Chapter 11: Chapter 9: The Brink of Social Suicide

“Let’s go!”

Shi Meng grabbed Xiao Xi and forcibly dragged him all the way out of her sister’s room. She hauled him right out of the house and slammed the door shut, and just like that, everything felt like it had the morning before.

Xiao Xi hadn’t even eaten breakfast before he was pulled outside. The faint morning light filtered onto the streets, which were sparsely populated. At this hour, aside from the elderly out for a morning stroll and the miserable students, you rarely saw anyone else.

Xiao Xi stood frozen in place, a little disoriented. He was still wearing women’s clothes, and Shi Meng had just dragged him out onto the main street. It was so… so embarrassing.

‘Please don’t let anyone recognize me.’

“Don’t worry. The way you look right now, even I can barely recognize you. When I first walked into the room, I almost thought my sister had brought a strange woman home and was cheating on you.”

Shi Meng’s words only made Xiao Xi feel more self-conscious.

“So… are we going to school now?”

Having been so abruptly yanked from the house, Xiao Xi felt completely lost. Shi Meng ran a hand through her hair in frustration. “Your vacation isn’t over yet. Of course, you could go back to school now, let your teacher know, and just start attending classes again.”

“Ah—no way,” Xiao Xi balked. “Who would ever choose to go to school for fun…?”

“It’s because you’re about to become Sister’s little puppy!” Shi Meng was genuinely angry now, her cute face clouded with vexation. After shouting at Xiao Xi, she squatted down and began to silently wipe away tears.

It seemed…

Shi Meng didn’t want him to live off her sister.

Xiao Xi crouched down beside her and gently patted her head.

‘Right.’

He wasn’t just Sister Yuan’s childhood friend; he was Shi Meng’s childhood friend, her older brother figure.

Though he was fostered by the Shi family, he had never forgotten that one day, he would have to return to his parents. And after that… perhaps he would start a career and build a small family of his own.

He had his own life, his own future. If he stopped here, if he let himself get tied down, all his dreams would crumble. He would be completely dependent on Sister Yuan for survival. And how would that make him any different from a parasite?

Xiao Xi knew the Shi family was wealthy, and he knew Aunt Shi wouldn’t mind him staying at home forever. She might even be delighted if he married Sister Yuan. But Shi Xi didn’t want to just be a kept man. He wanted to make something of himself when he grew up, to repay Aunt Shi for her years of kindness. He wanted to become stronger, to protect both Sister Yuan and Shi Meng.

If he married Sister Yuan and lived off her, becoming her pet or her so-called trophy wife… he wouldn’t be able to do any of that.

Besides, for as long as he could remember, Xiao Xi had always seen Sister Yuan and Shi Meng as family. The sudden talk of an engagement… he just couldn’t accept it.

And so…

“Don’t cry, Shi Meng. My goal hasn’t changed. I will break free from Sister Yuan’s control. I won’t let myself be married off so easily.”

“Really?” Shi Meng looked up, her eyes red and swollen as she stared at him, her voice filled with hope. Xiao Xi nodded firmly. “Yeah, really. I’ll do my best!”

“Okay!” Shi Meng smiled, her spirits renewed. She jumped to her feet and declared, “Let’s go to school!”

‘Ah, this…’

‘Couldn’t the whole school thing wait a little?’

Going to school dressed like this… no matter how he thought about it, it was guaranteed to end in a tragedy known as “social suicide.”

Xiao Xi couldn’t even bear to imagine how his classmates would look at him if he showed up in this outfit.

“Hey, Xiao Xi~ Lemme see what’s under your skirt~”

That’s what the class delinquents would do.

“You damn sissy, so disgusting—”

That’s what the toxic, chauvinistic guys in class would say.

“Xiao Xi is his deskmate, oh my god, oh my god—”

‘Hey, hey, you! The girl currently being revived by her friends! You’ve rotted from the inside, you know that? You’re beyond saving!’

“Xiao Xi, I’ve actually liked you for a long time. Please go out with me!”

