...In the end, he still had to go to class...
An Han wore a denim jacket, clutching in his pocket the excuse slip for his first period, his expression utterly despondent as he trudged down the school path.
Damn, it's so fucking hot!
Even though he'd chosen the lightest jacket possible, sweat still streamed relentlessly down his temples under the blazing sun.
He anxiously glanced down at his chest—beneath the jacket, the slight swell was nearly imperceptible, yet he remained nervous and uneasy, constantly glancing around furtively, feeling guilty for no reason. Instinctively, he hunched his shoulders and rounded his back, as if he'd done something shameful. No one was actually paying him any attention, but the psychological pressure made him act with exaggerated caution.
"It's fine; even the class advisor didn't notice."
"My promised eight-pack abs are gone—now I've got two pecs instead."
Classes themselves weren't too bad; the real problem was dorm life. His roommates would inevitably discover his increasingly prominent, muscular chest sooner or later.
This morning's skipped class wasn't just about avoidance—he'd also planned to go out and buy some long strips of cloth, intending to bind his chest like those cross-dressing heroines in period dramas. But all his careful plans had gone completely awry.
"That advisor must have something wrong with his head!"
Even though he knew the advisor was just being responsible, An Han still grumbled resentfully under his breath.
[Task Completed
Reward Received: "Moe Posture" Trait
Moe Posture Trait: Every movement exudes cuteness.]
The task had been easier to pull off than An Han had anticipated—perhaps Ren Chi hadn't intended to make things too difficult for him from the start. After all, thanks to his "Good First Impression" trait, strangers always formed a favorable opinion of him at first glance.
He didn't pay much attention to the reward. This task had felt more like guidance pointing him toward a certain choice, so the actual reward wasn't that important—especially since he couldn't even understand it properly.
What the hell did "every movement exudes cuteness" even mean?
As An Han muttered to himself inwardly, the bell signaling the end of the first period rang out. Only then did he realize he'd already reached the classroom building.
Moments ago, the campus had been nearly deserted, but now students poured out in droves. An Han sidestepped quickly to avoid the rushing crowd, letting out another weary sigh.
Wearing a jacket in this summer heat definitely made him stand out—but going without one would expose his inexplicable chest muscles.
Every time a passerby glanced his way, his already shaky confidence took another hit. Head lowered, he hurried toward his classroom.
Once inside, he'd be safe.
"An Han? Why weren't you in class just now?"
He hadn't walked far before someone blocked his path.
"Oh, it's you, Su Peng. Where are you off to?"
"Gotta grab breakfast at the cafeteria." Su Peng stood before him, eyeing him up and down with a grin. "Why are you wearing a jacket outside? Aren't you roasting?"
"Not hot at all!"
An Han wiped sweat from his brow. Despite his flushed cheeks and labored breathing from the heat, his words remained stubbornly defiant.
"What's wrong with you now?"
"I've got a cold. Wearing more layers keeps my stomach from hurting."
"No, I mean..." Su Peng's gaze drifted downward, landing on An Han's arms crossed protectively over his chest, then further down to his tightly pressed-together thighs.
Guilty as charged, An Han couldn't meet Su Peng's eyes. He glanced away nervously, his legs shifting restlessly, rubbing together slightly, his whole body swaying gently—a posture so delicate it could almost be described as graceful.
Su Peng scratched his head, bewildered. "Do you have ADHD or something?"
He'd almost blurted out that An Han had suddenly started acting effeminate overnight, but held back, worried that being too blunt might get him punched.
"Huh?" An Han blinked, following Su Peng's gaze down to his own legs.
The moment he looked down, all his unconscious little movements froze. Quickly straightening up, he adopted his usual carefree stance and said casually, "I'm just not feeling well—sick, you know."
Suddenly, he understood the meaning of that task reward.
"I'm heading to class."
Brushing past Su Peng with a darkened expression, he hurried into the classroom with tiny, quick steps.
After handing his excuse slip to the teacher at the podium, An Han plopped down beside Long Xing, immediately flopping his face onto the cool desk surface with a long sigh of relief.
Long Xing was absorbed in his mobile game and didn't bother acknowledging him. After catching his breath for a moment, An Han sat up again and looked down at his legs—still pressed tightly together—and his calves, elegantly angled to the side.
He'd done all this completely unconsciously!
This is way too girly!
Internally cursing, he deliberately spread his legs apart. But two minutes later, when he checked again, they'd already drifted back together without him noticing.
He'd heard rumors that if guys kept their legs squeezed together too much, it could overheat their "magazine" and cause "ammo quality issues"...
"Xiao Han, did you get your absence excused for first period?" Long Xing finished his game round and turned to An Han, eager to take credit. "I tried my best to cover for you, okay? It's not my fault that damn advisor wouldn't listen!"
Hearing this only reignited An Han's frustration.
Hands on hips, he glared at Long Xing furiously. "You told the advisor I had a 40-degree fever! He got so scared he ran straight to our dorm to check on me! Couldn't you make up a more believable excuse?!"
Despite An Han's angry tone, his puffed-up cheeks, flushed face, and wounded expression made Long Xing feel inexplicably guilty.
"I just thought exaggerating would help..."
Long Xing turned his head away apologetically, yet his eyes kept sneaking glances back at An Han.
Has my roommate gotten... cuter?
When angry, he looked so soft and adorable—almost like a girl—and it suited him perfectly.
Suddenly, Long Xing realized the girl he'd had a crush on at first sight didn't seem nearly as cute as An Han.
"Forget it, I don't want to argue. I've already sorted it out anyway." An Han had no energy to deal with Long Xing right now; his focus remained fixed on his bizarre, involuntary mannerisms.
This was terrifying.
An Han couldn't see himself from a third-person perspective, but judging by Long Xing's reaction, his behavior apparently wasn't off-putting—in fact, Long Xing seemed even friendlier toward him now.
Which was even scarier... What if I accidentally turn my roommate gay?
The second period began.
The teacher took attendance again to prevent students who'd shown up for roll call in the first period from sneaking back to their dorms during break. Usually, students took their major courses seriously, and given this professor's notorious strictness, the entire class was unusually present and accounted for.
"Are you going home for National Day break?" Long Xing whispered beside him.
"Not going."
"Then you'll be alone in the dorm."
Perfect. That way, he could finally find a place to get rid of his women's clothing without constantly worrying that no hiding spot felt safe enough.