There are many styles of Chest Binder, each with its own price.
In order to take good care of her still-developing chest, Song Qiuyu had no choice but to grit her teeth, endure the pain of spending the money, and buy the most breathable and comfortable style.
Considering the need to have a spare for changing and washing, she bought two at once.
After all, she wouldn’t let anyone, not even herself, be wronged.
“That should do, right?”
Standing in front of the Mirror in the Changing Room, Song Qiuyu stared at her reflection—already wearing a cream-white Chest Binder—with her hands on her hips.
Then, she slowly turned around twice from left to right, doing some basic stretches and chest-expanding exercises in the cramped space.
Just as the online information said, no matter how breathable the Chest Binder, it still felt stuffy and uncomfortable when worn.
Her chest had already been swelling and aching from time to time, and this stuffiness just made it worse.
Good thing the beautiful girl in the Mirror was pleasing enough to the eye to soothe some of her frustration.
In the past, she could only admire beauties in photos or from afar; from now on, she just had to look in the Mirror to see one.
She only hoped that she wouldn’t “bear fruit” from her “branches” anytime soon.
That would be a real problem.
She hurriedly rubbed her chest a few times to ease the swelling pain, picked up her clothes from the stool, put them back on, straightened her outfit, and opened the door.
After paying, she stuffed the other Chest Binder into her backpack, and under the Store Clerk’s gaze, she walked out of the women’s clothing shop.
As soon as she stepped onto the street, Song Qiuyu couldn’t help but feel her heartbeat speed up, her pace quickening with it.
She suddenly recalled that moment in the Scenic Area, her first time wearing Female Underwear and how awkward it felt.
She also remembered the Female Classmates around her in the past, how, after their bodies started developing, they often slouched and hunched in embarrassment.
Because they were afraid of being teased by others.
At this moment, Song Qiuyu finally understood them better.
The passersby were talking about who-knows-what, their laughter continuous.
The evening wind howled past her ears, sounding like teasing, like ridicule, like flirting.
In that moment, it felt as if the whole world was spinning around her, everyone’s attention focused solely on her.
Everyone was watching her, everyone was talking about her.
But blending into the crowd, Song Qiuyu pressed her lips tightly together, doing her best not to stand out.
She held her head high and chest out, making her way through the crowd in silence, returning to the door of the Rental Apartment even faster than when she’d left.
To call it walking was an overstatement; she felt more like she was escaping—an embarrassed creature fleeing the crowd…
But perhaps those gazes, those voices, weren’t illusions after all.
Because her looks really did make her the center of attention!
Calming herself, she thought back: maybe those passersby had simply spotted a beauty and couldn’t help but stare and comment.
What they saw wasn’t a monster, but the beautiful exterior that could bewitch hearts.
She really couldn’t be inconspicuous.
Song Qiuyu took a deep breath, clutching at hope as she looked at the Rental Apartment, lifting her hand to knock on the door.
Just then, the door opened.
Her raised hand nearly knocked right into Jiang Xiao’s chest.
“Back already?”
Jiang Xiao seemed to have come out to greet her on purpose, smiling warmly and cheerfully as he opened the door wide.
As if to explain the coincidental timing, he added, “I heard your footsteps.”
“Mm…”
Song Qiuyu was momentarily stunned and withdrew her small hand.
“Hurry inside, the wind’s strong and it’s pretty cold out.” Jiang Xiao turned to the side.
Song Qiuyu nodded, stepped inside, and immediately heard him mumble in confusion.
“But Song Qiuyu, you look really hot and sweaty. The thing you said you had to do—did you go for a run outside or something?”
Jiang Xiao closed the door.
“If I said I ran into a dog outside and got chased all the way back, would you believe me?”
Song Qiuyu swallowed nervously and wiped her sweat with her sleeve, making up nonsense with a straight face.
“Really? Then you should thank that dog. That’s like an early workout, so your one-thousand-meter test will be much easier. Don’t you think?”
Jiang Xiao joked, heading toward the Living Room table.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah!”
Song Qiuyu almost choked on her own saliva.
She clutched her backpack straps, nervous and praying silently that he wouldn’t ask further.
If he pressed, she’d have to keep making things up.
She started for her Bedroom, but Jiang Xiao stopped her, picking up a bag of candy from the table and coming over, “I bought this on the way. Want some?”
“Eh?”
Song Qiuyu was stunned again.
She glanced down at the bag of candy, and her eyes immediately lit up.
It was Da Bai Tu Milk Candy, but not just Orange Flavor—there were all kinds of flavors, and the wrappers were bright and colorful.
There was a lot, too.
Why has Jiang Xiao been into candy so much lately?
Song Qiuyu didn’t hesitate, smiling as she reached out to take one. “Then I won’t be polite!”
But before she even got a finger into the bag, her hand suddenly paused, and she pulled it back.
“What’s wrong?”
Jiang Xiao looked puzzled.
“My hands are all sweaty, I should go wash them first!” With that, Song Qiuyu turned to leave.
“You’re all sweaty right now. Better not touch cold water just yet.”
Song Qiuyu paused mid-turn and looked back at Jiang Xiao.
She saw Jiang Xiao rummaging through the bag, asking her which flavor she wanted.
She answered Orange Flavor by habit, and Jiang Xiao took out an Orange-flavored Da Bai Tu Milk Candy.
In her view, he unwrapped the candy and then held it out to her lips.
Huh?
What’s this?
Song Qiuyu stared blankly at the candy, unconsciously licking her lips, wanting to reach for it.
“Dinner should be ready soon. Eat the candy now, I’ll go check on the food.”
At that moment, Jiang Xiao turned his face toward the Kitchen.
Hearing this, Song Qiuyu parted her lips slightly, about to reply, but the next second, as her lips pressed together, she felt the slight pressure of the candy being pushed in, and the sweet orange flavor spread through her mouth.
Jiang Xiao had seized the chance, while she was about to speak, to pop the candy in!
“Bite down.”
Jiang Xiao looked down at her and said.
“Don’t drop it on the floor.”
“Mmm…” Song Qiuyu’s cheeks turned a little red, her gaze lowered—not that she had to obey, but, just as he said, she couldn’t bear to let the candy fall.
She slowly raised her head, embarrassed as she let Jiang Xiao feed her the candy until it was fully in her mouth.
As ashamed as she felt about this, that mood was instantly washed away by the happiness the candy’s sweetness brought.
Even her worries, anxieties, and the troubles of her developing body were forgotten for the moment.
Song Qiuyu’s pretty face was filled with a sweet, happy smile, with no sign at all of the earlier heaviness.
“Sit and rest for a bit, dinner will be ready soon.”
Jiang Xiao’s lips curled in a small smile.
There was joy in his tone too, and as it landed in Song Qiuyu’s ears, she felt a sudden tightness in her chest, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.
“Okay!”
Song Qiuyu obediently sat down on the sofa.
Jiang Xiao put the whole bag of candy in front of her before heading into the Kitchen.
After sitting quietly on the sofa for only a few minutes, Song Qiuyu glanced back at Jiang Xiao and, seeing he was busy, slipped quickly into her own Bedroom.
Once the door was closed, she picked up her phone and opened Mobile QQ.
Might as well check her messages now!
Switch accounts.
[Jiang Xiao]: Xi’er, Song Qiuyu, he…
Seeing such a short message, a huge question mark popped up in Song Qiuyu’s mind.
That’s it?