PART 02 Baizhu, you are very handsome

Hurry up and speak! Queen Cressida silently cast a sharp glance, while Xiao Lu remained with his head held high, continuing to remain silent

Cui Si glared angrily and said, "What is there to fear? Let them see, but not touch." After saying this, she cupped her hands around the bra, smiling triumphantly.

I chuckled awkwardly, patted the back of his hand, and comforted him, saying, "Alright, dear sister, then I shall wait. Let's leave it at that for today." With a smile, I released his hand, and my mood suddenly became incredibly light.

I do not like large waves; in fact, I dislike them very much. Without hairspray, it looks like a wilted vegetable, and after using hairspray, it resembles a piece of tattered cloth stuck together

Forget it, I should not have overestimated the intelligence of these two individuals

"Pearl, you might try applying for illustration work, look how the newspaper has painted the Mona Lisa so beautifully." Sister Cissy leaned back in her chair, a slice of orange in her mouth, passing it to little Lu at her home.

After a long while, I suddenly regained my composure from the excitement and said with a serious expression: "Cecilia, I have a question."

I hurried over, quickly snatching the magazine off his face, and feigned surprise as I asked, "Feng Mian, you are actually here getting a haircut too?"

Why is it not Lin Chi-ling? I quickly tucked a strand of hair blown by the wind behind my ear and rolled my eyes at Sister Tsui.

His face instantly turned ashen, and his breathing became rapid. I shrugged and turned to leave, but suddenly, he grabbed me and said, "Cheng Baozhu, it is impossible to settle this without consequences. In my entire life, no one has ever played me like this. Just wait for me!" He gritted his teeth, and the grinding sound sent chills down my spine.

I turned my face, nodding vigorously, repeating my exclamation: "The seven-story pagoda, the seven stories! Lin Fengmian."

The horns behind us blared in succession, and Cress and I clasped hands, our excitement palpable as we shouted in unison: "Straighten it out, straighten it out, straighten it out!"

The short and fragmented hair, devoid of the drag of long hair, accentuates the facial features, making them appear more three-dimensional and exuding a spirited aura. The entire person seems invigorated by this short hairstyle, radiating a sense of androgynous beauty throughout.

What?

In the dead of night, what a ghostly endeavor.

This is a curse, it absolutely is

The gazes around grew increasingly fervent, and everyone was deeply shaken, collectively shaking their heads. I gritted my teeth in resentment, and suddenly, I grasped his hand, my voice sharp and high-pitched as I exclaimed: "But... Feng Mian, you are different; you are the first man I have ever loved, yet now you want to push me back into my past situation! Are those vows of eternal love all false? If you no longer love me, I will never love another man again!" I desperately squeezed out tears, leaving Lin Feng Mian across from me stunned and speechless. I trembled as I spoke, squeezing out a few more tears, 'You are unkind, I am unjust, Lin Feng Mian, even if it brings shame, I will drag you down with me.'

"Cheng Baozhu, rise again from where you fell!" Cuis raised her fist, shouting loudly on the street, "Go for it, Cheng Baozhu, you are the best!"

I was utterly speechless. I pulled off the two pens from my ears, spat out the pen I had been biting, stood up, took a deep breath, and simply stuffed the scattered orange peels on the table into my mouth, biting down until my tongue and mouth ached. In my heart, I silently recited: Stay alert, stay alert, Cheng Baozhu, great responsibilities are about to be bestowed upon this person, and you are that person who has been greatly tested.

I put on my clothes and casually raked my short hair.

I forced a smile, my eyes darting around as I contemplated a strategy

Ah? I suddenly released his hand, overwhelmed with emotions, and said excitedly: "Thank you, thank you, I will repay you."

"No, you cannot." The barber's smile began to twist.

A hint of sourness brewed in my heart, splashing over my lips. Indeed, there is only one truth to the matter: ever since I met Lin Fengmian, my world has been filled with countless bent men.

