Chapter 7: Underwear Equals Armor
"Aside from some malnutrition and lack of sleep, the body is still generally healthy. Please make sure she gets a proper diet and maintains a regular schedule. A bit of rest should do the trick..."
The nurse handed the completed examination form to Shang Shu, who was listed as the “guardian.” While she skimmed through the results, the nurse succinctly explained the key points and offered some appropriate advice.
"In addition, please keep an eye on the girl’s mental health. She’s not that young anymore—correcting self-perception issues can be complicated. If needed, we can help refer you to a specialist."
“Huh? Ah... haha... I see. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Though Shang Shu could be a bit air-headed, she wasn’t slow on the uptake—especially when it came to Zhong Jing. She understood exactly what the nurse was implying. But the unusual nature of the situation made it awkward to address openly, so she could only play it off with a laugh.
Seemingly sensing that Shang Shu hadn’t taken the issue seriously, the nurse paused just before leaving and added with professional insistence, “This really isn’t something to be ignored. Based on the examination, the girl is likely entering a rapid development phase, and ‘that’ shouldn’t be far off either. Pay more attention to her diet and personal hygiene.”
“Eh?”
The words stunned Shang Shu for a moment. This revelation hit her even harder than seeing Zhong Jing in his current state for the first time.
She had entertained the idea that Zhong Jing might remain like this, but this was the first time a scientific confirmation proved that the changes extended beyond the surface—his internal physiology was changing too.
A Jing… really had become a girl.
“Sister Shang Shu? Why are you just standing there?”
As Zhong Jing stepped out of the changing room, she reached up to fasten the last button on her military coat. Though the exam had lasted barely ten minutes, it felt like an eternity to her. Far more than her body, her mind was completely drained.
Seeing Shang Shu frozen outside the changing room, Zhong Jing couldn’t help but call out.
“Ah... uh, nothing, nothing. A Jing, how do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
The nurse had long since departed. Seeing Zhong Jing emerge snapped Shang Shu back to the present, and she immediately shifted her attention to him.
"Uncomfortable?" Zhong Jing frowned slightly, hesitating for a moment before leaning in to whisper in Shang Shu’s ear. She should’ve told the doctors during the exam, but it was far too embarrassing. Shang Shu was the only person she could confide in.
“Chest feels tight?”
“Shh—!”
Even though Shang Shu had repeated it at normal volume, Zhong Jing couldn’t accept it. She panicked and signaled her to hush, frantically glancing around. Only after confirming no one was nearby did she finally exhale in relief.
“Sorry, sorry, I’ll be more careful next time.” Shang Shu chuckled and waved her hands apologetically. As amusing as Zhong Jing’s flushed face was, this wasn’t the time for jokes. What she had just revealed brought Shang Shu back to the nurse’s warning—it might all be happening faster than expected.
Better to be prepared.
“Let’s go, A Jing. We’re heading to the trading zone.”
“The trading zone?”
By that, Shang Shu meant the informal marketplace established spontaneously by Chu Sheng City’s residents for private exchanges. It was located on the edge of the inner city, near the outer districts—unlike the official Medical Center.
Zhong Jing was a regular visitor there, frequently shopping for daily necessities.
The trading zone was built over the ruins of a residential park. At the entrance stood a half-destroyed fish-shaped statue—likely once a fountain.
Now, the exposed pipes served no purpose, and the small basin below had been filled with concrete to serve as a walking path.
It was unclear exactly when the trading zone began to flourish, but its presence had definitely made life easier for Chu Sheng City’s people.
Most sellers here were private individuals—many scavengers laid out goods they brought back from the outside.
After all, not every scavenger found something the base government or other departments wanted to buy. A few packs of cigarettes, bottles of liquor, clean clothes—whatever people needed, it was all here.
Before coming, Shang Shu had returned to the Special Affairs Processing Center to change out of her uniform, donning a simple gray top and pants instead. While not as chaotic as the outer zones, the trading area still lacked official security, and problems weren’t uncommon.
