Return of the Antagonistic Lady Boss

Chapter 651: Chapter 625: Surrounded by Eccentric People

Qiuqiu heard Liumei’s question and sighed helplessly in response.

”It was all sorted out, but during the employment process, they needed an ID card, didn’t they? As soon as the school saw the gender field, they got angry. The principal said the reason for hiring me over you was because they wanted a male teacher, but I turned out to be an impostor. So, they fired me, saying they feared I’d corrupt the students with my ambiguous gender.”

Qiuqiu had gone through such experiences many times. It’s indeed tough for someone like him to find a job. Temporary jobs were okay, but upon graduation, when searching for formal employment, employers required him to provide an ID for social security payments. Seeing ’female’ on the ID while he was male himself, many reputable places didn’t want to hire him.

Good employers might just ask him not to come back, while the less understanding ones would look at him oddly. Sometimes, even before he left, they’d start gossiping about whether he was mentally unwell or a freak. Qiuqiu heard such comments frequently.

Though he had gotten used to it, encountering a job that checked all the boxes only to lose it for such reasons still left him frustrated, making him want to grab a drink with friends.

”Ambiguous gender?” Liumei was puzzled.

Even Weiwei, who was sitting in front of the computer playing games, turned her head and looked at Qiuqiu curiously.

”Though my heart is male, my body is female. Heaven made a mistake with my gender. Qian said this is called gender dysphoria, but I think it’s okay.”

Qiuqiu had made great progress in recent years. Under Qian’s subtle guidance, he could now face his gender regrets calmly, even jokingly explain his true situation.

”Don’t be upset. What you miss out on wasn’t right for you anyway. The next job will be better—same goes for relationships.” Qian patted Qiuqiu. These two years have been tough for Qiuqiu. After missing out on his beloved Jingjing, he tried dating a girlfriend, but they broke up due to various reasons.

”Oh man, I’m sorry, I had no idea—” It was the first time Liumei heard about such a strange condition and didn’t know how to respond.

”It’s okay, I’m used to it. This is the path I have chosen and being different means I’m prepared for such treatment. I remember when I first met Qian, I almost wanted to commit suicide. It really wasn’t worth it.”

Upon hearing the word suicide, Weiwei couldn’t hold back.

”Don’t you feel life is really tough?”

”Whoa, a cute little sister here. Has she come of age? Who is she?” Qiuqiu asked Qian upon seeing Weiwei.

”The sister I recently took in. She hasn’t come of age yet. Qiuqiu, can you chat with her? Just like how I used to chat with you.” Qian felt that Qiuqiu was like a ”helper” in mahjong, placed where needed.

”Sure, Qian, you go buy some skewers. Leave this to me.” Qiuqiu understood Qian’s hint, realizing this young girl might be a patient with some psychological issues that Qian needed help with.

This life was saved by Qian, so he’d do whatever Qian asked him to. No problem.

”Do you find life painful because you’re different from everyone around you?” When only Weiwei and Qiuqiu were left in the room, Weiwei asked Qiuqiu.

”Initially yes, I was so extreme that I thought about dying. I believed I could never be happy or find the person I wanted.”

”Then why do you want to continue living... I’m different from everyone else. I want to live for those who care about me, yet the more I want to live, the more painful it becomes.” Weiwei muttered.

”I thought the same at first, but I was worse off than you. No one around me cared about me. Qian made me realize that if one doesn’t fear death, they fear nothing. I go through heartbreaks almost regularly, and every day I endure judgmental looks from those who know my gender secret, yet I face it calmly. I haven’t done anything wrong, haven’t hurt anyone. Why should I die? I must live. Who knows, maybe I’ll meet someone I like one day, and even if I don’t, I’ve enjoyed the scenery along the way...”

Qiuqiu and Weiwei quickly struck up a conversation, and this wasn’t his first time helping Qian.

Qiuqiu embodies the brightest side of a man, possessing qualities men should have, like tenderness, consideration, reliability, and understanding, yet because of his female body, he lacks the aggressiveness and danger men usually possess.

So whenever Qian encounters patients with gender issues, like Jingjing or Weiwei, who fear men due to psychological traumas, she would ask Qiuqiu for help. The unique ”magnetism” Qiuqiu carries seems to heal these innocent girls hurt by men.

Liumei and Qian were outside buying skewers. Liumei hesitated before speaking.

”Curious about Qiuqiu’s situation?” Qian could tell what was on her mind.

”Yeah...such a nice person, how does one end up in such a situation?”

”I don’t know either; perhaps Heaven enjoys playing jokes. Frankly, I hope more than anyone that Qiuqiu can find a suitable partner.” Qian also worried about Qiuqiu’s personal issues over the years.

Since Jingjing, it seemed Qiuqiu hadn’t loved anyone else. He helped cure many girls, yet all he ever received from them was being seen as a good person, which left Qian feeling helpless.

”Hmm, too bad same-sex marriage isn’t allowed in the country, otherwise I’d marry him.”

”...Stop joking.”

”I’m not kidding. My boyfriend called yesterday to break up, so I’m not getting married. I think Qiuqiu is great. Living together wouldn’t be bad—Boss, add more chili on the meat skewers!”

Qian held her forehead in exasperation, wondering if there was anyone normal around her.

If Qiuqiu had gender dysphoria, then Liumei had marriage dysphoria; she talked about breaking up and marriage as if she were discussing skewered foods.

”Your boyfriend who called only ten times over two years wants to break up suddenly?” Qian asked Liumei.

”Oh, he asked me about my registry location yesterday, and after I told him, he said he wanted to break up. So, let’s break up.—Boss, add two more chicken wings, sister-in-law, chicken wings with alcohol, the more you drink, the better it feels!”

Understanding Liumei well, Qian knew her enthusiasm for food wasn’t masking breakup distress but was genuine.

This girl valued eating above all else, and her so-called boyfriend was less important than chicken wings in her mind.

”Sister-in-law, why do you think he broke up with me?” Liumei asked Qian, seemingly unfazed by the breakup, just a bit puzzled about its suddenness.

Qian understood; after two years and ten phone calls, he chose this time to break up, and there was only one reason!