Chapter 1: The Unseen Transformation and an Unexpected Encounter

“Recently, an eighteen-year-old man in the Cuiyu Mountain Villa district committed suicide at home due to his girlfriend’s infidelity; according to reports…”

“It has been reported that the number of missing persons in Ning City continues to rise, with the Ning City Police Department intensifying their investigations and urging citizens to exercise caution…”

“Three days ago, the stolen corpse case saw new developments; according to the party involved, Mr. Yang, he observed a hunched figure lingering in the cemetery at the time…”

In the cozy room, Xia Wei watched the various news reports on television, feeling a sudden chill creep over her.

She quickly turned to the middle-aged man who was preparing breakfast nearby.

“Dad, what’s been happening lately? Why does it seem like there’s always trouble?”

The middle-aged man paused at her words, a faint, inexplicable glint flashing in his eyes before he turned, chuckling softly.

“How would your old man know about such things? Hurry up and eat your breakfast; you still have school after this, and I need to catch up on some sleep.”

As he spoke, he yawned, appearing utterly exhausted.

Seeing this, a pang of sympathy flickered in Xia Wei’s eyes, and she complained softly.

“Dad, why don’t you just quit that bartender job of yours? You’re always out late and coming back late, and it doesn’t even make much money.”

Hearing his daughter’s words, Xia Zhiquiu shook his head with a wry chuckle.

“If I don’t earn money, how will I support you? Jobs are hard to come by these days, and your old man doesn’t exactly have any special skills.”

“Alright, alright, hurry up and eat, my little princess.”

Upon hearing this, Xia Wei secretly vowed that she would definitely ensure her dad lived a good life.

As he watched the young girl eat, a loving expression flickered in Xia Zhiquiu’s eyes.

Truth be told, he was only thirty-four this year, so it was naturally impossible for him to have an eighteen-year-old daughter, especially since he wasn’t even married yet.

The girl was, in fact, his adopted child, and perhaps adopting her was the most correct decision he had ever made.

***

After Xia Wei left for school, Xia Zhiquiu tidied up briefly before returning to his room, where he unbuttoned his clothes, preparing to take a shower.

Just as he stepped into the bathroom, his gaze fell upon a bracelet on his wrist, and after a moment of hesitation, he finally unclasped it.

It was at this very moment that his body began to undergo a monumental transformation!

The person who had just been a man now stood as a woman!

Xia Zhiquiu gazed at her reflection in the mirror: an exquisite, alluring face, waist-length hair, the undeniably prominent “great white rabbits” (TL Note: A Chinese slang term referring to large breasts) at her chest, and a voluptuous, tempting body curve…

Seeing this, she sighed; it had, after all, been nearly three months since she had transformed into a woman.

Yet, even now, Xia Zhiquiu still found herself unable to adapt to a woman’s body, to the point where even facing such a captivating version of herself sometimes made her…

Regardless, this transformation was not of her own volition, and she had no idea how to tell her daughter, choosing instead to keep it a secret.

Fortunately, the culprit behind her transformation, the jade bracelet, possessed a miraculous ability: it allowed her to conceal her true female form during the day.

This was also why Xia Zhiquiu went out to work at night; naturally, beyond not wanting her daughter to discover anything, she had other reasons as well.

After finishing her shower, Xia Zhiquiu emerged casually draped in a bathrobe.

Perhaps due to her transformation into a woman, her thirty-four-year-old self not only showed no signs of aging but possessed skin as tender as a young girl’s.

Though, Xia Zhiquiu herself didn’t pay much mind to it.

At this moment, her slender, beautiful legs ended in delicate jade-like feet, adorned with sandals.

Her delicate feet and toes, like shy, enchanting blossoms, awaited admiration.

She walked to the bed and, without bothering with her damp hair, simply lay down.

Just then, a phone notification chimed.

Xia Zhiquiu picked it up and saw that it was the payment for her last mission that had arrived.

Her red lips curved into a slight smile, and her mood brightened considerably.

She herself didn’t even realize how utterly captivating she looked at that moment.

A beauty emerged from her bath, her allure subtly revealed.

Her flawless, jade-white legs rested casually, swaying gently, her hips rounded and sensual.

The sandals on her exquisite feet swayed, her toes plump and adorable, and the pale pink soles of her feet were tender and inviting, enough to tempt one to commit a sin.

***

In the afternoon, Xia Zhiquiu awoke from her sleep, groggily sitting up and stretching languidly.

However, after glancing at the time and realizing it was already past five o’clock, she didn’t linger in bed.

She swiftly dressed, finally donning the ancient jade bracelet.

Instantly, the breathtaking beauty transformed into a refined middle-aged man.

Only Xia Zhiquiu herself understood that the bracelet merely served as a disguise, effective only during the day; she had, in truth, become a woman…

Now, Xia Zhiquiu intended to visit the shopping mall, as some household necessities were running low.

***

Meanwhile, elsewhere, after school in the afternoon, Xia Wei walked alongside a remarkably cheerful-looking boy.

A faint blush graced the girl’s cheeks, making her appear exceptionally radiant.

“Bai Hao, let’s go get some bubble tea. I know a really great bubble tea shop.”

The boy had dyed blond hair, wore earrings, and walked with his hands in his pockets, exuding a roguish, bad-boy charm.

Upon hearing the girl’s suggestion, he seemed somewhat unenthusiastic, yet seeing her high spirits, he didn’t refuse.

Thus, the two arrived at the largest shopping mall nearby; even though it wasn’t the weekend, the place was still bustling with people.

However, just as they finished buying their bubble tea, a somewhat surprised voice sounded from behind them.

“Xiao Wei.”

Hearing the familiar voice, a flicker of panic crossed Xia Wei’s eyes.

She turned to look at her dad, chuckling nervously.

“Dad, what are you doing here?”

As she spoke, she shot a frantic glance and made desperate eye contact with the boy beside her.

At this moment, Xia Zhiquiu observed the young boy and girl before him, especially the blond-haired youth next to his daughter, and an unsettling premonition began to stir within him.

“I came to buy some daily necessities. Xiao Wei, is this your classmate?”

Before Xia Wei could reply, Bai Hao, after a meaningful glance at Xia Zhiquiu, nodded proactively and spoke politely.

“Hello, Uncle. My name is Bai Hao, and I’m Xiao Wei’s boyfriend.”

At these words, not only was Xia Zhiquiu stunned, but even Xia Wei was dumbfounded; her frantic eye signals were certainly not meant for the boy to say that!

After a long moment, Xia Zhiquiu finally recovered, his eyes narrowing instantly.

A surge of nameless anger flared within him.

After all, had his “prize cabbage” (TL Note: A Chinese metaphor for one’s cherished daughter, often implying she is being ‘stolen’ by a boy) that he had nurtured for so many years just been so easily snatched away by a pig?

“Oh? Is that so? Then, Little Hao, would you mind having a cup of coffee with Uncle?”

Xia Wei was about to interject.

“Um, Dad, Bai Hao, he…”

Before she could finish, however, the boy nodded.

“Of course not.”

Gazing at the boy’s composure, Xia Wei shot him a glare, her little face puffing up in annoyance.

Soon, the trio arrived at a very quiet coffee shop.

Xia Zhiquiu sat on one side, while Xia Wei and Bai Hao sat on the other, and the atmosphere instantly grew somewhat stiff.