Chapter 95: A Day of Hidden Lives and Lingering Worries

“You’ve finished the latest chapter!”

Upon seeing the notification on the manga’s final page, Wu Rui realized he had just completed the newest chapter of the manga drawn by his classmate, Zhong Tian.

It was quite good.

Though the characters in Zhong Tian’s manga were all exquisitely beautiful and adorable, they weren’t subjected to any deliberate “fan service shots”; instead, the manga captivated Wu Rui and made him adore every character through its engaging interactions and plot alone.

Exiting the Man Tang app, Wu Rui still felt a lingering curiosity about the manga’s future developments, but seeing how late it had become, he could only put his thoughts aside and quickly head to bed.

****

“I think this is perfectly fine.”

“This is enough?”

Zhong Tian gazed at the new storyboard he had drawn, incorporating Su Linxi’s suggestions, still feeling a trace of hesitation in his heart.

He still found it a little strange—though, of course, it was undeniably much better than the previous version.

Su Linxi, watching the familiar storyboard, smiled inwardly.

‘This storyboard was a direct copy from our previous life, a design we had conceived together, one that had satisfied them both completely, truly a perfect solution.’

“Hmm… alright, it’s getting late. Get some rest.”

“Okay, good night.”

“Mm, good night.”

After seeing Su Linxi out of the room, Zhong Tian saved his draft, shut down his computer, and prepared for bed.

****

At eleven o’clock at night, Chu Lenghu was still drawing in her room.

The painting she was currently working on was arguably the most complete piece she had ever created, as she meticulously refined the starry sky in the background of the figures.

With her primary focus being the celestial backdrop, she deliberately miniaturized the figures and imbued them with a faint lavender hue, softening their contrast with the background to make them less conspicuous.

She felt utterly satisfied with this painting; initially, she had intended to save it and send it to Zhong Tian for his opinion, but realizing the late hour, she surmised he might already be asleep and chose not to disturb him.

Instead, she saved the finished piece, minimized the canvas, and began scrutinizing the image.

Teacher Zhong Tian had once advised that observing a painting as a whole made it easier to spot any incongruities.

She examined it for a long time, unable to find any flaws.

Click—

“Still not asleep?”

The door to her room opened, and Chu Lenghu’s father peered halfway inside. “Drawing?”

“Yes.”

Chu Lenghu turned, saying, “Dad, can you help me see if there’s anything wrong with this painting?”

“What do I know about painting?” Chu Lenghu’s father waved a dismissive hand. “If you’re getting stuck, just go to bed early. You can always continue tomorrow.”

“Okay, Dad.”

Obediently, Chu Lenghu turned off her computer. “Good night, Dad.”

“Good night!”

****

The following morning.

As was their custom, Zhong Tian and Su Linxi ate breakfast together, then prepared to return to school.

“Oh, by the way, Linxi, third period this morning is physical education,” Zhong Tian mentioned. “I recall the school uniform they gave you didn’t include a sports outfit, did it?”

“No.”

That presented a slight dilemma; while not wearing athletic wear wouldn’t strictly forbid participation in PE, exercising in a skirted uniform would ultimately be inconvenient.

Moreover, his own sports uniform was a size larger, meaning it would likely be too baggy on Su Linxi.

“Hmm… how about I find a girl in class to lend you one?”

He could only recall one girl in their class, Lin Han, who was of a similar build to Su Linxi, but Zhong Tian wasn’t well-acquainted with her, and it was highly improbable she would bring two sets of athletic wear to school.

Thus, finding a sports uniform that Su Linxi could wear would prove quite challenging.

“It’s fine, I don’t like exercising. I can just watch from the sidelines.”

Noticing the troubled expression on Zhong Tian’s face, she offered this reassurance.

“Alright then.”

Since Su Linxi herself had expressed it so clearly, there was no need for him to insist on helping.

Mounting their bicycles and adjusting their skirts, the two set off for school.

****

Yu Yinlian woke up.

