Xiaobai Is Also Troubled Today

"Mom?"

 
Bai Tingzhi gave the folded umbrella a few shakes, and the falling raindrops seemed to bloom like flowers in the light.
 

"Want to go see a movie?"
 
"Where's Dad?"

 
"Your dad's already at the theater. I just came back after some shopping to see if you were here."
 

Pretending to think it over, Bai Tingzhi hung the umbrella on the rack by the door.
 
"I'll pass today. I want to clean up a bit."

 
"Alright, then. You should get to bed early, too. Dad and I might be back late."
 

"Got it!"
 
The car window slid up, and in the rain-drenched night, the sound of the engine was startlingly clear before it faded back into the darkness.

 
Bai Tingzhi went upstairs to turn on the water heater, then returned to his room to lay out the clothes he'd wear later. He flopped onto the bed, exhausted. On his phone, the icon for the "Christmas Hat" platform lit up.
 
He lay there in a daze for a while before finally opening the app.

 
"Log in?"
 

After a moment's thought, Bai Tingzhi typed a few words on the screen: "Tomorrow night."
 
Ding!

 
"Okay," the other person replied instantly. Then, their game status changed from "Online" to "Hunting."
 

His arm drooped, covering his eyes. A wave of weariness washed over him, and he felt he could fall asleep at any moment. But the thought that he hadn't showered yet jolted him awake. If he slept in his own bed without washing, it would start to stink soon.
 
Bai Tingzhi steeled himself and made a decision.

 
Tomorrow, I'll settle that matter for good!
 

Half an hour later, he walked into the bathroom with newfound resolve.
 
After he slid the transparent door shut, the small space filled with hot steam, and the warm water relaxed his entire body.

 
"Hah—"
 

Too hot. A little cooler...
 
"Hiss!"

 
Now it's too cold!
 

Bai Tingzhi fiddled with the handle for more than five minutes, always just a hair's breadth away from the perfect water temperature.
 
Finally, he got it right. He let out a breath and began to enjoy the pleasant warmth. The water streamed over his long hair, down his cheeks, across his neck, collarbone, and navel, clinging to every inch of his flawless white skin.

 
Bai Tingzhi hummed happily, washing his body carefully with body wash and shampoo.
 

...Wait.
 
Something feels wrong.

 
In the steam-filled haze, he reached down, but there was... no sensation. It was as if he were touching a foreign object.
 

No feeling?
 
How is that possible? It was fine during the day, but now there's no feeling...

 
...No feeling at all.
 

Bai Tingzhi's breath caught in her[1] throat. A moment later, she was gasping for air. The thick water vapor made it impossible to focus, leaving her feeling weak and breathless.
 
After hastily finishing up, Bai Tingzhi stood in her room and looked down. At the object that seemed to have shrunk, her mind reeled, and she felt more and more like she was trapped in a chaotic, hazy dream.

 
Get to bed early. Just get some rest.
 

Bai Tingzhi quickly snuggled into her warm little bed and fell into a deep sleep.
 
The next day, the morning light was crisp and clean after the rain.

 
Bai Tingzhi got up, got dressed, and called Lin Yunian. Unfortunately, Lin Yunian had already left for his competition, so she had to set out alone.
 

The roads were mostly dry, and her sneakers made a clear, sharp sound on the cement pavement.
 
Go straight, and then over there...

 
Following the directions from memory, Bai Tingzhi navigated through the unfamiliar paths. Even though she had walked this way once before, it had been dark and she hadn't seen clearly, so she couldn't remember the specific route.
 

The general direction should be right, though.
 
"This can't be wrong..."

 
Bai Tingzhi looked around at the surrounding buildings in confusion. The old-fashioned apartment blocks stood six or seven stories high. But in her memory, the area with the grocery store was a patch of woodland within the city. How could there be buildings like this?
 

She hadn't seen this style of architecture on her # Nоvеlight # way here last time. Not to mention, what she was looking at now were abandoned houses that looked like they hadn't been maintained in decades.
 
A creepy feeling spread through her, and a shiver ran down her spine.

 
Bai Tingzhi moved forward, her steps stiff and deliberate.
 

I forgot to check the almanac before I left this morning!
 
But after calming down, she reminded herself this wasn't the set of a ghost movie. She raised her head, and the dazzling sunlight hit her.

 
"How could there be a ghost in broad daylight..."
 

"Hello!"
 
A sudden greeting made Bai Tingzhi jump so hard her soul nearly left her body.

 
A girl in a black and white maid outfit was standing by the side of the road, waving at her.
 

"Would you like to come into the store to pick out some clothes you like?"
 
The girl was very enthusiastic, with a friendly, smiling face that quickly soothed Bai Tingzhi's inner hesitation.

 
But as her eyes fell on the shop window, her heart gave a jump.
 

Behind the plate-glass window, a pink and white wedding dress looked exquisite, even on the mannequin. Peeking inside, she could see all sorts of clothing: maid outfits, gothic lolita dresses... and in the corner, even some things that were not suitable for children!
 
"A women's clothing store..."

 
And not a very proper one, at that!
 

"If you see anything you need, you can come inside and choose carefully!"
 
"Uh, no, no thanks!" Bai Tingzhi waved her hands quickly, refusing awkwardly. It seemed she had been mistaken for a girl again.

 
"Well, feel free to stop by anytime." The girl smiled and replied, clutching a small notebook in her hands.
 

It took her a long walk to get away from that part of the city and back to a familiar street.
 
After wandering for a while longer, she finally saw the pine and bamboo forest that had seemed so menacing at dusk. It wasn't even noon yet, so it shouldn't be as scary now.

 
But looking at the dense, dark bamboo forest whistling in the wind, she suddenly felt a renewed urge to shrink back.
 

I should have called someone to come with me.
 
No matter how much she hesitated, it was just a waste of time. Steeling her heart, Bai Tingzhi stepped forward. She walked for what felt like an eternity, but the familiar house never appeared.

 
The long bamboo path seemed to have no end, no lights, and no people. It was as if all traces of that day had been washed away by the heavy rain, leaving nothing behind.
 

Bai Tingzhi walked to the spot where the grocery store had stood. There were only jagged rocks. The image of the building that was once there was already blurring in her mind.
 
She looked at the phone in her hand, wanting to call someone, but ultimately put it down.

 
The bamboo leaves rustled, the sound echoing in the empty space.
 

When she finally walked out of the forest path, she was back in the bustling town. The sense of reality from the steel jungle hit her, and Bai Tingzhi, who had felt close to suffocating, gasped for breath.
 
She leaned against a short ginkgo tree, bending over to catch her breath, her sweaty hair sticking to her forehead. Scattered spots of light danced in the wind, and a warm mountain breeze blew past.

 
She walked into a nearby convenience store to buy a bandage. She didn't know when it had happened, but several deep scratches had appeared between her fingers. The blood oozed out slowly, a fascinating sight. She had probably been scratched by bamboo leaves without realizing it, having been in too much of a hurry to notice.
 

She had been more panicked than she'd realized when she ran out of that forest.
 
The creak of the store's door was followed by light footsteps. A beautiful silhouette fell over her, its shadow covering her own just as she was about to stand up.

 
 
TL Notes:

 
[1] As you might've guessed already he's turned into a Girl again. Sigh Bai Tingzhi's pronouns are enough to make a man go insane.