Three, three, three... three hundred and six? I was utterly shocked, how could it be so expensive? I reached into my pocket, and there lay three ten-yuan notes and six coins, I was at a loss for words, I only had thirty-six yuan in total

Suddenly, the curtain was pulled open a crack, and I squinted my eyes, my hand raking through my disheveled hair. The sky outside remained dark, and the lights from the construction site next door shone in, growing increasingly dim. A figure flickered in the shadow of the window, startling me into a tremor, my eyes widening as I stammered, "Who is it?"

Little Lu, with tearful eyes, gently stroked her cheek and said in a suddenly lowered voice: "Look at how much Baizhu resembles a little boy; any woman should feel at ease. Moreover, she has even cut her hair into a short, choppy style."

Indeed, he is very handsome

It seems that I do not have Lin Fengmian's contact information

"To be honest, they do think I am gay." The person in the seat hung their head in despair, weakly waving their hand in the air, and said, "So I have to remove the male secretary beside me."

As I brushed past, all the hairstylists, including the young lady at the counter collecting payments, turned to look at me, their gazes intense, collectively piercing through my fragile facade

Cui Si pondered for a long time before turning her head, nodding and saying: "That's a good idea, Baozhu. You should go be someone's little mistress; it will surely last long."

Upon arriving at Youlian Trading, I discovered that the entire conference room was filled with flamboyantly dressed job seekers, and I, in my fitted suit, stood out conspicuously among them. As I entered the conference room, the lively chatter abruptly paused, and I heard a woman behind me lower her voice to ask, "Is there really a man here applying for the secretary position"

Cressida looked puzzled, pointing her finger in the distance and saying, "Isn't it just like that?"

"No need, just consider it as rent for the room," he said, pulling out a card from his pocket and handing it to the barber. He continued, "Short hair suits you quite well, the cut is nice."

He remained silent, his expression calm and unperturbed, with only a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth

I have turned my eyes into those of a cross-eyed person, unable to stop the tears from welling up. When I had long hair, wearing this outfit, Cici even said it exuded femininity. Why is it that after cutting my hair, I have become a transgender person?

I was so shocked that I stood up and blurted out: "Are you gay?"

I can see that he is laughing with disdain; I do not want money that hurts my self-esteem

In the vast sea of vehicles, the sounds of curses intertwine into a single chorus

I scratched my head again and chuckled dryly, saying, "Cecilia, isn't it a bit too early?" In fact, I wanted to roar, "Sister Cecilia, you may continue your entanglement with your little Lu; the sounds of your passion last night penetrated the walls and tormented me until I finally fell asleep at 2 AM"

The murmurs gradually grew louder, and even the barber who was helping with the card payment inexplicably became angry, indignantly stating: "Mr. Lin, this is where you are wrong. You may toy with others' feelings, but you cannot ruin a girl's life."

His face was ashen, his eyes squinted repeatedly, presenting an expression of having suffered a silent loss

I raised my head to look at the dressing mirror, and was instantly taken aback. In the mirror, I saw myself in a black suit paired with a light blue pointed-collar shirt, which accentuated my height of 1.74 meters, making me appear even taller. My short, tousled hair fell messily, highlighting my eyes that sparkled brilliantly. With a high nose bridge and red lips, I looked completely transformed, exuding an androgynous beauty.

The passersby on the road turned their heads one after another, making me feel quite uncomfortable

The barber was slightly taken aback, yet remained silent and began to meticulously trim my hair.

I stood up weakly, closed the door weakly, loosened my bow tie, and comforted myself: It doesn't matter, Cheng Baozhu, an independent woman is always invincible, and failure is the lover of success

Who exactly is this brother? I am desperately trying to recall, waiting for a moment of clarity! I am holding my head in thought, squatting down to think, tugging at my hair in contemplation. How could I possibly forget such a stunning man? ... His eyes are so bright, his lips so alluring, his dimples ... Suddenly, a flash of inspiration strikes me, and I am overjoyed. When it comes to men with dimples, I finally know who he is.

I see her eyes filled with admiration, and I can't help but chuckle in silence. Why isn't she beautiful? Cuis, your skills in comforting others have indeed taken a significant step back!

