Crossdress Ch1

A thin mist veiled the shallows in the photo.

Studio lights cast a dusky golden hue. The camera focused on the gradient mist-blue mermaid-style skirt hem—its soft fabric crumpled delicately in the wind. Slender white legs peeked faintly through the shallow waves, like polished jade or kiln-fired porcelain.

The shimmering water lit the soft skin with a golden gleam.

The arch of a foot flexed gently for the camera, revealing the skirt’s graceful drape. His lower back arched into a lovely curve to match, a mist-blue ribbon tied into a bow across his bare, fair waist—like a mermaid who had just taken human form at the edge of the sea.

Caption: #Mermaid #Beach #MalePhotographer&Skirt @JiaShang

The app’s backend began to flood with likes and comments:

Actually I never really got this aesthetic before, but now… 

Yanyan baby, are you a little mermaid? With a bow on your back like you’re a present just for me, wuwuwu 

That skirt is gorgeous, where’s it from??

Which sea do I fish in to catch a mermaid like this???

Wait—this is a guy? That fair skin, that tiny waist—are you sure this is a guy???

If you’re asking for a link, be careful about sizing. I bought from that store before—runs small. 

Only fits ants. Yanyan looks good ‘cause he’s thin.

So beautiful I slammed my phone into the wall and just stared at it for half an hour.

Please post more, baby! I need this with every meal!!

The comments just kept going.

Xu Yan opened his personal creator page to take a peek. He’d only registered this account recently and had posted just four static images so far—yet each had earned hundreds of thousands of likes, and his follower count had already passed 100k.

Senior Shang Jia had asked him to model a skirt she’d designed herself. He hadn’t planned on saying yes at first, but she kept coaxing and complimenting his legs: “They’re so long and fair—and not scrawny either! So well-proportioned! They’d look perfect in a cute skirt!”

She also promised he’d be paid.

And Shang Jia knew Xu Yan was short on money.

Sure enough, after some hesitation, Xu Yan agreed.

Shang Jia picked out a few shots she was satisfied with and posted them on her account. Since she also ran a self-media business, Xu Yan figured it wouldn’t matter—his face wasn’t visible, no one would know it was him.

To give him credit, Shang Jia also helped register an account for him and tagged him in her post. Unexpectedly, her post blew up with over a million likes, and Xu Yan’s new blank account gained over 20,000 followers overnight.

With her sharp business sense, Shang Jia gave him a few behind-the-scenes shots to post and taught him how to make a living off internet traffic. Not long after, Xu Yan’s account had even more followers than hers.

He clicked open his backend wallet—just in the past few days, he’d made over 300 yuan from platform revenue and viewer tips. Combined with the commission from Shang Jia, he had enough to cover this month’s living expenses. Much easier than other part-time jobs.

He carefully tapped the withdrawal button—only to see that the system required a 1,000 yuan minimum.

He pursed his lips and sighed. Looks like he’d need to keep saving a while longer.

But he had no more leftover content to post. If he wanted to upload new photos, there was only one way…

Just then, with the new semester of junior year starting, Shang Jia sent his packages directly to school.

The directing department had reshuffled dorms, and a few students were assigned mixed housing with other majors. Xu Yan and class rep Zhao Qingji were moved into a four-person dorm under the computer science department.

On the first day of the semester, Xu Yan arrived at Dorm 318 and found it empty.

Two of the four beds were unclaimed. He located his spot and began unpacking efficiently.

Before long, a voice echoed down the hallway.

“Yanyan?”

Shen Nanli skidded to a stop at Dorm 318, grabbing the door handle and peeking in through the gap.

Inside, a fluffy head peeked out from behind the inner bed curtain. Xu Yan’s cheeks were rosy. “I’m the only one here. You can come in.”

Shen Nanli finally stepped in cheerfully. “Your dorm’s pretty clean. I didn’t expect you and the class rep to be in the same room. Why didn’t the teacher just put us together? That way we could take classes side by side.”

