Crossdress Ch23

The next morning, Xu Yan went to class with big dark circles under his eyes. Shen Nanli was startled by how terrible he looked and asked if he hadn’t slept the night before.

Xu Yan looked like he was about to cry and mumbled, “Mm.”

He could have slept—if he hadn’t looked at that photo.

Why did he keep having weird dreams? And he did ask Year for a photo, but not… that kind of photo.

He really hated him.

During break, he sent a few messages to Shang Jia, telling her about Year’s explanation from last night.

[Shang Jia]: Oh thank god, I was scared he was just some cheating jerk.

[Shang Jia]: That app does love pushing random followers. I’ve had fake followers pushed and even bought for me. Glad you and your top fan cleared the misunderstanding.

[Shang Jia]: But you misunderstood him, gave him attitude, even talked about breaking up—he didn’t snap at you, right? Didn’t get all mean?

Shang Jia could imagine the temper rich people had. With Xu Yan’s soft personality, he could be easily pushed around.

Xu Yan thought about it, then obediently replied:

[Xu Yan]: No, he didn’t get mad. He was really sweet…

Kept calling him “baby” and coaxing him, just kept insisting on seeing him—so clingy.

[Shang Jia]: !

[Shang Jia]: Okay, I’m changing my opinion on this top fan. He sounds… kinda nice??

[Shang Jia]: Yanyan, have you thought about seriously giving him a chance?

Xu Yan held his phone, stunned, then saw Shang Jia follow up:

[Shang Jia]: Only if he’s hot though. If he’s ugly—nope!

Xu Yan couldn’t help but smile a little. Judging by his physique and taste, Year probably wasn’t ugly…

He didn’t consider himself shallow anyway—as long as the person was good, looks didn’t matter.

[Xu Yan]: I haven’t thought about it yet…

After replying, he found himself spacing out during class, actually pondering what Shang Jia said.

At noon, he received a message from Zhou Zhengyi again. As expected, he wanted to invite Xu Yan out for another meal—just the two of them this time.

Xu Yan didn’t buy the whole “just friends” talk anymore and told him directly that he knew everything.

Zhou Zhengyi still wouldn’t give up, thinking if he just worked harder he could win Xu Yan back. It’s all that dinner’s fault!

[Zhou Zhengyi]: Did Xu Wenwen tell you something? She’s just spouting nonsense. Don’t believe her.

So that tall girl from last night was named Xu Wenwen.

[Xu Yan]: You shouldn’t have lied to me. And even more so, you shouldn’t have lied to her. You should explain and apologize to her.

[Zhou Zhengyi]: Fine, I won’t hide it anymore. I’ll tell you the truth.

[Zhou Zhengyi]: I still like you. I want to pursue you. Can’t you give me another chance?

Xu Yan was getting annoyed by his persistence and replied bluntly:

[Xu Yan]: No. Because I have a boyfriend.

Not a girlfriend—a boyfriend.

He just wanted Zhou Zhengyi to understand: even if he liked boys, it would never be him.

As expected, the guy went completely silent for a long time.

Xu Yan deleted him from WeChat and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Ah… the world finally felt peaceful.

But then—ding—a new friend request popped up: [Xu Wenwen from the sports academy]

He accepted, and a message came immediately.

[Xu Wenwen]: Just wanted to apologize. I shouldn’t have said those things about you last night. Turns out it was all that dog Zhou Zhengyi’s fault.

[Xu Yan]: It’s okay.

She was a victim too, after all.

[Xu Wenwen]: I was literally right next to him when he said you had a boyfriend and deleted him. So satisfying!!!

[Xu Yan]: Did he apologize to you?

[Xu Wenwen]: Please. I couldn’t care less. I just told him to get lost.

Xu Yan didn’t expect this girl to be so chill—she loved boldly, ditched decisively, and didn’t beat around the bush.

He thought to himself, definitely someone worth learning from.

But then her next message made him freeze in place, staring wide-eyed at his screen, thinking he must be hallucinating.

[Xu Wenwen]: Can I gossip a little… Are you dating Wen Sinian?

Who?

Xu Yan blinked. Who was she talking about?

Was it the Wen Sinian he was thinking of? His roommate Wen Sinian?

[Xu Yan]: No, definitely not. You misunderstood.

How did people even get this impression…?

[Xu Wenwen]: Not him? I totally thought something was up between you two last night. Doesn’t Wen Sinian like you? I figured you guys were secretly together. How could you even look at someone like Zhou Zhengyi?

[Xu Yan]: Really no. We’re just roommates. He’s… just more attentive than most.

[Xu Wenwen]: Huh? Wen Sinian? Attentive??

[Xu Wenwen]: That’s hilarious. Never heard that before.

But seeing Xu Yan repeatedly deny it, she didn’t push the topic any further.

[Xu Wenwen]: But you’re honestly super cute. Let’s hang out sometime?

[Xu Yan]: Sure, you’re really pretty too.

[Xu Wenwen]: …Do you always talk like this?

[Xu Yan]: Is there something wrong?

[Xu Wenwen]: …You’re too cute.

