Chapter 39: A Brief Moment

It was merely a brief moment.

In the eyes of the outside world, it appeared as if Su Qingyao had simply held hands with Xu Yiyi for a short while. Within that brief moment, Xu Yiyi unexpectedly deepened her unique magic by a layer. It was truly remarkable.

As for the reason, everyone silently agreed that it was due to Xu Yiyi’s subsequent melancholy and her expression of unwavering determination. This led them to maintain silence about Su Qingyao.

Xu Yiyi’s new magic not only reduced the difficulty of incantation but also significantly shortened the casting time, almost to the level of Xu Yanqing’s water crystal summoning. Furthermore, it added a layer of ‘repulsive force’ that continuously released around the barrier. It was an all-around upgrade.

With this enhancement, the morning training session finally concluded with a ‘small victory’ for Xu Yiyi and Su Qingyao.

****

Although Xu Yiyi’s spirit attire had not yet changed due to her temperament, everyone present could sense a hint of her unique magic becoming infused with her personality. This indicated that Xu Yiyi was just a step away from reaching the fourth stage.

“Eh, but I don’t feel happy about it,” Xu Yiyi said, leaning against Su Qingyao.

The two sat in a temporary dining hall within the camp, which was quite luxurious considering it was only meant to be used for the next afternoon. The camp’s construction crew had made extra food, inviting a few magic girls and mercenaries to join them for the meal: a sizzling steak with oil, and a lunch box filled with braised eggplant and fish-flavored shredded pork.

The names sounded familiar, but the flavors were far from Su Qingyao’s memories. Contrary to the stereotypical image of magic girls, Su Qingyao enjoyed her meal, while the cheerful Xu Yiyi seemed to have lost her appetite. After half a day, she had only eaten a few mouthfuls of rice.

“After all, Xu Yiyi has overcome so much to take the first step in her transformation… I suppose that’s why,” Su Qingyao said, slowly picking up some food and elegantly putting it in her mouth.

Was it an illusion? The white-haired girl always felt that the child beside her was staring at her. “Is there something on my face?” Su Qingyao asked curiously, shifting her gaze to Xu Yiyi, who blushed and turned away.

After a while, a hesitant voice came from Xu Yiyi: “I just feel that the younger you, Su Qingyao, is a bit like my grandmother…”

“What?” Su Qingyao tilted her head in confusion. Did she really look old? Realizing her slip, Xu Yiyi quickly turned back, forgetting her embarrassment as she waved her hands to explain: “No, no, I don’t mean you look old! It’s just that…”

Xu Yiyi furrowed her brows, clearly struggling to describe her feelings. “It’s like you’re an elder,” Xu Yanqing said, walking over with her lunch box and sitting across from Su Qingyao. “I always feel like you unintentionally speak from a higher generation’s perspective.”

“That’s slander! I’m going to get angry,” Su Qingyao said, squinting with a smile that showed she wasn’t truly offended. After a moment of thought, she gave an answer she wasn’t entirely sure of: “Maybe it’s because I have a daughter?”

Su Qingyao recalled, and her empty eyes seemed to fill with a hint of warmth. “Some of my thoughts, perhaps, were meant for her future—only to be accidentally shared with you all.”

“Wow,” Xu Yiyi exclaimed, as if she had discovered a new continent: “No wonder, Su Qingyao. Whenever you talk about your daughter, you have that elderly aura.”

Ah, Su Qingyao’s expression went blank. She reached up and gently pinched her own cheek, as if confirming the ‘elderly aura.’ “So, in your eyes, Xu Yiyi, we are the same generation as my daughter?” Xu Yanqing said, seeming to reminisce, as if this answer explained Su Qingyao’s actions from the night before. Su Qingyao could only shrug helplessly: “I already said, it was just a careless remark.”

“If you tease me again, I’ll really get angry,” Su Qingyao pretended to be annoyed, lightly tapping the foreheads of the two magic girls with her chopsticks. The action seemed familiar, and it became the last straw that broke the camel’s back for Xu Yiyi.

“Wuu, Granny, I miss you so much,” Xu Yiyi said, hugging Su Qingyao’s waist. Su Qingyao’s back instantly straightened. Her rigid body wanted to gently push Xu Yiyi away, but her movement stopped when she noticed the faint water stains on her dress. After a moment of hesitation, Su Qingyao’s waist softened, and her hand slowly smoothed Xu Yiyi’s slightly disheveled hair.

She sighed helplessly: “Xu Yiyi’s grandmother must miss you very much too.”

****

“Mom, you don’t look happy,” Su Muxue tugged at Su Qingyao’s sleeve, asking: “Did I do something wrong?”

“Ah… of course not,” Su Qingyao replied, gently rubbing the girl’s hair, explaining softly: “And even if you did, I wouldn’t just get angry.”

“Mom is just thinking about something.”

“Purr purr—” Su Muxue seemed to mimic a cat’s breathing, resting her chin on Su Qingyao’s palm and making cute noises: “Can you tell me, Mom?”

“Well, these things are still too early for you, Muxue… I hope to tell you about them at the right time in the future.”

“Okay!” Su Muxue was overjoyed, trusting Su Qingyao’s promise completely. Thinking back, Su Qingyao realized that Su Muxue’s needs seemed surprisingly few compared to her peers. In a way, this alerted Su Qingyao, making her view her ‘obedient and understanding’ daughter from a different perspective.

Let’s test it, Su Qingyao thought, a hint of nervousness in her voice: “Look.”

She pointed at a convenience store by the road, acting excitedly and telling Su Muxue: “Want to go in and buy some snacks?”

“Okay!” As always, Su Muxue smiled happily. Ah, yes. Just like when she showed no interest in snacks before. Su Qingyao stood behind Su Muxue, her eyes slightly worried. Indeed, Su Muxue’s ‘understanding’ was perfectly tailored to Su Qingyao’s needs. If Su Qingyao were a mother who disliked trouble, this would be a good thing. But Su Qingyao was not that kind of mother. From her perspective, all she felt was a bitter taste seeping into her smile.

Su Qingyao’s companions were truly not simple people.

****

Why. Su Qingyao suddenly thought of ‘curse.’ Before a question proposed to comfort the girl, it was Su Qingyao herself who was being questioned. A strange sense of discrepancy arose within Su Qingyao, as if her memories were shifting. What was it that made the exceptional girl, from the depths of her heart, view something as a ‘curse’?

****

I’m so distracted, I forgot to set a timer. Although it’s almost time for the recommendation, I feel like I’m going to miss the update.