A good proposal, a new life, starting from scratch

Thank you, a total of 360.

His action made me certain that I must have known him before

"Very good, excellent." I contentedly touched my hair, smiling exceptionally happily

Suddenly, Cuis burst out with a sharp slap, crisp and loud, and angrily said: "Did you crawl out from your mother's womb? Why are you speaking so vaguely? Give me a chance to finish my sentence!"

A man was leaning against the chair next to me, somewhat familiar. When he caught my gaze, he hurriedly raised a magazine to cover his face

The question was quite pointed, and I replied with a wry smile: "It can save one from the troubles of scandal"

Therefore, I chose clothes for you in advance. "Cui Si continued to flip through the clothes, clicking her tongue in disapproval, and said, "Bao Zhu, your clothes are too limited, all too ladylike, and simply do not match your fierce temperament.

I hurriedly washed my hair, had breakfast, and, under the infatuated gaze of Sister Cuis, I sauntered out the door

I was speechless, looking down at my suit for quite a while before finally raising my head and forcing a smile, saying: "I can also be very charming; essentially, my adaptability is quite strong." Pointing at my face, in fact, I couldn't even convince myself of my own adaptability. I had seen how I looked in a suit, and it was just the appearance of a naive young boy.

He wrinkled his nose, extended a finger and shook it, saying: "No, no, if it's a matter of feigning retreat to lure someone in, then forget it. I do not wish to engage in such tricks, as I do not like..." He paused for a moment and slowly mouthed the words: woman.

The key point is, Sister Cissy, that your A cup breasts simply cannot fill a C cup bra, even if you stuff a water balloon on one side

I touched my long waves that reached my waist, growing increasingly disgusted. I nodded and said, "Alright, I will cut my hair and go back to your house myself. You can go back first."

I held the note in my palm and could only smile wryly, well then, let's start with this place

I picked up an OL suit dress and asked in surprise, "Why? Is this one not allowed either?"

"Baozhu, this one is good, Youlian Trading, is hiring a secretary." Cuisi tore the message into a small strip, stuffed it into my hand, twisted the remainder into a ball, and threw it into the trash can

I was seething with anger, changing my grip to a firm hold, exerting all my strength—"Lin Fengmian, lend me three hundred and sixty yuan!"

I have never worn this suit; it was just finished when I was dismissed. It has been exactly one year since then, and I do not know if it still fits.

I want to live more happily

Time flows

How is it? The barber is holding up a mirror from behind

I want to straighten Lin Fengmian... I gritted my teeth, "Break this curse of the bent man."

He is not gay. I am extremely angry, filled with righteous indignation

The comrades around were completely astonished, and the nearest middle-aged woman began to indignantly accuse: "Young man, you cannot be so lacking in decency; you must understand that saving a person once is better than building a seven-story pagoda."

No. 24, Cheng Baozhu

I reached out to touch my hair, smiling brightly as I said, "You noticed it too, huh? That's because I have good hardware"

He lowered his eyes, the corners of his mouth gradually curving upwards, leaned closer, raised his head, and looked into my eyes, which sparkled, causing me to momentarily lose my focus

For Ye Xun's wicked amusement, I endured three years of great turmoil

You must strive, Baozhu, you are now a woman of the new era

I was slouched in that chair, gradually losing consciousness. When the barber woke me up with a tap, I suddenly realized that the person in the mirror had transformed into someone entirely different.

A middle-aged man with a round face and big ears was sitting in the general manager's seat. He was slightly taken aback when he saw me enter

It is necessary to have a female secretary, one who is close at hand

Simply changing my hairstyle would be good. I have always believed one thing, that is... a hairstyle can change a life! Cress ignored my eye roll and smiled sweetly.

"Cheng Baozhu, you look like a big wave; the way your hair is styled resembles a powerful locomotive." Cuisu turned her head back from the front and pointed at my messy hair, saying, "With your height, you are tall and strong, very formidable!"

