Volume 0 / Chapter 9: Raising Funds and Preparation

**Chapter 9: Raising Funds and Preparation**

Mo Xueyao, who hadn't slept all night, only felt drowsiness creep in as dawn approached.

But he managed only two or three hours before Mom woke him.

The clock showed 8:00 AM.

Normally, she should have been leaving for work by now.

She had cleaning jobs, cooking jobs.

Bits and pieces of housework strung together filled her entire day.

"Xueyao, Xueyao, breakfast's ready."

Mo Xueyao jolted awake, sitting up in bed.

"What's going on? Mom being so gentle today... feels weird..." he mumbled, walking out of his room wearing only his boxers.

"Xiao Yao, why aren't you wearing pants?"

"What's the big deal... I'm just a..."

Just as the next few words were about to escape his lips, the previously slightly noisy living room plunged into absolute silence.

Even the morning news on the TV sounded like it was coming from another world.

"Uh..." Mo Xueyao realized what he'd almost said. He licked his lips awkwardly and retreated to his room, pulling on a pair of shorts that barely reached his knees.

The atmosphere eased instantly.

"Sit down. Today's breakfast is very special! Scallion pancakes, sticky rice cakes, and sweet bean paste buns!" Mom said with a smile.

Mo Xueyao sat down at the table, head bowed. He felt as uncomfortable as if he'd scored dead last on a class exam.

Because he realized the note he wrote last night had been moved. Originally left on the table, it was now on the windowsill. There was no reason his parents wouldn't have read it.

"Eat more, Xueyao." Mom placed a bowl of plain rice porridge in front of Mo Xueyao and sat down with her own bowl.

Dad, who usually preferred eating in front of the TV, had also unusually taken a seat at the slightly worn wooden round table.

The three of them looked at each other. Such a formal breakfast felt unfamiliar and awkward.

"Xueyao..."

"Yeah..."

"This note... what it means..." Mom also seemed hesitant to bring it up.

"Uh... it's... well... um..." Mo Xueyao stammered, head bowed, using his chopsticks to pick tiny bits of rice from the porridge and put them in his mouth. At this rate, it would take forever to finish the bowl.

"It means you've decided to become a girl." Dad finally broke the stalemate, saying it outright.

"Ah, I... I don't want to become a girl! It's just... after thinking about it... I felt... felt it was better if you made the decision..."

"Mm, okay." Dad nodded. "Then we'll contact the doctors and schedule the surgery."

"Right." Mom agreed succinctly.

Mo Xueyao felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

This was probably the most difficult decision she had ever made in her life.

Facing the problem head-on, however, actually made it feel less agonizing.

Like a soldier marching knowingly towards their fate – that was roughly how Mo Xueyao felt.

The conversation suddenly became surprisingly natural.

Despite raising a "son" for sixteen years, Mom and Dad immediately started discussing Xueyao's future life as a girl.

The speed of the switch left him dumbfounded.

The key point was, Mom actually seemed a little... excited.

Did she really want a daughter that much?

"Husband, do you think Xueyao would look better with a ponytail or shoulder-length hair?"

"Hmm... I think a ponytail would suit her better."

"We'll need to get Xueyao some girls' clothes."

"Haha, we can buy skirts! Xueyao, remember when your mom dressed you in a skirt when you were little?"

"When did that happen...?" Mo Xueyao asked, exasperated.

"Haha, kindergarten! Back then, oh man, you were so cute " Dad laughed heartily. "We had no idea what got into you that day. You saw your mom putting on lipstick and demanded to try it. Saw her wearing a skirt and insisted you wanted one too. So we bought you one, and the next day you wore it to kindergarten, hahaha... When you came back, you even asked us why you were different from the other girls..."

"Hey!" Mo Xueyao's face flushed crimson. "That's impossible! I don't remember that at all!"

"Doesn't matter, doesn't matter. Soon you can wear them openly!"

"..." Mo Xueyao sighed deeply. "Honestly, I don't want to be a girl at all..."

...

That very day, Xueyao's parents contacted the doctors. They learned that after the surgery, she would need to be hospitalized for about a month.

After all, it involved significant surgery; there was no room for carelessness.

She could only be discharged once she was healing well.

Since she was biologically female, after discharge, apart from following some precautions, she could live just like any other girl.

But this one-month hospital stay posed a problem.

They called no.14 High School to request leave, but were told such a long absence wasn't possible.

It was already the tail end of summer vacation. A month's recovery meant she wouldn't start school until October.

As a prestigious high school, no.14 High had a strict policy against this kind of extended absence, regardless of the reason.

