Lu Yu felt his body was soft—and fragrant.

The scent felt familiar.

Lin Beixing’s unique, clean aroma now wrapped around him, bringing an unexpected sense of calm.

He lay in bed, cradling his phone against his chest.

He wore a fresh white bear-print nightgown dotted with tiny, cute bears.

Every dress in Lin Beixing’s wardrobe was adorable. Given time, he could wear a different one daily and still not finish them all.

"Damn."

Lu Yu bolted upright.

A coarse word, utterly mismatched with "her" delicate image, slipped from the girl’s soft lips.

He froze, shocked.

Since when had he calmly accepted being a "soft girl"?

He was a straight man through and through!

No reply yet. Waiting, he slowly stood.

Slipped on fluffy rabbit slippers, stepped back twice.

His gaze drifted down—landing on "his" softly curved chest.

He recalled a random tip: if a girl couldn’t see her toes while standing straight, she was… well-endowed.

Curious, he pressed his back flat to the wall—standing straighter than during any school punishment.

Slowly, he looked down.

Hmm… a hint of toes visible.

So… average?

Staring at "his" rounded chest, he almost instinctively reached to cup them—

*Buzz!* The phone’s notification startled him.

Yu: Didn’t wash…

He typed beside the bed.

North Star: I’ll stink tomorrow if I don’t!

Yu: Wash it when it stinks.

He didn’t push her. Sweat or stink—he didn’t care. He’d scrub thoroughly once he got his body back.

North Star: So what were you doing earlier?

It was *his* body. He had a right to know.

What if… she found those hidden "study materials"?

Like any guy, he had his share—two whole terabytes. Buried deep. Maybe a computer newbie like her wouldn’t find them.

After a long pause:

Yu: Cleaning. Your sink, desk, floor, ceiling… even Xiao Mi’s water bowl. You haven’t tidied in ages.

North Star: True…

Lu Yu blinked. A sheltered heiress… cleaning herself? His sink had been grimy for months.

North Star: Thanks.

Yu: No problem. Had nothing else to do.

She’d feel guilty doing nothing. She knew Saturday’s ordeal—knew what *he* endured. She had to do *something*. Even if cleaning wasn’t her strength.

Yu: Swept the spiderweb off your ceiling.

She sent a photo: a large spider’s corpse wrapped in tissue.

(It had made her scream. She’d closed her eyes and smacked it with the broom.)

Phone vibrated again.

North Star: You killed my beloved pet…

Yu: …?

Lin Beixing froze.

*What?!* That ceiling spider was his *pet*?!

She stared at the tissue bundle, mind racing—could it be saved?

North Star: Kidding.

Her fingers trembled.

North Star: But it *was* useful. Non-venomous. Caught mosquitoes and flies. Since you killed it… mosquito duty’s yours now. Good luck.

*Assigning her to catch bugs?!* She wasn’t the little black cat!

She tossed the phone onto the bed. Done.

Lu Yu smirked, imagining her flustered face.

…Huh?

He touched his upturned lips.

Why was he smiling?

Today had been brutal—the hardest in three years.

Yet here, in this strange room… he felt a flicker of warmth.

*Must’ve gone soft from classical Chinese.*

Later, Lin Beixing snapped out of it. Sent a photo of the sleeping black kitten by the door.

Yu: What’s its name?

North Star: Coal.

Yu: Found it?

North Star: Yeah. A wanderer who found another wanderer.

Lu Yu stopped typing.

Lin Beixing typed, deleted, typed again—then gave up.

She knew too little. Didn’t know where to start.

Yu: Lu Yu… tell me more about these things sometime?

After a pause:

Lu Yu: Mm.

To blend into her world, he needed to understand her too. Not just take.

North Star: That’s all. Gonna sneak out.

Lin Beixing rolled on the bed, puzzled. *Sneak out?* Shouldn’t he be asleep?

A bad feeling prickled.

Yu: Where to?

North Star: Hungry. Raiding the fridge.

She nearly jumped off the bed.

Yu: Mom’ll scold you!!

North Star: Better scolded than starving.

Yu: You’ll gain weight!!

North Star: You’re so thin—you see your toes standing up. A little extra won’t hurt.

Lin Beixing frowned at "see your toes," confused. Then softened. *He’s had such a tough day…*

Yu: …

Yu: Do as you see fit.

Two minutes later:

Yu: Try the raw milk corn on the fridge’s top shelf for me? Always wanted to… never dared.