Can I Really Do This?

Once again in her grandfathers study, Zhu Hua akin to an actual child-despite her having to experience the adult world early. Jumped in happiness when she found out that the rotting roots could finally be snipped away, as a large smile bloomed on her face.

Kissing her grandfathers cheek who was still stunned by her adorable outburst, she promised to cook a feast for them in celebration.

'This is just the start though. Don't get too excited.'

Crossing off the list in her mental notebook, get rid of scummy father. She hopped in the kitchen to prepare the ingredients for the meal, however she almost burned the kitchen down if not for Xiao Lou who happened to pass by. Feeling a mixture of different emotions from motivation, self-doubt and worry for the possibility of being found out and the possibility of actually being able to do it.

The meal itself was delicious, having made chinese food throughout her life and unable to get used to the greasy taste of western cuisine. Her grandfather still scolded her for her carelessness, noticing the redness on the back of her hand that rested on the table. An ice pack restricting her abilities to freely eat, but it's not like she had much of an appetite.

The two maids and the housekeeper joined them at the table. Xiao Lou helping her to pick up food that were far from her reach. Neither her or her grandfather particularly cared about societal norms among the Chinese elite, so the more the merrier.

A vegetable soup, a mixture of chicken and lamb stuffed xiao long bao, marinated fish as well as a variety of healthy vegetable side dishes. The smells were enticing and the flavours were rich, without the pretentious of unnecessary spices or overly expensive ingredients. Like a traditional quality home cooked meal, made by a top chef. Perhaps though with the added love and care, put in when making it.

Chewing on a piece of stewed morning glory as she glazed over in her own thoughts, her grandfather who had been calling her suddenly slammed his hand on the rectangular dining table. Making her flinch, a gasp released from her mouth as she dropped her pair of silver chopsticks. That tinkled and rolled down the side of the table onto the floor.

Having thoughts about what she might be thinking about, he thought about words to comfort her. But he didn't want her to become too conceited.

"Xiao Zhu! Although you may not be a Liu after this, but your still a Xie. You don't get a circle with only one half, so you have to do well and not embarrass yourself or me. Do you understand?!" He said before tossing her a piece of paper before walking off, not caring about the blank expression on her face.

Catching the piece of paper on instinct, Xiao Lou went to retrieve the dirty chopsticks from the floor hiding a smile. Reading the contents a name changing document that was somewhat filled in, seeing the name Xie Zhu Hua made her heart feel a little warm. Thinking about how it would have been different (in her past life) if she had accepted financial aid and protection from her grandfather who was also military personnel.

She couldn't even begin to think never mind acknowledge what had happened to her exactly, could she have been reborn or did she transmigrate? Then how could everything be so similar. The best explanation she could come up with was that somehow she was now living in some sort of parallel world?!

***

The military residency was large and was connected to a forest, where sometimes you could hear the sounds of bullets and heavy trudging of boots during the day. However, her grandfather didn't really like letting her go off alone because he feared the gossiping neighbours may hurt her feelings.

Taking a walk after dinner saying hello to people who passed by on the concrete pavement, somehow she had unceremoniously gotten herself lost. No phone and in the middle of said forest, deep in thought about how she would go about her transformation.

Considering all factors, duration of time she had to change, what kind of behaviour/stereotype she should she portray and what was the best way to conceal her feminine identity.

Then she realised, 'oh shit where the hell am I?', finding herself standing in a puddle of mud. However, it wasn't a big deal because it was a gated community and it wasn't like there were any big predatory animals like wolves in this part of the forest. As there was a fence that separated the forest into two, apparently that was where some of the survival training for the big shot units trained.

It was now much later although still daylight, she had worn an oversized denim fleece jacket over her shirt and jeans. Xiao Lou always made sure she fetched one, in case she felt cold later on, which she usually did.

Rubbing her face she thought about what she should do, continue on and try to find a soldier to fetch her back? Or maybe try and find her way back by walking the direction she had come from.

Kicking at the shrubbery, looking around the forest and enjoying the feeling of being somewhat in the wilderness. She heard some twigs snapping and panting behind her, hoping it was someone on patrol.

Her eyes widened as she met the gaze of a pair of piercing blue eyes, her eyebrows scrunched slightly as she assessed the wolf- like dog. Initially startled she figured the dog, probably a Siberian Husky was a wolf however it wasn't as big or threatening as the intense feral creatures.

It's fur at some point had been all white, now appeared a dusty and murky brown colour with a slight limp and overgrown toenails. One of its paws stained with a bit of red, bled from one of its front legs.

'Is it going to attack me?'

Watching it with an eyebrow raised as it matched her gaze, she crouched low to a squat. Remembering the sausage that Xiao Lou stuffed in her pocket for no reason, she pulled it out and peeled it waving it at the husky who was unsure whether Zhu Hua was a threat or not and lightly growled.

'Come on little guy I don't know where you've come from, but we'll only get into more trouble if we stay here.'

Twitching his nose and cocking his head back at her, the husky- a little too big for a puppy, flinched as she sat down and waited patiently for it.

Shrugging off her jacket not caring about getting her clothes dirty, she looked away as it silently approached. The smell of the sausage enticing him further. Placing a hand next to the sausage, which he then sniffed lightly, licking before biting into the sausage that she fully peeled.

Caressing it's dirty fur she allowed it to lick her fingers that held the sausage, smiling lightly thinking it could probably taste the sausage that rubbed on her fingers.

Rubbing its ears she held the sausage wrapper in her hand before turning her body to leave, shaking the wrapper behind her. As if telling the husky if it wanted more to follow her, however as she continued to walk the dog struggled to keep up and it eventually began to rain.

Carefully she hushed the dog with a few curt words which whimpered and lightly growled in response, wrapping it in her jacket and carrying it home. Reminding her of herself as she looked at the slightly malnourished-clearly abandoned doggo.

***

Looking like a dirty and sopping wet mop, Zhu Hua and the dog both were immediately thrust into the bath. Though some caution was taken because of the husky's wound, the militaries vet was called over. The person in charge of looking after all the armies dogs,despite it being around 6 pm in the evening.

He'd checked him over, de-wormed him and took some bloods. Also wrapped the small wound with gauze and a type of waterproof film, that preventing him from licking and further worsening his wound.

He was also given some special digestive food, which helped to supplement him with extra minerals and vitamins lacking as a result of his malnourishment.

Wrapped in a thick woollen dressing gown, stroking the dogs newly cleaned fur as it rested its head on her lap. In the living room grandfather Xie read the pamphlet for the boys school she'd be attending in a months time. Waiting to contact her school for a prolonged absence and have her brother to be completely taken out of his former school, god forbid she were to be immediately recognised by his classmates.

She really liked the schools outlook and dorm system, having a bit of an aesthetic for traditional chinese architecture and housing. Instead of a large building separated into individual rooms, the

elite school housed students in these beautiful Chinese houses that could be divided to have a number of rooms.

Though she was staying by herself,each of these Chinese influenced houses were big enough with their own kitchen and bathroom. Meaning one could bring their own hired help or be served with the schools own catering and cleaning services.

So her grandfather who was worried that she was completely alone, unprotected from the world of hormonal young men, felt somewhat relieved. So Xiao Lou a kind hearted middle aged woman and her new pet, if she was able to train it to peak health were able to accompany her on this journey.

Though what she didn't expect was that her grandfather, a fire burning behind those dark eyes, had planned an extensive regime for her. What had initially happened to be a single girls choice on an impulse, somehow had become a team project.

'This is where shit gets real.' She thought before rubbing her face against the soft fur with a smile, enjoying the smell of Lavender shampoo.