Chapter 28: Afternoon at 3003

At three in the afternoon, Luo Xiaoyun dragged her feather-light suitcase to a stop in front of door 3003. The sound of the wheels scraping against the floor echoed sharply in the empty hallway.

The suitcase was light—only a few clothes, some heavy textbooks, a laptop, and a storage bag stuffed with odds and ends.

She had already ordered the rest of her daily necessities online yesterday, having them shipped directly here. By her estimate, those packages should arrive soon.

As the key slid into the lock, Luo Xiaoyun inexplicably held her breath. The metal turned with a crisp *click*, and the door swung open.

Silence greeted her. Afternoon sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and a faint scent of gardenias lingered in the air.

Luo Xiaoyun gently closed the door behind her and slipped off her shoes. She had bought a pair of pure white slippers, but they hadn’t arrived yet, so she walked barefoot across the slightly cool floor.

The living room was immaculate: the cream-white sofa was wrinkle-free, the coffee table held nothing but a pothos plant and two books, and the books on the shelves were arranged by height and color with near-obsessive precision.

Just then, her phone rang. An unfamiliar number. She answered, and a cheerful male voice came through: “Hello! Your package is here. Are you home?”

“Could you bring it to 3003’s door? I’m home.”

“Sure thing! Be right there!”

In less than five minutes, a knock sounded. Luo Xiaoyun opened the door to find a young courier in uniform, several cardboard boxes at his feet. When he saw her, his eyes lit up noticeably.

“Pretty lady, your delivery!” He smoothly pushed the boxes inside and handed her a receipt slip. “Please sign here.”

Luo Xiaoyun took the pen and signed quickly. But the courier didn’t leave immediately. He scratched his head and chuckled. “Uh… pretty lady, don’t forget to give me a five-star review, okay? I’m in charge of this area, and my service is top-notch!”

“…”

Luo Xiaoyun looked up, a smile slowly spreading across her face—the corners of her mouth curved just right, her eyes slightly wrinkled, but there was no warmth in her pupils. She simply stared at him in silence.

The young courier felt a chill run down his spine. This girl was really beautiful, her silver-white short hair accentuating a delicate face that looked almost unreal, her skin so pale it seemed to glow… but why did her smile make his back feel icy?

“Al-alright! I’ll leave you to it!” He gave a dry laugh and practically fled, pressing the elevator button.

Luo Xiaoyun closed the door, leaning against it as she let out a long breath. She raised a hand to touch her own face and muttered, ‘Do I really look that much like a girl…?’

She was wearing the most ordinary men’s hoodie and sweatpants.

Shaking her head, she turned her attention to the boxes on the floor. Three cardboard boxes, all tightly sealed with tape. She fetched scissors from the kitchen and crouched down to open them.

The largest box contained bedding—a set of beige, pure cotton sheets and pillowcases, soft as clouds. She hugged the fabric bundle and walked into the second bedroom, where sunlight blanketed the entire bed.

Making the bed turned out to be much harder than she’d imagined. The fitted sheet wouldn’t lie flat, the duvet cover refused to cooperate, and three out of four corners of the duvet stubbornly stayed in the wrong place.

She knelt on the bed, wrestling with the soft fabric, fine beads of sweat gradually forming on her forehead. By the time she finally got everything right, she was so exhausted she collapsed onto the edge of the bed.

After tidying up everything, the sky outside had taken on a faint orange hue. Luo Xiaoyun took a new glass from one of the boxes—it had a cartoon bunny pattern, pale blue, and was ridiculously cute.

She stared at the glass for several seconds before belatedly realizing: her former self would never have bought something like this.

Since becoming a girl, her aesthetic seemed to be changing silently.

She took the glass to the kitchen for water and noticed a sticky note on the refrigerator. The handwriting was neat and strong—she knew at once it was from Su Muxue: “Milk is on the second shelf. The fruit is washed and ready to eat.”

Luo Xiaoyun opened the fridge. Everything was perfectly arranged—milk on the second shelf, washed grapes and strawberries in glass containers, and some cut mango beside them.

She took out a carton of milk and inserted a straw. The cool, rich liquid slid down her throat, dispelling the afternoon’s fatigue.

After finishing the milk, Luo Xiaoyun returned to her room and grabbed a set of light blue short-sleeved pajamas—she had chosen them carefully, simple in style, looking fairly unisex. She also picked up her new toiletries and headed to the bathroom.

The master bathroom was spotless, so spotless it hardly seemed used. The sink was empty except for basic hand soap and a bar of soap. Luo Xiaoyun stripped off her clothes and turned on the hot water.

The moment water cascaded down, she closed her eyes. The jasmine-scented body wash foamed in her palm, sliding over her skin with a gentle touch. She washed slowly, her fingers tracing her neck, shoulders, waist… every part felt so vivid.

Ever since becoming a girl, her showers had gotten much longer. When she was a guy, she’d turn the water on and off in one swift motion, finishing in five minutes. Now, she couldn’t help but slow down, as if carefully feeling this unfamiliar yet familiar body.

By the time she stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, twilight had fallen outside.

Luo Xiaoyun changed into her pajamas, her damp silver hair hanging loose over her shoulders.

She walked to the living room and sank into the soft sofa, letting her slender, fair legs drape casually over the armrest. In the dim light, they glowed like jade.

The phone screen lit up in the dim room. She scrolled through short videos absentmindedly, her fingers moving unconsciously—until a dance video appeared. The girl in the video moved gracefully, flashing a sweet smile.

Luo Xiaoyun watched, slightly lost in thought.

Just then, a pair of cool hands gently pinched her cheeks.

“So Little Brother Xiaoyun likes watching stuff like this, huh?”

Luo Xiaoyun jumped in fright, nearly dropping her phone. She whipped her head around to meet a pair of smiling eyes.

Su Muxue had returned without her noticing. She carried a single-shoulder bag, her long hair loosely tied back with a few strands falling by her cheeks. She was bent over, looking at Luna with a smile, her beautiful eyes sparkling with mischief.

“I—I don’t like watching stuff like this!” Luo Xiaoyun’s face instantly turned bright red as she frantically locked the screen. “It’s the algorithm’s recommendation!”

“Oh really?” Su Muxue’s smile deepened as she gently rubbed Luna’s cheek with her fingertips. “But big data knows you well. You must watch it often for it to recommend that, right?”

“I don’t watch it often…” Luo Xiaoyun’s voice grew softer, too guilty to meet the other’s eyes.

Su Muxue released her hand but didn’t straighten up. She remained bent over, the distance between them close enough to feel each other’s breath. Only a floor lamp was on in the living room, casting warm yellow light and soft shadows across her face.

“Why does everyone like pinching my cheeks…” Luo Xiaoyun muttered, the tips of her ears burning red.

“Because you’re cute,” Su Muxue said as she straightened up, casually running a hand through Luna’s damp silver hair. “I can’t help but want to ruffle you.”

Her tone was natural, as if stating an obvious fact.

Su Muxue put down her bag and walked toward the kitchen. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Not yet…”

“Then let’s eat together. I bought some groceries, I’ll cook something simple.” She opened the fridge and glanced sideways at Luo Xiaoyun. “Come help?”

“You can cook? That’s amazing!”

“Of course, I know plenty of things.”

Luo Xiaoyun jumped off the sofa, padding barefoot across the floor as she ran over. Su Muxue watched her, a slight smile curving her lips.

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