Upon hearing the System prompt, Mujin froze, slightly dazed.

How had she accidentally completed the welfare task?

She’d only caught a few mosquitoes—she hadn’t even started being Zhou Ruiyang’s "welfare girl" yet.

Could catching mosquitoes count as repaying Zhou Ruiyang’s kindness?

Mujin knew this System loved wordplay. Maybe "welfare" didn’t just mean being a welfare girl. Perhaps any help she offered qualified.

So the daily welfare task simply meant doing one thing Zhou Ruiyang wanted each day?

What a discovery!

Mujin lifted her gaze. Zhou Ruiyang reached out, gently rubbing her chin. "Didn’t know you had this trick," he chuckled. "Guess I won’t need to buy you food anymore. Mosquitoes’ll do."

Mujin glared at him, eyes flashing with a trace of anger.

She was a sparrow, sure—but her appetite was huge! A few mosquitoes could never fill her stomach.

"Alright, windows open!" Hao Ren flung the pane wide, grinning. "Come on in, freeloaders! I promise—a one-way trip!"

The moment he finished, a black shadow darted inside. It clung upside-down to the ceiling.

Hao Ren jumped back. At first he thought it was a bird—but when he squinted, his face went pale.

"A bat!?"

His shout drew every eye upward. A black bat hung inverted, its face twisted in a snarl.

"Ahhh!" Meng Xianyong shrieked, scrambling off his desk to flatten himself against the wall. Hands clutched his chest like an 180-pound scaredy-cat.

Mujin wondered what kind of cursed school this was. Sparrow hawks? Bats? Might as well film *Planet Earth* here.

Zhou Ruiyang hopped off his bed, grabbing a mop to shoo the bat out.

He didn’t want to kill it. Beyond respecting life, a dead bat would be messy to clean up.

But this bat seemed possessed. It dodged nimbly, only circling the room before landing somewhere new—no intention of leaving.

"Bats fly everywhere!" Meng Xianyong yelped as Zhou Ruiyang swung the mop. "Stop chasing it!"

"What, live with it?" Zhou Ruiyang shot back.

Hao Ren’s head popped out from under his quilt. "Bro, that’s a Flying-type Zubat! Your Ground-type moves won’t work. Send out your Pidgey!"

"Pidgey?" Zhou Ruiyang blinked. "Where?"

"Your little sparrow! That’s your Pidgey!"

Mujin’s feathers bristled inwardly: *Screw you, Hao Ren! I’m no Pidgey!*

*At least call me a Fearow!*

Zhou Ruiyang saw logic in it. Mujin had wings. She could chase the bat relentlessly.

He turned away, lowering his voice. "Mujin, can you handle this bat?"

Mujin’s pupils shrank. Her head shook like a rattle drum.

Joke’s on him—this bat was her size! Normal humans would flee from a bat that big. Courage meant not running away screaming.

Zhou Ruiyang faced the others. "I asked her. She says she can’t do it alone. She needs... encouragement."

*Hey! I never said that!*

Mujin fumed but stayed calm. They’d surely laugh it off.

Instead, Hao Ren cheered: "Chirpy! You’re our only hope! Go, Big Brother with Wings!"

Even Meng Xianyong yelled: "Climb this mountain! Let them hear your story!"

Mujin froze.

*Are you two twelve?!*

She refused to chase that gross bat. One bite, and she’d catch rabies.

But their earnest cheers made her hesitate. She hated refusing sincere requests. Always the pushover.

Gritting her beak, she launched toward the bat.

As she neared, the bat spread its wings and bared needle-like teeth.

Its huge, rat-like face terrified her. Without attacking, she spun and dove straight into Zhou Ruiyang’s palm, trembling.

"Aww... Chirpy’s a scaredy-bird."

"Bro Meng, say that after you step out from behind the curtains."

"You first come out from your quilt!"

Mujin buried her head in her feathers. *Ostrich mode: activated.*

This was her habit—when problems overwhelmed her, she hid. Let time solve it.

Like hiding a failing test paper until parent-teacher conferences brought the double-team scolding.

A warm hand settled on her head.

She looked up. Zhou Ruiyang smiled down at her.

"Don’t force yourself. I’ve got this."

He picked up the mop again, walking toward the bat.

Mujin stared at his back, warmth blooming in her chest.

Before, avoidance brought only harsh words:

*"You MUST study! It’s your duty!"*

*"Run the 1000 meters! Stomachache? No excuses!"*

*"Family gatherings are mandatory. No friends? Suck it up."*

Being dragged back to face problems was her normal.

But...

*"Don’t force yourself. I’ve got this."*

No one had ever said that to her.

Yet the gentler Zhou Ruiyang was, the fiercer Mujin’s resolve burned.

People mirror each other. Betrayal breeds scheming. Sincerity breeds loyalty.

Zhou Ruiyang’s kindness now forged her courage.

*Little Sheep has saved me so many times. Now it’s my turn.*

She closed her eyes, opening the Points Shop. Scrolled to Attributes.

【Host spent 15 points on ‘Short-Term Attack Boost’】

【Host spent 15 points on ‘Short-Term Defense Boost’】

【Host spent 15 points on ‘Short-Term Speed Boost’】

Emergency Enhancement...

Activate!

Mujin opened her eyes. Power surged through her tiny body.

Now—she could win.

Zhou Ruiyang had taken three steps when a blur shot past him.

The bat hissed, spreading its wings to fight—but before it registered Mujin’s movement, she slammed into it headfirst.

Darkness swallowed the bat’s vision. Its body crumpled to the floor.

*Perfect! Headbutt landed. Press the advantage—*

Mujin shook her head, ready to strike again. Then she saw the bat lying motionless.

*Huh?*

*It’s... dead?*