Volume 1 / Chapter 23: I Really Like Your Legs

The first afternoon class was P.E.  

The teacher, surnamed Yè, full name Yè Rán, lived up to his name—"Rán" meaning burning. Though in his thirties, he radiated the energy of a man in his prime, a human torch perpetually aflame. Standing near him during lineup, Mò Xuěyáo could feel heat rolling off his body like a walking furnace.  

"Attention!"  

With a whistle in one hand and a stopwatch in the other, Teacher Yè swung them around like a pair of nunchaku.

“Alright—five laps around the track—now!"  

"Ughhh, again? Five laps?!"  

The class groaned in protest, especially the girls, who were quick to voice their objections.

The track at Yŭkõng was 400 meters per lap. Five laps meant two kilometers. Even if it wasn’t for a grade and they could jog at any pace, two kilometers was still exhausting.

Xuěyáo hesitated.

Not because she hated exercise, but because it had only been a little over a month since her surgery. She could ride a bike just fine, but running two kilometers? That might risk tearing something inside.

She stood there awkwardly, unsure how to excuse herself from the warm-up without drawing too much attention.

“You’re Mò Xuěyáo, right?”

At that moment, teacher Yè’ looked directly at her.

“Uh… yes,” she replied meekly.

“Your homeroom teacher told me you’ve got a heart condition. Just had surgery, so you can’t do intense exercise, right?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

Mò Xuěyáo nodded gratefully, silently thanking her kind and playful homeroom teacher.

“Alright then, you can sit this one out.”

Teacher Yè twirled the whistle in his fingers before blowing it hard.

“Begin!”

The class split into four running groups—girls ran on the inner lanes, boys on the outer.

And thus, the torturous warm-up run began.

Just then, a girl with a round face raised her hand.

“Teacher——!! I can’t run either! I’m on my period!”

“Didn’t you already have it last month?”

“Of course I did! It’s a monthly thing!”

“Hmm… timing feels off though.”

Teacher Yè squinted and started counting on his fingers, looking like a Taoist priest prepping for a ritual.

To Mò Xuěyáo, it was kind of funny—he even looked like he was about to cast a spell.

“It came early this month, okay? I’m not about to bleed through my pants just for this!”

“I m on my period too!”

More girls joined in quickly, following the lead.

“I don’t believe it unless you take your pants off and show me,” Teacher Yè’ said deadpan.

“Pervert—!!”

The boys immediately burst out laughing and hooting.

“Creepy old man!” the girls shouted indignantly.

“Alright, enough noise. You few claiming to be on your period, come here. I studied traditional Chinese medicine—I’ll check your pulse. If I find you’re lying, you’ll run an extra lap!”

Despite the protest-worthy absurdity of the claim, his confidence made it hard to argue. The girls sheepishly slunk back to the line.

Only the original girl strutted boldly up to him and held out her hand.

“Hmmm… irregular cycle,” Teacher Yè muttered like a sage, eyes closed as he felt her pulse. “A little heat rising too—go home and have more red dates, and drink honey with brown sugar.”

“Wait—teacher, you really know TCM?”

“Just a bit, just a bit,” he replied with a smug grin that made everyone want to roll their eyes.

With the rest of the students off running, only Mò Xuěyáo and the round-faced girl sat on the edge of the flower bed.

The best part of P.E. class? Sitting out and watching everyone else suffer.

The two sat on opposite ends of the flowerbed, a little awkward, not really talking.

Until finally, the round-faced girl broke the silence.

“Hey, you’re Mò Xuěyáo, right?”

“Yeah… and you are?” Mo Xueyao replied politely.

“I’m Huā Yīnyīn,” the girl said, scooting significantly closer. Now, the space between them was barely a few inches. “Tsk, tsk. Up close, you really are a beauty.”

“Cough, cough!”

Mò Xuěyáo flushed with embarrassment. Looking at Huā Yīnyīn’s otherwise average face—aside from her round cheeks—she wasn’t sure how to return the compliment.

But Huā Yīnyīn didn’t seem to care. Her eyes were glued to Mò Xuěyáo’s long legs in sheer black stockings.

“Nice legs… So smooth-looking. Mind if I touch them?”

“Touch… them?”

Mò Xuěyáo thought she must’ve misheard.

A girl asking to touch her legs? It was so surreal she didn’t know how to respond.

“Yeah, just a little! Come on—I'll even let you touch mine if it makes it fair.”

“W-what?!”

Mò Xuěyáo’s face turned bright red.

But before she could react, Huā Yīnyīn’s hand was already boldly resting on her thigh.

