Chapter 46: The Interrogation and a Tearful Reunion

Lin Shaoyao recoiled alertly, tucking herself neatly behind Qing. Her rose-tinted, star-shaped eyes betrayed a profound unease.

Witnessing this, Qing couldn’t help but frown.

“There’s no need to press her like this,” Qing stated. “She’s just a student.”

Perceiving Qing’s protective stance, Silver Moon remained unfazed, striding directly towards them.

“This is also to better protect her,” Silver Moon replied, “to prevent her from suffering similar harm in the future.”

Silver Moon wasn’t lying, yet she wouldn’t fully disclose the truth either.

From her experience, girls specifically targeted by evil organizations were typically those who had developed a “Bud of Desire.”

If left untreated, they became potential evil executives. As the Magical Girl supervisor, Silver Moon refused to let such matters go unchecked.

Their buds had to be nipped, eliminating the possibility of their corruption at its root, even if it meant irreversible impacts on their personalities and memories.

Such actions couldn’t be openly declared, lest they invite widespread moral condemnation.

The “CCB” organization, tasked with managing Magical Girls and combating evil, was similarly troubled by these issues and consistently maintained an ambiguous stance on handling them.

Integrating these girls into the organization for supervised protection would not only disrupt their lives but also consume significant human and material resources, while still posing hidden risks.

Direct eradication, though preventing many troubles, often led to condemnation and claims for compensation.

The specific implementation typically rested with the supervisors in each city. Silver Moon, for instance, strongly favored the latter approach.

She cared little for potential condemnation; in her view, this was the most effective and direct method. Sacrificing a few to safeguard the many was a common occurrence.

Those who would condemn her for it were simply foolish, shortsighted individuals lacking a broader perspective.

And now, that very person might be standing in her way.

“If we don’t ascertain why she was targeted by an evil organization,” Silver Moon pressed, “there’s no guarantee she won’t face another attack later.”

Silver Moon’s reasoning was impeccable, causing even Qing to waver slightly.

She glanced back at Lin Shaoyao, instinctively ruffling her hair to soothe her inner turmoil.

“In that case… can you accept it?” Qing asked gently. “Just a brief understanding of the situation.”

Lin Shaoyao nodded hesitantly, yet her gaze remained wary as she looked at Silver Moon, refusing to emerge from behind Qing, clearly resistant to Silver Moon’s approach.

To her eyes, Silver Moon wore a maid outfit, possessing amber eyes strikingly similar to Ye Qing’s. She appeared harmless, yet the cold indifference in those depths was unmistakable.

Lin Shaoyao’s intuition screamed that Silver Moon posed a threat no less than Luo Huayin.

As for Magical Girl Qing… Lin Shaoyao felt a strange sense of déjà vu. Despite Qing’s gentle tone and demeanor, Lin Shaoyao couldn’t help but feel a pang of apprehension, as if dealing with an elder.

If she had to describe it… it was like attending Shen Congqing’s class.

Nevertheless, hiding behind Qing, Lin Shaoyao felt an extraordinary sense of security, so she simply clung there, refusing to move.

“I was just almost…” Lin Shaoyao’s pearly teeth lightly bit her lower lip, her words trailing off momentarily. “So, I don’t want anyone to touch me right now, not even a wo—”

This was a lie. If Ye Qing had been nearby, Lin Shaoyao would likely have been eager to hug her and tease her playfully.

It had to be said, Lin Shaoyao’s acting deserved an Oscar.

Upon hearing this, Silver Moon’s brow twitched. She was about to step forward when Qing subtly blocked her path.

Lin Shaoyao, meanwhile, remained strategically hidden behind Qing, revealing only half her face, leaving Silver oon with no opening to act.

Silver Moon’s frown deepened, becoming so pronounced that even the magic covering her face couldn’t conceal it, forming a distinct ‘川’ character between her brows.

