Chapter 30: The Weight of Expectations and a Witch’s Empathy

Xu Yanqing’s life trajectory began in early childhood.

The first significant event was the “Mage Aptitude Selection.”

As one of the few “supernatural branches” with a relatively low barrier to entry, becoming a mage consistently stood as the most conventional path for ordinary individuals seeking to enter the supernatural realm.

Consequently, an “examination” system, strikingly similar to those of the old world, emerged to meet this demand.

For those barely eking out an existence in the city’s outskirts, or simply struggling to fill their bellies within its walls, the ambition to transform their highly impressionable children into “rare talent” supernaturals was a powerful driving force.

This ambition was not difficult to comprehend.

However, it was a different matter entirely for the “children” themselves, upon whom such immense hopes were pinned.

Xu Yanqing found herself in precisely this situation.

Born in the outer wall district of the suburbs, Xu Yanqing was, from a tender age, surrounded by an assortment of peculiar objects, all thanks to her parents’ fervent desire to become “registered citizens.”

Many of these objects, it was painfully clear, were overtly harmful.

For instance, the discarded radioactive sources, which Xu Yanqing now knew all too well, had once been her constant companions, merely because “radiation was rumored to induce supernatural abilities in biological systems.”

Remarkably, Xu Yanqing’s luck held; the exposure had no significant lasting impact.

Once she had matured slightly, Xu Yanqing was, quite naturally, pushed by her parents into the Mage Tower.

This was despite the explicit warning that they would become part of a vast collective of “experimental subjects.”

Not long after her admission, an unforeseen accident transpired.

From that point onward, Xu Yanqing leveraged an “emotional defect”—a consequence of the experimental mishap—to secure her position as an apprentice within the Mage Tower.

Xu Yanqing’s luck continued to hold; an emotional defect was, by all accounts, a remarkably rare and neutral outcome of such an accident.

Subsequently, Xu Yanqing swiftly ascertained that she possessed no inherent talent for magic.

Yet, she chose to conceal this truth in her letters, preferring to let her parents remain immersed in their hopeful dreams.

At that time, the young girl, devoid of any capacity for joy or anger, merely continued living her life with an unsettling placidity.

Just as her inner world threatened to decay into nothingness, a cat, seemingly plucked from a whimsical cartoon, appeared before Xu Yanqing.

“Wake up, meow! Xiaocing, you’re drifting off again, meow!”

This was not the same languid tone it currently adopted.

Xu Yanqing blinked her slightly dry eyes, slowly bringing herself back to the present.

Senior Xiaohua, in an exaggerated pose only achievable by a cartoon character, now perched on her shoulder, gazing around with an air of profound curiosity.

The distinctly human expression of wonder on its face suggested that its self-proclaimed “long-term indoor residence” was no mere fabrication.

Or perhaps it simply never ventured onto the streets?

As Xu Yanqing pondered this, she identified the direction indicated by a nearby road sign, then selected the next intersection she needed to take.

Evidently, she was making her way to Miss Su Qingyao’s residence.

While undoubtedly a generation her senior in age, Miss Su Qingyao, in both her youthful appearance and her vibrant mentality, was unmistakably a peer.

This was precisely why Xu Yanqing had gradually shifted from addressing her as “Madam” to “Miss.”

Ah, and then there was her daughter.

Xu Yanqing couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret over her own narrow worldview.

Indeed, Xu Yanqing had never encountered a family quite like this one.

****

After Su Qingyao had offered the visiting Xu Yanqing a simple cup of tea, she suggested they relocate to the secluded rooftop to discuss matters that might prove sensitive.

Having already exchanged their formal pleasantries, the two ascended the stairs in comfortable silence.

Su Qingyao walked a few paces behind, observing the young girl’s almost mechanically steady footsteps ahead. For a fleeting moment, she experienced a strange hallucination, recalling her former companion, the one known as the Professor.

Yet, the resemblance was merely superficial.

“Creak.” Xu Yanqing was the first to push open the heavy iron door leading to the rooftop. After securing it fully open, she paused at the threshold, silently glancing back at the girl following her.

It was only after Su Qingyao had also stepped onto the rooftop that Xu Yanqing gently closed the iron door behind them.

Xiaohua, who seemed to have been patiently waiting, gracefully descended from mid-air onto Su Qingyao’s shoulder. With a nimble hop, it then leaped to Xu Yanqing’s shoulder, settling down in a cross-legged position.

“There’s a rather unsettling aura within this building, meow.”

Xiaohua was so strongly repelled by this aura that it had actively employed its own magic to fly directly to the rooftop.

“Alright, alright, let’s set aside our own matters for now. Xiaocing, quickly tell me what you summoned little Qingyao here to discuss.”

