Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The photograph captured a mist-shrouded shallows.

Studio lights cast a warm, dusky glow, the lens focused on a gradient, haze-blue tulle fishtail skirt. The soft fabric, ruffled by the wind, formed delicate creases, revealing glimpses of slender, pale legs amidst the shallow waves—like luminous, unblemished jade or kiln-fired porcelain.

The glistening water draped the smooth, delicate skin in a shimmering layer of gold.

The arch of the foot was subtly tensed for the camera, perfectly showcasing the cascading skirt. The lower back arched into a graceful, slender curve, its cut-out expanse of fair skin cinched by a haze-blue ribbon tied into a bow—evoking a little mermaid who had just transformed into human form on a sandy beach.

Caption: #Mermaid #Beach #Boy #FashionOnly #NewArrivalsFromJiaShang #Photographer&Dress @JiaShang

The app’s backend was flooded with likes and comments:

“Honestly, I’ve never really ‘gotten’ this style.”

“Sometimes I remember I’m a girl and just have to laugh.”

“Yan Yan, my baby, you’re a little mermaid with a bow on your back—are you wrapping yourself up as a gift for me? *Wuwuwu*”

“Does buying the dress come with the model? If so, I’m placing an order right now.”

“Which sea can I fish this kind of mermaid from?”

“Wait, this is a guy? This pale, and you’re telling me it’s a guy?? This tiny waist, and you’re saying it’s a guy???”

“Don’t doubt it—it’s purely because Yan Yan has an amazing figure. I’ve bought from this store before; their sizes run smaller than usual. Only recommended if you’re tiny.”

“So beautiful I punched my phone into the wall and admired it for half an hour.”

…

The comments seemed endless. Xu Yan opened his creator dashboard and glanced at his account. He had only registered it recently, with just four posts so far—all static photos—yet each had garnered hundreds of thousands of likes, and his follower count had quickly soared to 100,000.

When his senior, Shang Jia, had asked him to model women’s clothing for her shop, he hadn’t initially intended to agree. But Shang Jia had wheedled, praising his legs as exceptionally beautiful—slim, pale, and, most importantly, perfectly proportioned, not at all bony, making them a perfect match for pretty dresses. She also assured Xu Yan he wouldn’t be helping for free; there would be payment.

Xu Yan needed money. She knew that.

·

Predictably, after much hesitation, Xu Yan agreed.

After all, the photos wouldn’t show his face. No one would know it was him.

Shang Jia also helped Xu Yan set up an account. When the shop posted new arrivals and tagged him in the model photos, that post alone exploded with a million likes, and Xu Yan’s brand-new, previously empty account gained over 20,000 followers.

With her keen business sense, Shang Jia immediately gave Xu Yan a few behind-the-scenes shots to post on his own account. In no time, Xu Yan’s follower count had surpassed hers.

Xu Yan checked his backend wallet. The platform’s share and fan donations from the past few days had already amounted to over 300 yuan. Combined with the commission from Shang Jia, he had saved enough for this month’s living expenses—far easier than his other part-time jobs.

He cautiously tapped the withdrawal button, only for the page to display a minimum withdrawal limit of 1,000 yuan.

He pursed his lips, letting out a sigh. It seemed he would have to save a little longer.

But he had run out of behind-the-scenes photos. If he wanted to post new content, there was only one way…

Just as the new junior year semester began, Shang Jia sent the package directly to the school.

The Screenwriting and Directing Department had reassigned dorms, randomly placing some students in mixed housing with other faculties. Xu Yan and class monitor Zhao Qingji were assigned to a four-person dorm in the Computer Science Department.

On the first day of the semester, when Xu Yan arrived at Room 318, it was empty.

Two of the four beds were still unclaimed. He found his own and began unpacking with efficient motions.

Before long, a voice called from the hallway.

“Yan Yan?”

Shen Nanli dashed to the door of 318, skidding to a stop as he grabbed the handle, peeking inside through the gap.

A tousled head popped out from behind the inner bed’s curtain. Xu Yan’s cheeks were slightly flushed as he said, “I’m the only one here. You can come in.”

Only then did Shen Nanli stride in confidently. “Your dorm’s pretty clean. Didn’t expect you and the monitor to be roommates. Why didn’t the teacher assign us together? It’d be so much easier for classes.”

