Chapter 4: Sweet and Soft…Me?

Lu Qingqi’s steps grew lighter, a gleeful spark flashing in her eyes.

All the pent-up frustration, the years of feeling inferior, seemed to pour out with that single word: “Change.”

She fixed her gaze on Liu Wangjiang’s tall, elegant back, picturing him shrinking, draped in unfamiliar curves.

She imagined panic flooding those deep purple eyes, always so distant, now brimming with tears.

She envisioned the noble young man, always the center of attention, frantically tugging at ill-fitting clothes.

Just the thought made her chuckle under her breath.

‘Liu Wangjiang, oh Liu Wangjiang, your day has come!’

Seven years—seven long years. ‘Do you know how I’ve endured these seven years?’

Sure, she wasn’t as tall as him, her family wasn’t as powerful, her grades weren’t as good.

But she was the chosen one, with a cheat code!

And this cheat could grind that noble young man into the dirt.

Her heart pounded like a drum, mingling with the thrill of getting what she wanted.

Just wait—she’d soon see Liu Wangjiang’s dignified face twist in horror, see him stumble in panic, see him roar at the stranger in the mirror, just like those poor saps she’d pranked before.

With a vicious snarl in her mind, Lu Qingqi took half a step forward, itching to hear a feminine scream erupt from the men’s restroom.

But the scream never came.

The bathroom was silent, save for the faint hum of the vent.

Lu Qingqi frowned, her excitement curdling into unease.

What was going on?

Why wasn’t Liu Wangjiang screaming in panic?

For some reason, her body felt hot, like fire coursed through her veins.

A strange softness pressed against her chest, itchy, spreading across her skin to her limbs.

“What’s happening…” She raised a hand to touch it, but the soft, elastic sensation under her fingertips jolted her.

She had no clue what was going on.

The next second, her legs buckled, strength draining away, and she pitched forward.

“Careful.”

A deep male voice sounded in her ear, and strong arms caught her waist, steadying her.

Lu Qingqi looked up, dazed, meeting those familiar deep purple eyes.

They were calm as ever, but something lurked beneath.

But that wasn’t what mattered most now.

The man… hadn’t changed.

She—no, he—froze, mind blank.

Liu Wangjiang held her, his voice gentle. “What’s wrong, Qingqi?”

His warm breath grazed her ear, carrying his crisp, masculine scent.

Lu Qingqi opened her mouth, but the sound she expected didn’t come.

Instead, a soft, feminine voice slipped out, delicate and alluring.

She shoved him away, clapping a hand over her mouth.

Her eyes darted frantically over his face, his Adam’s apple, his unchanged figure beneath his clothes.

That steady arc of his throat, his tall, elegant frame—nothing had shifted.

Why?! Why hadn’t he changed?!

This wasn’t scientific. Everyone else she’d targeted had transformed!

Was there some chance of failure with this gender-swap?

And… the heat in her chest surged, the unfamiliar weight making it hard to breathe.

Her legs felt like they were stepping on cotton.

The man’s overwhelming masculine presence made her skin scream that something was wrong.

That soft, feminine voice stuck in her throat sent shivers down her spine.

Lu Qingqi was panicking.

This was all wrong!

“I-I’m fine!” she forced out through gritted teeth, her voice hoarse, sharp, and unfamiliar.

Before she could finish, she bolted, crashing into the corridor wall in her panic.

Ignoring the pain, she stumbled forward, desperate for a quiet place to figure out this messed-up situation.

Liu Wangjiang stood there, watching her fleeing figure.

He lowered his head, his gaze lingering on his palm.

His fingertips still held the sensation of catching her.

Despite the cotton jacket, it was as if he’d touched the skin beneath—slender, tender, warm, and soft.

Not… like a boy’s.

Lu Qingqi ran in a frenzy, the heaviness in her chest and the heat coursing through her making her stagger.

She accidentally bumped into a small figure.

“Ow!” came a groan, and a blue-and-white baseball cap hit the floor.

“My hat!” A little boy clutched his head, his voice high and childish.

Snapping back to reality, Lu Qingqi grabbed the hat and handed it over.

Her fingertips brushed the boy’s soft hair, adding to her confusion.

She didn’t dare meet his eyes, muttering “sorry” before turning to flee again.

The boy put his hat back on, tilting his head to watch her stumbling retreat.

He sniffed the air with his little nose. “What a weird smell…”

He frowned, thinking. “But it feels familiar, like I’ve smelled it somewhere before…”

The thought passed quickly.

He turned to the bustling crowd, his face falling. “Whatever, I gotta find my teacher. Too many people here—I got separated. He said he’d take me on this internship to meet new patients together…”

Muttering, he adjusted his hat and stood on tiptoe to scan the crowd.

On the other side, Liu Wangjiang strolled back to the exhibition.

His eyes flicked to where he and Yuki Shirahara had parted.

No sign of Lu Qingqi. His brows furrowed slightly.

“Mr. Liu, you’re back?” Master Chen approached, his eyes anxious but his tone forcedly casual. “About that painting we discussed…”

It was a thinly veiled probe about whether Liu would buy it.

Liu Wangjiang glanced at the painting indifferently, his tone dismissive. “I know an uncle who’s into collecting. If it goes to auction, he might be interested.”

Master Chen nodded, satisfied despite not getting the answer he wanted.

Liu Wangjiang ignored him and walked straight to Yuki Shirahara, still gazing at a painting.

He pulled a small silver bell from his pocket and shook it gently.

Jingle—

The crisp sound rang out.

The passion in Yuki Shirahara’s eyes for the painting faded instantly, replaced by an almost obsessive fervor.

She turned slowly, her gaze locking onto Liu Wangjiang, drawn like a magnet, her eyes growing vacant.

“Come with me,” he said coldly.