Chapter 16: The Artist’s Secret and a Lingering Question

As the last Magical Girl, Magical Girl Crimson, Liu Qingruo was a figure of considerable significance in many respects.

Her illustrious yet tiresome family background, her mature figure that belied her innocent face, or even her status as a published author, were all testaments to this.

The very work she handed to Silver Moon was the cornerstone of her artistic journey—’Sole Love’.

Though its title seemed literary, in reality, any single page plucked from it could be appreciated as an independent piece. Peering through the gaps between the pages, one would find only the words ‘lover’ written everywhere.

In a way, this could be seen as Liu Qingruo’s silent rebellion against her family’s expectations.

When Silver Moon asked her what wish she hoped to achieve by becoming a Magical Girl, Liu Qingruo’s answer was: “I want to break free from my family’s constraints and live by my own passions.”

Alas, the outcome was not entirely as she had hoped.

Having rashly left her ivory tower, Liu Qingruo actually lacked exceptional talent.

To make a living through writing, she sometimes had to follow the well-trodden path of other authors, bending her will for a mere pittance, learning to pen what the masses desired.

Learning was a subtle, gradual process. By the time Liu Qingruo shed her girlish innocence and finally achieved something substantial, she had become a seasoned expert, a ‘veteran driver’ in every sense.

One could even say her wish had come true—’How could ‘spicy’ things not count as a passion?’

All in all, Liu Qingruo had successfully published her first work.

Although it could only be found in the most mysterious, age-restricted corner of bookstores, she had still rushed to buy a physical copy the moment it was released—though it had taken visiting several stores to finally find it.

‘Poor Liu Qingruo, such a good theme, yet it still flopped…’

Reflected in Liu Qingruo’s eyes, Silver Moon was currently averting her gaze slightly, her golden eyes veiled with a hint of bashfulness.

She wore a rather imperious, disdainful expression as she tucked Liu Qingruo’s book into her bag.

The white-haired girl’s attire also clashed with her surroundings. She wore a Gothic Lolita gown, which made her appear even more delicate and charming, like a noble young lady who feigned dislike but was honest in her actions.

Silver Moon put away the book and turned to look at Gu Xuanyu. Her expression instantly shifted from disdain to calm.

Whenever the Magical Girls were in the same room, she would exhibit a severe sense of dissociation, as if suffering from dissociative identity disorder.

Her expressions would grotesquely change without warning or transition, practically activating ‘Sage Mode’ in an instant.

At this moment, Gu Xuanyu’s attention was not on Silver Moon. Instead, it was fixated on the petite, black-haired girl who had just emerged from the merchandise store, her hand pressed against her forehead.

Gu Xuanyu even unconsciously clutched the corner of her clothes, unable to suppress the concern and guilt welling within her.

For reasons unknown, as she gazed at the familiar back, Gu Xuanyu felt another pang of heartache.

“You two can continue browsing. I’m going out for a moment.”

Silver Moon nodded. Unwilling to deal with two Magical Girls simultaneously, she simply let Gu Xuanyu have her way.

Gu Xuanyu’s face lit up with joy, and she hurriedly gave chase. The black-haired girl was sitting on a bench beneath a tree, her head bowed, fiddling with something unknown.

Gu Xuanyu softened her footsteps, approaching stealthily, fearing she might startle the adorable, cat-like girl.

As she drew closer, her gaze inadvertently slid downwards along Ye Qing’s slender, swan-like neck, past her porcelain-white collarbones, just about to rest upon the girl’s subtly graceful curves.

Gu Xuanyu couldn’t help but feel a blush, quickly averting her eyes.

Yet, in that fleeting glance, aided by a Magical Girl’s acute dynamic vision, Gu Xuanyu’s peripheral vision caught sight of the content on Ye Qing’s phone screen. It was an account with a small black cat as its profile picture.

The familiar black cat suddenly materialized in her mind, causing Gu Xuanyu’s breath to catch. A flicker of insight gleamed in her wine-red eyes.