Both Shen Nanli and Xu Yan had come to Beishi from Wuzhen. Though they’d attended the same high school, they’d been in different classes and only knew each other by name. In university, they ended up in the same major and class. Few from their small hometown made it to college, let alone Beishi University. As hometown success stories, they’d naturally grown closer.

Aside from attending classes and meals together, they even took the long train ride back to Wuzhen during breaks. Classmates often joked they were joined at the hip, like twins.

Xu Yan, still smoothing out his bedsheet, reassured him, “Even if we’re not roommates, it’s fine. We’re not far. I’ll come get you for class every day.”

“Fine, I guess that’ll have to do.”

Shen Nanli noticed the empty desk opposite. “Why’s this bed still empty? No one living here?”

Xu Yan glanced over again and nodded. “Probably not. Only three names are posted at the door—me, the monitor, and a senior from the Computer Science Department.”

Shen Nanli’s eyes widened. “Wait, so before you moved in, that senior had this whole room to himself? His own room? That’s insane.”

Xu Yan thought for a moment. “Maybe… the Computer Science Department is just rich?”

Unlike their own department, which was now borrowing dorm space from others.

Shen Nanli: “…”

Suddenly, Shen Nanli tossed the package he’d been holding onto the empty desk, then climbed onto the steps and ducked into Xu Yan’s bunk, excited. “In that case, maybe I can ask the teacher to switch me here! Then we can room together!”

Xu Yan was smoothing out his cotton bedsheet, printed with cartoon bunnies and carrots. At Shen Nanli’s suggestion, his eyes curved into crescents. “Sure.”

“But would the teacher agree to a room change right at the start of the semester?”

Shen Nanli hopped down. “We’ll just have to plead our case.”

“True.”

Once the bed was made, Xu Yan pulled out a threadbare bunny plush from his luggage and placed it beside his pillow.

The plushie was a little shabby, its left ear even patched with an out-of-place black fabric. But this little rabbit had been a gift from his grandmother when he was young. He couldn't sleep without it.

With few belongings and only a handful of clothes, Xu Yan finished unpacking quickly.

He and Shen Nanli were meeting Shang Jia for lunch at noon. As the time approached, Shen Nanli pulled Xu Yan along to the cafeteria first.

Only Shang Jia and Shen Nanli knew about Xu Yan’s women’s clothing modeling. As they ate, Shang Jia asked, “Yan Yan, did you pick up the package I sent you?”

Shen Nanli hastily swallowed his soup. “Oh crap, totally spaced! I picked it up for him and left it in his dorm.”

Xu Yan froze. “In my dorm?”

Shen Nanli nodded. “You were busy unpacking earlier, and your stuff was everywhere, so I just put it on the empty desk opposite.”

"That's good you left it in the dorm. Yan Yan, make sure to put it away as soon as you get back. Don’t let your roommate see it—there are six items," Shang Jia glanced around and lowered her voice, "They're all dresses."

Yan Yan choked on his soup abruptly, his fair cheeks instantly flushed pink.

The cafeteria was bustling with students having lunch, and there were even three boys sitting right next to them. It was unclear whether they had overheard anything.

Yan Yan whispered, "Senior, that’s... a bit too much."

Shang Jia handed him a tissue. "Not really. It’s actually just two styles, but since I wasn’t sure if your size changed, I sent one of each size. You can return them all after the photo-shoot."

She added, "If you like any, you can keep them."

Yan Yan quickly explained, "I don’t need to keep them. It’s just for the photos. I’ll wash them and return them afterward."

"No worries, they’re just prototypes. Feel free to wear them however you like."

Shang Jia studied his delicate, pretty features and couldn’t help feeling it was a shame. She couldn’t resist saying, "Yan Yan, think about my suggestion again. If you showed your face during live-streams, you’d definitely go viral. With your looks alone, just wearing a cute dress and a bit of makeup, you’d win over everyone."

This wasn’t the first time Shang Jia had tried to persuade him, but Yan Yan had no intention of showing his face. He wasn’t the lively, talkative type, nor was he adept at the internet persona. Between his studies and side gigs, his life was already packed full. Modeling women's clothes was the most rebellious thing he’d ever done in his otherwise by-the-book life. If his grandmother or relatives back in Wuzhen found out, who knew what kind of rumors would spread.

