Suddenly Became a Boy – What Should I Do? - Chapter 54.1

Cheng Shiyin returned home, changed into a meticulously chosen outfit, and set off punctually.

Though she had been the one to push Lin Xin away, the distance had undeniably magnified his presence in her mind. Only a few days had passed, yet Cheng Shiyin found herself missing him, her pace quickening unconsciously.

Arriving early at the paper-wrapped fish restaurant where they had agreed to meet, Cheng Shiyin flipped through the menu as she waited for Lin Xin’s arrival.

Eight o’clock came and went, but there was no sign of Lin Xin.

“He’s late?” she wondered, frowning at the clock.

Ten minutes later, the waiter began glancing her way with thinly veiled impatience, silently urging her to either order or leave. But Lin Xin still hadn’t appeared.

Murmuring an apology, Cheng Shiyin left the restaurant, her fingers trembling as she took out her phone to call him. The only response was the endless beep-beep-beep of a failed connection, followed by the robotic voice of an English-speaking woman.

“Something must have happened to him,” she thought, the realization striking her like a bolt of lightning.

Cheng Shiyin hurried to Lin Xin’s dormitory, pulling back the curtains to peer into the room, hoping for some trace of movement or clue to his whereabouts. The room was empty, with clothes scattered across the bed and slippers haphazardly left near the edge—clear evidence that Lin Xin had changed and left in a hurry.

“He must have already headed out,” she reasoned.

Next, Cheng Shiyin went to speak with the dormitory supervisor. Though the supervisor’s mental image of Lin Xin differed significantly from Cheng Shiyin’s description, the height matched, and Lin Xin was the dorm’s only current resident. The supervisor confirmed that Lin Xin had left around five o’clock, adding that his behavior and attire were… unusual.

“Do you know where she went or why?” Cheng Shiyin asked.

The dorm supervisor shook her head but offered a suggestion. “Check with the security guards at the campus gate. Since only the north gate is open, they might have noticed something.”

Thanking her profusely, Cheng Shiyin rushed off to the north gate.

There, she spotted a group of people saying their goodbyes. Among them was Wu Lian, someone who knew both her and Lin Xin. He might have some clues.

“Wu Lian!” Cheng Shiyin called out, stopping him mid-step. “Have you seen Lin Xin? I can’t reach her.”

Wu Lian turned, surprised to see Cheng Shiyin sprinting toward him. She looked nothing like her usual composed self, her usual calm replaced by visible disarray. With Lin Xin constantly trailing her, Cheng Shiyin had always exuded a calm, intellectual maturity in Wu Lian’s eyes—despite being the same age.

Now, however, her bangs were damp with sweat, a single droplet trickling down her flushed cheek. Her face was alive with raw urgency, her eyes darting around as if searching for answers in every shadow.

Seeing her like this, Wu Lian wasted no time. In the clearest and briefest terms, he recounted what he knew. “We were together earlier, but I didn’t see her on the way back. Today was a student council gathering. Lin Xin might still be at the KTV we used, in room A015.”

“Student council?” Cheng Shiyin seized on the keyword. The image of Gu Nian came unbidden to her mind, followed by the memory of his recent apologetic text. Her unease deepened further, each passing thought twisting her stomach in knots. Grabbing Wu Lian’s arm as he prepared to leave, she said, “I need your help.”

Wu Lian hesitated briefly, but remembering how Lin Xin had reconciled with Shang Xiaoxia, he decided not to hold back. He relented and even took the lead, guiding Cheng Shiyin to the KTV.

As they ran, Cheng Shiyin apologized for her abruptness. She admitted she was overly anxious, the mere thought of Gu Nian being involved making her palms clammy. “Both she and Lin Xin are just girls—handling someone like Gu Nian could be too much,” she thought. Wu Lian’s willingness to help only made her feel more grateful.

When they reached A015, the room was already occupied by new customers enthusiastically singing karaoke. There was no sign of Gu Nian or Lin Xin. Apologizing for the intrusion, Cheng Shiyin retreated, disappointed but undeterred.