Chapter 27: A First Foray into Feminine Fashions

All in all, the two siblings (?), bickering and jostling each other, turned a corner, crossed a street, and finally arrived at the lingerie store nearest to their residential complex.

The store’s decor was far from luxurious, yet its expansive layout was striking.

Merely glimpsing the dizzying array of merchandise through the display window from afar was enough to send Chajingyuan into a flurry of panic and profound shyness.

A sales assistant, with practiced ease, offered them a welcoming smile.

“Hello, welcome! What can I help you find today?”

“This young lady is looking for her first bra. Could you perhaps offer some recommendations?”

Chahuayuan, with an air of nonchalance, gently nudged her sibling forward, effectively thrusting her directly into the path of the sales associate… and the vibrant, decidedly feminine “front line of war.”

The sales associate, clearly seasoned, quickly assessed Chajingyuan’s face and form, then with a cheerful smile, gestured for them to follow.

“Certainly, no problem at all. Little sister, why don’t we start over here?”

‘Gulp, ‘little sister.”

Chajingyuan’s heart gave a sudden lurch. Confronted with such patronizing affection, Chajingyuan felt an undeniable wave of discomfort wash over her.

But…

For some inexplicable reason, despite the unease, a part of Chajingyuan’s mind simultaneously harbored a faint, clandestine pleasure.

“…”

‘She couldn’t dwell on it!’ Instinctively, Chajingyuan banished the thought from her mind, recognizing the sheer danger of such notions!

Under the sales associate’s guidance, Chajingyuan and Chahuayuan first browsed the sports bra section.

As this was her inaugural foray into such an exclusively feminine realm, Chajingyuan’s face was a captivating blend of shyness and curiosity while she listened to the sales associate’s patient explanations and recommendations.

She appeared, for all intents and purposes, like a truly blossoming middle school girl.

Upper bust, lower bust; how different breast shapes called for different “cup types”; how soft padding reduced friction during exercise, while highly elastic padding better conformed to certain ‘convex deformations’ and was ideal for protecting shy girls…

‘Wait,’ Chajingyuan thought, ‘what are ‘convex deformations’? And what could girls possibly have to do with them?’

Chajingyuan realized the world was far more complex and profound than she had ever imagined. Both understanding and utterly bewildered, Chajingyuan watched as the sales associate presented a few styles:

“If our little sister is a bit shy, I’d recommend starting with these plainer styles, which are perfect for beginners.

Full-cup designs offer gentle support and feel comfortable against the skin, and the lightweight, smooth fabric ensures you won’t feel too unaccustomed to them.

If you’re wearing them to school, and considering that school uniforms can sometimes be a bit sheer, I’d suggest these two more discreet color options to avoid drawing too much attention.

Of course, if you prefer something cute and rosy, that’s perfectly fine too—it’s entirely your choice.”

‘@△@ What school, what full-cup style…’

The sheer volume of information overwhelmed Chajingyuan, leaving her feeling lightheaded. Coupled with the inherent embarrassment of being in a lingerie store, she felt her social anxiety threatening to resurface.

“Alright, enough talk. Why don’t you try one on?”

Chahuayuan gently nudged her sibling’s shoulder at just the right moment.

“Just pick a color you like, try it on, and then we can talk.”

“I, uh, I…”

Chajingyuan stared at the options—pink, white, nude, black—for several bewildered seconds.

Driven by her otaku’s monochrome aesthetic, she snatched a black one from the hanger and made a break for it—only to be swiftly apprehended by Chahuayuan and the sales associate acting in concert.

“What are you running for? You’re grabbing an A-cup and bolting before they’ve even measured you! Let them take your bust measurement first.”

‘Eh?’

Chajingyuan suddenly realized that this was likely the greatest crisis she would face today, having been dragged into this lingerie store!

“—Can I, can I measure myself!?”

“Measure yourself, my foot! Do you even know the proper way to do it?”

‘Ugh!’

