Chapter 36: Unexpected Concern and a Faint Blush

“Is that so? It looks quite bad…”

Ye Qing glanced at Shen Congqing’s unnaturally swollen, shapely buttocks, as if she could feel a similar sting.

‘That’s quite a serious injury.’

At her words, Shen Congqing instinctively turned away in embarrassment, secretly gritting her teeth.

‘That hateful Tea Party cadre! Not only did they play dumb, but they also whipped my backside until it swelled.

If I ever catch that person again, I’ll make sure they get a taste of their own medicine and learn that I’m not to be trifled with!’

Despite her thoughts, she could only suppress her inner turmoil for now, focusing as much as possible on the current lesson.

“Don’t worry about it. Let’s start class. Today…”

“Wait.”

Ye Qing suddenly interrupted, then rummaged through her small bag. A moment later, she pulled out a tube of green ointment.

“Teacher Shen, I happen to have some anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medicine here. How about I apply it for you?”

At these words, a sudden blush bloomed across Shen Congqing’s usually icy, beautiful face, just as it had when she was humiliated yesterday.

“No, thank you… I can handle this pain…”

Yet, beyond the embarrassment, Shen Congqing couldn’t help but feel a flicker of warmth. This rare display of concern from a student made her grow even fonder of Ye Qing.

‘Is this what they call ‘an unintended act yielding an unexpected success’?’

Before this, she and Silver Moon had spent a considerable time together, but Silver Moon had never truly understood her, nor did she know how to show proactive concern.

She was merely like a dull puppet, a “good child” who only knew how to obey, clumsily fulfilling her needs.

Most of the time, Silver Moon simply stood there, watching her with a gentle yet emotionless gaze.

While Shen Congqing could enjoy a brief moment of comfort in her presence, she ultimately couldn’t find the true resonance she craved, nor the sense of fulfillment she expected as a teacher.

After all, Silver Moon wasn’t a student but a mascot playing the role of a companion. Moreover, Shen Congqing couldn’t genuinely see her as a partner.

This was also why Silver Moon’s magic was insufficient, and why she was so easily captured—the love in her heart wasn’t strong enough.

However, when Ye Qing expressed her concern in such a calm tone, Shen Congqing felt utterly flustered. It was as if a soft spot in her heart had been struck, and for a moment, she even regretted her refusal.

‘Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to occasionally let a student see my embarrassing side, but on second thought, it’s probably better not to…’

Yet, by the time Shen Congqing regained her composure, the black-haired girl had already walked over, ointment in hand, and was showing her the label.

[Yunbei Green Ointment. Main effects: anti-inflammatory, pain relief, swelling reduction, scar removal…]

“Teacher Shen, injuries must be treated carefully. It wouldn’t be good if you ended up with a scar.”

After a brief, fleeting glance into the black-haired girl’s clear, earnest amber eyes, Shen Congqing abruptly averted her gaze.

Her heart, long quiet, began to pound, making it impossible for her to look directly at Ye Qing’s adorable, cat-like face without her mind wandering.

She wanted to explain that as a Magical Girl, she wouldn’t suffer permanent scars, but such things couldn’t be explained to an ordinary person.

A moment later, for reasons unknown, Shen Congqing’s delicate brows relaxed, and she gave up her struggle.

“In that case, come with me to my office.”

Following Shen Congqing to her private office, Ye Qing looked around with curiosity. It had to be said that, as a professor in the Fine Arts department, Shen Congqing’s office was meticulously maintained.

The putty in the corners of the walls was smoothly applied, and there was even a sofa large enough for one person to lie down on.

It was almost as if it had been specifically prepared to serve as a bed.

Noticing Ye Qing’s surprise, Shen Congqing offered a faint smile, saying nothing further.

‘Come to think of it, this was probably within the scope of the wish I made when I became a Magical Girl.’

When Silver Moon had first approached her, Shen Congqing had been somewhat surprised, never imagining that a touch of fantasy would enter her ordinary life.

At that time, she was grappling with the most common teenage distress — realizing just how far dreams were from reality.

She yearned to make painting her life, aspiring to become a renowned artist who could not only immerse herself in the halls of art but also teach and nurture, sowing the seeds of idealism, much like her first art teacher.

However, the Shen Congqing of that era was merely a young girl destined for tragedy.

Graduating from junior high school meant the end of her academic career.

Her gambling father, heartless mother, and wailing baby brother all depended on her to work and provide. If not for her teacher’s strong intervention, she might not even have completed her compulsory education.

To her, home was a dull, drab, and monotonous scene. Not even an oil painter celebrating tragedy would draw inspiration from it; only some desperate, unloved hack writer would tirelessly use it as material.

After a year of directly confronting life, she learned many lessons. For instance, heartfelt artworks often went unnoticed, while items catering to pretentious tastes were snatched up by the masses.

Because of this, she had even worked as an underwater artist for a period, where she was quite popular. But for Shen Congqing, it was merely a reluctant means to earn a living.

In Shen Congqing’s view, even lust could be a part of art; she poured her heart into every piece she created.

However, those people were only interested in primal instincts, completely ignoring the aesthetic beauty she tried to convey in her paintings.

Some even complained that her art was “too refined to be useful,” which was a profound humiliation for Shen Congqing.

Fortunately, before she succumbed to complete despair, that little white creature found her and asked if she was willing to become a Magical Girl.

Her answer was yes, if it meant transforming her terrible life into the one she yearned for.

And at least for now, Shen Congqing didn’t regret making that wish.

“I apologize for making you worry about this… It’s all those two rascals’ fault.”

Shen Congqing angrily pounded the table. Seeing her distressed expression, Ye Qing promptly offered her the cooled tea from the table, which finally quelled Shen Congqing’s anger.

However, hearing Shen Congqing’s unintentional words, Ye Qing couldn’t help but recall some unforgettable memories, and she unconsciously glanced again at Shen Congqing’s rather tragic backside.

‘Come to think of it, that Magical Girl Qing also had blonde hair and blue eyes…’

Ye Qing quickly shook her head, banishing the unreasonable Magical Girl from her mind.

‘Shen Congqing is much gentler than that person, and their heights are clearly different, aren’t they?’

‘Without a doubt, even just by their voices, one could tell: Shen Congqing is a genuine older woman, while Magical Girl Qing is just an undeveloped brat. How could they possibly be confused?’

Just then, Shen Congqing had already stretched out on the sofa, its arched armrests curving her alluring figure into a provocative pose that Ye Qing found impossible to look at directly.

“Do as you see fit. Don’t worry, I’m always cooperative.”

Perhaps due to her posture, a subtle hint of allure laced Shen Congqing’s mature and intellectual voice. Hearing this, Ye Qing could only respond woodenly, foolishly approaching with the Yunbei Green Ointment in hand.

After taking a deep breath, Ye Qing calmed her inner turmoil and gently pulled Shen Congqing’s pants down slightly.

The moment her eyes landed on the shocking whip marks, Ye Qing’s rosy cheeks instantly turned ashen, and her small hands trembled uncontrollably.

‘Hmph, can we just call a truce?’