"No, I still can't accept them."

Lei Meow Meow-chan turned her head away resentfully, her expression tragic enough to rival the lead actress of a TVB prime-time melodrama.

Yak Si La Nei ¹(Go eat s̲h̲i̲t̲)! I'm losing it!

I've tried everything, from soft persuasion, hard reasoning, emotional appeals, to logical arguments.

"Parents getting back together, family once again reunited, I can’t see anything bad about it. Honestly, I envy it so much it hurts. Are you really turning your back away from this kind of life? I don’t get you. Or do you think I’m incapable of turning you back?"

My legs were numb from squatting too long. I wobbled to my feet, almost stumbling, and glanced at Sis Yuanyue, who was holding Lei Loli in silence. I shook my head helplessly.

Lei Meow Meow looked at me, then turned back to her gang of punks with flashy, overstyled hair. "No matter if I’m a man or a woman, whether I can be an idol or not, I can’t abandon them. As for what happens after I change back… I’ll figure it out when the time comes. We still have hands and feet—we’re not going to starve to death, right?"

Her words moved the gang to tears. They immediately shouted, "We will follow Big Sis forever!" before dropping to their knees in worship. The scene looked disturbingly cult-like. Lei Laohu really had the potential to be a godfather.

"Follow my a*s!" Tian Xi stormed forward and kicked one of the kneeling gang members over. Her tone was sharp, like she'd been holding back for too long. "You call this loyalty? More like deadweight!"

Funnily— she was the one who told the Lei Luo couple earlier that no matter what Lei Meow Meow decided, they had to respect her choice. Yet now, she was stepping up to plead on Sis Yuanyue’s behalf.

After scolding the gang, she turned to her big bro. The momentum she’d built up deflated into a sigh.

"Big Bro, we’ve only known each other for half a month… You’re a true man of honor. From the start, you treated us like real brothers… But to be honest, a lot of us followed you just because there was money in it. Lü Le even sold your information to your mother. We’re not good people—not worth sacrificing your family’s happiness over."

"Wow… You used to be so petty, and now you’re saying something so mature."

Tian Xi spoke earnestly, never looking away. Every word came straight from the heart, and Lei Meow Meow responded with a gratified smile.

That’s like a Zaku turning into an OOR.

Not just "like a real leader"—Tian Xi once had Lei Meow Meow’s parents completely speechless. Even Sis Yuanyue extended an olive branch to her.

Thinking about it… does that mean my persuasion skills aren’t as good as her’s? Am I even worthy of being the protagonist?

"Tian Xi… Sis Tian’s right." The gang member Tian Xi kicked over was the first to agree.

Then, others chimed in.

"Even without Big Sis, we can survive!"
"I want Big Bro to be happy too!"
"With Big Bro’s looks, he could also totally be a male idol!"
"Big Sis, keep chasing your idol dream!"
"Big Sis…"

…

The gang broke into a chaotic, emotional mess.

They were punks, sure, but their loyalty to Lei Meow Meow was genuine.

"If I go back, I won’t have much time to spend with you all… Take care of yourselves, and if you ever need help, you can always come to me."

The way Lei Meow Meow said it, it sounded like she was willing to make peace with Sis Yuanyue and the others…

Ha, what was the point of me jumping in like a clown? I should've just left it to Tian Xi—I could’ve saved myself a whole chapter’s worth of trouble.

"No banquet lasts forever², but the people we meet and the things we experience at the table can change us for a lifetime."

Lü Le, with his masked face and signature pompadour, had somehow appeared beside me, letting out this poetic sigh. His three-white-eyes were slightly red, making him look a lot less intimidating than usual.

"We won’t stand still either… Maybe one day, somewhere, we’ll become your strength again. When that time comes, let us truly follow you."

Even the real negotiation expert, Tian Xi, seemed emotional. She took off her black-rimmed glasses—without lenses—and wiped away tears.

"Mom…"

Lei Meow Meow stood up and walked over to Sis Yuanyue, who pulled her onto the couch.

"Are you willing to come home now?"

"Should I go butter up the divine emissary~ and delay the transformation?"

…

Watching their family dynamic, I spaced out for a moment.

Then, Xiao Lei tugged on my white shirt and gestured toward the private room door.

Everyone else had already stepped outside. Lü Le stood by the door, motioning for me to leave—to give Lei Meow Meow and her family some privacy.

Outside the room, the group leaned against the hallway walls. I wasn’t really in the mood, so I struck up a conversation with Xiao Lei.

"Do you think my mom might suddenly show up one day like nothing ever happened?"

