The two chatted idly for a while longer, mostly one asking and the other answering.
Finally, after a round of coaxing, fibbing, and nonsense from Ji Yuennian, Ji Haotong’s suspicions were at last laid to rest.
He looked at the beautiful long-haired lady before him, all dressed in brand-name clothes and looking sexy and alluring, and lifted his glass of tequila for another sip.
To be honest, there was a moment when he really doubted whether his little brother was actually a girl.
That figure, that waist, that chest, that behind… It really would be a shame if he wasn’t a girl.
“Bro, can you not look at me with that old pervert face? I’m your real little brother, you know!” Wearing spiked shoes, Ji Yuennian kicked the man’s leg with her calf. The slight pain brought Ji Haotong back to his senses, just in time to meet a pair of eyes full of disdain.
Maybe it was because things had been talked through, and this secret of cross-dressing that had been hidden deep inside was finally released, along with Ji Haotong’s repeated promise not to tell their parents.
Ji Yuennian’s anxious heart settled down, and she was no longer shy or timid as before, returning to her usual brash and carefree self, even teasing Ji Haotong on her own initiative.
Ji Haotong coughed lightly and reached out to rub the soft top of the long-haired lady’s head. “I just never thought you’d have such a niche hobby.”
“Don’t touch my head, touching heads stunts your growth.” Ji Yuennian shook her head, tossing away the hand, then scooped up another spoonful of sundae and muttered under her breath, “Just like Jiang Chi, always touching my head.”
“What are you mumbling about?”
“I said, you’re still looking pretty charming for your age, why don’t you try cross-dressing too?”
“No way.” Ji Haotong quickly waved his hand. His tastes might be broad, but for the most part, they were pretty normal.
“So, little bro, does your girlfriend know about you cross-dressing?” he asked again, confused.
“She knows.” Since she’d already told one lie, Ji Yuennian figured she might as well cover it with a whole bunch more and said offhandedly, “Not only does she know about it, she likes to hug me when I’m dressed up, and even dragged me to cosplay at a convention during summer break.”
“Oh, right.” The long-haired lady’s eyes flashed with a hint of mischief as she leaned in slightly, her red lips parting. “Bro, the two of us cosplayed as a pair of sisters—super pretty, super sexy, super eye-catching, drove all the pervs wild, and there were hordes of nerds crowding around us for photos.”
Pfft!
Ji Haotong was so shocked he almost sprayed his tequila everywhere.
He stared in disbelief at the long-haired lady in front of him, as if meeting his little brother for the first time.
Couple cosplay as sisters.
Had trends really come this far these days?
Looking at his usually calm, businesslike, elite brother, now with a face full of astonishment and disbelief…
Ji Yuennian couldn’t help it and covered her mouth, laughing out loud—a clear, melodious sound, with the crispness of silver bells.
“Miss, can I buy you a drink?” Suddenly, a burly man in a T-shirt and sunglasses walked up, holding a drink and speaking politely.
In an instant, Ji Yuennian’s face darkened visibly, as if water might drip from her expression.
Ji Haotong, seeing this, just burst out laughing, clutching his stomach and slapping his thigh as he guffawed, “Little bro—no, little sis—I think this guy is pretty nice, why not just give him your WeChat?”
A glint flashed in the man’s eyes as he turned eagerly to Ji Yuennian, waiting for her response.
“Get lost, I’m all man!” Ji Yuennian bellowed gruffly, using a rough fake voice, glaring at the man.
The man’s expression instantly changed, as if he’d seen a ghost, and he bolted off, scrambling away in panic.
Ji Haotong only laughed harder, bending over as he rocked with laughter, clutching his belly, while Ji Yuennian glared at him fiercely, gritting her teeth.
Once the tequila was finished and Ji Haotong finally stopped laughing, he paid the bill and told Ji Yuennian it was time to go home, but she waved him off.
“I’m going to sit a bit longer.”
“And,” she pointed at her outfit, cocking her head as she looked at Ji Haotong, her tone holding a trace of annoyance, “you want me to wear this home to see Mom and Dad?”
Ji Haotong’s gaze swept over Ji Yuennian’s whole outfit—an off-white jacket, micro-miniskirt, black fishnet stockings. It was a bit too sexy.
“Then you’re going back to campus?”
“I’m renting a place off-campus.”
Ji Haotong wanted to say more, something about how the outfit was too eye-catching, or it was too late and not safe, or that he should give her a ride. But remembering his little brother’s legendary five-on-one victory, he could only end up saying, “Just be careful on your way back.”
After repeating his reminders several more times, he finally left the bar.
When Ji Haotong’s figure completely vanished from sight, Ji Yuennian tucked her hair behind her ear, pressed the Bluetooth earpiece, and lowered her voice.
“Chi… Jiang Chi, are you there? What’s going on over there?”
“I’m here.”
Two identical male voices answered, one from the Bluetooth earpiece, and the other…
Following the sound, her beautiful eyes landed on a young man with blue eyes, wearing pajamas and completely out of place with the bar crowd, walking over with a cocktail in hand.
“Miss, may I buy you a drink?” Jiang Chi imitated the previous man’s tone, his lips curving in a polite smile.
“Screw you!”
“Who are you calling ‘miss’, I’m a real man!”
Ji Yuennian glared viciously at the man, then snatched the cocktail from his hand and downed it in one go.
“Too much lemon.” Smacking her lips a few times, the long-haired lady muttered, then pointed to the seat Ji Haotong had just left, signaling Jiang Chi to sit.
“So, what happened earlier?”
“If you don’t give me a good explanation, or if you set me up to get busted by my big brother and blow my cross-dressing cover on purpose, I’ll knock all eight of your teeth out!!”
Ji Yuennian waved a dainty fist menacingly, her “intimidation” making Jiang Chi struggle to hold back a laugh.
Gender-bent Ji Yuennian is just too cute…
That thought flashed in Jiang Chi’s mind again.
Suppressing the urge to smooth out the half-bristling long-haired lady, Jiang Chi quickly explained that someone’s mining had caused an electrical box to explode, cutting the power and the internet.
“So… that’s it?” Ji Yuennian rested her chin on her hands, eyeing the pajama-clad man skeptically.
“That’s it.”
“Then how’d you get out? Didn’t Aunt Chen stop you?”
Jiang Chi spread his hands. “I told her Qingchan’s power box exploded too. Girls are afraid of the dark, so I went to keep her company.”
“… ” Ji Yuennian was silent for a moment, then gave Jiang Chi a thumbs-up.
“Nicely done!”
Jiang Chi noticed Ji Yuennian’s sundae was long gone, and glancing around, saw that the bar crowd was also preparing to leave in groups.
“Are we heading back now?”
“Of course.” The long-haired lady finished her last spoonful of ice cream, wiped her mouth, and held out her hand to Jiang Chi. “Got any tissues?”
“What?” Jiang Chi asked in confusion.
“My miniskirt’s soaked. I need tissues.” The “real man” said this with total confidence.