As he spoke, Xu Yinsheng suddenly noticed the change in his voice.
In his surprise, he quickly touched his throat, wanting to confirm.
His fingertip touched a small protrusion, hard and warm.
Although it was much smaller than before, it was still there.
“I’m back?!”
Xu Yinsheng quickly picked up the mirror to confirm.
The reflection was no longer the beautiful girl from before, but a young man in a men’s shirt, with faint dark circles under his eyes, glistening with tears.
“Hahaha, truly a deity, so magnanimous.”
The person, whose eyes had just been brimming with tears, suddenly burst into laughter.
He devoutly bowed towards the vine image on his phone.
He even concocted a reason in his mind: only those who have truly experienced pain can genuinely repent.
He promised he would never be a contrarian again.
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.
“Hello, who is this?”
Xu Yinsheng, having returned to his male body, was in a great mood.
He picked up his phone, crossed his legs, and politely asked.
“Xiaoyin, it’s me.”
The man’s voice on the other end was deep and pleasant, his tone as gentle as a spring drizzle, carrying a hint of refreshing coolness.
“Oh, Old Zhao!”
Hearing this voice, Xu Yinsheng’s eyes lit up.
“It’s been so long since we last talked. How have you been recently?”
Zhao Yicheng, his childhood playmate.
Both were second-generation heirs, but Zhao Yicheng had chosen not to become a dissolute rich kid like Xu Yinsheng.
Instead, he had become a successful financial professional.
A profligate young man and a successful professional—they were initially like chalk and cheese, but under the gears of fate, they became good friends.
Zhao Yicheng was a regular in Xu Yinsheng’s small circle of friends.
Zhao Yicheng had gone abroad a year ago.
Xu Yinsheng had even held a farewell dinner for him back then.
After he went abroad, their contact became less frequent.
On the other end of the phone, Zhao Yicheng looked at a photo on his desk of the two of them taken a year ago.
In the photo, a young man had his arm around him, facing the camera, smiling so brightly and openly.
A smile touched his lips.
“I’m back in the country.”
“That’s great! Let’s get together when you’re free,” Xu Yinsheng patted his chest, speaking in a tone that suggested he had money to burn.
“My treat.”
“Tomorrow, same old place.”
“Okay.”
***
A black-haired young man quietly leaned against the dining table.
His sleeves and the dark wooden table formed a strong contrast in texture, yet the young man’s black hair resonated with it, making him appear clean and cool.
Several bottles of iced beer were casually placed on and under the table; some were empty, some still unopened.
The surroundings were lively: people drinking, shouting, playing finger-guessing games.
But in this corner, it was remarkably quiet.
The young man’s long, well-defined fingers held a half-empty beer bottle, which felt slightly cold.
His exposed wrist bones were pale and delicate.
His drunken face was a little flushed, like an inviting apple.
Zhao Yicheng unconsciously licked his lips.
The carefree Xu Yinsheng was completely unaware of that predatory, almost cheetah-like gaze.
He shook his head; his brain felt as if it had been filled with a slurry, somewhat dizzy.
After agreeing on the location yesterday, he had taken a quick shower this morning and came to this old spot.
When they were high school students, they often came to this restaurant on weekends.
The prices were affordable, and the portions were generous, immediately winning the hearts of students.
By choosing this restaurant, Xu Yinsheng also wanted to have a good heart-to-heart talk with his friend and reminisce about their high school days.
Yet, after only a few beers, he already felt like he was about to pass out.
When did his alcohol tolerance become so bad?
His body still felt warm, as if it were burning up.
“Xiaoyin, are you drunk?”
Zhao Yicheng asked with a smile, looking at the young man with flushed ears.
He was dressed in casual clothes, about 1.83 meters tall, with a handsome face and chiseled features.
His eyes were long and narrow, his lips full, and his entire demeanor seemed gentle.
“How could I be? This much alcohol doesn’t even make me bat an eyelid,” the young man with flushed ears said, as if trying to prove himself, picking up the bottle and chugging another mouthful.
“Hiccup~”
He burped, and drunkenly asked,
“Old Zhao, how have things been for you out there?”
“It’s alright. I’m currently preparing to develop my career back home,” Zhao Yicheng took a sip of beer from Xu Yinsheng’s hand and then returned it to him.
“My parents also want me to develop my career back in the country.”
Xu Yinsheng was stunned.
Something seemed off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
Zhao Yicheng’s expression was normal, as if his face was asking, Isn’t it perfectly normal for good brothers to share a beer?
He took a bite of a meat skewer and asked, “How have you been lately? Still troubled about finding a girlfriend?”
“Don’t even get me started,” Xu Yinsheng fumed at the mention of it.
He waved his hand and then sullenly gulped down some beer.
“I dated another one, but we broke up in less than a week.”
“I have money, talent, and I’m handsome – a bona fide ‘tall, rich, and handsome.’ What girl wouldn’t like that?”
“But I still don’t have a single girlfriend. I’ve become a laughing stock among the rich kids.”
Zhao Yicheng patted his shoulder sympathetically, a look of regret on his face: “My brother is so tall, rich, and handsome, who wouldn’t like him? It’s just that others have no taste.”
“Thanks for the kind words.”
Xu Yinsheng seemed to appreciate the compliment.
He put down his beer.
“Too much to drink. I’m going to the restroom first.”
***
“Blech, blech, blech~”
Xu Yinsheng leaned against the wall, bent over the toilet stall, vomiting.
Uncomfortable, very uncomfortable.
Under the double blow of ice-cold beer and fiery grilled meat, she felt her stomach churning like a stormy sea.
There was nothing to do but vomit.
After probably emptying everything from her stomach, Xu Yinsheng felt much clearer, though her chest felt a few pounds heavier, as if two weighty water balloons were hanging there.
Without time to think further, she exited the squat toilet and went to the sink, splashing cold water on her face to reduce her drunkenness.
It was a rare get-together with her good brother; they had to drink to their heart’s content.
“Sorry, I didn’t know anyone was in there,” a slightly apologetic male voice came from outside the men’s restroom.
Xu Yinsheng turned around and saw an ordinary-looking man, about twenty years old.
When the man saw Xu Yinsheng looking at him, he quickly turned and walked away, as if afraid she would get upset and take a photo to write a viral post.
“Hmm?”
Xu Yinsheng scratched her head in confusion.
What was wrong with this person?
This was the men’s restroom, it’s all men, and it’s a public restroom.
Are people really so shy now?
Indeed, she had stayed at home for too long and fallen behind the times.
Her fingertips moved down from her scalp, and faintly, she felt a lock of long hair.
Xu Yinsheng’s delicate body stiffened, as if she realized a terrifying possibility.
She slowly looked up.
Directly above the sink on the wall, there was a glass mirror about three meters long and two meters wide, allowing every customer to adjust their attire and appearance.