Zhong Jing, on the other hand, hadn’t changed. Dressed in full mercenary attire, she stood out—so much so that most people gave her a wide berth. No one dared approach.
From the moment they entered, the once-crowded path seemed to clear for them. Even Shang Shu benefited, enjoying a personal bubble of space. She noticed that many passersby instinctively kept about a foot’s distance. No wandering hands, no harassment.
Maybe I should try this outfit next time, she thought to herself.
Once they passed the open-air stalls, the path widened and the makeshift tents gave way to more permanent brick storefronts. Unlike the random junk sold by scavengers, these shops specialized in specific goods.
These were professional merchants with suppliers—usually trade caravans or private manufacturers.
“Where are we?”
Shang Shu led Zhong Jing to a secluded shop. A dark brown curtain obscured the entrance, preventing any glimpse inside. Zhong Jing had never seen this shop before and was immediately curious about what it sold.
“Take off your hood. You’ll understand once we go in.”
With a smile on her face, Shang Shu didn’t offer any more explanation. Zhong Jing, not suspecting anything, removed her hood and stepped forward. She failed to notice that Shang Shu had deliberately slowed her pace to fall slightly behind her.
As Zhong Jing pulled back the curtain, what she saw made her instinctively want to turn around and leave.
But before she could act, Shang Shu was already behind her, hands on her shoulders, pushing her deeper into the shop.
“Shang... Sister Shang Shu! Stop!”
No matter how she struggled, it was useless. In her current form, Shang Shu was physically stronger. Caught off guard and turned away, Zhong Jing couldn’t muster enough force to resist and was quickly ushered to the counter with no chance of escape.
Compared to other shops she’d seen, this one was twice as large. The lighting overhead was generous, and even a small speaker at the counter played relaxing music throughout the store.
But no music could ease Zhong Jing’s anxiety. In fact, her current situation felt more awkward than the hospital check-up. She didn’t even know where to look—because everywhere, from the walls to the shelves, was filled with one thing: women's underwear.
She finally realized she had been tricked.
“Welcome,” greeted the clerk behind the counter, who had already plastered on a professional smile as the two walked in.
“This is the child’s size. Please find her some athletic bras and underwear appropriate for her age.”
Ignoring the dagger-eyed glare from Zhong Jing, Shang Shu spoke directly to the staff. The sizing had already been determined during the medical exam, so there was no need for new measurements.
Once the clerk stepped away to find the requested items, Shang Shu turned to face Zhong Jing, who had deliberately turned her head away. She seemed truly angry—but that was to be expected. Shang Shu had already prepared her counterargument.
“A Jing, be good. If you don’t wear these, it could really affect your work as a mercenary.”
Shang Shu knew her well. Framing the argument from a tactical perspective worked wonders. Zhong Jing, who had been resolved not to speak to her, visibly wavered the moment she heard those words.
Shang Shu pressed on while the iron was hot.
“Didn’t you say your chest felt swollen?”
She kept her voice low—after what had happened at the hospital, she knew how sensitive Zhong Jing was about this topic.
“Even if you might return to being a boy someday, for now, your chest is only going to get bigger. Not wearing this kind of underwear will be really inconvenient.”
Bigger... and bigger...
Zhong Jing turned her head slightly and couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at Shang Shu’s chest. Shame washed over her, but she began seriously considering what was being said.
If things kept progressing, it really would interfere with tactical maneuvers. Still, something about this felt hard to accept. It was like she’d be giving up a part of herself once she put these on...
“Besides, A Jing can wear athletic bras—they offer support and protect the chest. They’re just like the protective vests you used to wear.”
By equating athletic underwear with tactical gear, and overlapping the concept with battlefield essentials, Shang Shu subtly removed the “feminine” label. Her tactic was sly—but extremely effective in softening Zhong Jing’s resistance.
“No... no choice. If it’s necessary equipment, I guess I have to wear it for the protection...”
After a long pause, Zhong Jing finally gave in, repeating her acceptance like she was trying to convince herself. Shang Shu’s smile only grew brighter—persuading Zhong Jing had been much easier than expected.