"Why?" Mujin asked curiously. "I'm feeding you—you don't even have to lift a finger. Isn't that convenient?"

"Stop joking. Just hand it over. Class is about to start."

"Nope. Not unless I do it myself."

"That won't work. Things like this should always be the guy's move."

Zhou Ruiyang thought Mujin was just teasing.

This was the classroom, under everyone's eyes. How could he possibly agree without embarrassment?

Even if no one was around, he'd still refuse.

He reached for the bread, but Mujin stuffed it into her clothes and slumped onto the desk.

"No way. You won't eat it unless I feed you!"

"Fine," Zhou Ruiyang sighed.

Mujin's eyes lit up.

"Then I won't eat at all."

"You! Give me some face. Just let me feed you one piece."

"Why are you so set on feeding me?" Zhou Ruiyang raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Because... I want to get closer to you."

"Can a relationship really deepen over one piece of bread?"

"Haven't you heard? No bond can't be strengthened by feeding one bread. If it fails, feed two."

"Who made that up?"

"Said by Yours Truly."

Zhou Ruiyang shook his head. "I'll never let you feed me. If you won't give it, I simply won't eat."

*This guy—why so stubborn?*

Mujin fell silent, pursed her lips, and her eyes welled up. She pleaded pitifully, "Wah... please, just eat one piece, Brother Ruiyang."

"No way. Don't even think about it." Zhou Ruiyang didn't flinch, making classmates envious.

Jiang Kai turned to his girlfriend An Meng. "Look at that girlfriend. When will you give me that vibe?"

"No way. Don't even think about it."

"... "

Seeing his firmness, Mujin puffed her cheeks. "Fine! Starve then!"

She lay motionless on the desk, plotting her next move.

This was a 1% progress bar—she couldn't miss it.

"Class is starting soon. Aren't you leaving?"

"None of your business. This miss comes and goes as she pleases." Mujin huffed, turning away.

With her Transformation Time Extension Card, she had ample time.

"Alright."

Silence settled between them.

"Ah~"

The girl slumped on the desk, looking sleepy.

Bored, she blew at her bangs, yawning nonstop, uncaring of her messy hair.

Yet this made her seem more candid and cute.

Yawning is contagious, after all.

Science explains it: mirror neurons in our brains trigger imitation.

Human civilization thrives on copying such behaviors.

Mujin's yawn activated Zhou Ruiyang's mirror neurons.

He'd slept poorly; the yawn reignited his drowsiness.

Slowly, he opened his mouth.

"Ah... mmm!!"

As Zhou Ruiyang yawned widest, something soft stuffed into his mouth. He tried to spit it out, but an outside force snapped his jaw shut.

Forced to bite, sweetness flooded his senses. He chewed instinctively and swallowed.

Mujin beamed as he swallowed.

*Task complete at last.*

But no System notification came.

*Weird. Why no reward, System?*

【Friendly reminder: Forced gratitude backfires. Task failed.】

Her smile vanished. Anger flashed in her eyes.

*Damn it!*

All that effort—wasted!

Her face fell. Her good mood shattered the moment the System spoke.

Mujin slumped in dejection. Zhou Ruiyang chewed, confused.

Why had "Yewanmu" brought him breakfast—and insisted on feeding him?

He always ate breakfast; today he'd just overslept. If he'd eaten normally, her trip would've been pointless.

Zhou Ruiyang felt pranked, yet it didn't quite fit.

She seemed more like she was completing a task.

And this feeding scene... it felt familiar.

*Right!*

This morning, he'd told Mujin about dreaming of her feeding him breakfast.

How did his offhand remark become real?

Or... did saying it to her make it happen?

Zhou Ruiyang frowned slightly. No one knew his thoughts.

Just then, the girl snapped, "Move. I need out."

She sat by the window; Zhou Ruiyang blocked her path.

She expected him to yield—but he raised an eyebrow.

"You want out?"

"Yes."

The task was over. No reason to stay.

"Sorry. I can't let you."

"Why?"

Zhou Ruiyang smiled calmly. "Simple. You forced me to do something I disliked. Now I'll do something you hate."

"Huh?" Mujin gaped. "What's wrong with you? A girl's feeding you—you act so reluctant!"

"And you? Don't you like me? Shouldn't you be happy I'm keeping you here?" Zhou Ruiyang narrowed his eyes, mischief glinting.

Mujin opened her mouth—speechless.

*Is it just me, or has his attitude shifted?*

"Move! The teacher's coming!" She shoved him, but he stood firm.

Zhou Ruiyang practiced the Childlike Art; his stance was unshakable.

"Let them come. You came here—you knew the risk."

Mujin panicked. Not over the teacher—but over being trapped all morning.

Even with her Transformation Time Extension Card, she'd revert to a Sparrow in under three hours. Morning classes lasted four.

"Please! I have an emergency!"

"Give me a must-leave reason. Or forget it."

*A must-leave reason?*

Like their drill instructor's phrase during military training. Boys' excuses got rejected; girls' were instantly approved.

They'd raged, pounding desks: *Why aren't I a girl? Would I be in this mess if I were?*

*Huh?*

Mujin snapped out of the memory.

*Wait—I am a girl now!*

She glanced at classmates, blushed, and leaned close to Zhou Ruiyang, whispering:

"If I don't go now... I might leak..."

Two things trembled in Zhou Ruiyang: his pupils.

And... his pupils.