No. 63 Even When All Else Changes
The butterfly effect was rippling through my world, distorting the future I remembered, transforming familiar faces into strangers.
Slowly, subtly, everything was changing.
The storm I had unleashed was sweeping through Upper Capital City and even Yixian Province. The premature loss of public trust had thrown the government into disarray. Protests and demonstrations erupted across the city, turning once-bustling streets into desolate wastelands.
Factories went on strike, employees resigned, prices soared, and the economy teetered on the brink of collapse.
The provincial government was forced to intervene, dispatching security forces to restore order and quell the unrest.
“It’s not your fault, Yi Yao. You did the right thing,” Xiaodie reassured me, her unwavering support a beacon in the storm.
In her eyes, I was her world.
Legally, Xiaodie, orphaned and without any relatives willing to care for her, should have been placed in an orphanage. But thanks to Ouyang Dati’s connections, my father had been appointed as her temporary guardian.
I wouldn’t have known any of this if not for my membership in the Queen Bee hacker alliance.
In my previous life, I had been too focused on my studies, opting to live in the school dorms and rarely returning home. And even when I did, I was either buried in books or helping my father care for my mother, oblivious to the world outside our small bubble.
The saying “Money makes men evil” held true in many situations.
The day after I gave my father the bank card, he informed the hospital that we were proceeding with the bone marrow transplant. My mother was moved to a sterile isolation ward, beginning the long and arduous preparation process.
My father had convinced me that, despite the risks, the surgery was our only hope. And deep down, I knew he was right.
Especially me, who had witnessed my mother’s death in another world.
I took a leave of absence from school, forfeiting the April monthly exams, and spent my days at the hospital, keeping vigil outside my mother’s ward. Xiaodie would join me after school, her infectious energy a welcome distraction from the somber atmosphere. True to her word, she possessed a multitude of personalities—tsundere, mischievous, childish—and she effortlessly brought a spark of joy to the sterile, depressing environment.
Even though death was a constant presence, the air thick with grief and despair.
The 200,000 yuan, combined with my father’s savings, still fell short of the total cost of the transplant. As I watched my father struggling to make ends meet, his shoulders slumping further with each passing day, Xiaodie stepped in, donating the remainder of her inheritance anonymously. The surgery was finally scheduled.
It was a harsh lesson in the realities of charity.
The day of the surgery arrived, but we were instructed to stay away, to give my mother the peace and quiet she needed to recover.
This meant that Xiaodie and I had to be even more frugal with our spending. Finding a way to earn money became a priority.
I could rely on my family for support, but Xiaodie had no one.
At sixteen, she was too young for most part-time jobs.
“But there are certain jobs where being young is an advantage!” she declared, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
She used her remaining allowance to purchase some cosplay outfits.
The material wasn’t the best quality, but as she explained, it was sufficient for photoshoots and dance videos.
“Some famous cosplayers earn a lot of money. They can make thousands just for showing up at events. But it’s a competitive field, and it’s not a long-term career.”
On a quiet Sunday afternoon, we found ourselves in a secluded park. I held the video camera Xiaodie had purchased, my face burning with embarrassment as I aimed it at her.
She was cosplaying as Shana from Shakugan no Shana, and she had come dressed in full costume.
I felt self-conscious even wearing a skirt and knee-high socks at home, let alone in public. But Xiaodie, without a hint of hesitation, had boarded the bus with me, wearing Shana’s signature frilly dress and thigh-highs.
We had been the center of attention throughout the journey.
Xiaodie was undeniably beautiful. Apart from her lack of… endowment, her features and figure were flawless.
At 160 cm, she was the ideal height for a girl, according to some. Her skin was smooth and clear, a testament to a privileged upbringing. Her legs, accentuated by the thigh-highs, were long and slender. With a touch of makeup, she was a vision, a living embodiment of anime beauty.
“Flat chests are a rare commodity these days. Don’t worry, it’s just another cute feature,” she declared, puffing out her nonexistent chest with mock pride.
“Are you ready, Yi Yao?”
She stood on a patch of grass, her expression serious, lacking the katana that was part of Shana’s signature look. We hadn’t been able to afford it.
“Wait, do you even know how to use that camera?”
“Of course.”
I checked the model, familiarized myself with the controls, and stepped back. “Go ahead.”
Our goal for the day was to have some fun, to get a feel for the world of cosplay. We planned to upload the photos to a blog, but we weren’t in a rush to promote ourselves. Money wasn’t an immediate concern.
She had simply put on the costume and applied some makeup, without any real plan or strategy. No concept, no budget, no marketing.
It wouldn’t be easy to make a name for ourselves this way.
I could edit the photos, add special effects, but I was clueless when it came to promotion. The saying “Good wine needs no bush” didn’t always apply. In certain fields, you had to be proactive, to market yourself, to grab attention.
“You’re making me jealous,” I said, snapping photos of her from various angles. Some of the shots were a bit risqué, revealing glimpses of her underwear. I felt a pang of possessiveness, even though these photos were meant for public consumption.
She was captivating, even without any editing.
The images on the camera screen were stunning. Xiaodie, dressed as Shana, posing against the backdrop of the park, her expression a perfect blend of innocence and determination.
She was like a fairy, ethereal and otherworldly.
She embodied everything beautiful and pure.
“Don’t worry, you’d look even better in a costume,” she said, her usual playful demeanor returning as she wrapped her arms around my neck. “Pretty girls are popular online, but girls like you, with your cool androgynous vibe, are even more sought after. Trust me.”
“This feels like we’re selling ourselves for a living.”
“Hey, if all else fails, we can just treat it as a hobby. It’s something you never experienced in your past life, right? Wearing skirts, being a girl… Or maybe you secretly enjoy it?”
“Goodbye.”
“…”
Back at the apartment, I called my father to check on my mother. After a brief conversation, offering words of comfort and reassurance, I hung up.
“How is she?” Xiaodie asked, still in her costume.
“The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow.”
Her face fell. “But we have school tomorrow. And it’s the day they announce the monthly exam results.”
“My dad told me to focus on school. He’ll call me as soon as there’s any news.”
I tied on an apron and headed into the kitchen, carrying bags of groceries.
“You know, Yi Yao, sometimes I feel so lucky,” she said, wrapping her arms around me from behind. “You can cook, you clean, you’re caring, you’re knowledgeable, you’re kind… you were probably a total sweetheart in your past life.”
“Sweethearts always end up in the friend zone.”
“Pfft—” She burst out laughing, almost choking on her own spit. “You really know how to kill the mood!”
“Instead of flirting, why don’t you set up that blog?” I said, gesturing towards the camera.
“Oh, right! I almost forgot. Can I use your computer?”
“Since when do we differentiate between ‘yours’ and ‘mine’?” I teased. She had practically moved into my room.
“Don’t sweat the details. Hey, how about we name our blog ‘Dieyi’? A combination of our names!”
“Sounds weird.”
“I meant ‘wings,’ like butterfly wings.”
I paused, turning to look at her.
The setting sun cast a warm glow on her face, her skin a delicate shade of pink.
“Whatever you want.”
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