Chapter 6: “We’re Dating”

Noticing that Zhu Niao had already seen it, Liu Xie didn’t bother hiding it and simply handed the phone over.

It was a message from her mother.

“Back-to-school banquet?” Zhu Niao raised her eyebrows.

“Sounds about as meaningless as something like a ‘1,000 Days of Dating’ anniversary.”

“What, what? There’s a dinner?”

The loli dorm leader perked up like a bloodhound catching a scent.

“There really is. I’ll take you all with me when the time comes—we’ll eat to our hearts’ content, whatever you want,” Liu Xie waved generously.

Ye Qingchang frowned and slapped away the dorm leader’s sneaky hand trying to steal her milk tea, then said,

“It’s probably just a pretext to gather some upper-class people and let them get familiar with your ‘good little brother.’

Rich people’s parties are always like that—flashy but empty.”

Zhu Niao glanced at Ye Qingchang with a bit of admiration.

“I take back what I said before about you needing glasses because you watch too much porn.”

The roommates were all pretty familiar with Liu Xie’s family situation.

This blonde-haired rich girl had an adopted younger brother who seemed to be a strong contender for the family inheritance.

But unlike a melodramatic soap opera, Liu Xie had made it clear from the beginning that she had no interest in the inheritance.

As long as she could live comfortably, she was satisfied.

She didn’t want any of the family’s business, and everything could go to her adopted, more capable brother.

After all, she was just a carefree, rich second-generation brat.

Her parents loved both children equally, never treating one better because of ability or bloodline.

So Liu Xie lived comfortably, free of any burdens.

Since she had no intention of fighting over anything, she didn’t care at all.

“But hey, my bros,” Liu Xie said, “this meal won’t be free. I need you guys to help me out with something.”

She pointed to the first two characters in the message from her mom: [son].

“‘Son’? What’s wrong with that?” the dorm leader leaned over, puzzled.

The blonde just stuffed her milk tea into the dorm leader’s hands.

“Be good. This doesn’t concern you—go play somewhere.”

“What you’re saying is, your parents still remember you as their son. And now we need to help you explain things to them,” Ye Qingchang adjusted her glasses.

Zhu Niao nodded in agreement. In situations like this, nothing was more convincing than a group of people who had all experienced the same bizarre transformation.

“This kind of favor, I can help with,” Ye Qingchang said, sipping her milk tea again. She still felt a little uneasy under the gazes filtering in from outside.

“Count me in too,” Zhu Niao naturally agreed.

“So… there is food?” Yang Shuli still didn’t seem to have a clear grasp of the situation.

“Then it’s settled. The date isn’t confirmed yet. I’ll give my mom a heads-up in the meantime, and when the time comes, I’ll bring you guys along.”

Zhu Niao and Ye Qingchang both nodded.

“School starts tomorrow. We were planning to check out how much our environment has changed. What about you, Xiao Niao?”

Zhu Niao understood the real meaning behind Ye Qingchang’s words: she wanted to see how much of their lives had been tampered with by that unreliable rookie goddess.

“I’ll go back and take a look too.”

She was more concerned about what other surprises that goddess might have stashed away at her place besides the adult wardrobe.

Zhu Niao stood up, picked up the half-finished milk tea from the table, and walked out of the shop.

Her roommates actually seemed serious about asking the owner for a free drink.

Outside, the sun was even more intense than when she had arrived, forcing her to raise her hand to shield her eyes.

This new body seemed a bit too delicate—even slightly photophobic.

Was she really going to walk home in the blazing sun?A faint chill crept up her spine, triggering goosebumps.

She felt an irrational sense of fear.

So she stepped further aside—but that shadow followed her again.

“Junior Zhu Niao, I’m just worried about you.” His eyes carried a concern that didn’t seem fake.

“You…” Zhu Niao frowned at him.

Too close.

And just then, the boy reached into his pocket and pulled out a tissue, seemingly noticing the thin sheen of sweat on her forehead.

Just as Zhu Niao was about to flee in panic, a firm hand intercepted the tissue-bearing arm mid-air.

“Hey bro, what do you think you’re doing?”

It was a familiar voice.

Zhu Niao turned her head in surprise—and relief. It was Gou Yu, grinning like a scoundrel, who had somehow squeezed under the umbrella.

The boy who had been polite just seconds ago instantly changed his demeanor, as if he’d spotted an unwanted houseguest crawling across the floor.

“You…” He looked like he was about to say something nasty but thought better of it and swallowed his words.

Gou Yu had literally squeezed himself under the umbrella.

At his height—over 180 cm—he couldn’t even stand straight under it.

His arm muscles bulged beneath his short sleeves, veins taut, exuding tension.

The only thing that still looked remotely friendly was the faint smirk on his face.

“What I do is none of your business. What, am I not allowed to chase after a junior too?”

That shut Gou Yu up for a moment.

But when he looked to his side, he realized Zhu Niao had already darted behind him.

Like he’d just been supercharged, he straightened up slightly and replied, “I don’t care about your business, but the way you addressed her just now really pissed me off.”

“The only people allowed to call her Xiao Niao—besides her roommates—are me.”

And Zhu Niao, like a well-behaved little bird, clung to Gou Yu’s arm.

Of course, her eyes never left him.

Rather than believe in the unlikely coincidence that he happened to be making a delivery nearby, she was more inclined to think—

He’d been waiting here for her all along.

It seemed she had no other choice.

There was no way she’d call a ride for a distance of just a few minutes.

But just then, a shadow fell across her.

Someone had raised a sun umbrella over her head.

She turned around to see a stranger—an unfamiliar male student—smiling gently at her.

“Sorry, I don’t think I know you,” Zhu Niao said, folding her arms and subtly stepping out from under the umbrella.

But the shade quickly followed her.

“But I know you, Junior Zhu Niao. In weather like this, too much sun isn’t good for your skin.”

Zhu Niao had a bad feeling—the smile on his face reeked of artificial politeness.

“Hot?”

Gou Yu was caught off guard when he heard Zhu Niao’s soft, airy voice.

Then he felt the icy cold cup of milk tea press against his arm.

“Does that help cool you down a little?”

“Yeah… definitely helps.”

Clearly, the two of them had completely forgotten about someone.

“F*ck off,” the other guy finally snapped, clearly cracking.

“What are you pretending for? You’ve got a dorm room and you’re not even living in it. Instead, you’re shacked up alone with some guy—who knows what kind of relationship you two really have? You put on this pure and innocent act, but who knows what’s going on behind closed doors?”

His face was flushed—whether from sunburn or rage, it wasn’t clear.

Gou Yu suddenly remembered something important.

Zhu Niao was now a girl. And the fact that they were living together wasn’t something they could easily explain away.

No matter how he tried to justify it, it would only reflect poorly on Zhu Niao.

“Because…”

Zhu Niao once again hugged Gou Yu’s arm.

But this time, the gesture was even more intimate.

“We’re dating.”

She paused, and then added quietly but firmly:

“We’re dating. What the hell does it have to do with you?”