Chapter 61: A Mother’s Concerns and a Daughter’s Misunderstanding

During the Qingming Festival, the cemetery’s lawns were lush and vibrant.

Mourners strolled along the gravel paths, while the spring morning breeze rustled through the evergreen trees.

Lily of the Valley stood before her sister’s grave.

She used her magic to clear away the weeds from before the tombstone.

Then, she meticulously wiped down the stone’s surface and base with a cloth, before finally placing a mung bean cake and a bouquet of fresh flowers before the grave.

It was the young woman’s first time visiting the grave.

Her parents had invited her every year, but Lily of the Valley had always felt too ashamed to face her sister, only daring to gaze at the cemetery from afar.

Today, however, she finally felt a glimmer of confidence.

After arranging the offerings and ensuring the tombstone was spotless, the young woman rose.

She then retreated to stand beside her parents, joining them in a moment of silent prayer, hands clasped before the grave.

After a moment of prayer in the gentle breeze, her parents began to speak to their younger daughter, their words flowing back and forth.

They spoke of recent trivialities, discussed plans for the upcoming year, and naturally, lauded Lily of the Valley’s heroic feat of apprehending Envy, which caused the young woman’s cheeks to flush crimson.

After a lengthy chat, her mother looked at Lily of the Valley, offering an encouraging gaze.

“Perhaps you’d like to say something, dear sister?”

“Oh? But… but I can’t think of anything profound to say…”

“Panpan wouldn’t understand anything profound anyway. Just chat about anything, perhaps your hopes for the coming year?”

Lily of the Valley hesitated, then nodded, stepping closer to the tombstone.

She gazed at the name carved into the stone, a gentle smile blossoming in her eyes.

“Well then, I hope everyone can live safely and happily with the people they love.”

****

After paying their respects at her sister’s grave, the family of three boarded their car and drove towards the city.

Her father gripped the steering wheel from the driver’s seat, while her mother sat beside their daughter in the back.

She watched Lily of the Valley’s dazed profile bounce with the car’s movements, occasionally reaching out to playfully knead her cheek.

After being kneaded like dough several times, the previously silent Lily of the Valley’s gaze suddenly sharpened, as if she had come to a profound decision.

Her mother quickly withdrew her hand, preparing to apologize, but then her daughter spoke:

“Mom, I’ve been thinking, perhaps it would be better if I moved back home. Are there any empty rooms left?”

Her mother froze for a moment, then her face instantly blossomed into an enthusiastic smile.

The wrinkles on her forehead crinkled with delight.

“Of course there are! Your room has always been kept for you! This weekend… no, just bring a bag back tomorrow night, and we can handle the formalities later!”

Her mother’s eyes sparkled, her enthusiasm palpable, warming the car’s interior slightly.

Lily of the Valley curved her lips into a faint smile and nodded gently.

“Thank you! But tomorrow night might not work; I’ve already promised to treat someone to dinner.”

Her mother’s eyes gleamed even brighter as she leaned forward.

“Someone else? Is it that reporter from last time? How are things progressing between you two?”

Lily of the Valley tilted her head in confusion.

The young woman simply assumed her mother was asking about the promotional photos and couldn’t understand her excitement.

“He will indeed be there. But ‘progress’? Should I say things are going smoothly?”

“Oh, don’t be shy. Where are you two planning to eat?”

“I’ve booked three seats at Baiweixuan.”

“That’s where we usually meet, isn’t it? The food there is certainly good, but shouldn’t you choose somewhere a little more romantic… Wait a moment.”

Mid-sentence, her mother suddenly realized something was amiss.

“Why did you book three seats?”

Lily of the Valley looked even more bewildered.

“Because there are three of us. His girlfriend will be joining us too.”

The car suddenly braked hard, nearly sending Lily of the Valley’s head slamming into the front seatback.

Her father, who had been silently driving, interjected into the conversation.

“…He has a girlfriend?”

“Yes, he does. You both know her, she’s my partner, Fireworks.”

Her mother recovered from her shock.

She exchanged a worried glance with her husband in the rearview mirror, then turned to her daughter, whose expression remained perfectly normal, and whispered softly:

“Just to avoid any misunderstandings, dear, your mother has to ask: do you have any feelings for him? Please answer seriously.”

