“Look at you—Qingyi’s perfectly fine, yet your face is the one turning red first?” Zhang Yuelu teased Ye Qingyi with a playful smirk. “Boys should have thicker skin. Sometimes, you’ve got to take the initiative.”
As she spoke, her gaze flicked toward Yang Jie beside her—clearly implying something more.
Yang Jie pretended not to notice, sipping his water with practiced nonchalance.
“Commander Yang, you should really spend some time with Shimu before she leaves. After all, you’re the one she cares about most,” Su Mo chimed in helpfully.
Yang Jie didn’t respond, but Zhang Yuelu took the initiative, looping her arm through his. “Well? Think of it as fulfilling the kid’s wish. She got hurt completing your mission, after all.”
Cough, cough… Su Mo feigned weakness, eyelids drooping dramatically.
Yang Jie’s eye twitched. Women and their schemes…
“Fine.”
All three grinned in unison.
…..
Once Yang Jie and Zhang Yuelu left, Ye Qingyi returned to the bedside, checking Su Mo’s condition. Aside from some lingering external injuries, he’d mostly recovered.
“Stop worrying about me and take care of yourself for once.” Su Mo tapped her forehead lightly. “Let me see your wounds.”
“Okay.” She obediently rolled up her sleeve, revealing the bandage on her left shoulder.
She never resisted Su Mo’s concern—in fact, she reveled in it.
Though her injury wasn’t severe, the dull ache persisted, especially where tendons had been strained.
“Just because you’re in a guy’s body now doesn’t mean you have to tough everything out alone. Be kinder to yourself, got it?” His tone carried a hint of scolding.
Ye Qingyi looked up, meeting his eyes—and something inside her shifted.
Who says the guy has to take the lead in a relationship? Girls can do it too. And right now, I am the guy…
So, being a little dominant can’t be wrong, right? Just like Commander Yang…
In her mind, Yang Jie had already evolved from “stoic and secretly dorky” to full-blown “domineering CEO.”
Su Mo had been fussing over her when he suddenly noticed the strange glint in her eyes. Alarm bells rang.
“What’re you thinking? Why are you looking at me like that? It’s… kinda pervy.”
Ye Qingyi shed her docile expression, sharpening her gaze. The intensity in her eyes—now set in a strikingly handsome face—radiated a newfound magnetism, edging dangerously close to “overbearing male lead” territory.
“None of your business,” she replied breezily.
Su Mo: ???
Did she eat explosives or something?
Wait, no—those don’t even taste good…
Channeling drama scenes she’d binged, Ye Qingyi abruptly lifted Su Mo’s chin with practiced ease, her voice a lazy purr: “Woman, you’ve piqued my interest.”
Su Mo’s internal panic button smashed. Oh no. She’s gone full theater kid.
He knew she was just role-playing—all bark, no bite. But if he played along, maybe she’d get it out of her system. After all, she had nursed him for seven straight days…
Fine. Let’s improv.
A slow, dazzling smile spread across Su Mo’s face—so radiant it stunned even Ye Qingyi, despite them both being girls.
Hah! Her reaction’s priceless.
Let’s turn it up.
He lowered his lashes, peeking up at her through them, trembling slightly for effect. The picture of delicate vulnerability.
Then, with a deliberate bite of his lip and a taunting glance, he dialed up the allure.
“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? Thought you could out-act me? Well, I— Mmmpf!
His eyes flew wide as familiar softness pressed against his lips.
Wait. This is… kissing?
And these are… my lips?!
Ye Qingyi pulled back instantly, too flustered to meet his gaze. Her heart was a battlefield.
Su Mo wasn’t faring much better. The kiss left him tingling, dazed for a solid ten seconds.
Why did that feel… nice?
So embarrassing!
He glanced at Ye Qingyi—now breathing heavily, clearly replaying the moment.
Then their eyes locked.
Whether it was their swapped bodies’ influence or raw curiosity, something primal took over. Ye Qingyi’s hands flew to her collar—and she started stripping.
Su Mo’s survival instincts kicked in. Injuries be damned, he scrambled to the far side of the bed.
“Whoa, whoa! Easy there! Think this through! My sweet, adorable Qingyi wouldn’t—”
She froze mid-motion, then slumped onto the mattress, despondent.
Su Mo floundered for the right words, mentally swapping places with her to understand.
“It’s not that I don’t want to, but we’re still young, and I haven’t even—”
“Do you hate me?” she whispered, cutting him off. “For being so shameless? For not acting like a proper girl?”
“Of course n—”
“Let me finish.” Tears welled as she clenched the sheets. “Su Mo, ever since we left Jingshan, my heart’s been full of you. I love you so much—how safe you make me feel, how you get angry for my sake, how you…”
Her voice broke. Tears splattered onto the bedspread.
Su Mo gathered her into his arms, letting her sob.
“I wondered if I only loved you because of the body swap—if it was just dependency. But it’s not. I miss you when you’re gone. I ache when you’re hurt. I even… like it when you tease me.”
She looked up, lips trembling, fists balled in his shirt.
“But like this, I can’t give you anything. I’m failing as your girlfriend. So if you’d rather be with a real girl…” A shaky breath. “I won’t stop you.”
The ache in Su Mo’s chest was physical. He crushed her against him, eyes stinging.
“You idiot. We promised—you get my present, I get your future. And you just stole my first kiss. You’re stuck with me now.”
Ye Qingyi: (´д`)… (Holding breath)
“I won’t lie—at first, my feelings were tangled up in our situation. But time changes things. I can’t imagine life without you anymore. Like a pig can’t live without his sparrow.”
Ye Qingyi: (Turning blue)
“And never say you ‘can’t give me anything’ again. I love you—no one else could replace that. Got it?”
He’d have continued, but Ye Qingyi finally gasped for air.
(╥﹏╥)
“You—! You say you love me, but then try to suffocate me?! So cruel, waaah…!”