Chapter 55: The Reason
Early in the morning, the school gate was unusually crowded.
Angry parents had completely blocked the entrance, while several TV reporters with cameras were filming from the sidelines. Meanwhile, students gathered in layers, eager to watch the commotion.
From a few meters away, An Yuan stopped his bike and stretched his neck, trying to see what was happening.
“We’re here?”
Chen Cheng had been resting her face against An Yuan’s back the whole ride, so comfortable she nearly fell asleep. She groggily lifted her flushed face, looking a little dazed, almost like she was drunk… on testosterone.
“The school gate is blocked. We can’t get in.”
“But morning self-study starts in, like, ten minutes!”
“No big deal. I see the principal.”
Chen Cheng got off the bike and shrank behind An Yuan, feeling overwhelmed by the dense crowd of students. Half of her body was hidden behind him, with only her head peeking out to watch the scene.
“Whoa, reporters! Did they interview you last time?”
“Yeah, it even aired on the local news.”
“I can’t see what’s going on…”
Being on the shorter side, Chen Cheng stood on tiptoes but still couldn’t see into the crowd. She anxiously paced back and forth, searching for something to stand on.
“An Yuan, hold me for a while, I’ll step on your bike!”
“Don’t even think about it. If you fall, you’ll just blame me.”
Unlike Chen Cheng, An Yuan wasn’t interested in the commotion. He had already been involved in a similar incident before, even interviewed by the news. All he cared about now was getting inside.
“But I really can’t see!”
He glanced back at the restless girl.
Something was off with Chen Cheng these past few days. Wasn’t she acting way too energetic? She wasn’t even that shy anymore.
After knowing her for over twenty years, An Yuan understood her well.
Before, if he had asked her to help convince his mom to get a medical check-up, she’d most likely refuse. She also wouldn’t have gone out of her way to be nice to people she wasn’t close to. And she definitely wouldn’t have clung to him the whole ride, hugging his waist and burying her face into his back… Almost like they were a couple.
Especially that last part. If she still saw herself as a man, there was no way she’d be so affectionate with her brother.
“…Want me to carry you on my back so you can see?” An Yuan offered tentatively.
Even if she were still a guy, Chen Cheng would never accept something like that in public.
“That’s… not really appropriate, is it?” She frowned hesitantly, glancing at the thick crowd around them. But then she edged closer, already getting ready to climb onto his back. “Actually… that might work?”
“No way!”
Annoyed, An Yuan flicked her forehead and pushed her back a few steps.
“Ow, that hurt!”
Just then, the crowd started shifting as the blocked school gate finally opened.
“Let’s go.”
“But I didn’t even get to see anything…”
Chen Cheng followed behind An Yuan as they entered the school, eventually stopping by the bike shed.
She glanced toward the cafeteria. It was completely dark inside, the lights weren’t even on. It looked like it would be closed for a while, meaning the boarding students would have to eat elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the school leaders, parents, and reporters were all heading in that direction. An Yuan and the senior boys had stirred things up, but fixing the issue was someone else’s job.
“Chengzi, don’t you think something has been off with you these past few days?”
Chen Cheng turned her head and looked up at An Yuan, who had just finished locking his bike.
“What do you mean ‘something’s off’? Me?” She pointed at her own face.
“Yeah.”
Of course, there was something off!
But there was no way Chen Cheng was going to admit she was thirsting for An Yuan. She quickly looked away. “No way. I feel totally normal.”
In fact, she was feeling better than usual. Even when something annoying happened, it passed quickly.
“You sure? It’s obvious to me.”
Hiss— Was An Yuan that observant? He actually noticed?!
Chen Cheng’s face tensed up in panic. Did he somehow realize she had been secretly treating him like a comfort pet? Or worse, did he figure out she had been using him as fantasy fuel? No way, right?! He couldn’t read minds… could he?!
Was this it? Would she even lose her status as his brother now?
Her guilty conscience was practically written all over her face.
An Yuan glanced around. Seeing that there were too many people nearby, he led the way toward the track field, away from prying eyes.
Once they reached a quieter spot, he turned around and saw Chen Cheng trailing behind with her head lowered, taking tiny, hesitant steps. Her face was flushed, and she looked like a nervous student about to be scolded.
Honestly… the way she acted was even cuter than most girls.
Maybe her body was always meant to be female?
After thinking for a moment, An Yuan carefully said, “I think it’s because you’re on your cycle.”
“Huh?” Chen Cheng froze. “But my period isn’t due for another week or two.”
“Not that.”
Obviously, An Yuan knew more about women’s biology than Chen Cheng, the forever-single virgin. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he explained, “So… you know how girls don’t just have one cycle? Every month, there are four phases. Right now, you’re probably in your ovulation phase.”
“Ovulation?”
Chen Cheng looked at him, puzzled. She vaguely remembered learning about it in elementary school health class, but she had completely forgotten what it meant.
“It’s the phase that makes you want to fall in love.”
An Yuan rubbed his nose. Or, more accurately, the phase where hormone levels spike, and the body is ready for pregnancy, making someone act a lot more affectionate.
Thinking about it, Chen Cheng has often suddenly become flustered and shy, escaping from him these past few days... No, no, no, Chen Cheng isn't a pervert like him.
“Really? Let me look it up.”
“Do it while walking.”
Chen Cheng hummed in response and quickly searched it up on her phone. And finally, she found the answer to the mystery that had been bothering her.
So that’s why my mind has been full of dirty thoughts!
That’s why I keep wanting to get close to An Yuan!
It was her body’s fault! It had nothing to do with her pure brain!
“Hmm, I have been feeling more energetic. And my mood’s been great! The internet even says it boosts social skills!” She nodded to herself, trying to cover things up. “But I definitely don’t feel like falling in love.”
She paused for a second before emphasizing, “And dating a man would be disgusting.”
An Yuan easily accepted her explanation. “That’s normal. Everyone reacts differently.”
Phew— She got away with it!
Back in the classroom, Chen Cheng placed her phone in the wall-mounted storage pouch and sat down at her desk, resting her chin in her palm, and looked at her deskmate, Pan Jie, with slightly furrowed brows.
Her seatmate, Pan Jie, felt uncomfortable under her gaze. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just spaced out.”
She turned to look at the other boys in the class, especially the more attractive ones, like the bad-boy handsome Ah Qiang, the tall and sturdy Gao Dong, and a few others who were decently good-looking and fit her aesthetic.
…Nothing. No reaction at all! Good!
Having a tiny reaction to An Yuan was still understandable. After all, they had slept together, bathed together, and even shared underwear as brothers. She could use their friendship as an excuse to get close, maybe even sneak a little affection.
But with anyone else? Absolutely disgusting! Just imagining it made her nauseous!
She took off her glasses, closed her eyes, and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
She's starting to feel that her boundaries have decreased. She previously couldn't stand An Yuan...
Ugh, when will this stupid ovulation phase end?!
Women’s bodies were insane! Was she really just a puppet controlled by hormones?!