broke up almost a year ago. I made myself very clear when we broke up. I didn't lead him on."

"What about that mug? The one my cousin gave you, aren't you still keeping it?" Gao Qinghe looked up, her tearful appearance pitifully lovely.

"I really like that mug." Lin Xi pulled out two more tissues and handed them to her, her movements natural and smooth. "I'm just used to using it."

Gao Qinghe felt her blood run cold.

She took the tissues, but her sobs stopped. The tears no longer flowed.

*

Evening.

The living room lights were off, only the faint blue glow of the phone screen illuminated the darkness.

Gao Qinghe held her phone, her porcelain-like face lit up, her fair skin glowing with a soft fluorescence. Her almond-shaped eyes were slightly narrowed, her long, curled eyelashes trembling like feathers in the light. Her lips were slightly pursed, full and rosy, yet carrying a trace of stubbornness. Her long hair was disheveled over her shoulders, a few strands curling inward, framing that delicate yet fragile face. She half-reclined on the sofa bed, the silk blouse over her chest rising and falling gently with her breath, the curves alluring.

She tapped open Gao Jingdong's WeChat. The pinned contact was still the glaringly obvious "Lin Xi." Gao Qinghe sighed, her fingertip sliding across the screen with a stiff weariness.

She tapped open the chat with her roommate, which showed twelve unread messages, skimmed through them hastily, and closed it.

Her phone vibrated. Gao Qinghe focused her eyes. It was her mom, sending a message asking why he hadn't replied to the previous messages and if he was okay.

…Right. At the very least, I should let Mom know I'm safe.

Her fingers flew across the screen as she typed a reply. "Mom, I've just been in a really bad mood these past couple of days. I took some time off from school. I want to go out, travel a bit, change my scenery and mood." Then she quickly added another line. "Don't worry about me."

Not long after, her mom replied with a voice message. Gao Qinghe tapped it open. The familiar voice came from the speaker, full of heartache.

"My good son, Mom's heart really aches for you. That Lin Xi truly has no taste, doesn't know how to cherish a man who gave her his whole heart. A woman like her isn't worth being taken seriously. It's fine, just relax and have a good time on your trip. Be extra careful traveling alone. I'll transfer you three hundred yuan later. Sigh… That's all Mom can spare right now. If it's not enough, just ask Mom for more, okay? Send me lots of phot—"

The word "photos" was brutally cut off by the sixty-second limit, the abrupt silence making Gao Qinghe's heart ache even more.

This daughter's body… how am I supposed to explain this to Mom?

I can't seriously tell her I turned into a woman, can I? And then what, have a mother-daughter reunion?

…But when you get down to it, it's all that strange link Mom sent that's to blame.

Gao Qinghe scrolled up, staring blankly at the link.

Before she could tap it, her phone screen suddenly went black.

Lines of red text appeared, looking like cheap PowerPoint effects:

"Do you wish to return to your original self?"

"Yes or No"

"You will randomly possess three opportunities to choose."

What the heck? Tapping this will change me back? Isn't this system a bit too casual?

Gao Qinghe's heartbeat sped up slightly. The red text flashed glaringly on the black screen, hurting her eyes.

She thought for a moment, her fingertip hovering over the screen.

Lin Xi had made it very clear. She wouldn't turn back.

When she was still Gao Jingdong, she had already lowered herself, begged and pleaded so desperately, but Lin Xi hadn't shown the slightest hint of reconsideration—

So what was the point of turning back into a man?

Wasn't being a beautiful girl infinitely better than being that poor guy?

Gao Qinghe didn't think any further. She directly tapped No.

Mom, it's okay, don't worry. It says right there, there are three chances in total. If I ever get tired of being a beautiful girl, when I come home, I'll still be your good son.

The interface suddenly vanished, as if the phone had just frozen, abruptly cutting back to the WeChat chat window.

Good grief, this system is really poorly made. It probably doesn't even have a graphic designer.

Gao Qinghe sighed and put her phone aside.

She turned sideways, lying down on the sofa, letting the soft cushions envelop her body, and pulled the blanket over herself.

Even though she had been rejected by Lin Xi, she didn't seem to feel as heartbroken anymore. After all, at least now she could stay by her side under the name Gao Qinghe.

Drowsiness washed over her like a tide, making her eyelids heavy.

Since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it. That had always been Gao Qinghe's way of dealing with things.

Whatever needs thinking about can wait until tomorrow.

She thought hazily, letting sleep carry her away.