Chapter 232

Page Eighty-Seven Good Morning, Dear~

[November 25, Monday, 6:30]

I woke up to the familiar ceiling… It seemed a bit high because I was sleeping on the floor.

Having gone to bed late and taken Mom, Linhua, and Xiaolei to visit Qianxia, my divine power was exhausted, leaving me in low spirits today. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, turning my head to look at the bed.

There was only one person on the bed.

“Xiaolei… no, is it Linhua?”

Based on Xiaolei’s habits, she should have taken Linhua’s body out for a morning run.

As a member of the tennis club, Linhua’s stamina wasn’t bad, but she definitely couldn’t handle the kind of intense exercise Xiaolei could do early in the morning, like running several kilometers… wait, several kilometers?

—”I know what you’re worried about, but we can’t be sure yet?”—

Cherry Sauce, who doesn’t need to sleep, sent a telepathic message.

—”Though she may be a bit of an idiot, she does think things through. Because it’s Linhua’s body, she didn’t go running in the cold winter, just did some light activities in the yard.”—

I glanced through the balcony and saw Xiaolei stretching in front of the cat house in the yard.

She really cares for Linhua, huh?

Thinking she wouldn’t break the connection over a few kilometers, it must be a real body swap.

—”To distinguish between a ‘real swap’ or a ‘pseudo swap,’ use the method Lord Hai told you. For now, let’s wake Linhua up and try it during breakfast.”—

While brushing my teeth, I looked in the mirror.

The pajamas gradually transformed into thick winter school uniforms.

Feeling warm and comfortable, yet scared by the snugness of the uniform, this feeling similar to long johns but even more comforting slowly numbed my male pride… This thing is too warm? What’s the principle behind it?

—”Don’t want to wear tights? You can go to school with bare legs if you want, but today’s highest temperature won’t exceed ten degrees, it’ll be even colder in the morning, and windy… hehe~ Hope you’re okay~”—

Wait!

I was just making a comment; I didn’t say I wouldn’t wear them!

—”Then don’t say you don’t want to wear girls’ clothes. I haven’t made things difficult for you regarding clothing lately, right?”—

This level of inner banter is already part of our daily routine.

After washing up, it was time to wake Linhua up from bed.

I lifted her blanket and said, “Get up quickly, there are still some things to confirm before going out.”

“Mmm, Kaisan… it’s so cold outside the blanket.”

Her morning grumpiness wasn’t too bad, but she had poor cooperation, stuck to the bed, and even fought for the blanket. Xiaolei had considerable strength, and I couldn’t win against her.

“Alright, alright, don’t be so rough~”

Linhua curled up with the blanket, saying, “Actually, I’ve been awake for a while, just wanted to stay in bed a little longer. But if you’re willing to help me change clothes, I’ll get up right away! Kiss~”

She actually pouted.

“I can’t deal with you… Let Cherry Sauce help you.”

Although I couldn’t help her change clothes, Cherry Sauce could.

My consciousness retreated to the depths of my soul, blocking all senses, and handed control over to Cherry Sauce… Wait? This set of underwear is quite plain, neither cute nor sexy.

—”Hey! Pervert, don’t peek!”—

…I didn’t mean to peek.

Maintaining this state of sensory deprivation requires focus; any lapse would bring back visual and tactile sensations. To completely avoid looking is impossible… Hey, why does Cherry Sauce have to help put on socks too? How lazy can you get?

—”Alright.”—

Opening my eyes again, Linhua was already wearing the winter uniform, bouncing on the carpet.

“Linhua’s body is amazing! Light, flexible, and strong, makes me feel more energetic!”

“Dress is ready, go wash up.”

Linhua went to the bathroom, and I grabbed my backpack and headed downstairs.

Xiaolei had already returned to the room, sitting at the dining table drinking breakfast porridge. Dad, holding his briefcase, stood at the entrance hall, seemingly ready to leave.

“Father, going to work?”

Dad nodded.

“Yeah, I need to catch the bus today, so I have to leave early.”

It seems that having Xiao Qinglan as a driver isn’t a good thing for Dad. At least, he can’t call her anytime.

The Xiaolei with Linhua’s appearance asked, “That little fox… I mean, Xiao Witches, what will they do today?”

What little fox?

But when she mentioned it, I realized Xiao Qinglan wasn’t around.

“Morning… oh? Uncle Chang has to go to work?”

But just as he spoke, a scream came from the stairs behind him, and Xiao Qinglan, like a living cannonball, rushed down and collided with Dad’s stomach.

“Can’t you stay home today? Can’t you just stay here and keep me company? I’ll pay your salary!”

Even though she became a loli, Xiao Qinglan’s words were still brash. She clung to Dad’s thigh, demanding unreasonably.

No matter how soft-spoken Dad might be, he still had the backbone of a man. Being supported by a wealthy loli… maybe it’s not so bad?

—”You’re such a wimp.”—

Dad patted Xiao Qinglan’s head.

“Don’t mess around. Why shouldn’t I work if I have hands and feet? Contact Miss Fanni first, go back to the manor during the day, and come back after I finish work.”

