A Young Woman's Heart

The changes that parents will feel are definitely the biggest.

If I had this kind of personality when I was a boy, I would definitely be called effeminate, right?

Well... after all, I'm practically no different from a real girl now!

There shouldn't be much difference, right?

"Xiaoyao!"

As I was pondering this, someone suddenly tapped me on the shoulder. My heart skipped a beat, but a certain male pride reminded me not to lose my composure, so I forced myself to remain calm and waited a few seconds before turning around.

What was frightening was not Hua Yinyin, but Wang Jiale, who was holding an ice cream cone and licking it with her cat-like tongue.

If it were an ordinary girl, she would have been startled just now, right?

Hmm...maybe I should act more naturally in the future?

Don't suppress your emotions.

For example, when you're startled, you act like you're startled... Girls seem to be like that, easily startled, right?

Appearing too calm might actually prevent you from building rapport.

Just like Wanyan.

"Huh, they weren't scared at all?"

"Oh my, I was almost scared to death! I couldn't even react for a moment!" I said with a hint of teasing.

"You weren't scared at all!" Wang Jiale seemed a little unhappy. She pouted, grabbed my hand, and swayed it as she said, "Can you help me out?"

"What? I'll definitely help you if I can," I said cautiously, lest she bring up a problem that was impossible to solve.

"Um... well, it's just that..." she said with a slightly awkward smile, "There's a junior in the first year of high school, super handsome, I think he's from an ethnic minority, the one with the high nose, could you help me ask him if he has a girlfriend?"

"Hey, are you serious?" I was speechless. Wang Jiale clearly doesn't know how to date, but she really likes the feeling of having a boyfriend. I really don't understand whether she needs someone to care for her or just wants to show off.

Yet, it's impossible to dislike her. After all, she is genuinely adorable, and her understanding of relationships is so vast that, compared to Hua Yinyin, or even to me, it's like a blank slate. And after spending so much time together, I know for sure that it's not an act.

If other women who frequently change boyfriends can be described as 'promiscuous', then Lele is probably just...naive.

It's similar to that feeling you had when you were in kindergarten—sometimes they were nice to you one day, and not the next.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm asking for someone else!"

"Who is it?" I retracted my earlier assessment of her and coughed a few times to cover up my embarrassment.

"Oh, um... I'll tell you quietly, but don't tell anyone else, okay?" Wang Jiale whispered in my ear, her warm breath tickling my ear. "It's Akimoto Aya."

"Eh—doesn't Aya Akimoto like Li Hongran?"

"Who told you that? She doesn't like Li Hongran."

"Ah...wouldn't it be awkward for guys shorter than her?"

"Hmph, that boy seems to be 1.8 meters tall, so he doesn't look short."

"Hey, they're both 1.8 meters tall, why don't you like Li Hongran?"

Wang Jiale waved his hand, acting as if he was meeting me for the first time: "Xiao Yao really doesn't understand. Of course, it's because... um... Li Hongran isn't handsome enough, is it?"

"Tall people are usually not very handsome, right..."

"1.8 meters isn't that tall." Even though I'm barely 1.6 meters tall myself, Wang Jiale said this in a matter-of-fact tone, leaving me speechless for a moment.

"Then why don't you go yourself? Didn't I ask you to go?"

"Um... because I... um... I'm too embarrassed to go..." Wang Jiale nudged me with a slightly flushed face. "Isn't Xiaoyao more comfortable talking to boys?"

Wouldn't my going make it even easier for people to misunderstand...?

Although I thought so, I still didn't say it out loud.

I always find it hard to refuse other people's requests.

Yu Shu obviously couldn't help with this, but Hua Yinyin could—she's always been thick-skinned, but she doesn't seem to be interested in boys at all. She definitely wouldn't be willing to ask other boys if they had girlfriends.

After all, asking such a question seems a bit too ambiguous, doesn't it?

Ugh...really, Lele is giving me another difficult problem.

But to be honest, I do enjoy the feeling of being needed.

Because if she asks me for help, it means that in her opinion, I am the best person to do this, which is a strong sign of trust!

Girls' interpersonal relationships are much more complicated than boys', so... actually, I have a lot more things to think about now than before.

Although we all get along very well, I still have to be careful sometimes, which is actually quite tiring.

"Oh... okay, okay, I'll ask for you, which class is it?"

"Class 6, Grade 11!"

"Class 6, right..." I looked up, wanting to scratch my head, but then worried about messing up my hair. In the end, I didn't refuse Wang Jiale's 'request'.

"Shall I go there now?"

"Yes, he's playing basketball on the playground!"

Lele really knows a lot...

Forget it, let's just consider her an intermediary for disseminating information.

I imagined myself as a mercenary, tasked with completing a mission through a middleman. This thought immediately made me feel much more relaxed.

