Chapter 54: The Truth Unveiled

A dazzling white light surged like a waterfall from Shen Congqing’s chest, forming a cocoon of light that enveloped her entire body. In an instant, it stole everyone’s vision.

As the white glow within the room gradually faded, the figure standing in the center had been replaced by the petite, delicate form of a young girl.

Her golden, spun-gold hair was tied high at the back of her head, lending a composure and heroism to her slightly youthful features that belied her appearance.

An azure and white battle suit clung tightly to her slender form, presenting a perfectly streamlined silhouette.

Her signature emerald eyes allowed the few people present to finally recognize her identity.

“Ma… Magical Girl Qing!”

A bitter smile parted the lead man’s lips. He was at a loss for words, knowing that someone of his rank was absolutely unqualified to dictate terms to an active Magical Girl.

Yet, he couldn’t simply abandon the arrest.

“You must understand the importance of our work…”

The man attempted to argue further, but Shen Congqing merely stared at him with an icy gaze.

“I know. Just go back and report to her — Qing demands the investigation be halted. As for the specifics, I will explain them to her personally.”

The man clenched his fist, his gaze subtly lingering for a moment on the black-haired girl behind Qing before he turned and walked towards the door.

“Let’s go.”

***

After the CCB agents departed, the air in the room fell silent once more, as if no one knew who should speak first.

Moments later, Qing dispelled her transformation, reverting to her mature appearance, her eyes now holding a complex, troubled expression.

She watched Ye Qing silently, hesitating whether to ask.

Transforming into a Magical Girl to obstruct the CCB was an act of desperation. She knew the CCB wouldn’t stir up trouble without reason; any deployment surely meant they had found a crucial lead.

Yet, she still couldn’t bring herself to believe it.

Regardless of whether the CCB’s investigation contained flaws, those taken by them rarely returned to their former lives.

Anyone linked to an evil organization was deemed a highly dangerous individual, subjected to harsh treatment, and left with incurable sequelae.

Even if declared innocent, that person couldn’t return to society. Having been privy to many ‘troublesome matters,’ they would likely remain with the CCB for life, working as a janitor, cook, or general laborer.

If found guilty, they would be exploited to the fullest extent, used to deceive evil organizations, transmit false intelligence, and serve as bait to lure out the snake. Their fate was often even more tragic.

It wasn’t as if there hadn’t been members of evil organizations similar to Ye Qing captured before.

They excelled at disguise and deception, appearing harmless on the surface, yet secretly disregarding human life and trampling upon the law. Shen Congqing had experienced this firsthand.

Thus, she desperately hoped that whatever was happening with Ye Qing was merely an accident, for Ye Qing was her cherished student.

If Ye Qing truly were a member of an evil organization, wouldn’t that mean all the heartwarming memories she had collected these past days were nothing but falsehood and deceit?

After a long silence, Ye Qing set down her fork and spoke first.

“Teacher Shen, will you believe me?”

Shen Congqing offered a bitter smile.

This was precisely the opening she had dreaded.

Those members of evil organizations were masters of glib words; merely listening to them could lead one astray and deceive them unknowingly.

“Speak.”

But Shen Congqing wavered.

She still clearly remembered the wish she had made. Over the years, she had gained fame and wealth, pursuing her dreams to the fullest, yet she always felt something was missing.

She yearned for a classical teacher-student bond, not mechanically teaching hundreds of identical faces from a podium, but in a narrow studio, by lamplight, guiding a junior aspiring to art hand-in-hand, passing on the wonders she perceived through lines and colors.

While the fine arts department had no shortage of outstanding students, perhaps it was by chance, by a twist of fate, that Ye Qing had entered her purview. Still, Shen Congqing was willing to believe she was the best.

She would proactively manage the studio, and her painting possessed a remarkable spirit.

She was adorable and thoughtful; even if not a student, she was incredibly hard to let go of.

Shen Congqing also remembered the genuine and fervent gaze in Ye Qing’s eyes when she spoke of Mirror Flower.

Although her tone was typically cool and detached, Shen Congqing could discern the longing in her words.

‘She truly loves my paintings,’ she thought.

‘Even if she truly is a detestable liar, as long as she’s willing to keep up the act, to keep me wrapped in this false frosting, I will gladly accept it.’

“Actually… that day, the one who spanked you… was me.”

Ye Qing stammered, her little face flushed crimson, but her words completely disrupted Shen Congqing’s conflicted emotions.

Shen Congqing stared blankly at Ye Qing, as the muffled voice of the teddy bear echoed in her mind. It was indeed remarkably similar to Ye Qing’s.

And immediately following that memory was an unforgettable stinging pain, right on her sensitive posterior.

Shen Congqing’s eyebrows shot up instantly, her eyes filled with embarrassment as she glared at the guilty black-haired girl, looking as if she might erupt at any moment.

Yet, the confusion in her heart finally found its answer: why those two evil cadres had been scared away upon hearing the police sirens.

Could mighty evil cadres truly fear the police? They had clearly defeated her and Chi, and even if they had to retreat, they should have taken their captive with them.

But those two had simply fled in a panic, ignoring them completely, as if… they harbored no ill will?

If it was Ye Qing, then everything made sense.

Thinking of Ye Qing disguised as a teddy bear, with a kitten’s face, interrogating her with a pointer, Shen Congqing couldn’t help but let out a frustrated laugh.

Ye Qing’s spank hadn’t hurt, but recalling the little girl applying medicine to her afterward, Shen Congqing felt a surge of shame.

“Hmph, so that’s how it was.”

Shen Congqing’s voice, which had suddenly turned cold, made Ye Qing tremble uncontrollably, like a little black cat doused with ice water, afraid to meet Shen Congqing’s sharp emerald eyes.

“I-I told you then, didn’t I? I actually wanted to communicate properly with you, but you weren’t willing to listen…”

“Is it my fault, then?” Shen Congqing sneered. “So I’m rude and unreasonable, and need a thorough lesson. Am I wrong, Miss Ye Qing, evil cadre?”

Ye Qing curled into a ball in fear, a bit of cream still clinging to her bright lips. She looked comical, yet it made Shen Congqing reluctant to be harsh.

Shen Congqing let out a helpless sigh.

“Then how am I supposed to confirm whether what you’re saying is true or false? Based solely on your one-sided story? I’ve seen plenty of glib-tongued evil cadres and been deceived many times. Why do you think I should believe you?”

Ye Qing was rendered speechless. She couldn’t very well say that she was special to Shen Congqing, could she?

“I can testify, Ye Qing doesn’t lie.”

At this moment, Gu Xuanyu, who had been quietly listening by the door for a long time, suddenly interjected.

“I never expected to meet you this way, Senior. I am Magical Girl Bai.”