Although the small black cat seemed to be a default avatar, Gu Xuanyu found it difficult not to connect it with the artist account she followed on Bixiv. If Ye Qing was indeed Qingyu, then many things would make sense.

‘I should have known her, but I accidentally forgot her. Ye Qing clearly came with expectations, only to receive this outcome. Anyone would be hurt by that, wouldn’t they?’

Yet, Gu Xuanyu couldn’t convince herself with this reasoning, for it sounded far too arrogant.

‘It was a relationship so distant that they could forget each other. Why should Ye Qing have held expectations for her, or be so deeply hurt?’

‘She, Gu Xuanyu, was hardly a perfect woman. She was clumsy and needed care for many things. Moreover, that person had rejected her several times…’

Hiss—

Gu Xuanyu’s brows furrowed. She vaguely grasped the crucial point, but when she delved deeper, she found only emptiness.

‘My hands and feet are clearly nimble, able to freely command those intricate black and white piano keys…’

Her strenuous thoughts yielded no results. Gu Xuanyu shook her head helplessly.

‘Perhaps I should first try to verify my conjecture about the account.’

Gu Xuanyu had been standing silently behind Ye Qing for a while. The somewhat dazed, black-haired girl was still browsing illustrations, seeking inspiration.

‘This one isn’t spicy enough. This one is too outlandish. This one is 350… Go take your star-crossed lovers and feast on a large portion.’

Her slender finger continuously scrolled across the screen. Previously, Ye Qing could easily hold her phone with one hand, but now she could only rest it on her lap and use her index finger to swipe.

There was no other way; with her body having shrunk, her hands had also become much smaller. Her delicate, pink fingers were soft and slender, making it difficult to even grip a paintbrush properly.

Sometimes, she couldn’t even press the function buttons on her stylus, rendering it utterly inadequate.

‘Hmm, it seems I really should buy a more functional and suitable stylus. My phone should also be replaced with a smaller-screen model; otherwise, nothing is convenient.’

As she mused, a private message popped up before her eyes. Ye Qing blinked in confusion. ‘Who would be messaging her at this hour?’

‘Could Lin Shaoyao and the others have finished browsing already? That’s right, Lin Shaoyao doesn’t seem very interested in Magical Girls.

Speaking of which, I came to accompany Tang Nuo, didn’t I? Is it really okay to just slip away like this…’

Ye Qing’s gaze sharpened as she recognized the ID.

[Yu: QWQ]

Ye Qing was momentarily stunned. Her fingertip hovered motionless before the screen, unable to descend.

‘That’s certainly her style, but why would she message me at a time like this? Wasn’t she…’

Ye Qing turned her head, and her gaze met Gu Xuanyu’s, who was standing behind her. They exchanged an awkward glance for a few seconds before instinctively looking away.

“Uh, I apologize. That was a bit abrupt. I just wanted to confirm a few things…”

“It’s fine.”

Ye Qing sighed helplessly. From Gu Xuanyu’s expression, it was clear she still hadn’t remembered, merely stumbling upon her through chance clues.

‘Is remembering me really so difficult? Am I, Ye Qing, such an unmemorable person?’

‘Well, it seems I am…’

However, with things having progressed this far, even Ye Qing, as slow-witted as she was, couldn’t ignore the strangeness of her interactions with Gu Xuanyu.

Gu Xuanyu didn’t remember Ye Qing at all, yet she was unusually persistent, carefully probing Ye Qing’s mood when she spoke, as if afraid of being alienated.

‘Ye Qing is a hardcore otome game player, yet she has no clue about this situation. Usually, female characters start with zero or even negative affection, but with Gu Xuanyu, it seems to be one hundred percent?’

‘This isn’t right; otome games don’t work like this. There must be something fishy going on.’

‘Besides, I look nothing like the old Ye Qing now. Why is she clinging to me? I’ve even turned into a girl…’

A lightning-fast thought flashed through Ye Qing’s mind, making her stare intently at Gu Xuanyu, her amber eyes trembling slightly.

‘Wait, could you also be a lesbian?’