In the dorm room, Zhou Ruiyang sat on his bed, Mujin perched in his palm, glaring at him furiously.

"Aw, I've already apologized. Stop looking at me like that. I did find you again, didn't I?" Zhou Ruiyang scratched his hair, looking awkward.

Luckily, he'd noticed in time and chased the bus to stop it.

If it had gone farther, he might have truly lost contact with Mujin.

He wouldn't worry about her normally, but now with injured wings, she could only hop. Forget survival—even getting off the bus was a problem.

"How dare you say that! After you left, I almost got sat on and killed by a middle-aged woman! Luckily, I dodged fast, or I'd be flattened by now."

Mujin hadn't expected Zhou Ruiyang's movements to be so wild. He'd flung her off and darted off the bus without giving her a chance to shout.

"Haha, sorry. You look so cute when angry, all puffed up like a ball."

"Get lost! You're the ball, your whole family are balls!" Mujin shot back. Her eyes darted, then she changed tone. "Unless you answer my questions, I won't stop being mad."

"Go ahead."

"Hmm... how did you know I was at the flower and bird market?"

"Well, it's a bit complicated."

Zhou Ruiyang easily believed Liu Dacheng when told Mujin was traded.

Liu Dacheng said the Sparrow could speak human language. Sparrows can't talk, so he wasn't bluffing—he'd really seen it.

Besides, selling a talking Sparrow made more sense than eating it.

Zhou Ruiyang immediately had Liu Dacheng contact the seller.

But when Liu Dacheng called again, the number was disconnected.

Zhou Ruiyang wasn't fooled. After using some "little tricks" on Liu Dacheng, he got Lao Zhang's shop address.

Zhou Ruiyang took a taxi there.

Sadly, Lao Zhang had left, locking the shop tight.

Zhou Ruiyang shouted "Mujin" twice inside. Only frantic bird chirps answered—no reply from her.

He didn't know if she was even there. In that noise, she might not have heard him.

So he camped in a nearby corner overnight, waiting for Lao Zhang.

As expected, two people arrived at the flower and bird market early next morning.

Zhou Ruiyang didn't recognize Lao Zhang. He quietly followed them.

Along the way, he grabbed pebbles from an aquarium shop's entrance, just in case.

He was right. Finding Mujin, he rescued her successfully.

Mujin stared in shock. "So you searched for me all last night?"

"Yeah. Since I found you missing from the park nest, I've been looking. How else would I appear at that critical moment? No coincidences here." Zhou Ruiyang smiled.

"Why care so much about me?"

"Well... I'm probably the only person who knows you exist. Being 'the only one' feels great. And..." He turned serious. "Aren't we friends?"

"Wuwu, Little Sheep, you're truly my good son."

"Huh?!"

"No, no—good brother, good brother." Mujin corrected herself fast. "One more question: why not sell me for that million?"

"That's not a question. You're not for sale. You're a human who just looks like a bird, right?"

"Only you think that! Others see a Sparrow. Even if I talk, they'd call me a spirit—not human."

"Really? So selling you wouldn't matter?" Zhou Ruiyang frowned, then slammed the bed hard.

"Damn, what a huge loss!"

Mujin's jaw dropped. "You damn fool! You didn't think it through! Die!"

Furious, she pecked his palm fiercely.

"Ouch! I was joking, bro!" Zhou Ruiyang flipped off the bed. "Stay here. I'll grab food and bird feed for you."

"Oh, hurry back." Reminded, Mujin felt hungry too.

She hadn't eaten enough since yesterday, numb from starvation.

After Zhou Ruiyang left, Mujin stood on his small bed, recalling his words.

This guy was unexpectedly loyal!

Without him, she'd never have escaped that place.

[Congratulations, Host! Escape task complete. +5% progress. Reward: External Wound Recovery.]

Mujin flapped her wings—they'd miraculously healed.

[Congratulations! Host progress: 24.5%. First stage cleared. Choose one reward:]

[Reward One: Thirty minutes daily as human.]

[Reward Two: Points shop items half-price all day.]

[Reward Three: Rapid recovery—body heals several times faster than normal.]

Yesss!!

The other rewards were generous, but Reward One made Mujin ignore everything else.

Thirty minutes was short, but enough to do so much!

At least she wouldn't be a missing person anymore!

[Host selected Reward One. To transform, silently chant "I want to transform" three times.]

I want to transform! I want to transform! I want to transform!

Mujin shouted. Her body grew visibly, shifting from Sparrow to human in seconds.

She stared at her hands. Tears welled in her eyes.

Real human hands—and no dream!

Mujin jumped off the bed, eager for a mirror.

She hadn't seen herself in over ten days, almost forgetting her face.

But as she landed, vigorous chest shaking felt wrong.

She looked down. Her eyes widened.

Why couldn't she see her feet?

Her view was blocked by two bulging mounds on her chest.

What was this? Such exaggerated pecs?

Mujin pinched them. Soft, smooth—unexpectedly amazing.

She played with them, then froze.

Wait... this couldn't be!?

Boobs!?

Why did she have boobs!?

An ominous feeling hit. Barefoot, she sprinted to the dorm mirror.

The girl reflected had long brown hair, delicate feather-like brows, skin smooth as jade.

On her cute oval face, almond eyes held shock. Her rosy mouth hung slightly open. With that curvy figure, she was pure moe-style cuteness.

Mujin's face warmed. The mirror girl blushed shyly back, as if responding.

System, what's happening?!

[As Host sees: human form achieved.]

Why not my original self?!

[This is Host's true appearance. Examine closely.]

Mujin felt flustered staring at the girl.

She'd been single since birth, never this close to another girl.

Forcing down shyness, she leaned in.

Up close, the girl shared traces of Mujin's old features—but softer, more beautiful. Like a different person.

Why a girl?!

[System stated 'become human,' not 'original form.' Read carefully next time, Host.]

You damn—

Before she could curse, noisy commotion erupted outside the corridor.

The dorm doorknob turned.

Someone's back!?