Before Lily of the Valley’s eyes, two options appeared: yes or no.

Lily of the Valley pondered seriously for a moment, quickly eliminating the ‘wrong’ answer.

Lu Chen was one of her rare two friends; of course, she had good feelings for him.

“Yes.”

“…Even knowing he has a girlfriend?”

The young woman stated candidly:

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What about his feelings for you?”

“I think he probably does too?”

“…Does Miss Fireworks know?”

“? Of course she knows. Every afternoon, she and I spar in the division’s training grounds, and the reporter often comes to watch.”

Recalling the pleasant times spent sparring with her friend, a joyful smile involuntarily bloomed on the young woman’s face.

A chill ran down her mother’s spine, and regret surged through her heart.

Her eldest daughter had always blamed herself for her sister’s misfortune.

She had once retreated into her room, struggling even with normal communication with her parents, living like a zombie.

During that period, her mother suffered sleepless nights filled with grief and anxiety, fearing Lily of the Valley might also give up and leave them.

Later, Gu Si awakened as a magical girl, resolving to exact revenge with her own hands.

Only then did she regain her spirits and emerge from her room.

It was precisely for this reason that her mother had always allowed her to abandon her studies and social interactions, letting her work and train in a self-destructive manner without interference.

—Now, however, while the young woman had achieved her great revenge, the drawback of her lack of common sense had finally become apparent.

If only she had cared for her more back then, encouraged her to interact normally with peers, perhaps things wouldn’t have turned out this way…!

A complex mix of emotions churned in her chest.

Her mother pondered for a moment, then arrived at an answer.

If Lily of the Valley had already chosen her way of life, her mother couldn’t forcibly interfere; at most, she could guide her with her own greater experience.

But as a mother, she absolutely had to confirm that her daughter hadn’t been deceived or exploited by malicious individuals.

She needed to ensure Lily of the Valley had made her choices after careful consideration and of her own free will.

She said slowly:

“Sisi, may I visit the division building tomorrow? I’d like to see how you usually live.”

Lily of the Valley completely missed her mother’s weighty thoughts, only registering the idea of ‘Mom is coming to visit my life!’

She instantly grew nervous, like an elementary school student discovering a parent auditing their class from the back.

‘I can’t let Mom worry! I must present myself in perfect condition!’

Lily of the Valley took a deep breath, a resolute gleam flashing in her eyes.

“Of-of course you can. I’ll make thorough preparations; I absolutely won’t disappoint you.

“Once you arrive, just contact me directly!”

****

The following afternoon, in the division building’s training grounds, Ling Wei arrived earlier than usual.

She changed into lighter clothes and exited the changing room, only to see Lu Chen standing at the main entrance, waving from a distance.

The young woman immediately smiled, quickly ran to the young man’s side, and playfully bumped his shoulder.

“You’re here again today. How’s the article coming along?”

With one of the Seven Deadly Sins captured alive, news agencies were frantic with excitement.

The New Light Group, in particular, was racking its brains to capitalize on the sensationalism.

“I barely managed to finish it; I’m utterly exhausted. That’s why I came here to recharge a bit.

“Speaking of which, Lily of the Valley sustained a serious injury two days ago. Will she still be doing combat practice today?”

The young woman sighed softly.

“I don’t know; it depends on her specific condition.

“If she’s in good shape, she’ll practice as usual. If she’s not, she’ll hit some dummies to maintain her feel, and if she’s even worse, she’ll just run laps…”

Mid-sentence, the young woman’s expression suddenly froze as she saw Lily of the Valley appear in the hallway.

The green-clad girl had already completed her transformation.

She wore a ‘Work Hard’ headband on her forehead, and her combat attire had clearly been modified, making it several times more elaborate and adorable than usual.

However, her expression was stern and unyielding as iron, like a death warrior from the Spring and Autumn or Warring States period, causing passersby to scatter in fright.

Lu Chen silently observed the approaching Lily of the Valley, then turned to his girlfriend with a natural question.

“…Is this considered good condition or bad?”