Chapter 38: A Family Dinner and a Fateful Meeting

“Please, this way, both of you. Watch your step~” The greeter, beaming a warm smile, gestured towards the depths of the restaurant.

Lily of the Valley followed her lead, walking beside her mother through the bustling hall until they reached their reserved table. It was peak dinner hour, and the restaurant was brimming with activity.

Waiters weaved through the crowd, balancing laden platters, while every table overflowed with sumptuous dishes. Diners clinked glasses, raised chopsticks, and their joyous chatter filled the air.

The uniquely sweet aroma of Jiangzhe cuisine drifted towards Lily of the Valley, making the young girl instinctively lick her lips.

Her mother noticed her daughter’s expression and chuckled softly. She had, in fact, also noticed the faint marks on Lily of the Valley’s body. Indeed, she followed news about Magical Girls and monsters daily, so she knew Lily of the Valley had fought desperately earlier that day and was eager to inquire about it. However, since her daughter clearly wished to conceal it, she refrained from pressing the matter.

Mother and daughter took their seats, facing each other across the table. Her mother pulled out the laminated menu and spread it open before Lily of the Valley. Instantly, countless enticing dishes, vibrant with color, seemed to leap from the page.

“Your father’s still looking for parking; who knows when he’ll get here. Let’s order first.”

“What are you in the mood for today?”

Lily of the Valley’s gaze swept across the dishes, her eyes brightening slightly. However, she quickly suppressed her longing gaze, straightened her back, and nervously addressed her mother:

“Whatever you and Dad decide is fine.”

Her daughter’s prim attitude, akin to a first-grader facing their teacher, caused her mother’s heart to sink momentarily before she broke into a wry smile.

“Alright then, I’ll just pick randomly. Since you have no objections now, you’ll have to finish it all, even if you don’t like it later.”

“I understand.”

“So, for the main course, let’s have the sweet and sour pork ribs, and a squirrel-shaped mandarin fish. This water shield soup seems new; let’s get a portion of that too, shall we?”

Her mother feigned casualness as she ordered dishes her daughter loved. Yet, she would occasionally slip in a dish Lily of the Valley disliked, then playfully observe her daughter’s reactions.

In short order, she finished ordering enough food for three people to have a hearty meal, then called a waiter to place their order. Afterward, she closed the menu, looked at her daughter, and steered the conversation to the topic she truly wanted to discuss.

“How has work been lately? Is everything going smoothly?”

Lily of the Valley nodded.

“Yes. I can handle it all.”

“Just like my daughter. But I heard you’re partnering with the formidable Fireworks. Can you keep up with her pace?”

Images of past crushing defeats flashed through the young girl’s mind. She lowered her head, a hint of dejection in her posture.

“…It’s a bit difficult. But I’ll try my best.”

Her mother leaned forward slightly, saying:

“Hmm… some things just can’t be helped, can they? Actually, I’ve been chatting with a sorcerer friend who works at the Candlestick guild these past few days, and they’re recruiting Magical Girls too.”

At this, she winked slyly.

“You’ve heard about it, haven’t you? While the pay might be a little less, the Magical Girls at Candlestick have it easier. They’re not saddled with a ton of troublesome assignments. Not only would you not have to push yourself so hard, but you could also frequently partner with handsome sorcerers. Care to consider it?”

Lily of the Valley hesitated for a moment, then gently shook her head.

“…I’m sorry, Mom. Newlight’s armory and intelligence database are the best… I still hope to stay here a little longer.”

Her mother sighed softly. Though the details varied, a similar conversation seemed to repeat almost every time they met. A flicker of annoyance crossed her face, but she quickly replaced it with a smile, telling her daughter:

“There’s nothing to apologize for. More importantly, how about we go for a family hike tomorrow, for the first time in ages?”

Lily of the Valley’s shoulders stiffened, Old Nie’s angry face flashing before her eyes. She cautiously replied:

“…I’m sorry, Mom. I already have plans to meet someone tomorrow.”

Her daughter’s voice was quiet, yet it dropped like a bomb in her mother’s heart. Lily of the Valley had awakened as a Magical Girl at fourteen. Since then, she had been relentlessly training and fighting, hardening herself into something more unyielding than aged wood. Her mother had never once seen her go out with anyone, and had even come to believe her daughter would spend her life alone. And now… the wood had blossomed!

She stared at the tense-faced girl, taking a full half-minute to snap out of her daze before her eyes lit up with excitement.

“Who is it? A friend? A boy or a girl? What do they do?”

Startled by her mother’s enthusiasm, Lily of the Valley hastily replied:

“A boy… a boy, I suppose he’s a friend. He’s a reporter for Newlight Group. Mom, it’s not… it’s not a particularly important meeting, just…”

“A Newlight Group reporter is excellent! How could that not be important? You must treat him seriously!”

“I will be serious.”

“Is that so? Then, what are you planning to wear?”

Lily of the Valley looked down at the sportswear she was wearing.

“Uh, this one? Or my work suit?”

