Chapter 53: A New Roommate and a Grand Plan

“Who asked you to carry me?”

Hua Mu’ai instinctively wanted to refuse, yet as the words reached her lips, she recalled that her strength was no longer what it once had been.

She worried that cycling all the way to the Aegis Tower with Xia Xingyan would prove beyond her capabilities.

Upon this realization, her defiant spirit instantly faltered.

Xia Xingyan, seemingly discerning Hua Mu’ai’s thoughts, murmured softly, “My strength is greater than the Captain’s now, and… I don’t want the Captain to fall again.”

These words struck Hua Mu’ai’s heart like a small pebble rippling a calm lake.

Eventually, she grudgingly mumbled, “Fine, whatever.”

Xia Xingyan quickly repaired the chain.

She lifted the hem of her evening gown, then gracefully mounted the shared bicycle with a practiced ease.

The sight was somewhat incongruous, yet she carried it off with a unique, unexpected beauty.

Hua Mu’ai reluctantly settled onto the back seat of the bicycle.

This time, it was Xia Xingyan who pedaled, carrying her.

The Ice Queen, clad in an evening gown, propelled the shared bicycle with surprising steadiness and power.

Neither of them spoke a word.

The evening breeze ruffled Xia Xingyan’s dark hair, occasionally brushing against Hua Mu’ai’s cheek, a ticklish sensation.

After a long while, Xia Xingyan softly broke the silence.

“Captain, you’re really wonderful. Thank you for coming to save me today.”

Hua Mu’ai’s body stiffened for a moment before she recovered, saying, “It’s n-nothing, trivial really. I am your Captain, after all; it’s what I’m supposed to do.”

She paused, then added in a feigned tone of impatience, “Next time something this troublesome happens, just tell me directly! Don’t try to shoulder it all by yourself!”

Though her form had changed and her tone was fiercely adorable, the sense of responsibility and protection inherent to Gu Qing clearly resonated through Hua Mu’ai’s words, reaching Xia Xingyan’s heart.

Xia Xingyan’s hands tightened on the handlebars.

“I have nowhere else to go.”

“Starting tonight, I suppose I’ll have to live with the Captain.”

She spoke with a hint of slyness, as if stating an undeniable fact.

“Live with me? You’re so rich, you could easily rent a place outside.”

Noticing the other’s silence, Hua Mu’ai turned her head.

The light from a streetlamp swept across Xia Xingyan’s profile, revealing a trace of loneliness and helplessness on her usually stoic face, like a kitten abandoned by the entire world.

“Ugh…”

She ran a hand through her hair, finally conceding.

“Alright, alright, I get it. There’s just no convincing you.”

She grumbled, her voice full of disdain, yet tinged with a helpless indulgence.

“Anyway, the apartment has plenty of rooms, so one more freeloader won’t hurt!”

****

Half an hour later, the two of them, cycling, finally returned to the Aegis Tower.

However, when Hua Mu’ai pushed open the door, she found the room prepared for the welcome party plunged into darkness.

Only the un-cut cake on the table and scattered decorative streamers remained, evidence that a party had once been planned here.

The entire space felt desolate and empty.

Hua Mu’ai grew angry and immediately dialed Qin Lan’s number, launching into a barrage of questions.

“Qin Lan, where has everyone gone? What about the welcome party we agreed on?!”

On the other end of the line, Qin Lan sighed helplessly, “My dear young lady, who knew if you two would even come back? I couldn’t just let Qianqian and Xiaolu wait indefinitely, could I?”

“Tsk!”

Hua Mu’ai unhappily hung up the phone.

She turned, looking at Xia Xingyan, who stood silently beside her.

The young woman stood still, her gaze fixed on the solitary cake.

Her elegant gown, under the dim light, exuded an indescribable sense of melancholy.

A powerful wave of guilt washed over Hua Mu’ai.

Ultimately, it was all due to her own obtuseness; if only she had noticed Xia Xingyan’s distress sooner, all of this could have been avoided.

She walked over to Xia Xingyan and made a promise.

“Don’t mind such a small affair.”

“Another day, I, your Captain, will personally arrange an even grander welcome party for you!”

She patted her chest, her chin held high.

“I guarantee it’ll be a hundred times better than this one!”

****

On the other side of the world.

Beneath the vaulted ceiling of a Gothic cathedral, The Mentor’s voice resounded.

“The failure at Golden Island was not your fault.”

“Tian Lanxing’s appearance was an unforeseen variable. Yue Xi, my child, you need not be anxious about it.”

Princess Yue Xi stood in the center of the hall, her scarlet vertical pupils gleaming with an eerie light in the gloom.

Clad in a specially designed black gown, a fervent smile played on her lips.

“Mentor, please rest assured. Failure is merely a prelude to a more magnificent success.”

“I have already conceived the script for our next performance.

This time, I assure you, it will be absolutely foolproof.”

The Mentor, cloaked in shadows, remained silent for a moment.

The intangible pressure caused the temperature throughout the hall to drop by several degrees.

“Nidhogg.” The Mentor’s voice turned to the woman in a white lab coat standing beside Yue Xi, “What is your opinion?”

“Mentor, I have personally witnessed Miss Yue Xi’s art,” Nidhogg stated without emotion.

“Her understanding of the fusion between souls and Abyssal energy far surpasses all my current theoretical models.

Her modification of Xiangyanghua demonstrated an exquisite subtlety and creativity that was perfect.

I have complete faith in her abilities.”

These words, coming from Nidhogg, who never praised anyone, were the highest possible commendation.

“Excellent.”

The Mentor’s voice carried satisfaction.

“In that case, I grant permission for your next experiment.”

“The subject will be Lieyangxing, as Yue Xi suggested.”

At the mention of Lieyangxing, even the usually composed Nidhogg caught her breath.

Her eyes, behind her lenses, burst forth with an unprecedented brilliance.

For her most anticipated experiment was finally about to begin.

On the other side, Yue Xi’s body trembled slightly from extreme excitement, and scarlet flames seemed to burn within her pupils.

“Thank you for your trust, my great Mentor!”

Lieyangxing, she was a Magical Girl second only to Tian Lanxing!

To use her as a subject—what kind of peerless masterpiece would that create?!

“My child, I hope you understand.” The Mentor’s voice sounded again, tinged with a warning, “I grant you trust, and I also grant you expectations.”

“You must prove to me that your so-called art possesses power that transcends Tian Lanxing.”

This was The Mentor’s true objective.

What he desired was an ultimate weapon capable of slaying a legend!

“Of course!” Yue Xi lifted her head, her face alight with madness, “I will prove to you, and to the entire world, how vulnerable so-called hope and protection are in the face of true despair!”

“Please, anticipate it eagerly!”

****

Two days later.

Linhai City, a high-end apartment.

Hua Mu’ai yawned, rubbing her sleepy eyes, as she shuffled out of her room.

“Mmm… so sleepy…”

She mumbled, intending to pour herself a glass of water in the kitchen, when she unexpectedly discovered that Xia Xingyan was already up even earlier than her.

She was currently standing in the kitchen, wearing a pink apron, her back view suggesting she was a little flustered.

Hua Mu’ai paused, surprised.

“Hey, why are you up so early?”