After the car accident, my boyfriend got straight

During dinner, Jiang Shiyu’s phone kept vibrating non-stop, filling up with WeChat messages. It wasn’t until he finished eating that he picked up his phone to check the notifications.

The club group chat had over 99+ messages. He quickly scrolled through the missed messages and paused at the one where he was mentioned.

After an hour of discussion in the group, they had roughly decided that the performance club’s theme for the carnival would be a charity sale. The presentation would be based on classic characters from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales, with each person choosing a character to portray.

The final stories chosen were “The Little Match Girl,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Thumbelina,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” and “The Ugly Duckling.”

He hadn’t spoken in the group, and the main characters of the stories were chosen by other members, leaving “The Little Match Girl” without an actor. The group had eight people; five would play fairy tale characters, and the remaining three would handle event organization and on-site tasks. When the group was discussing who would play “The Little Match Girl,” the leader and club president, Sister Alin, directly mentioned him.

“Isn’t there still one person left?”

Although the members rarely gathered and barely recognized each other on campus, they were somewhat familiar with him.

Firstly, because of their great achievement of persuading a good-looking guy to join the club as the face of the club during freshman orientation. Secondly, because of his well-known relationship with Shen Li.

He slowly typed, “If no one else is willing, I’ll do it.”

He had never participated in a club event before and was eager to try it out.

He put down his phone and asked Shen Li if he would participate in the school carnival.

Shen Li, being a focal point wherever he went, was always surrounded by friends. Jiang Shiyu thought Shen Li would definitely participate in such an event. 

Unexpectedly, Shen Li shook his head, “No.”

Jiang Shiyu looked at him, puzzled.

“Last year, Chen Xu participated in the carnival under the name of the swimming team and organized a muscleman beauty contest. Ten team members walked up and down South Garden Road shirtless, dominating the school’s forum front page and almost making it to Jiang Hua City’s news. Since then, the swim team has banned a few people, especially Chen Xu, from participating in similar school events in any capacity.”

Jiang Shiyu had heard about this. During his competition last year, Li Muzi had kept sending him pictures and forum posts, saying the swim team had made a big joke. Fortunately, Shen Li was with him; otherwise, knowing him, he would have been furious at Chen Xu’s antics.

Shen Li took down the clothes from the balcony, sorted them, and glanced at Jiang Shiyu’s phone as he walked past.

“Are you participating?” he asked.

Jiang Shiyu nodded, “Yes, our club is organizing a charity sale, and I’ll be playing the role of the little match… boy.”

Shen Li paused for a moment, his gaze lingering on him for a few seconds before nodding.

Soon, it was the day of the carnival. Jiang Shiyu arrived at the T-shaped classroom early, as agreed upon in the group. Sister Alin was already there and greeted him with a smile.

Sister Alin, a senior law student, had long black hair and frameless glasses, exuding a clean and efficient mature woman vibe, in stark contrast to his high school aura.

She adored the cat-like Jiang Shiyu and would often pinch his cheeks, finding his soft and good-natured personality endearing.

She took out an unopened costume and handed it to him.

“This is your outfit for the little match boy. Go change, and I’ll do your makeup when you’re back.”

He was puzzled, “Do I need makeup?”

At that moment, a fellow club member dressed as the Little Mermaid entered, her long mermaid tail trailing behind her, shimmering with realistic scales, a sky-blue wig on her head, and fake scales on her face and neck. She looked ready to dive into an aquarium and interact with visitors as a mermaid.

Jiang Shiyu’s mouth dropped open, “Do I have to be made up like that too?”

Alin patted his cheek and pinched his squishy cheek, “Of course not, dear. She’s a mermaid; you’re just a poor little match boy.”

In the restroom, he changed out of his clothes and into the ones Sister Alin had given him. If it weren’t for the tags still on the packaging, he would have thought they were discarded beggar’s clothes.

The grey outfit was patched and torn, and the pants were absurdly loose. If not for the drawstring at the waist, he would have found it impossible to wear them.

After changing, he shuffled back to the classroom. As soon as he entered, everyone’s eyes were on him.

Even in the ragged clothes, his overly attractive appearance wasn’t hidden. The overlapping cross-tied sackcloth outfit exposed his long, fair neck, and the oversized pants, cinched at the waist, highlighted his slim figure. His long, straight legs turned the pants into capris, revealing a white ankle. He wore a pair of worn-out cloth shoes, which he could only drag like slippers.

Alin approached him. He felt nervous under everyone’s gaze, wondering if his appearance was too ridiculous. He clutched the shabby bag in front of him, a hat full of holes on his head.

“Sister Alin,” he called softly, wanting to ask if he looked okay.

As soon as he spoke, Alin clutched her chest with a look of adoration, “Oh my god, who would let you wander the streets alone selling matches? Come home with me, sweetie. I’ll take care of you.”

Her fingers itched to pinch his cheeks again. He quickly dodged and stood beside the Little Mermaid, his eyes blinking nervously.

The Little Mermaid glanced at him and thought he was too cute to be fair. How could someone look so pitiful even in rags?

Blame that face, it was too charming.

Everyone unanimously agreed that he looked too good. They made him sit in the middle, and a group of people surrounded him, applying makeup with various brushes. He couldn’t stand it and sneezed several times.

Finally, Alin put down the last brush and stood up, hands on her hips, “Okay.”

Everyone stared at Jiang Shiyu, their expressions unreadable.

He turned to look in the mirror.

His soft and round features were accentuated by the makeup. Alin had enhanced his natural charms: his pretty cat eyes were lined with a light eyeliner, giving them a pitiful droop; his long, dense lashes were coated in mascara, fluttering like a baby’s, innocent and endearing. His nose and chin had a touch of blush, giving him a rosy, innocent look. His lips and neck were marked with realistic-looking scars and bruises.

With this look, anyone who saw him would feel a pang of sympathy, willingly offering their help without a word.