The room was cold when Gu Xi woke.
The cheap quilt barely kept in warmth, and the spring mattress creaked as he shifted his weight to sit up. The early morning light leaked through the curtains, soft and watery.
He rubbed his eyes, stood, and padded across the floor toward the mirror out of habit.
Then paused.
His footsteps stopped half a second earlier than his thoughts.
Something… felt off.
Not wrong. Just different.
It wasn't until he leaned in to inspect his reflection that he understood what it was.
His skin.
It looked normal.
No—the acne that usually speckled his cheeks and jawline was gone. Completely. The angry red bumps, the little whiteheads that never healed properly, the deep shadow of inflammation around his nose—gone. His skin wasn't flawless by this world's standards, not yet. But it looked... healthy. The color had returned to his face, and the oily sheen from before was replaced by a slight, even tone.
Even his lips looked more balanced. Not as pale.
His eyes widened just a bit.
He leaned in closer, then drew back to look at his whole face.
The gloomy aura—that "dead fish" expression he'd gotten used to seeing every day—had disappeared. He didn't look bright exactly, but he didn't look like he hated the world either.
"Wasn't expecting this much," he muttered under his breath.
Then, instinctively—
[Status]
Strength: 15
Wisdom: 30
Charm: 25
Physique: 20
Vitality: 30
Evaluation: "Plain but refreshing. Slightly likable when not speaking."
Minor Skills:
Cooking: 60 Singing: 60 Linguistics: 40
Gu Xi blinked at the new evaluation.
Slightly likable when not speaking.
"Tch. I'll take it."
He turned on the faucet and washed his face slowly, feeling the water trickle over a complexion that no longer stung when touched. His fingers paused near his jaw, surprised to find smoothness instead of rough patches.
Even his pores looked smaller.
He dried his face, slipped on a clean set of clothes, and walked toward the door.
Time to work out.
———
The stairwell was quiet as he laced up his shoes. Outside, the streetlights still flickered faintly, not yet outpaced by the rising sun.
Gu Xi stood near the shoe rack for a moment, adjusting his sleeves.
He'd only just stepped toward the door when it opened again.
From the hallway, Gu Lin appeared—hair still tied up from last night, a white shirt draped over her frame, brushing her teeth with one hand and holding her phone in the other.
She raised an eyebrow at him, clearly surprised.
Before she could say anything—
"There's food on the table. I'm heading out for a run," Gu Xi said lightly, as he bent down to double-knot his left shoe.
She blinked.
Paused.
"…That so."
"Mhm."
And with that, he opened the door and stepped outside.
Behind him, Gu Lin stared at his retreating back.
Her gaze flicked toward the side of his cheek.
No acne. None of the usual reddish swelling. His skin looked… fairer?
Strange.
"Did he use some kind of brightening filter cream?" she muttered to herself, turning around and heading toward the kitchen.
Oh well.
Not her problem.
———
The early morning air was brisk. Not sharp, but cool enough to chase away sleep.
Gu Xi kept his pace slow.
His body—despite the stats boost—was still weak.
His knees ached slightly after each step, and his calves burned halfway through the first block. Every breath stung a little more than it should've. He didn't have stamina, didn't have technique. His running posture was slightly hunched, like someone escaping homework rather than chasing health.
Still, he didn't stop.
Physique needs pressure to grow.
He passed a small neighborhood park. A pair of women in track suits were doing leg stretches under a ginkgo tree, talking about their sons-in-law. Further ahead, a tall woman in a ponytail jogged with a man half her height trailing behind, holding her water bottle and towel in both hands like a well-trained valet.
Even at 6 a.m., the reversal of roles was unmistakable.
He turned the corner into the shopping district.
A large poster outside a beauty store showed a famous male idol—shoulders bare, skin airbrushed to porcelain, with flower petals pasted across his collarbone. Below, in bold characters: "Love him? Then treat him."
The beauty aisle inside was already being restocked. Men's foundations, lip balms, eye masks, and hydrating sprays lined up like military regiments—soft pastel boxes, names like "Silk Glow," "Innocent Serum," and "First Love Blush."
Across the street, a group of young men exited a bubble tea shop. All of them were well-groomed: foundation-covered faces, curled lashes, earrings, and soft chiffon cardigans fluttering as they giggled over some idol drama.
The women passing by glanced at them approvingly.
Gu Xi slowed to a stop beside a bench and exhaled.
This was normal here.
No one looked twice at a man wearing makeup. If anything, they looked twice when he didn't.
His clothes—plain black track pants, a loose cotton shirt—marked him instantly as average. Below average, even. Unstyled hair, no accessories, no BB cream.
A nobody.
He sat on the bench, sweat dripping from his forehead.
The gap between men in this world wasn't based on wealth or talent.
It was based on beauty.
Charm was currency. Appearance was survival. Obedience was expectation.
But Gu Xi wasn't afraid of gaps.
He had a system.