A good hairstyle brings a good mood, so one must not be careless. I looked around and chose a salon of some scale, where the poster of Louis Koo at the entrance displayed a bright and sunny smile. Pushing open the glass door, a faint sound of music lazily drifted in.

"It is not early, it's not even five yet," said Cuis, tapping her fingers and leaning on the windowsill. "Your interview is at eight-thirty, I'll come in to help you pick out some clothes."

I turned around, winked at him, threw a kiss, and laughed aloud: "Well then, good sister, never ever meet again!" Seeing his face darken a few shades, I triumphantly turned away, beaming with a smile

"Baizhu, this doesn't seem to be the main point!" Cuis's face turned ashen, her eyes twitching, and she exclaimed in fury, "The main point is that Ye Xun is actually a gay man..."

He continued to look at me in silence, a hint of a smile beginning to appear in his eyes, yet he remained silent

The middle-aged man in the seat had a twitching expression, scanning me from head to toe several times, and suddenly said: "There are indeed rumors here." After a pause, his expression became even more awkward

I cover my face and wail, wishing I could give myself a hard slap across the face.

I suddenly stood up from the chair, nervously scratching my head, walking with the same hand and foot. The crimson wooden door stood before me. I composed myself and pushed open the door to the interview room, where there was a complete silence inside

I sat down in a state of mixed amusement and frustration, beginning to wait for the candidates to call their numbers

What time is it now? How did you get into my room? I wiped the cold sweat from my brow; Sister Cuis only wore a bra, standing by the window looking outside

I watched Cressida pick and choose, and time flew by quickly. The clock in the living room chimed every hour, and by now, it should be six o'clock. I couldn't help but feel that Cressida had indeed been in the workforce a few more years than I had, always preparing for the unexpected. If I had been even a moment late, I would have surely failed today's interview due to my own mindset. This haircut was truly ill-timed, transforming me from a professional lady into a tomboy.

Cui Si nodded, pulling her luggage, and walked quite a distance. Suddenly, she turned around and shouted, "Why don't you shave your head? That would be so stylish." Passersby were startled and turned to look at me. I laughed heartily, waved my hand at her, and felt in great spirits. This silly girl, always so cheerful.

You let go of my hand, I will take the card. He couldn't break free from my grip and finally spoke leisurely.

With a snap, Cress opened my suitcase and dumped all the clothes onto the bed, a vibrant array of reds and greens, a riot of colors

As we stepped out, we both simultaneously shook our hands. Lin Fengmian glared at me with resentment, her flirtatious eyes shimmering with a hint of coldness. I burst into laughter, patted her shoulder and said: "Thank you, sister, we are even."

I was momentarily speechless, filled with anger. Well done, Lin Fengmian, being so brazen about being gay. It took me a while to regain my composure, and through gritted teeth, I said: "I don't like men either." I paused like he did and declared loudly: "That's because I like women."

I frequently wipe my tears, stealing glances at Lin Fengmian's expression through my fingers

The first step for a woman to achieve independence is to have a stable and well-paying job

"Precious Pearl, those words are all true." His hand slowly reached towards me, gripping my shoulder with force, suddenly pulling me into his embrace like the male lead in a Korean drama, and with a gentle yet gritted tone, he said: "I will treat you well. Very well, indeed." He lowered his head, seemingly tender, and bit down on my lip. I felt pain and opened my mouth to bite back, our silent struggle was incredibly intense, yet to onlookers, it appeared to be an affectionate display.

What is the difference? He is definitely more of a gay than a BL, at least he is chaste with you, and the one who has a one-night stand with you is not Comrade Ye Xun

"What are you looking at?" Cressida asked with a puzzled expression, following my gaze. Her pupils suddenly dilated, her fingers trembled, and she exclaimed loudly, "Ye Xun?"

I obediently nodded, and since Ye Xun liked that style, I wore a lady's dress for three years. In fact, I detest long skirts; I remember once tripping over myself on the bus and falling flat on my face.

