Chapter 41: A Fashion Kingdom and a Liberated Heart

As the wardrobe swung open, a dazzling array of clothes burst into view.

These garments, diverse in style and vibrant in color, seemed to form a magnificent kingdom of fashion.

From opulent evening gowns to simple daily dresses, from stylish jeans to elegant suits, every imaginable piece was present.

Beside them, rows upon rows of shoes were meticulously arranged by style and color—heels, flats, sneakers, and more. Each pair gleamed as if brand new, an overwhelming sight.

Bai Mengqi was utterly stunned by the sheer volume of clothing. She couldn’t help but exclaim, “Can you… can you possibly wear all of this?”

As she spoke, she reached out, gently touching the beautiful garments. Her fingers glided over the delicate fabrics, feeling their textures, her heart filled with envy.

An undeniable longing shone in her eyes; these clothes seemed to possess an immense allure, making it impossible for her to look away.

Upon hearing Bai Mengqi’s words, Zi Yanran merely spread her hands, a relaxed smile gracing her face. She remarked, “Many of these clothes have only been worn once, then never again. You look like you’re itching to try them on. Want to give it a go?”

Zi Yanran was a meticulous and perceptive individual. She instantly caught the subtle signal in Bai Mengqi’s eyes—the desire to try them on.

Though they had only been together for about a day, counting yesterday, she could discern that beneath Bai Mengqi’s seemingly tomboyish exterior lay a hidden maiden’s heart.

Bai Mengqi’s face flushed slightly at Zi Yanran’s words.

She truly felt conflicted. After all, she had lived as a woman for a year. While her life hadn’t undergone drastic changes during that time, her mindset had shifted enormously, and she had indeed developed an interest in feminine things.

These beautiful clothes, for instance, and the exquisite accessories that shimmered with enchanting light, always made her heart flutter whenever she saw them.

Yet, her ingrained masculine way of thinking made her feel deeply ashamed. A tangled feeling of wanting to but not daring to try gnawed at her, like two small figures endlessly bickering in her mind—one urging, ‘What harm is there in trying?’ while the other insisted, ‘No, absolutely not! It’s too embarrassing.’

“Don’t you… don’t you think I’m being perverted?” Bai Mengqi asked, her face faintly red, a hint of shyness in her voice.

Her voice carried a trace of apprehension, and she dared not meet Zi Yanran’s gaze, instead looking down and nervously twisting the corner of her clothes, as if awaiting judgment.

Zi Yanran shook her head without hesitation, her eyes sincere. She took a few steps forward, standing before Bai Mengqi, and stated earnestly, “No, I actually think you’re truly adorable. Remember, between you and me, there’s no need to hide anything. I can accept everything about you.”

Her words were as gentle as a warm spring breeze, softly caressing Bai Mengqi’s troubled and anxious heart.

Upon hearing this, Bai Mengqi felt an invisible lock within her heart click open.

She instantly felt a great weight lifted, and the suppressed emotions that had burdened her for so long began to dissipate. The gloom that had shrouded her heart was pierced by sunlight, ushering in a bright expanse.

“Then… then I won’t hold back! I’ve wanted to try this for a long time. Oh, and I’ll show you my true appearance; it will definitely shock you!” Bai Mengqi declared, suddenly dropping all her disguises.

In the next instant, a burst of white light emanated from her, so dazzling that Zi Yanran instinctively averted her eyes.

When she looked at Bai Mengqi again, she discovered that Bai Mengqi had transformed, now appearing with silver hair and golden eyes.

Her silver hair shimmered with a soft glow under the room’s lights, like a flowing silver waterfall, while her golden eyes resembled two deep and mysterious amber gems.

Seeing Bai Mengqi in this form, Zi Yanran’s heart began to pound faster.

She widened her eyes, asking excitedly, “This is it, isn’t it? This is how you looked when you saved me back then?”

Her voice trembled slightly with excitement, and the vivid, unforgettable scene from years ago flashed through her mind.

Bai Mengqi nodded, gently stroking her silver hair. A flicker of remembrance passed through her eyes as she said, “Yes, this is my ability user form. If it weren’t so unusual, I would live like this all the time.”

Her gaze held a touch of helplessness; such a unique appearance was indeed too peculiar in the eyes of ordinary people, making it difficult to blend into normal life.

Zi Yanran reached out and gently ran her fingers through Bai Mengqi’s silver hair, marveling at its softness. “What beautiful hair,” she praised. “Actually, silver hair isn’t impossible to show in public. Many girls dye their hair. It’s mainly these eyes… they’re truly stunning.”

Her face was filled with adoration, as if she had discovered a rare treasure.

Bai Mengqi’s eyes lit up at Zi Yanran’s words.

“Really? A head of silver hair and golden eyes—won’t people think I’m a monster?” Bai Mengqi asked timidly.

Though her heart was stirred, she still worried about attracting strange looks.

Zi Yanran giggled.

“It’s fine, I’ll be with you. I’ve been wanting to try dyeing my hair anyway. Then I’ll just say we dyed our hair together. The company won’t say anything. As for eye color, that’s even less of an issue—just say you’re wearing colored contacts, right?”

Her tone was light and cheerful, as if none of this was difficult. She simply wanted to try new and interesting things with Bai Mengqi.

Upon hearing this, Bai Mengqi immediately became eager to try.

“Alright, let’s give it a try.” The more Bai Mengqi thought about it, the more thrilling it seemed. A smile of excitement gradually spread across her face, and her earlier reservations were cast to the winds.

She then began rummaging through Zi Yanran’s wardrobe, pulling out garment after garment to hold against herself.

Her height was similar to Zi Yanran’s, so the length of the clothes was generally suitable. However, her figure was certainly not as curvaceous as Zi Yanran’s, so some of Zi Yanran’s more form-fitting clothes didn’t quite fit, always appearing a bit loose.

Yet, loose dresses, in particular, looked perfectly natural on her, even adding a touch of ethereal grace.

At this moment, Zi Yanran, who should have been the wife, instead took on the husband’s role. She stood by, helping Bai Mengqi choose clothes, offering styling advice, and occasionally praising how good Bai Mengqi looked.

Bai Mengqi, who should have been the husband, behaved like a pampered little wife, freely expressing her joy before Zi Yanran. One moment she was twirling in front of the mirror with an outfit, the next she was excitedly discussing styling details with Zi Yanran, completely immersed in this rare experience.

Truly, this feeling of not needing to hide was incredibly liberating.

****

Later that evening, around seven or eight o’clock, the sky had gradually darkened, and the city lights began to twinkle.

Wang Lei returned home from work. Dragging his weary body, he walked into his residence. As he prepared to head to his room, he noticed that Bai Mengqi next door had already moved out.

He then stepped back out of his residence and approached the neighboring door.

Knock, knock…

The sound of knocking immediately startled Bai Mengqi, who was still in her room trying on various women’s clothes.