“Absolutely! Not! After dinner tonight, don’t go home yet. I’ll take you downstairs to pick out some clothes. Your dad just got his bonus today.”

“O-okay.”

Her mother watched her daughter, who had been reduced to a stuttering mess, and rubbed her temples in exasperation.

“Where are you planning to meet? What do you plan to do?”

“Next to the branch office building. We’re going to check out a few nearby landmarks.”

Her mother passed the branch office building every day on her way to work and was quite familiar with that area. After a moment of thought, she said:

“I see… There are plenty of good places to eat and fun things to do around there. Do you know what he likes?”

“No. Not really.”

“Do you two have any mutual acquaintances?”

Finally, a question she could answer with a “yes.” Lily of the Valley immediately nodded.

“Yes, we do!”

“That’s good. Before you go, it would be best to ask this acquaintance to learn more about his preferences.”

“I understand! I’ll ask right away… Oh, Dad, we’re over here.”

“Yes, this way!”

Mid-conversation, a middle-aged man entered the restaurant, jacket in hand, looking around. Lily of the Valley quickly raised her hand like a schoolgirl making an announcement, waving to him; her mother turned with her, waving to her husband.

Her father immediately noticed his wife and daughter, smiling as he approached the table. He glanced at the long receipt on the table and said with a sigh:

“This is far too much. Can the three of us really finish it all?”

Her mother winked at her daughter, then told her husband:

“We can just pack up the leftovers; it’s not every day we come here. More importantly, listen to me, our daughter—”

Her father sat beside her mother, and the restaurant grew a shade livelier. Lily of the Valley watched her parents chatting and laughing, her previously tense brow relaxing.

****

As the moon slowly ascended, the city gradually quieted.

Lily of the Valley, carrying several bags of clothes, walked through the deserted corridor and into her rented apartment. She locked the door, entered her bedroom, and began organizing the new clothes while reviewing her mother’s styling advice.

Having completed all this, she remembered her mother’s instruction to first contact their mutual acquaintance and inquire about Lu Chen’s preferences. Thus, she took out her phone, opened her contacts, found Xia Shi’s profile picture, and began composing her message.

[Miss Fireworks, I apologize for the disturbance. Could you please tell me a little about Lu Chen’s preferences?]

A “Read” notification instantly popped up next to the message, but a reply was slow to come. Just as Lily of the Valley thought Xia Shi was busy and was about to attend to something else, the fiery girl’s response arrived.

[Why the sudden question?]

[Tomorrow I’m meeting him at the branch office building to discuss promotional photos, and we’ll also be scouting nearby landmarks. We might have dinner together afterward. That’s why I’m asking.]

Xia Shi immediately posted a smiley face beneath the message.

[So that’s it! I’ll immediately compile a list of Lu Chen’s favorite dishes for you.]

[Also, I’m off tomorrow and don’t have anything planned. If you encounter any problems while you’re out with Lu Chen, feel free to ask me anytime.]

A friendly aura seemed to emanate from the screen, making Lily of the Valley’s eyes light up. She copied Xia Shi, replying with a smiley face.

[Thank you!]

****

The next morning, the area around the branch office building was as bustling as ever.

Lu Chen stood at their designated meeting spot, idly chatting with Xia Shi on his phone while quietly awaiting Lily of the Valley’s arrival.

“M-Mr. Lu, good morning.”

A familiar, slightly nervous female voice reached his ears, so soft and sweet that Lu Chen almost didn’t recognize it as Lily of the Valley. He looked up in surprise, gazing at the young woman before him.

She wore a cream-white blouse beneath a flowing, pale green sundress, its neckline adorned with layers of soft, charming lace. A dark green ribbon was tied in her hair, and her entire demeanor exuded a gentle, serene aura.

Lily of the Valley nervously fiddled with her phone, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.

Lu Chen was utterly startled, goosebumps rising all over him as his mind raced. ‘Though it might sound a bit narcissistic… Lily of the Valley, dressed up like this, looks exactly like a girl in love, coming to meet her beloved.’

‘No, why? There’s absolutely no reason, is there?’

‘I-I must clarify this immediately, make it clear. It’s a good thing Xia Shi didn’t tag along today, or things would get complicated.’

Lu Chen carefully chose his words, saying:

“Miss Lily of the Valley, good morning. Th-that—”

Mid-sentence, a silver flash caught his eye, streaking directly towards the large screen mounted in front of the branch office building. Lu Chen quickly looked up, seeing the currently playing advertisement flicker and vanish—replaced by Xia Shi’s shimmering figure, appearing on the screen instead.

The fiery girl was peeking out from behind a corner, half her head visible. Her beautiful eyes were devoid of light, fixed intently on something.

This alone sent shivers down Lu Chen’s spine. What truly terrified him was that Xia Shi’s location looked eerily familiar. He swallowed hard, and amidst his frantic heartbeat, cautiously turned his head slightly, observing behind him with his peripheral vision.

Just like the image on the screen. His own girlfriend was huddled in an alley a few dozen meters away, sinisterly peeking in their direction.