Chajingyuan’s escape attempt failed, and she was cooperatively ushered by her sister and the sales associate into the innermost fitting room of the lingerie store. As Chajingyuan squirmed, her sister added a pointed remark.

“Don’t you dare deliberately refuse to cooperate, alright? The less time we waste, the sooner your embarrassment will be over… Though, honestly, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about with such a little bit.”

‘You’re, you’re so annoying!’

Under her sister’s subtle coercion and the sales associate’s practiced hands, Chajingyuan was compelled to remove her top, surrendering herself to the measuring tape as it was freely manipulated over her skin.

“Remember this for when you measure yourself later: the upper bust is the easiest to get inaccurate. The correct method is to pass the tape under your armpits and gently lift…”

‘Lift, lift it up…??’

“Then, pass it right over the pink tips, making a full circle.”

‘…Eek! Don’t, don’t say that out loud! ‘Pink’ and ‘tips’ and all of that!”

“Don’t be shy! Being young and rosy-pink is something to be proud of. Make sure to take good care of them; many adults dream of maintaining this!”

“That’s precisely why I told you not to say it out loud!”

“Alright, all measured. Lower bust 59.8 centimeters, upper bust 74.2 centimeters. Let me just check the chart… that’s a difference of 14.4 centimeters.”

“Oh… you’re already a B-cup and only just now getting a bra! You’re even very close to a C within the B range—you’ve developed wonderfully!

But it’s still fine, your breast shape is lovely, and you haven’t come too late. If you take good care of them from now on, you’ll certainly grow into a graceful, stunning beauty!”

“No, I hardly need to become some ‘graceful’…”

“You wanted a black one, didn’t you? I’ll grab one for you to see.”

“…………”

In the fitting room, Chajingyuan hugged her shoulders, gazing into the mirror, and sighed with utter helplessness.

‘Honestly,’ she thought, ‘this sales associate just keeps talking to herself, never truly listening to a word anyone else says, does she?’

However…

‘To think she would actually be praised by the sales associate for “good development”!’ Chajingyuan, a mix of shyness and curiosity, stole another peek into the mirror.

Pondering the notion of “approaching a C-cup,” she covertly squeezed the two ‘little bunnies’ on her chest together—and indeed, she could just barely manage to create a small valley.

‘Wow.’

“Just a reminder, little sister: when you’re young, it’s best to avoid deliberately creating cleavage and to use fewer push-up styles. Healthy development is paramount.

You can always experiment with different ways to showcase your charm when you’re in your twenties—it won’t be too late then. Here you go, the black one you wanted.”

‘Eek! Don’t just suddenly pop out like that!’

Chajingyuan let out a startled shriek, nearly leaping to the ceiling at the sales associate’s sudden reappearance. Chahuayuan, observing from the sidelines, overheard every one of these little exchanges.

From the sales associate’s remarks, she could easily surmise what her sibling had been doing in that brief interval—admiring herself with a touch of narcissism.

Thus, Chahuayuan silently arrived at a rather teasing conclusion:

This sibling, who claimed she didn’t want to interact with strangers, fearful that her feminized self might misstep in conversation and cause social embarrassment, ended up creating all the truly mortifying moments herself!

After Chahuayuan’s ‘guidance’ the previous night, Chajingyuan righteously declined the sales associate’s assistance during the fitting.

She proceeded to try on the items with surprising speed. However, after getting dressed, Chajingyuan lingered before the mirror for a long time, seemingly hesitant and unable to make a decision.

“Bro… ahem, Xiaojingyuan?”

Chahuayuan asked through the crack in the fitting room door.

“What are you doing, turning around and around in front of the mirror? Should I come in and help you decide?”

‘Guh-uh…’

Chajingyuan hesitated for several seconds. Finally, she cautiously opened the door slightly, her shame seemingly overcome by indecision and confusion.

In the confined space, the silver-haired girl, clad in a black camisole, had flushed cheeks. The perfectly proportioned swell of her chest harmonized with the smooth line of her flat abdomen, creating a refreshing silhouette.

Her hair, reflecting the spotlights in every direction, added an extra shimmer.