Chapter 39: Humiliation and Schemes, A Homecoming’s Warmth

The red-haired girl, sprawled like a dead fish on the sickbed, immediately displayed a pathetic, crying face, much like an emoji, upon seeing that message.

‘even Teacher Qingyu looks down on me.’

Her backside remained numb and swollen, yet the slightest turn or brush against it would rekindle a piercing pain, making tears stream down her face.

“Silver Moon, help me with the ointment.”

Liu Qingruo called out towards the door. However, the silver-haired girl who approached merely wore a look of disdain.

“That’s something you can handle yourself.”

Seeing Silver Moon’s familiar expression of disdain, Liu Qingruo couldn’t help but feel a surge of anxiety.

“Hey, I’m serious, I’m not joking around.”

“I’m not joking either. After being humiliated like this by an unknown evil executive, you should stay in bed and properly reflect on this failure.”

Silver Moon let out a soft huff. She placed a banana on the bedside table, then walked out of the room without a backward glance.

Liu Qingruo stared blankly at her retreating figure. A wave of grievance washed over her, and she could only puff out her cheeks indignantly.

‘No one cares about me, and it really hurts, you know.’

But Silver Moon had already left. Even the banana was placed just out of Liu Qingruo’s reach, which was truly infuriating.

“That damned exhibitionist, and that stinking brute! ‘Evil executive,’ my foot—they’re just sadists! Once I get my hands on you two, I’ll find out exactly who you are!”

***

Meanwhile, Silver Moon was walking through a narrow stairwell. Only the echo of her own footsteps resonated between the floors.

Her deliberate display of disdain towards Liu Qingruo was not truly her intention. It was merely because Liu Qingruo seemed to enjoy being scorned—wasn’t there a term for that, tsundere, perhaps?

‘Incomprehensible. Truly troublesome.’

As a mascot, she harbored no special feelings for any Magical Girl. Regarding Liu Qingruo’s performance, she only felt disappointment.

Although her senior had once warned her not to be overly critical of Magical Girls, as it took immense courage for them simply to face their enemies, Silver Moon did not agree.

Magical Girls who couldn’t complete their missions were no different from broken tools. The only distinction was that they were more troublesome, requiring meticulous effort for maintenance and repair.

However, with no one else available at present, they could only maintain the status quo for now.

Lost in thought, Silver Moon decided to meet Shen Congqing first.

Speaking of which, this senior Magical Girl, who was similarly inconvenient, was also due for retirement.

However, the evil organization had made a comeback. The new executive seemed even more formidable than anticipated. There was no room for error; they had to be eradicated swiftly.

If only she could activate the backup measures. Unfortunately, her senior had already warned her once before, and using them again might lead to severe disciplinary action.

But what if the situation became so urgent that she was “forced” to resort to such a drastic measure?

As she pondered, Silver Moon rarely allowed herself a faint smile. This subtle curve was barely noticeable on her indistinct features.

Resorting to drastic measures? In her eyes, this was the most perfect strategy. It would not only reduce costs and increase efficiency, but also ensure the loyalty and obedience of the Magical Girls.

The only cost would be the sacrifice of some superfluous elements.

To excise the malignant tumor and restore the constellations to their rightful places, there would always be necessary sacrifices.

While she was lost in thought, Silver Moon’s communication system suddenly signaled a call request.

Upon seeing the caller’s codename, Silver Moon instantly suppressed her smile, her brow furrowing instead.

It was precisely the senior who made her feel constrained. Though she was unwilling, she had no reason to refuse the call.

“Long time no see, Silver Moon. How have things been?”

The moment the connection was established, the other party spoke first. Though their voice carried a distinct coolness, the words themselves conveyed concern.

To Silver Moon, however, it was merely an order to report the situation.

After a muffled huff, Silver Moon calmed her inner irritation. She began to state the facts dispassionately:

“It’s bad. Magical Girl Bai abandoned her responsibilities. A new evil executive has emerged, possibly from the Tea Party.

