Chapter 10: New Shape, More Shopping

Yuqi blinked her eyes open, the early morning light spilling through the curtains. She stretched, already bracing herself for whatever new changes might have occurred overnight. Sliding out of bed, she approached the mirror, groggy but curious.

Her breath caught in her throat.

The reflection staring back at her was almost unrecognizable. Her chest was now full, and her body had developed an undeniable hourglass figure. Her waist had narrowed, and her hips curved outward gracefully, giving her the silhouette of a young woman.

Her hands trembled as she touched her face and body, confirming what she saw in the mirror. “This is… me?” she whispered, her voice barely audible, filled with disbelief. She felt a mix of emotions-shock, confusion, and a hint of excitement. But mostly, she felt a profound sense of loss for the body she had known all her life. It was like she was mourning the loss of her old self, and it was a feeling she couldn't shake off.

It wasn’t just the figure that shocked her—it was the sudden and complete nature of the transformation. The changes that had been gradual before now felt like they had happened overnight, like she had woken up in a completely different body. Yuqi turned slightly, inspecting her side profile, and felt overwhelmed by how much her appearance had shifted in such a short span of time.

“Great,” she muttered, running a hand through her hair. “Now I don’t just need new clothes—I need a whole new wardrobe.”

Yuqi sighed, bracing herself for what she knew would be another round of awkward conversations and shopping trips. She needed her mom and Kelly’s help, even if it meant enduring their teasing and concerned looks. She could already imagine her mom's surprised gasp and Kelly's playful smirk.

One step at a time, she reminded herself, though the reflection in the mirror made it hard to feel grounded. She couldn't help but wonder how her new body would shape her future, her relationships, and her sense of self.

Yuqi stepped into the shower, the warm water cascading over her new form. Every drop seemed to amplify the sensitivity of her skin, and she clenched her fists, struggling to maintain focus. Her body wasn’t just new—it was the type of figure she had once fantasized about, not even three weeks ago. The discomfort was overwhelming.

She leaned against the shower wall, her breathing unsteady. This is my body now, she reminded herself, repeating it like a mantra to stay grounded. But the strangeness of it all, coupled with the sensations she hadn’t been prepared for, made it an uphill battle.

“No,” she muttered aloud, shaking her head firmly. She would not give in to the urge to explore. This was about adjustment, not indulgence. You’ve got this, she told herself, focusing on the routine motions of washing her hair and rinsing off.

By the time she stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a towel, her heart was still racing. But she had managed to keep her resolve intact, taking the first step toward embracing her new reality with unwavering determination.

As Yuqi dressed, she realized her clothes weren’t just snug—they clung to her new figure in ways that left little to the imagination. The shorts were now tighter around her widened hips, and the shirt stretched over her chest, highlighting her ample bosom. She looked at herself in the mirror, sighing. Great. Now, everyone is going to notice.

Walking out of her room, she felt the fabric pulling uncomfortably, and the way her family’s eyes widened confirmed what she already knew: her transformation was impossible to hide anymore.

Yuqi shifted uncomfortably under the weight of their gazes, tugging at the hem of her too-tight shirt. Her dad cleared his throat, looking everywhere but directly at her, and said in an overly measured tone, “I see we need to take you shopping for new clothes.”

Kelly, leaning against the counter, tried to stifle her shock with humor. “Damn, Yuqi, you’re making a huge statement with that body.”

Before Yuqi could respond, their mom swatted Kelly with a dish towel. “That’s enough, Kelly,” she scolded lightly, then turned to Yuqi. Her voice softened as she added, “Honey, yeah, we definitely need to get you some new clothes—and some support. We're here for you, no matter what."

Yuqi groaned, rubbing her temples. “Can we just go? The sooner we fix this, the better.” She was trying to maintain her composure, but inside, she was struggling to come to terms with the reality of her new body. She knew she needed new clothes, but the thought of everyone seeing her like this was overwhelming.

