Chapter 24: A Sweet Confession

Not long after the young woman hung up the phone, her screen lit up, and a message popped up.

[Senior, can we meet today at 3 PM at ‘Sweet Time’ in the city center?]

Gazing at the four words, the young woman’s elegant brows drew together in a knot.

She usually detested overly sweet foods, yet her fingertip lingered on the screen for a long while before finally tapping out a single word: “Okay.”

Once the matter was settled, she slid down the wall to sit on the floor.

The young woman stared blankly at the ceiling.

Everything that had transpired recently had completely derailed her life.

When, exactly, would she finally be able to live the carefree life she dreamed of?

It was still over an hour until three in the afternoon.

The young woman rummaged through her wardrobe and pulled out a relatively well-fitting grey hoodie, pulled the hood low, and donned a face mask before finally heading out the door.

She certainly didn’t want her utterly mortified self to be seen by any more people.

****

The young woman arrived at the entrance of “Sweet Time.”

The entire shop was dominated by shades of pink, and the air was fragrant with the scent of cream.

As she stepped inside, she surprisingly felt a sense of comfort.

Then, she immediately spotted Gu Qianqian seated in a corner.

The girl was wearing her school uniform, her hands nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, and her face held an undisguised look of anticipation.

The young woman steeled herself and walked over.

“Senior!”

Upon seeing her, Gu Qianqian immediately stood up, her cheeks flushed crimson.

“Mm.”

The young woman pulled out a chair and sat down.

The server handed them menus.

Gu Qianqian ordered Tiramisu and black tea.

When it was the young woman’s turn, she initially intended to order an Americano, the bitterer the better.

However, as her eyes fell upon the elaborate desserts on the menu, a powerful craving surged within her.

‘The samples look so good; the taste must be excellent too, right?’

Her finger moved without conscious control, pointing to “Strawberry Dream” on the menu.

“Just… just this. And a bubble tea, please.”

“Certainly.”

The server smiled and departed.

“Senior, do you also like desserts?” Gu Qianqian asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

She hadn’t expected her idol to share the same hobby.

“Cough, this lady doesn’t actually like desserts. I merely wanted to try something different for a change. Do you have a problem with that?” the young woman retorted, her face flushed crimson.

Gu Qianqian, startled, quickly shook her head.

“N-no.”

‘Senior’s personality is so different from before.

Could this be her true self, and everything prior merely a disguise?’

Amidst the awkward atmosphere, the server soon brought their orders.

Gu Qianqian cradled her black tea, silent for a long moment, before finally plucking up her courage.

“Senior, I actually sought you out today because I have a very important matter I wish to entrust to you.”

“Speak.”

“I want to ask you to speak with my father,” Gu Qianqian’s voice grew softer, “He doesn’t agree with me continuing to be a Magical Girl. But I know you know him, and you’re Mom’s best friend. He’ll definitely listen to you.”

Gu Qianqian’s eyes brimmed with hope.

However, what she received in return were two cold, resolute words.

“Absolutely not.”

Gu Qianqian froze.

She had never expected her Senior to refuse so directly.

“Wh-why?” Her eyes grew moist.

“You simply don’t understand,” the young woman said, a hint of helplessness in her tone, “how dangerous the path of a Magical Girl is. You don’t realize your father is actually doing this for your own good.”

It was that same condescending sermon again.

Gu Qianqian’s sense of grievance and indignation surged instantly, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“What do you mean ‘for my own good’? He doesn’t understand anything at all!”

“All he does every day is drink, turning himself into neither man nor ghost! Mom sacrificed herself to protect everyone; that was her honor! But in his eyes, simply because Mom was misjudged by the GSA, her death became worthless!”

“I don’t want Mom’s ideals to be defiled! I want to become a hero stronger than Mom, to prove that I am different from him!”

Gu Qianqian’s voice was loud, drawing the gaze of everyone in the dessert shop.

The young woman felt a tightness in her chest.

Her opposition to the GSA and her refusal to let Gu Qianqian become a Magical Girl all stemmed from the injustice Su Wanning had suffered. In her view, agreeing to her daughter joining would be tantamount to bowing down and compromising with the GSA.

Yet, only at this moment did she truly hear her daughter’s heart.

She had originally thought it was merely adolescent rebellion, a momentary impulse. Now, she finally understood that her daughter had genuinely chosen this path.

Was she truly to become the executioner of a dream?

Watching her daughter’s tears, the wall she had built around her heart gradually crumbled.

She had wanted to be a good husband, but that opportunity was gone.

However, it was not too late for her to be a good father now!

Perhaps cooperating with the GSA temporarily wouldn’t be so bad.

As for Wanning’s innocence, she would certainly prove it with all her might!

If the GSA’s higher-ups dared to obstruct her again this time, they shouldn’t blame Tian Lanxing for being merciless!

The dessert shop fell silent, with only Gu Qianqian’s suppressed sobs breaking the quiet.

No one understood what had happened.

A long time passed in this manner.

The young woman sighed.

“I understand.”

Her voice softened.

Gu Qianqian sniffled, raising her head to look at her through tear-filled eyes.

“I’ll go talk to your father,” the young woman promised.

“Really?” Gu Qianqian couldn’t believe her ears.

“This lady always keeps her word!” The young woman’s cheeks felt hot.

“Thank you! Senior! Really… really thank you so much!”

Gu Qianqian cried tears of joy, thanking her incoherently.

The heavy stone weighing on her heart had finally lifted, and the atmosphere finally eased.

At that moment, the server also brought over the “Strawberry Dream” the young woman had ordered.

Gu Qianqian wiped away her tears, looking at the strawberry lava cake before her.

“Senior, aren’t you going to eat?”

“Of course I am.”

The young woman said, picking up her fork and, as if in a fit of pique, dug out a large chunk and stuffed it into her mouth.

The sweet cream instantly melted in her mouth.

‘Hmph, it’s not that great after all. Why couldn’t this lady control herself and order this thing?’

Yet her body was undeniably honest; her hands couldn’t stop, bite after bite, and in no time, the entire cake was devoured.

Gu Qianqian watched her ravenous eating, unable to suppress a giggle.

Her idol loved sweets this much too.

This secret, it seemed, was hers alone to know.

The pleasant afternoon tea quickly came to an end.

The two walked out of the dessert shop, preparing to part ways.

Gu Qianqian hesitated for a long while, but couldn’t resist speaking.

“Um… Senior.”

“Hm?”

“Senior, the way you were today, shy and blushing… is that your true personality?”

The young woman froze completely.

‘It’s over, my persona is completely shattered!’

“Of course not! This lady is never like that usually; it was all an accident!”

She tried to deny it in a flurry.

But before she could finish, Gu Qianqian flashed a sincere smile.

“I think Senior is very cute this way too.”

‘Cute?!’

She was called cute by her own daughter?

A wave of shame washed over her, and the young woman’s face instantly turned crimson, even her earlobes burning hot.

But what was this inexplicable flutter of secret delight in her heart?

“Th-this lady has things to do; I’m leaving first!”

The young woman blurted out, turning and fleeing in disarray.

Watching the hurried departure, the smile on Gu Qianqian’s lips was impossible to hide.

So, the legendary Tian Lanxing was actually such a cute person.