[Xu Wenwen]: Wishing you and your boyfriend 99

After deleting Zhou Zhengyi, he really didn’t bother him anymore. But Xu Wenwen would occasionally chat with him. They even had lunch together in the cafeteria once—seemed like they were getting familiar.

Xu Yan’s account was temporarily inactive. After confirming his relationship with Year, Year didn’t allow him to post updates anymore. Some past posts were even hidden—only a few innocent ones with long skirts and a pure look remained.

The wallet in his account kept filling up. Year would regularly go in and send tips, sweet-talking and coaxing him into sending private photos—just for his eyes only.

Several of those skirts in his closet had already been worn. One afternoon when the dorm was empty, Xu Yan opened his wardrobe and started organizing them.

Year said he would be busy the next few days—lots of meetings and not much time to message. Xu Yan was actually kind of relieved.

He told Year to focus on work and not look at his phone all the time.

After all, even couples in the honeymoon phase shouldn’t be texting 24/7. Everyone needs breathing space.

Besides, Year could be a bit scary sometimes. If Xu Yan didn’t reply for a while, he’d go absolutely frantic.

According to Year, since Xu Yan didn’t want to meet in person, the only way to feel each other’s presence was through the internet.
And in his eyes, Xu Yan was the most beautiful, cutest, and most likable person—surrounded by guys at school who might be secretly eyeing him.

So Year felt extremely insecure, always fearing the day Xu Yan might break up with him and leave him again.

The way he spoke made him sound especially pitiful, like Xu Yan was the bad guy trying to abandon him.

Xu Yan had to send two photos of himself in pretty skirts just to calm him down.

But now that the account had suddenly gone quiet, Xu Yan actually felt… a bit unaccustomed to it. Every once in a while, he’d check his phone.

The day before and yesterday, Year had only sent him three messages each: one “good morning,” one reminder to eat, and one “good night.”

Today, it was even less—just a single “good morning” message, and now it was already 3 p.m. He hadn’t even reminded him to eat lunch.

Was work really that busy?

Xu Yan sat on his chair, puffing his cheeks in frustration. He didn’t even know why he was angry—he just felt uncomfortable inside.

He opened the chat with Year and started tapping on his profile picture repeatedly with his finger, as if trying to poke him through the screen.

Not long after, a screenshot was sent to him.

[Year]: Go pick up your package, baby.

It was a delivery. Who knew what Year had bought for him this time?

Xu Yan went and picked it up. When he opened the box, it was full of Patchi chocolates—dozens of delicately packaged boxes, all in different flavors. According to the shipping label, they had been forwarded from overseas.

He took a photo and sent it to Year, letting him know it had arrived. He opened one and tasted it—it was the same rich, sweet flavor as before.

As he chewed, something suddenly struck him as odd.

The last time he had Patchi chocolates was when Senior Wen gave him a cake—there were some chocolates tucked in the bag.

And now, Year had sent him the same cake, and now the same chocolates?

Xu Yan narrowed his eyes. At that moment, his phone lit up.

[Year]: I didn’t know which flavor you liked, so I bought a bunch. Let me know which ones you like next time.

[Year]: Keep some in your bag. If you don’t have time for a meal, eat a couple to hold you over.

Xu Yan did have irregular eating habits sometimes—eating too little and getting hungry fast—so having chocolates on hand was actually useful.

[Yanyan]: Why did you pick this specific brand?

[Year]: A friend recommended it. I thought my baby might like it.

[Year]: Do you like them?

Maybe it was just a coincidence.

[Yanyan]: …Yeah, I do.

[Year]: What are you doing right now, baby?

[Yanyan]: Organizing clothes.

[Year]: Any new skirts left?

[Yanyan]: A few more.

[Year]: Once you’ve worn them all, will we finally meet?

Xu Yan packed away the last skirt and moved the chocolate box under the desk to hide it. Only then did he reply, a little annoyed.

[Yanyan]: Why are you saying things like that again?

[Yanyan]: Aren’t you busy with work?

[Year]: In the final meeting now. It’s almost over.

[Year]: Have you thought about it?

They really hadn’t talked much the past few days. Xu Yan didn’t want to admit that he felt a tiny bit disappointed every time he didn’t get a message.

Just like when Year vanished for seven days before—he had been upset. But really, just a little.

[Year]: I miss you, baby.

[Year]: I think about you even when I’m working.

[Year]: What about you, baby?

Xu Yan sat at his desk, hugging his phone and still chewing the chocolate Year sent him. He didn’t want to admit how his heart raced whenever he was hit with such intense, overwhelming affection.

[Yanyan]: I did not miss you.

[Year]: You did, didn’t you?

[Year]: Be good.

[Year]: Can we video call tonight?

Xu Yan immediately rejected it.

[Yanyan]: No.

His roommates would be back tonight. What if they found out he was video chatting with a guy?

Year, as always, was endlessly accommodating—never angry no matter how many times he was refused.

[Year]: Okay, then how about you record a video for me?

[Year]: I’ll record one for you too. Fair?

Xu Yan was a little tempted. He also wanted to see what Year looked like in motion—to verify whether those photos he’d sent before were real or just overly edited.

[Yanyan]: …Fine. But what should I record?

A few seconds later, a reply came.

[Year]: Wear the leg ring.