Yuqi’s mom gave her a once-over and sighed. “We’ll need to get you some other clothes to wear before we go out,” she said firmly. “You can’t wear that shirt without a bra. Throw one of your old shirts on over the top so you look a little bit more decent.”

Yuqi groaned but nodded, heading back to her room to rummage through her closet. The reminder of how much she needed new clothes was becoming all too obvious.

As Yuqi descended the stairs, her new figure hidden beneath an oversized shirt featuring one of her favorite anime characters—a busty female protagonist—Kelly took one look and burst into laughter.

“Oh, the irony!” Kelly managed between laughs, doubling over. “Yuqi, that shirt is too perfect.”

Yuqi sighed, glaring at her sister. “Not helping, Kelly.”

Their mom, trying to hold back a smile, swatted Kelly with the dish towel again. “That’s enough,” she said, although her amusement was evident.

“Let’s just get moving before the jokes get worse.”

Yuqi followed her mom through the aisles of the lingerie store, her face flushed with embarrassment. The racks of delicate lace and satin were far removed from anything she ever imagined herself needing. She stared at the displays, her mind swirling with disbelief. I never thought I’d be the one wearing this stuff, she thought.

Her mom, as calm as ever, approached a cheerful saleslady. “My daughter’s had a sudden growth spurt,” she said matter-of-factly, “and we need to get her measured for a new bra.”

The saleslady beamed and motioned for them to follow her into the dressing rooms. Yuqi trudged behind, her nerves growing with every step.

Once inside, the woman turned to her with a professional smile. “Now, young lady, I’ll need you to take off your shirt so we can get an accurate measurement.”

Yuqi hesitated, glancing nervously at her mom, who nodded encouragingly. Swallowing her discomfort, she pulled her shirt over her head, trying to ignore how exposed she felt. The saleslady retrieved her measuring tape, her movements brisk and efficient, as Yuqi braced herself for another step into her new reality.

The saleslady finished the measurement, scribbling down the size. “You’re a 32DD,” she said with a warm smile.

Yuqi’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What?” she blurted, her voice cracking slightly.

Her mom sighed, rubbing her temples. “Well, that limits our choices,” she said, half to herself and half to Yuqi.

The saleslady chuckled. “Don’t worry, we’ll find something that fits perfectly. We’ve got plenty of options in that size.” She motioned for Yuqi to follow her back to the racks, leaving Yuqi to process yet another unexpected twist in her transformation.

Yuqi stared at the two bras her mom handed her, still trying to wrap her head around everything. Her mom helped her fasten the first one, adjusting the straps until it sat properly, and then the second, taking the same care.

“So,” her mom said, stepping back to examine the fit, “which one feels more comfortable?”

Yuqi hesitated, holding her arms awkwardly at her sides. “Why do both of them have padding?” she asked, her voice tinged with exasperation. “Aren’t my breasts big enough already?”

Her mom chuckled softly, placing a hand on Yuqi’s shoulder. “Oh honey, the padding isn’t there to make your breasts look bigger. It’s to make sure your nipples don’t show through your bra or shirt.”

Yuqi sighed, glancing at herself in the mirror. She picked up the full-coverage bra, holding it up. “This one. It’s more comfortable.”

Her mom nodded approvingly. “Good choice. Now, put your shirt back on, and let’s pick out some colors.”

Yuqi slipped her shirt back on, feeling slightly more at ease with the bra supporting her new figure. She followed her mom out of the dressing room, ready to tackle the next step of this increasingly surreal shopping trip.

Yuqi wandered through the racks with her mom, her eyes immediately drawn to the vibrant purples. She picked out a couple of matching sets in her favorite color, smiling faintly despite herself. For the rest, she opted for a mix of neutral tones—tan and white—keeping things practical.

Her mom raised an eyebrow at the purple sets, then chuckled softly. “Figures,” she said with a smile. Yuqi shrugged, clutching her selections tightly as they moved to check out.

Yuqi shifted uncomfortably, adjusting the strap of her new bra as they walked out of the lingerie store. Kelly smirked, throwing an arm around her shoulder. “Bet you feel more comfortable after taming those mounds. I couldn’t imagine what it must have felt like, having them bounce around free while you were walking.”

