I’ve Become a Girl

Who knows how much time had passed, but the long-dormant senses finally flickered back to life.

So cold.

Xu Feng snapped his eyes open with a jolt. Propping himself up with both hands, he sat sideways as droplets rolled down his cheeks and splashed onto the ground. The surroundings were shrouded in a thick mist, making it impossible to see anything clearly.

His head was dizzy and heavy—dreadfully heavy, as if a block of lead had been buried inside. Xu Feng balled his fists and knocked against both sides of his head, only to realize the tugging sensation on his hair was much stronger than before. His body felt bizarre, too, as if he couldn’t muster any real strength.

What’s happening?

Xu Feng ran his hand down his hair. The black was long gone; instead, he felt damp, silvery-white locks long enough to be wound into a ball of yarn.

A sense of impending doom surged in Xu Feng’s heart. Conveniently, the rain had left several puddles on the ground. Xu Feng leaned his head over one, covering his eyes with his hands before slowly prying them apart.

Please, don’t let “that” have happened.

Xu Feng prayed as he opened his eyes.

In the reflection of the small puddle, silver hair draped over a small face with baby fat. The girl’s features were exquisitely carved, with thin, cherry-blossom pink lips and large red eyes that blinked incessantly in shock.

“Ah! This… this is impossible!”

Terrified, Xu Feng fell back onto his rear. He rubbed and pinched his own cheeks, refusing to believe this was him.

His T-shirt had slipped halfway down, barely clinging to his chest, and his pants—not to mention those—had long since slid off his lower body and were lying in a puddle.

After a few minutes of self-doubt…

Xu Feng finally accepted reality and stood up, shielding his chest with his hands. However, the emptiness below felt frighteningly cold and unsettling. He picked up his soaked pants and shoes, rolled the pant legs high, and tied them tight. He tied as many knots in his shirt as possible until the clothing finally managed to cover his sensitive areas.

What’s the next step?

There were so many things Xu Feng didn’t understand. How did he end up in this dreamscape? Why did that girl bite him to “repay” him? And what was that monster!

The three questions went unanswered.

Gurgle.

Xu Feng pulled aside his shirt and glanced at his stomach. The color was whiter than silken tofu, and the curves on either side looked as if they had been drawn from the perfect angle—the arc was tantalizingly soft, and a single touch could slide all the way down.

“Stomach, oh stomach, you just had to growl now. What am I supposed to find to fill you up?”

Dragging his shoes across the damp earth, Xu Feng began to forage. The mist seemed to have a mind of its own, thinning out slightly. But this also meant Xu Feng could see more.

The mud and wooden houses from when he first arrived had mostly been smashed into a chaotic mess. The scene looked like a child had torn apart a set of building blocks; beams, doors, and debris were tossed everywhere. The few houses left standing weren’t much better—some were missing halves, others were flipped completely upside down.

It was likely the work of that monster.

Walking through the village-turned-ruins, it didn’t take much effort for Xu Feng to find a few pieces of shriveled bread in a fallen cupboard. Naturally, there were plenty of old clothes lying around as well.

Once he changed into a set of gray hemp clothes and trousers, Xu Feng looked like a little prisoner.

Where are the villagers?

Xu Feng walked to the edge of the village, but he didn’t see a single soul. The only upside was that the mist had finally cleared.

Before him lay a vast forest, with several paths bearing human footprints. If he didn’t move now, it would be bad if that monster returned. Xu Feng packed the meager food he had scavenged and stepped into the forest.

The path was long and slightly muddy. Water droplets hung heavy on the leaves and bushes, soaking his clothes whenever he brushed past. As Xu Feng walked, he suddenly felt like Little Red Riding Hood going to visit her grandmother.

I won’t run into anything, will I?

Xu Feng stopped to scan his surroundings. Fortunately, it was mostly low shrubs; nothing wild was likely to jump out at him.

“Ugh…”

A sudden whimper came from up ahead.

Xu Feng immediately went on high alert, but the voice sounded very weak. He figured it wouldn’t hurt to take a look. Crouching low and creeping along the brush, Xu Feng finally spotted the source of the sound.

A disheveled young man was leaning against a tree trunk. He wore a pair of glasses in a style that looked quite modern. His upper body was clad in a white work shirt, and he wore black trousers.

A standard office worker!

Xu Feng immediately dashed out. The moment he appeared in the young man’s line of sight, the man flinched. He stood up nervously and turned to run away from Xu Feng!

Wait! Why are you running!

Xu Feng hastily called out in a tender, childish voice: “Hey! Wait a second!”

Hearing the voice, the man suddenly stopped. He turned his head in surprise, staring at Xu Feng for a few seconds before his brow squeezed into an anxious knot.

“You’re not one of them!” the man asked from a distance.

“One of who? I just got here. I’m from Lingyao City!” Xu Feng replied, testing to see if the man recognized his hometown.

“Lingyao City! I’ve finally found someone like me!”

The youth shouted with excitement and jogged over to Xu Feng. His face was full of joy, looking as though he were on the verge of tears.

“Are you a local?” Xu Feng looked up and pressed.

“More than that! I live in District 2! Little kid, did you also have a dream and end up here for no reason?” Seeing how small Xu Feng was, the man knelt down to speak to him.

“Yeah. And I had the same dream many times before I actually came here,” Xu Feng added.

“Me too!” The man slapped his leg in frustration, then glanced behind him as if afraid something was chasing them.

“What are you looking at?” Xu Feng asked, puzzled.

“I’m afraid those lunatics will catch up. Kid, those people are evil. I saw them tie several people to crosses and burn them alive! I said a few words to criticize them, and they actually tried to grab me!” The man vented his grievances, shaking his head helplessly.

Looking at the man’s disheveled state, Xu Feng felt a surge of sympathy. After all, they were both victims of this dream.

“Do you want some bread?” Xu Feng took the dry bread from his clothes to share.

“Ah! Thank you so much, kid!” The man took the bread and began to gnaw on it. The way he wolfed it down made it look like he hadn’t eaten in ages.

Xu Feng lowered his head silently. Looking at his current self, he felt a mix of self-consciousness and dejection.

I might look pretty, but I’m too small. I have no power…

Licking the last breadcrumb from his palm, the man finally noticed Xu Feng’s silence. He assumed the child was just homesick.

“Kid, now that we’re a team, we’ll definitely find a way out of here,” the man said, raising a fist to encourage him.

If Xu Feng were actually a child, he might have jumped for joy.

“Oh. Yay,” Xu Feng responded listlessly, his attitude utterly dismissive.

This little girl… why does she seem so full of resentment? Is it bad parenting? She acts like a moody high schooler.

Unable to figure Xu Feng out, the man decided to change the subject.

“Kid, what’s your name? It’ll be easier to look out for each other if I know what to call you.”

“Feng,” Xu Feng said, simply shortening his name.

“Ah. I’m Zhao Yi, a sophomore at Chengyao University.”

Hearing this, Xu Feng’s eyes widened slightly.

You’re a student at Chengyao?