A quarter of an hour later—
I hadn’t even gotten the chance to ask my question when I was already “voluntarily” sitting in bed, holding a book and rereading it over and over.
Pregnancy Care Guidelines
The ghost fetus was very pleased with my seemingly obedient behavior—it proved I was taking her seriously.
As for me?
I was on the verge of tears.
Who the hell was “voluntary”?
There was no other choice.
The ghost fetus was simply too powerful, and it was nearly impossible for anyone to openly go against her.
I kept a sweet smile plastered on my face while cursing her to hell and back in my heart.
I even secretly started planning countless scenarios of one day reclaiming dominance and becoming the one in charge.
“Focus on nurturing the baby,” the ghost fetus finally broke the silence and softened her tone.
“As long as you behave and don’t cause trouble, I won’t treat you badly after I’m born.”
“Mm-hmm, I know now… who really has my best interests at heart. Why would I cause you any trouble?”
I responded with an innocent smile, perfectly feigning the image of someone truly reformed.
By now, I’d basically figured out how to get along with the ghost fetus.
If I treated this pregnancy like a contract with an overbearing and impossible-to-refuse client, then all my current submission and humility made perfect sense.
If I could butter up this little boss properly, I’d at least gain an extra year or so of life.
Not to mention the fringe benefits of being a flunky, like the power to bluff and threaten others under her name—what more could I ask for?
If you can’t resist, might as well lie back and enjoy it.
I’ve always been pretty good at seeing the bright side.
As for the identity of the ghost fetus’s biological mother—that was something I absolutely didn’t dare think about anymore.
Just surviving was enough of a miracle.
Add to that a bit of rebellious daydreaming—like secretly hoping to one day expel this thing and take back my life—and I was already over the moon.
I continued to flip earnestly through the pages of my book.
A concrete plan for future conduct was gradually forming in my mind.
The ghost fetus, seeing how seriously I was reading, let out a soft hum of satisfaction.
It seemed…
I wasn’t lying after all.
I truly was taking her to heart.
[You’re not getting shy, are you…?]
[Tsk, wait—are you holding back in front of your little sister because I’m in the team?]
[Or wait, don’t tell me… you’ve got a crush on me?! Holy sh—]
Nightcat’s message cut off abruptly. I could already imagine the look on her face—definitely something colorful.
What the hell kind of brain is capable of jumping to that conclusion?
I tidied up a little, then left the house.
As I closed the door, I casually typed out a reply.
[Get lost. Who would ever fall for you?!]
That was our usual way of talking.
[School’s about to start. I’m heading out to prep. No time for games right now.]
If even someone like Nightcat, a known looks-obsessed freak, called the girl cute, I had to admit I was a little curious.
Then I remembered my current state—and could only tearfully reject the girl’s kindness.
Why… Why did my romantic prospects only start showing up now?
Now that I’ve turned into a girl… and I’m pregnant on top of it.
At that moment—
I felt like some wretched ghost burdened with a lifetime of regret, and the gloomy aura I carried could be seen from a mile away.
In the stairwell, a little girl looked at me with wide eyes and asked innocently:
“Mommy, Mommy, that big sister looks so sad… Like our dog Ah-Huang when we forget to feed him. She looks so unhappy.”
I had just turned the corner and vanished from their view when I heard the mother whisper:
“Her whole face is green. Probably went bankrupt on the stock market. From now on, if you ever see her, stay far away. You don’t want to get caught up if she decides to take it out on the world.”
“Oh, okay. She really is pitiful—”
From afar, I stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.
Great.
Stock market failure, huh?
Guess I’ve just earned myself a brand-new title out of nowhere.
Ding-dong.
[Such a shame. This girl was so cute, even someone like me—super picky about appearances—couldn’t help but gush over her.]
[She’s even a fan of yours. After hearing about your past gaming exploits, she’s totally smitten and wanted to team up.]
I stared at the screen, lost in thought.
Really that cute?
Probably… a bit exaggerated.
My standards for cuteness are pretty high.
Honestly, in my whole life, the only person I’ve ever met who was truly “super cute”… was that one person always scheming against me.
And maybe because of that bitter rival filter, I somehow couldn’t feel any attraction to Su Liumeng at all.
[Maybe next time.]
I replied halfheartedly.
But deep down I knew—
Now that I’ve become a girl…
There might never be a next time.
We were just two strangers crossing paths by chance.
How many people even get the chance to brush shoulders twice in life?
At the same time—
A cute young girl who had recently arrived in City A sat staring at the empty team lobby on her screen.
Her bright eyes dimmed just a little.
“Jiuyan-senpai must be really busy…”
A voice came through her headset—another girl trying to comfort her.
“I heard him say last week that he’s also coming to Jing University. You two are bound to meet someday.”
The dim light in her eyes immediately reignited—tenfold.
“He’s really coming to Jing University?”
Suddenly, she thought of a certain very annoying someone who was also headed there.
Disgust flashed across her eyes.
“Tch. That lingering ghost just won’t go away. If he were even half as gentle and refined as Jiuyan-senpai, I wouldn’t hate him so much.”
“Hmph. One day, I’ll make him regret leaving the Su family.”
The moment Jiuyan-senpai was mentioned, stars lit up in her eyes again—just like a fangirl idolizing her favorite celebrity.
She rested her chin on the table, smiling like an idiot, already daydreaming about how they might meet in real life.
She hadn’t even played a single game with this mysterious pro, but for some reason, she just knew—he had to be kind and gentle.
That’s just how powerful an idol’s glow could be.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the call, a girl with a much more mature aura was typing away at her keyboard.
“Didn’t expect… Little Yan to be this young. No idea which college he’s attending, though.”
“Well, he’s my only gaming bro. I gotta look out for him.”
She recalled how Jiuyan never turned on his webcam during voice chats.
A thought began to form in the back of her mind.
Maybe… he’s not that good-looking.
No matter.
She reassured herself silently.
Even if he’s as ugly as a stuffed Duffy pig, he’s still my one and only brother—Upstanding Moon.