"I said, it was a little sparrow who helped me out. It drew down the license plate number of the other car and found a way to let me know... Wait, why do you all look like you don't believe me?"

He clearly saw the officer in front of him giving him *that* look—the one reserved for the mentally challenged.

"Oh no, no! We believe you, absolutely believe you," the police captain said with a professional smile. "By the way, you'll need to come down to the station with us. As a witness, we'll need your statement. Don't worry—we'll drive you back after."

Zhou Ruiyang knew no one would believe this without seeing it firsthand. He shrugged. "Fine."

Before he could get into the police car, a tiny shadow darted inside ahead of him.

Sparrow perched on the back seat, stretching out a wing to mimic a human "shh" gesture.

Mujin had no choice. The park was far away, and flying back would exhaust her. A free ride was too good to pass up. Once near her university, the rest of the journey would be easy.

Zhou Ruiyang gave a subtle nod. He knew if the officers spotted a sparrow in their car, they’d shoo it out immediately. Birds had a habit of... relieving themselves anywhere. But Zhou Ruiyang felt this sparrow wouldn’t do that. He didn’t report it. Instead, he adjusted his jacket, tucking Mujin beneath it as he slid into the seat.

Mujin was surprised.

*This guy actually cares about little animals?*

And lucky for him it was her—if it were anyone else, they’d have screamed about ghosts by now.

Maybe it was precisely because he was a bit slow that he accepted weird things so easily.

······

In the police station lobby, a policewoman was gently coaxing a little girl, but the child’s brow remained furrowed, lost in worry.

The door swung open. The girl looked up. Her watery eyes instantly brimmed with tears. She leaped off her chair and ran over.

"Mommy!"

"Baby! You’re safe!"

The woman crushed her daughter in a tight embrace, tears streaming down her own face.

Before the kidnappers seized her, she’d sensed they were following her. Terrified but clear-headed, she’d hidden her child deep in the park woods, whispering strict instructions not to wander. Only then did she let herself be taken.

A mother’s instinct—to shield her child first, even in the darkest hour.

Now, reunited, the young mother’s carefully held composure shattered. Relief and fear poured out in quiet sobs.

The officers watching exchanged warm, relieved smiles. Nothing felt better than seeing the people you protected weep with joy.

Even a sparrow was moved.

Perched on Zhou Ruiyang’s shoulder, Mujin stared blankly.

She was a sparrow, but she carried a human heart.

She remembered being lost as a child, wailing in a crowd, feeling the world collapse—until her mother rushed through the throng. She’d thrown herself into those arms just like this little girl.

In that young mother’s face, she saw her own mother’s reflection.

*Mom...*

Memories flashed: her mother’s tired smile carrying her backpack in elementary school; the happy glow watching her devour three-filling dumplings in middle school; the quiet pride dropping her off at university.

Three days missing now. Had Mom called? Was she worried sick?

Mujin’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

She missed her parents.

The carefree days as a sparrow vanished. This scene ripped open emotions she’d buried.

She brushed a tear away with her feather. Her gaze hardened.

*No. I have to become human again.*

But reality was harsh. The transformation pill cost 30,000 points. Even grinding system tasks all day might earn her only a few dozen. At this rate, it’d take over three years. By then, her human identity might be erased.

After a long pause, Mujin made her choice.

*System. Change my wish. From becoming a billionaire to becoming human.*

Points wouldn’t save her. Only the system’s wish mechanic could. She’d already cleared 62% of her last wish in two months. If she pushed harder, she might reclaim her humanity before semester’s end.

【Friendly reminder: Wish progress is currently at 62%. Changing wishes will reset progress. Confirm or cancel?】

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath.

Letting go of wealth hurt. Who gives up a fortune so easily?

But what good was money if she wasn’t even human?

*Confirm!*

【Wish changed successfully. New objective: Transform from sparrow to human. First task issued—Sparrow’s Daily Good Deed. Perform one act of kindness today. Greater deeds yield greater rewards.】

Mujin froze. *Didn’t I just...?*

Before she could ask, the system chimed.

【Ding! Congratulations on completing a Tier-Special Good Deed! +5% wish progress! Bonus reward unlocked: ‘Triple-Choice Gift Pack’.】

【Option 1: 300 points instantly.】

【Option 2: ‘Flight Mastery’—fly faster than 99% of living creatures. Execute sharp stops, turns, and maneuvers. Note: Retained after human transformation.】

【Option 3: ‘Human Speech Mastery’—produce human speech with an avian throat. Note: Retained after human transformation.】

Mujin’s mind reeled.

*Holy crap, damn system! Since when are you this generous?!*

Triple-choice packs were rare, but these options? Unprecedented.

And she could only pick one.

*"I want them all!"* she screamed internally. But the "Wish-Granting" system never granted *that* wish.

Option 1 was trash—both masteries cost 500+ points normally.

Flight Mastery... she’d always wanted it. As a sparrow, she flew like a driving-test newbie while others zipped away like race car pros.

And flying *as a human*? Superpowers!

Her choice was obvious—

*Human Speech Mastery!*

【Ding! Host selected Flight—wait. Clarify selection?】

The system glitched. Mujin’s thoughts had been gushing over flight mastery until that sudden pivot.

*Mujin: Human Speech! Now! I need to talk!*

Today’s silence had been torture. Next time trouble struck, she could just *speak*.

Flight Mastery? Useless. She lived in a park—no long flights needed. And flying as a human? With today’s surveillance? She’d end up dissected in a lab as an "alien specimen."

【Human Speech Mastery activated. Silent command: ‘Human Speech’.】

Later, back at Q City University, Zhou Ruiyang waved goodbye to the officers and lifted Mujin from under his jacket.

"Alright, it’s dark. Time to fly home."

Mujin stayed perched on his palm, staring intently.

"Why are you looking at me like that? I’ll toss you out if you don’t go," he teased, but brought her closer instead, studying her tiny face. "You’re cute. And smart. Are you... a sparrow spirit? One that can talk?"

It was a joke.

Then a clear female voice chirped from the sparrow’s beak:

"Well, would you look at that. You guessed right."

Zhou Ruiyang froze mid-sentence.