Chapter 26: Work
After lunch, Ren Tianyou went to sleep. He usually liked to go out and work at night. Right now, he didn’t have much pressure in life. His food and living were all supported by his family, and he had no plans to get married, so of course he chose the most comfortable time to work.
The ride-hailing driver profession was also very flexible.
Li Mu was holding some fruit and a small mirror, ready to leave. The fruit was something Auntie had insisted on giving him, and he had taken the mirror from the table, casually making up a reason to borrow it.
However, just as he opened the front door of Auntie’s house, he saw Yu Fan standing in front of his apartment door.
Yu Fan turned around when he heard the sound behind him. He glanced at the door number with some surprise, then smiled and greeted him as cheerfully as always.
“I had nothing to do, so I came over to hang out with you.”
Li Mu gave a cold nod.
“Is that your classmate?” Auntie peeked out from behind Li Mu and looked at Yu Fan. Her eyes immediately curved into smiling crescents. “Wow, your classmate is really handsome.”
“Hello, big sister,” Yu Fan nodded politely to Auntie.
“I’m already old, why are you calling me ‘big sister’?” She laughed so hard her mouth couldn’t close.
Yu Fan smiled, “Someone as pretty as you doesn’t look old at all.”
Yup, this guy was not only a pervert, but also full of sweet talk.
No wonder girls liked him.
Mainly because he was good-looking, when a handsome guy says nice things, women’s affection points go up fast.
Auntie was clearly enjoying it. Even though they had just met and she didn’t even know Yu Fan’s name, she was already warmly inviting him into the house for snacks and fruit.
Seeing Yu Fan act like this, anyone who didn’t know better might think he just wanted an easy life and to play games all day.
Li Mu secretly judged Yu Fan in his mind, watching from the side with a cold look, but he still carefully tried to remember what Yu Fan said... It might be useful in the future, whether for dating or chatting with older people.
After chatting for a bit, Yu Fan couldn’t resist Auntie’s enthusiasm anymore. Still keeping his bright smile, he was pulled by the arm into her house.
Before going in, he turned back and gave Li Mu a “please help me” look.
But Li Mu didn’t hesitate at all to make things worse.
“Auntie, you chat with Yu Fan. We don’t have anything urgent.”
Then he ignored Yu Fan’s sad little stare, opened the door, and went back home.
Just messing with Yu Fan once or twice, no big deal. Totally guilt-free.
If there was ever a chance to trick Yu Fan into wearing girl’s clothes, Li Mu would definitely push him into it without hesitation. Maybe even set him up with a gay guy to see how that feels.
Fair is fair. Let’s mess with each other equally.
Li Mu had felt a bit thankful to Yu Fan at first, but after realizing his body was still becoming more feminine, that gratitude slowly faded, especially as Yu Fan kept teasing him.
Sitting on the living room sofa, Li Mu put the fruit into the basket on the table, then took out the small mirror.
Looking at the reflection, which looked exactly like him, he asked, “Xiao Jing, are you there?”
The reflection, which had been moving the same as him just a moment ago, suddenly came alive. Its eyes showed shyness, and it quietly answered.
“Yes, I’m here.”
This little guy really could move between mirrors...
Li Mu thought for a moment, then asked,
“Then why don’t you go to the mirror at Auntie’s house next to this apartment and watch TV? There’s a mirror right across from the TV.”
“I can't go out. Only the mirrors here work,” Xiao Jing said with her head lowered and lips pouted, acting completely like a girl.
That little bit of Li Mu’s pride was hurt again.
Watching the exact copy of himself in the mirror acting like a girl made his eyelid twitch nonstop.
Even though it was clearly a man making those girly moves, it didn’t feel weird at all, maybe because the ghost in the mirror had originally been a girl.
“So you mean... you can only move around in this room?”
“Probably?” Xiao Jing wasn’t sure. She nervously bit her thumbnail. “I’ve never dared to go outside. I’m scared I’ll get eaten.”
Eaten?
Like part of a KFC deluxe meal?
Just then, the half-closed front door opened again, and Yu Fan came in looking helpless. He closed the door behind him.
He had finally escaped the overly friendly auntie next door, but as soon as he walked in, he saw Li Mu talking to a small mirror by himself.
“Stop admiring yourself. You're already pretty,” Yu Fan teased casually.
Li Mu looked up and responded with a blank face.
“Why did you call me this morning?” Yu Fan walked over and sat on the edge of the sofa, careful not to sit too close. He crossed one leg over the other.
Li Mu didn’t answer, he just handed him the mirror.
Yu Fan took the mirror and looked at his own face from top to bottom. He looked a bit disappointed.
“I don’t look bad. Maybe not as handsome as a high-tier actor, but I still look decent. Why don’t any girls like me?”
The truth was, he was just too slow to notice.
Anyone with eyes could tell many girls liked him, at least before the wig incident.
“There’s a ghost in this.”
“Huh?” Yu Fan looked up, confused.
“Or maybe I should say... there’s a ghost in my house,” Li Mu leaned back on the sofa, sounding tired.
“If I’m right, she’s probably been staying in my home for quite a while.”
“Then shouldn’t you have turned into a girl by now?”
Seriously?! You were all sweet talk with Auntie, can't you be a little more considerate when you talk to me?
Li Mu felt a sting in his chest, but still answered calmly. “Maybe it’s because she stays in the mirror.”
“That actually makes sense,” Yu Fan scratched his head. He looked at the mirror, watching the reflection move the same as him, and shook his head in frustration.
“The ghost-seeing buff from that spirit game wore off already. I can’t see ghosts anymore.”
“But your house really is colder than the sister’s next door. When I came yesterday, I thought maybe this building had good insulation.”
Still calling her “sister”? Shameless!
“How about this? Tonight, I’ll come to your house, or you can come to mine, and we play that spirit game again.”
Yu Fan rubbed his chin, looking excited. He’d been into ghosts and supernatural stuff ever since he was a kid, thanks to his grandpa.
But to Li Mu, that excited look made him seem a bit... creepy.
Is this guy really not gay?
Why is he so happy when he invites me to his place?
Li Mu pressed his lips together, stayed quiet for a moment, then asked, “Aren’t we supposed to go to the crossroads and knock a bowl?”
“Playing the same game twice is boring,” Yu Fan laughed awkwardly. “Also, even though this is the outskirts, it still gets busy at night. If we do that, people might think we’re weirdos.”
“At least you know you’re a weirdo,” Li Mu sighed deeply. “Alright, let’s do it at my place tonight.”
It was safer at his own home anyway.
“Sure. I live just a street away from you, not far.”
Yu Fan’s home was only about a 10-minute walk from Li Mu’s. Then he finally brought up the real reason he came.
“Wanna go play basketball this afternoon?”
Because of all the rumors at school, Yu Fan didn’t dare hang out with the other classmates now. He was scared they’d joke about him wearing girls’ clothes again.
“I don’t play basketball,” Li Mu said, bending down and pulling out a delivery rider’s uniform from under the table. “I’m going to work now.”
“Huh?”
“What do you mean ‘huh’? I’ll be back around 8 tonight.”
Yu Fan complained, “Li Mu, you’re so heartless! I see you as a friend, but you treat me like a tool!”
“Yep.” Li Mu nodded honestly, no shame at all.