Cui Si nodded, draping the skirt over my body, and said seriously to the dressing mirror on the cabinet: "Baozhu, you look like a transgender person"

The surrounding audience cheered and applauded, filled with excitement. The barber who had taken the card was even inexplicably moved, returning the card to Lin Fengmian's hand, and said to me with a sob: "Very good, this is very good, you must seize this opportunity well. Today, consider your haircut fee as my treat."

I took a step forward and grasped his hand, tears streaming down my face: "Have you forgotten me? When we were at Lushan, it was I who paid for the hotel you stayed in." My gaze sharpened, the underlying message being: Have some awareness, comrade, debts must be repaid

I pinched the pen, speechless, estimating that my face must have turned three shades darker. Silently lowering my head, I marked the information about the recruitment of karaoke princesses in the newspaper with a blue pen.

Having washed my hair, I sat in the milky-white barber chair, propping my feet up high, directly facing a half-length mirror that gleamed brightly. My eyes were fixed on the mirror without blinking. The barber was fussing with my hair, and after countless inquiries, I felt utterly exhausted. I let out a big yawn, unable to suppress my irritation, and abruptly pulled my hair, saying: "No need to design anything further, just give me a short, choppy cut, something short will do."

After dinner, I went to bed early, but to my surprise, I tossed and turned in bed, only falling into a deep sleep in the middle of the night

"Biting off more than one can chew, let's start with this one." Cuis shook her head, displaying the demeanor of someone with experience, and began to tap loudly on my back with her claws.

I was overjoyed, invigorated, and excitedly said: "Yes, a person like me is most suitable for a leader with rumors surrounding them. Not overly delicate or charming, with an androgynous appearance." What is most commendable is that the manager looks like this; even if I were to spread rumors, I would not dare to.

Lin Fengmian laughed heartily, stood up, patted my shoulder, and said with a tone of compassion: "Baozhu, I will always support you. Love between the same sex is not so frightening; you must persevere"

The winter wind blew through my hair, carrying a hint of chill, and I wrapped my clothes tightly around me. After taking a few deep breaths, I started to run wildly, Cheng Baozhu, keep going, keep going, a new hairstyle, a new beginning

The strong wind blew, causing my wavy hair to be tousled in all directions. With one hand dragging a suitcase and the other constantly brushing my hair away from my eyes.

This one won't do, and this one won't do either. After rummaging through the clothes for quite a while, Cuis lifted her head and said, "Baizhu, none of these will do."

Can I get a discount? I checked my pockets, and I surprisingly didn't even bring my phone

I continued to chuckle and said, "Aren't you going to put on some clothes? People outside can see you standing at the window like that"

The dress worn on me makes me resemble a scholar in disguise as a woman, leaving me both amused and exasperated as I shake my head and sigh in front of the mirror

The newspaper on all four sides is marked with patches, a pencil is stuck in my left ear, a ballpoint pen is clipped above my right ear, a bright red marker is held in my mouth, and in my hand, I am waving a royal blue fountain pen

Cui Si's eyes were fixed on me, and for a moment, she seemed lost in thought. Suddenly, she clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Baozhu, you are so handsome!"

Cynthia and I exchanged a glance and nodded in unison: "This is the one."

"Pearl, what are you doing? Are you selling your art and your body?" Cress grabbed the newspaper with shock on her face, then, with a strong artistic tone, shouted, "How can you willingly degrade yourself, how can you?!" The two people on the opposite sofa simultaneously covered their faces with their hands, as if a comet had struck the Earth, and let out a wail together

Once asleep, one experiences profound and uninterrupted slumber, free from dreams

I have long known that I should not overestimate Comrade Xiao Lu's intelligence. I sighed deeply, yet still kindly gave him an opportunity to explain: "What qualifications do I have to be a female secretary? Let alone a personal one!"

Indeed, the middle-aged man in the seat slowly shook his head, not even looking at me, and called out: "Next."

Can the Mona Lisa be seen in the newspaper? My face twitched as I raised the newspaper to examine it closely, and I said seriously, "My major is Economic Management, I must find something reliable." I spat out a red water pen and made a heavy stroke beneath the De Xi Foreign Trade.