He had always been the most obedient child, raised by his grandmother, who took immense pride in his admission to Beishi University. She often said she wanted to see him graduate, start a career, get married, and have children.

He couldn’t let her down.

Seeing Yan Yan’s disinterest, Shang Jia didn’t press further.

After the meal, Shang Jia handed them a large stack of books. "These textbooks cost a fortune. Since I’m graduating soon, I don’t need them anymore, and selling them for recycling wouldn’t fetch much. Take them and see if any are useful."

Yan Yan had been worrying about where to find textbooks for the semester. He usually bought secondhand books, which were much cheaper than new ones. Now, with most of Shang Jia’s books still in like-new condition, he had more than enough.

Leaving the cafeteria, Yan Yan and Shen Nanli each carried a strap of the book bag as they walked back to the dorm.

After hesitating for a while, Shen Nanli finally asked with concern, "By the way, Yan Yan, how’s your grandmother’s health? Any improvement?"

Yan Yan’s grandmother was elderly and had several chronic conditions. After a fall in the fields, she had been hospitalized for over half a year with little improvement. During their last visit to Wuzhen, Shen Nanli had gone to see her—the eighty-year-old woman had become so thin she was practically skin and bones.

Yan Yan replied, "She’s doing much better, but she still needs ongoing treatment."

Shen Nanli said, "I’ve heard the hospitals in Beishi have much better facilities. Have you considered bringing her here for treatment? She might recover faster."

"I’ve thought about it, but..." Yan Yan paused, his tone light and unburdened, "I’ll need to save up more money first before transferring her."

Shen Nanli’s heart ached seeing him act so unfazed.

Yan Yan’s grandmother’s illness wasn’t something that had developed overnight. The medical bills from the Wuzhen hospital alone kept Yan Yan scrambling. If she were transferred to Beishi, the costs would likely multiply.

Yet Yan Yan never complained. He attended classes diligently, took on side gigs whenever possible, supported himself, and even covered part of his grandmother’s medical expenses.

*

When they reached the dorm building, they carried the books to Yan Yan’s room first.

As they approached Room 318, they noticed the door was slightly ajar—another roommate must have arrived.

Shen Nanli pushed the door open first. Before Yan Yan could step inside, Shen Nanli’s expression suddenly changed as if he’d seen a ghost. He muttered "gotta run!" into Yan Yan’s ear, dropped the book bag, and bolted without a trace.

Baffled, Xu Yan had no choice but to carry the heavy bag inside alone.

To his surprise, the last empty bed had been occupied. A middle-aged woman dressed like a server was diligently making the bed, layering it with what seemed like endless velvet—as if preparing for the Pea Princess herself.

By the desk stood two men of similar height, broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted. Even from behind, their striking figures made the once-spacious dorm feel cramped.

Yan Yan froze at the doorway. Though this was his dorm, the aura of the two inside left him unsure how to proceed.

One wore a tailored white shirt and black trousers, a suit jacket folded over his arm, and wire-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose bridge—every inch the executive.

The "executive" leaned slightly forward, picking up an out-of-place white package from the desk. He read aloud, slowly, "Jia Shang, Women’s Clothing Store—"

Curious, he glanced at the man beside him. "Yours?"

The other man didn’t answer. Instead, he turned slightly, his gaze landing on the doorway.

The strap of Yan Yan’s book bag suddenly snapped. With a loud thud, the heavy books crashed to the floor.

He was instantly pinned by a sharp, scrutinizing stare—like a small animal caught trespassing in a predator’s territory.

Though the midday sun shone behind him, the shadows beneath his brow seemed to hold two icy stars. The upward tilt of his almond-shaped eyes should have lent them charm, but the sharp line of his nose tempered any frivolity, leaving only an unapproachable air.

It was a face too striking to forget, yet too aloof to approach.

Yan Yan faintly recognized him but couldn’t recall where he’d seen him before. He thought.

The gaze barely lingered before Yan Yan saw an elegant, pale hand rise, faint veins visible beneath the skin, a coldly gleaming ring resting at the base of the fourth finger.

It reached for the white package.

No!

Wasn’t that the package Shen Nanli had picked up for him?!

