Trapped in a bandit’s car

“Child, what did you come into contact with in that Dreamscape? Tell me everything, in detail.” The man’s brow furrowed sternly as he sat upright, his dark pupils sharp and uncompromising.

“Uh… when I first entered the Dreamscape, I ran into a group of villagers. They were burning a girl at the stake. Later, that girl bit me… then I ran into a monster, and I ended up like this.” Xu Feng remembered only fragments; the rest seemed to have been left behind in the dream.

“She bit you?”

Knock, knock.

A light rap came from the ward door, followed by a woman’s voice.

“Uncle Shui, it’s time to take her! We’re running out of time.”

“Understood.” The man known as Uncle Shui shot a glance toward the door before looking back solemnly at Xu Feng. “Child, I know this is sudden, but you need to come with us. We’re going to a place that concerns your entire future.”

Uncle Shui’s tone was earnest, his worry for Xu Feng evident.

Xu Feng looked down at herself. Except for her hair color, nothing of her old self remained. If I don’t go with him, am I supposed to face the people I know looking like this? If I go, maybe there’s a way to change back.

“Let’s go!” Xu Feng decided. She moved to climb out of bed, but as her two small, white legs slid out of her trouser legs, the oversized hospital gown slipped and billowed. The white uniform was clearly far too large for her new frame.

Uncle Shui glanced at Xu Feng and shouted toward the door. “Xiaoxuan, bring in that outfit you prepared for her.”

“Coming, Uncle Shui!”

The door swung open instantly. A woman dressed in standard business attire strode in boisterously. Uncle Shui exchanged a look with her, then stood up and stepped outside to wait, closing the door behind him.

Xu Feng studied Xiaoxuan. Interestingly, the woman wore star-shaped sunglasses and a single ponytail that bounced and swayed with every step. She radiated a lively energy that felt entirely at odds with the seriousness of a “professional” setting.

“Hi there, little sister!” Xiaoxuan leaned over, hands on her knees, beaming at Xu Feng.

“…Hello.” Xu Feng blinked and recoiled slightly, unaccustomed to such high-energy people.

Seeing Xu Feng retreat, Xiaoxuan tucked her grin away and slowly pulled something from behind her back, waving it in front of Xu Feng’s eyes.

“Tada! Little sister, these new clothes are for you!”

It was a bag containing a full outfit: a white shirt with a kitten print, a knee-length gray pleated skirt, and a pair of white stockings.

“Thank you… big sister.” Xu Feng took the clothes, clutching them in her hands. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she looked up at Xiaoxuan again.

“Oh! Right! I’m not looking!” Xiaoxuan quickly pulled the privacy curtains around the bed and stepped out to give Xu Feng her space.

Opening the packaging and pulling out the garments, Xu Feng felt a sense of grim resignation.

I hope this is the last time I ever have to wear girl’s clothes!

A few minutes later, Xu Feng stepped out from behind the curtain. Her legs were pressed together awkwardly to avoid any “wardrobe malfunctions,” and her face was flushed a warm red as she stared off to the side, unable to look anyone in the eye.

The moment Xiaoxuan saw Xu Feng, she pushed her sunglasses up with both hands, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Look at that figure! Paired with the white shirt and gray skirt, with the stockings tracing the outline of those slim, pale legs… what an adorable little loli! That silver hair looks so elegantly messy, and that expression—shy yet trying to maintain a “stoic” persona—ah, it’s just too perfect!

Xu Feng, oblivious to Xiaoxuan’s inner monologue, could only whisper: “Can… can we go now?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Xiaoxuan nodded frantically, giving a big thumbs up.

Outside, Uncle Shui heard the commotion, checked the electronic display on the wall, and shook his head helplessly.

Ten minutes later.

Xu Feng left the hospital and climbed into a sedan that had been waiting at the entrance, heading toward the place that would decide her future.

Uncle Shui drove while Xiaoxuan and Xu Feng sat in the back. Seeing Xu Feng resting her chin on her hand and staring out the window, Xiaoxuan tried to strike up a conversation.

“Little sister, I heard that college student call you ‘Feng’ earlier?”

“Hmm? Oh… yeah.” Xu Feng turned her head and gave a small nod, but she still didn’t feel like talking.

“So, where do you live? Do you want to go home first so your parents don’t worry? We can wait for you to check in and then come back to get you.” Xiaoxuan assumed a child who had just gone through such a trauma would be homesick; the fact that she wasn’t crying was already a sign of great strength.

“No need,” Xu Feng replied flatly, turning back to the window.

Wow, this kid has such a cold, ‘young miss’ aura! Xiaoxuan thought secretly. Her mind began to spin a drama: A little girl from a noble family, suffering from a lack of parental love, turning into this stoic loli, then getting caught up in a Dreamscape incident…

In reality, Xu Feng was just socially anxious and didn’t want to talk.

“Uncle Shui, are we really taking her back to the Bureau? Do you think someone this small can handle it?” Xiaoxuan called out to the front seat.

“Xiaoxuan, I’m driving, stop talking. She’s much calmer and more composed than you are—why are you so excited?” Uncle Shui glared at Xiaoxuan through the rearview mirror.

“Hey! We’re about to get a new teammate for our squad, why wouldn’t I be happy?” Xiaoxuan grinned radiantly.

But hearing those words made Xu Feng’s whole body shudder.

A new teammate? Did I just get into a bandit’s car?!

“Xiaoxuan! Watch your phrasing! She hasn’t agreed to join yet! Don’t use my name to hire child labor!” Uncle Shui corrected her immediately.

“Aiyah, I get it. I’ll just ask her, okay?” Xiaoxuan tapped her head, then looked at Xu Feng with a smile.

“What… what do you mean by that?” Xu Feng asked weakly.

“Listen, little sister. Those wing-like things on your back? That’s a result of ‘Dream-morphosis.’ Don’t worry, it can be suppressed. As long as you join our Dream-Guard Bureau, we can fix everything. You can even use the power of Dream-morphosis to become a superhero, just like in the cartoons!” Xiaoxuan’s pitch was full of energy, but Xu Feng was stuck on a specific term.

“What is Dream-morphosis?” Xu Feng asked, blinking.

“It’s a power obtained from the Dreamscape. Like your wings—they might even let you fly. Everyone in our Bureau has some kind of ability; that’s how we rescue people like you who wander into dreams.” Xiaoxuan was getting more into it, but Uncle Shui frowned.

“Xiaoxuan, telling her all this… aren’t you afraid of how it will affect her life later? She’s only a child.” Uncle Shui’s voice was calm, but the weight of his reprimand was heavy.

Xiaoxuan’s eyes went blank for a moment as the consequences dawned on her. Her big mouth was dragging an underage child into a dangerous new world.

“I’m sorry, Uncle Shui,” Xiaoxuan muttered, lowering her head as she reined in her emotions.

“Sigh, forget it. Luckily we have teammates on the memory squad. Let the child choose for herself. Remember, or forget everything about the Dreamscape.” Uncle Shui looked at Xu Feng in the mirror, waiting for her answer.

If I forget everything, it might seem like a good thing… but then any hope of returning my body to normal would vanish. Not to mention that girl who turned me into this! I haven’t even had the chance to ask her what happened!

“I can’t forget. This is very important to me.” Xu Feng answered. Her voice was high-pitched and young, but her tone was steady. She didn’t even blink, staring back at Uncle Shui with absolute resolve.

Xiaoxuan was startled. This girl’s determination was no weaker than that of an adult.

Maybe there really is something extraordinary about her.