Chapter 5

The next morning, I decided to head to campus to see if I could get any information about graduating early. With everything that had been happening, I had put school on the back burner, but now I needed to make sure I was on track for an early graduation. I couldn't afford to waste any time, especially with the responsibilities of the house and the babies on the way. 

After a quick breakfast, I grabbed my things and left the house. The drive to the university felt longer than usual, and I found myself mentally preparing for the conversations I was about to have with the administration. I had to approach this carefully—not only did I need to meet the academic requirements, but I also had to explain my situation and request some flexibility if necessary. 

Once I arrived, I went straight to the student affairs office. The walls were lined with various flyers and informational posters about campus events, internships, and graduation deadlines. I felt slightly out of place, especially in this busy, vibrant space, but I pushed past the discomfort. 

"Good morning," I said as I walked up to the front desk. The receptionist looked up, offering me a polite smile.

"Hi! How can I help you today?"

"I'd like to speak to someone about possibly graduating early. Is that something I can set up?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the growing nervousness inside.

The receptionist nodded and handed me a form. "You'll need to fill this out first, and then we can schedule a meeting with an academic advisor who handles graduation planning. You'll also need to provide proof of your current academic standing."

I took the form, filled it out quickly, and handed it back to her. After a few minutes, I was given a time for my meeting—a few hours later in the afternoon. It was a bit of a wait, but I had time to kill, so I wandered around campus, letting my mind drift.

I thought about everything I had been through in the last few months, how much my life had changed. I wasn't sure how everything would play out with the babies, the house, and my future, but I had to make this work. I had to prove to myself that I could handle this new life. I had to make sure my academic path aligned with everything else.

When the time for my meeting came, I made my way back to the office. The academic advisor was waiting for me—a middle-aged woman with glasses, her hair pulled back in a neat bun. She smiled warmly as I entered, gesturing for me to sit down across from her.

"Hello, Xui Bai. I've been briefed on your request to graduate early. How are you doing today?"

I smiled back, though I was a little nervous. "I'm doing well, thank you. I'm hoping to make sure that I can finish my coursework quickly so I can focus on other responsibilities in my life."

She nodded thoughtfully. "Understood. We can definitely look at your current credits and see how much we can expedite the process. But we'll need to ensure you've met the required number of courses, labs, and practical work. Some classes are non-negotiable."

She opened up my academic file on her computer, scrolling through my grades and completed courses. After a moment of silence, she looked up at me.

"It seems like you've been performing well academically, and you're not far off from completing the necessary coursework for early graduation. However, there are a few things we'll need to discuss." She paused for a moment. "We'll need to adjust your schedule so that you can take a few intensive courses this semester and next. There are a couple of options for online classes, and we can help you balance that."

I nodded, relieved that she wasn't going to turn me away. "I'm willing to take on any extra workload. I need to finish as soon as possible."

The advisor smiled, a little more kindly. "I admire your determination. We can arrange for you to take a full course load, and perhaps we can look into credit-by-exam for some of your electives. I'll help you with the paperwork to make sure this works out."

As we discussed the logistics of adjusting my schedule, I felt a bit of hope rise within me. It was going to be tough, and I would have to work harder than ever, but it was possible. I could make it happen. The advisor promised to send me all the necessary information by the end of the week, and I would have to start preparing for the exams and assignments that would come my way.

After the meeting, I left the office with a sense of purpose. I still had a lot to figure out—how to balance school, the house, and the babies—but now, at least, I had a concrete plan in place for my academics. It wasn't going to be easy, but I wasn't about to back down. 

I was already living a life far from the one I had expected, and this was just another step in the unexpected journey. But, I realized, I wasn't alone. I had the support of the Mu family and my friends, and that made all the difference. I could handle this.

That evening, after a long day of meetings and planning, I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. I had made progress on my academics, secured a plan for an early graduation, and now, it was time to focus on something a little more relaxing—cooking.

The kitchen in the new house had a cozy, welcoming feel to it. The counter was spacious, and I had stocked up on fresh ingredients earlier in the day. Tonight, I decided to make something hearty but simple: a stir-fry with chicken, vegetables, and rice, with a side of crispy fried tofu. It was the kind of meal that reminded me of the warmth of home—something comforting to wind down after everything.

As the chicken sizzled in the pan, the smell filled the kitchen, making my stomach growl. I couldn't help but smile to myself. Cooking had always been a way for me to clear my head, and tonight, it felt especially needed. With everything happening—the pregnancy, school, the move—it was easy to get overwhelmed. But now, in this quiet moment, I could just focus on the food and the simple joy of preparing a meal.

By the time the meal was ready, I had set the dining table with glasses of water and the food laid out on plates. I walked out into the living room, where Zu Mu, Chen Na, and Mr. Mu were lounging, chatting, and laughing. They had been helping with the move earlier, and now they were enjoying a rare moment of peace before heading back to their respective routines.

"Dinner's ready!" I called out to them, and they immediately perked up.

"You really cooked this all by yourself?" Zu Mu asked, looking impressed. Her eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity, and I could tell she was excited.

"Of course! I've been practicing," I replied with a smile, trying to sound casual. In truth, I hadn't cooked much in the past, but this new life had pushed me to learn quickly. There was something satisfying about taking care of myself and my responsibilities, especially when it came to providing for the little ones.

Chen Na and Zu Mu joined me at the table, and we all dug in. The food was simple but delicious, and as we ate, the conversation flowed easily. We talked about the latest happenings in our lives—how their classes were going, how I was adjusting to the new house, and, of course, the babies.

It felt good to be surrounded by friends who genuinely cared about me. I couldn't help but feel a little bit of gratitude for the strange turn my life had taken. It wasn't what I had planned, but in some ways, it felt like I was starting to find my footing again.

After dinner, we lingered for a while, chatting and laughing about the silly things that had happened in the past few days. The hours flew by, and before long, it was time for everyone to leave.

Zu Mu and Chen Na got up from the table, stretching and grabbing their things. "We should probably head out before it gets too late," Zu Mu said, though her voice had a playful tone, as if she didn't really want to leave.

"Yeah, we've got classes tomorrow, and it's better if we get a good night's rest," Chen Na added, though she, too, seemed reluctant to go.

I stood up, following them to the door. "Thanks for coming over tonight. It was really nice to spend time with you," I said, giving them both a warm smile. 

"We'll come by again soon," Zu Mu said, giving me a thumbs-up before stepping out into the hallway. "Take care of yourself, Xui Bai. We've got your back, okay?"

Chen Na waved goodbye, her usual reserved demeanor softened with affection. "Goodnight, Xui Bai. Rest well and don't overwork yourself," she added, her voice caring and kind.

"Goodnight," I said softly, watching them leave. Once the door clicked shut behind them, I sighed contentedly. It was quiet now, and the house felt like home. 

As I turned off the lights and settled onto the couch, I couldn't help but reflect on the day. I had come a long way from the person I had been when I first swapped bodies with Xui Bai. Life wasn't easy, and it wasn't what I had expected, but somehow, I was finding my way through it. With my friends, with the support of Mr. Mu and the baby's father, I was beginning to realize that I could make this new life work.

And maybe, just maybe, I could even thrive in it.