An eerie call came in. Ouyang eyed the unknown number on her screen suspiciously.

It was as if the caller knew exactly when she’d wake up. Or hidden cameras monitored her every move from secret spots in the room.

Even this phone’s presence was part of the mastermind’s prearranged setup.

Nervously, Ouyang picked it up. She stayed calm, gently swiping to answer. After a silent pause, a voice spoke first.

“Satisfied with this new body? I saw you deliberately check yourself in the bathroom. Sitting on the floor, on the verge of tears—it was quite amusing.”

“Bullshit! I hate it! Give me back my original body now!”

The voice was male, gentle and lighthearted—not like an interrogation. His tone wasn’t old or childish; he spoke flawless, accent-free Mandarin.

Hearing “bathroom,” Ouyang instinctively covered her chest. She scanned the room’s corners with her peripheral vision, hunting for cameras to cut their signal.

She didn’t care why the young man brought her here. All she wanted was her old male human body. This inhuman form was unbearable.

“Unfortunately, I can’t change you back.”

“Liar! You altered me and locked me here... I... I want to go home...”

Her once unbreakable will crumbled. Trapped and alone, rage turned to helplessness. Her nose stung. Tears spilled down her cheeks. She sobbed uncontrollably, overwhelmed by grief.

A man doesn’t cry easily—but Ouyang wasn’t a boy anymore. How could she explain this to Brother Long?

“Don’t cry... I promise to send you home.”

“Really?”

Her sobs softened. She rubbed her tear-streaked eyes. A hint of hope colored her weak cries. Before she could speak, he added quickly:

“But I have conditions.”

Of course he wouldn’t give anything free. As long as she could escape this weird place, she’d listen.

“First: never reveal your identity to humans. Second: call me every night on time—don’t ignore me. Third: take your medicine regularly. And...”

“You’re the sick one! I’ll accept the first two, but I refuse medicine!”

“I won’t harm you. Stay calm. But break any rule, and I’ll send subordinates to retrieve you—by any means.”

“If you want me to comply, give me time and supplies! I can’t go out naked!”

“Relax. My subordinates are buying them.”

“Pants, not skirts! I arrived as I was—I’ll leave the same!”

Amid her chatter, laughter crackled from the phone. He sounded eager to see her in a skirt. Infuriating.

“The lock screen password is 0404—my birthday. Remember it.”

“Okay, okay.” Ouyang agreed absently. She opened settings and changed the password to her own, ignoring his birthday.

Waiting felt endless. Wrapped in a towel, she pulled back the blackout curtain. Thick fog swallowed everything. Visibility was near zero. Only the fog’s hue hinted at day or night.

“This place...” She recalled the Northern District skyline, gazing south at an area sealed under a giant dome. Now inside it, panic seized her. She’d been brought to the Zero District—humanity’s forbidden zone.

She downloaded the Gaode Map app, searching for escape routes. But without the Dragon Seal, leaving was impossible.

A crisp knock interrupted her anxiety.

“Miss Ouyang, the Bloodkin Prince’s delivered clothes are here.”

A sweet voice greeted her. Ouyang opened the door excitedly. The room service girl had golden fur covering her head, fluffy pointed ears upright, and a yellow tail with a white tip swaying behind her. More real than street cosplay.

She bowed respectfully—as if Ouyang held higher racial status.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Ouyang choked back a sob. She took the mini suitcase, shut the door, and breathed deeply, forcing calm.

This place had humans, demons, monsters—everything. The Zero District was terrifying.

Unhappily, she opened the “welcome home” gift pack.

First, she pinned her silver hair under a mesh cap, then wore a neat black male wig. Her crimson eyes hid behind non-prescription black contacts and brown-rimmed round sunglasses. The wig matched her old male self perfectly.

Next, she wrapped wide white bandages tightly around her chest, barely masking her figure. Halfway, she froze. The burn scar on her right shoulder had vanished. In its place sat a small black bat mark.

Ouyang frowned slightly. She remembered Brother Long’s words: the Zero District leader offered four million Fire Vouchers to find “Neyin”—and it now marked her shoulder.