Maybe... there actually is a way?

If I just use the bookmark, I can totally clean this secret base!

The thing was originally prepared by Master for Xiao Lei anyway. It's a bit glitchy, but it wouldn’t hurt to let her know about it now.

Once I made up my mind, I grabbed a fluffy white blanket and threw it on the bed. Then I fetched a white towel from the bathroom and wrapped it around Xiao Lei’s head, covering her eyes.

...Wait. Was this towel for wiping butts or faces?

Eh, whatever.

“Eh? Commander, what are you doing?” Xiao Lei asked, flustered from the sudden blindfolding. She wasn’t resisting, just kind of panicked—like a dog about to be operated on at the vet.

“Don’t ask first. Just don’t open your eyes until I say so.”

“Okay…”

“No matter what you hear or feel, you absolutely cannot peek! Got it?!”

“G-Got it!”

Sorry, Xiao Lei… but considering she and Zhao Zhao share the same brain, the last thing I want is for Zhao Zhao to end up with a mental snapshot of my naked self and use it as mental side-dish material later.

...Wait a sec. Would Zhao Zhao even use himself as a side-dish?

Anyway—once everything was set, I opened my notebook, pressed the bookmark to my name, and traced it. That weird sensation of my consciousness being yanked from my body hit again.

This time, having done it once before, I wasn’t as freaked out. The total blackout lasted maybe a few dozen seconds. When I opened my eyes again, I’d already landed on the bed—and right below me were the famous Twin Towers.

My real body was lying next to me, out cold like it was just asleep.

I grabbed the edge of the blanket and rolled myself up in it as quickly as possible. Once it was snug around my chest, I gave it a couple of test bounces to make sure it wouldn’t fall off. Then I turned to Xiao Lei.

She still looked pretty shaken—actually, the longer it dragged on, the more lost she looked. I had made a bit of noise just now, but she never lifted the towel. She just stood quietly at the bedside, clutching her little hands, trying her best to obey.

Huh. Xiao Lei’s surprisingly obedient. Though… what’s with her lips sticking out a little from time to time…?

I gently slid my real body aside and, sitting formally on my knees on the bed, scooted up to her. Either the bed was really low or she was tall—I actually had to look up at her.

I untied the towel from her head. She squinted a bit from the sudden light but still didn’t open her eyes. Her long lashes trembled ever so slightly, and I could feel her eyeballs darting under her lids. Her breath hit my face, warm and quick.

“Can I open my eyes now?” she asked nervously, still keeping them shut since I’d removed the towel.

I raised two fingers and pressed them gently to her soft lips.

“Mm! Mmmph?!”

She froze, letting out a muffled squeak. Her cheeks immediately flushed red.

Good lord. This girl was basically a mountain gorilla turned into a human, so why is she this cute?

Even though I’m a god (apprentice), I can’t escape the influence of this cutesy-girl body and its mental feminization. Right now, all I want is to scoop her into a big hug. Like most girls, I’m totally defenseless against adorable things.

It’s not even an excuse—I’ve earned the right to hug and snuggle too!

Surprise hugs between girls? Totally normal, right?

…What’s that? Girls don’t just randomly hug each other?

…

While I was mentally arguing with myself, Xiao Lei ducked to the side and dodged my fingers. She gave a soft gasp.

“C-Commander?”

I had to fight the primal urge to tackle her and use her as a hugging pillow, clinging to rationality by a thread.

The only thing holding me back? That gross, sweaty boy uniform she was still wearing—reeking of mountain gorilla funk. Gender aside, that’s something I refuse to touch.

“You can open your eyes now.”

“Huh? Commander, your voice…?” She blinked in confusion, her eyes scanning me up and down before finally zeroing in on my chest.

“I got a new treasure here! It lets me create a clone. This is what I look like when I turn into a girl.”

She stared, fixated on my blanket-wrapped chest. The smile on her face slowly faded.

“Yeah, okay, I get that... but what the hell are those two enormous blobs of fat supposed to be?”

“They’re boobs?” I said, blinking. What a weird question.

“Oh, they’re boobs, huh… But why are your boobs so freaking big?”

“How would I know?! Having big boobs is a pain, you know—shoulders ache, they block your view—”

“Shut up! You totally rigged it! Make mine bigger too, you traitor Commander!!”

