“Dian, dian, dian.”
“Filial, filial, filial.”
“Mama, mama, mama.!
“Elementary schooler, huh? Underage, huh? Haven’t turned eighteen, so you’re using your grandma’s ID, huh? Yo yo yo, look at you—you’re all flustered now!!!”
Xu Yinsheng took out her phone, tapped into the game interface, cursing and mumbling as she walked over to the door and pulled it open.
The moment the door swung open, Zhao Yicheng saw Xu Yinsheng furiously tapping away at her phone, spitting out all kinds of internet memes—barely any real harm, but maximum insult.
She put her phone down for a second, glanced at the man outside the door, and said, “What do you want?”
“Want some late-night snacks?” Zhao Yicheng smiled, shaking the takeout bag in his hand. “I’ve got your favorite—Corn Skewer and Grilled Fish, plus two chilled beers.”
These were Xu Yinsheng’s favorites back in high school. Every couple of weeks, or after every monthly exam, the two of them would go out to the barbecue shop outside their school for a meal.
Xu Yinsheng kept playing her game as she casually took the barbecue. Zhao Yicheng, sensing hope, was just about to follow her inside, but before he could even move his feet, the door slammed shut with a bang.
“Thanks.” Xu Yinsheng’s lazy voice floated out from inside.
“I’ll eat the barbecue. Thanks for the midnight snack.”
In the end, Zhao Yicheng could only touch his nose—still sore from bumping into the door—and walk away, gazing at the tightly shut door in resignation.
After barely dodging Zhao Yicheng’s investigation, Xu Yinsheng set the takeout barbecue on the small table by the window. At this moment, Yan Qing, the little cat-eared boy, crawled out from under the bed.
“Smells so good, big sis! Can I have some?” The little boy ran up to Xu Yinsheng, staring at her with hopeful eyes.
Looking at his pure, innocent gaze, Xu Yinsheng couldn’t help but laugh. “Here.” She handed him the Grilled Fish and picked up a Corn Skewer for herself.
“Thank you, big sis.” Yan Qing took the Grilled Fish and immediately took a big bite, a look of bliss appearing on his face. Even his cat ears perked up with happiness.
Seeing him eat so sweetly, Xu Yinsheng couldn’t resist eating too. She took a bite, her expression freezing, elegant brows furrowing. The next moment, as if not convinced, she put down the corn and tried the Grilled Fish.
The delicious, savory flavor she’d imagined didn’t spread over her tongue. Instead, it was like chewing wax—tasteless as dry wood.
Xu Yinsheng’s brows furrowed. She spat the food into the trash and wiped her mouth with a tissue.
“Big sis, what’s wrong? The barbecue isn’t good?” Yan Qing was happily eating both the fish and corn.
“Nothing.” Xu Yinsheng reached for a Chilled Beer, popped it open, and took a swig—only to bend over and spit it out a moment later.
Still no taste. Looks like this shapeshifting role had a specific diet.
She’d experienced roles like this before. For example, when she played a vampire loli, she first ate tomatoes, then drank blood, and in the end Zhao Yicheng dripped blood onto that thing…for her to lick…
What dark history!
Thinking of this, Xu Yinsheng shook her head, forcefully suppressing the memories that crept up.
Yan Qing tilted his head, utterly baffled by this big sister who suddenly spat out barbecue, then beer, and now was shaking her head for no reason.
But remembering what his teacher said, that everyone has their own preferences, he suddenly understood a lot.
Seeing that she probably wouldn’t taste barbecue for the next two months, Xu Yinsheng put down the food and picked up her phone to play a game.
Meanwhile, the little cat-eared boy devoured both portions, answering Xu Yinsheng’s questions as he ate.
He was perfectly honest, pure as could be. Whatever she asked, he answered, never hiding anything. If he didn’t know, he simply shook his head.
“Mo Heqi!” Hearing this familiar name, Xu Yinsheng shot upright, not even caring about the ongoing game, and stared at the cat-eared boy gnawing on the Grilled Fish.