Yuqi rolled her eyes but couldn’t argue. “Yeah, okay,” she admitted grudgingly. “It does feel a lot better.”

Her mom, walking ahead, glanced back with a satisfied smile. “Good. Now let’s move on to the next stop—clothes.”

Yuqi groaned inwardly. This was where things were going to get tricky. She wanted to lean toward comfortable, looser options—something tomboyish to keep her in her comfort zone. But the determined look on her mom’s face told her she wasn’t going to get away with that entirely.

This will be painful, Yuqi thought, resigning herself to the ordeal ahead.

Yuqi wandered through the racks, letting her mom and Kelly take the lead. They started with athleisure wear—shorts, sports bras, and lightweight tops. Kelly was particularly enthusiastic, grabbing styles that matched her own wardrobe. “These would look great on you,” Kelly said, tossing a pair of shorts and a crop top into the cart.

Yuqi sighed but had to admit the choices were cute. She eyed the leggings, Kelly added, knowing she had no choice but to embrace them. Apparently, she thought leggings were a requirement now as several pairs piled up.

When the topic shifted to swimwear, Yuqi tried to steer them away. “We don’t need to get that today,” she protested, but Kelly wasn’t having it.

“Oh, come on, you need at least one good swimsuit!” Kelly said, holding up a bikini with a purple scale pattern. Yuqi’s eyes lit up before she could stop herself. Something about the pattern stirred excitement in her dragon side.

Kelly noticed immediately and smirked. “You like it, don’t you?”

“No, I just—” Yuqi started, but her voice faltered as she glanced at the bikini again. Kelly giggled, clearly amused.

“Purple scales, huh? That’s so you,” Kelly teased, adding it to the growing pile. Yuqi groaned but didn’t argue, secretly pleased with the choice.

After finishing their shopping spree, Yuqi carried her bags, feeling the weight of the day both physically and emotionally. Summer clothes were checked off the list, though she knew another trip loomed closer to the start of school.

At least she had shoes now, right? Wrong. She learned quickly that one pair wouldn’t cut it. Sandals and Crocs joined the collection, ensuring she had options for every casual occasion.

Yuqi, her mom, and Kelly were famished by the time they were done.

They made their way to the food court, the smell of fried food and sugary treats luring them in. It was a small reward after what had felt like a marathon of shopping.

Yuqi’s heart stopped as the familiar voice cut through the noise of the food court. “Mrs. Allen, how is David doing?” Elliot asked cheerfully.

Yuqi froze mid-bite, her mind racing. She hadn’t planned for this, and the idea of Elliot seeing her like this sent her spiraling into panic.

Her mom, ever composed, smiled warmly at Elliot. “Elliot, how are you? David is doing a little better. He’s just trying to adjust to some changes he had to make. I’ll let him know you asked about him.”

“Right, sure, Mrs. Allen. I appreciate it,” Elliot replied with a polite nod, glancing briefly at the table but not long enough to scrutinize Yuqi.

As he walked away, Yuqi finally exhaled, her shoulders slumping with relief. Her mom reached over and patted her hand. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “We’ll figure this out, one step at a time.”

Yuqi nodded, but her appetite was gone. How am I going to handle school if I can barely handle running into one person? she thought.

Yuqi sank into her seat as they pulled out of the parking lot. The encounter with Elliot lingered in her mind, but before she could dwell on it, her mom broke the silence.

“We are going to have to come up with something to explain, you, Yuqi,” she said, her tone practical but gentle.

Yuqi sighed, leaning her head against the window. “Yeah, I know. But what? Nothing about this makes sense, even to me.”

Her mom gave her a reassuring glance through the rearview mirror. “We’ll figure it out. It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to work.”

Kelly, sitting in the front seat, added, “It’s gotta be something believable, though. People are going to ask questions.”

Yuqi nodded silently, the weight of the problem pressing down on her. What could they possibly say that anyone would believe?