Xiao Qinglan clearly didn’t like Dad’s arrangement. Her little eyes darted around twice before she said, “Then I’ll go to the company with you today! I won’t talk nonsense!”

This proposal troubled Dad. He frowned, thought for a moment, and felt Xiao Qinglan’s expectant gaze before finally reluctantly agreeing.

Xiaolei pouted, muttering, “Good-for-nothing dad and son~ both good-for-nothings~”

…Why do I have to tag along?

Dad compromised, “Fine, I’ll say you’re a relative’s child, but you have to listen to me at the company, understand?”

“Understood! Uncle Chang, don’t worry so much, I’m not really a little kid! I’ll go change clothes upstairs, please wait for me!”

Xiao Qinglan, excited and eager, climbed back up to the second floor to change clothes. Due to Mother’s retaliatory curse, her mental regression was worse than Brother Zhu’s, and she behaved just like a little kid.

—”Have you figured out the spells Boss used? Is there no way to undo them?”—

We’ll have to ask Senior Sister.

But Qianlan is a “traitor” to Master, and Senior Sister has issues with her, so even if she could solve it, she wouldn’t offer.

Sitting down next to Xiaolei to eat breakfast, footsteps sounded on the stairs again, it was Orange and Linhua, but the latter covered her left cheek.

I didn’t know what happened, so I asked, “What happened to your face?”

Linhua silently moved her hand, revealing a row of red claw marks on her face.

But Xiaolei’s skin was thick, so there were no breaks, just a few marks, but they must have stung.

“…Were these claw marks from Orange?”

“Sorry.”

Orange apologized sincerely, confirming I was right.

“I thought the person I carried was Big Sister Xiaolei, so I instinctively… then I found out Big Sister Linhua and Big Sister Xiaolei switched bodies.”

It seemed Linhua had already told her, as she showed no surprise. Everyone around me is quite adaptable.

Xiaolei was surprised, asking, “Wait, why am I the one getting scratched?”

Orange replied naturally, “Because Big Sister Linhua doesn’t smell like a gorilla.”

Xiaolei immediately got angry, shouting loudly, “I don’t smell bad either!”

“That’s not body odor. Look, acting like this is very gorilla-like, isn’t it?”

“It’s not at all!”

Orange continued her impolite attitude toward Xiaolei.

“Clomp-clomp-clomp—” (Note: Sound of footsteps coming down the stairs)

Xiao Qinglan finished changing clothes and ran downstairs, skipping breakfast and grabbing Dad’s hand to rush out. They stood together like a father and daughter.

“We’re off first!”

That excitement was like that of a primary school student on their first day.

The sound of the door closing echoed from the entrance hall. I turned to look at Linhua and Xiaolei.

“Alright, let’s discuss the serious matters here…”

I explained the body swap and pseudo-swap situation to them.

Linhua confirmed, “So you’re saying we might just be remotely controlling each other, not actually swapping bodies?”

“The mysterious girl A doesn’t have permission to use soul-related spells, which is the only way to achieve a body swap within human capabilities.”

Cracking open a salted duck egg, Xiaolei pressed it on the table and rolled it back and forth.

“If it’s a pseudo-swap, we should recover as long as we’re far enough apart, right?”

“Only if it’s truly a pseudo-swap, hence the need for confirmation.”

Linhua asked, “How do we confirm it?”

I snapped my fingers, and Cherry Sauce retrieved a sticky note from under the coffee table.

“Do we need to use this sticky note again?”

Since she was involved in Dad’s treatment, Orange was familiar with this.

I nodded, “Yes, this sticky note keeps the mind alert, essentially a brain booster, but it only works on the soul.”

I stuck one on Linhua’s arm and observed Xiaolei’s reaction… but there seemed to be no change.

Xiaolei scratched her cheek.

“Hmm? Well… nothing special, you see, I’m already pretty alert.”

Seemingly to prove something, Xiaolei raised her arms in a muscular pose… though nothing could be seen through the clothes.

That’s not right?

In my memory, this sticky note should have a more “intense” effect. I’ve had it for a while from Master, but it can’t have expired, right?

—”These kinds of props don’t have expiration dates!”—

Linhua said, “Xiaolei is naturally full of energy, so giving her a boost wouldn’t make much difference.”

She tore off the sticky note from her arm and slapped it onto Xiaolei’s forehead… Then, her pupils dilated suddenly.

“Oh! So this is what it feels like?”

It had an effect on Linhua.

She explained, “Ahh— It feels like menthol directly dripping into the brain, I can’t take it! Using this in winter is unbearable.”

…Is this comparison a bit scary?

I looked at Xiaolei and asked, “Did you have no reaction at all?”

“Well, there was a bit, but not as dramatic as Linhua’s.”

“…There’s actually another possibility.”

Linhua squinted at her own body, saying, “The person controlling my body right now, is it really Xiaolei?”

“…Hmm?”

Xiaolei’s aura seemed to have changed.

Linhua continued, “Oh, you’re not hiding anymore? Mysterious Girl A~”

What?! The invasion by Mysterious Girl A started in the morning?