Chapter 26 Chapter 26: My Weird Knowledge Just Increased Part 4
It’s all just… life forcing my hand…
Xu Yecheng gathered a handful of hair and gently ran the brush through the strands, starting from the ends.
First, detangle the tips…
He repeated the motion softly, his mind calm—yet a faint weariness still lingered beneath the surface.
Once the ends were smooth, he followed the natural flow, brushing the hair back from the roots.
Yep, that’s the way, he reminded himself.
There was something strangely satisfying about watching tangled, frizzy hair transform into silky, gleaming locks as the comb glided through. It was oddly therapeutic.
But when he lifted his hand to brush the crown of his head, the comb snagged at the back of his skull—yanking hard on his scalp.
The sudden pain shot straight to the top of his head like his soul was being ripped out.
His face twisted in agony.
Okay, okay—lighter touch next time!
He eased up on the pressure. After smoothing the top, he moved on to styling the “goat horns”—a simple half-updo.
Now that he’d picked up a bit of technique, it wasn’t nearly as fiddly as before.
He looked in the mirror. His formerly messy hair now appeared glossy and perfectly tamed.
A quiet swell of pride bloomed in his chest.
Hey, I’m actually kind of good at this!
He felt a little smug—until reality hit him like a bucket of cold water.
Wait… what the hell am I proud of?! Is being able to brush my own hair really something to be proud of?
He rolled his eyes at himself.
In the mirror, the girl’s brows were furrowed, lips pressed tight—a picture of quiet misery.
He consciously relaxed his expression. His eyes dimmed for a moment—then, suddenly, the reflection broke into a soft smile.
Seeing that smile eased the weight in his heart.
Yeah… this face really does look better when smiling.
He reached up and gently pinched his own cheek. The skin was plush and supple—impossibly soft to the touch.
Just looking at this face lifted his mood.
Maybe this was the one tiny spark of beauty in his otherwise dull, exhausting life—being able to transform into someone so visually pleasing, if only for a little while.
Just then, footsteps approached outside the bathroom door—followed by a knock.
Xu Yecheng froze—and without thinking, blurted out:
“Wait—”
Then he heard his own voice.
Oh no.
NO!! Why did I SPEAK?!
“Huh? Baby Cheng, what are you up to in there? Was that a girl’s voice I just heard?” Zheng Wenxuan’s voice came through the door, laced with mischief.
Panic surged through Xu Yecheng. He fumbled for his phone, turned the volume down low, and played Zheng Wenxuan’s recorded audio clip.
The mask peeled off instantly. His body snapped back to its original form—and a sharp jolt of pain shot through his lower half.
His face went pale. He frantically loosened his pants—way too tight. The sudden shift had… crushed something sensitive.
He took a shaky breath, quickly straightened his clothes, and opened the door.
Zheng Wenxuan stood there, grinning like a fox who’d just caught a chicken.
“Wow, Baby Cheng’s full of energy today, huh? Took you over half an hour in there. Next time, bring headphones—your sounds are leaking out.”
Xu Yecheng blinked, stunned.
Wait—he thinks I was… jerking off?!
He almost snapped back, offended that Zheng Wenxuan would assume something so crude…
But then again… what else could explain that high-pitched voice?
“Of course I’ve got stamina,” Xu Yecheng deadpanned, playing along. He even mimicked Zheng Wenxuan’s signature eyebrow wiggle.
“Damn, that long? Did you eat some kind of stamina-boosting pill or something?” Zheng teased with a smirk.
“My skills are just naturally superior. You wouldn’t understand,” Xu Yecheng shot back, returning to his seat to resume his online course.
Truth be told, these MOOC lectures felt utterly pointless to him. This theoretical knowledge seemed completely useless for real life after graduation.
He pulled out his phone and quickly picked a decent pair of white sneakers within his budget. After reviewing his cart, though, another realization struck him like lightning.
He hadn’t bought underwear.
His face burned with shame, but he forced himself to type into the search bar.
And sure enough—his screen flooded with endless options.
Striped, lace-trimmed, floral, solid colors, silk, cotton, mesh…
What even is “ice silk” fabric?!
He sighed in exasperation. Ever since getting this mask, his knowledge of the opposite gender’s world had expanded… far more than he ever wanted.
He selected the simplest plain white style and added two pairs for rotation.
Wait…
Another problem hit him.
He’d need to wash these clothes—but how?!
He couldn’t possibly hang lingerie or girl clothes out to dry in the dorm, where everyone could see!
Every single item—bras, panties, dresses—would need discreet laundering.
His head throbbed just thinking about it. And he hadn’t even started his part-time job yet! He was already spending so much.
Please, coffee shop boss… pay me fairly. Let me at least break even—and maybe earn a little extra.
Just as he finished that thought, his phone rang.
It was his mom.
Frowning, he answered, stood up, and walked out to the balcony.
“Hey, Mom. What’s up?” he said, leaning against the railing. His eyes drifted to the small grove below—and immediately locked onto a couple holding hands.
His expression stiffened. He yanked his gaze away.
“Have you eaten?” came his mother’s familiar, middle-aged voice.
“Yeah, already did,” he replied, his tone tinged with hesitation.
“How much do you need for living expenses this month?”
There it is. Predictable as ever.
“Twelve hundred,” he said. He still had to repay his phone installment, buy Zheng Wenxuan’s birthday gift, and cover a dozen other little expenses. This month was tight.
“Why more than last month?” his mom sighed, weary.
“Got some stuff going on,” he mumbled helplessly.
“Spend less,” she chided gently. “Your dad keeps asking where all the money goes. Like I’m hiding it somewhere! I only send you a thousand out of his few thousand. Your sister needs allowance too—fruits, clothes, this and that—it’s all gone in a flash. Where else could I possibly spend it?”
Xu Yecheng listened silently, pinching the bridge of his nose.
He was already doing his best to lighten the family’s burden. He was exhausted—both physically and mentally—and didn’t have the energy to hear her complain about trivial household finances.
“And your grandpa’s medical bills every month are no small thing either…”
“Mm,” Xu Yecheng replied automatically.
Deep down, he resented this dynamic. He felt less like a son and more like a tool—raised to succeed, to ensure his parents wouldn’t be abandoned in old age.
Of course, he’d never actually abandon them when they got older. But the relationship… it didn’t feel like love. It felt like a transaction.
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