“Let me at least see what it looks like first,” Su Mu muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
She’d wrestled with herself for what felt like an eternity, teetering on the edge of refusal, but the words never came.
‘Fine’, she thought, steeling her resolve.
‘I’ll change’.
‘It’s not like I’m the only one doing this’.
What’s there to fear?
But the moment her eyes landed on the swimsuit Tang Nai had chosen, her newfound courage crumbled.
Her jaw dropped, and she stared, dumbstruck.
It was a blue-gray one-piece, boxy and unyielding, with every inch of fabric designed to conceal.
A stark white trim, a finger’s width, framed its edges—a relic of modesty known as a sukumizu, built for function over flair.
It was as dull as the black-framed glasses perched on Ye Wanqing’s nose, those lenses that seemed to lock away her vibrancy and beauty.
The muted hue, the clunky design, the sheer lack of style—it was a twin in spirit to some nameless grunt’s battle gear.
Su Mu pictured herself in it, and her lips twitched in protest.
“Seriously? This is what you picked for me?”
Tang Nai thrust the swimsuit into her hands, her lips curling into that trademark wicked grin.
“Exactly. Bundle yourself up nice and tight, and no one will give you a second glance. Low profile, right? Isn’t that your whole deal?”
Su Mu froze, her fingers clutching the fabric as Tang Nai’s words echoed in her mind.
Was that really what she wanted?
“Forget that thing. Come on, I’m taking you to find something actually worth wearing.”
Luo Jialan swooped in, snatching the crumpled swimsuit from Su Mu’s grip and tossing it onto the table.
Before Su Mu could protest, Luo Jialan’s hand closed around her wrist, pulling her toward the door.
Tang Nai shot a playful wink at the bewildered Su Mu, snapping her fingers with a flourish.
The swimsuit on the table dissolved into shimmering light, vanishing like a mirage.
Of course.
Just like that tacky combat gear, it was another of Tang Nai’s fleeting conjurations.
“Wait, hold up—are the malls even open right now?” Su Mu stammered, stumbling to keep pace.
“Relax,” Luo Jialan said, her voice brimming with confidence.
“If a monster attack was enough to shut down everything, City B would’ve been toast ages ago.”
Truth be told, Luo Jialan’s knowledge of malls stemmed mostly from her part-time gigs.
The store they were headed to now?
She’d once been a sales clerk there, navigating its aisles and racks.
She hadn’t stayed long—entitled customers and their endless demands wore her down—but she’d memorized every piece of lingerie and swimwear the place had to offer.
So, which one would suit Su Mu best?
Luo Jialan’s mind wandered, her thoughts coalescing around the image of a pink-haired girl.
To envision her as the perfect swimsuit model, Luo Jialan began peeling away layers in her mind.
Off came the soft blue blouse, the dark trousers… until the girl stood bare, her only shield the cascade of her hair, her face flushed with shy vulnerability.
Oblivious to the daydream unfolding in Luo Jialan’s head, Su Mu only noticed the tightening grip on her wrist.
From her angle, all she could see were Luo Jialan’s earlobes, faintly pink against her blue locks.
They were so close that strands of Luo Jialan’s water-blue hair, caught by the breeze, tickled Su Mu’s nose, coaxing out a string of sneezes.
It was only after a moment that Su Mu realized her senses were steeped in the sweet, milk-tea warmth that seemed to cling to Luo Jialan’s skin.
After a breathless dash, Su Mu finally tugged her hand free, her gaze lingering on the petite blue-haired girl who darted toward the racks.
Her wrist still bore the faint heat of Luo Jialan’s palm, marked by soft red imprints that seemed to pulse with warmth, spreading through her skin.
‘Maybe I’ll stick to fresh orange juice from now on, Su Mu thought wryly’.
Wouldn’t want her to build up that kind of grip strength.
Still, compared to citrus, this scent was far more intoxicating.
“These two,” Luo Jialan said, holding up her finds.
“Which one do you like?”
In the brief walk over, she’d mentally sifted through every style she knew, narrowing it down to two favorites.
The first was a daring blue-and-white bikini, its ruffled edges playful and bold, a perfect match for Su Mu’s pink hair and ocean-blue eyes.
The second was a peach-white athletic swimsuit, nearly as modest as Tang Nai’s sukumizu but far brighter, its clean lines accentuating a slender waist and subtle curves.
Luo Jialan could guess Su Mu’s choice.
With her reserved nature, the second was the safer bet, and Luo Jialan had picked it with that in mind.
But deep down, she couldn’t help but think the bikini would suit Su Mu’s figure better… or maybe she just wanted to see her in it.
That pink-haired mouse would blush, no doubt, clutching her arms to her chest, pouting at anyone who dared stare.
It was just curiosity, Luo Jialan told herself.
Nothing more than wanting to see her reaction.
She dipped her head, hiding the flush of her thoughts, and watched as Su Mu’s fingers drifted toward the peach-white swimsuit.
A pang of disappointment flickered through her.
But Su Mu only lifted it, running her fingers over the fabric before asking, “Is there a fitting room? I’d like to try it on first.”
“There is,” Luo Jialan replied, her voice brightening.
“Trying it on’s a great idea.”
“I might not be able to tell if it looks good on me, so…”
Luo Jialan’s pale purple eyes sparkled.
“No worries. You try them on, and I’ll help. Want to take this one too?”
Su Mu hesitated, her breath catching.
After a moment, she steeled herself and took the bikini.
She knew, deep down, it would likely look better.
It would just take a bit of courage to slip it on.
In the fitting room, Su Mu faced the mirror, staring at the girl reflected back—familiar, yet alien.
Slowly, she shed her clothes.
Her body, though never meticulously maintained, was flawless: no trace of excess on her waist or limbs, her skin pale and luminous.
But she couldn’t bring herself to linger on it.
“Still embarrassed?” Irina’s voice floated through the air.
“Yeah,” Su Mu admitted, nodding faintly.
Her fingertips quivered as they neared the clasp that had haunted her the day before.
It was still daunting, but the barrier was in her mind now—she harbored an almost fearful hesitation toward her own form.
This body shared her name, her identity, but nothing else tied it to the person she’d once been.
Her physical self had transformed irreversibly, yet her heart lagged behind, anchored to the past.
“Don’t overthink it,” Irina said.
“Some steps, once taken, change everything. Cross-dressing’s either a one-time thing or a lifelong habit…”
That sounded less like encouragement and more like a warning, as if this were the threshold to some forbidden realm.
“Whatever,” Su Mu muttered.
Her fingers found the clasp with precision, pulling it inward.
The bra, her nemesis for so long, slipped off with ease.
What was there to fear?
She’d faced worse in her imagination, yet here she was, trembling at her own reflection.
Was she doomed to stay grounded forever?
No.
Su Mu would fling open the gates to this new world.
With her resolve reignited, she stood beneath the stark white light and saw—truly saw—herself.
“Irina,” she gasped, her voice faint.
“I’m dizzy. Help me.”
Irina snorted, her magic swiftly quelling the rush of blood to Su Mu’s head, staunching the nosebleed that followed.
As expected, little Su Mu was, and always would be, little Su Mu.