Fairy, Don't Be Afraid, I Am Blind

You Su was just thinking that He Mingpei seemed quite normal when suddenly he got slapped in the face.

He couldn’t tell if it was his eyesight or He Mingpei’s that was the problem. Did he really look that feminine today?

"Mr. He, you misunderstand... Actually, I..."

You Su was about to explain that he was actually a man but was interrupted by a furious shout.

"Miss You! Enough!"

You Su was first stunned, then he squinted and looked at the voice’s owner, He Kongyue.

"I didn’t expect you’d still say my father misunderstood even at this point! Was our heartfelt conversation last night fake? If you don’t want to admit it, why agree to come to my family?!"

"I..."

You Su was genuinely bewildered.

"Yue’er! How are you speaking?! Have you forgotten how your father taught you? Be gentle and courteous to women."

He Mingpei sternly chided, and despite being hunched over, his presence was even more imposing than He Kongyue’s.

"Father, I didn’t mean that. You should go inside first. Miss You is still a bit shy and timid, I’ll talk to her alone." He Kongyue softened his voice.

Only then did He Mingpei show an apologetic smile and say to You Su:

"Miss You, don’t be scared. Kong Yue is very gentle, just talk openly, and it will be fine. I’ll wait for you inside."

You Su could only nod dumbly.

With that, the old man shakily entered the quaint mansion behind.

Watching the old man enter, He Kongyue pulled You Su out of the main gate. Here the Restriction Technique kept him from worrying that He Mingpei might eavesdrop.

She slowly leaned her forehead toward You Su’s ear and whispered:

"Miss You, you must play along..."

The warm breath from He Kongyue’s lips grazed You Su’s cheek.

Honestly, it smelled quite nice...

You Su felt an odd sensation, finding it awkward for two grown men to whisper so closely.

Especially since he had turned into ’Miss You’...

He quietly moved a bit away, remembering the agreement to ’go with the flow’ before entering.

It seemed that He Mingpei was genuinely crazy, to mistake him for a woman.

"Are you asking me to act as a woman, Mr. He?"

He Kongyue nodded awkwardly:

"Exactly. My father already perceives you as a woman. If you insist on proving yourself, he might become confused, and the consequences of his emotional turmoil could be unimaginable."

You Su pursed his lips but still wanted clarity:

"Is your father confused about distinguishing between genders?"

"I’m not sure... Actually, my father is confined here and typically doesn’t respond to outsiders, but he has taken a particular interest in you."

"Why is that?"

"In my opinion, it might be because whenever I met others, it was in the public drawing-room, except with you—it was in my private study. He must think you are very special."

"That’s how it is..."

"Plus, my father really wants me to find a partner, so he just assumes that you are the woman I’m close to. Also, your attire today is somewhat... Hence, he preconceived you as a woman."

Upon hearing that, You Su understood why He Kongyue was so shocked when he entered.

"So, Mr. He’s idea is... let it be, have me continue pretending to be a woman: firstly to follow your father’s wishes, and secondly to be your defense against his matchmaking pressure?"

"You understand me. In doing so, it achieves two ends at once."

"How does it achieve two ends?"

"Firstly, it eases my father’s condition, and I wouldn’t have to endure my father’s matchmaking anymore; secondly, my father is bound to treat his future daughter-in-law with utmost care, and you can build a good relationship with him and learn more about that woman from my father’s mouth. For I’ve known my father to be mad all my life, and my knowledge of that woman is limited, whereas my father should know more."

He Kongyue’s smile widened. The benefits she provided were something You Su had no reason to refuse.

Unbeknownst to her, even she hadn’t been able to glean any information about He Shutong from this senile old man, how could You Su possibly do it?

Upon hearing this, You Su entered deep contemplation. Seeing him pondering, He Kongyue worried that he was reluctant to act as a woman and grabbed You Su’s hand.

Feeling the warmth of the large hand, He Kongyue’s cheeks flushed even redder. Her gaze was helpless yet hopeful, her body leaning slightly forward, seemingly expressing her silent plea:

"Please, Miss You, help me!"

He Kongyue’s hand was extraordinarily soft, undoubtedly due to seldom doing hard labor.

You Su was startled by her demeanor—Mr. He must truly desire my assistance. Normally men grab shoulders; why is he grabbing my hand instead?

"Between Mr. He and me, there’s no need for such formality." You Su reversed the grip on He Kongyue’s hand and gently put it down, "I’ll cooperate with you."

"Thank you!"

He Kongyue beamed, outshining even the vibrant camellias nearby.

You Su still preferred the easygoing He Kongyue, so he jokingly remarked:

"As the saying goes, real brothers are those who become his woman when a brother needs one. Since Mr. He requires a woman, I, You Su, will step up without hesitation."

???

He Kongyue looked utterly baffled, where did this cliché nonsense come from?

After saying this, You Su even made a gesture that close buddies would do, warmly wrapping an arm around He Kongyue’s shoulders and giving them a pat.

He Kongyue’s shoulder leaned into You Su’s embrace, her entire face turning red as she couldn’t help but shrink back.

Though she’d befriended many, such intimate actions were foreign to her. Firstly due to feeling it was too coarse for her demeanor, secondly she found it off-putting.

But why did being hugged by him... feel not as unpleasant...?

No way! Too close!