In their first encounter, Magical Girl Chi and Qing performed poorly, were defeated, and humiliated. I am currently checking in on them as per protocol.”

“…You didn’t engage the enemy with them?”

Silver Moon fell silent.

“Then don’t arbitrarily shift the blame onto them.” The other party stated definitively, their scolding tone further irritating Silver Moon. “By the way, what happened with Magical Girl Bai?”

Being repeatedly pressed with questions she didn’t want to answer, Silver Moon felt a chill run down her spine.

“She tore up her medium, relinquishing her qualifications as a Magical Girl.”

“So, what role did you play in all of this?”

“A competent guide.”

This time, a long silence followed from the other end. Then came a sigh.

“In a while, once I’ve dealt with the troubles here, I’ll make a trip to Jinzhou. Unless there’s an emergency, you are forbidden from unilaterally ‘purifying’ Magical Girls.”

Upon hearing this, Silver Moon bit down hard on her lower lip. Her sharp canine teeth broke the skin at the corner of her mouth, and blood welled forth.

Yet, the scorching liquid shimmered with a dazzling golden hue in the sunlight.

“…Yes, Senior Yinjin.”

***

After returning home, the moment Ye Qing stepped over the threshold, the playful silver-haired girl, as if she had been waiting behind the door for a long time, joyfully greeted her.

“Qing, you’re back! I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”

As she spoke, Gu Xuanyu eagerly wrapped her arms around Ye Qing’s slender waist. She held her tightly, as if she wished to knead her into her own body.

She affectionately rubbed her cheek against Ye Qing’s. Each gentle touch of their delicate skin seemed to make the latter’s temperature rise.

In just a moment of blankness, Ye Qing felt as though Gu Xuanyu had claimed every inch of her body. Every exposed patch of skin was imbued with the other’s unique scent, a subtle dampness.

Had she not been so thoroughly wrapped, she feared she might have been consumed entirely.

Snapping out of her astonishment, Ye Qing, blushing with annoyance, pushed Gu Xuanyu away. She put on a stern face, wanting to utter some scolding words but finding herself unable to.

After a brief stare-down, she ultimately relented.

Once those clear, gentle, wine-red eyes fixed on her, she found it incredibly difficult to refuse. At most, she could only voice her objections without truly enforcing them.

“You girl…”

“Hehe, don’t dislike me! I haven’t seen Qing for a whole day.”

Ye Qing let out a helpless sigh. As she walked further into the room, she suddenly noticed a large pile of instant noodles on the table. Her delicate brows furrowed in confusion.

“Why did you buy so many instant noodles?”

Gu Xuanyu playfully stuck out her pink tongue.

“Who told Qing not to come back earlier? I really can’t get used to eating anything else, and Qing won’t let me touch the stove, so I had no choice but to eat these.”

Her voice remained soft and sweet, yet Ye Qing still detected a hint of complaint hidden within it.

Ye Qing knew that although Gu Xuanyu was a picky eater, her appetite was surprisingly good, and she never truly struggled to eat.

She had merely deliberately bought a pile of instant noodles and placed them on the table for Ye Qing to see.

It was like a younger sister yearning for her older sister’s attention.

“Eating too many isn’t good for your health. I’ll eat these.”

Ye Qing carried the instant noodles into the kitchen. Upon closer inspection, she surprisingly found that they were all flavors she enjoyed. Her heart softened involuntarily.

‘Honestly…’

“Oh, right, Qing, do you remember the book I kept talking about writing? The magazine is preparing to invite me for a visit. Would you be interested in accompanying me?”

Without her noticing, Gu Xuanyu had moved behind her. She began massaging Ye Qing’s shoulders in a fawning manner.

Under the clumsy massage, Ye Qing felt her body go soft. Her pretty face flushed faintly.

‘How could I possibly refuse?’

“Okay.”