“Hey, Suno, what’s the deal with the money?
My side…” On the other end of the phone, Sato’s voice was frantic, as if he had just finished an 800-meter run.
Nari hadn’t had a chance to answer before he was interrupted.
“Don’t say another word, I know everything!
You wait at the hospital, I’ll be right there!
I’ve got an earth-shattering, incredibly profitable, brilliant plan that’s guaranteed to cure all ills!” “Beep…
beep…” The call was abruptly cut off.
Nari held his phone, momentarily stunned.
A brilliant plan?
Besides anime and mischievous schemes, what else could his best friend possibly have in his head?
Fifteen minutes later, a flashy red electric scooter executed an exaggerated drift and tail-whip, stopping precisely at the entrance of the inpatient department, drawing glances from passersby.
Sato charged over like a cannonball.
He grabbed Nari’s arm, dragging him to a secluded corner, his face a mix of excitement, exhilaration, and a fanatical fervor usually reserved for prehistoric creatures.
“Suno!
My dear brother!
You truly are…
truly a man of profound sin!” Sato’s opening remark was utterly nonsensical.
Nari: “Speak like a normal person.” “You’ve gotten even prettier in the few days we haven’t met.
What should I do?
Every time I see you, I want to commit a crime.” Nari: “…” “Ahem…
Hehe, just kidding, let’s talk about serious matters.” “Listen to me, the fifty thousand is on me!
I’ve found you the quickest way to make money!” Sato said, mysteriously pulling out his tablet, his fingers rapidly swiping across the screen.
Nari’s first reaction was: “You’re not going to make me go to Macau, are you?
I’m telling you, I’m a law-abiding citizen.” “Too small, your vision is too small, brother!” Sato rolled his eyes at him, thrusting the tablet in front of him, “Look at this!” On the screen was a photo.
The background of the photo was the stage of a university cultural evening, with hazy lights.
A “girl” in a gorgeous Lolita dress sat on a swing.
Her head slightly tilted, the lace-trimmed skirt, delicate makeup, and silver hair shimmered under the lights.
That face was so beautiful it seemed unreal, possessing both the purity of a young girl and a hint of ethereal detachment.
Na…
Nari felt his breathing stop for half a second.
He remembered this photo; it was a dark chapter from when Sato, that scoundrel, had dragged him to fill a spot in the university anime club.
He thought this thing had been destroyed long ago, but he didn’t expect Sato to still have it!
“Well?
Isn’t it stunning?
Unexpected?” Sato’s expression was like a otaku showing off his treasured figurine.
“Back then, your picture was directly crowned ‘Treasure of the School’ on our school forum!
How many otaku cried themselves to sleep hugging this picture, saying they were in love.
Then the next day, they found out the goddess was a guy, and cried even harder!” Nari rubbed his forehead, an unbearable memory flooding his mind.
“Delete it.” “Delete what?!
This is our startup capital, our beacon of hope, our stepping stone to the peak of life!” Sato excitedly waved the tablet.
“Look at that face, that aura!
This is literally walking money!” Nari’s temples throbbed: “Sato, what exactly do you want to do?” “It’s simple!” Sato put away the tablet, placed both hands on Nari’s shoulders, his expression more serious than ever, “Go to a comic convention, cosplay, and make money!” “…I refuse.” Nari’s answer was crisp and clear.
For him, a university Counselor, to cross-dress and show his face in public?
He still had his dignity.
“Don’t be so quick to refuse, my brother!” Sato grew anxious, “Do you know how much a top-tier Coser’s appearance fee is now?
Do you know how expensive a commercial order for a popular character is?
With that face of yours, I guarantee, as long as you’re willing to come out, money will absolutely not be a problem!” As if afraid Nari wouldn’t believe him, he pulled up another page on his tablet, showing character images from the recently popular game, honkai: star rail.
“See that?
Jing Liu!
honkai: star rail’s popularity ceiling, a beautiful and powerful ice sword master!
This weekend is the city’s biggest anime festival, and the theme is honkai: star rail!
I’ve signed you up.
As long as you dress as her and stand there…” Sato got more and more excited, as if he could already see money falling like snowflakes.
“You’ll definitely steal all the cameras!
Then I’ll start a live stream, put up a QR code for payments…
Hehe, fifty thousand?
That’s just a drop in the bucket!” Nari fell silent.
His mind was in a mess.
On one side was his male dignity, which he had maintained for over twenty years, and his identity as a teacher.
On the other side were his daughter’s pale face in the ICU and that fifty-thousand-yuan death warrant.
Dignity…
in the face of his daughter’s life, how much was it worth?
“Think about it again, A Nuo.” Sato saw him waver and began to sweeten the deal, “I’ve inquired, the prize money for the COS competition at this comic con is 100,000!
And, the game’s official representatives will also be there.
If they take a liking to you and sign an exclusive partnership, that money…
tsk tsk.” Seeing Nari’s somewhat tempted expression, Sato felt there was a chance and continued.
“My Suno!
What are you still hesitating for?
Think about your daughter.” “What’s wrong with cross-dressing?
It’s for making money!
It’s not shameful.” “By then, everyone will fall for you, go crazy for you!
They’ll shout ‘Mommy, I love you,’ ‘Brother, you smell so good!’ You’ll become a new cultural symbol, a new internet legend!” Nari: “…” Although he knew this was his best friend’s mischievous humor, his body honestly felt drawn in by Sato’s description.
Not because of the illusory popularity, but because of the tangible “prize money” and “commercial orders.” He closed his eyes, and his daughter Aiko’s innocent smile flashed through his mind, along with the doctor’s words, “Time waits for no one.” The wall in his heart, named “bottom line,” was crumbling inch by inch.
He needed money, now, immediately, right away.
“…But I don’t know how to do makeup, and I don’t have clothes.” After a long time, Nari finally spoke, his voice a little dry.
As soon as Sato heard this, he instantly revived!
He knew, this was a go!
“Makeup?
Clothes?
Props?
Are these problems?” Sato slapped his chest with a dull thud.
“Who am I?
Your brother, the almighty Doraemon!
I’ve already contacted the top COS studio in the country.
From wigs to colored contacts, from costumes to weapons, I’ve ordered the highest-spec versions for you!
I guarantee I’ll transform you from an ordinary Counselor into a…
well, into a devastatingly beautiful male mom!” Nari: “…Thank you, but that term isn’t necessary.” “Don’t mind the details!” Sato put his arm around his neck, “Just tell me, are you in or not!” Nari looked at his face, which was plastered with “troublemaking” and “excitement,” then lowered his head to look at the pitiful four-digit balance in his mobile banking app.
What other choice did he have?
For his daughter, let alone cross-dressing, even if Sato asked him to perform breaking rocks on his chest right now, he would grit his teeth and do it.
“…When?” “This Saturday!” Sato snapped his fingers, “Location, the International Convention and Exhibition Center in the city center!” “Alright, I’ll go.” “Excellent, I will definitely make you the most beautiful Jing Liu on the entire internet.”