Chapter 1: No Way I’m Staying Caged!

Mu Xi stirred awake, a faint, elusive fragrance teasing her senses.

Her eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep, only to be met with the startling sight of a slender, alabaster foot, sheathed in black silk, pressing lightly against her face.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Mu Xi’s voice broke in a startled cry as she realized she was lying on a plush, pink bed, soft as a cloud.

At her outburst, a figure slinked forward, all sinuous grace and danger. 

Raven-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, framing a pair of phoenix eyes that glinted with a predatory spark.

“So, you’re not dead after all,” Ye Lan purred, her lips curling into a smile that was equal parts charm and menace. 

“I was beginning to think  that you are dead.”

She crouched low, her delicate fingers catching Mu Xi’s soft cheek in a teasing pinch. 

“Well, little one, still thinking of running?”

Mu Xi froze, her mind reeling.

Memories flooded back in a torrent. 

She had been a corporate worker, crushed under endless overtime until her heart gave out. 

In her final moments, she’d wished for a life free from want, no longer chained to the grind.

And now, here she was—reborn, transformed into this unfamiliar form.

But the memories of this body’s original owner were gone, leaving her adrift in a sea of unknowns.

Ye Lan, noticing Mu Xi’s silence, let out a soft chuckle and raised her foot again, pressing it against Mu Xi’s face. 

The smooth silk and pale skin were a striking contrast, exuding an almost intoxicating allure.

Mu Xi’s pride flared—how dare she be humiliated like this? 

She grabbed Ye Lan’s foot, ready to unleash the self-defense moves she’d once practiced. 

But as she moved, reality hit hard: she was no longer the towering, six-foot man she’d been. 

Now, she was a petite girl, barely five feet tall, fragile as a porcelain doll.

Ye Lan effortlessly parried Mu Xi’s feeble counterattack.

In a fluid motion, she pinned Mu Xi to the pink bed, flipping her over with ease.

“Slap!” 

A sharp smack landed on Mu Xi’s backside.

“Still fighting back? Seems I’ve been too lenient,” Ye Lan said with a cold laugh, her tone laced with playful mockery.

Mu Xi gritted her teeth against the sting, her spirit burning with defiance. 

She writhed, desperate to break free, but Ye Lan’s grip only tightened.

“Let me go, you freak!” Mu Xi shouted, her voice high and thin in her new, diminutive body.

Ye Lan arched a brow and replied, “Freak? Oh, do tell—where exactly am I the freak?”

Mu Xi faltered, at a loss. 

She knew nothing of her situation, her glare fierce but tinged with confusion and vulnerability.

Ye Lan caught the shift in Mu Xi’s eyes and paused. 

She released her hold, gently helping Mu Xi sit up, her gaze softening as she studied the delicate girl before her.

“You… don’t remember anything, do you?” Ye Lan’s voice was suddenly gentler, almost tender.

Mu Xi’s silver-white hair fell over her face, shielding features as fine as a porcelain doll’s. 

After a moment’s hesitation, she gave a small nod.

Ye Lan sighed, her fingers brushing lightly through Mu Xi’s hair. 

“So, you’ve forgotten everything. Fine, then. We’ll start from scratch.”

Mu Xi lifted her gaze, wary but curious, as Ye Lan leaned lazily against the doorframe, a sly smile playing on her lips.

“Don’t be scared, little one. I just want to keep you by my side—locked away, safe and sound. Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.”

Mu Xi’s heart sank. 

‘Safe and sound?’ 

This was nothing short of a gilded cage!

“Stay put and be good. I’ll fetch you something to eat,” Ye Lan said, turning to leave.

Mu Xi’s eyes locked onto Ye Lan’s retreating figure, the tight black leather outfit accentuating every curve. 

A ring of keys dangled at her waist, glinting under the light.

The door clicked shut, the sharp sound of the lock snapping Mu Xi’s fleeting hopes of escape.

Resigned, Mu Xi scanned her surroundings. 

The room was an explosion of pink—walls, sheets, curtains, even the carpet, all soft and saccharine. 

If her situation weren’t so dire, she’d have scoffed at this teenage fantasy palace.

At the window, she peered out, her breath catching. 

Beyond the glass stretched an endless sea of green forest—no city, no civilization in sight.

So much for her wish for a carefree life. 

Had she traded her freedom for it?

Desperate, Mu Xi darted to the bathroom. 

The mirror revealed a stranger: delicate features, wide eyes framed by long lashes, and silver hair spilling like a waterfall. 

Petite but undeniably striking.

A spark of inspiration hit. 

She kicked off her shoes, placing them by the open window to stage a fake escape. 

Then, she slipped under the bed, ready to ambush Ye Lan and make a break for it.

Moments later, Ye Lan returned with a tray, her eyes widening at the open window and the shoes. 

She rushed to the sill, peering down.

Seizing her chance, Mu Xi scrambled from under the bed and bolted for the door.

But Ye Lan’s head snapped around, their eyes locking.

Mu Xi’s heart plummeted. 

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go!

Before she could take another step, Ye Lan caught her by the collar, lifting her as easily as one might a kitten.

“Well, well, my little darling,” Ye Lan teased, “lost your memories but gained some brains?”

Mu Xi forced an awkward smile, her mind racing. 

‘Why did the villain have to be so sharp?’

As expected, her rebellion was short-lived. 

Ye Lan pinned her to the bed once more, delivering a series of sharp slaps to her backside. 

The room echoed with the sound, mingled with Mu Xi’s indignant cries of pain and frustration.

“Don’t think you can fool me with those puppy eyes,” Ye Lan said, punctuating each word with a smack. 

“This is just a warning. Try anything clever again, and you’ll regret it.”

Mu Xi bit back tears, her resolve hardening. 

She would escape, no matter what.

When Ye Lan finally relented, Mu Xi’s face was flushed, her eyes brimming with tears. 

She looked up, pouting like a wronged child.

Ye Lan sighed, brushing a hand through Mu Xi’s hair. 

“Be good, and I’ll take care of you.”

Mu Xi nodded, sniffling, but her mind was already plotting her next move.

Ye Lan settled her on the bed, sitting beside her with the tray. 

“Open up,” she said, scooping a piece of cake.

“I can feed myself,” Mu Xi muttered.

Ye Lan’s eyes narrowed. 

“Those dainty hands of yours? Keep talking, and I’ll make sure they stay behind your back.”

Mu Xi yelped, quickly hiding her hands.

Satisfied, Ye Lan fed her, the tray piled high with sweets—chocolate cake, strawberry mousse, honey pudding, and an assortment of candies.

“Why’s it all sweet?” Mu Xi asked, eyeing the sugary spread.

Ye Lan pinched her cheek and replied, “Because you’re my sweet little thing.”

Mu Xi fought the urge to roll her eyes. 

This woman, stunning as she was, had the personality of a rogue.

Could she be a transmigrator too? 

A man trapped in a woman’s body, like Mu Xi?

Her gaze drifted to the keys at Ye Lan’s waist, and a new plan began to form.