The summer thunderstorm came suddenly, but thankfully the indoor air conditioning dispelled the muggy heat.
Outside the window, the wind howled and rain poured, yet inside it was cool and comfortable.
The surroundings smelled familiar—the scents of several spices he loved to use.
If his memory served him right, the aroma was being carried by steam from the pressure cooker in the kitchen.
The fan of the new water-cooled PC whirred, and on the monitor, a “defeat” screen glowed.
Inside the game interface, the 1-18-0 score was glaring, and in the bottom-right corner, a private message notification read that he’d been reported…
Yelena looked down at the slightly yellowed T-shirt she was wearing, paired with loose shorts.
She examined her hands. The slender fingers that had once been painted with pale nail polish now had noticeably larger knuckles—back to a guy’s hands.
But they didn’t feel like her original hands. The calluses from years of wielding a wok were gone. She checked carefully but couldn’t find any roughness.
Sensing something was off, Yelena quickly walked to the sink.
Her ordinary short men’s haircut was nowhere to be seen. In the mirror, she saw a delicate, feminine-looking young man with long silky hair draped over his shoulders.
Oh no.
Panic crept in. She had clearly returned to Blue Star, but had she not been reset to factory settings?!
Stunned, she quickly felt her chest, then checked lower.
Okay, at least the captain was back…
He was back!
He had actually come back!
Yes, this was the rental apartment he knew well—a decent sixty-square-meter unit in the heart of Demon Capital.
In the cabinet were his medals from various cooking competitions.
On the table in front of him stood a spontaneous creation: Qiaolezi mixed with Sprite as a refreshing summer drink.
Everything felt real.
Ye Lian felt a pang of loss, yet somehow, being himself again was unbelievable.
‘Was Yelena just a dream?’ …
Whatever. Right now, this feeling was amazing, and that was all that mattered.
Ye Lian let out a long breath and slumped into the gaming chair behind him.
Did he have work tomorrow? Oh, right—he’d just quit a Michelin-starred restaurant and was looking for a new position.
“Goodbye, that cheap boss who wouldn’t pay me what I deserved! Goodbye, my fox spirit career!”
Now he wouldn’t have to learn Moon Tail royal etiquette anymore, or drink that bitter heart-calming tea.
And he definitely wouldn’t have to constantly watch out for that female pervert sword saint who always wanted to get handsy!
Ye Lian skillfully tied his hair into a ponytail using a feminine technique.
He was confident that with his delicate skin, thick eyebrows, and big eyes, he could pass for a celebrity without makeup.
Tomorrow, he decided he wouldn’t look for a job first. He’d go out and flirt with some girls for fun.
After all, he could cook, was handsome, and had money. In any social setting, he’d definitely attract plenty of sweet, lovestruck young ladies.
With a cheerful mood, he headed to the kitchen to check on his new dish in the pressure cooker.
First, he opened the fridge, grabbed a bottle of classic-style iced tea from the shelf, and started chugging.
“Ahh! Refreshing!”
After a hearty drink, he slicked back his hair with a smug expression, lost in self-admiration.
“Ah~ no choice. I need to plan my social route for tomorrow. The ladies are waiting for me. A handsome guy like me not showing up would be such a waste of resources~”
He walked to the stove, turned off the burner by feel, and was about to lift the lid and taste the food when a gentle female voice echoed in his mind.
“You want to stay here forever, don’t you?”
Ye Lian looked around for the source but couldn’t find it.
He hesitated, then nodded instinctively.
“Yes—of course I do! This is my home!”
“Then… stay.” The voice let out an eerie laugh. “Return to your Blue Star world, become the real you. Forget that body that doesn’t belong to you, forget those false responsibilities.”
“That nine-tailed fox’s body was just a cage imprisoning your noble soul.”
“Everything you’ve experienced these past few months was nothing but a ridiculous nightmare.”
These words echoed thoughts Ye Lian had never spoken aloud.
Yes…
It all felt like a dream.
What fox tribe princess, what restoration of the royal family—it was all too heavy.
He was just a cook who wanted to make quick money, enjoy his 2D waifu, play games, and cook.
“Stay…”
Ye Lian muttered to himself. His consciousness began to blur, and he gradually lost connection with his body.
Everything around him melted into white light, but the edge of that light threatened to sink into darkness.
At that moment, Ye Lian just wanted to immerse himself in this long-lost comfort.
His body slowly relaxed, and his mind seemed to drift far away…
“Sleep well.”
The seductive voice echoed in his ears again. Ye Lian felt his eyelids grow heavier, and he fell into a second unconsciousness.
…
…
[Host’s current status: Unconscious, limbs stiff and difficult to move, magic element severely disordered. Please break free immediately!]
The cold voice rang out in Ye Lian’s mind, its tone sharp, rousing her faint awareness.
“Mm?…”
Ye Lian’s head throbbed painfully, as if holes were being punched through his temples.
His mind was foggy. He tried to open his eyes, but they felt like lead.
He knew he was probably half-conscious, barely aware.
With sheer will, he pried his eyes open a crack, but his body refused to obey—he couldn’t even move a finger.
“Who was calling me?…”
Following the familiar voice’s instructions, he continued trying to wake his body.
Finally, his heavy consciousness responded. Ye Lian forced open his sore eyelids, only to find the space around him extremely cramped and dark. He tried to move his hands and feet, but the only response was the sound of wood being struck.
He was inside a sealed coffin!
“Ha… ha… Help! Help!”
He shouted in panic, but in his flailing, he felt the oxygen in the space thinning, making it harder and harder to breathe.
“Oh my~ Our Princess Yelena has such an interesting soul~”
A teasing female voice echoed again, dripping with mockery.
“Who are you? Let me out!”
Ye Lian asked frantically, but in return, he received a chilling answer.
“Ah, if you can’t recognize me, that’s fine. It makes me a little sad, but I suppose it’s understandable.”
“But I can tell you why I’m here. I’ve come to avenge that worthless succubus, Mi La.”