Chapter 34

March 18, Wednesday, sunny.

Wu Yong told me he’s already talked it over with his mom: he’s skipping the fire department and will take a quiet desk job at the local police station instead.

He plans to nail down his PE-teaching certificate in the next few months.

Guigui says he can pull some strings and park Wu Yong at No. 2 Middle School as a gym teacher—same building as Auntie Pan. Sounds like a win-win.

As for the stuff Sis Qian ordered on Taobao last night... I finally checked the list and felt instantly relieved.

Thank God it wasn’t a Fleshlight or a life-size body-pillow—just plain white sneakers, four pairs of white socks, and a pastel JK uniform.

Wait, why am I already at the “meh, whatever” stage?

This is mortifying enough!

I think I’m starting to understand what “corruption” actually feels like.

Still, net positive: Xiao Yu really doesn’t have any shoes right now; she crawls around the apartment barefoot all day and refuses to practice walking.

Slip some shoes on her early, let her get used to them.

The JK outfit can gather dust in the closet until she learns to dress herself.

Did a mini-experiment today.

Under normal conditions Xiao Yu can hold human form for about thirty minutes.

So at the twenty-eight-minute mark I loaded her up: my backpack, waist-pack, cross-body sling, umbrella in one hand, water cup in the other, hat on her head, scarf round her neck, phone and earbuds stuffed in the dress pockets.

A few minutes later she vanished.

Along with her went the sling, waist-pack, umbrella, hat, scarf, phone and earbuds.

The backpack and water cup stayed behind—no ticket to her storage space.

Conclusion: the closer an item is to her body, the higher the chance it tags along.

Anything that feels like a “personal possession” gets priority.

Maybe the backpack was too bulky?

But the umbrella in her left hand made it in while the cup in her right didn’t—go figure.

And her space is picky enough to sort my phone from the cup?

Fun thought: if I toss phone, earbuds and cup inside the sling first, will the whole bundle go?

Feels like high-school chemistry lab all over again.

Next trial coming soon.

......

March 19, Thursday.

My phone and I were out of contact for fourteen straight hours!

Didn’t notice at first—too busy logging data.

When I finally looked up: where the hell is my phone?

A world without a phone is basically death.

At least I still had the computer.

Surprise: between losing the phone at dusk and going to bed, I cranked out eight thousand words.

Add the morning and afternoon sessions and I hit 13 k for the day.

Phones really are productivity vampires.

Maybe I should just store mine inside Xiao Yu; I only get it back when she’s human—forced focus mode.

If only I knew the exact rules for her transformation... instant human-on-demand would be perfect.

Afternoon: text says my package is waiting at the new Cainiao Station.

Used to be doorstep delivery.

Turns out the station opened yesterday; now every courier except SF Express dumps parcels there.

Great, another errand.

......

3 p.m. Ai Qing heads out under blazing sun to collect the box.

Follow the map: out the south gate, turn right, there it is—roll-up door open, big cartons stacked outside.

He glances left and realizes Qianxin Pet Hospital is only one shop away.

Should’ve asked Sis Qian to grab it on her way home.

Since he’s here, he might as well say hi.

Inside, Xiao Youqian leans against the wall chatting with a middle-aged guy holding a leash, seated on a bench.

Vet-assistant Xu Wenjing leads out his Husky—freshly washed and fluffed, looking like a shampoo commercial.

“Nice talking with you. I’ll be off,” the man says, standing.

He clips the leash, gives Sis Qian a wave, and heads out.

She smiles after him, then spots Ai Qing.

“Hey, what brings you down here?”

“Picking up a parcel—thought I’d drop in.” He sighs and drops onto the bench.

Sis Qian beams. “Ooh, your order arrived?”

“Yep.” He nods, defeated.

“Fire away if you have questions. I read the book, by the way—the heroine really isn’t much like me. Kinda disappointing.”

“Why would you even want to be—” He scrambles for a new topic. “Didn’t you just bag fresh prey?”

She giggles, sliding onto the seat beside him. “So-so. Feels promising, but you need more data.”

“Doesn’t it bother you?” he asks. “The constant boyfriend swap?”

She swings her legs, palms on the chair edge, head tilted.

“You know why I love hanging with you guys? I never have to hide what I want, and you don’t judge me for it.

I enjoy dating all kinds of men—different personalities, different stories. Every relationship is real to me. I don’t see the problem.”

Ai Qing shrugs. “I don’t judge either, it’s just—”

“Yeah, I’ve heard the gossip.” She flicks her hair. “Guy dates a dozen girls—‘legend’. Girl dates a dozen guys—‘trash’.

But you don’t call me that, which is why we’re friends.

If my next crush can’t accept my past, we won’t have a future. Simple.”

Ai Qing stares; she seems to glow. He ruffles his own hair.

“Wish I had your attitude.”

“Keep yours,” she laughs. “You’re great, Ai Qing. Some amazing girl will snag you, and I can’t wait to meet her.”

“Love, huh...” He starts to shake his head—then freezes, a small figure flashing through his mind: Xiao Yu.

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