Cheng Baozhu, what do you believe is your greatest advantage in applying for this position

I idly looked around, while others idly glanced at me from the right and left

I only need a charming and alluring female secretary!" The middle-aged man in the seat, visibly agitated, also stood up and shouted, "Otherwise, why would I hire a female secretary? I already have a male secretary!" His voice was passionate, and his face was flushed.

Ah—" a scream escaped, the shadow was even more shocked than I was, and after a long while, it finally covered its chest and said, "What ghost, what ghost? Who told you to suddenly make a sound? It’s me, your sister Cui."

What should I do? I peeked out from behind the newspaper, blinking my eyes.

"Precious Pearl, I indeed did not misjudge you!" Cress passionately grasped my hand, her eyes radiating an intimidating brilliance, "You can bend as much as you like; I am your strong tool for bending."

Xiao Lu's mouth was stuffed with orange segments, and he couldn't help but interject: "Baozhu, being in economics really underutilizes your talents." With every word he spoke, droplets of orange juice shot out, and both Cuiris and I simultaneously picked up the newspaper on the table to shield our faces

I stubbornly held up my skirt, gesturing in front of the mirror for quite a while, then sighed in despair, finally accepting reality, and said: "Yes, I do resemble a transgender person quite a bit."

"Damn it, are you messing with me?" Sister Cuis suddenly went on a rampage in the streets, her plastic bag striking countless car windows

I am utterly bewildered and can only manage a forced smile

Xiao Lu swallowed the last segment of the orange and said slowly: "Baozhu, any general manager's wife would hope that the general manager would hire you as a secretary..." Seeing the puzzled expressions on both me and Cuis, he smiled proudly, built up the suspense, raised his head, and fell silent

"Cui Si, if you do not roar at the intersection, I will stand up." Rubbing my head, I turned around, my eyes suddenly fixed on a certain point, losing the ability to move.

His little dimples sparkle, and from my perspective, they appear exceedingly wicked

"What is it? Pay attention, pay attention, it's a red light." Cress pulled me to stand firmly in the middle of the road

He slightly furrowed his brows and struggled against my hand. I gripped even tighter, the anger in my eyes intensifying, that scoundrel who would not come to my aid.

Suddenly, Cuis's eyes lit up as she pulled out a fitted black suit from the very bottom of her clothes, and with a proud smile, she said: "Try this on."

Wait a moment... I still fell behind, the entire newspaper is filled with red and blue lines, it took me a whole morning to go through it!

Lin Fengmian tightly grasped my hand, forcing a stiff smile while nodding, pulling me out of the barbershop

I was suddenly embarrassed, crossing my arms and saying: "Give me your contact information, and I will pay you back."

"I have made my decision, Cress!" I suddenly turned around, the plastic bag in my hand crumpling noisily.

I was speechless, slowly extending my arm from under the blanket, picking up the clothes scattered all over the bed, and began to get dressed

The failed interview led to my strong desire to go shopping, and Sister Cuis accompanied me at the cost of her life. The result of our two-person outing was that I suddenly became a high-end service attendant, carrying N plastic bags filled with her frenzied shopping, exhausted to the point of panting.

I was furious, my fists clenched, and I shouted at her loudly: "He is a BL."

I stood there in a daze, watching Ye Xun gently smile at the petite man beside him, affectionately smoothing his hair. The two of them were whispering sweet nothings to each other on the street without a care in the world. Unable to bear it any longer, I turned to Cuis and lamented, "Cui, I have never seen him treat me this way." Three years, and the only physical contact we had was passing toilet paper through the door when one of us was in the restroom. He demands tenderness from me, but has he ever given me even a hint of tenderness?

He was momentarily speechless, his face stiffened. After a long pause, he managed to suppress a laugh and said, "Not bad, not bad, indeed good hardware." His eyes subtly glided over my chest, carrying a hint of sarcasm, with a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth

After taking a few steps, a sudden roar came from behind: "Cheng Baozhu, even if I were gay, I would never be your good sister"