After hauling water buckets all afternoon, my whole arm was sore. It was only day one of school and so much had happened. Please let tomorrow be a fresh start.

“Yuchen, you’re back? How was your first day?”

Awful, obviously. Just a rerun of all those middle school dramas. Am I really doomed to stay single? The thought made my lower back ache. I’d better take a hot shower and forget the unhappy (and the abnormal) stuff.

I slid open the bathroom’s glass door—and froze. A stunning woman in a bath towel stared wide-eyed at me. The craziest part? She looked exactly like my new homeroom teacher.

Wait, wait. I must’ve opened the door wrong. There’s no way my homeroom teacher from day one is standing in my bathroom. I’m just too tired and hallucinating. Humans are laughably fragile. A bit of fatigue and boom, delusions.

I shut the glass door, counted down from five, and opened it again. The towel-clad beauty who looked just like my teacher was still there.

I slammed the door, bolted to the kitchen, and asked my mom what was going on.

“Mom, did a thief break in? Why is there someone in our bathroom?!”

“Oh, that’s what I wanted to tell you. Starting today, my cousin from overseas is moving in with us. You’ve never met her because she’s been studying abroad. She just flew back yesterday and hasn’t settled down yet, so she’s staying here. By the way, her measurements are—”

“Stop, stop! I don’t need that info. But our place isn’t big. All the rooms are used up. We can’t make her sleep on the couch, right?”

“Of course not. She’s my cousin!”

“So, Mom, you’re planning…”

“Obviously, you’ll give up your room. You sleep on the couch.”

I’m your own son! Is this how you treat me?

“It’s fine. I remember when you were little, you refused to sleep on the bed. You insisted on curling up on the sofa.”

That was because when I first came to this world, I’d never tried sleeping on a sofa. I used to sleep on rocks. Later I learned a human body can’t handle that position for long. Super inconvenient.

“Sis, this shirt you gave me is a bit small.”

While Mom and I negotiated my eviction, a long-haired, mature big-sis type beauty walked into the kitchen. Wet strands clung to her shoulders. She had on a white T-shirt, but it didn’t help much. The ultra-short tee couldn’t even cover her fair thighs. There was a mysterious curve on her chest. Don’t tell me she’s… braless?

I knew it was rude, but my eyes still sneaked a glance at Cute Teacher. She’s… pretty stacked.

“Oh my! Mengmeng, why’d you come out like that?”

Exactly! There’s still a man here. You’re luring me into crime!

“You didn’t even dry your hair. You’ll catch a cold.”

Mom, that’s not the issue. The clothes! The clothes!

Mengmeng tugged the T-shirt, blinking. “I guess you’re right. But this tee’s kinda small. Cousin, do you have anything else?”

By “small,” she probably meant in the chest. No helping it. Mom’s on the petite, almost loli side, like an undeveloped high schooler. The lady in front of me is all mature big-sis curves. Of course it won’t fit.

“What do we do? All my clothes are like that. Where are yours?”

“Except the set from this morning, the rest are still in my checked luggage being shipped back.”

“I see. Corner room on the right. There are a bunch of shirts in the closet. Wear whatever.”

“Okay!”

Sigh. Suddenly gaining an aunt as a roommate is a lot to process. Corner room on the right? Isn’t that my room?

“Cousin, how’s this one?”

By the time I snapped out of it and went to stop her, it was too late. White shirt. Pink panties. Mature curves. A blank, natural-airhead face. That’s lethal to every otaku. Not good—felt like something inexplicable was about to leak out.

“Nice! Didn’t expect Yuchen’s shirt to fit you so well. As expected of my cousin. You look good in anything.”

Calm down. Calm down. It’s my shirt on her, but she’s my aunt. And my homeroom teacher… Why did my brain suddenly queue up a bunch of Japanese adult videos?

“Really? Then I’ll wear this to class tomorrow.”

Conclusion: natural airheadedness is hereditary. Do neither of you care about my feelings?

Dinner was suffocating. For me, anyway. Those two giggled nonstop. The only man in the house had nothing to say.

“Let me introduce you. This is my silly son, Yuchen. He’s lazy, but not a bad kid. You two met when you were little.”

Because of the whole reincarnation thing, my childhood memories are clearer than most. When I was about one, a seven-year-old girl did hug me. I didn’t think much of it then. Who knew that girl would become my aunt—and my homeroom teacher.

“Uh… hi, Auntie.”

Cute Teacher leaned in, stared at my face for a while, then grabbed my cheeks and rubbed them.

“This smell is definitely Yuchen. I can’t believe we’re meeting again. I’m so happy!”

STOP! STOP! You’re going to make me pass out! Mom, don’t just sit there smiling! Save me! I’m dying here!

“I can’t believe fifteen years flew by. Yuchen, your skin’s still as soft as before. This feel is so nostalgic!”

Hey, hey! You were seven. Do you even remember that?

“Okay, Mengmeng, stop messing around. You’re both adults. You’ll see each other plenty. You just got back yesterday. Adjust your jet lag. You have work tomorrow.”

“Oh! Right, work. But school’s such a hassle. I don’t wanna gooo. Sis, cover my class for a day?”

“Be a teacher? Sounds interesting. Can I?”

Mom as a teacher? That mental image is terrifying. I don’t want weird rumors on day two. And Aunt, you’re the teacher here. Why’d you even apply if you’re skipping day two?

“Mom, aren’t you going to the post office tomorrow? You need to mail stuff to Dad overseas.”

“Oh, right! Sorry, Mengmeng. I’ve got urgent business tomorrow. Let’s save the subbing for later.”

