Chapter 60: Maid Cafe Mayhem and a Confrontation Under the Sunset

“Another maid cafe?”

After leaving Class Four, Zhong Tian had explored nearly every class in the second year, all eighteen of them, and now, even in Class Sixteen, it was still a maid cafe!

Su Linxi had already consumed fifteen servings of pudding!

Exiting Class Sixteen, Zhong Tian glanced from the doorway towards Classes Seventeen and Eighteen nearby, where silhouettes in black and white moved within their classrooms.

How could the entire grade be maid or butler cafes?

Zhong Tian suppressed the urge to sigh and rub his forehead, lowering his gaze to Su Linxi. “Perhaps… we should try looking at the first-year classes instead.”

“…It’ll probably be much the same there too.”

Su Linxi raised her hand, pointing towards the first-year academic building, and Zhong Tian, looking from a distance, could vaguely discern the familiar black and white figures on every floor.

What kind of cultural festival was this? It was clearly a maid and butler cafe festival!

This was utterly fantastical, completely absurd!

“So… do you still intend to explore?”

“Let’s not.” Su Linxi checked her phone. “It’s almost lunchtime.”

“Shall we go to the cafeteria then?” Zhong Tian asked. “Or… if you don’t want to eat school food, we could always go home and cook.”

“The cafeteria is fine.”

Su Linxi agreed without hesitation.

“Then let’s find somewhere to sit for a bit.”

Zhong Tian checked the time; it was eleven o’clock, still half an hour until school ended at eleven thirty-five, so he decided they should go sit at the school’s convenience store.

He led Su Linxi out of the academic building and walked all the way to the school’s convenience store.

Outside the convenience store, a large awning had been installed, beneath which several tables and chairs were arranged, serving as a spot for students to eat or relax.

At that moment, it wasn’t crowded; groups of two or three sat at each table, each holding a beverage, chatting animatedly about everything under the sun.

Zhong Tian and Su Linxi also went into the convenience store, bought a cold drink, and found a small table outside to sit at.

They sat quietly, not engaging in the lively chatter of those around them, yet neither felt awkward; instead, they experienced an inexplicable sense of peace.

Zhong Tian silently chewed on his straw, watching the people move about the campus, gradually relaxing his body and mind as he leaned back against the chair.

A sigh escaped him.

A gentle breeze would make it perfect.

Zhong Tian suddenly felt his current mindset was akin to an old man’s, finding a comfortable spot to settle down and feeling as though he could peacefully sit there all afternoon.

Zhong Tian glanced at Su Linxi; she appeared pensive, holding her cold drink with both hands, only taking a small sip after a long while.

She, too, seemed quite content.

Still, a slightly uneasy Zhong Tian softly asked, “Linxi, aren’t you bored?”

“No.”

“That’s good then.”

Zhong Tian felt relieved. With anyone else, he would have had to ponder whether their words were sincere or a polite falsehood, but Su Linxi—Zhong Tian could tell—was not one to lie; when faced with a question she didn’t wish to answer, she would rather choose silence than deception.

Since she said “no,” it genuinely meant “no.”

So, they continued to sit.

****

Inside the Class Three, Second Year classroom.

As lunchtime approached, the number of guests in the class dwindled, and the maids and butlers who weren’t busy began helping the logistics team pack things away.

“Qin Dong.”

Chen Chenchen, dressed in a butler’s uniform, waved to Qin Dong, signaling her to come over.

“The costumes for the song contest have been retrieved, right?”

“Yes, they have,” Qin Dong replied. “I was planning to have you try them on after school; if they don’t fit, we’ll need to hurry back to the shop to exchange them.”

“Phew—I’m suddenly a little nervous,” he chuckled. “Performing on stage in women’s clothing—a first for me.”

“You’ll do great.”

Qin Dong said, her gaze shifting to Yu Naixi, who was currently attending to the last remaining guests, a hint of unease in her eyes.

Yu Naixi immediately noticed her gaze and returned her smile.

Last night, Yu Naixi had already explained via WeChat that Qin Dong only needed to report her name to the student council, and they would allow her direct access to the backstage to prepare. According to Yu Naixi, she had convinced the student council by using the excuse that Zhong Tian had an urgent matter and couldn’t attend, prompting them to change the list.

Though Qin Dong found it a bit strange, she couldn’t quite figure it out.

‘Ah, never mind, I’ll just do as she says.’

****

Because the cafeteria would open its windows five minutes before mealtime, Zhong Tian planned to take Su Linxi there early so they wouldn’t have to wait in a long line.

