Song Nanyin and Liu Zhaoran had not attended the same university, but her school was separated from Liu Zhaoran’s medical university by only one street, so much so that there was a great deal of coming and going between the two institutions.

According to rumor, Liu Zhaoran was a person of upright character, elegant bearing, and outstanding scholarship, with a good family background to boot. It could be said that Liu Zhaoran was a walking novel-heroine archetype, and not a Mary Sue heroine at that, but the heroine of a serious drama…

Most people’s assessment of Liu Zhaoran was positive and full of praise, but Song Nanyin alone felt this woman was utterly detestable. At a previous mixer, she had come across Liu Zhaoran in the garden, chatting and laughing with a boy.

The boy had previously had a mutual interest with another girl, but it was quite obvious, from the curve of Liu Zhaoran’s smile and the boy’s reaction alike, that the atmosphere between the two was especially ambiguous.

After the boy left, Song Nanyin watched the smile fade completely from Liu Zhaoran’s face. She then took a cigarette from her bag and smoked it with great proficiency.

She leaned lazily against the wall, head tilted slightly back, inhaling and exhaling smoke. Her lipstick-coated lips pursed, and a beautiful smoke ring drifted into the air. A gentle breeze scattered the ring and tousled her jet-black hair.

Perhaps bothered by the evening wind, Liu Zhaoran held the cigarette between her lips and casually swept her long hair back behind her head. The corners of her mouth curved up slightly, and her smile carried a touch of careless indolence that made her look almost roguish.

At that moment, Song Nanyin felt that some people were not quite what the rumors painted them to be. Of course, the series of events that followed confirmed that Liu Zhaoran was indeed a white lotus, and one of especially high cultivation at that…

By now the memory had grown very hazy, but Song Nanyin had to admit that the first time she had seen Liu Zhaoran smoke, the sight had been beautiful, so much so that even after all these years, Song Nanyin still found herself thinking of it from time to time.

Back to the present. Hearing the other woman’s clearly teasing tone, Song Nanyin’s scattered senses gradually returned. She took a few seconds to sort out the situation, immediately pulled up her skirt to cover her private parts, then raised her head and glared at the person before her.

“Liu Zhaoran, didn’t anyone ever teach you basic manners? When there’s someone in the bathroom, don’t you know to knock?”

Song Nanyin’s eyes were rimmed red, and her whole face still carried an unnatural flush. Hearing her accusation, Liu Zhaoran shrugged and glanced down at the unlocked door.

“Sorry, I only came to check because I was worried something might have happened to Team Leader Song. I just didn’t expect to see Team Leader Song’s little secret. It really is… an eye-opener. I never imagined Team Leader Song was actually intersex.”

Liu Zhaoran stated the truth she had witnessed with complete bluntness, forcibly suppressing the astonishment and excitement in her heart while growing even more curious about who Song Nanyin really was. She had initially thought Song Nanyin was simply a fool who amused her, but she had never expected the woman to be carrying such an interesting secret.

Thinking of how this person’s odd behavior had begun a few days ago, and how her style of dress had also started to change a few days ago, Liu Zhaoran formed some speculations and inferences in her mind, though at the moment she still did not dare to confirm them.

The more that was so, the stronger Liu Zhaoran’s curiosity grew. The feeling was like a pebble tossed into a placid lake; the ripples it stirred made her heart itch with restlessness.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Wh… what intersex? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Having her secret exposed so bluntly by Liu Zhaoran, Song Nanyin felt unbearably ashamed even though she knew the other woman had seen it.

Yet the next moment, the other woman’s hand suddenly reached out and touched her between the legs, and the wretch even had the nerve to prod a certain part. How could Song Nanyin have expected Liu Zhaoran to be so bold and brazen? In an instant, she scrambled backward like a frightened rabbit.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing. It’s just that since Team Leader Song didn’t understand, I showed you with an action. That thing of yours, I touched it.”

Liu Zhaoran said it casually, her tone utterly candid. Seeing her lean at ease against the door, arms crossed over her chest and the corners of her mouth tilted up, looking for all the world like she was waiting to enjoy a good show, Song Nanyin was both mortified and furious, so angry she did not know what to do.

