Chapter 36: A Surprising Transformation

Once brought to the second floor, Hao Yang quickly surveyed the area. Some people were sitting on chairs, curling their hair or playing on their phones, looking quite relaxed. The only common trait among these clients was that they were all women.

“Hey there, little one. Lie down here,” said Miss Toni, gesturing to a shampoo chair.

Hao Yang, though she had never had her hair washed at a salon before, recognized the chair as a shampoo station. Without hesitation, she sat down, removed her shoes, and lay back, motionless.

“Little one, how long has it been since you last washed your hair?” Miss Toni asked, examining Hao Yang’s hair with a puzzled expression.

“I’m not sure,” Hao Yang replied softly.

“Oh, nevermind. No matter how long it’s been, Miss Toni will give you a hairstyle that will make you feel like a new person.” With that, Miss Toni turned on the water, gently rinsing Hao Yang’s hair.

Hao Yang closed her eyes to avoid water droplets.

Miss Toni washed Hao Yang’s hair with a gentle touch, occasionally massaging her scalp. The sensation was so soothing that Hao Yang gradually drifted off to sleep.

“Wake up, little one. Your hair is all clean now, and it’s time to blow-dry it,” a soft voice whispered in her ear. Hao Yang slowly opened her eyes and sat up, noticing that her hair now looked much cleaner and neater, though still damp. She put on her shoes and jumped down from the chair, following Miss Toni to a waiting seat.

“Sit still, and let me blow-dry your hair,” Miss Toni instructed, pointing to the chair.

Hao Yang complied, sitting motionless as Miss Toni adjusted the hairdryer to a low setting and began carefully drying her hair.

As her hair dried, Hao Yang felt her scalp and hair become more comfortable and soft, with a noticeable shine. Once her hair was completely dry, Miss Toni quickly retrieved a cape and fastened it around Hao Yang, ready to cut her hair.

Miss Toni spent at least half an hour cutting and meticulously trimming Hao Yang’s bangs. She then stood back, stroking her chin with a satisfied nod. Hao Yang, however, felt a slight unease at Miss Toni’s expression.

“Go take a look in the mirror, little one. See if you like your new hairstyle,” Miss Toni said, pointing to a full-length mirror nearby.

Hao Yang unbuckled the cape and hopped down from the chair, walking slowly towards the mirror. Along the way, the female clients couldn’t help but stare, their eyes filled with admiration, as if they were looking at a cute puppy. Some even took out their phones to snap pictures of her.

Hao Yang paid no attention to the stares and made her way to the mirror. When she saw her reflection, she was stunned. Standing before her was a remarkably cute little girl with a perfectly balanced face, though slightly thin.

This little girl had a look of mild surprise, her mouth slightly open, revealing a few small, pearly teeth that only added to her charm. Her soft, silky hair cascaded over her shoulders and back, and her bangs framed her face in a way that highlighted her large, innocent eyes.

In that moment, Hao Yang realized that she had always believed that such a perfect, cute little girl could only exist in a two-dimensional world. But here she was, in the real world, and Hao Yang felt an overwhelming urge to adopt this little girl as her own daughter.

But then reality struck her. The little girl in the mirror was herself. How could she adopt herself as her own daughter? It was absurd.

Hao Yang’s expression immediately soured, and the little girl in the mirror looked equally disheartened, her eyes welling up with a sad, pitiable look. Hao Yang quickly composed herself, adopting her usual stoic expression. The little girl in the mirror seemed slightly better.

“Well, how do you like your new hairstyle? Don’t you feel like a little princess?” Miss Toni asked, crouching down beside Hao Yang.

“It’s okay, I guess. But I want to go downstairs and find my brother,” Hao Yang replied.

“Alright, alright. I’ll take you downstairs to see your brother. I’m sure he’ll be as surprised as everyone else here.”

As Hao Yang was about to leave, a female client approached with a packet of snacks. “Little one, can we take a photo together? I’ll give you some snacks if you do.”

Hao Yang, unable to refuse, agreed. After the photo, more female clients came over to take pictures with her. Soon, Hao Yang was holding a variety of snacks, including small bread rolls, potato chips, and candies.

After taking photos with several clients, Hao Yang descended the stairs, her arms full of snacks. She spotted Wang Jian yelling, “Khan has stolen the crystal! We’re losing! Fall back and defend!”

His teammates rushed back to defend, clearing the minion waves and focusing all damage on Khan. Just as Wang Jian thought they might hold out, a sudden ‘Rageblade’ effect appeared over Khan’s head. With the temporary invulnerability granted by the ‘Rageblade,’ Khan managed to steal the crystal, leaving it with a sliver of health.

Wang Jian’s phone played a defeat sound, and he slumped back on the sofa, feeling weak and disheartened. Maybe he just wasn’t cut out for gaming anymore. Age and reaction times had caught up with him.

“Uncle, don’t be sad. Have a candy,” a familiar voice said, and a candy was placed in his hand. Without thinking, Wang Jian put the candy in his mouth. It had been a while since he’d eaten candy, and it tasted surprisingly good. After savoring the candy for a moment, he realized that Hao Yang must have finished her haircut and was now sitting beside him. He looked over and saw her, confirming his thought.