"And then your family would live happily ever after?"

"Yeah, and my dad wouldn’t be afraid of women anymore. We could go anywhere we wanted, as a family."

"Commander, you… Ah! Thanks!"

"Your mom’s missing?" Tian Xi suddenly appeared, handing us two cans of cola. She really loved this stuff.

"The opposite of my situation—my dad ran off because of gambling debts. My mom… was driven insane by the debt collectors. She took it all out on me, beating and yelling at me, so I ran away."

A common tragedy.

"So your mom now…"

Thinking about her past, I left the sentence unfinished.

"Lingmeng, you really are too kind. If I hadn’t run away, I’d probably be dead by now. So no, I’ll never go back. I don’t care if she lives or dies… But if I can find a stable job, I might send her some money anonymously every month."

"Even after everything, you’re still thinking this way? You’re definitely a softie."

"Lil' Lingmeng, you’re such a weirdo. We’ve only been hanging out for a few hours, but I feel like I’ve changed completely… Before, I wished she’d just die. But now that I think about it, she was just another victim. In the end, it was my old man’s fault."

"The heart reflects the form… Maybe your current appearance awakened the kindness buried inside you?" I recalled something Master Halliluya once said. "Or maybe everything that happened with Lei Meow Meow moved you and helped you grow."

"So, Miss Divine Emissary… can I still change back?"

Xiao Lei sipped on her soda, her eyes darting playfully.

"That depends on the god. Without my divine emissary status, I’m just an ordinary person—I can’t promise anything."

That was basically a non-answer.

"More importantly, do you still want to change back? Honestly, I think the gods blessed you. Even Lei Meow Meow doesn’t have a body this amazing."

Be proud—you’re rocking a 36D figure, just one step below the legendary me.

But of course, everyone loves proving me wrong.

Tian Xi practically jumped in excitement. "Of course I want to change back! I can’t even smoke like this! I’ve already accepted not being able to drink, but no cigarettes?! Life has no meaning anymore!"

"Your whole life’s joy is just smoking and drinking?"

"And getting my hair done. I’m thinking of getting my mohawk back."

"Are you Yu Qian³ or something?! Please, I beg you, do not get a mohawk! Find some new hobbies first. No—fix your awful sense of style first!"

Decision made—I definitely can’t let this guy change back!

…

When Lei Meow Meow’s family finally emerged from the private room, Lei Loli—dragged along by both mother and daughter—looked like a crumpled rag. God only knows what he’d just been through.

"Thank you all for coming today. Once Lei Meow Meow decides which company to sign with, there will be an official press conference."

In the bar’s main hall, old man Yuwen was busy dealing with entertainment company reps.

"This farewell is only so we can meet again as better versions of ourselves. Until next time, Boss."

Lü Le and the other gang members left first, their backs straight and resolute, ready to charge into the next battlefield of their lives.

Naturally, Lü Le also returned the hidden earpiece and the camera glasses he had confiscated from me.

"Wait, you want me to be Big Bro’s manager?"

"That’s right. I think you’re up to the task."

Honestly, when Sis Yuanyue asked Tian Xi to stay, I already had a feeling this was coming. She’d been a huge help today, after all.
Sis Yuanyue clapped Tian Xi on the shoulder, looking very impressed with her.

I leaned close to Lei Meow-Meow and whispered, "This guy literally just said she’s keeping the mohawk. You’d better keep an eye on her… Also, that ridiculous gold-and-sparkles Gilgamesh-like outfit of yours could use a makeover."

"Hah? Mohawks and gold both look amazing, don’t they?"

I was speechless. This person’s sense of aesthetics was pure nouveau riche garbage…

"About the whole beating you and your friend thing… I’m really sorry. How about you punch me? No, actually, hit me as much as you want!"

"In front of your parents? Come on, how could I hit someone this cute?" I smirked. "Besides, being an idol is tough. You really don’t want to change back?"

"Nope. I want to completely say goodbye to Lei Laohu."

"OK!"

That was exactly what I needed to hear.

"You look way too happy."

That’s for sure, I’m as high as ever right now.

No need to wait for Old Feng—today, I’d already secured another exam criterion. Pure luck!

A watched flower never blooms, but a carelessly planted willow thrives.⁴

Just then, my phone vibrated. 7 PM. The caller ID read… Chang Wei…?

"Hello? Dad?"

"Ah, finally! Son, I’ve already cooked dinner—when are you coming home to eat?"

Huh?

…Wait.

Didn’t I promise him last night that we’d have dinner together?