Chapter 13: How Could There Be Nothing?
An Yuan and Chen Cheng lived in the same apartment building, with identical layouts and similar square footage, around 80 to 90 square meters with two bedrooms and a living room.
Chen Cheng’s home had a modern minimalist style, with tiled floors throughout except for the bedrooms, which had warm-colored wooden flooring. In contrast, An Yuan’s home was purely traditional Chinese, with mostly wooden furniture and a bright, colorful "Year After Year, Prosperity with Fish" painting hanging on the TV wall.
After carrying Chen Cheng up to the seventh floor, An Yuan turned right back around and headed down to his own place on the fourth floor. Even with his peak-level stamina, he couldn't help but feel exhausted. The moment he stepped through the door, he collapsed onto the wooden sofa, throwing his legs up onto the coffee table.
"Back so early?"
"Yeah, didn’t go out with my classmates today."
His mom brought over a plate of strawberries, leaned against the sofa armrest, and popped one into his mouth. Then she asked curiously, "Have you been hanging out with Chengcheng these past few days?"
"Not really, we just walk to and from school together."
"How could it be 'not really'?"
"???"
An Yuan blinked in confusion, rolling his eyes. "Mom, I’m in my senior year of high school, okay?"
"That’s exactly why! What if you two don’t get into the same university? Then Chengcheng will definitely end up with someone else during those four years!"
His mom gave him a disappointed smack on the head.
"Are you stupid? She’s pretty, you know her inside out, and yet you’re not making a move? What are you even thinking about?"
"I’m thinking about studying!"
"Then why not work hard and get into Tsinghua or Peking University?"
"Spare me, please~" An Yuan groaned, exasperated. "We grew up together, okay? It just feels wrong. I see her as a bro—no, a little sister!"
His mom narrowed her eyes, staring at him skeptically. "Really?"
"Really!"
"Not even a little something else?"
An Yuan’s mind suddenly flashed back to earlier, the feeling of carrying Chen Cheng on his back. That soft, warm weight pressing down on him… even through layers of fabric, he could feel the curve and the bounce, way more bigger than he had expected.
And those thighs, so soft they seemed like they could be squeezed for juice, also the sweet fragrance of a young girl...
"Nope! Nothing at all!"
He bolted upright, escaping before his mom could tease him any further.
"I’m gonna shower and sleep!"
Once in the bathroom, he shut the door and leaned against the sink, letting out a long sigh.
Looking up at his own flushed reflection in the mirror, he grabbed a towel and rubbed his face furiously.
Had he… actually hesitated for a second just now?!
That was a total betrayal of their brotherly bond!
Guilt hit him hard.
Was his brain malfunctioning, or was he being taken over by his hormones?
Being attracted to his own best friend was already messed up enough, but why couldn’t he stop thinking about it?
It still felt like his hand could remember the softness of her leg, even though it had been through fabric.
And if it hadn’t been through fabric…
Nope. Nope. Nope.
An Yuan shook his head violently, trying to banish the inappropriate thoughts.
This body, young and energetic, filled with raging hormones, was way too sensitive. The smallest thing could trigger an uncontrollable reaction. He needed to vent.
If this were his previous life, it’d be different. Working overtime all the time, too exhausted to think about anything else. Back then, he could go weeks without even looking at a woman.
For now, a cold shower was the only solution.
Meanwhile, in another apartment, Chen Cheng sat on the kitchen table, waiting for the kettle to boil.
She clutched her stomach, head tilted to the side, eyes blank and lifeless, looking like she could drop dead at any moment.
Unlike An Yuan, she wasn’t troubled by any complicated thoughts.
Besides, she used to be a man. She probably understood the male body even better than An Yuan did.
But still! So embarrassing…
She actually got carried upstairs by An Yuan…
That was so unmanly!
Although… not having to climb the stairs herself was pretty nice.
"Mom! Where’s the painkiller? It’s hurting again!"
"Mom?"
As the water in the kettle started boiling, Chen Cheng called out twice toward the master bedroom. When no one answered, she walked in, only to find the room completely empty.
Nice! That means she went out for an all-night mahjong session again.
Even though she was dealing with period cramps, Chen Cheng couldn't help but grin.
Tonight, she could do whatever she wanted. Total freedom!
No need to wash her hair! With hair this long, washing and drying it would take at least twenty minutes, enough time for an entire game match!
She rummaged through the cabinets, found the painkiller, popped one in her mouth, then mixed the freshly boiled water with some cold water and downed a full glass.
As the warm water settled in her stomach, the pain eased a little.
Then, she grabbed her phone and excitedly called An Yuan.
At that moment, An Yuan was still in the shower. He stepped out, dripping wet, grabbed his phone from the toilet lid, and the second he put it to his ear—
"AN YUAN! My mom’s out playing mahjong! Come up and play!"
The piercing voice nearly blew out his eardrum. He rubbed his ear and snapped back, "Are you crazy? I’m showering! I don’t have time."
"Then come up after you’re done!"
"What, so I’m not allowed to sleep now?"
"Just sleep at my place!"
Wait…
Oh. Well, yeah, before university, they used to stay over at each other's places after playing too much.
An Yuan realized that the cold shower hadn't extinguished his lustful desires at all, otherwise, why would he be having such impure thoughts?
"If your mom finds me in your house tomorrow morning, she’ll break my legs." He politely declined. "How about we just play online later?"
"Playing online is boring~"
"I’ll take you to the internet café this weekend for a full five-man squad, how about that?"
"Tsk! Why does it feel like you’re avoiding me?"
An Yuan sighed, "How am I avoiding you? You’re just overthinking."
Even though… he kind of was avoiding her.
He was just not in the right state of mind to face her right now. If he messed up and made things awkward, it’d be beyond humiliating, or worse, she might completely misunderstand and they wouldn't even be able to stay friends.
"Really?"
Her voice on the other end suddenly sounded low and disappointed. Its low and raspy tone could make someone feel guilty just hearing it.
An Yuan softened his voice. "You’re on your period, so your emotions are a little sensitive right now. That’s normal. You’ll feel better in a few days."
"Ugh! Stop blaming everything on my period! Bye!"
Click.
She hung up.
An Yuan frowned, staring at his phone for a moment before setting it down and stepping back into the shower.
But after just a few minutes, he suddenly felt restless.
With an uneasy feeling in his chest, he shut off the water, grabbed a towel, dried himself quickly, threw on a T-shirt and shorts, and hurried out the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To check on Chengzi. She didn’t sound okay."
Chen Cheng had never been emotionally strong. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have ended up hiding away in a rental after graduating college.
Now, after suddenly waking up in a different body, losing her peaceful shut-in lifestyle, and dealing with cramps and hormones, it was no surprise her emotions were all over the place.
An Yuan’s mom smiled approvingly. "Wait a sec. Take some food up for her, too. Make her a late-night snack."
"How about rouyan? She’s been craving it for a while."
Before she transmigrated, Chen Cheng used to live alone in a different city, always complaining to An Yuan about how she missed the food from home, including rouyan.
"Perfect. We’ve got some at home. Wait a minute."