“Liu Zhaoran, don’t tell anyone about this.” After deliberating for a moment, Song Nanyin found she had no way to handle Liu Zhaoran at all, so she could only be the first to yield. Watching this person’s golden head hang low, dejected like a defeated foolish lion…

The amusement in Liu Zhaoran’s eyes nearly narrowed her phoenix eyes into crescent moons. Then, feeling that such an obvious expression was hardly appropriate, she returned to her usual demeanor.

“On that point, Team Leader Song can rest assured. This is your private matter, and I certainly won’t tell anyone unless necessary. But ah… with such a special secret, I’m afraid I might not be able to hold it in sometimes. Whatever shall I do then?”

Liu Zhaoran believed she had restrained the excitement in her tone to a certain degree, but she found her voice still rose at the end, betraying her current delight no less clearly.

Tsk, tsk. Teasing the foolish lion with her own secret, how awful of me. And yet, I want to be even more awful.

“What exactly do you want? If you hate me this much, I’ll resign and leave this city. Will that do?” Song Nanyin raised her head and said, unable to contain herself any longer. Seeing that she was genuinely angry, Liu Zhaoran then remembered that even the stupidest lion would flare up when provoked, and its fur needed smoothing.

“Of course I don’t want anything. I have never once disliked Team Leader Song. I don’t know how you came to have such a misunderstanding. How about this: I’ll help you keep your secret, but as a condition, I hope you’ll let me give you a physical examination.”

As soon as Liu Zhaoran said this, Song Nanyin grew even more suspicious. She felt this woman was full of schemes and had probably dug some trap waiting for her to fall into. Perhaps seeing through her thoughts, Liu Zhaoran smiled and gently patted her shoulder.

“How about this: let’s talk back in the office. This floor is basically free of other people, so it’s very safe. Besides, with a skirt covering you, nothing can be seen.”

Liu Zhaoran’s words carried a pointed meaning. Hearing them, Song Nanyin also felt this was no place for a conversation. The two returned to the office, where Liu Zhaoran brewed two cups of tea. Song Nanyin sipped hers absentmindedly.

“You… what do you actually want?” In the end, it was Song Nanyin who lost patience and asked first. Seeing her finally speak, Liu Zhaoran laughed softly.

“I told you, I don’t want anything. I just want to run a full-body examination for you. Don’t worry, it won’t take much of your time. I imagine your condition is different from the intersex people everyone knows about, isn’t it? If I’m not guessing wrong, your change only began a few days ago.”

Liu Zhaoran hit the mark, and Song Nanyin’s spine straightened slightly. Seeing her reaction, Liu Zhaoran was even more certain she had guessed right.

“These past few days, you must have been very panicked, but afraid to just go see a doctor. So letting me examine you should be your best choice. Besides, don’t you really want to know what changes are happening to your body?”

Liu Zhaoran lowered her voice and even leaned in of her own accord. In psychology, this was a gesture laden with coaxing implication and subtle pressure, yet one the other party would not easily detect. Liu Zhaoran carefully observed Song Nanyin’s expression and could tell that the probability of the other woman being persuaded was 75 percent, a very high figure.

Song Nanyin was too flustered now to remember any sort of expression management. In fact, Liu Zhaoran was right. She had been plagued by this for so many days; it was fair to say she had been on tenterhooks the entire time.

She feared her body was undergoing a mutation, afraid she would completely turn into a man and have her secret discovered. Now that one more person knew, and that person had even offered to help, Song Nanyin naturally felt a stir of temptation.

It was just that, because this person was Liu Zhaoran, she had to question the other’s motives.

“You… why do you want to study me? Where would you do it? Are you sure you won’t tell anyone?”

“On that point, Team Leader Song can rest easy. You haven’t forgotten what I studied in university, have you? I hold a valid physician’s license, and I have a villa on the outskirts of the city with some simple medical equipment there.

“Please rest assured. The entire examination will involve only you and me. If Team Leader Song entrusts me with keeping it secret, I absolutely will not let a third person know about it.”

Liu Zhaoran coaxed her step by step, like a hunter luring an animal into a cage with food. She knew that once she put it this way, the likelihood of Song Nanyin agreeing would rise even higher.

“Then… how do you want to examine me?” Song Nanyin spoke again, and at this moment, the outcome was already decided.