Since Su Linxi didn’t have a bowl at school, Zhong Tian took her to the “nutritious meal” window and ordered her a fifteen-yuan meal, which came with its own tray.

No sooner had they sat down than Su Linxi unwrapped the disposable chopsticks and portioned half of her rice onto Zhong Tian’s plate.

“I can’t eat this much.”

‘Hmm… after all, she just ate fifteen puddings…’

Looking at the white rice she had given him, Zhong Tian suddenly felt a little flustered. Even Zhong Jing, his own sister, had never done such a thing—her appetite had always been larger than his, and it was a wonder she didn’t try to snatch his food—yet Su Linxi, merely a friend, could act so naturally, which indeed made Zhong Tian feel a bit… unsettled.

To say he felt ‘overwhelmed by favor’ didn’t quite seem right… in any case, he just felt a little uncomfortable.

Zhong Tian didn’t pick up his chopsticks, his eyes fixed on Su Linxi’s serene expression as he silently pondered.

During the time he had spent with Su Linxi, Zhong Tian had seen no hint of wariness from her towards him; she treated him as she would a family member, which was not the usual attitude one would have towards a casual friend known for less than a month.

Su Linxi noticed Zhong Tian staring at her in a daze, so she tilted her head, expressing her confusion.

“Let’s eat…”

Zhong Tian collected his thoughts and began his lunch.

****

“What do you all think?”

These were Chen Chenchen’s first words to his classmates as he emerged from the classroom in a long dress and wig.

“It actually looks pretty good.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Haha, just the voice doesn’t match.”

Chen Chenchen’s appearance already possessed a certain feminine charm, and with the long hair and dress, there was no sense of incongruity. If he were to carefully apply makeup and some padding for his chest, he would undoubtedly be a perfect beautiful girl.

“Ahem, how about now?”

He used the technique of vocal mimicry, transforming his voice into a somewhat sweet, girlish tone.

“Oh wow, that’s spot on!”

“Hahaha, Class President is amazing!”

Qin Dong looked at Chen Chenchen in his cross-dressing attire and felt an inexplicable urge to laugh.

“By the way, where’s Zhong Tian?”

“That’s right, I’m really looking forward to seeing him in men’s clothes.”

“Qin Dong,” Chen Chenchen asked, “didn’t you tell him to come try on the clothes?”

“Um… I’ll take them to him later.”

Qin Dong had originally intended to tell Chen Chenchen right then that she would be taking Zhong Tian’s place on stage to sing, but she wasn’t yet sure if it would work out… Plus, she wanted to surprise Chen Chenchen.

‘I feel quite childish…’

She chastised herself for her petty thoughts, then, carrying the clothes, bid farewell to her classmates—she needed to go try them on.

****

After lunch, because Su Linxi was with him, it was inconvenient for Zhong Tian to go to Li Jianren’s dorm, so he opted to go home and rest, much like some other students.

They exited the school gates, climbed onto their bicycles as usual, and slowly cycled in the direction of home.

All of this was observed by Yu Naixi.

When she had seen the girl next to Zhong Tian that morning, a girl who was definitely not a student from their school, suspicion had already stirred within her.

At dismissal, she changed out of her maid outfit early, found the two in the cafeteria, and followed them all the way outside the school.

Her expression turned somber as she hailed a ride-sharing car to Zhong Tian’s residential complex.

The ride-sharing car arrived at the complex entrance before Zhong Tian and Su Linxi. She walked to the shade of a tree, concealing herself in the shadows.

Moments later, Zhong Tian and Su Linxi appeared in her sight. They entered the complex and cycled towards the floor where Zhong Tian’s home was located.

“…”

What was going on with them?

Who was that girl? When did she suddenly appear?

Living together?

How dare she?

?

[You should have listened to me earlier…]

“Shut up!”

Yu Naixi didn’t suppress her voice, shouting the words.

Her other self immediately fell silent.

Leaving her alone, standing blankly beneath the tree’s shadow.

‘Calm down…’

‘What one sees isn’t always the truth…’

She gritted her teeth, forcing her thoughts to calm.

‘I need to sort out tonight’s matter first…’

—-

At half past five in the afternoon.

The second event of the Taisan High School Cultural Festival, the “Cross-dressing Song Contest,” entered its final stages of preparation.

Because this song contest had no intention of ranking participants, and due to the tight schedule, no rehearsals had been arranged. At six o’clock, the contest would officially begin.