Acting faster than thought, Yan Yan darted past the fallen books, snatched the package away, and in one swift, lightning-fast motion, grabbed all the parcels from the desk and shoved them into his wardrobe before locking it.

His movements were smooth, but his expression was pure guilt.

"S-sorry..." Yan Yan murmured. "That’s my package—no, not mine. I was holding it for a senior. I thought no one was here, so I left it for a bit..."

As he fumbled through his explanation, the dorm door opened again. Li Huaiche, the original sole occupant, rolled his suitcase inside.

"Holy—Wen?"

Li Huaiche was stunned. "You’re back? Are you moving into the dorm now? And Shen Xun is here too."

The suited executive nodded slightly in greeting.

While Li Huaiche chatted warmly with the two, Yan Yan’s brain finally clicked.

No wonder he looked familiar—his new roommate was none other than the renowned Computer Science Department’s aloof heartthrob, Wen Sinian.

Though they weren’t in the same faculty, Wen Sinian’s photos and name frequently appeared on the school forum’s confession board. It was impossible not to recognize him.

But Wen Sinian hadn’t lived in the dorm for three years. Why would he suddenly move back in his senior year?

Yan Yan was grateful to Li Huaiche for diverting their attention. He wasn’t sure his excuse had been convincing enough.

"Wen, are you staying here every day now?"

The middle-aged woman finally finished making the bed and began tidying the desk with quick efficiency.

Wen Sinian stood with his hands in his pockets, watching coolly. "Just occasionally."

Xu Yan eavesdropped quietly while pulling the book bag by the door to his desk, crouching down to slowly sort the books one by one.

The group chatted a bit more about their majors, but Xu Yan couldn’t make heads or tails of the computer code talk. Soon after, Wen Sinian received a phone call and left with Chen Xun.

After the two departed, Li Huaiche enthusiastically started chatting with Xu Yan.

"You're from the Screenwriting and Directing Department, right? What year are you in?"

"Junior year."

"Ah, junior," Li Huaiche said. "So we’ll be roommates from now on. Never thought 318 would actually fill up—I’ve had this place to myself for three years."

Xu Yan asked curiously, "Did that senior not live here before?"

Li Huaiche opened his suitcase and started unpacking, like it was old news. "You mean Wen Sinian? He doesn’t stay on campus. His family owns plenty of properties—why would he slum it here?"

Shabby?

Xu Yan touched his hair. He thought the dorm conditions were quite good—clean tiled floors, loft beds with desks below, a balcony, private bathroom, and most importantly, shared washing machines and dryers. No need to hang-dry clothes; they’d be ready quickly after drying. Pretty damn convenient, if you ask me.

Only catch? Seven yuan a pop for wash-and-dry, which was a bit expensive, so he rarely used it.

Li Huaiche continued, "But I don’t know why he suddenly decided to move back this semester. My advice? Don’t go digging."

Then Li Huaiche turned around, looking Xu Yan up and down before tutting twice. "Also, heads-up—it’s best to keep your distance from them, especially Wen-ge. Don’t think being roommates means you’re buddies."

The out-of-nowhere warning made Xu Yan feel like some kind of schemer.

He tilted his head slightly. "Why’s that?"

Unaware of how innocent his expression looked, his confused eyes looked a little watery.

Li Huaiche looked away before he coughed heavily and said seriously, "Because Wen-ge is homophobic."

"Especially toward guys like you."

Author’s Note:

New story is here!

1. Dumb, sugary fluff—note!! The entire story has little plot!! And minimal logic!! All settings exist solely for the couple to be all lovey-dovey!!

2. The online acquaintanceship between the leads is mentioned in the synopsis. If it’s not your thing, please click away, but no personal attacks on the author, okay?

3. The top has a foot fetish (and is a bit of a perv), but both are chaste—he only obsesses over the bottom’s legs. If that’s not your thing, click away, and again, please don’t attack the author.

4. This is purely a self-indulgent work catering to the author’s kinks—a pretty, clueless crossdresser getting played by a cunning, manipulative top. If that’s not for you, don’t force yourself—just click away.

5. This is seriously off-the-rails, and the writing is quite amateurish. If you don’t like it, click away—no need to scold me [pleading emoji]. Comments attacking the characters or author will be deleted.

6. Can’t think of anything else to add for now…

Finally, thanks for reading—enjoy! [peeking emoji]