“Wait, are you sure your teacher’s blind date is named Mo Heqi?!”
“Meow meow, yes, yes, she’s a big sister—no, a beautiful big sister, and she’s in the same line of work as my teacher.” As Yan Qing said this, his cheeks puffed up, like a little pufferfish.
“But I don’t like her. Teacher said he doesn’t like her either. It’s just some nosy relative trying to set them up. And that Sister Mo is always in a lab coat. Teacher told me in secret she doesn’t have any feminine charm.”
“What’s wrong, big sis? Do you know Sister Mo?”
Xu Yinsheng: ……
If it was true, the world was really small.
Their relationship could be summed up in one sentence: that woman once swindled him out of four million yuan, all for experiment funds.
Back then, she was a rich second-generation, foolish and loaded, totally unable to resist the allure of beauty. And to top it off, she was a Psychology Graduate Student—she could manipulate someone’s fetishes with ease!
“Ahem, yeah, I know her. But not very well.” Xu Yinsheng awkwardly touched her nose. There was no way she’d spill this dark history. Aside from her Gambler of Stones friend, not even Zhao Yicheng or those Hooligan Friends he was so close with knew about it. Some things were best buried forever.
“When you go back, tell your teacher to check his savings, or not to buy a house before marriage, and to keep his pants on. Don’t get tempted by beauty.” She ruffled the boy’s soft hair meaningfully.
Yan Qing didn’t really get it, but obediently nodded anyway.
After nodding, he pleaded again for Xu Yinsheng to turn him into a big sister.
Unable to resist his earnest request, Xu Yinsheng finally agreed to help.
She put down her phone, cupped her hands, and an Obsidian Crucible appeared out of thin air between her palms.
With time, she was growing more proficient with her “shapeshifting” and “Fusion” abilities, using less stamina with each attempt.
In gaming terms: as her skill proficiency increased, her mana cost decreased.
She closed her eyes.
Don’t overthink it. Just go with the flow!
That cold, indescribable feeling welled up in her consciousness once again.
A glass of cool water.
A Corn Skewer.
Half-eaten Grilled Fish.
All went in, her hands moving swiftly. Then, using the corn cob as a stirring stick, she blended everything into a mush. Finally, she plucked a hair from the little boy’s head and added it in.
With the addition of the hair, it was as if she’d injected a soul into the mixture. The mush boiled suddenly, making a piercing noise! After a few seconds, it calmed, occasionally squirming softly, as if a quiet living creature was lying at the bottom of the pot.
١٠٠٠
Xu Yinsheng drew out an Empty Test Tube from thin air and collected the liquid. Soon, a brown, viscous potion appeared in her hand.
Yan Qing rushed over, eager to take it, but Xu Yinsheng stopped him. “Are you sure you want this? No regrets?”
“Meow meow, I absolutely won’t regret it!”
“Teacher is so good to Cat-Cat, Cat-Cat wants to repay teacher, just like the little conch girl.” With that, Yan Qing snatched the potion and drank it down, closing his eyes and waiting for something to happen.
After a long time, he opened his eyes again and looked at himself. No change—he hadn’t grown taller, nothing was different.
“Big sis, why didn’t it work?” Yan Qing tilted his head, confusion and worry in his eyes.
Xu Yinsheng was baffled too. Why didn’t the potion work? The last food-based potion she made worked perfectly.
That time, mixing red wine and Erguotou knocked her out, and the food potion got lost somewhere. Trying to remake it, she just couldn’t recapture that feeling.
“Try picturing yourself as the big sister you want to become.” After thinking a bit, she suggested.
“Okay, okay.” Yan Qing nodded and closed his eyes again.
The next instant, his body began to change. His short hair grew rapidly, soon reaching his waist.
Then, his height shot up, going from about 1.3 meters straight to 1.75 meters…
Watching all this, Xu Yinsheng suddenly understood how to use this ability.
A firm will can change anything.
So this is what it meant.
Power of I Reckon, Pharmacist of I Reckon!