VESSEL - Extinction Countdown 929: Trans Spirit’s Spark

Neither wholly man nor woman, such individuals are often branded “ladyboy” by the masses—a pejorative term. In psychology, their struggle finds a kinder name: Gender Dysphoria or Gender Identity Disorder.

For ages, humanity distinguished male from female by physical form, but as science and society evolve, psychological identity holds greater sway, freeing gender from mere biology.

Yet such forward-thinking notions stir rebellion in conservative Eastern Land, where millennia-old traditions brand them heretical.

Fang Ling languishes in this painful rift.

Her male body housing a young woman’s soul.

Enduring relentless stigma, gender dysphoria, and cognitive turmoil, she resorted to estrogen injections and hormone pills, only to face deeper anguish—her body’s essence unyielding to change.

Thus, Fang Ling shies from claiming her womanhood, burying herself in research and finding solace only in the sissy circle, a subculture granting fleeting comfort.

To untrained eyes, her hormone-sculpted form passes as female, her curves rivaling any otaku’s.

In otaku culture, she transcends sissy status, embodying a pill lady—a singular identity bridging sissy and woman through her regimen.

Fang Ling knew deep down that injecting hormones and taking medications was merely a way to please herself. To appease society, she’d have to erase her true self.

Her mother, Lu Lai, likely vanished for similar struggles. Being a small, out-of-place soul among the vast human crowd, the prospect of leading a normal life in this world feels almost unattainable.

Lu Lai’s work was so astonishingly groundbreaking. If I could complete it within my lifetime, no one shall endure the same misfortune I have suffered ever again!

Her mind adrift in tangled thoughts, Fang Ling drove into a serene residential area.

This was Pang Family Town’s elite villa district—standalone estates with 2,000-square-meter gardens.

Naturally, given Fang Ling’s circumstances, the thought of affording it was far beyond her reach. Without Lu Lai’s abrupt disappearance years ago, she’d never have known her uncle, Lu Zhengwu.

Her mother’s disappearance left ten-year-old Fang Ling adrift, until, through the convolutions of the social welfare system, she connected with her uncle, Lu Zhengwu. Thus began the intertwining of two profoundly disparate worlds.

That being said, Fang Ling perfectly inherited her parents’ traits: reclusiveness, independence, and even a touch of pretentiousness. She made sure to pay Lu Zhengwu, despite living and eating under his care, terrified of taking advantage of her uncle in even the slightest way.

Her sole dependence on him lies in borrowing for costly lab equipment, calling it a “loan,” for if the project succeeds, those “small amounts“ will be repaid to her uncle, multiplied tenfold, a hundredfold.

Naturally, in another light, Fang Ling is not only Lu Zhengwu's sole nephew but also his final connection to family in this world. To him, the money means little—he’s long decided that when his time comes, every bit of his inheritance will go to Fang Ling.

Ye Shisan was seeing such beautiful and luxurious villas in a third- or fourth-tier city for the first time and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Uncle Lu's truly a big boss. I'd never afford it in my entire life.”

Yi Qing's attention, however, was focused on the security measures in the villa district. “Expensive, no doubt about it. After all, this is a Qin Gong Group property. The entire neighborhood boasts impeccable surveillance coverage, cutting-edge smart access systems, and security strategies of the highest caliber. Small wonder their houses sell for record-breaking prices wherever they appear.“

“Qin Gong Group? What’s that?“ asked Ye Shisan and Fang Ling in perfect harmony—a curious duo: one, a twenty-year veteran of a psychiatric hospital, and the other, a reclusive hikikomori cross-dresser, completely ignorant of the outside world.

Yi Qing explained, “Qin Gong Group belongs to the Qin family, one of the ten elite families of Eastland Empire. Put it this way: Uncle Lu, though a respectable figure himself, is second-rate compared to Qin Gong Group. And Qin Gong? That’s but a fragment of the Qin family’s vast empire.“

“I always thought Uncle Lu was loaded, but it seems like there are even bigger fish out there?!“ Ye Shisan couldn’t hide his amazement.

Fang Ling, however, sighed with exasperation, “Ah... I should’ve known my uncle pulled a fast one on me. This rent is never as affordable as it seems! Five thousand a month for both food and lodging? That’s outrageous!“

Yi Qing blinked in surprise, “Wait, you pay to live here?“

“It’s my decision. Even if he’s my uncle, I won’t let myself freeload off him.“

“Well… I don’t mean to offend, but if you’re not working, where’s all your money coming from?“

“Making money’s no big deal! I just take on a few testing gigs or give some tech advice, and that’s enough to cover a whole year. Honestly, money doesn’t mean much to me—what I care about is my research project!“

Intrigued by her words, Yi Qing’s professional instincts kicked in, she couldn’t help but grow curious about the project Fang Ling seemed so devoted to.

“Miss Fang… uh, I suppose I should call you that, right? So, what exactly is this project of yours? Would you mind sharing more about it?”

With a steady hand, Fang Ling parked the car, flashed a faint smile, and replied, “It’s rare to meet someone interested in my project. Why not take a look for yourself?“

As the group looked ahead, they saw the car pulling to a halt before the villa’s imposing gate.

The structure boasted three stories above and two below, sprawling over 600 square meters of land, with over 2,000 square meters of living space. The expansive 2,000-square-meter garden completed the picture of a lifestyle befitting a landowner’s grandeur.

With a soft creak, the villa gate swung open to reveal two sharply dressed men emerging from within. One was a middle-aged man in his forties, while the other, youthful and fresh-faced, seemed barely out of university.

“Welcome home, Miss,” they greeted her in unison.

The young man extended his hand toward the car door, his gaze accidentally meeting Yi Qing's. For a moment, both startled.

“What are you doing here?!”

“I was about to ask you the same thing!”

Fang Ling leaned in. “What are you talking about?”

Yi Qing hurriedly replied, “N-nothing at all. I was just mentioning how polite your staff is...”

“His name’s Zhao Liang—he’s new.” Fang Ling said, glancing at the young man before pointing at the older one. “And this is the butler—I’ve always called him Uncle Ma.”

Uncle Ma, as honest-looking as his name suggested, bore a long horse-like face that exuded trustworthiness. He was genuinely surprised to see Fang Ling, who usually kept to herself, bringing friends home today. Smiling warmly, he said, “Our young lady’s guests are honored guests of the Lu household. Please don’t hold back while you’re here! Feel free to ask for anything you need.“

The party trailed Fang Ling into the villa, its interior modestly decorated, understated yet revealing the owner’s taste and refinement.

“Let’s go check out my lab,“ Fang Ling began cheerfully. “It’s down in the second basement, set up to keep from bothering my uncle while he’s resting...“

Yi Qing waved her off mid-sentence, “Sorry, but could I borrow the restroom first?”

The young servant, Zhao Liang, caught the cue and quickly offered, “Over here, I'll take you there!“

Yi Qing couldn’t resist warning Ye Shisan, “No funny business with Miss Fang while I’m gone.”

Ye Shisan gave a resigned look, “Seriously, do you think I'm that kind of guy?”

Fang Ling, meanwhile, seemed a bit shy as she murmured, “If Brother Ye wants to... I'd be fine with it.”