She had risen much later today than yesterday, having stayed up late writing; it was likely the break after second period now.

Her first order of business after waking was to get breakfast.

Opening her cabinet, she fumbled through a plastic bag for a few seconds, only to find no instant noodles.

Yu Yinlian’s heart sank with a jolt.

‘Damn it, the instant noodles are all gone.’

Emitting a sigh born of poverty, she retrieved her last thirty-odd yuan from beneath her pillow and headed out of school to buy some instant noodles.

Previously, Zhong Tian had mostly bought cup noodles, which, while convenient, weren’t as economical as packaged instant noodles.

Before leaving, she meticulously checked her personal effects, ensuring she wasn’t missing any essentials.

She still had shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, and facial cleanser, but all were more than half used.

Then there were tissues and sanitary pads, among other things.

She reopened the cabinet, verifying the quantities.

‘Oh no, there’s hardly any left.’

Gazing at the mere thirty-odd yuan in her hand, she instantly felt how utterly “insignificant” that sum was.

‘If only I had bought more and stocked up earlier.’

‘What am I going to do?’

She instantly plunged into distress.

Her novel hadn’t even begun serialization, and any income was a distant prospect; how was she to navigate these days of financial hardship?

‘Should I ask Zhong Tian for money again?’ Yu Yinlian still found the thought difficult to stomach; she felt she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

‘Perhaps… I should just take a little.’

‘Just a tiny bit, enough to get through this period without income, and then I’ll figure it out.’

Feeling restless, she let out a deep sigh, pulled out a large plastic bag she had used before from the cabinet, and walked towards the shopping center outside the school.

****

During the break after second period, some students from Class 3, Grade 11, had already arrived at the gymnasium, eagerly anticipating their weekly physical education class.

Zhong Tian was among them.

The reason was simple: he needed to change his clothes beforehand.

While the gymnasium did have changing rooms—two large ones, one for males and one for females—Zhong Tian, in his male-disguised-as-female identity, could not enter either.

Consequently, he was forced to change in a teachers’ restroom located behind the gymnasium.

The words “Teachers Only” were prominently displayed on the door of this restroom, a clear deterrent that usually stopped students in their tracks.

Zhong Tian shrewdly exploited this fact, and after consulting with a teacher, designated this particular restroom behind the gymnasium as his private changing room.

Even his regular physiological needs during school hours were taken care of here.

Having changed into a loose-fitting short-sleeved shirt and shorts, the class bell rang precisely as he finished.

He entered the gymnasium through its back door and circled around to the designated meeting spot for Class 3, Grade 11.

Both Class 3 and Class 4 of Grade 11 had PE during the same period, and students from both classes were now steadily arriving at the gymnasium, heading to the changing rooms to don their athletic wear.

Having no sports uniform to change into, Su Linxi remained in her school uniform, quietly standing beside Zhong Tian.

*Beep—*

The tall, burly physical education teacher blew his whistle, shouting loudly at the students behind Zhong Tian, “Hurry up, everyone! Stop dawdling! Change quickly and gather!”

After his booming command, his gaze fell upon Su Linxi, who was not wearing a sports uniform.

“You… a new face? Just transferred and don’t have a sports uniform?”

“Yes.”

“Then you don’t need to run laps later. Just be careful during free activity.”

“Understood.”

****

Yu Yinlian, carrying a large bag, moved past the oblivious salesperson in her “unobservable” state, hesitating for a moment before taking the food and items she needed from the shelves.

“I’m sorry, I’ll definitely be a regular customer once I have money!”

She muttered these words as she stuffed items into her large bag.

Before long, the bag was brimming.

She walked up to the unsuspecting salesperson, bowing apologetically.

“I’m truly sorry!”

With that, she clutched her bag and hurried out of the store.

Despite knowing she wouldn’t be caught, her heart still pounded rapidly, and her face felt flushed.

She remained agitated even after returning to her dormitory.

‘My heart feels so heavy…’