“I have some equipment at home that can perform a comprehensive examination of your body. If you don’t mind, we can head over right now. In your current state, you’re in no mood to discuss business anyway, and I’ve always advocated for working efficiently.”

Liu Zhaoran proposed again, and this time, Song Nanyin seemed unable to find any reason to refuse. She remembered that Liu Zhaoran’s grades in university had indeed been excellent. It was said she was deeply favored by her teachers, and she had also been the only one at the time to hold a recommendation for postgraduate study at a prestigious school.

Although Song Nanyin never learned why this woman had given up that qualification and instead switched fields to work abroad, she at least believed the other was no strange quack.

“Then… all right.” Song Nanyin relented. Liu Zhaoran pressed her lips together, suppressing a smile. She drove Song Nanyin to the villa, which was not too far, only about a thirty-minute drive.

After they arrived, Song Nanyin suddenly realized that the “simple” Liu Zhaoran had spoken of was in fact anything but simple. The villa had three floors, plus a small attic loft at the top.

The first floor held the kitchen, living room, and family room. The second floor was a condensed miniature hospital, and the third floor could well be called a laboratory. Looking at the equipment that was obviously very expensive, Song Nanyin glanced at Liu Zhaoran, unable to shake the feeling… that someone who kept these things at home seemed rather creepy…

“Sit wherever you like. I have all kinds of tea at home. What do you prefer?”

“No need. I prefer coffee.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll buy some tomorrow. What would you like to eat?”

Liu Zhaoran casually took off her suit jacket, revealing the white shirt underneath. She tucked the hem of the shirt into her trousers, casually leaving one side hanging out. Her waist was slim and willowy, the look simple and clean, and the whole outfit was equal parts commanding and refined.

“Anything is fine. It’s not like I know what delivery options you have here.”

“Delivery? I don’t really eat that sort of thing. Actually, my cooking is decent. Do you have any dietary restrictions?”

“You can cook?”

Hearing Liu Zhaoran’s words, Song Nanyin was quite surprised. After all, in her view, Liu Zhaoran was the kind of young lady who needed someone to serve her even her tea. It was truly hard to imagine what this person looked like cooking.

“I learned while abroad. My Western food is decent, and my Chinese cooking is a bit inferior. Let’s have steak.” Having said that, Liu Zhaoran had already rolled up her sleeves and gone into the kitchen to start cooking. While she cooked, Song Nanyin stole a few glances at her and quickly opened the messaging app on her phone to compose a text.

“I’m eating at Liu Zhaoran’s place. If I go missing, it definitely has something to do with her.” After composing it, Song Nanyin set a timer: if she had not canceled it by midnight tonight, the message would be sent to Chai Yue.

It wasn’t that Song Nanyin was overthinking things; rather, having just seen the furnishings in Liu Zhaoran’s house, she was genuinely unsettled. In her view, no normal person would furnish their home with so much medical equipment.

Song Nanyin felt Liu Zhaoran was like those people who conducted illegal research, and there was no telling whether the woman would even let her leave.

By the time she had finished, Liu Zhaoran had already brought out the Western meal. Though homemade, it looked in no way inferior to the fare at those expensive Western restaurants outside.

At first, Song Nanyin hesitated, afraid the other woman might have slipped some drug into the food. But after a taste, she found the steak seared to perfect tenderness, crisp on the surface and tender and juicy within.

The side dishes were arranged exquisitely on one side. Besides the steak, there were spaghetti and baked shrimp, and the dish was not only beautifully plated but tasted excellent as well.

Liu Zhaoran even opened a bottle of red wine with full ceremony, and the formality of the scene made Song Nanyin feel somewhat ashamed of the message she had set…

After a few bites, her taste buds and appetite were thoroughly awakened, and her initial concern about being drugged was cast directly from Song Nanyin’s mind.

An hour later, Song Nanyin had finished off her steak and spaghetti, and most of the baked shrimp had gone into her stomach as well…

“Full, Team Leader Song?”

“Mm… it tasted pretty good.”

Song Nanyin gave a small burp and said softly. Seeing her full and content, Liu Zhaoran felt it was time to collect some payment in return.

“Since you’re full, our examination should begin. Tonight we’ll first take a general look at the surface condition and characteristics of your body. Team Leader Song, rest a bit, take a shower, and go to the examination room on the second floor without wearing any clothes.”