Chapter 20 : Chapter 20

Chapter 20 : Practicing Hair Styling

After Bai Yu’s relentless “torment,” a trace of exhaustion appeared on my face.

At this moment, I was wearing a feminine blouse paired with a dark, multi-layered chiffon short skirt, adorned with delicate, translucent lace.

This time, I was also wearing black stockings, which Bai Yu had personally helped me put on, teaching me how to avoid snagging them as she did so.

I had no idea how many outfits I’d tried on by now—from dresses to this short skirt.

Bai Yu’s suitcase was truly a treasure trove.

I couldn’t stop marveling at it while being forced to change.

Though the outfit I was wearing felt fairly ordinary, once paired with the witch cape, it instantly elevated to a new level.

The witch-like aura came through immediately.

As expected, witches should wear women’s clothing, right?

The witch cape, though dark, had a sheer, gauzy quality.

I noticed it also had a subtle color-adapting feature, which made it versatile for pairing with different outfits.

While Bai Yu was busy, I grabbed the witch hat and placed it on my head.

My long hair cascaded freely down my back, giving off an airy, flowing vibe.

Bai Yu hadn’t taught me how to style my hair yet, as I had no experience with it.

I still had a rubber band on my wrist, ready to try.

“Tired after trying so many, huh?”

“Exhausted,” I replied bluntly.

There was no need to be polite with Bai Yu about this, and I really had been put through the wringer for a while.

It was the first time I’d seen Bai Yu so invested in something.

She was usually so carefree about herself, so why was she acting like a typical beauty-obsessed girl now?

This was really tough on me…

“Sorry, just think of this as repayment for me buying you all these new clothes, okay? These clothes did cost me quite a bit,” Bai Yu said.

“Mm.”

I didn’t complain.

After all, I was the one getting the better deal, and Bai Yu was just finding an excuse to make me feel okay about accepting it.

“So cute, seeing how sensible you are, Xiao Han, I’m so relieved,” Bai Yu said, suddenly pulling me into a hug.

Her ample chest enveloped me in a “face-washing” embrace before I could react.

This was my first time experiencing Bai Yu’s “face wash”!

In the past, I’d always kept a certain distance from Bai Yu, as if we had an unspoken understanding.

Now, that boundary seemed to have been broken.

Such an intimate gesture made it hard for me to calm down.

Wait, could Bai Yu actually like me?

The thought suddenly popped into my head, making my heart skip a beat…

No way, no way.

Bai Yu probably just saw me as a close friend, like a bestie.

I didn’t know much about how girls interacted with their besties, but this seemed normal enough.

Besides, there weren’t that many lesbians in this world, right?

Bai Yu knew I was now a girl, and I couldn’t even offer her that kind of happiness.

Surely she wouldn’t still like me in that way?

Back when I was a boy, I never noticed any signs that our pure friendship was turning into something else.

I’d heard that girls view lesbian relationships the same way boys view gay ones—unacceptable—and they dislike when people interpret close friendships as romantic.

If Bai Yu really liked me, why didn’t she take advantage of me while I was changing?

That was when I was most vulnerable.

Instead, Bai Yu just helped me normally, teaching me how to wear these clothes, skirts, and undergarments, including hooks, ties, and so on.

She always seemed to act like an older sister, and I’d never thought about it in any other way…

“Xiao Han, let me help you with your hair. You should try styling it yourself now. Keeping your hair loose like this looks nice, but it can get messy, and it doesn’t suit many outfits,” Bai Yu said, interrupting my thoughts.

She was now holding a comb, standing behind me.

I sat up straight, no longer as lively as when I was changing.

I felt more like a girl getting ready at a vanity, calm and composed.

I felt Bai Yu’s hands slip through my hair, the comb gliding smoothly through each strand.

So far, my hair felt nice—no tangles or knots.

I was a bit worried about knots pulling at my scalp; that kind of pain could be scalp-numbing.

“Your hair quality is great. Make sure to take care of it. Hair is a girl’s second life, so protect it well,” Bai Yu whispered in my ear.

“Mm, I will,” I nodded slightly.

I didn’t want to go out with messy hair—that would be awful.

As a boy, I could’ve shamelessly ignored others’ opinions, but things were different now.

A change in gender really changes your mindset.

But I have to say, styling hair is a real skill.

If you’re not practiced, don’t even think about doing it well, especially tying it behind your head with your hands backward.

I’d need a lot of practice.

“Xiao Han, you’re still not great at braiding. Want to practice on me?”

Bai Yu said, chuckling at my attempt.

She pulled off her hair tie, letting her long hair cascade down her back.

“Then I won’t hold back”

My eyes lit up.

With such an opportunity, I wasn’t going to be shy.

My hands ran through Bai Yu’s hair, its texture even better than mine!

I was reluctant to let go, but I didn’t forget I was here to learn braiding.

As a beginner, Bai Yu taught me the easy stuff, like ponytails, though there were variations—high ponytails, low ponytails, or fluffy styles.

Of course, making it look good took effort.

For now, I thought the simplest style was tying the hair at the middle or end.

It gave that restrained feeling without letting the hair fly everywhere.

If you draped this style over one shoulder, it felt like a “dangerous” hairstyle—the kind you’d see in anime where the character wouldn’t survive the episode.

But thankfully, this world didn’t have those superstitions.