Chapter 37: A Magical Confession

“Magical Girl Amethyst.”

‘No wonder you wore purple today!’ Lin Han mused. ‘With a transformation like that, the color choice doesn’t seem out of place at all.’

As for Magical Girl Ethereal Gem, she had worn a pitch-black nun’s robe before her transformation. Now, she stood as a pure white magical girl, her appearance as ethereal as her silver hair.

‘Speaking of which…’

Liu Xingyue is Magical Girl Emerald, He Yao is Magical Girl Ink Crystal, and Liu Yun is Magical Girl Amethyst.

‘When did I end up surrounded by so many magical girls?’ Lin Han wondered.

Only two days prior, he had been pursued by both Emerald and Amethyst, though neither had managed to catch him.

Even so, the look of utter bewilderment on his face was fully observed by the two magical girls before him.

Then, Amethyst deactivated her transformation.

Maintaining her magical girl form in front of Lin Han filled her with deep embarrassment. At her age, being a magical girl felt rather… unseemly.

Though the feeling of being a magical girl was undeniably exhilarating, it always made her feel as if she were trying to appear younger than her years. As a teacher, she ought to maintain a dignified presence.

Seeing her deactivate her transformation, Ethereal Gem, who stood nearby, followed suit.

“Liu, Teacher Liu, I didn’t expect…”

Liu Yun gently shook her head. “This is quite normal, Teacher Lin. After all, this matter was always meant to be kept confidential.”

“So, Teacher Liu, most of your income over the years has been donated? I see donations here for orphanages, for impoverished regions…”

Lin Han was genuinely impressed. He had become a Kamen Rider because he wanted to uphold justice, yet most of his income went into maintaining his motorcycle and suit.

Liu Yun, however, had donated the income she earned as a magical girl, a profession that literally put her life on the line. Her selflessness made him feel utterly ashamed of himself in that moment.

‘No wonder Teacher Liu still rented her home to this day.’

The last time he had visited Liu Yun’s apartment, it was a mere fifty square meters. While ample for one person, it would feel quite cramped for a family of three.

‘Why did I even think of a family of three?’ Lin Han questioned himself.

Liu Yun, however, showed no pride in this fact. She calmly stated, “This is merely a pragmatic approach. Magical Girls embody the collective power of love and justice, the positive energy of the world.”

She continued, “By donating to orphans and those in impoverished areas, I simply gather more love and justice, which in turn strengthens me. It’s nothing to be praised for.”

She had shown these things to Lin Han not to earn his respect or to make him think she was a good person.

Instead, it was to convey her unwavering resolve.

Then Zhang Jingna, the nun, suddenly spoke, “Look, Teacher Lin, our Teacher Liu is always so stubborn.”

She explained, “She talks about gaining the power of love and justice, but when she first started donating, she did so anonymously, not wanting anyone to know who it was. Isn’t that ironic?”

She added, “If her donations hadn’t been consistently substantial, I wouldn’t have noticed her, nor would I have discovered her magical girl identity. That’s how we gradually became friends.”

“Zhang Jingna!”

Liu Yun shot her an exasperated glare.

So, the nun’s name was Zhang Jingna.

Zhang Jingna helplessly spread her hands, then shrugged. “Anyway, that’s how it is. You two have things to discuss, so I’ll take my leave! Chat all you want.”

She then walked away from the room.

Liu Yun finally let out a sigh of relief. While she had forewarned Zhang Jingna, there were some rather embarrassing things she simply couldn’t say in front of her.

‘Thankfully, she was perceptive enough to understand.’

A smile then bloomed on Liu Yun’s face.

She pulled out a chair.

“Teacher Lin, please sit.”

Lin Han, still somewhat dazed, settled into the chair.

Liu Yun composed herself, then faced Lin Han directly. She stated, “I know you’re wondering why I wanted you to know all of this, Teacher Lin.”

Lin Han was indeed very perplexed.

“Because I didn’t want to deceive you,” she replied.

She answered her own unspoken question.

At this, she looked at Lin Han with a hint of dissatisfaction. She declared, “Teacher Lin, you truly are a block of wood. I’ve done so much, yet you acted as if you noticed nothing at all. You’re utterly unromantic.”

“Unromantic?”

Lin Han wasn’t entirely oblivious.

He recalled what He Yao had said to him earlier.

He Yao had seemingly been hinting at something between him and Teacher Liu. He had playfully teased Lin Han—had He Yao already noticed back then?

“Teacher Liu… this… I’m a bit overwhelmed right now…”

“I like you.”

Liu Yun spoke these three words softly.

Her voice wasn’t loud, yet it was remarkably clear.

Lin Han instinctively lifted his head, meeting Liu Yun’s gaze. Her eyes were strikingly clear, her expression incredibly earnest; she wasn’t lying or deceiving him. She was serious.

This left Lin Han utterly at a loss for words.

Before he could speak, Liu Yun extended a finger and gently placed it on Lin Han’s lips. With a smile, she said, “You don’t have to rush to answer me. A hasty reply might simply be an impulse.”

