“What did you just say your name was?”
Xie Zhuran stroked his chin, his expression serious as he examined the person before him who looked as pretty as a girl, slightly plump, though to be precise, plump in all the right places, not really fat at all.
Yet this person had just claimed to be that little fat boy?
Unbelievable.
Could it be that there were more victims of that gender-swapping illness than they had imagined?
“I’m Shen Zhou. The Shen Zhou who’s eighteen this year, a freshman in his second semester, with no bad habits, just too fat. I just lost some weight, and you can’t even recognize me?”
The person in front of them let out an ‘oh’ and laughed.
As soon as these words were spoken, five of the six people present had their brains short-circuit for a moment.
“She’s joking. She’s my girlfriend, Liu Qingqing, a drama performance major.”
Xiao He straightforwardly exposed the truth.
“Isn’t this blockhead so lacking in fun? His girlfriend is right here joking and teasing people, and he doesn’t even know how to help cover for her.”
Liu Qingqing sighed.
“Who jokes like that?”
Xie Zhuran rolled his eyes at Liu Qingqing.
Song Qiuyu would be endlessly grateful for Lao Xie’s role as the mouthpiece.
“You just don’t get it.”
Lin An narrowed his eyes into slits, giving a scheming smile as he said:
“The more it’s the kind of joke that others think is absolutely impossible and can be seen through at a glance, the more value it has in being said.”
“Because it’s too easy to see through, most people wouldn’t say it. But if at such a time, someone says it with a completely straight face, many people will think it’s actually true. The phrase ‘the more you think about it, the more terrifying it becomes’ applies perfectly here.”
Hearing this, Song Qiuyu’s heart skipped a beat, and a bead of cold sweat slid down her cheek.
For some reason, she had the illusion that Lao Lin was talking about her.
“Right.”
Sang Tian nodded, agreeing: “Just like if Classmate Song came back after winter break and said he had turned into a girl.”
Song Qiuyu’s heart raced with fright.
“Haha…”
Xie Zhuran spread his hands, backing up his brother: “It really is. Lao Lin’s words do make sense. These are things that absolutely cannot happen.”
Jiang Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly, his thoughts many.
“Actually, Shen Zhou’s changes over winter break really are huge. You’ll know when you see him later. After all, as the old saying goes, every fat person is a potential stock.”
As Liu Qingqing said this, she looked back, then her eyes lit up: “Well, the real Shen Zhou is here.”
Everyone followed her gaze and saw a tall, quite slim, decent-looking boy walking towards them.
“?”
Everyone was stunned.
Song Qiuyu was among them.
She tilted her head, trying to follow Liu Qingqing’s gaze to look for someone else.
However, no matter how she looked, it seemed this boy was the fat boy Shen Zhou himself.
Just one winter break, some people gained weight, some became weathered, some are about to get married, and some quietly succeeded in losing weight and became handsome?
But this change is too much. Is it really the same person?
“Hello, everyone! Long time no see!”
Shen Zhou stood with his hands on his hips.
After some chatting, Song Qiuyu roughly understood the situation.
Turns out, it was another youth persecuted by relatives during the Lunar New Year.
Although Shen Zhou channeled his grief into motivation and finally managed to lose weight with all his might, from the result, he was still a step behind Xiao He.
Xiao He, recommended by relatives over winter break, had actually gotten a girlfriend, and from the same school at that.
But Shen Zhou had not.
“I’m so handsome now. Getting a girlfriend is just a matter of time. I’m not panicking anymore.”
Shen Zhou said this, shaking his middle-parted hair.
The remaining possibility might be to add points in other areas.
Like cultivating hobbies and interests.
He firmly believed that before summer vacation, he would definitely succeed in getting a girlfriend.
“How about you wear some overalls, learn to play basketball and rap? I guarantee you’ll attract a lot of attention.”
Xie Zhuran, looking at the other’s super high-level haircut, was fiercely jealous.
“Then how about you become a silent type from now on, only saying ‘2’, and wearing a black mask every day? I believe you’d be very popular too, after all, that’s Saito Hajime!” Shen Zhou retorted without mercy.
