Janie was excited. “This little guy is way more handsome than you, Benjamin. Sorry, but you don’t stand a chance with me anymore!”

“You could always consider moving on,” shrugged Benjamin. “Save yourself the heartache of looking at me every day.”

“Shut up, you’re the one who needs to move on!” Janie finally tore her gaze away from Emmeline.

“I think Benjamin’s suggestion is a good one,” Emmeline twirled her mustache. “Why don’t we have a torrid love affair and leave those heartless men in the dust?”

Janie chuckled. “Sorry, little cutie, you’re not my type.”

“What kind of guy do you like?” Emmeline asked, batting her eyelashes.

Janie glanced over at Benjamin.

“Oh,” Emmeline said. “So you’re into handsome guys like Benjamin? But what do I lack compared to him?”

“Well, you’re a bit more youthful,” Janie chuckled. “And honestly, you’re way more beautiful than he is.”

“But I’m not any more youthful than Benjamin,” Emmeline pouted. “Look, I even have a mustache now.”

“But you’re different from him,” Janie said. “You have a certain…feminine energy about you.”

“Isn’t Benjamin a perfect example of androgyny though?” Emmeline tilted her head. “I’m just as androgynous as he is, if not more.”

“Ha!” Benjamin laughed.

He knew Emmeline’s cross-dressing template had always been modeled after himself.

“But…” Janie frowned. “No matter how you look at it, Benjamin still has a very masculine vibe. You are just different.”

“What’s wrong with me?” asked Emmeline.

Janie furrowed her brow, speaking carefully. “I hope you won’t get angry when I say this, but…”

“I promise I won’t,” Emmeline raised her hand.

“You…well, you’re a bit effeminate,” Janie said.

Emmeline puffed out her cheeks and then burst into tears. “You’re bullying me, Miss!” she wailed.

Janie was taken aback. Why did this little cutie cry so easily? Wasn’t that more of a woman’s thing?

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way,” Janie apologized quickly. “I was just teasing you.”

“I don’t care. I’m still upset,” Emmeline sniffled. “You called me effeminate, and it hurt my feelings. You have to take responsibility for that.”

“Responsibility?” Janie grimaced. “I just said one thing. What kind of responsibility do you want me to take? I already apologized. I can apologize again if that’s what you want. I’m sorry, okay?”

“No, no,” Emmeline pouted and kicked her legs. “Apologizing is not enough. You also have to hug me. Only then will your apology be official.”

“Hug?” Janie was stunned. “Little brother, don’t you know the rules that men and women don’t get too close? Are you out of your mind to ask me to hug you?”

“Not hugging is not an option, your apology lacks sincerity,” Emmeline continued to “cry,”

“Anyway, I’m hurt, I feel bad, sob, I feel so bad…”

Janie was dumbfounded.

Did Benjamin bring her here to cause trouble?

Did she encounter such a jinx?

“Let it go, let it go,” Benjamin said to Janie. “If he wants a hug, just hug him. What’s the big deal?”

“Benjamin!” Janie exclaimed. “Are you crazy? Although this kid is young, he is still a man. Are you encouraging me to hug a stranger? Are you still a man? I never thought you were such a despicable person!”

Janie huffed and turned to leave.

“Ha!” Emmeline laughed.

Hearing the laughter, Janie turned back, looking at “him” suspiciously.

Emmeline stood up and gave her a big hug.

“Janie, I’m back.”

“…?”

Janie was stunned, tears streaming down her face. “Emma, is it really you? You’re back, I’m not dreaming, am I?”

“Of course, you’re not dreaming,” Emmeline lightly pinched her. “Does it hurt?”