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Xiaoyu noticed before I did.
That shouldn't have surprised me.
She always did.
We met by accident.
At least, that's what Yueyin claimed.
"I forgot my notebook at Xiaoyu's place," she said while putting on her shoes. "Come with me."
"I'll wait here."
"No," she replied immediately. "You're coming."
I sighed.
That tone meant there was no discussion.
Xiaoyu opened the door and froze.
Not dramatically.
Just a brief pause.
Her eyes moved.
From my face—
To my jacket.
To my watch.
Then back to my face.
"…Hi," she said.
"Hi."
Yueyin walked past us. "I'll grab the notebook!"
And just like that—
We were alone.
Xiaoyu tilted her head slightly.
"You look different."
I raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"
She hesitated. "Not… just the clothes."
I leaned against the wall. "Be specific."
She studied me openly now. No embarrassment.
"You stand straighter," she said. "And you don't avoid eye contact anymore."
I didn't respond.
She smiled faintly. "You also stopped apologizing for existing."
That one landed.
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We sat at her small table, tea steaming between us.
"Yueyin dragged you shopping, didn't she?" Xiaoyu asked.
"Yes."
"She does that when she's happy."
I nodded. "She wanted to share."
Xiaoyu wrapped her hands around her cup. "That's good."
Her voice softened.
"She's changing too," she added. "More confident. Less defensive."
I met her gaze. "So are you."
She blinked. "Me?"
"You speak more directly now."
She laughed quietly. "That's because I'm less worried."
"About what?"
She paused.
Then answered honestly.
"About you disappearing."
I looked at her.
"…I didn't plan to."
"I know," she said. "But plans don't always matter."
Yueyin returned, humming, notebook in hand.
"I'm ready!"
She stopped.
Looked between us.
"…Did I interrupt something?"
"No," Xiaoyu replied smoothly.
"Yes," I said at the same time.
Yueyin narrowed her eyes.
Interesting.
We walked together for a bit after.
The three of us.
People passed by without paying attention.
For now.
At a crosswalk, Xiaoyu slowed her steps.
"Li Chen," she said quietly.
"Yes?"
"If this keeps going… things will get complicated."
I didn't pretend not to understand.
"I know."
She looked up at me. "Are you prepared for that?"
I thought of contracts.
Of rumors.
Of eyes watching.
Then I thought of Yueyin smiling over a new song.
Of Xiaoyu noticing details no one else did.
"Yes," I said. "I am."
She smiled.
Not relieved.
Reassured.
After we parted, I checked my reflection in a dark window.
I did look different.
Not because of clothes.
Because I stopped shrinking myself.
The system flickered faintly.
[Social Perception Updated.]Presence increased.
I ignored it.
Xiaoyu had already told me everything I needed to know.
That night, Yueyin kicked my door open.
"You and Xiaoyu were weird today."
"We were normal."
She crossed her arms. "You're lying."
I sighed. "Go to sleep."
She pouted.
But she smiled.
As I lay in bed, one thought lingered.
Change wasn't something I chose anymore.
It was something others reacted to.
And once that happens—
There's no going back.
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