As soon as Ruan Mingxi asked this question, the hospital room fell into a contemplative silence.
Bai Fan felt a bit dazed, holding his forehead.
In fact, even now, he still didn’t fully understand why he had suddenly changed back.
He had always thought that turning into a girl after returning from Hell was Jiejie’s doing.
Otherwise, how else could he explain the snow-white hair and blue eyes? They were practically cast from the same mold as hers.
But now it seemed it really wasn’t caused by her will…
“By the way,” Ruan Mingxi’s smile faded a little.
“Senior Brother probably didn’t tell you just now, probably because you just woke up and he wanted to give you some time to accept the current situation.”
She paused for a moment.
“But I think you should know this in advance. Without a doubt, you possess the Spiritual Essence to awaken as a Sublimator.”
Becoming a Sublimator isn’t just about getting physically stronger.
“Your soul, will, and body will all gravitate toward the Astral Sign you correspond to.”
“Astral Sign?” Bai Fan was taken aback. “What’s that?”
“You don’t even know that?”
Ruan Mingxi was a bit surprised but patiently explained, “Simply put, an Astral Sign is the projection of the soul. For example, my first-stage awakening corresponds to the Astral Sign of Du Crow.”
“So my hearing and vision will gradually become as keen as a Du Crow’s.”
As she spoke, Ruan Mingxi snapped her fingers.
“Focus your Perception.”
He did as she said, spreading his somewhat strained Perception.
Sure enough, he saw several oddly colored crow-like phantoms on Ruan Mingxi’s shoulders.
This reminded Bai Fan of the faint griffin phantom that had appeared behind that wanted criminal He Sheng when they confronted him.
However…
“But?” Bai Fan frowned. “A human body leaning toward a crow? What if I grow a crow’s beak? Won’t I become deformed?”
“Normally, no.” Ruan Mingxi waved her hand.
“Spiritual Essence transformation occurs more on the soul level. There are physical changes too, but most are within normal range.”
Bai Fan keenly caught the implication in her words.
“Most” means there are still a few exceptions.
He suddenly thought of Master Mo and those who called themselves Blood Descendants.
Can those guys still be considered human?
But he didn’t continue asking, because he already understood what Ruan Mingxi really meant to say.
The hospital room suddenly fell silent.
He sensed the situation inside his body. His body was fine, but the power on the “Spiritual” level seemed to have been heavily overdrawn.
He didn’t know when it would recover.
After a few seconds.
Bai Fan spoke slowly, “Do you mean… after I officially awaken, I will become a real girl?”
“You got it.” Ruan Mingxi nodded.
“Based on the Purification Ability you showed earlier, Senior Brother and I speculate that the Astral Sign you correspond to most likely belongs to the Mother Goddess System.”
“After you complete the awakening, you will completely become a girl.”
The hospital room fell silent again. Bai Fan remained silent for a few seconds.
“Then why did I change back now?”
“Because you haven’t completed the awakening.”
Ruan Mingxi explained, “You are currently in the Awakening Phase. Once your Spiritual Essence is depleted, you can’t maintain that form.”
“But when your Spiritual Essence recovers and you receive external stimulation, such as formally awakening your Astral Sign, you will transform back again.”
Bai Fan nodded.
“I understand.”
“So,” Ruan Mingxi looked at him seriously, “this is a choice that affects your entire life. I suggest you think it over carefully.”
Bai Fan fell into silence.
Suddenly, the figures of many people appeared in his mind.
Baba, Mama, and Aunt Chen, who always greeted him warmly.
What about his classmates at Night School? How would they see him?
If he chose to become a girl in the future, would everyone still accept the old Bai Fan?
Or… should he just hide everything?
Thinking of this, Bai Fan got a headache. Sure enough, it would be easier to just stay a boy.
But immediately after, another thought popped up.
Jiejie disappeared because her Spiritual Essence was depleted.
If he completed the awakening, would she come back?
Also, was the disappearance of his parents related to Sublimators?
One thought after another tangled together, causing his expression to constantly change.
Ruan Mingxi watched him but didn’t speak further.
She just sat quietly beside him, leaving him space to think.
Bang bang, the hospital room door was suddenly knocked.
“It’s me.”
Lin Xincheng’s voice came from outside.
Ruan Mingxi looked up. “Senior Brother, come in.”
The door opened, and Lin Xincheng walked in.
He glanced at Bai Fan’s complicated expression and raised an eyebrow slightly.
“What did you tell him? He just woke up. Don’t say things that put too much pressure on him.”
Ruan Mingxi immediately put her hands on her hips.
“Senior Brother, are you suspecting me of bullying your childhood sweetheart?”
Lin Xincheng: “…”
His expression showed no one knew if he was speechless at Ruan Mingxi or at the term “childhood sweetheart.”
Or maybe both?
Bai Fan quickly explained, “No, Sister Mingxi only told me what would happen after becoming a Sublimator and asked me to consider it myself.”
Lin Xincheng was a bit surprised.
“So what have you decided?”
Bai Fan immediately showed a conflicted expression.
“Sorry, Captain, I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
Lin Xincheng’s expression softened.
“It’s okay. This matter concerns your life, so you shouldn’t rush to a decision. You can take your time.”
Ruan Mingxi, biting her straw, let her gaze drift back and forth between the two, feeling increasingly strange inside.
She had known Lin Xincheng for so long and had never seen him so patient with anyone.
Even when carrying out missions with Shen Qingyu, he always had a businesslike attitude.
‘Now this tone… I’ve never seen you be this gentle with me!’
The straw was instantly flattened by her teeth.
‘This is clearly blatant double standards!’
Bai Fan was still thinking with his head lowered.
“This is your life,” Lin Xincheng slowly began. “In theory, no one should make decisions for you.”
Bai Fan subconsciously looked at him.
The young man continued, “But I can share a bit of my own experience for your reference.”
Bai Fan nodded.
He asked, “Forget about boys and girls for now, Xiao Fan. Starting from the simplest place, what kind of person do you want to be?”
The hospital room suddenly fell silent. This question seemed harder to answer than expected.
Bai Fan thought seriously for a long time, then slowly spoke.
“I want to be a brave person.
Someone who can protect the people who like me, and also protect the people I like.
I want to be someone who still chooses to uphold kindness even in darkness.
I want the important people to never leave me, and I want to hold the things I treasure in my hands.
I want to be someone who won’t disappoint myself, nor disappoint others’ expectations.”
He spoke very slowly, but exceptionally earnestly.
Lin Xincheng listened quietly, a hint of a smile appearing on his face.
“Yes, think like that. If one day in the future,
if you find that being a boy is closer to your ideal, then choose to be a boy.
If being a girl is closer to your ideal, then choose to be a girl.
Don’t make a choice based on gender, but make a choice based on the person you want to become.”
Bai Fan stared at him blankly, feeling as if something inside him had suddenly become clear.
Those tangled thoughts seemed to have finally found direction.
After a moment of silence, he said softly, “I think… I probably know the answer.”
“Thank you, Xincheng.”