The moment Gu Xi opened his eyes, a familiar system chime rang quietly in his mind.
[Your charm and physique assimilation has completed.]
[New Attribute Evaluation Unlocked.]
Still a little groggy from sleep, he tossed aside the blanket and shuffled toward the mirror like usual.
And then he froze.
"…What the hell."
A dainty boy with snow-white skin and glimmering peach-toned lips stared back at him. His auburn eyes looked brighter, the long lashes curled upward like they were born with mascara. His face, once "plain but fresh," had grown more structured. His jaw was still soft, but now it carried the elegance of a blooming youth—delicate but striking, enough to make any passerby look twice.
His loose t-shirt hung on his frame, and yet his reflection…
That wasn't just a boy anymore.
His legs were longer now, almost model-like in their proportions. His waist had cinched, narrow and smooth, while his hips and backside—God—he had a real butt now. A very perky, shapely, completely touchable-looking butt. Even his calves looked sculpted.
"System…" he muttered, deadpan. "You're trying to make me a seductress, aren't you?"
[Current Charm: 50 – Budding Star]
Evaluation: "An eye-catching beauty. From cute to captivating, you are in your own league."
[Current Physique: 50 – Balanced Grace]
Evaluation: "Toned curves and youthful vigor. You are temptation in motion."
"…Temptation my ass."
He hadn't even put on makeup.
A knock came at the door.
"Gu Xi?"
His sister's voice.
Before he could react, the door creaked open. Gu Lin stepped inside wearing a black cropped sweatshirt and sports leggings, her hair still slightly damp from the shower.
She looked up—
And froze.
They stared at each other for a second.
Then she squinted, as if trying to process what she was seeing.
"…Who are you?" she finally asked, frowning.
Gu Xi blinked. "It's me?"
"...You?"
"Do I need to show you my ID?"
She stared longer. Her eyes dropped to his waist, then his legs, then back up to his face. She squinted again. "When did you… become this white?"
"Am I not always this white?"
"No, you were like… tofu before. Now it's like snow-white tofu."
Gu Xi sighed and grabbed a hoodie, slipping it over his head with practiced speed.
—
Later, at the breakfast table.
Steam rose from the pot of warm millet congee he'd made. Lightly salted, with a side of pan-fried chive pancakes and boiled quail eggs, breakfast was simple, traditional, and easy on the stomach.
His sister chewed thoughtfully, chopsticks resting between her fingers. She hadn't stopped sneaking glances at him from across the table.
"You didn't get plastic surgery or something, right?" she asked suddenly, squinting again.
"You literally saw me last night."
"So?"
"So it's all in your imagination," Gu Xi said, calmly sipping his congee.
"…Tch."
She clicked her tongue but dropped it.
He checked the time.
9:33 AM.
Still enough time to get ready.
"I'm heading out at eleven," Gu Xi said, rising to his feet.
"To where?"
"Part-time job."
Gu Lin blinked. "You got a part-time job? When? Where? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because it's my life?" Gu Xi replied smoothly. "And because I don't report to you?"
Her brow furrowed. "That's not what I meant."
"I'm just helping out Daji today. His boss said if I do well, I might get hired."
"You're still a student."
"And I still need money."
Gu Lin looked like she wanted to argue further, but he'd already turned to leave.
He returned five minutes later, changed into a fitted white collared shirt—one that now skimmed dangerously close to his midriff thanks to his growth spurt—and a pair of light-washed jeans that hugged every curve he'd recently developed.
Gu Lin's spoon clattered against the bowl.
"…Change."
"What?"
"You can't go out like that."
"Why not?"
"You look like you're advertising for a date."
"It's normal clothes?"
"It's scandalous."
"They're jeans and a shirt."
Gu Lin's glare could've burned holes through metal. "Change. Right. Now."
In the end, he gave in.
Mostly because arguing with Gu Lin when she had her 'big sister' hat on was more annoying than it was worth.
He returned wearing a cream-colored hoodie and black jeans, still fitted but not too tight. Acceptable.
Gu Lin nodded curtly.
"Better."
Gu Xi rolled his eyes.
+
—
At 10:30 AM, the two of them stepped onto the bus.
Gu Xi held onto the railing as he noticed his reflection again in the glass window of the opposite building. His looks were really… something now. Not gaudy. Just stunning. Even in plain clothes, his figure was eye-catching.
More importantly, the women on the bus were staring.
He could feel it.
And so could Gu Lin.
She folded her arms and subtly leaned her body in front of his, blocking some of the view. Her eyes, sharp and cool, flicked toward any woman who looked a second too long.
Gu Xi side-eyed her.
"…Why are you here?"
"This is my duty."
"Duty?"
"As a woman. And as your older sister."
Gu Xi clicked his tongue and turned his face away.
He really hoped his new boss wasn't the easily scandalized type.
Because one way or another… he was going to need this job to last.