Both Xu Yan and Shen Nanli had come from Wu Town to attend university in Beishi. Though they’d gone to the same high school, they weren’t in the same class and barely knew each other. But once they ended up in the same major and class at university, they grew closer. Hardly anyone from Wu Town made it to university, let alone Beishi, so they were often spoken of as hometown pride.

Beyond sharing classes and meals, they even rode the long-distance bus home together during school breaks. Classmates often joked they were like twins—always together.

Xu Yan was still focused on organizing his bed, speaking gently. “Even if we’re not in the same dorm, it’s okay. We’re not far apart. I’ll come get you for class every day.”

“Fine, guess that’ll work.” Shen Nanli glanced at the empty desk across from them. “Why is this one still unclaimed? No one living here?”

Xu Yan poked his head out of the curtain and nodded. “Seems like it. Only three names are posted at the door. Besides me and the class rep, the other’s a senior from computer science.”

Shen Nanli raised his brows. “So that senior lived here alone before you guys moved in? A whole dorm room to himself? What a luxury.”

Xu Yan thought for a moment. “Maybe… the computer science department must be loaded.”

Unlike their own department, which had to borrow dorm space from others.

Shen Nanli: “……”

Suddenly, Shen Nanli tossed the package he’d been holding onto the empty desk, stepped onto the platform by Xu Yan’s bed, and clung to the railing with excitement. “If that’s the case, how about I ask the teacher to transfer me here? Then we could live together!”

Xu Yan was smoothing out a cotton bedsheet printed with little cartoon rabbits and carrots. He blinked gently and smiled. “Sure. But do you think the teacher would approve a dorm change right at the start of the semester?”

Shen Nanli hopped down. “Then I’ll just beg really nicely.”

“True.”

Once the bed was neatly made, Xu Yan pulled a cute bunny plush out of the package and placed it beside his pillow.

The plush was a little worn. One of its ears had an awkward black patch sewn on. But it was a childhood gift from his grandmother, and he couldn’t sleep without hugging it. Without the bunny, he’d feel unsafe at night.

He didn’t have much luggage, and only a few pieces of clothing, so he finished unpacking quickly.

They had plans to meet Shang Jia for lunch, so with time running short, Shen Nanli dragged Xu Yan off to the cafeteria.

Only Shang Jia and Shen Nanli knew about Xu Yan’s cross-dressing photography. As they sat and ate, chatting, Shang Jia asked, “Yanyan, did you get the package I sent you?”

Shen Nanli quickly swallowed his soup. “Oh right! Almost forgot—I picked it up for Yanyan. Left it in his dorm.”

Xu Yan blinked, a little confused. “You put it in my dorm?”

Shen Nanli said, “You were unpacking earlier and everything was a mess—your desk and bed were full. I just left it on the empty desk across from yours.”

“As long as it’s in the dorm, that’s fine,” Shang Jia said, glancing around and lowering her voice. “Yanyan, make sure you put it away as soon as you get back. There are six pieces… all skirts.”

Xu Yan choked on his soup, coughing lightly as a flush rose on his fair cheeks almost instantly.

The cafeteria was bustling with students eating lunch, and there were even three boys seated at the table beside them. Xu Yan couldn’t tell if anyone had overheard.

He whispered, “Senior… isn’t that a bit too many?”

Shang Jia handed him a napkin. “Not really. It’s just two designs. But I wasn’t sure if your measurements changed, so I sent one in every size. Just take the photos and return them to me after.”

She added, “If you like any of them, you can keep them.”

Xu Yan hurriedly explained, “I won’t be keeping any. It’s just for the photos. I’ll clean them and return them right after.”

“It’s fine. They’re just samples—wear them however you want.” Shang Jia looked at his delicate, handsome features, and the more she stared, the more regretful she felt. She couldn’t help but say, “Yanyan, you should really reconsider my suggestion. If you livestreamed with your face showing, you’d definitely blow up. Your face alone is enough for the visual route. With a dress and a little makeup, you’d appeal to everyone—guys and girls alike.”

