Highly Spiritual OCD (Part 2)

  What an embarrassing misunderstanding!

  With a loud thud, Ye Cai stepped out of the car and quickly jumped down, as if there was a thorn in her heart, always lowering her head, unable to face her father. She walked quickly to the front of the police car, glanced back briefly, and deliberately said indifferently: "I can go by myself."

  Staring at the back of his daughter as she walked away, Ye Changhu felt embarrassed too, but he understood that perhaps only time and actual actions could wear down the thorn in her heart, and no matter how much explanation or persuasion would be meaningless. Once a sensitive issue like this was touched upon between father and daughter, it was like planting an abnormal seed in each other's hearts, and as long as they stayed together, there would always be the worry that the seed in the other person's heart would suddenly sprout, so that even some harmless physical contact would have to be put on guard against.

  What's more, Ye Changtian's "daughter" used to be a boy!

  Just put yourself in Yechang Hu's shoes and you can basically feel how awkward Ye Cai is right now.

  After making such a big fuss, relying on the keen sense of smell honed over the years, Ye Changhu dared to assert that in the future, Ye Cai would be doubly guarded against boys, so much so that every moment would be spent in caution and restraint. How could there be happiness and satisfaction?

  This is the future that Ye Changhu, as a father, did not want to see. He tapped his middle finger lightly on the steering wheel, furrowed his brow and planned, determined to find a way to make this daughter with a special life open up her heart and mind, put down her guard and bravely pursue true happiness. Thinking of achieving his goal, Ye Changhu understood that for a daughter with extreme ideas in her head, verbal advice was basically ineffective, only something "strong" would work! That's right, strong, forcefully and domineeringly entering her inner world, giving her a full dose of love.

  But what is "meng" after all?

  Furrowing his brow, Ye Changhu was deep in thought.

  Eh... dating!

  It's true that dating is reliable and should be effective. After all, Xiaocai is already a girl, and when she sees a handsome, elegant, and talented boy, she will probably secretly fall in love with him. However, due to the difficulty of speaking out about her past, she doesn't dare to reveal her feelings.

  Nodding in self-approval, Ye Changhu thought that he would find a boyfriend with excellent grades and good character for Ye Cai at Er Zhong, so that Ye Cai's wandering heart could have an intimate dependence.

  That's right, I'd better hurry up and go handle it!

  With a loud roar, the engine started, and Ye Changhu seemed to have returned to his 18-year-old self, full of energy and momentum. His eyes lit up with excitement and anticipation as he drove the police car quickly around the neighborhood and sped down the mountain.

  On the road, he met a slender figure carrying a silver simple bag and walking slowly. After hesitating for a moment, Ye Changhu slowed down the car and leaned out of the window to take a look.

  "Should I see you off?"

  She turned her face away, pouting, and Ye Cai's heart felt uneasy as she avoided her father's gaze, nodding lightly.

  She was so demure that the series of actions, from walking to the car, opening the door and getting in, were like those of a quiet yet aloof young lady from a noble family. This made Ye Changhu, who was observing her through the rearview mirror, feel very comfortable, nodding his head slightly, thinking that girls should be like this, smoking and crossing their legs, it's simply too improper.

  Starting the vehicle, Ye Changhu drove while saying: "How's school? Made any friends?"

  Behind him, not a sound was made. Ye Changhu slightly raised his eyes to look at the peephole, but saw Ye Cai lowering her head and pouting, with an awkward and impatient expression. He couldn't help but smile wryly, his face gradually sinking as he said: "Little Cai, Dad's asking you... is there something going on that you're hiding from me?"

  Ye Cai's heart tightened and she held her breath, forcing a faint smile at the corner of her mouth. She glanced around casually and said, "What else could I possibly have to hide from you?"

  Ye Changhu slightly narrowed his eyes, and an invisible aura of solemn severity was released, saying: "What happened this morning?"

  This straightforward questioning method made Ye Cai feel oppressed, and he forced out a look of impatience, rolling his eyes and saying: "Didn't I say so already? At that time, I didn't sleep for one night, my mind was a bit muddled, my clothes weren't put on properly, they all looked at me like that, it scared me..."

  When he first learned that his "son" was mentally ill, Ye Changhu was 100% skeptical. But when he saw her with his own eyes, she was indeed safe and sound. So Ye Changhu didn't understand the situation at all. He frowned slightly and said, "Why did you run away for no reason?"

  Ye Cai Man carelessly curled down the corner of his mouth, glanced sideways out the window, and awkwardly muttered: "After being electrocuted, why not hurry up and run away? Are you waiting there to die?"

  Ye Changhu was taken aback, reacted and coughed dryly, pondering for a moment, saying: "Don't worry, after going to school later, I will explain the situation to the school leaders and your class teacher. From now on, you can be a girl freely."

  However, Ye Cai couldn't come up with an answer. He didn't bluntly refuse out of fear and inferiority, nor did he nod in agreement as if secretly expecting a girl's life. Instead, his face showed a complex and knotted expression, and after thinking for half a day, he gently shook his head and said, "No rush, let's talk about it after the winter break."

  "Yechang Hu frowned and asked: 'Why aren't you in a hurry? Don't you still have any intention of giving up?'"

