Chapter 18

Page Seventeen Two Foolish Ones’ Strategic Meeting

It was already past seven o’clock, and with the air conditioner continuously blowing cool air, the temperature in the bedroom finally dropped to a comfortable level.

Since I had been pretending not to understand his intentions, Zhao Zhao’s face showed some displeasure as he couldn’t persuade me through soft or hard tactics. He sat on the floor with a pout, looking at me with a pitiful gaze as if I had done something terrible to him.

“Chairman, give me a chance.”

“How can I give you a chance?”

“Before, I didn’t have a choice, but now I want to become a girl.”

“Sure, go tell Xiao Hai Tang, see if she lets you become a girl.”

“That would be like sending me to my death.”

“I’m sorry, I am the Goddess of Beautiful Girls, with an Apprentice.”

“Who knows?”

This guy could even discard his masculinity for his dirty work, which shows what kind of revolutionary sacrifice spirit he possesses?

I took the black-covered notebook of Beautiful Girls and slid from the computer chair to the soft carpet under Zhao Zhao’s expectant gaze, but I did not write his name as he wished.

“Now that I am a Deity, you know this, right?”

Zhao Zhao silently nodded. I had basically explained everything about the notebook to him.

“If I fail to meet the quota, I will be doomed, and I might even die! Under such a premise, don’t you think you should help save my life before satisfying your own desires?”

The reason I refused to turn him into Zhao Lei was because of this. I was under business pressure, a Deity (Apprentice) who brought blessings to the unfortunate, but Zhao Zhao only wanted me to use the notebook to help him engage in a series of activities. It wouldn’t be normal for me to feel unhappy when I bear all the risks while he gets all the benefits.

“So, you want me to help you complete the quota first?”

“Oh, thank you for understanding so quickly.”

“Then why not just write down Uncle Feng’s name directly? Didn’t you investigate his past today to confirm your target?”

However, things were not that simple. According to the veteran deity Hallelujah, there was a rigid condition to meet the quota: the target must willingly accept their new identity. Although I had the magical notebook to turn targets into beautiful girls, not everyone could accept gender transformation.

To understand the target’s intentions, some contact and communication were unavoidable, but to avoid being contained by the SCP Foundation, both my status as a Deity (Apprentice) and the existence of the notebook had to remain strictly confidential—honestly, it was quite a headache. I felt like the protagonist of a spy drama, trying to extract information while hiding my underground party identity.

After hearing my explanation, Zhao Zhao pondered with his chin in hand, but this guy’s brain was made of muscles and nonsense. I wasn’t hopeful about his ability to strategize.

In short, if thrown into a spy drama, he probably wouldn’t make it past the first episode… whereas I could at least last three episodes.

“So, you want to figure out whether Uncle Feng is willing to accept a female identity without exposing yourself or raising suspicion?”

“More or less, this notebook, in a broad sense, has the power to change the world… If it’s exposed, I’m done for. I don’t want to confront state machinery or mysterious organizations, nor can I.”

“Can the transformation eliminate physical defects?”

“Although there’s no definite answer, I believe it can… From the process of how the Orange changed, turning into a beautiful girl is like kneading clay into a new form.”

The swollen, blood-red flesh during Orange’s transformation was a shadow that lingered with me… It was as horrifying as it could be, the closest I’ve ever come to a horror scene.

“Oh, then listen to me. First, write Uncle Feng’s name in pencil. Instead of guessing his thoughts verbally, let him experience it directly.” This straightforward approach suited his muscle-brained fool persona.

It seemed logical, but several issues needed solving to implement it.

“First, we don’t know where Uncle Feng lives, and we don’t know when he returns home. His working hours as a street vendor differ from ours. Transforming into a beautiful girl in public would be disastrous.” Even if I managed to escape, Old Feng would be dissected at the research institute. Forget happiness, he wouldn’t even have his life.

“That’s easy. We have plenty of time during summer break. We can track him one day.”

“It’s easier said than done. With your towering height, tracking is out of the question. Not only would you attract attention, but street lamps would only cover half your body. Besides, Old Feng recognizes our faces.”

“I can’t do it, but Zhao Lei can.”

Perhaps Zhao Zhao didn’t realize it, but these words were like a hot aluminum thermal explosive, blasting open a new path in my rigid mind. Placing Zhao Lei on the chessboard was a stroke of genius, giving me a sudden enlightenment.

Scratching my previous statement, I think he could survive at least five episodes in a spy drama.

I slapped my thigh and stood up. “Right! As a non-existent person, Zhao Lei can act much more freely. Following this line of thought, the second problem is solved. Originally, I was worried about how to ask without arousing suspicion, but now, Uncle Feng’s intention survey is also on you.”

He patted his chest and assured me, “Leave it to me!”

Thus, Zhao Zhao, or rather Zhao Lei, almost took on most of the critical parts of the plan. She became a proxy-like existence to me. Considering my useless status as a Deity (Apprentice), she should be called a Divine Messenger, similar to the relationship between Jesus and Jehovah?

By the time we finished discussing the details of the operation, it was nearly eight o’clock. From the middle onwards, we drifted further and further away from reality and crafted a bizarre operational plan.

“This plan is perfect, Deity Lord!” Zhao Zhao seemed very satisfied with the final plan, perhaps due to his starring role. The success of this operation depended entirely on his acting skills.

“Meh, it’s not perfect, but it’s certainly divine… Don’t call me ‘Deity Lord,’ I don’t deserve it. Apart from this notebook, I don’t feel any special abilities.” Is looking good considered one?

“Just this notebook alone is enough to make others envious! If I got this notebook, I’d turn every man except myself into a beautiful girl! Become the last man in the world, the true king of the harem!”

“Do that, and you’ll be locked up as a source of ‘biological material,’ and humans will go extinct.” Moreover, this notebook isn’t big enough to write down so many names.

“It’s late, don’t you need to go back?” The Zhao family had strict discipline and a fierce household. Zhao Zhao had been beaten often by his mother since childhood. According to my dad, Zhao Zhao’s mom held a position akin to Xiao Hai Tang’s in our generation—she was a genuine predecessor queen of the urban village.

Back then, everyone in the village was poor, with no good houses or advanced electronic entertainment, so children were wild. But Zhao Zhao’s mom stood out among the children with pure brute force, becoming a leading figure. Her combat power likely surpassed Xiao Hai Tang’s today.

I was curious where he kept those two school uniforms. If they were hidden at home, I would only see his black-and-white photos and small boxes.

Reminded by me, Zhao Zhao seemed to feel his mother’s wrath and shivered towards his house.

“In fact, Chairman, my mom seems to like you. If I say I’m playing at your house, even if I return a bit late, she won’t say anything… However, for safety reasons, I’ll head back tonight.”

Zhao Zhao hinted at something subtle. Why does the former empress like me?

“… The reconnaissance mission requires nighttime action. Tomorrow, find a reason to stay overnight at my house.”

“Alright, I’ll consider it.” Zhao Zhao picked up his backpack and opened the door to head downstairs.

“No, wait!”

As soon as he stepped out, I stopped him again.

I pulled out a familiar paper bag from under the bed and tossed it to him.

“Wash your clothes before you leave.”

They were Zhao Lei’s stockings, underwear, chest wrap, and hoodie.