Chapter 20: Unexpected Returns and Mysterious Messages

Su Qianyu was clearly quite surprised.

Though she had lived for a considerable time and witnessed much of the world.

Upon seeing Qincai’s home, however, she couldn’t help but gasp aloud.

‘Could it be that her kind and affable demeanor at school was all an act!?’

Gazing at the luxurious grand villa, Su Qianyu immediately thought of the villainous young ladies from comic books.

Before she could even utter a word, her head received a familiar tap, identical to Illo’s.

“I have a distinct feeling you’re contemplating something rather impolite.”

Squinting her eyes, Qincai slowly lowered her raised hand.

Feeling the throbbing pain in her head, Su Qianyu was about to grumble a few words, but before they could escape her lips, Illo preemptively silenced her.

“Alright, now that you’re here, you’d best adhere to the rules of this place, wouldn’t you?”

“Otherwise, I can’t guarantee what our kind and amiable Class Monitor might do to you.”

Illo spoke, simultaneously giving Su Qianyu a significant look.

Observing her, Su Qianyu naturally understood her meaning.

Seeing this, she could only comply obediently.

Just as the three of them conversed, a well-dressed butler slowly emerged from behind the door at the entrance.

“Miss, you’ve returned.”

Upon seeing the butler, Qincai smiled and jogged over to him.

After whispering a few words into the butler’s ear, he immediately understood, adopting a respectful demeanor.

“Since you two are Miss’s friends, you are naturally esteemed guests of our household.”

“Please, come in.”

Stepping aside, Qincai led Illo and Su Qianyu further inside.

If the exterior decorations had already astonished Su Qianyu, the interior undoubtedly shattered her perception of what a home could be.

‘Could a house truly be this beautiful?’

Thinking of her own humble abode, Su Qianyu suddenly felt a pang of destitution.

‘Damn it, with so many rich people in the world, what’s wrong with there being one more?’

‘Just looking at the decorations inside, which were undoubtedly priceless, she wondered how many humble meals she would have to eat to save up this much money.’

Led further inside, Illo and Su Qianyu soon arrived at a reception room.

“You two rest here for a bit; I’ll be right back!”

With these words, Qincai skipped away.

Noticing the fruit on the table, and seeing no one around, Su Qianyu reached out, grabbed some, and began to eat immediately.

Illo, in contrast, appeared completely relaxed, showing no hint of awkwardness despite being in someone else’s home.

Feigning interest in her phone, Illo mentally calculated the time, and seeing that it was nearly right, she slowly rose to her feet.

“Stop eating.”

“It’s time to get down to business.”

As she spoke, Illo effortlessly lifted Su Qianyu, who was still stuffing fruit into her mouth, looking utterly speechless.

She hadn’t brought Su Qianyu here just for fruit.

If they were going to eat, it would have to be after they had stolen what they came for.

Just as they were about to transform, Qincai suddenly returned, interrupting their plans.

“Hey, didn’t you have something to do?”

Recalling Qincai’s actions in her previous life, Illo was clearly taken aback by her sudden return.

‘Why would she suddenly come back at this particular moment?’

Qincai, however, scratched her head, clearly at a loss for where to begin.

After organizing her thoughts, the young girl finally spoke.

“Um… it seems someone has arrived at your Magical Girl headquarters?”

“And, she said she wants to see you…?”

“See me?”

Pointing to herself, Illo was puzzled.

‘Why would anyone be looking for her, in this place, at this time?’

Evidently, Qincai was just as bewildered by the situation.

For she had only just learned the news herself.

Shrugging, Illo asked Qincai to lead her to whoever was looking for her.

‘After all, there was no immediate rush.’

However, upon entering another reception hall and spotting that familiar figure once more, Illo frowned and spoke with noticeable impatience.

“Lin Li, why is it you again?”

Gazing at the person who had appeared before her repeatedly, Illo could distinctly sense something was amiss with her.

‘Last time, near her home, it could have been dismissed as a coincidence, but what about this time?’

‘It was almost as if she were being stalked.’

From the outset, Illo had no intention of being cordial.

Lin Li, however, seemed unconcerned, and instead stepped forward proactively.

“Lady Illo…!”

As if realizing her choice of address was incorrect, the young girl hastily corrected herself.

“Um, Miss Illo!”

“What a coincidence, you’re here too?”

Listening to their opening exchange, Qincai quietly retreated a few steps.

Su Qianyu did the same, subtly shifting backward.

“If you have something to say, just say it directly. I’m not like those overly sentimental Magical Girls; there’s no need for such circumlocution.”

Illo frowned, clearly reluctant to engage in conversation.

“Since you’re looking for me, just state your business.”

Seeing that Illo was disinclined to continue the exchange, Lin Li slightly adjusted her demeanor.

However, instead of speaking, she silently produced an envelope and handed it to Illo.

“What is this?”

Illo took the letter, and a distinct fragrance of jasmine wafted from it.

The scent was unmistakably familiar, clearly from *that person*.

Yet, just as she was about to open the letter, Lin Li stopped her.

“Um, *that* Magical Girl said it should only be opened during the daytime?”

Only after being kindly reminded did Illo notice the magical seal on the envelope.

The magic circle inscribed upon it was incredibly intricate, clearly indicating something of great importance lay within.

‘But in her previous life, she hadn’t given her this item, had she?’

She weighed the envelope in her hand; it clearly held some heft.

“Since the letter has been received, I should take my leave!”

Observing Illo’s expression, a faint smile flickered in Lin Li’s eyes.

Giving a playful expression, Lin Li quickly departed under their gazes.

Her movements were so swift that Qincai didn’t even have time to call for someone to see her out before she had already vanished.

Gazing at the envelope in her hand, a sense of confusion began to brew within Illo.

‘Leaving aside why Jasmine, of all people, would suddenly write her a letter…’

‘…just Lin Li’s constant, inexplicable appearances near her was enough to warrant a thorough investigation.’

‘And why was *she* the one delivering the letter?’

Yet, before the questions she wanted to ask could escape her lips, Lin Li’s figure had already vanished.

Qincai looked at Illo, then glanced at the time twice, before gently clearing her throat to get their attention.

“Ahem, um?”

“It seems it’s almost dinnertime, isn’t it?”

After Qincai’s reminder, Su Qianyu hastily tugged at Illo’s sleeve twice, urging her to disregard everything else for now.

“Forget about her for now; since we’re already here, let’s eat first!”

Looking at Illo’s face, Su Qianyu forced a smile.

‘As the saying goes, ‘Man is iron, food is steel; miss a meal and you’ll feel the hunger keen’.’

Illo pondered for a moment, then simply nodded.

‘She knew that compared to this letter, finding the time to steal those documents was far more important.’

Soon, the group arrived in the banquet hall.

The hall was bustling with people, including many noblewomen and young ladies of prominent families.

As the guest of honor, Qincai, after bringing Su Qianyu and Illo, was quickly whisked away from their side.

Eyeing the dishes on the table, Su Qianyu immediately decided to indulge herself.

‘To hell with formalities; eating comes first!’

‘If she couldn’t be rich, couldn’t she at least enjoy the food!’

Before she could even take a couple more bites, Illo approached and promptly lifted Su Qianyu by her clothes.

“Stop eating, look up.”

“Hm!?”