Chapter 20: New Clothes

“Haaah—”

Crosti, who had been sitting on the sofa watching the show, let out a long yawn, rubbing her eyes as she stood up.

“Then I’ll head back now, Doctor Wuming. Thanks for your hospitality.”

Her voice carried obvious drowsiness; playing all day had really tired her out.

“Leaving already? Planning to go back and stream?”

Wuming asked her casually.

“Nah,” Crosti waved her hand. “Taking a break from streaming tonight. I’ll go home, take a shower, and sleep. Today was like giving myself a vacation.”

“Alright,” Wuming nodded. “I’ll walk you downstairs; be careful on the way.”

At the door, Crosti turned back and winked at Serena. “I’ll come play with you the day after tomorrow, Lina-chan~ Don’t leave Wuming again.”

“Mm. Goodbye, Crosti.”

After seeing Crosti off, only Wuming and Serena were left in the living room.

Wuming leaned against the door, his gaze involuntarily falling on Serena again, his brows slightly furrowing.

“I feel like… something’s off…”

He muttered to himself, as if scrutinizing something.

“Hm? Wuming, what did you say?”

Serena looked up puzzled.

“I mean… if I take you to the Other Race Bureau like this tomorrow—”

Wuming pointed at the outfit on Serena that could be called “battle-damaged,” his tone turning serious. “You’ll be too easily recognized.”

That dress couldn’t be worn anymore with simple mending; it was severely worn, covered in stains and scratches, even with visible tears.

More importantly, Serena had been wearing this outfit the whole time, making her recognition factor way too high—even on the road, those guys might notice her.

“Gotta get you a change of clothes…”

Wuming said, stroking his chin.

“Change clothes?” Serena looked down at her own clothes—her only possession—and then blankly at Wuming.

“But I… don’t have any other clothes.”

“Wait a sec—”

Wuming didn’t say more, turning and quickly walking into his room.

“…”

Serena thought Wuming wanted her to wear his clothes. However, when he came out and casually tossed the clothes to her—

“Here, try it on; it should fit.”

“…”

Serena looked down at the small dress in her hands that matched her size, feeling no warmth at all, only a chill rushing straight to the top of her head!

“—!!!!!”

Why does Wuming have women’s clothing at home?!

And it’s exactly my size?!

Could it be… could it be he stripped it off some figurine for me?!

That possibility flashed in Serena’s mind instantly.

If she didn’t know Wuming had that ability to animate objects, she would absolutely, immediately, without hesitation call the police and report a dead pervert collector here!

“Wuming! You… you actually stripped someone else’s clothes to give to me?!”

“What do you mean stripped someone else’s?” Wuming looked utterly baffled, even a bit aggrieved. “This is clearly my own clothes!”

Boom—!

This “my own” defense made Serena completely explode!

She quickly tapped on her phone, dialing a number.

“110?! I want to report! There’s a super big pervert here—!!!”

“Hey!! Calm down! Let me explain—!!”

Wuming’s soul nearly left his body; he lunged like a tiger and managed to snatch the phone from Serena’s hand.

The instant the phone was taken, Serena’s scream echoed through the living room like a high-pitched horn!

“Pervert—!!!”

“Big pervert—!!!”

“Death penalty—!!!”

“Doing that kind of thing to figurines is one thing…” She accused Wuming in grief and indignation, as if he’d committed a heinous crime.

“…But I didn’t expect you to… to secretly hoard women’s clothing! And have this unspeakable fetish!!!”

“Misunderstanding! It’s all a misunderstanding!!!”

Wuming jumped in anxiety, pointing at the small dress and stammering in defense. 

“Th-that was from when I was little! My mom forced me to wear it! You don’t understand; don’t talk nonsense, okay!”

“Ha—?! That makes it even scarier!!”

Not only did Serena not relax, but she showed a horrified expression of “so the problem is at the root.”

“Wuming, you… actually have a fetish for wearing women’s clothing since childhood?!”

Please stop harping on this topic!

Now even jumping into the Yong River wouldn’t wash me clean!

“I told you! It was my mom! My mom insisted I wear it!” 

Wuming was almost going crazy, his face filled with unbearable lifelessness from the past.

“And that was ages ago! Could I even fit into it now with this body?! What weird stuff are you thinking about!”

Seeing Serena’s gaze start to wander again, clearly engaging in some outrageous imagination, Wuming quickly interrupted her thoughts, suppressing his frustration to pull the topic back on track.

“Alright, alright! Hurry and try it on to see if it fits; don’t forget we have business tomorrow!”

He took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound “normal.” 

“If it really doesn’t work… I have a few old T-shirts and shorts in the closet; you can make do.”

“Anyway, put away those messed-up ideas.”

“I! Am! Not! A! Pervert!”

Wuming reiterated once more.

Serena hugged the clothes, muttering softly, her tone filled with thick doubt.

“Perverts always say they’re not perverts.”

With that, she glanced at Wuming warily like guarding against a wolf, hugged the small dress, and quickly slipped into the room.

Click.

The clear locking sound was like a resounding slap to Wuming’s face.

“…Seriously…”

Wuming slumped onto the sofa like a deflated balloon, rubbing his aching forehead.

Did she have to guard against me like a thief…

He reflected in annoyance; his brain must have short-circuited earlier—why did he dig out those “dark history” clothes on a whim?!

Now the “pervert” label, which had barely settled, was firmly welded on again, with added suspicion of “family inheritance.”

Though… if I told her my true identity, all this could be explained…

This thought flashed through Wuming’s mind and was immediately extinguished by him.

