Upon receiving Xue Ji’s message, her parents rushed to City A the very next afternoon, their hearts filled with an inexplicable urgency to see her. There was something about her voice—a strange, magnetic pull—that left them restless. Odd, considering they had always been perfectly content to let their child roam free before.
As soon as they stepped off the plane, their eyes darted through the crowd at the arrivals gate, searching for the familiar figure of their tall, lanky son.
Instead, two young women in sportswear stood out among the throng, right where Xue Ji had said she’d be waiting. Before her parents could process their confusion, the two girls were already walking toward them with light, graceful steps.
The white-haired one’s gaze was fixed firmly on the couple, while the other waved cheerfully in their direction.
When Xue Ji called out “Mom, Dad,” her parents froze in place.
Her father stammered, “Y-you’re Xiao Ji? What… what happened to you?”
Her mother’s face darkened with concern. “You didn’t get scammed into taking some kind of drugs, did you? We’re taking you to a doctor right now!”
Xue Ji sighed. “It’s nothing like that. It’s… complicated. Let’s talk at home.”
Ling Xiaoxiao smoothly interjected, “Uncle, Auntie, let me help with your luggage. We’ve already prepared dinner—you can eat as soon as we get back.”
“You must be exhausted after such a long trip,” she added warmly. “Xue Ji mentioned you work far away.”
Surprisingly, Ling Xiaoxiao handled the situation with effortless charm. Her words and demeanor were so natural and welcoming that the tense atmosphere quickly melted into something far more relaxed.
Xue Ji, who had suffered under Ling Xiaoxiao’s antics for the past three days, found herself reevaluating the girl. As they left the airport, she stole a few extra glances at her. There was no denying it—Ling Xiaoxiao was breathtakingly beautiful, flawless from every angle. Her ethereal grace carried an allure that could captivate anyone, man or woman.
“If A-Xue wants to thank me, don’t lock your door tonight,” Ling Xiaoxiao whispered, leaning in with a mischievous grin.
Xue Ji’s face darkened. “Every time I start to respect you, you open your mouth.”
Back at home, Xue Ji explained everything—how she had inexplicably woken up in this body, and how she had “picked up” a living, breathing person during a casual stroll outside.
With a pitiful expression, she added weakly, “Anyway, that’s what happened. If you don’t believe me, I’ll take any tests you want.”
Ling Xiaoxiao clasped her hands together, playing the role of a helpless maiden. “Uncle, Auntie, I’m all alone in this unfamiliar world. I beg for your kindness.”
Xue Ji’s father rubbed his temples. His son had somehow turned into a girl overnight, and now this girl had brought home an identity-less chuuni teenager.
Her mother, however, was utterly disarmed by their combined acting cute assault. It was as if her long-held dream had come true—she now had two adorable daughters: one gentle and delicate, the other clever and lively.
She immediately pulled Xue Ji into a tight embrace, pinching her cheeks, playing with her hair, and fussing over her like a new toy.
“Mom, stop pinching my face.”
“I raised you for so many years—what’s wrong with a little pinch?”
Her father took a deep breath, his expression resigned. “The real issue now is your identities. For Xue Ji, we might be able to work something out. But Ling Xiaoxiao… you’re a complete black-market person.”
Seeing that her father was reluctantly accepting reality, Xue Ji laid out her plan: “For me, just say there was a mistake before. We can use medical reports and a paternity test to fix it. As for Ling Xiaoxiao… well, we’ll just register her at the police station first.” (Author’s note: This is made up. Consult real professionals for legal advice.)
Her mother clapped her hands together. “Let’s deal with it later. Dinner’s getting cold!”
Her father sighed. “Fine. But tomorrow, you’re getting a full medical check-up. No arguments.”
The next day, the family went to the police station to amend Xue Ji’s gender marker. To their surprise, it worked without a hitch—and even more shockingly, Ling Xiaoxiao’s identity records were found in the system.
According to the records, she had grown up in an orphanage, had no living relatives, and was currently suffering from amnesia. The tragic backstory moved Xue Ji’s mother to tears, and she immediately started treating Ling Xiaoxiao like a second daughter.
Just like that, Ling Xiaoxiao was officially adopted into the family.
