Chapter 40: Neither Man Nor Woman
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be home for lunch?”
When Chen Cheng got home, her mother was sitting in front of the TV, skillfully picking through vegetables in a basket.
Her father was on the other side of the couch, fully focused on playing mahjong on his phone. Hearing the noise, he looked up and asked, “Did you buy the clothes?”
“Yeah.”
They both watched as their daughter absentmindedly drifted toward her bedroom like a ghost and shut the door with a bang. The couple exchanged puzzled looks.
“What’s wrong with Chengcheng?” her mother asked, confused.
“How would I know? I’m not home most of the time.”
Her father frowned, quickly jumping to a conclusion. “Did she start dating someone? And get dumped?”
“No way! Chengcheng is so pretty, who would dump her?” Her mother smacked the couch in dissatisfaction. “And if she was dating someone, wouldn’t I know?”
But her father disagreed. “Don’t you think Chengcheng has been acting different lately?”
“......”
Her mother furrowed her brows. Now that he mentioned it, she had noticed subtle changes in Chen Cheng’s personality and temper over the past two weeks. But back then, she didn’t think much of it.
It didn’t really seem like she was in love, though…
“She’s in her final year of high school. What kind of romance would she even have time for?” her mother muttered. Suddenly, a name popped into her mind. “Could it be An Yuan?”
She recalled that morning when An Yuan had come over to walk Chen Cheng to school. Even though they had grown up together, she had kept a close eye on them since middle school, and they hadn’t spent much time together in recent years.
“I’ll call Juan and ask. She should know…”
She pulled out her phone and called An Yuan’s mother, putting it on speaker.
“I have no idea~ I haven’t seen Chengcheng in ages~” An Yuan's mother pretended not to know on the other end of the phone.
“But honestly, what’s the big deal if she and my An Yuan are dating? They know each other so well, it’d be perfect! We could be in-laws! It'd be like doubling our relationship!”
Chen Cheng’s parents exchanged glances. They had known An Yuan’s mom for decades, and from the sound of her voice, she was clearly holding back laughter.
“But… Chengcheng seemed off today,” her mother said, glancing at the bedroom door. “I don’t know if they had a fight or if your son dumped her.”
“That little brat An Yuan actually has the guts to dump her?! Just wait! I’ll break his legs!”
Beep—beep—
Looking at the hung-up phone, Chen Cheng’s father couldn't hold back any longer. He glanced around, then casually walked over to the broom and picked it up, weighing it in his hands.
Just then, the door to the second bedroom opened. The house wasn’t well-insulated, so Chen Cheng had heard everything loud and clear.
She couldn’t take it anymore. Sticking her head out, she yelled, “I’m not dating anyone! Stop making things up!”
Her parents wanted to ask more questions, but before they could, she pulled her head back inside and locked the door again.
Frustrated, Chen Cheng sat back in front of her computer.
Of all things, her parents, who rarely agreed on anything, had actually united over the misunderstanding that she and An Yuan were dating? And that she was the one who got dumped?
Are they insane?!
She stared blankly at the dark computer screen.
An Yuan is probably just annoyed with me. His love life has nothing to do with me. why should I be jealous?
She curled up, hugging her knees and resting her chin on her arms.
Liking An Yuan? No way. She wasn’t that dramatic. It’s not like she had magically changed her sexual orientation in just two weeks.
But she had become overly dependent on him.
Sure, An Yuan might hold off on dating for now for the sake of their friendship, but he wouldn’t stay single forever. Sooner or later, he’d get married.
She knew that. She understood reality. But for some reason, she just couldn’t accept it.
“Why did I have to turn into a woman…”
Chen Cheng let out a long sigh.
If she were still a man, at least people wouldn’t keep misunderstanding her relationship with An Yuan.
She didn’t need An Yuan to validate her gender just to feel comforted.
If things had been different, their relationship wouldn’t be this awkward and uncomfortable.
Chen Cheng glanced down at her chest. Even under the loose hoodie, she could still see a slightly bulging curve on her chest.
The beautiful female body that she once thought was beautiful, now looks somewhat disgusting…
Before her thoughts could spiral any further, she shook her head vigorously, forcing herself to push away the negativity.
"Time to eat!"
“Coming.”
Chen Cheng rubbed her face hard, trying to shake off her emotions, and stepped out of her room, making sure she looked presentable.
In the dining room, her mother was busy serving rice while her father finished up the last dish.
"What are we eating?" Chen Cheng peeked into the kitchen, curious.
“You'll find out soon, won't you?” Chen Cheng's mother smiled and tapped her forehead. “We’re having steamed red crab with glass noodles. That’s a dish you usually only get at special occasions, you know.”
“Oh!”
Excited, Chen Cheng returned to the dining table, watching her parents work together in the kitchen.
If only they were always this peaceful.
Not that they had to be deeply in love, just getting along without fighting would be enough.
Tonight’s dinner had four dishes and a soup. Her parents kept piling food into her bowl, their rare moment of harmony making the meal almost enjoyable.
But it didn’t take long before her mother cautiously brought up, “Chengcheng, are you dating someone?”
“I already said no.” Chen Cheng answered between mouthfuls, eating as if she were in a speed-eating contest. “I’ve decided I won’t date or get married for the rest of my life.”
"How can that be possible?" her father objected immediately.
Her mother, however, didn’t take her words seriously and brushed them off as childish nonsense. "You can get married whenever you want."
Compared to her mother, her father was much more traditional. When she was still a man in her past life, he had started pushing her to date as early as middle school, and later every time he went home, he actively arranged blind dates for her.
Chen Cheng never understood why. It’s not like their family had a royal lineage to continue. Was marriage really that important? Her grandfather’s grave in the countryside had been neglected for years, yet her father was worried about carrying on the family name?
Her mother, on the other hand, was much more open-minded. She could be strict at times and would occasionally bring up dating and marriage, but she never forced the issue.
“If Chengcheng doesn’t get married, what will she do when she’s older? Who will take care of her?”
“She’s still young! Why are you thinking about that now?”
And just like that, her parents started arguing again.
Chen Cheng sighed and focused on her food, staying out of it.
They fight all the time, might as well just get a divorce already.
Luckily, her mother won this round. Frustrated, her father took his bowl and went to the living room to watch TV, finally giving the dining area some peace and quiet.
Her mother, looking pleased with her victory, lowered her voice and asked, “You’re really not dating anyone? You can tell me. I won’t tell your dad.”
“Really, I’m not.”
“Good. You’re in your final year of high school. You should focus on your studies. No dating, okay?”
“I know.”
Smiling, her mother placed two extra pieces of meat in her bowl. “Once the college entrance exams are over, let’s grow out your hair. I’ll take you to get a nice perm~”
“Huh?” Chen Cheng looked up in shock. “I don’t want long hair. Can I just cut it short instead?”
Her chest might be a little too obvious, but if she got a masculine haircut and wore men’s clothes, maybe she could still pass as a handsome, boyish-looking teen?
Her mother’s expression darkened. “No way! Girls should look like girls. Short hair makes you look neither male nor female, it’s ridiculous.”
“......”
It was just a casual remark, but Chen Cheng caught those four words instantly: "neither male nor female."
Wasn’t that exactly what she was now?