In a wheat field, Zhou Ruiyang and Yewanmu walked one behind the other.

Sunlight bathed the golden stalks. She wore a straw hat, her brown hair gleaming as she glanced back with a sweet smile.

She stopped, catching his hand.

"Why’d you stop?"

"Uh…" Zhou Ruiyang was utterly bewildered. He didn’t even know how he’d ended up here.

"Talk to me," Yewanmu murmured, lowering her head shyly. "Or… I’ll kiss you."

*What’s happening?*

*Where am I?*

*Did I skip a chapter?*

Silence from Zhou made the girl puff her cheeks in frustration. She hopped in front of him, rising on tiptoes.

The moment their lips met, Zhou’s pupils snapped tight.

*Weren’t we starting as friends?*

*Why’s she acting closer than before?*

His heart hammered—excitement or nerves, he couldn’t tell.

Before him, the girl’s eyes were softly closed, kissing him with quiet focus.

Yet something felt… off.

He’d never kissed a girl before, so who was he to judge? But…

Lips should be soft, right?

Hers felt hard and pointy, with a stinging prickle of pain.

*Is kissing always like this?*

*Like how cats and dogs both have tongues, but only cats have those scratchy spines?*

The sharp sting grew sharper. The girl’s face blurred.

Zhou squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them, blue sky and clouds vanished. Instead, two round, bright eyes filled his vision.

They crinkled with laughter as she gently pecked his nose.

"Wake up, Xiao Yang!"

That familiar voice jolted him fully awake.

*Just a dream?*

*So that "kiss" was Mujin pecking me?*

…His mood plummeted instantly.

"What do you want?" he grumbled. "Food and water are ready. I’ll flush the toilet later."

"I… wanted to ask," the little sparrow chirped, hopping eagerly beside him, "is there anything you wish to do today? Tell me!"

Zhou checked his phone. "It’s 7:10. You woke me for *this*?"

"Yep! You’re my precious son, but I can’t just mooch off you. Let me do something to repay you!"

Yesterday, Mujin learned "welfare distribution" meant helping Zhou fulfill his wishes. She’d planned to ask early—while Meng Xianyong was out jogging and Hao Ren still snored.

Zhou just rolled over. "Sleeping sounds better than making wishes."

As he turned, a certain morning problem caught Mujin’s full attention.

"Xiao Yang! You’ve… *grown*! Were you dreaming something dirty?"

"Are pretty girls ‘dirty’?" he mused.

"Eh? You dreamed of a beauty? Was she cute?"

Zhou opened his eyes, recalling the dream seriously. "Actually, yeah. But I don’t know why I dreamed of *her*."

"*Her*? Someone you know?" A dreadful suspicion dawned on Mujin. "Wait… was it that girl chasing you?"

"Probably her, yeah."

Mujin froze.

*He was dreaming about… doing shameless things with ME?!*

*Dim lights. Her pinned to a soft bed. Struggling, but his grip locked her wrists. Forced to endure his wild kisses—*

A shiver of disgust ran through her.

*Being his fantasy object? Gross.*

*Worse—he doesn’t even know it’s me, and he’s spilling every detail!*

Then Mujin spotted a loophole. She tilted her head, testing: "Xiao Yang… are you rushing back to sleep just to see her again?"

(Saying it made her feathers burn with shame.)

"Yep. Don’t bother me. I’ve got a date."

"But it’s past seven! Breakfast time anyway!"

"Breakfast…" Zhou yawned, eyes already closing. "I’ll let her feed me in the dream…"

Mujin’s eyes widened. *He dreams of me feeding him? So that’s his deepest wish?*

Her mind cleared like a starry sky.

*This guy… plays for keeps.*

While Zhou slept, Mujin plucked bills from his pocket, flew out the window, and darted into the cafeteria restroom.

The door opened. "Yewanmu" stepped out. She bought breakfast, humming happily.

*Today’s task will be easy.*

Walking toward the classroom building, a chirp echoed from above.

Mujin froze. She looked up—there was the sparrow she’d saved yesterday.

It chirped a greeting.

*Strange. I’m human now. How does it recognize me?*

Seeing no one around, she softly chirped back.

Chirping felt natural as a bird. As a girl? Mortifying.

The sparrow landed on her palm, gently pecking her skin.

*Why are you so big now?* its chirps seemed to ask.

Mujin smiled. "I’m busy. I’ll explain later," she whispered in bird-speak.

The sparrow understood. It spread its wings and soared away.

*Such a cute little thing…*

Mujin watched it vanish.

*Am I this cute to Xiao Yang too?*

······

Zhou Ruiyang jolted awake under Hao Ren’s frantic shaking.

"What time is it, bro?! Your alarm failed!"

Blearily checking his phone, Zhou shot upright.

"Holy crap—it’s 7:45?!"

He might shrug off being late, but he’d still try to avoid it.

They scrambled out the door, barely making it to school by eight.

"Hey bro, where’s your sparrow?" Hao Ren asked.

Zhou patted his empty chest. "Ah… too rushed. Forgot her."

*She’s punishing me,* he realized. *Wake me too early or not at all.*

He thought the chaotic morning was the worst part.

He was wrong.

Sitting in his seat, smiling warmly, was the brown-haired girl from his dream.

She waved when she saw him.

"Morning, silly lamb~" Her voice was sweet with playful mischief.

"Whoa—this is *my* seat!" Hao Ren scratched his head. "Where do I sit?"

The girl’s smile vanished. "Seats aren’t assigned here, right?"

No official seating chart existed, but three years of habit made spots unofficially claimed.

Mujin wouldn’t budge. She had a mission.

Hao Ren sighed. "Fine. I’ll take Mujin’s seat."

Zhou sat stiffly. The girl leaned close, her faint floral scent making him edge his chair away.

"Miss, please maintain proper distance," he muttered. He’d never been good with girls.

Mujin rolled her eyes.

*Hard as a rock in your dream, now playing saint?*

She whispered, "Don’t misunderstand. I just thought—you’re late. Didn’t eat, right? I brought bread."

She pulled out a freshly opened pack of French pastries.

*Perfect.* She’d disabled Zhou’s alarm. Hao Ren’s body would wake near lateness, guaranteeing Zhou skipped breakfast. Her chance to feed him.

"Uh… I can’t accept."

"Don’t be shy! We’re friends! You treated me to grilled sausages last time. Fair trade."

(*Paid for with your own money,* she added mentally.

"True. Thanks." Zhou reached for a piece.

Mujin slapped his hand away.

Zhou: ?

"You just came from outside. Dirty hands?" She frowned, clutching her chest dramatically. "Think of the bread! Its fate is tragic enough—don’t let its last moments be ruined by grime. It’ll die depressed!"

"What… do I do then?" Zhou was baffled.

*Pretty girl. Weird brain.*

"Easy." Mujin plucked a pastry between slender fingers, beaming.

"I’ll feed you."

"No way."