‘Th-th-this…’

‘Take a closer look, my friend, I’m a guy! I’m still a guy even in a dress! What I’ve got down there might be bigger than yours, can you please snap out of it? What? That makes you even more excited?’

‘That would definitely be the class pervert!’

‘Wait…’

‘Why am I getting confessed to in my own imagination?’

It was over. He was a lost cause. Just imagining the chaotic scene in his classroom made Xiao Xi want to die of shame. It was all his fault. It was because he failed to resist his sister that things had come to this. He had failed the good people of the Ruishu Scanlation Group. The only way to atone was with his life—

Xiao Xi collapsed to the ground, clutching his head and sobbing. Shi Meng, who had just done the same thing moments earlier, could only stare in bewilderment. Why was he copying her?

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong with you? Are you losing your mind, bro?”

“I can’t go back to school! Everyone will laugh me to death,” Xiao Xi whined pitifully.

“Well, duh…” Shi Meng was stunned for a moment, the corner of her mouth twitching. “Of course I know that,” she said, slightly annoyed. “We’re going to the school to find Senior Sister Meiyou at the Volunteer Club. Who said anything about going to class? My vacation isn’t over yet, either.”

“Huh?” Xiao Xi calmed down. Find Senior Sister Meiyou? That was actually a good idea. The Volunteer Club was always quiet, and not many people went there. If it was just one or two people, they probably wouldn’t recognize him, and Senior Sister Meiyou would definitely help him out.

In any case, there was no turning back now. He just needed a place to sit for a while, and the Volunteer Club seemed perfect. At the very least, Senior Sister gave off a warm and comforting vibe.

But if he went back home now… his sister would be waiting for him.

‘Go back? To have my feet licked or my butt spanked? Or to be whipped? Would there be even more extreme toys? Don’t tell me she has a ball gag too?’ A shiver ran down his spine. Just thinking about it was terrifying. ‘Does my sister have a sadistic streak?’

It was probably best not to go back home. He’d wait until Aunt Shi returned.

“By the way, where is Aunt Shi? Why isn’t she back yet? Sister wouldn’t dare do this if she were here, right? Well… maybe she would. After all, she’s the one who married me off to her.”

Xiao Xi grumbled to himself. In his memory, Aunt Shi had always been so reliable. How could she have done something so absurd?

“I think… she went abroad?” Shi Meng said, exasperated. “I don’t know when she’ll be back.”

*Hiss—*

‘Is she clearing the way for my sister to abuse me?’

“I don’t know when she’ll be back” was not a phrase Xiao Xi wanted to hear. He had a feeling it would be a very long time before he could escape his sister’s clutches.

“Sigh,” Xiao Xi let out a long breath. “Let’s just go sit at the Volunteer Club then.”

****

The two of them quickly arrived at the Volunteer Club. Perhaps because they were too early, the main door was still locked. It seemed Senior Sister hadn’t gotten to school yet.

However, Shi Meng suddenly pulled out a key and easily opened the door. Xiao Xi was dumbfounded. “Is that… a key from Senior Sister?”

“Yup. She said if we ever get here early, we can open the door and wait inside. Let’s go.”

Xiao Xi and Shi Meng entered the room and sat on the sofa to wait for Senior Sister. Then it suddenly hit Xiao Xi—he was still wearing a dress.

If Senior Sister saw him like this, she would think he was a cross-dressing pervert!

No, he had to preserve what little dignity he had left as a man!

An idea sparked in Xiao Xi’s mind. He suddenly remembered that he kept a spare school uniform in his locker.

“Shi Meng, quick, go to my locker and get my uniform for me! I-I-I… I’m afraid someone will recognize me!”

Xiao Xi urged her on, and Shi Meng, looking resigned, nodded and headed out.

‘She should be back soon…’

****

“Hm? Did I forget to lock the door?”

Just as Xiao Xi was anxiously awaiting Shi Meng’s return, he suddenly heard Senior Sister’s voice right at the doorway.