As for being misunderstood... it doesn't matter. School beauties always have a lot of rumors, right?

A little more wouldn't matter.

This is absolutely not me being narcissistic. Anyway, everyone thinks I'm the school beauty, so being overly modest would just be arrogance!

Besides, I am actually quite good-looking!

She's definitely a campus beauty!

Even if someone was a boy before, they still have the ability to judge beauty. They can't unconditionally deny themselves just because they changed their gender, right?

And with Yin Yin around, if there's any big scandal, she'll definitely be the first to run over and say something awful, like, "I actually like girls" or something...

Although I never said those words, I always felt that she would do it to 'protect' me...

Whether that can be considered 'protection' or not, only heaven knows.

……

Chapter 227 Mo Xueyao Enjoying It All

December 21, 2000, was also the winter solstice in the lunar calendar.

Today will be the shortest day of the year, and after this day, the days will gradually become longer again.

The cool, bluish-gray hue is the dominant color of this season.

A dark green minivan slowly pulled up in front of the fruit shop. The door was pushed open with a bang, and a man in a military overcoat flicked his cigarette butt into the drain next to the van. He then leisurely opened the door, tossed a large package onto the door, rolled back into the van, and sped away—leaving no trace of his presence except for the package at the door.

Yang Xiaoyu happened to be riding her bike from a short distance away, and followed the exhaust fumes of the postal delivery truck to the store entrance.

"...A package delivered by Dr. Wang?" She muttered to herself as she squatted down to look at the name on it. With her other hand, she took out her keys and pulled open the roller shutter door, just in time to see Li Wanyan carrying a washbasin, preparing to come out to wash up.

Good morning, godmother.

"Yaoyao, you're still not up?" Yang Xiaoyu said with a smile, gently pinching Li Wanyan's nose. "Did you sleep cold last night?"

"not cold."

"I'll go to Aunt Jin's to buy a small heater later today. It's not like home here; the walls aren't as thick, and the cold air can easily get in." Yang Xiaoyu put the keys back in her pocket, then sat down at the counter with her package in her arms.

This is a gift from the surgeon who performed the operation on Mo Xueyao. He has been busy lately and has not had time to visit, so he sent a set of clothes instead. These clothes were worn by his daughter when she was in high school. Now she has grown much taller and can no longer fit into them, so he sent them to Mo Xueyao.

Although it was described as used clothing, it had actually been worn no more than five times. Before sending it, he even took it to a dry cleaner to have it thoroughly cleaned.

Yang Xiaoyu knew this because Dr. Wang had called her before and said he might come over again after the New Year to check on her condition.

However, next time we come, we'll have to take her to the hospital for a full body checkup.

This is not only for her health, but also because we need to collect enough data for research.

"Su Tang—" Mo Xueyao lazily rolled over and pushed the big fat cat into the cardboard box next to the bed. "Why are you sleeping here when you have your own bed...?"

"Yaoyao, aren't you getting up yet?" Her mother took the clothes out of the package and stuffed them into her bed, which immediately made the latter shrink even further into the cold.

"Huh—what? Hey Mom, why are you here so early today?" Mo Xueyao glanced at the alarm clock in alarm. "Wait a minute, is the alarm clock broken?"

“Is it wrong for your mother to come a little earlier sometimes?” Her mother glared at her with her hands on her hips. “You can lie down a little longer. There’s no rush to get up.”

"Huh, why?"

"Warm up your clothes."

"Clothes?" Mo Xueyao reached out and touched the cold object that had been stuffed into her blanket, only to find that it felt fuzzy and seemed to be made of wool.

“It was sent by Dr. Wang. It’s a set of old clothes that her daughter wore, a whole set of wool for winter.” The mother shook her head with a smile. “It’s called old, but it’s not really worn more than a few times. Besides, he just used this as an excuse to send you warm clothes. Otherwise, there would be absolutely no need to send the leggings along with it.”

"Oh--"

"You must thank Dr. Wang properly next time. Look how good he is to you."

"Okay, okay..." Mo Xueyao nodded impatiently, "Then when can I get up?"

"Once Yan Yan has finished washing up, that's fine."

"Oh—Mom, why are you here so early today?" Mo Xueyao steered the conversation back to the topic.

"A shipment is coming this morning." Her mother's voice faded into the distance, leaving Mo Xueyao alone in the small room once again.

Dr. Wang brought over a set of clothes that were perfect for this weather:

The upper body is a lambskin coat, which is relatively large and can easily be worn over a school uniform jacket.

In addition, there are two pairs of fluffy wool leggings that can be changed and washed.

These were thicker than any leggings Mo Xueyao had ever seen; it wouldn't be wrong to call them pants, the only difference being that they were much more form-fitting.

"Ah, it's so warm!" Mo Xueyao exclaimed in delight. "Even when the wind blows, it's not cold!"