This wasn’t the first time Shang Jia had tried persuading him. But Xu Yan had no plans to show his face. He wasn’t talkative or outgoing, and he didn’t know how to play the internet game. His schedule was already full with classes and part-time jobs. Taking cross-dressing photos was the most rebellious thing he’d done in his otherwise rule-following life. If his grandma or relatives back in Wu Town found out, who knew what rumors would spread.

He’d always been the obedient, sensible kid, raised by his grandmother, who took great pride in him getting into Beishi University. She often said she wanted to see him graduate, find a job, get married, and start a family.

He couldn’t disappoint her.

Seeing that Xu Yan wasn’t budging, Shang Jia let it go.

After lunch, she handed the two of them a big stack of textbooks. “These major coursebooks are expensive. I’m about to graduate and don’t need them anymore. They won’t fetch much as scrap anyway—take them and see what you can use.”

Xu Yan had been wondering how to get his textbooks for the new semester. He usually bought secondhand copies to save money. Most of Shang Jia’s books were still in good condition—easily usable.

After leaving the cafeteria, he and Shen Nanli each carried one strap of the heavy bag of books as they walked toward the dorms.

Shen Nanli hesitated for a while before asking gently, “By the way, Yanyan, how’s your grandma doing? Any better?”

Xu Yan’s grandmother was elderly and had several chronic illnesses. After a bad fall in the fields, she’d been in the hospital for over six months without much improvement. During the last trip to Wu Town, Shen Nanli had visited her too—an eighty-year-old woman who had grown frail and thin from illness.

“She’s doing much better,” Xu Yan replied. “But she still needs to stay in the hospital.”

“I heard the medical care in Beishi is a lot better. Have you considered bringing her here for treatment? Maybe she’d recover faster.”

“I’ve thought about it,” Xu Yan said after a pause, his tone surprisingly calm. “But… I still need to save more before we can transfer her.”

Shen Nanli looked at him, heart aching. Xu Yan never once complained. Even though he was constantly running around just to cover the current hospital bills in Wu Town, he still went to class diligently, worked part-time jobs, paid his own way, and even helped with his grandma’s expenses.

They arrived back at the dorm building and brought the books to Xu Yan’s room.

Shen Nanli was stopped by his own roommate along the way. He wanted to help carry the rest, but Xu Yan insisted he could handle it himself and continued alone with the heavy bag.

Just as he reached Room 318, he noticed the door was ajar—seems like another roommate had arrived.

What he didn’t expect was that the last empty bed had already been taken. A middle-aged woman dressed like a hotel maid was diligently making the upper bunk, layering velvet bedding like she was preparing a bed for a princess.

At the desk below, two young men were standing. They were similar in height, broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted—just from their backs, you could tell they were both exceptionally good-looking. The room, which had felt spacious before, now suddenly felt small.

Xu Yan hesitated at the door. It was his room, but the overwhelming aura of the two men inside made him unsure of how to enter.

One of them wore a well-fitted white shirt with black trousers, a suit jacket draped over his arm. Gold-rimmed glasses sat on the bridge of his tall nose—he looked every bit the polished professional.

The “professional” bent slightly, picked up a stark white courier bag on the desk, and read aloud:

“Jia Shang. Women’s clothing shop—”

He glanced at the man next to him with curiosity.

“Did you buy this?”

The other man didn’t respond. He simply turned slightly and looked toward the door.

The strap of Xu Yan’s book bag suddenly snapped. With a loud thud, books crashed to the floor.

His movement drew the other man’s gaze—a sharp, invasive stare that locked onto him like a predator watching prey that had wandered into its territory.

Even with sunlight behind him, his brow cast a shadow that made his sharp, upturned phoenix eyes gleam cold. Though they usually held a touch of charm, the straight bridge of his nose suppressed all flirtation, leaving only a chilling distance.

