"Ruiyang, are you going to afternoon classes?"
"Did you guys get me excused?"
"We did."
"Then why would I go?"
Hao Ren: "Whoa, even a model student like you skipping class? Still drained from yesterday?"
"I told you, I did nothing. Besides, I’ve mastered the rest of the courses—skipping won’t matter."
In their computer science program, Zhou Ruiyang always ranked top-tier, even developing software independently.
"Bro Meng, is this human speech?"
"Chill. Ruiyang hasn’t been human for days anyway."
After lunch, Hao Ren and Meng Xianyong headed to class together. Zhou Ruiyang lay on his bed, thoughtful.
He believed that girl was Mujin transformed. But questions nagged him.
What was she up to?
And how could she turn female again?
Zhou Ruiyang suddenly found Mujin mysterious. Reflecting, she’d acted oddly daily as a sparrow—suddenly taking System tasks—and never explained when asked.
He realized he’d never truly known her.
Just then, a small sparrow flew in through the window, landing on his chest.
"I’m back, Xiao Yang," the sparrow chirped in a crisp female voice.
"What were you doing? Wait—you flew back? Your wings healed?" Zhou Ruiyang gently probed Mujin’s wings, finding the injuries gone.
"Well… it wasn’t that bad. I tested flying, explored campus, and grabbed a bite."
Mujin let out a burp; she’d eaten so much that flying back was exhausting.
Luckily, when reverting to sparrow form, stomach contents shrank too. Otherwise, that bowl of duck leg rice would’ve burst her.
A trace of doubt flickered in Zhou Ruiyang’s eyes. He tested her: "Mujin, are you hiding something?"
"Nope! What could I hide?" Mujin’s eyes darted before she switched tactics: "Hey, who was that girl visiting you today?"
"Girl? You saw her?" Zhou Ruiyang asked, astonished.
"Yeah! She showed up naked on your bed, flopped down—I barely escaped being crushed. That’s how I discovered I could fly!"
Strange. Wasn’t that girl Mujin? Why question him now?
Zhou Ruiyang grew confused.
This was Mujin’s tactic. Sensing his suspicion, she struck first to avoid being cornered.
Gotcha, Xiao Yang! This is Mujin’s bluff route!
Zhou Ruiyang frowned. He still thought the girl was Mujin. If not her, who was she? Why naked on his bed, stealing his clothes?
After deep thought, he faced Mujin: "That girl was you, right? Don’t worry—I won’t spread this."
He sensed her secrecy but lacked reasons.
"Me? Ridiculous! How could it be?" Mujin feigned shock.
"She used the back door. Only our dorm has keys."
"Idiot! If she stalked you, she might’ve seen you unlock it."
"But—"
"No buts. Think: if I could turn female, I’d have done it when captured. Why wait for your last-minute rescue?"
Zhou Ruiyang froze.
Her logic was solid.
If she could become human—even female—she’d avoid capture entirely.
Seeing him waver, Mujin pressed: "Besides, why hide it? You believed I turned into a sparrow. If I became a girl, I’d tell you!"
Zhou Ruiyang nodded. "Makes sense."
Normally, her arguments held. But Mujin wasn’t normal.
She had the System—and its tasks were whimsical, unpredictable.
[Host successfully completed welfare task. Gained 1% progress bar.]
Nice! He bought it!
Mujin grinned inwardly. She opened her beak: "Xiao Yang, you fool, actually I—"
She meant to confess everything. Task done, no reason to hide her human form.
But her words cut off mid-sentence.
[New welfare task activated. Host must hide female identity from everyone. +0.1% progress per day concealed. Exposure resets progress to zero.]
Damn it! You did this on purpose!
Welfare tasks aren’t supposed to have penalties! Resetting progress?
[This System never claimed welfare tasks lack penalties. Host assumed incorrectly.]
You freaking—
Mujin cursed internally. Zhou Ruiyang’s gaze sharpened. "What were you saying, Mujin? Actually what?"
"Ah!" Mujin scrambled. "Actually… I meant…"
"Meant what?"
"Well… right! If I turned female, I wouldn’t just tell you—I’d pleasure you too!" To cover her slip, she blurted nonsense.
Talk. Just talk. She knew it was absurd but pushed on.
"Pleasure me?"
"Yeah! Helping brothers have fun as a girl is normal, right? So look forward to my transformation—I’ll blow your mind!" Mujin hopped on Zhou Ruiyang’s chest, earnest.
Since the System demanded eternal secrecy, he’d never learn her truth.
She could safely bluff.
"Is it the pleasure I’m thinking of?"
"Judging by your face… probably."
Zhou Ruiyang recalled Mujin’s pre-disappearance cross-dressing dance and confession.
He fell silent, stroking her fluffy body absentmindedly, treating her like a toy.
"Tickles! Why pet me?" Mujin complained but didn’t pull away.
She disliked the tingling sensation yet felt no resistance.
In his hands, she felt safe, calm.
After all, he’d saved her. A few strokes were fine.
"Mujin, are you gay?"
"?"
