Yan Zimo got up at five in the morning. She’d tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. Only heartless Ye Qianxue could sleep like a log.

The sun had only just risen, but the streets outside were already bustling with people. The mood felt oppressive.

Yan Zimo washed up, then checked to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. Once she was done, she saw there was still some time and thought, “Why not make breakfast too?”

She whipped up breakfast in no time, took off her apron, and went to wake Ye Qianxue so they could eat.

Yan Zimo’s domestic skills were maxed out. She proved that even if she hadn’t become a woman, she’d still been born with the wrong gender.

“Come on, sleepyhead. You can’t keep sleeping—we’ve got a mission later.”

“Mmm... Good morning, big sis~”

Yan Zimo pinched Ye Qianxue’s nose. When she saw that Qianxue was still trying to stay in bed, she shook her head helplessly and gave her a firm pat to wake her up.

"Smack! Smack! Smack!" Three consecutive slaps landed on her smooth, tender flesh. Since Ye Qianxue was accustomed to sleeping naked, each slap made her plump, perky buttocks jiggle violently, leaving behind clearly visible handprints.

After that, Ye Qianxue couldn’t go back to sleep. She got up, got dressed, washed up, and ate breakfast.

This was what Yan Zimo’s mornings were like.

By the time Ye Qianxue was up and had finished breakfast, it was already six thirty. They had only half an hour left before assembly.

“Hurry up, or we’ll be late.” Yan Zimo put on her shoes as she urged Ye Qianxue to move faster.

“Huh? Big sis, aren’t you wearing your usual combat uniform?” Ye Qianxue looked at Yan Zimo’s outfit in surprise. It was the same one she’d worn yesterday: black over-the-knee socks, a school blazer, and a plaid miniskirt.

“No. I tried it on yesterday and liked it, so I’m keeping it on.”

After wearing the outfit yesterday, Yan Zimo had fallen completely in love with it. It made her feel as if she’d gone back to her younger days—though she wasn’t that old now, either.

The two girls crossed the busy streets like butterflies flitting through a flower garden, drawing countless glances along the way.

After walking nearly two kilometers, Yan Zimo spotted the outline of the helipad and checked her watch. It was six fifty-nine. They had less than a minute left.

“We’re probably the last ones to arrive, aren’t we?” Yan Zimo thought.

“Qianxue, we’re almost out of time. Pick up the pace!” With that, Yan Zimo turned into a streak of lightning and shot toward the assembly point. She hit the ground with a boom, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Military operations like this usually required everyone to assemble half an hour early. It was standard practice. After waiting at the assembly point for ages, the others were already in a foul mood. Not only had this person shown up at the very last minute and kept everyone waiting, she’d even made such a flashy entrance?

Before the dust Yan Zimo had kicked up had even settled, someone in the group spoke up. “Well, who do we have here? Cutting it this close and still making such an entrance. Do you have any idea how long everyone’s been waiting for you?”

When the dust cleared, Yan Zimo saw everyone staring at her in surprise. She quickly checked her watch: there were still five seconds before she’d technically be late. At the same time, she realized that some people were already unhappy with her for arriving at the last possible moment.

She hurriedly apologized. “Sorry we’re late. We’re—really very sorry for keeping you waiting so long.”

As Yan Zimo spoke, a spatial rift appeared behind her. A figure identical to Yan Zimo stepped out of it.

“Big sis, why are you bent over?” The newcomer was Ye Qianxue.

“Because you stayed in bed and wasted so much time! Now we’ve kept everyone waiting. Don’t you feel bad?”

Realizing she was in the wrong, Ye Qianxue quickly bowed to apologize to everyone too.

Seeing the two of them apologize so sincerely—and seeing that they were such pretty girls—the others decided not to hold it against them. Who could stay mad at two girls that pretty?

“Ahem!” A cough rang out from the podium. It was Huang Tao. He looked at everyone, now assembled, and spoke slowly. “Our destination is the Gansu Military Administrative District. Move out!”

At the words “Move out,” a powerful killing intent surged through the assembly point. The Espers and soldiers stood ready, full of spirit. Yan Zimo was no exception.

At the same time, the rotors of dozens upon dozens of helicopters began to spin. Their deafening roar shook the air like thunder.

More than ten thousand well-trained soldiers jogged aboard the helicopters in perfect formation. The rhythm of their running feet threatened to drown out the rotor noise as a grim, battle-ready atmosphere swept through the area.

By comparison, Yan Zimo’s group looked far less imposing. Their colorful clothes and mix of ages and genders made them look less like they were heading to war and more like they were going on an outing.

The senior officers in the military knew better, though. These seemingly ordinary people were all Espers. The girl in the school blazer and plaid miniskirt in particular hid terrifying power beneath her petite frame—power that had nothing to do with her appearance.

The cabin of this helicopter was huge, measuring a full thirty-three meters—larger even than the Chinook helicopters used by the American military.

Clearly, the interior had been refitted. The original layout, designed to maximize troop-carrying efficiency, had been replaced with something more like a passenger aircraft. Each unit consisted of four chairs and a table, and there were six units in total, giving each helicopter seats for twenty-four people.

There were more than ten other helicopters like it outside. In total, over two hundred Espers had joined the expedition—fully one-third of Jiangning Military Base’s Esper force!

After boarding, Yan Zimo watched the main force take off outside the window and couldn’t help thinking, “Jiangning Military Base is really going all in. They’re taking a third of their Espers with them. Aren’t they worried about leaving the rear undefended?”

Yan Zimo sank into the comfortable sofa seat and stretched, raising both hands above her head. She leaned back slightly and let out a soft, sleepy sigh.

The sight left her traveling companions completely dumbstruck, their eyes glued to Yan Zimo. Some with weaker self-control even instinctively covered their crotches to hide their embarrassment.

When Yan Zimo realized what she’d done, she blushed and quickly straightened up, pretending nothing had happened.

“Beautiful miss, my name is Wang Ziwen. Might I have the honor of learning your name?”

Clearly, Yan Zimo’s actions had just brought her trouble.

Yan Zimo glanced at him with disdain. This guy opened with “my name is” and “might I have the honor”—had he just learned a few fancy phrases online and decided to try them out? He wasn’t even good enough to count as a flirt.

Wang Ziwen was so caught up in his own gentlemanly charm that he didn’t realize the beauty he admired had already judged him. He kept speaking in that odd tone. “I’d like to invite you to lunch, beautiful miss. Would you do me the honor...”

Before he could finish, Ye Qianxue beside them had had enough. “Could you stop buzzing around like a fly? You’re giving me a headache.”

Yan Zimo burst out laughing. What a perfect comparison! She gave Ye Qianxue a discreet thumbs-up.

Wang Ziwen’s face darkened at the reply. He clenched his fists and struggled with himself for a long moment, but in the end, reason won out over impulse. He slowly backed away.