It was a face that was both strikingly handsome and unmistakably unapproachable.

Xu Yan found it vaguely familiar, like he’d seen it somewhere before, but couldn’t recall when or where.

That cold gaze merely swept over him for a second, but when Xu Yan snapped out of his daze, he saw a pale, elegant hand reaching out for the white courier bag. A ring gleamed on the man’s finger as he moved.

No—he couldn’t let that happen! Wasn’t that the package Shen Nanli picked up for him?

Xu Yan moved before he could think, rushing past the fallen books to snatch the package. He grabbed every parcel on the desk and stuffed them into his wardrobe in a flurry, then slammed the door shut and locked it.

The whole movement was fast and fluid—like a guilty thief.

“S-sorry,” he stammered. “That’s my package. Wait, no, not mine—I was holding it for a senior. I didn’t see a name on the door and thought the room was empty, so I just put it there for a while. I’m really sorry.”

As he explained, the door opened again. Li Huaiche, the previous solo resident of this room, walked in with his luggage.

“Whoa, Wen-Ge?” he blurted. “You’re back? You’re moving back in? Even Shen Xun’s here?”

The polished man gave a slight nod in greeting.

While Li Huaiche chatted familiarly with the two men, Xu Yan’s brain finally caught up.

No wonder the face looked familiar—his new roommate was none other than the famously aloof heartthrob from the computer science department, Wen Sinian.

Even though they weren’t in the same department, Wen Sinian’s face was a constant presence on the school forum’s confession wall. It was impossible not to recognize him.

But Wen Sinian had never stayed in the dorms in his first three years—why was he suddenly back in his senior year?

Xu Yan silently thanked Li Huaiche for drawing attention away from him. Who knew if that awkward excuse would have worked otherwise.

“Wen-Ge, are you staying here every day now?”

The middle-aged woman had finally finished making the bed and began organizing the desk. Wen Sinian stood off to the side with his hands in his pockets and replied coolly, “Occasionally.”

As Xu Yan quietly listened, he dragged the fallen book bag to his desk and crouched down to put everything away one by one.

The others continued chatting briefly about their major. The programming jargon went over Xu Yan’s head. Not long after, Wen and Shen Xun received a phone call and left together.

Once they were gone, Li Huaiche turned to Xu Yan with a smile.

“You’re in the directing program, right? What year?”

“Junior.”

“Oh, a junior! That makes you my underclassman.” Li grinned. “Guess we’re roommates now. I never thought Room 318 would actually be full one day—I’ve had it all to myself for three years.”

Xu Yan asked curiously, “The senior from earlier—he didn’t used to live here?”

“You mean Wen Sinian? Nah, he never stayed at school. His family has tons of houses. Why would he live in a dump like this?”

A dump?

Xu Yan touched his hair in slight embarrassment. He thought the dorm was pretty nice. Clean tile floors, upper bed with lower desk setup, a balcony, a private bathroom… plus there was a shared washing machine and dryer. It was incredibly convenient—no need to hang clothes outside, and they dried quickly.

Though, he admitted, each wash-dry session cost seven yuan, which was a bit steep, so he didn’t use it often.

Li Huaiche continued, “No idea why he decided to move back this semester. But my advice? Don’t pry.”

He gave Xu Yan a once-over and clicked his tongue twice. “And another thing—just a friendly tip. It’s best to stay away from those guys. Especially Wen-Ge. Don’t think just because you’re roommates you can get close.”

The sudden warning caught Xu Yan off guard, like he was being accused of something shady.

He tilted his head slightly. “Why?”

He didn’t know what he looked like when he was confused, but the innocent, slightly damp look in his eyes made him seem delicate and lost.

Li Huaiche looked away and cleared his throat with an awkward cough. “Because Wen-Ge is homophobic. Especially toward people like you.”