Each class had already organized its teams and was entering in succession. The song contest was held in the school’s grand auditorium, with first and second-year students sitting on the first floor, while third-year students occupied the second.

Backstage at this time, the male and female duos from each class had finished their costume changes, gathered backstage, and waited nervously.

Zhong Tian and Su Linxi had stayed home until five in the afternoon, returning to school only after dinner—despite not having obtained the school’s permission.

Since the class was unaware that Zhong Tian wouldn’t be performing, he felt that entering with the team would likely require some awkward explanations, which he preferred to avoid. Thus, he and Su Linxi went up to the second floor of the auditorium and found an unoccupied corner with a clear view of the stage, where they stood.

Once the audience was seated, the lights illuminated, and the two hosts ascended the stage, Zhong Tian began to feel a little nervous.

‘I hope Yu Naixi is reliable enough…’

‘Otherwise, if Class Three goes on stage and discovers they’re missing someone, it’ll be a disaster.’

****

“Dear students!”

“Teachers and leaders!”

“Good evening, everyone!”

The two hosts from the broadcasting club stood on stage, micro-phones in hand, their voices strong and resonant. Amplified by the “Taisan High-Grade Sound System,” they possessed a truly impactful force (physically speaking).

“In these days when grass grows lush, orioles flit, cicadas buzz, and boundless lotus leaves stretch to the horizon, we welcome the first-ever Cross-dressing Song Contest of Taisan High School!”

He stood outside the auditorium, observing the stage from afar through the glass.

The hosts on stage were still delivering their opening remarks, their voices loud. He found it noisy, but it didn’t disrupt his thoughts of Zhong Tian.

‘I hope to see him perform on stage,’ he thought. ‘I want to hear his voice.’

‘It must be beautiful.’

The more he imagined it, the stronger the tremor in his heart became. He opened his phone, flipping through the hundreds of photos of Zhong Tian in his album.

His gaze grew increasingly hazy as he looked, and the sounds from inside the auditorium seemed to drift away to the heavens, no longer bothering him.

‘Come soon… Zhong Tian.’

Zhong Tian, why isn’t he here yet?

Chen Chenchen, dressed in a long dress like a young girl, grew increasingly anxious backstage.

The second-year classes were scheduled to perform first, and the performance order followed the class numbers. They were Class Three, so they would be third to go on stage. Now, the male and female duos from the other classes had all arrived, but only their Class Three was still missing one person.

The leaders’ speeches had already concluded, and Class One was already preparing to go on stage, but Zhong Tian still hadn’t arrived.

‘What’s going on with him?’

He was about to pull out his phone to inquire when he noticed someone silently standing beside him.

“Qin Dong?”

He was surprised.

Because Qin Dong was wearing a suit.

The men’s suit originally prepared for Zhong Tian.

Qin Dong wore a short black wig, making her look like a tomboy.

“You…”

“Zhong Tian has an urgent matter, so I’m filling in for him…”

Qin Dong said softly, her eyes cast down.

She seemed very nervous.

Chen Chenchen paused in stunned silence for a moment, then, looking at Qin Dong’s slightly flushed face, suddenly smiled in relief.

“That’s good too.”

“Just make sure you don’t forget the lyrics this time, okay?”

“Mm.”

—-

Yu Naixi hadn’t spoken since she sat down; she silently listened to the songs from Class One and Class Two, still expressionless.

It was Class Three’s turn.

She rose and quietly departed.

****

It was Class Three’s turn!

Zhong Tian watched the stage with rapt attention, his heart pounding rapidly.

“Now, please welcome, the duo from Class Three, Second Year!”

On the stage, two figures slowly emerged from backstage.

They did it!

Zhong Tian saw the two people and immediately felt a wave of relief.

‘Right, after the event, confirming everything would bring a perfect conclusion to this matter!’

‘Okay, now I can just relax and enjoy the music.’

“Zhong Tian.”

Su Linxi suddenly spoke beside him. “I need to step away for a moment.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Restroom.”

“Oh, do you want me to take you?”

“No need.”

She finished speaking, then turned and went downstairs.

****

Class Three… that’s Zhong Tian’s class…

He grew excited, narrowing his eyes to carefully observe the two people on stage.

From this distance, he couldn’t clearly see their faces, but judging by their figures, it didn’t seem to be Zhong Tian.

He felt a pang of disappointment, and had no choice but to return his gaze to his phone.

‘But it’s fine; at least he’s here somewhere, right near me…’

He smiled, slipped one hand into his trousers and slowly began to move it, while his other hand flipped through pictures.

