Chapter 42: The Artist’s New Muse

After exchanging phone numbers with Liu Qingruo, Ye Qing considered her social activities for the day successfully concluded.

She then firmly resolved to bury the secret of having once ordered an evil cadre to spank a Magical Girl.

‘They must never know I was one of the culprits!’

***

Meanwhile, the other Magical Girl Ye Qing had been thinking of was casually crossing her long, pleasing legs.

Clutching a paintbrush, she began adding lines to a piece of cream-colored sketch paper.

With only a few strokes, a rough outline quickly took shape.

The silhouette was unmistakably that of the teddy bear that made her gnash her teeth in hatred.

Her masterful brushwork effortlessly captured the teddy bear’s heavy, mysterious aura.

It was as if the subject stood before her, lifelike, poised to make her relive the humiliation of that day.

However, what awaited that poor teddy bear was the beautiful foot of the blonde woman, encased in black stockings.

Shen Congqing fixed her cold, disgusted gaze on the teddy bear’s irritatingly large head.

She repeatedly ground her delicate sole against its face, almost sending the drawing board tumbling.

A moment later, she crumpled the sketch into a ball and tossed it into the wastebasket.

She then affixed a fresh sheet of paper to the board.

Her emerald eyes gazed absently at the pristine white paper, as if envisioning a scene.

What she recalled remained a mystery, but her exquisite, cool demeanor, akin to celadon porcelain, subtly softened, revealing a hint of gentle amusement.

She brushed aside the golden strands that obscured her eyes and adjusted her rimless glasses.

Her hand became noticeably more cautious as she began to draw.

Her movements were exceedingly skilled; fluid lines swiftly outlined the petite and delicate figure of a black-haired girl.

Though she had no reference, the girl on the paper appeared to be an exact imprint from reality, her posture and features utterly flawless.

But when her brush returned to the girl’s eyes, Shen Congqing uncharacteristically paused.

After a moment of hesitation, she decided to switch to a colored pencil.

It had to be an amber gold, precisely matching the clear depths of those eyes.

Just as Shen Congqing bent down to search, a sudden knock at the door abruptly interrupted her concentration.

Shen Congqing’s delicate brows furrowed.

She glanced back, and indeed, the newcomer was Silver Moon.

“If possible, next time, I hope you can choose a better moment.”

Shen Congqing reluctantly put down her pencil, her interest in drawing having vanished.

She put away the drawing, seemingly to deliberately avoid Silver Moon.

“I’ll try.”

Silver Moon responded softly, then approached.

She paced back and forth, scrutinizing Shen Congqing, a hint of surprise flickering in her usually serene golden eyes.

However, this scrutinizing gaze made Shen Congqing inexplicably uncomfortable.

“What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

Silver Moon shook her head.

“I’m just here to check on your situation. I heard you were defeated by that evil cadre… but now it seems your condition is quite good.”

In Silver Moon’s vision, a dense layer of silver mist enveloped Shen Congqing.

It resembled flowing clouds under a bright moon, making her appear even more ethereal and otherworldly.

This was a clear sign that a Magical Girl’s power was increasing.

Had the experience of defeat allowed her to gain some new understanding?

‘Good, I underestimated her, the one I took over from my senior.’

Shen Congqing was not a Magical Girl Silver Moon had been responsible for from the very beginning.

Silver Moon had taken over the entire previous generation of Magical Girls from her predecessor, due to Yinjin’s transfer to a more dangerous region for oversight.

The Magical Girls originally under Yinjin could not conveniently depart with her.

However, they were exceptionally powerful, meaning they could easily handle potential crises even with a sudden change of mascot.

Silver Moon believed she had lived up to expectations, successfully eradicating the former headquarters of the evil organization in Jinzhou with their formidable power.

She should have been highly commended, yet the transferred Yinjin, upon learning the full details, insisted on disciplining her. This was a source of great dissatisfaction for Silver Moon.

For a mascot like Silver Moon, who had just been formally deployed, Yinjin held the right to demand to become her instructor.

Using this authority, she forcefully reclaimed the strongest Magical Girl’s liaison authority from Silver Moon.

Moreover, another Magical Girl, Violet, refused to continue fighting for her, leaving Silver Moon in a predicament where she had no one available.

Fortunately, the evil organization had been temporarily driven out, and Shen Congqing was capable enough to handle the remaining minor threats.

This allowed Silver Moon to catch her breath and seek out other available Magical Girls.

However, Gu Xuanyu had now made a decision similar to Violet’s, which greatly displeased Silver Moon.

Seeing Shen Congqing grow stronger was one of the rare pieces of good news in these vexing days.

It caused Silver Moon to unconsciously let out a long sigh of relief.

“So, is there something you need?”

Shen Congqing asked casually, in a detached, business-like tone.

As she spoke, she placed her colored pencil back into the holder, paying no mind to Silver Moon.

“…I haven’t done anything wrong, have I? Why do I feel you’re somewhat displeased with me?”

Silver Moon frowned in confusion, a sense of foreboding settling over her.

‘In the days I’ve neglected Shen Congqing, something seems to have happened, causing her to gradually distance herself from me.’

‘But shouldn’t that have weakened her power? Yet her complexion looks excellent.’

‘She even deliberately put away that painting after I entered, as if…’

‘—She has found a new affection.’

For some reason, although Silver Moon had never truly invested emotionally in these Magical Girls, the thought of this possibility still left her feeling a profound sense of loss.

‘It seems this is what they call… “cuckolded” in entertainment works? And I’m the victim, so who is this “Blonde Hair”?’

“It’s nothing. You just happened to come at an inconvenient time.”

Shen Congqing turned her back, a subtle curve appearing at the corner of her lips.

Her beautiful, narrow eyes were half-closed.

‘It’s not that I dislike Silver Moon; I’ve merely put her back in her rightful place.’

‘Before, I had no choice. Now, I have a very promising student.’

‘She can draw, and she’s a hundred times more considerate than you.’

“Speaking of which, I believe drawing ability is quite important for my curriculum.”

“So I’m currently looking for a new assistant. There’s no need to trouble you anymore, Silver Moon. Thank you for your past help.”

Silver Moon’s delicate brows twitched, and the ominous feeling in her heart immediately intensified.

However, Shen Congqing was different from Gu Xuanyu; her medium was not in Silver Moon’s possession.

Thus, she could only reluctantly accept Shen Congqing’s request.

“Alright.”

Silver Moon quietly exited the room.

Perhaps even she didn’t realize that her gaze, fixed on the drawing Shen Congqing had put away, had become one of dissatisfaction, even resentment.

The Magical Girl, who had been deemed useless in her own hands, was now radiating an unprecedented, brilliant magic while drawing for some unknown woman.

This was something Silver Moon found utterly unacceptable.

‘I’ve clearly done so well, so why can you “change your heart” so lightly?’

‘Or perhaps you’ve always just seen me as convenient labor to be ordered around?’

Silver Moon secretly gritted her teeth.

A moment later, she exhaled a long, turbid breath.

‘Forget it. As long as she continues to fight as Magical Girl Qing… No, why should she?’

‘At least I still have Chi.’

‘Though that one is even more disappointing, her mind is quite simple.’

‘She’s excellent material, second only to that reclaimed Magical Girl, Dim Star.’

‘Once Senior Yinjin’s inspection is over, I’ll start.’