Aunt said nothing, kept kneading my cheeks, but her face screamed reluctance. So that wasn’t a joke—she really didn’t want to work. How lazy was her life overseas? Not that I have any right to judge.

That night, I lay on the sofa, soaking in rare moonlight. Having my lair occupied sucked. But for an aunt who’s also my homeroom teacher and a total beauty, I’d endure. Too much happened today—new classmates, a new family member, and… that Snowy Fox that vanished.

The mountain village was already swallowed by fire. Corpses of villagers lay across the paths. Aside from the crack of burning timber, everything was still. An army marched in from not far away. I looked up at the night sky. Nothing but black cloud. Not a single star to light the way. My dragon eyes were veiled.

“Assault team, move! Bind the evil dragon!”

Thin ropes flopped weakly over my body. These ridiculous humans wanted to tie me up? The real raiders were fiends from the Abyss. I only stopped by to erase them. And they couldn’t even tell right from wrong.

I spread my dark wings to leave, and suddenly the ropes tightened. Humans had me bound fast.

I can’t breathe! This strange restraint—choking me out! Let go of me! I am Dreadwyrm Modred. Suffocated to death by human S&M? I’d be a joke for the ages.

I thrashed and snapped awake. Just a dream from my past life. But I really was suffocating now.

Two “little mountains” had my face wedged in between. I fought to break free. The girl’s scent made my heart race, but I could feel my life slipping. Pain and pleasure tangled together. Mostly pain.

In the dark, I saw who was clinging to me. Of course it was my aunt. She had me wrapped in a terrible sleeping pose. Arms and legs locked tight. I am Dreadwyrm Modred, not your teddy bear!

I turned my head and found a spot to breathe. Not enough to steal my lair—now she’s stealing my person. What a troublesome aunt.

I lay there like a ragdoll for the next six hours, counting sheep until dawn.

“Oh my, did you two sleep like that all night?”

“Mom! It’s not what you think!”

“She still has that old habit. She can’t sleep without holding something. Yuchen, please be your aunt’s body pillow. Since she doesn’t mind, you two can share a bed from today.”

Do I give you a like or nominate you for Mother of the Year? She doesn’t mind, but I do! Letting your son sleep with your own cousin—how thick-skinned can you be?

“Meow~ Morning. Slept so well. Oh no, I’m late! I have class!”

Half-asleep Aunt finally let me go, washed up in a rush, and dashed to school. Guess teaching’s tough. And yeah, she really did leave wearing my white shirt.

“Uwaa~ I’m dead tired.”

“Yo, Yuchen, why so out of it? It’s only day two. Believe in a rosy tomorrow!”

Shut it. Because I saved you yesterday and joined your stupid stunt, my rosy tomorrow is gone.

The classroom was as noisy as middle school. People clustered into little groups by interest. Even the quiet loners tried to slip in somewhere. Except me. I put my head down the moment I arrived. Anyone who didn’t know better would think I’m a gaming addict who stays up all night.

“Stop sleeping. The homeroom teacher’s here.”

“Oh.” I kept napping despite my friend’s warning. Not because my aunt is the Cute Teacher and I’m cocky. I was just exhausted. For the revolution of the future, pardon me this once.

Knock, knock, knock. “Yuchen, wake up. Didn’t sleep well last night?”

Cute Teacher tapped my desk, voice soft as the girl next door. This gentle wake-up call… is it okay? I felt zero homeroom authority from her. I don’t want anyone to know she’s my aunt.

Reluctantly, I sat up.

“Didn’t sleep well. Let me stand outside and get some air.”

Please, punish me. It’ll help you build authority, and I can sleep on my feet.

Cute Teacher patted my head. “Come to my office at noon.”

He then left the classroom, flashing me a smile before he went.

"What’s going on here! After-class private tutoring? Ugh, I’m so jealous! I wish I could get Cute Teacher’s one-on-one sessions too! Yuchen, how’d you even pull that off? That meaningful smile just now—what secret are you two hiding?"

"When the homeroom teacher calls you to the office for a ‘chat’ about life, how rare was that back in middle school?"

"That was then. Cute Teacher’s different—she’s my goddess! Naturally airheaded with long black straight hair—could there be a better combo?"

I ignored Shen Yufeng’s pointless chatter. Arguing with him was less appealing than just going back to sleep.

"Hey! Xia Bing, you’re late… Why are you still ignoring me? Yesterday was a misunderstanding. Let’s bury the hatchet, okay? I’ll apologize if you want."

Though I’d closed my eyes, Shen Yufeng’s voice boomed too loud. From his words, my new deskmate—who’d left early yesterday—must have returned. I turned to face her and gave a polite greeting.

"Good morning, Xia Bing!"

To my surprise, Xia Bing suddenly shot up and stumbled back several steps. Was my face really that scary?

"G-good morning."

Her reaction was so intense—maybe she was just shy? It’s normal to feel uneasy in a new environment.

"Uh… Class has started, and it’s late. Could you two keep it down?"

Luckily, the Chinese teacher was easygoing. If it were yesterday’s English teacher, we’d be dodging chalk missiles and holding water buckets at the door.

Xia Bing realized she’d overreacted, so she sat back down and focused on class. I propped my head up with one hand, fighting sleep, but still felt her fearful glances.

At noon, I brought the bento my mom prepared to Cute Teacher’s office.

"This bento’s from your sister? Amazing! I thought I’d starve today! Yuchen, you saved my life!"

"I won’t bring you bento next time. You’re an adult—stop being so forgetful. But why call me here? You’re not scolding me, are you?"

"Hehe~ I’ll take you to a great place!"