Chapter 53: An Unwanted Visit and a Familiar Stranger

‘Why are the CCB agents here? Are they coming for me once more?’

‘Even if they harbored ill intentions towards me, Silver Moon herself should be the one to appear. Why would they send mere D-class personnel, utterly devoid of power?’

As Gu Xuanyu remained on high alert, the insistent knocking at the door grew increasingly frantic, bordering on a forceful hammering. It seemed to relentlessly urge her, as if those outside were prepared to smash their way in at any second.

‘These visitors harbored no good intentions.’

Gu Xuanyu subtly glanced back at Ye Qing, her gaze fleeting. Suppressing the rising hostility within her, she ultimately opened the door.

What greeted Gu Xuanyu were several pairs of cold, scrutinizing eyes.

“Miss, does Ye Qing reside at this address?”

At the mention of Ye Qing’s name, Gu Xuanyu’s pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. Still blocking their entry from the doorway, she responded with a composed demeanor:

“Yes, she does. Do you require her presence for something?”

“She is implicated in a criminal case and is required to cooperate with an investigation. Where is she at this moment?”

The leading man’s gaze instinctively drifted towards the interior of the house. However, Gu Xuanyu subtly shifted, cleverly obstructing his view, and a flash of displeasure crossed his face.

“Is this a matter of grave importance? Furthermore, none of you resemble police officers.”

Gu Xuanyu’s wine-red eyes calmly swept across each of their faces. Though the men were all powerfully built, appearing even more formidable beneath their heavy winter attire, she displayed not a hint of fear.

Even if Gu Xuanyu was no longer a Magical Girl, she still possessed a breadth of vision and insight far surpassing that of ordinary individuals. A mere handful of agents would not easily intimidate her.

“These are our official identification cards; you are welcome to verify them. As for the specifics of the case, I apologize, but we are unable to disclose any further details.”

The leading man pulled down the brim of his hat, casually flashing the CCB-issued identification card.

Without waiting, he then stepped over the threshold, his leather shoes tracking directly onto Ye Qing’s meticulously cleaned floor, leaving distinct muddy prints. Gu Xuanyu’s delicate brows furrowed instantly.

“One removes their shoes before entering a home. Do you lack even basic etiquette?”

Gu Xuanyu remained steadfast, blocking the man’s path without yielding an inch. However, it appeared the man had exhausted his patience for this prolonged standoff.

“Miss,” the man stated in a low, grave tone, “if Ye Qing is inside, I must ask you to bring her out. Otherwise, we will be forced to take more forceful measures. To phrase it politely, she is needed for questioning. To phrase it more directly… she is a suspect in this case and is subject to immediate arrest.”

Though not genuine police officers, these agents from the CCB possessed an undeniable level of training.

Their methods were often far more aggressive than those of standard law enforcement, and when necessary, they would prioritize the use of force.

Gu Xuanyu let out a soft ‘tsk,’ her expression darkening considerably as she worried about Ye Qing’s predicament.

‘Why would the CCB be after her? Could she be involved with an evil organization? If that were the case…’

Behind her back, Gu Xuanyu’s fingers clenched tightly onto the hem of her clothes. She realized, with a chilling certainty, that her conjecture was likely correct.

‘This would certainly explain why Ye Qing had transformed into a girl…’

Having finally obtained the notebook containing the novel, Gu Xuanyu had managed to piece together fragments of her lost memories. Yet, this newfound clarity only plunged her deeper into confusion.

She was certain the black-haired girl beside her was indeed Ye Qing. However, Ye Qing had undeniably been a boy before. How could she have suddenly become so… adorable? Though, it did suit her remarkably well.

The memories from those three years remained frustratingly blurry, and during that entire period, Ye Qing had almost entirely vanished from her sight.

Consequently, Gu Xuanyu had absolutely no inkling of Ye Qing’s circumstances.

‘Was she swept into some bizarre affair, encountered aliens descending from the heavens, signed a peculiar pact with a mysterious organization, or perhaps became the subject of a mad scientist’s experiment?’

Gu Xuanyu felt a profound anxiety, yet she dared not voice her questions, terrified that doing so would shatter the delicate balance they currently shared.