She continued, “I made this decision only after seriously considering our dynamic and confirming my feelings for you. I hope, Teacher Lin, that you will also earnestly reflect on our relationship and our future before giving me your answer.”

This decision wasn’t born from a fleeting impulse.

While Liu Xingyue’s conversation with her yesterday seemed to precipitate today’s events, Liu Yun had, in fact, wanted to do this for a long time.

Having spoken her heart, Liu Yun felt a significant weight lift from her shoulders. She casually leaned against the desk where the ledgers had been, looking down at Lin Han.

She added, “I revealed my identity earlier simply to tell you that I want no secrets between us. As for donations, I’ll reduce them going forward. After all, it’s not strictly an obligation.”

She continued, “Let me think. With my income as a magical girl and a teacher, it should be more than enough to support our little family. Your hobby of modifying motorcycles, Teacher Lin, won’t be an issue.”

She then said, “However, if we were to marry, we would need to be a bit more restrained. After all, once we’re a family, we’d have to consider raising children in the future.”

A small laugh escaped her. She asked, “Does that sound absurd? You clearly don’t like me that much, Teacher Lin. You’re still pondering my confession, yet I’m already thinking about what happens after we get married. Does that make me sound foolish?”

Lin Han took a deep breath, finally calming himself from the profound shock. He replied, “No, Teacher Liu, I’m honored. For a beauty like yourself to confess to me so earnestly, it truly astonishes me. What virtues do I possess to be worthy of someone like you?”

He collected his thoughts. “However, Teacher Liu, as you rightly said, I do need some time to consider. To be honest, when you confessed just now, I wanted to accept immediately. After all, what more could I ask for when someone like you likes me?”

He continued, “But, as you also mentioned, a decision made in the heat of the moment might lead to future regret. I genuinely need to think things through to understand my true feelings. Therefore, at this very moment, I cannot respond to your affections.”

‘What a heartless man.’

‘He certainly knows how to spin pretty words.’

‘Doesn’t he know how sensitive women are about such matters?’

‘Whether someone likes you or not, you can tell with a single glance—and here he is, spouting such eloquent excuses…’

Still, this wasn’t entirely unexpected.

She had to do this.

Her actions over the past while had made one thing clear: Teacher Lin, that block of wood, would forever see her as merely a colleague, never as a woman, unless she confessed directly.

Now that she had confessed, at the very least, he would realize she was a woman, and that she liked him.

Only then would he start to truly care about her.

This, then, was not the end; it was merely the beginning.

She would make Teacher Lin fall in love with her.

She extended her hand. “Come on, Teacher Lin! There’s nothing left for us here. This church is practically empty; let Zhang Jingna stay by herself.”

She smiled. “Our date, hasn’t it just begun?”

Lin Han hesitated for a moment, then finally took Liu Yun’s hand and stood. He said, “You’re right. Our date has only just begun. Where do you plan to go next?”

“Hmm, let’s go to the cinema first! It’s an essential part of any date.”

“Alright!”

****

“What did you say?! Teacher Liu confessed to you?!”

He Yao was utterly stunned.

Upon hearing the news, he felt as if he could faint.

He had originally planned to spend Sunday evening furiously gaming.

He hadn’t expected Teacher Lin’s sudden visit.

He was currently preparing dinner.

“Don’t tell anyone,” Lin Han said. “I wanted to discuss something with you.”

He Yao stared at Lin Han, utterly speechless. “What else is there to discuss? You should just agree immediately, Teacher Lin! This might be your only chance to escape bachelorhood in years! Remember, some opportunities, once missed, will never come again! Teacher Lin! As the saying goes, ‘Heaven’s gift, if not taken, brings misfortune upon oneself!’ What are you still discussing?”

He pressed, “You’re not planning to reject her, are you?”

‘How well did he know Teacher Lin?’

‘The moment Teacher Lin spoke, He Yao knew exactly what he was thinking.’

‘This man clearly intends to reject Teacher Liu.’

“I… I don’t know.”

“You clearly want to refuse!” He Yao stated, looking directly at him. “Is there anything about Teacher Liu that you dislike?”

“No.”

“Then why won’t you accept?”

Lin Han replied, “It’s some personal issues of mine.”

He Yao put down the cleaver he was holding. “Oh, personal issues, huh… But you’re a psychological counselor! Do you mean you still have some unresolved psychological problems yourself?”

“I cannot deny it.”

He Yao gasped, drawing in a sharp breath. “As they say, ‘a doctor finds it hard to cure himself’… I suppose that’s understandable. Can you tell me what it is?”

Lin Han remained silent.

“…Alright,” He Yao conceded. “So, because of your own issues, you can’t accept Teacher Liu? And this is your secret, one you don’t plan to tell anyone else.”

“Correct.”

“That truly is a troublesome situation.”

“That’s why I came to you for advice.”

“You’re asking me for advice, but I’ve never been in a relationship. It’s hard for me to give you any!”