But no. This secret… isn’t something I can reveal easily.

If possible… I’d rather keep hiding it from her forever, not let her know.

After quite a while, the room door was gently pushed open.

Serena lowered her head, her hands somewhat awkwardly pinching the hem of the small dress, slowly shuffling out, her cheeks flushed with a faint red, her whole body radiating discomfort.

“H-How… do I look? Wearing this…”

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz; she quickly glanced at Wuming, then swiftly lowered her head again.

Even though she’d plastered Wuming with “pervert” labels in her mind, she still couldn’t help wanting to know his opinion.

Wuming looked her up and down, his eyes carrying pure appreciation.

“Mm, it suits you very well, Serena.”

He had to admit his mom’s eye was spot-on.

This blue, delicate small dress perfectly accentuated Serena’s slender figure and silver hair, making her look especially cute.

In Wuming’s mind, he even subconsciously thought, If paired with white stockings, it’d be even more—

Stop—!!!

Actually, there were several sets of cosplay outfits in the room from when he and his mom attended cons back then; bringing those out would definitely be more stunning…

But he killed that thought as soon as it arose. Even with his toes, he could imagine Serena’s reaction.

Pervert—! Big pervert!!!

Yeah, vivid imagery.

“Does it… really look good?”

Serena kept her head down, her fingertips gently stroking the dress fabric. This was the first time in her long fugitive life that she… truly changed into “new” clothes.

Even if it came from that “pervert”…

“Mm, very good-looking.” Wuming’s tone was affirmative. “Wear this set tomorrow. I’ll help tidy up your hair a bit too; guarantee no one will recognize you.”

“…”

Serena didn’t speak, just silently walked to the sofa and sat down next to Wuming, with some distance between them.

After a few seconds of silence, she spoke as if having made a big decision, her voice drifting lightly to Wuming.

“…Thank you, Doctor Wuming.”

“Whoa?” 

Wuming raised an eyebrow, deliberately teasing her in an exaggerated tone. 

“You were calling me ‘pervert’ and ‘death penalty’ just now; how come you’re thanking me now?”

“That’s… that’s different!”

Serena immediately flushed red, like a cat with its tail stepped on, retorting softly. 

“Thanking you is thanking you… pervert is pervert!”

She added softly: “…Pervert.”

“Fine, fine, you’re right.”

Wuming raised his hands in surrender, going along with her. “I’m a pervert, the ultimate pervert who specializes in abducting lolis home; satisfied now?”

He turned his face, looking at Serena with a mischievous smile. 

“But… knowing I’m such a dangerous pervert, you still insist on staying here? Could it be…”

He deliberately drew out the end. “You have some weird fetish too?”

“…!” Serena glared at him with puffed cheeks, her small face flushed red, finally swinging her little fist and lightly pounding Wuming’s arm.

“Per—vert!”

She took a deep breath, looking at Wuming seriously!

“I’m going to supervise you properly! Absolutely can’t let you become an irredeemable pervert!”

This sounded like a joke, but also like… some clumsy promise.

“…” Wuming looked at Serena’s serious little face, his heart slightly touched.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly changed the topic.

“Right, after tomorrow’s business is done… let’s buy you some clothes.”

“Eh—?”

Serena jerked her head up, looking at Wuming in disbelief. “You want to buy… buy clothes? For me?”

“Mm.” Wuming nodded; this was very necessary. “Buy some everyday clothes, and pajamas, underwear, stuff like that.”

“You can’t keep wearing just this one set, right? It’s uncomfortable for sleeping too, and there’s no pajamas for you.”

Though giving her his mom’s wouldn’t be impossible…

He paused, as if explaining, or stating a fact. “Anyway… you’re going to stay here for a while longer, aren’t you?”

“…” Serena opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but the words stuck at her lips and wouldn’t come out.

In the end, she just pursed her lips, deciding not to speak.

As if having made some determination, she leaned her body slightly forward, inch by inch, slowly moving closer to Wuming’s side.

Wuming noticed her approach and, almost reflexively, shifted his body quietly to the other side of the sofa, always keeping a distance from Serena.

“Hey—!!”

His action ignited Serena’s embarrassment! She felt like her intentions were blocked by an invisible wall.

An inexplicable anger “whooshed” up.

“You jerk… what do you mean by that!!”

Before her words finished, she took a big step and sat right next to Wuming, pressing close to him, completely eliminating that pitiful distance.

“You…”

The sudden intimate contact made Wuming instantly freeze! Their distance was now tightly joined.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Wuming’s heart pounded wildly in his chest, drumming uncontrollably and not calming down for a long time.

This was the first time, in a non-emergency, that he was so close to the opposite sex besides his mom.

The previous princess carries or caring for her when fainted didn’t compare to this moment’s excitement.

This feeling of such close cuddling… was something Wuming had never felt before.

This was a feeling he’d never experienced, called “sweetness,” feeling like Serena had already latched onto him.

Before Wuming could recover from the shock, Serena’s next action blanked his mind completely—

She adjusted her position, resting her cute face on Wuming’s shoulder.

This wasn’t just cuddling; it was more like a declaration, a clumsily extreme yet incredibly sincere response—

Wuming felt the contact through the clothes.

Serena used this action in place of the words she couldn’t say earlier, responding to Wuming’s offered kindness with this close gesture.

“Thank you, Wuming.”

“I’ll definitely find a way to repay you.”

“…If you want to repay… then play games with me.”

As if to shift attention, or to create distance from Serena, Wuming stood up, grabbed the controller, and handed it to her, having Serena play games with him.

The night belonged to these two.