More than any answers, Gu Xuanyu yearned for this tranquil, beautiful life—a life she shared with Ye Qing.

She feared that mentioning the three years of estrangement would plunge Ye Qing back into agony.

It would be just like that day in the piano room, when Ye Qing had fled, stumbled, and fallen heavily to the ground, only to then seek solace in the embrace of that unknown purple-haired woman.

Even if it was done unknowingly, that shattered affection could never truly be mended. And the subsequent warm memory of comfort, received in her absence, would forever be claimed by another.

‘In her most wounded moment, I wasn’t the one by her side.

Instead, I was the heartless perpetrator who caused her pain. Even with my own hardships, could I truly absolve myself of guilt? Did someone like me even have the right to care for Ye Qing?’

Pain remained pain; it would not be assuaged, no matter how perfect the excuse or how unavoidable the circumstances.

The only true balm for such deep wounds was time. All Gu Xuanyu could do was to do her utmost to cherish the girl she had inadvertently harmed, and then pray that the pain wasn’t so severe as to leave an unsightly scar.

Thus, when Ye Qing left her alone at home, Gu Xuanyu could only silently swallow her resentment, using the frigid silence to chastise herself.

‘If even a single night feels unbearable, how must Ye Qing have endured those thousand days of abandonment?’

‘After three long years, she was still willing to embrace me; she still held me in her heart. How could I possibly have the right to add any more pressure to her burdens?’

‘I wish to be your lover, but I am merely… a willful and foolish younger sister.’

‘Even if only a sister, I yearn to once again be the best person in your heart…’

However, events refused to unfold as Gu Xuanyu had so desperately wished.

The man rudely shoved past Gu Xuanyu, nearly sending her stumbling to the ground. The remaining agents then streamed in, one after another, leaving a conspicuous trail of muddy footprints across the floor.

Gu Xuanyu leaned against the wall, stunned, her slender fingers clenching so tightly that they began to dig into her palms.

‘There’s still a way. Should they attempt to harm Ye Qing, with my current abilities, I ought to be able to transform into a Magical Girl using that notebook, and then confront Silver Moon…’

As she watched their retreating figures, Gu Xuanyu’s eyes sharpened with resolve. She was about to head to the bedroom to retrieve the notebook when the leading man suddenly cried out in sharp pain.

All attention was immediately drawn to the center of the room. The man’s large, fan-like hand was now curled like a chicken’s claw, his wrist firmly clutched by a slender, delicate hand, which was slowly twisting it backward.

The man struggled to break free from Shen Congqing’s vice-like grip, but the pressure on his wrist felt less like a human hand and more like a steel clamp. It was relentlessly tightening, threatening to crush his bones and twist his arm clean off at any moment.

“She is my student. Until you clarify your intentions, I will not permit any of you to lay a hand on her.”

Shen Congqing spoke with a chilling edge, her emerald eyes glinting with an undeniable, frigid resolve.

Seeing this, the remaining agents instinctively reached for the guns at their waists, their expressions now etched with profound vigilance.

To so easily subdue their captain, this woman was undeniably extraordinary. In the worst-case scenario, they had just stumbled upon a high-ranking member of an evil organization.

‘If that were truly the case…’ Several agents unconsciously drew their firearms, cold sweat trickling down their spines.

Yet, they knew instinctively that their guns would be useless. If they provoked her, all of them would perish, or worse, be condemned to a fate far more dreadful than death.

The other agent, who served as the operation’s deputy leader, mustered his courage. He leveled his gun at the golden-haired woman’s forehead, issuing a stern warning.

“I must warn you,” he began, his voice strained, “your actions are exceedingly dangerous and could be considered an assault. It is not too late to surrender now. Consider carefully what authority you possess to impede our operation.”

Yet, Shen Congqing met his gaze without a hint of fear, her own eyes unwavering. She had long since noticed the barcode subtly displayed on the man’s collar, making her fully aware of their true identities.

Releasing the man’s wrist, she parted her crimson lips, her voice remarkably calm.

“My identity, you ask? Very well, then. Will this identity suffice?”