She lunged at me with unexpected fury and tackled me onto the bed.

I did not expect to be the one pinned down first!

Her tiny hands latched onto my chest and started groping—not gently, but with the murderous force of someone trying to crush them.

Killing intent. Pure, violent oppai-directed killing intent.

“OW OW OW! Quit it, I’m gonna die! I swear there’s no way to change the size! The size is already preset! Believe me… please stop, they’re going to explode! Waaah…”

I actually cried! Seriously! My tear ducts are way more sensitive in girl mode, I couldn’t take such rough abuse.

Xiao Lei finally noticed the tears and let go of her pervy little hands. I pulled the blanket tighter and scooted to the corner of the bed.

She stood frozen, staring at her palms like she was still reliving the tactile experience.

“Did… did it really hurt that much?”

“YES! It’s a level of pain you flat-chested types will never understand!”

She puffed up like a pufferfish. I think she got mad again.

“This new divine artifact was supposed to let you and Zhao Zhao exist at the same time, but for some reason it’s glitchy. The main body’s totally unresponsive.”

I nudged my limp real body with my foot—no reaction.

“But since my leg’s broken anyway, I’m putting it to good use.”

Xiao Lei glanced down at my smooth, callus-free foot, then watched as I wiggled my toes. She nodded slowly… and then her gaze drifted back to my chest again.

In a small voice, she muttered, “But seriously though… why are your boobs that big?”

“Enough already! How long are you gonna be hung up on that?!”

I could feel her resentment radiating off her in waves. So it’s true—big boobs and small boobs are natural enemies? (Even worse—“flat-chest” doesn’t even get filtered! That’s discrimination!)

Honestly, I think small boobs have their own appeal!

Like being able to sleep on your stomach, not popping buttons, able to squeeze through tight spaces, or snuggling closer with your partner.

Meanwhile, I lie on my back and feel like I’m gonna get crushed by my own breasts.

…But saying any of that might just make her angrier, so better not.

“I’m about to start deep-cleaning. You wanna help? There’s a bathroom and a quick-dry washer if you want a shower,” I offered, checking the time on my phone. “The clothes take about 30 minutes to dry, so if you go now, you’ll barely make it before afternoon classes.”

Xiao Lei sniffed herself and grimaced at the stink.

“…Guess I’ll wash up. But no peeking, okay?”

“Am I that kind of person?”

Seriously—what would I even be peeking at? When it comes to figure, she’s completely outclassed.

She stripped completely, tossed her boy uniform into the laundry basket outside the bathroom, and I tossed it into the machine. Then I grabbed the vacuum and started tackling the dust on the carpet.

The secret base wasn’t that big—honestly, it was just the size of a girls' restroom—but carpets are a nightmare. One pass with the vacuum is never enough.

And the carpet at home got wet last night too. It might not even be dry when I get back. If it gets moldy, that’s a disaster. I have to use the hair dryer on it later.

Come to think of it, I’m still not wearing anything underneath right now. Not wearing underwear as a girl feels super drafty and unsafe. I really need to get myself a proper outfit. I can’t just keep walking around wrapped in a blanket forever, right?

I’m not Yan Yao (Yan Liuzhuan). I’m not into exhibitionism.

The water stopped. A moment later, Xiao Lei stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Her hair was still dripping, and her wet feet were about to—

“STOP!!”

“Huh? What now?”

I jumped in, tossed the vacuum aside, grabbed the confused Xiao Lei, and dragged her back to the bathroom. I pulled out the hair dryer and blasted her shoulder-length hair.

“Commander, noooo!”

Now that I got a better look, her hair had grown even longer since before—plus, the tips had taken on that same reddish hue Zhao Zhao had dyed his hair with. I could still see the spot where I’d cut it before, though.

It used to be just shoulder-length. Now it was down to her shoulder blades.

Even without transforming, her girl body was growing on its own?

“I hate the feeling of a blow dryer,” she grumbled.

Classic little-girl syndrome.

She squinted and frowned under the hot air, her eyes almost completely closed.

“Your hair’s getting longer and longer. You’ve gotta learn how to use the hairdryer properly.”

“But I’ve got you, haven’t I, Commander? You can dry it for me.”

…Is she planning to stick with me for the rest of her life or something?