  Ye Cai gently shook her head, lowered her gaze, and pursed her pale lips into a sorrowful line. Ye Changhu gazed at her through the rearview mirror with a thoughtful expression, only to see her slightly lift her face, pucker up her mouth, and softly exhale, with a complex color of bewildered reminiscence in her half-closed eyes.

  Just like the melancholy state before parting with life and death.

  This made Ye Changhu fall into deep contemplation, and he faintly felt that what Ye Cai couldn't face up to wasn't the outside world; she wasn't afraid of the outside world's gaze to the point where she lost her rationality. In a true sense, it was probably that she couldn't face her past self, couldn't face the closest confidant who had been deeply hurt by her own existence as a girl.

  It was as if the train of her life had suddenly derailed, symbolizing the male part of her life, her past, and the main carriage that carried all her life experiences, which were abandoned at that moment and could never reach their ideal destination. The locomotive, symbolizing the female part of her present, having lost all its cargo and completely losing its meaning to reach the destination, rushed wildly and ultimately led to its own destruction.

  Know yourself.

  Perhaps for the current Ye Cai, these two overlapping identities can be divided into two independent existences with different stances - "he" is firm and extreme in his selfness, but completely disappears that night; while the newly born her, sensitive and suspicious, at a loss, under the influence of the former, tries to complete his last wish with a weak and fragile body like a wooden puppet.

  Her confidant, that boy Ye Cai, the things that had been persisting in his numb and apathetic heart, the unshaken will, were passed on to her. This made her feel an intense resistance and revulsion from deep within, as well as a deep sense of guilt and unease, as if the male "Ye Cai" and female "Ye Cai" were not the same person at all. The act of inheriting his will might have been just a one-sided imposition by the male "Ye Cai" onto the female "Ye Cai"'s life goals.

  That night, she was born into this world like a newborn with memories of a boy, in the midst of painful confusion between two minds and beliefs.

  Perhaps she should put down her past, put down the male chauvinism, put down the strong and silent style, put down the broad shoulders that dare to take on all the pain and responsibility... Because those things, perhaps, are no longer suitable for her now as a girl, weak and delicate.

  At present, Ye Changhu's decision to thoroughly correct his daughter Ye Cai's gender identity and start a new life is, in essence, a heavy responsibility for the family, requiring Ye Cai to put down her past and bid farewell to it, embracing a brand new life that she should have as a girl.

  Is it farewell? It turns out that she indeed needs some time to sort out her emotions and state of mind.

  Nodding his head with a mixture of relief and solemnity, Ye Changhu thought so.

  He withdrew his gaze, Ye Changhu focused on driving the vehicle down the mountain. After a moment of silence, Ye Cai suddenly raised her eyes, hesitated and pursed her lips, saying: "Dad, I think...I want to be a boy for a little while longer..."

  Taking a deep breath, the corners of his mouth slowly rose, and Ye Changhu revealed a relieved and satisfied smile. He let out a soft sigh and said: "Xiao Cai, Dad doesn't ask for anything from you. I hope you understand that parents, those who make you study hard and have all sorts of demands, may be annoying and resistant, but in the end, it's just because they want you to be happy and live a good life in the future. Don't put so much spiritual burden on yourself, it's tiring to live like that. If you're not satisfied with our requirements, just tell us."

  With a gentle and moving gaze, under the obedient and warm smile, she shyly dodged away, Ye Cai nodded lightly and stuttered: "Uh-huh, I know."

  Raising his eyes, Ye Changtian saw Ye Cai's small family, like a shy and timid jade, and couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. He thought to himself, "This is what a girl should look like."

  At this time, Ye Cai Ruo seemed to be thinking deeply as she lifted her face and gazed out the window at the rugged mountain walls flowing by. A hint of a knowing smile played on her lips as she murmured, "Dad, thank you. I think that after this year is over, I'll be able to live a peaceful life, like a normal girl."

  Ye Changhu nodded in agreement, naturally feeling relieved and satisfied with his daughter's attitude. However, he didn't know that after Ye Cai finished speaking, her eyes flashed with a proud and unruly thought - But before that, I need to be a good boy for once!

  She raised her eyes, slightly narrowed them and revealed a few points of playfulness and ambiguity. In front of her, the image of that carefree, bobbed-haired lovely girl seemed to reappear, smiling at her with a tilted head, making her blush and raise an eyebrow.

  ……

  ……

  Luoshui No. 2 Middle School.

  In the first class of the afternoon, Liu Jiajia was leaning on her cheek with one hand, reciting English words listlessly. However, she felt a bit strange and puzzled in her heart because she had noticed several times that Xiao Xue, who sat at the upper left corner, was not paying attention to the lesson. She looked restless, kept looking around, especially towards the door, and seemed to be harboring some ulterior motives with an air of anxiety.

  She suddenly closed her eyes, slowly tilted her head back and opened her mouth, letting out a loud and forceful sneeze that echoed down the corridor. Her nearby classmates stared at her in surprise, and she rubbed her nose, pretending to be nonchalant as she muttered to herself, "Who the hell is talking about me behind my back?"

  （……）