“Mmm~ not bad, not bad. Smooth and flawless—both your thighs and calves!”

“W-why are you even touching them?”

Mò Xuěyáo asked awkwardly, brushing her bangs to hide her flustered expression.

“Because someone else’s legs feel better than your own, obviously! I love pretty girl legs,” Huā Yīnyīn said with utter conviction. “They’re divine gifts from the heavens!”

So blunt. She just said it like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Mò Xuěyáo found her incredibly weird.

There was just something… off about her whole vibe.

“Oh, by the way, what’s your shoe size?”

“Uh… 34…”

“So tiny!” Huā Yīnyīn cried in envy. “We’re the same height! Why are your feet so much smaller?!”

“I… I really don’t know…”

Mò Xuěyáo suddenly thought maybe she should’ve gone jogging like everyone else. At least then she could escape this oddball.

“Seriously, you’re adorable,” Huā Yīnyīn said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. “Just too cute.”

“R-right… ha…ha…”

Mò Xuěyáo could only offer a strained laugh.

“Hey, wanna be my model?”

“Huh? Model?”

“Yeah! I draw manga. I need a girl to model for my main character.”

“Oh? You can draw? Then why didn’t you sign up to be the class art rep?”

“Because drawing posters and blackboard stuff is boring! Plus, I’m already the Chinese class rep—if I take on more jobs, I’ll die from the workload!”

Then she veered right back. “So? Interested in modeling? I seriously love your legs!”

“Um…”

Mò Xuěyáo was starting to understand Huā Yīnyīn a little. Maybe all artists had a few eccentric quirks?

And manga was technically art, right?

“Don’t worry, when you come over to model, there won’t be anyone else at my place. I live on the 11th floor. It’s quiet and private! And there’s an elevator—you won’t have to climb!”

“Uhhh…”

Mo Xueyao was still unsure.

“Do you like milk? My family runs a milk distribution business, so we’ve got tons at home. Drink all you want!”

Now that was tempting.

She didn’t get to drink milk very often—usually it was sugary drinks instead.

After all, milk was more expensive and came in smaller quantities.

And she didn’t mean those yogurt-style drinks or calcium-added kid’s milk. She meant real, fresh milk—the kind with that naturally sweet, creamy taste.

“Real milk…?”

“All kinds! Pure milk, Yili, Mengniu, or even the new one everyone’s advertising lately—Bright Milk! Take your pick.”

Huā Yīnyīn puffed out her chest with pride. “Drink more, and it’ll help these grow~”

Even through her school uniform, there was a visible bounce as she thumped her chest.

Not huge, but not flat either.

Not that that was something Mò Xuěyáo particularly cared about.

Still… milk was a strong bargaining chip.

And truth be told, she didn’t really know how to refuse Huā Yīnyīn anyway.

So she hedged with a vague:

“Well… maybe if I have time…”

“Great! It’s settled then!”

Huā Yīnyīn beamed and suddenly hugged Mò Xuěyáo’s thigh, rubbing her cheek against it through the skirt and stockings.

It made Mò Xuěyáo’s skin crawl in a strange way, like ants were biting her all over.

Tingly and uncomfortable.

Even her scalp tingled.

By the time everyone finished their five laps—two whole kilometers—they were about ready to collapse.

“Alright, free time!”

Teacher Ye checked his stopwatch and trotted off to chat with the P.E. teacher of another class.

Technically, they had free time now… but only about 25 minutes left.

Some students walked the last few laps, having completely burned out.

Two kilometers was no joke—it took more than just speed, it took stamina.

Wáng Jiālè, for one, ran the entire thing properly. By the end, she was dragging her feet like a dying robot. She shuffled over to Mo Xueyao and flopped down on the flowerbed beside her.

“Ughhh… I’m dying…Xuěyáo, you’re so lucky…”

“Ahem…”

Sweat streamed down her face, and her hair was a wet, frizzy mess.

She leaned against Mò Xuěyáo’s shoulder and let out a long sigh.

Though the sweaty contact felt a bit gross, Mò Xuěyáo didn’t push her away.

Being leaned on like this… actually felt kind of nice.

“Move, Huā Yīnyīn, move!” Mo Xiăoxião walked over at that moment too. Slumping weakly, she nudged Huā Yīnyīn aside from where she sat next to Mò Xuěyáo and also rested her head on Mò Xuěyáo's shoulder.

Mò Xuěyáo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Back when she was a guy, no girl ever threw herself at her like this.

Now that she was a real girl…

Why am I suddenly so popular with girls?