But right now, I faced a serious problem.

I tugged at my short dress. Scorch marks dotted the hem and cuffs. The explosion hadn’t hurt this body, but it had wrecked my clothes.

No big deal—I could change back in the dorm. The real issue? By habit, I had to shower *before* changing.

Back in the hospital room days ago, the sterile environment made skipping showers fine. Plus, before I woke—when I was completely immobile—the kind nurses wiped me down daily with a damp towel. Hygiene wasn’t an issue.

But now? No excuse left. When discharged, a sweet nurse gifted me a farewell present: brand-new panties from the hospital’s women’s essentials shop, plus taxi fare. That was it. I was flat broke.

Which meant: return to the girls’ dorm—*Su Xiaoxi’s* dorm—find clean clothes, and shower *before* changing.

Shower!

A hurdle I *had* to cross. Just like using the toilet. Honestly, back in the hospital, I barely gritted my teeth through *that*. Stepping out of the restroom, I felt my entire sense of decency plummet to zero.

Worse: toilet duty allowed "blind operation"—no looking, pure muscle memory. But showering? If I kept my eyes shut…

…Actually, not a bad idea.

No—wait. The real crux wasn’t the shower itself. It was undressing *before*: stripping everything off, bra and panties included. Then redressing *after*. No way to avoid looking. Absolutely impossible.

"Ah… Aaaaaah!"

Su Xiaoxi’s voice, melodious as a skylark’s, stayed cute even mid-wail—carrying a hint of coquettish innocence. But I had zero bandwidth to appreciate it. My brain was tangled in panic.

*Sigh.* One step at a time. If I’m living as Su Xiaoxi, I’ll have to face this body eventually.

I clenched a tiny fist, silently cheering myself on.

"Young lady, you alright?" A voice cut in. I turned. An elderly woman holding a vegetable basket eyed me with concern. "I heard you scream… so pitifully. Something wrong? Are your parents nearby? Should I call your teacher?"

She clearly took me for a middle schooler. …Had I *really* screamed that badly?

"I’m fine! Just… sighing over summer homework. So much of it."

"Oh, good, good. Don’t complain too much," she patted my shoulder warmly. "Extra homework strengthens your studies. Boosts grades."

My lips twitched. I forced a strained smile. "...Mm."

After that slip-up, I dared not zone out while walking. Focused solely on the path. I knew Zhendong University’s routes by heart. Spent the bare minimum on taxi fare, and finally reached the campus I’d left behind in my past life.

Bittersweet. Diploma in hand felt like yesterday. Now? Back again.

As a girl.

"I wonder how Su Xiaoxi’s social life is," I murmured, voice barely audible. "Hope it’s not too messy."

My former self? Socially… regrettable. Post-graduation, almost no classmates kept in touch willingly. Work "friends" were strictly transactional—talk only when work demanded it, strangers the second shifts ended.

Family? Grew up in an orphanage. None. The moment the explosion roared on the overpass, I left this world with zero attachments.

"Stop overthinking! You promised to focus!" I tapped my forehead lightly with a tiny fist. "No more drifting thoughts."

Multitasking shows on your face. Makes you look spacey. No wonder the auntie stopped me…

I took a deep breath and stepped through the gate.

Finals neared. Most students had summer plans. Campuses emptied daily. Walking in, I saw hardly anyone.

*Perfect.*

Back then, in my last days here, I’d looked *down* at underclassmen. Now? I had to tilt my head up slightly just to meet their eyes.

This shift hammered it home: I was living a brand-new identity.

"Girls’ dorm… girls’ dorm… where *is* the girls’ dorm~"

Humming a tuneless little ditty, I took small, measured steps toward memory’s direction. During hospital rehab, the nurses coached me—*how to walk like a girl*.

At least now, my gait wouldn’t raise eyebrows.

Sure, I’d been a guy once—but not clueless about the girls’ dorm. Guys got in sometimes: swapping water cooler jugs, fixing laptops.

Which reminded me: Zhendong’s girls’ dorm had its guardian deity—Dorm Auntie Zhang. Ten years guarding the entrance. Strictness legendary. Under her rule? Zero rule-breakers. The whole building ran like clockwork.

Residents got this treatment. Outsiders? Forget it. Male students, male staff—every entry meant her thorough check *and* full escort. Fix a laptop? She’d watch you repair it, then personally see you out.

And she wasn’t just stern. She had *skills*. Once, escorting two guys upstairs to swap a water jug, the hallway slipped. One stumbled.

Auntie Zhang lunged—caught *both jugs* mid-fall. Effortlessly. Not even winded. Left the guys stunned.

She was Zhendong Girls’ Dorm’s immovable guardian. Fierce-faced Vajra warrior.

At the dorm steps, I spotted her instantly—seated behind the front desk, cross-checking the checkout list, just like every pre-holiday eve.

Age hadn’t softened her. Those biceps—solid, powerful for a woman—made my calves tremble *slightly*.

*Breathe.* You’re Su Xiaoxi. A resident. Returning is normal. No key? Just explain calmly. Don’t act weird.

I pep-talked myself inwardly. But Auntie Zhang sensed it. Looked up. Locked eyes with me.

Then her tall, imposing frame rose—and strode straight toward me.

Eep!