A shopping trip followed, with the family buying clothes and daily necessities for Xue Ji and Ling Xiaoxiao. But for Xue Ji—a certified homebody—shopping was one of her worst nightmares, especially in her current form.
The two girls’ absurdly high attractiveness drew stares from everyone on the street.
Xue Ji had always been socially anxious, avoiding eye contact and shrinking under perceived scrutiny. Even though she knew most people weren’t actually judging her, she couldn’t shake the irrational fear.
But now? The attention was real—and overwhelming.
Her social anxiety skyrocketed. Meanwhile, Ling Xiaoxiao was fascinated by everything in this new world, constantly tugging at Xue Ji’s sleeve and asking questions.
Xue Ji instinctively lowered her head, hiding behind her family and hugging the walls as she walked. Her voice grew quieter and quieter, sometimes to the point where Ling Xiaoxiao couldn’t even hear her.
Ling Xiaoxiao watched her with amusement, a smirk playing on her lips.
“Is little Xue shy?”
“No, the sun’s just too bright,” Xue Ji muttered, then glanced up at the overcast sky. Realizing her excuse made no sense, her face turned red under Ling Xiaoxiao’s teasing gaze.
“That’s what I thought. You’re so fun to tease.” She grabbed Xue Ji’s hand and pulled her forward. “If you keep lagging behind, you’ll lose Uncle and Auntie.”
Xue Ji opened her mouth to protest but ultimately stayed silent, letting herself be led.
The warmth and strength from Ling Xiaoxiao’s hand steadied her restless heart—but it also raised new questions.
How is she so good at this?! Who’s the one who gender-swapped here? Who’s the time-traveler?!
In just a few days, Ling Xiaoxiao had seized control of their daily interactions, leaving Xue Ji increasingly dependent on her. The modern world, which Xue Ji had expected to overwhelm the ancient girl, barely fazed her—she’d adapted frighteningly fast.
And then there was that night—being held in Ling Xiaoxiao’s arms, completely at her mercy.
Wasn’t this all moving too fast?
Technically, as the one who had taken Ling Xiaoxiao in, Xue Ji held the dominant position in their relationship. But she wasn’t the type to wield that power—and Ling Xiaoxiao knew it. She kept pushing boundaries, always stopping just short of Xue Ji’s limits.
She’s breaking through my defenses, one step at a time.
In a quiet moment between trying on clothes, Xue Ji seized the chance to confront Ling Xiaoxiao when her parents weren’t around.
“Your intentions are way too obvious.”
Ling Xiaoxiao smiled innocently. “Whose?”
“You sought me out. And the way you act around me… it’s like we’ve met before.”
Before Xue Ji could finish, Ling Xiaoxiao gently cupped her face, locking eyes with her.
Her voice trembled slightly, as if afraid of losing something. “You said it yourself—our meeting was fate. Wasn’t it?”
Xue Ji knew Ling Xiaoxiao meant no harm, but the hidden meaning in her words was something she wasn’t ready to unpack. Her instincts told her it wasn’t the right time, so she simply nodded and turned away to change.
Ling Xiaoxiao’s smile faltered for a moment before she quickly regained her usual carefree demeanor.
As she watched Xue Ji try on different outfits, Ling Xiaoxiao’s gaze softened.
The once-reluctant girl was slowly starting to enjoy herself, her expressions shifting with each new outfit—gentle, lively, cute, youthful. Every movement was mesmerizing.
Memories flashed through Ling Xiaoxiao’s mind.
A sickbed. A white-haired girl, lifeless as a doll, indifferent to jewels and exotic gifts. Only the sight of new buds on an old tree had ever brought a flicker of light to her hollow eyes.
So Ling Xiaoxiao had cut that tree down.
Back then, she had refused to let anything—anyone—else occupy Xue Ji’s heart.
The final memory was of her clutching Xue Ji’s cold body, smiling through endless tears.
Blinking away the moisture in her eyes, Ling Xiaoxiao returned to the present, watching the vibrant girl in front of the mirror.
Xue Ji… Stay like this. No one cages you—not me, and certainly not anyone else.
Xue Ji’s mother returned with an armful of clothes for Ling Xiaoxiao. “Sweetheart, it’s your turn to try some on!”
Ling Xiaoxiao accepted them with a gentle smile. “Thank you, Auntie.”