“It’s just a slight touch,” Silver Moon insisted. “It won’t affect you in any way…”

However, the more Silver Moon emphasized this, the more it fueled Lin Shaoyao’s suspicion.

Lin Shaoyao’s face scrunched up tightly. With one hand clutching her chest and the other gripping her clothes, her expression became utterly desolate, portraying the image of a pitiful, vulnerable girl.

“Why must you touch me?” Lin Shaoyao questioned, her voice quivering. “Are you trying to—”

She spoke in a tone that bespoke a life of hardship, a performance Lin Shaoyao didn’t even need to act out. Simply recalling her own meager living expenses allowed her to perfectly replicate it.

Faced with Lin Shaoyao’s intense resistance, Silver Moon’s mouth twitched.

She seemed to catch a whiff of that particular annoying scent unique to a certain despicable woman… the one who occupied the “Green Tea” seat at tea parties, wasn’t it?

Yet, seeing Qing’s displeased expression, it was clear she had decided to side with Lin Shaoyao. Resigned, Silver Moon had no choice but to concede.

“Very well, then. My apologies, I was presumptuous.”

With that, Silver Moon turned away, letting out a cold snort.

She possessed ample energy and numerous methods; this was merely a slight detour, a minor waste of time.

The evil organization might struggle to find Lin Shaoyao again, at least for a day or two, preventing her transformation. However, the CCB was a different matter entirely.

‘We’ll meet again soon.’

After casting a fleeting glance back at Lin Shaoyao, Silver Moon exited the room without another look.

***

Meanwhile, having finally reunited with the two, Lin Shaoyao could no longer suppress the grievances in her heart. She buried her face in Ye Qing’s embrace and began to sob uncontrollably.

The kidnapping, the interrogation, the near-ruin—as the initial unreality and urgency gradually faded from her body, true terror finally surged within her, erupting the moment she saw Ye Qing.

Tears stained Ye Qing’s collar, a warm wetness spreading across her neck. Listening to Lin Shaoyao’s broken sobs, Ye Qing felt a surge of guilt and could only return the embrace awkwardly.

She wasn’t skilled at comforting, but she knew the girl was deeply hurt.

Since the girl needed her at this moment, Ye Qing would do her best to provide comfort.

“Waaah, Ye Qing…”

They said women were made of water, and Ye Qing had once believed what her textbooks claimed.

Men had a higher water content than women; this was scientifically proven.

Yet now… feeling Lin Shaoyao’s torrent of tears drenching the area around her collarbone, turning it into a warm, damp expanse that almost seeped into her heart, only centimeters away, Ye Qing’s own nose couldn’t help but sting.

“I’m sorry,” Ye Qing whispered. “It’s all my fault.”

If she had agreed sooner, if they had been together, perhaps none of this would have happened.

“Then promise me, promise me…” Lin Shaoyao hesitated for a moment. “Just promise me first.”

Ye Qing’s heart softened. She gently stroked Lin Shaoyao’s head.

“I promise everything.”

“Then… I want to see you in a maid outfit.”

“Mm.”

“And, I want to sleep with you too.”

“Mm.”

Seeing Ye Qing merely nod repeatedly, Lin Shaoyao ceased her sobbing. With glistening eyes, she gazed at Ye Qing’s delicate profile.

‘Really, anything? Isn’t she a little too easy to trick…’

“No take-backs.”

“Mm.”

‘Just “mm-hmm,” never knowing how to refuse. Honestly…’

Lin Shaoyao buried her head once more into Ye Qing’s soft, youthful embrace, leaning into the warm, damp spot created by her tears.

‘Thank you, Ye Qing.’

Moments later, Gu Xuanyu, who had just finished class, received a message from Ye Qing.

Bold characters scrolled across her wine-red eyes, her gaze locking onto the first two words of the message.

[Qingyu: Sorry, I won’t be coming back today either.]

Staring at the glaring “Sorry,” Gu Xuanyu bit her lower lip, her knuckles tightening around her phone, gradually turning white from the force.

‘Why?’