It was readily apparent that Xiaohua harbored concerns that Xu Yanqing intended to cause trouble for Su Qingyao, thus it had unilaterally assigned itself a mission of partial supervision and partial mediation.

Xu Yanqing, of course, understood this, but she remained entirely unconcerned.

After all, from the very outset, she had harbored no intention of uttering anything disagreeable on this particular subject.

Quite the opposite, in fact:

She had come to convey both her gratitude and her apologies.

“The morning’s circumstances weren’t conducive, Miss Su Qingyao. I’ve simply come to express my apologies to you.”

Xu Yanqing spoke softly.

Utterly unconcerned by the slight tremor of surprise that had momentarily disrupted her smile, she continued speaking:

“Truthfully, Senior Xiaohua sought you out largely because I’ve been so deeply affected lately, leaving it somewhat bewildered. Thus, in a moment of sheer urgency, it turned to you.”

“As for Xiaobai’s situation… in truth, I had vaguely surmised the outcome long ago. Now, I am merely searching for the lingering traces.”

Xu Yanqing’s expression remained perfectly unperturbed.

However, Su Qingyao keenly observed a fleeting flicker of sorrow and desolation cross Xu Yanqing’s face. She thus decided to pivot to a topic that was similar, yet considerably less pointed.

“It appears, Xu Yanqing, that you and Lin Xiaobai shared a very close bond.”

It was a question that, on the surface, sounded profoundly intrusive.

Yet, Xu Yanqing considered it with profound seriousness, betraying not the slightest hint of displeasure.

On Su Qingyao’s face, her typically gentle smile had, at some imperceptible moment, gained a subtle, almost ‘unfamiliar’ quality that instinctively prompted Xu Yanqing to lower her guard.

Within her lowered eyelids, no trace of malice could be discerned; only pure, unadulterated concern and a flicker of empathetic heartache resided there.

It led her thoughts to a word that felt impossibly distant.

An “identity” she had once only vaguely perceived in Lin Xiaobai.

A definition that Xu Yanqing, after rigorous deliberation, finally articulated:

Daughter.

And they, both of them, seemed to stand on a slightly elevated plane, like mothers attempting to shield the scorching sun with their delicate figures.

“Uh, ah…”

Xu Yanqing’s voice abruptly softened, and after a moment of choked silence, it left an indistinct, hazy feeling in her heart, much like a biscuit softened by honeyed water.

In stark contrast to Xu Yanqing’s utter bewilderment, the cunning Miss Su Qingyao, a veritable adult, held a wooden staff concealed behind her back, squarely within Xu Yanqing’s blind spot.

A distinct magical glow emanated from its surface.

Xiaohua, who might have otherwise detected something amiss, was now cradled in the arms of a visibly flustered Xu Yanqing, being petted into a state of utter bewilderment.

Miss Su Qingyao was, in truth, profoundly socially anxious.

To expect a socially anxious person to suddenly achieve an epiphany in conversation was a far greater folly than forcing her to confront a hundred Lu Zhichuans.

At least with the latter, one could surrender and enjoy the ‘fermented bean curd’ treatment.

As the “first and most ancient” magical girl, she naturally exuded an innate sense of affinity for all other magical girls.

Su Qingyao thus deduced the existence of a magic capable of subtly imbuing her with the very “aura” other magical girls subconsciously yearned for, altering their perceptions of her.

Precisely as she was doing now.

With but a subtle guidance from Su Qingyao, the conversation could continuously unfold from the most peculiar angles.

The title of [Witch], one who subtly manipulates hearts, was indeed a fitting moniker for Miss Su Qingyao.

****

“Booboo, what is it?”

Su Muxue asked the large ragdoll dog nestled in her arms.

This “wild” fantastical creature, prone to speaking with an air of profound antiquity, had just abruptly turned its head to gaze out the window.

And yet, Su Muxue had been in the midst of sharing her joy over her mother’s praise with it.

“Nothing at all, merely a slight disturbance outside the window.”

Booboo explained, feigning an air of perfect composure.

Then, a pouting Su Muxue seized its two front paws, pulling it from her lap and suspending it in mid-air.

“Mommy said we must listen attentively when others speak.”

“Very well, my Lady Su Muxue.”

Booboo explained with a sigh of resignation.

Then, Booboo merely offered two clearing coughs before being gently set back down.

That momentary display of “anger” had been nothing more than a child’s performance.

Despite her theatrical reprimand, Su Muxue remained deeply fond of Booboo.

Booboo, in turn, was quite content with its excellent rapport with the little princess.

As long as that “inferior product” outside harbored no ill intentions towards Su Muxue, Booboo was content to let it be.

After all, Her Majesty the Queen would undoubtedly handle everything.