“Mm, Mom, Dad, that’s it.” Little Loli walked them through the day, skipping the part where she went berserk. As for the blood on her, she said a bunch of punks argued over their cut, knives flashed like cold fish scales, and the splatter got her while she bolted.

She pressed out tears until her eyes reddened like sunset on water. Her new mom grabbed her and sobbed, voice shaking like wind in bamboo. “My poor girl! Weren’t you scared? No more running around alone—promise me.” “I promise I won’t run around alone,” Little Loli said solemnly, the steadiness in her tone masking the tremor under her ribs.

“Good. Don’t spread this around. Xiaoxue, stay sharp,” her new dad chimed in, voice flat as a gavel. “The day after tomorrow you start middle school. Registration’s tomorrow. Sleep early tonight.”

“What—school tomorrow?” Wu Hao blurted, breath stuttering like a hiccup. “Yep. Report in tomorrow. Don’t sleep in.” Dad ruffled her hair, then hauled Mom back to their room like a bull steering a cart.

“OMG, you serious? I just dropped into this world and almost got assaulted, and now I’m registering for school?” Little Loli fumed, flipped the bird at the ceiling like a thin spear at the moon. Then she sighed, the air draining from her chest. Fine. Reality. Back when Wu Hao graduated senior high, his grades weren’t stellar, but not bad; with his family’s backing, he’d always landed top schools.

School won’t be a problem. What scares me is being too pretty and attracting pests. In school, I can’t throw punches; that’s not a girl’s style. Wu Hao’s pride kicked in—if he’s a girl now, he’ll do it right. “Enough. Sleep.” She rolled for the bed, but her skirt flipped, cool air licked her thighs like a cat’s tongue, and a shiver tapped her spine.

“Ugh, better find a pair of underwear.” She slid off the bed and popped the wardrobe. A parade of cute styles lined up like candies in a glass jar—frills, blue-and-white stripes, and more. She picked a pink base with white stripes and tugged it up along her pale legs. Her face warmed with embarrassment. “Ugh… my legs feel like jelly. Why is this so hard…”

She flopped onto the bed, golden hair tips falling on her nose like soft straw. “Ah—achoo!” The sneeze snapped her upright; she yanked the waistband into place, then covered her burning face and fell back, a small boat capsized on a quiet lake.

“Seriously, if even putting on underwear is this hard, how’s anyone supposed to live?” She rolled across the mattress and, somewhere between sigh and spin, drifted into sleep.

Morning slid in like warm honey. Her backside felt toasty. The door banged open, and her new mom stormed in, palm arcing down on her tender butt.

Smack! A scream cracked the room. “Aa-aa-aa-aa-aa!” Little Loli shot upright, clutching her backside, golden eyes going glassy with tears. “M—Mom, what are you doing…”

“Enough, you little imp. Don’t play pitiful—I’m immune.” Mom slashed the air with her hand. “Look at the time. Registration already started!” “What? I overslept?” Her eyes went full moon.

“Of course you did. Clothes. Now!” Mom flung the uniform onto the bed and rushed out like a gust down a corridor. Little Loli eyed it: black collar with black trim on a white top, a crest stamped Yaohua Middle School, and a pure-black, over-knee skirt—ink on snow, plain and sharp.

“Did the designer just come from a funeral? What is this palette!” She ranted, then conceded with a snort. Still beats those potato-sack junior-high uniforms.

She stripped off her pajamas in a blur. She looked down, facepalmed, grabbed a bra, and wrestled with the straps like tying a kite in wind. A pair of dark tights came next; she hopped into them, then poked her head out the door. “Mom, help with my hair!”

Mom swooped in, sat her before the mirror, hands fluttering like sparrows on a branch. Seconds later, a crisp golden twin-tail bloomed in the glass. “Mom, why this style…” “It suits my Xiaoxue best. Less questions. Eat and go. Your dad’s downstairs, and your backpack’s ready.”

Little Loli nodded, gulped a few mouthfuls of milk, snatched a piece of bread, and dashed out. Her golden twin-tails streamed behind her like flying ribbons; paired with the uniform and that bright face, she was dangerously cute.

On the way, eyes turned and widened—each pair a lit lantern. No time to think; she sprinted for the gate. Rows of luxury cars crouched and gleamed like black beetles. Tears pricked her eyes. Which one’s Dad’s…