Chapter 21: Male and Female Examinations

I was feeling gloomy as I put my phone into my pocket, just about to head home...

“Hey, little one, what a coincidence!” I recognized the voice immediately.

She still had the same face, wearing a short skirt that reached mid-thigh; her black hair loosely draped over her shoulders, a pair of bright eyes sparkling with liveliness; her lips were vividly red, no stockings on her legs, and she wore high-heeled sandals...

She was Pi Tiantian, the one who had come to visit me in the hospital, now presenting herself as a mature woman; I didn't really understand her. She had become more beautiful than when I last saw her at the hospital—youthful and sexy, slightly taller than my shoulders. But the whole situation with Molly Ping troubled me deeply. Such a beautiful woman turning out to be a boy was a real spoiler, yet she could still marry...

This puzzle left me utterly confused and perplexed: who exactly was Pi Tiantian? What was her relationship with the little one’s family?

I pondered deeply, still carrying my backpack, and I couldn’t let her know I had no money for the bus.

Pi Tiantian smiled brightly, noticing no one else was around and wanting to find out more.

“Didn't your aunt come to pick you up?”

I was distressed about borrowing money and couldn’t help but start crying, wiping my tears with my hand...

Seeing me suddenly cry without reason, Pi Tiantian grew concerned and asked, “Who bullied you?”

I had no choice but to quietly whisper the truth about the little one’s father into her ear.

Her eyes widened in shock, nearly shouting, “That beast of a father! He's worse than a pig or dog! How could he do such a thing? I even called him uncle! I never thought he was such a monster!”

Pi Tiantian rambled on in front of me, inadvertently offering great comfort. I felt she was on my side; her views mirrored my own.

I began to accept her presence in my heart. The place I was headed to was home…

Pi Tiantian had other ideas. Taking my hand, she said, “Why go home? Let’s just eat something out. School is about to start soon!”

But I had no money at all, so I confessed.

Hearing this, she smiled generously and said, “Where do students get money? I’ll treat you!”

I thought she was a student too, just graduated from high school, seemingly well off. But no matter, if no one treated me, I’d starve.

Pi Tiantian led me into a small eatery, ordering a bowl of noodles each; we sat and ate.

Unsettling gazes kept coming from around the table, all eyes fixed on me. Was there something on my face?

The male owner, finally unable to hold back, took the chance to clear the dishes and, after some thought, asked in the most tactful way he could find, “Your hair is beautiful—is it natural?”

I was debating whether to answer, but Pi Tiantian cut in, “Yes, it’s natural and very beautiful! And her eyes are too.”

Once she said this, shameless men openly stared into my eyes, drawing curious glances from some women as well.

“Are you a foreigner? Or maybe mixed race?”

I didn’t want to respond, but Pi Tiantian spoke again, “Her parents aren’t like that!”

Wasn’t she revealing all my family’s information to strangers? I was naturally upset and didn’t say a word. Before finishing my meal, I threw down my chopsticks and stormed out.

Pi Tiantian was flustered, muttering confusedly, “What’s going on?” She called loudly, “Wait for me!” Rummaging hurriedly through her wallet, she pulled out twenty yuan, was given four yuan change, and chased after me.

I ignored her, thinking she was careless to tell strangers such things. I tried to hide, not wanting her to see.

Unexpectedly, she appeared right behind me and loudly asked, “Where are you going?”

Turning around, I gritted my teeth and growled, “Don’t ever tell strangers about my family again, and don’t casually reveal private information.”

Pi Tiantian, a high school graduate, surely knew better, and reasoned, “Because they’re strangers, it doesn’t affect you. But you shouldn’t tell neighbors.”

Her perspective differed from mine. I believed no one should be told anything, so I asked, “Why?”

“If neighbors know, they won’t help but become your attackers instead.”

I stuck to my stance.

Pi Tiantian tried to argue cleverly, “Talking to strangers is a release and won’t harm you.”

We couldn’t reach an agreement. In any case, I forgave her ignorance. We bickered all the way to the bus stop; she didn’t part ways or speak a word. I boarded the bus, and she followed silently, staying with me until the metal door of the fourth floor.

Only then did I realize I didn’t have the key. Reluctantly, I dumped my books on the floor and rummaged through them repeatedly.

Pi Tiantian took my pencil case, opened it, gasped sharply, and exclaimed, “Oh my! How old are you to still use this?”

I glanced and snatched it back, intending to say it wasn’t mine, but no one would believe that. I just glared and grunted, “Don’t stare! This is private; don’t spread it around!”

Shameless Pi Tiantian stunned me by saying, “I won’t tell anyone, but I want to check…”

That infuriated me! What was there for a woman to check on another woman? Just as I thought this, I was struck dumb.

“Could it be that she… oh my! No wonder she clings to me so tightly!”

I stuffed all my books back into my backpack and reached for my phone to call the madam’s number...

Pi Tiantian cried out excitedly, “Isn’t this your key?”

“Where did you get it?” I glanced at the pointed key in her hand, unsure if it would open the metal door’s hidden lock.

She pinched the long narrow pocket on my backpack and said, “I took it from here.”

I didn’t think much and snatched the backpack, slinging it over my shoulder to try the door. To my surprise, it opened.

I entered home with Pi Tiantian close behind. She felt like she had some improper intentions toward me; not wanting her to stay, I glared and said, “You can leave now!”

Pi Tiantian’s face was thicker than a city wall; she found an excuse to stay, “If sister comes to your home, you don’t let her in and even want to kick her out?”

I thought about it and realized she wasn’t my match. Even if I let her in, she couldn’t do much. I pushed open the living room door...

Pi Tiantian looked around as if she were the madam entering Molly Ping’s house, walking through every corner before saying, “It’s about the same size as my home; the layout is similar too! The house has many design flaws that renovation can fix. Your parents live in the big room, right?”

Why was I letting her know this? I chose to stay silent...

Still unsatisfied, she gently said, “Actually, having the big room so close to the small one isn’t good. Your parents’ voices are loud, which directly affects the children’s thoughts and emotions.”

I hated hearing such unpleasant words and couldn’t help but ask, “Have you said enough? Why don’t you talk about your own parents?”

Pi Tiantian smiled, “It’s okay to talk about my parents! They’re husband and wife, which is normal. Otherwise, where would children come from?”

I was utterly annoyed. Saying such shameless things—does she even count as a woman?

Pi Tiantian deliberately wandered around my small room, inspecting this and that, until she finally couldn’t hold back a shameless remark: “Little one, sister wants to check, is it...?”

The shameless academic had also said worse things, so how could such words come from her mouth? I replied simply, “Why check others?”

Pi Tiantian showed no embarrassment or hesitation, saying, “You’re in eighth grade, not a child anymore. The teacher must have told you about some physiological changes, how growing up means continuing the family line.”

No one needs others to teach them that! Saying this without blushing or hesitation—are they even human?

Pi Tiantian argued skilfully, “Whether human or beast, this is the path we all take! If you don’t want me to check you, then check me instead?”

Such shamelessness! Before I could agree, she turned her back...

I was curious, could it be...? My heart raced uncontrollably. Covering my eyes with my hands, I cried out, “Don’t turn around!”

Did she hear me wrong? She slowly turned her body toward me. Even though my eyes were covered, I couldn’t help but peek through my fingers, my eyes nearly popping out with shock...

“Who would believe it?”

It was too unbelievable—hair, face, and figure were unmistakably those of a genuine woman. How could this be?