“Hello…”

A greeting came from behind him. Startled, he withdrew his hand, hid his phone, and quickly turned around.

The person who approached was a very beautiful girl. She was bathed in the not-too-heavy evening sunlight, wearing a captivating half-smile, her eyes, cold and incongruous with her smile, looked down upon him, who was hiding in the shadows.

At this moment, inside the grand auditorium, the chatter ceased, and a song began.

“Another quiet night, curled up alone in a rocking chair, enjoying the cool breeze…”

The song was soft, and pure.

“You… I, I’ve seen you…”

He remembered the girl in front of him; she was the fierce-eyed girl who had bought a can of coffee.

“Were you just… watching Zhong Tian… masturbating?”

Her tone was light, almost like singing.

“You saw me!”

He began to tremble, his breathing growing rapid.

“Don’t want anyone else to see?”

Yu Naixi still smiled, playing with a strand of her hair.

The disgusting man in front of her trembled, seemingly preparing to flee. She sneered, activated her ability, and erased his intention to escape.

“You… you!”

“Alright, it’s truly a bother to have such a gloomy, disgusting person as you speak to me.” Yu Naixi chuckled. “Just shut up for now.”

She altered his perception, making him ‘become’ mute.

Seeing the man in front of her unable to speak, only able to stand trembling in place, Yu Naixi’s expression grew even colder.

“I think, for someone like you, existing in this world is more harmful than beneficial. Why don’t you…”

“Why don’t you just die?”

As she spoke, golden light instantly flared in her eyes.

****

“No pretense, those fervent years, a feeling of regret, why do I feel…”

“That unadorned face, now gone…”

As the song concluded, Qin Dong and Chen Chenchen simultaneously exhaled.

The nervous tension dissipated with the end of the music, replaced by the joy of success.

“It was wonderful singing with you,” Chen Chenchen said to Qin Dong, his voice gentle, as he lowered the microphone. “I hope we can keep singing together in the future, too. May we?”

As he spoke, he extended his hand to her.

Qin Dong stared blankly at Chen Chenchen, for a moment forgetting she was still on stage.

She knew what Chen Chenchen’s outstretched hand represented, but she couldn’t quite believe it.

“At a time like this…”

Qin Dong’s voice was very small, even smaller than she had imagined.

“Your face is quite red, you know.”

Chen Chenchen smiled, gently taking her soft, small hand.

He raised the microphone and addressed the audience, “Thank you, everyone!”

Instantly, thunderous applause erupted from below the stage.

It was as if congratulating them.

Amidst the applause, Qin Dong felt the warmth emanating from her hand, her eyes slowly welled up.

“Chen Chenchen.”

“Yes?”

“From now on, you’re only allowed to sing with me, understood?”

“Absolutely.”

They exchanged smiles and, holding hands, exited the stage.

****

“How wonderful,” Yu Naixi murmured to herself, watching the two leave. “Too bad you won’t have such a fortunate ending as them…”

One final modification.

Changing the cognition of [I want to live] to [I want to die].

It’s over…

Just as she was about to finalize the last change, darkness suddenly enveloped her.

Someone had covered her eyes with cloth! And fiercely bound her waist with their hands!

“Calm down, Yu Naixi.”

A slightly youthful voice came from behind her.

She immediately recognized the owner of the voice.

It was that girl by Zhong Tian’s side!

The girl wasn’t very strong. Yu Naixi prepared to struggle and retaliate, but suddenly felt a thin, hard object pressing against her lower abdomen.

“That’s a knife pressed against your stomach. Don’t struggle.”

From her tone, it was clear the woman behind her was also very nervous.

“Why are you stopping me!”

Yu Naixi gritted her teeth, her voice hoarse as she questioned the woman behind her.

“I’m not stopping you…” she said. “I’m stopping ‘her’.”

“‘Her’…”

Her body trembled, as if waking from a dream, and the golden light in her eyes vanished instantly.

‘She’… or rather, I, almost killed someone just now.

She quickly revoked several modifications and disengaged her ability. The man in front of her shuddered and collapsed to the ground.

Su Linxi released her grip and untied the black cloth covering Yu Naixi’s eyes.

“You…”

Yu Naixi turned, looking at the long brown-haired, blue-eyed girl, her body still trembling.

“How did you know…”

Before she could finish, the side effects suddenly struck; her entire body went limp, and the hand she had extended, reaching for Su Linxi, fell limply in mid-air.

“…”

Su Linxi, without a word, departed.

Leaving Yu Naixi alone beneath the evening sun, bathed in an orange glow.