First I’ll try turning into Mom. That seems simple enough. The thought sounded easy, but Chen Youzai was still nervous. He had no idea whether anything the middle-aged man told him was true. What if he muttered the spell and turned into a dog? What if he could not change back?
Chen Youzai hesitated again. He hated how indecisive he became whenever something important happened. If he never tried it, what value did the silver coin have? How many chances did a person get to take a real gamble in life? If he did not take one now, how was he ever supposed to change his fate?
In the end, curiosity won. Trying to steady his pounding heart, Chen Youzai shakily recited the incantation the man had taught him and added the name at the end.
Golden light suddenly flooded his vision. When Chen Youzai opened his eyes again, he nearly died of fright. He was standing face-to-face with himself, and the other “Chen Youzai” looked completely unconcerned. Lowering his gaze, he discovered that he was now wearing an apron and holding a spatula.
After one frozen second, Chen Youzai lost his mind with excitement. He rushed onto the balcony and shouted at the top of his lungs.
“I transformed! I transformed! I’ve got magic powers! Hahaha…”
A head poked out from the neighboring balcony. It belonged to Uncle Zhang next door. Smiling amiably, he said, “Sister-in-law, you’re full of energy today! Practicing your voice first thing in the morning?”
“Mother Chen” looked at him and burst out laughing. “Uncle Zhang… Hahaha… I’ve mastered the Great Soul-Transfer Art! As a reward, this spatula is yours. Catch! Yohoho…”
With that, “Mother Chen” flung the spatula over in one flamboyant motion, then skipped back into the apartment.
Did Mother Chen get some kind of shock? Uncle Zhang stood there clutching the spatula in a daze. She had called him by the wrong generation and was throwing kitchenware around before breakfast. Just two days earlier, she had told him she had used this spatula ever since she got married and could not bear to replace it. Why was she suddenly tossing it away?
“Mother Chen” took out the silver coin and recited the spell again, nervous beyond words. If I can’t change back, I’ll have lost a mother!
Fortunately, Chen Youzai soon returned to his own body. Even better, the so-called sub-soul had apparently kept everything running normally in his absence.
So it’s all real! I knew heaven had to let me get lucky at least once after all these miserable years. I just never imagined I’d get this lucky. Chen Youzai rubbed his hands together, too excited to know what to do with himself. Once he calmed down a little, however, he thought it over rationally. Better not tell anyone. Otherwise reporters and paparazzi might swarm him, and when they discovered they could not see the coin, they might accuse him of staging the whole thing for attention.
Chen Youzai carefully put away the silver coin and slipped into the kitchen, practically glowing with happiness. He patted Mother Chen on the back and asked tentatively, “Mom, I’m starving. Is breakfast ready?”
It took Mother Chen quite a while to come back to herself. She looked into the pan. The fresh egg fried rice had turned black and was stuck to the bottom.
Mother Chen slapped her forehead in dismay. “How did I zone out for that long? This is completely ruined!”
Chen Youzai snickered behind her, unbearably pleased with himself. He had never imagined deceiving someone could feel this satisfying.
Mother Chen glanced around and suddenly shouted in frustration, “Where’s my spatula? Where did I put it now? Did you see it, Youzai? Youzai…”
Mother Chen turned around, but Chen Youzai was already gone. She let out a long sigh. “Why is my memory getting worse and worse? Forget it… He can buy something to eat on the way.”