The sparks between men always ignite at the slightest touch. Shen Zhou and Xie Zhuran started arguing, while Liu Qingqing and Xiao He, having successfully joined the club, had already left the fat boy behind to go eat.
Song Qiuyu wasn’t in a hurry to leave. After watching their argument for a while, she saw the two make up, with the fat boy even promising to take Xie Zhuran for a good haircut. She couldn’t help but curl a smile at the corner of her mouth.
She felt like she knew why the fat boy couldn’t find a girlfriend.
One word: clueless.
“You finally finished arguing. Let’s go, let’s go eat.”
As she said this, she looked at the three others who had also been silently waiting.
“But Classmate Song, are you going to eat in those clothes?”
Sang Tian suddenly said.
“Uh…”
Song Qiuyu scratched her head.
Although they still had to continue recruiting later in the evening, taking them off now meant having to put them back on later, which was troublesome.
But after all, they were costumes. Getting oil stains on them would be hard to wash!
She could only shake her head.
The other three were the same.
After changing back into their regular clothes, the six of them headed to the cafeteria together.
Along the way, they chatted and looked at the comments on their short video, and unexpectedly discovered that the Drama Club’s recruitment booth had been pinned to the top of the campus forum’s featured posts.
Their photos and recruitment short video had even unknowingly spread to various group chats.
Some were writing fanfiction sequels to Little Red Riding Hood and the Hunter Uncle, drawing fan comics, depicting Little Red Riding Hood with ahegao face and hands making peace signs—turning the story completely into an adult fairy tale.
The number of their short video’s organic fans was skyrocketing.
But looking around, Song Qiuyu only saw people thirsting over her. The scary part was, it wasn’t just guys, but girls too.
The sweet girl image of Little Red Riding Hood seemed to have taken root in people’s hearts more rapidly than any image she had used for her short videos since she started filming.
“Lao Song, you’re really famous this time!”
Xie Zhuran, sitting in the cafeteria eating, said with emotion.
“If you become rich, don’t forget us!”
Lin An also joined in teasing.
“I won’t forget! But look, just me cross-dressing has this effect. How about we make a short video later with all of you cross-dressing?”
Song Qiuyu raised an eyebrow.
“For example, add some buffs, cosplay as Yae Miko, cosplay as Raiden Shogun, cosplay as Katheryne, or cosplay something else, and pull the club president in too!”
“Lao Song, you’re a devil!”
Xie Zhuran sucked in a breath, not even daring to imagine how terrifying that scene would be. He gritted his teeth and turned to look at the other’s boyfriend.
“Lao Jiang, hurry up and control him!!”
Jiang Xia just shrugged at this, chuckling as he said: “But I think Qiuyu’s suggestion is pretty good. Why should he always be the only one cross-dressing?”
“Ah, this couple.”
Xie Zhuran gave up struggling and silently focused on his meal.
Sang Tian had a face full of smiles.
Lin An’s glasses reflected the light.
“Oh, have you guys checked the major group chat?”
Song Qiuyu glanced at her phone screen, changing the subject.
“What’s up?”
Xie Zhuran was taken aback.
“Turns out our school’s thirtieth anniversary is in just one week. The class counselor said that day, the school will give all students a little cake to eat, and there will be an alumni basketball game to watch!”
Song Qiuyu, looking at the message the class counselor had just sent in the major group chat, said with a bit of anticipation.
Lin An also glanced at the major group chat at this time, adding: “Oh? It’s not just that. The school is also spontaneously organizing a few basketball teams to play against the returning alumni. As long as you participate in the match, win or lose, you get three credits. Those three credits are basically free.”
“Hmm… That sounds pretty good. What do you think?”
Jiang Xiao looked at the major group chat twice, then continued eating.
“Could it be? You guys want to participate in the basketball game?”
Song Qiuyu blinked her eyes.
“We could give it a try?”
Jiang Xiao chuckled lightly.
“After all, that’s three credits.”
Lin An adjusted his glasses.
“Good. The basketball game isn’t important. What’s important is the credits! And the girls! As long as you participate, you’ll definitely become the center of attention!”
Xie Zhuran was full of fighting spirit.
Hearing this, Song Qiuyu lightly bit her chopsticks, hesitated for a while, frowned, and spoke up: “How about… I give it a try too?”