Even after explaining the situation fully, the school administration remained inflexible, refusing the request.

They had their reasons, of course.

The curriculum at top high schools was fast-paced, covering vast amounts of material. Missing a month meant falling hopelessly behind. Even with self-study, catching up with the school's pace and coursework would be extremely difficult.

If she couldn't keep up, she'd be stuck at the bottom, constantly struggling. This would likely lead to frustration and actually hinder her education.

In that case, transferring to an ordinary high school might be better.

At least the academic pressure wouldn't be as intense. With some self-study during the month off, she could catch up more easily with some effort.

But no.14 High was ranked among the top five in Hangzhou, and Xueyao had worked hard to get in. Transferring to an ordinary school felt like wasting all that effort.

That afternoon, they visited the principal's home bearing gifts. The answer was still no. The best they could get was a promise to facilitate Xueyao's transfer to an ordinary high school Yukong High and arrange for a month's leave in advance.

"Xueyao, sorry... Dad couldn't manage it. You'll have to go to an ordinary high school..." Dad said dejectedly that evening when he returned.

"It's okay. High school is high school, right? It's still in Hangzhou; it can't be that bad." Xueyao smiled, trying to reassure him, though she felt deeply disappointed inside. She just couldn't show it.

"Which school is it?" Xueyao asked.

"Yukong High," Mom answered.

"Uh... I heard their recent college acceptance rates haven't been great."

"Yeah, and they're getting a new principal this fall semester. You kids are basically the guinea pigs." Dad pulled a beer from the fridge, bit off the cap, and gulped it down. "At least we secured you a spot in their accelerated class. And I heard that even though the school's academic ranking is mid-to-lower tier, the campus environment is good, with little bullying."

That was likely the deciding factor.

Compared to academics, her parents were more worried about Xueyao, struggling to adapt to life as a girl, being isolated or even bullied by other students.

The corrective surgery couldn't be done immediately. The hospital needed time to schedule it, and the paperwork for the medical fee reductions needed to be submitted for review.

The surgery fee also needed to be secured upfront.

So, after discussing it all night, Mom and Dad went to Godfather's house the next day, taking Xueyao along.

"Haha, I know why you're here today," Godfather said jovially over dinner. Despite his portly, middle-aged appearance, his voice still retained a youthful timbre.

"Listen to you, Mr. Section Chief! So eloquent," Godmother teased, rolling her eyes at him.

"Ahem, don't get me wrong, that's not what I meant."

"With friends as long as us, we know that's just how you talk." Dad raised his beer glass. "Come on, Yu Liang, cheers!"

Clink. Their glasses met with a crisp sound.

Beside them, Yu Liang's daughter was glued to Xueyao, sitting right on her lap, showing great affection. Xueyao had always secretly wanted a little sister...

"So it's decided then?"

"Yes, decided. We'll do it at Changzheng Hospital in Shanghai."

"Good. Is the medical cost confirmed?"

"Not yet, but it should be around fifty thousand."

"Alright, no need for formalities between us. Here." Godfather pulled a check directly from his pocket. "Take this check. Cash it at ICBC. The PIN is the last six digits of my phone number."

"Hey, hold still. What do you want? I'll get it for you..." While the adults discussed serious matters, the children focused on simpler things. Xueyao gently restrained the wriggling little girl. "Sister, I want that! The big crab!"

"The claw?"

"Yes!"

"Okay..."

Yu Liang took a sip of wine, watching Xueyao and his daughter with a warm smile. "The money's a loan. You can pay it back in installments or all at once. No rush, pay when you can. No need for an IOU—"

He was about to continue when his wife beside him placed her hand gently but firmly on his thigh.

He choked back his words, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Ah, an IOU is definitely necessary! Clear accounts make good friends," Dad quickly interjected. "Got pen and paper? We'll write it now."

"We don't actually need to borrow that much..." Mom whispered.

"It's fine. If you have extra after paying, use it for yourselves. If not, pay back what you can, and settle the rest later." Yu Liang waved a hand dismissively. "Ha! I'm a section chief; don't worry about me running out of money."

"Say thank you to Godfather," Mom nudged Xueyao's arm, prompting her quietly.

"Mmm... thank you, Godfather..."

"Come, everyone raise a glass! To celebrate Xueyao's new life ahead!"

Clink~

The clear sound of glasses meeting filled the air.

The atmosphere of this dinner felt positive and uplifting.

It gave Mo Xueyao the strange illusion that she'd just been accepted into a prestigious university...