Chapter 64: A New Housemate and Lingering Unease

Shen Tinglan watched the possessive ‘little cat’ with keen interest, her smile deepening rather than fading.

“Xia Xingyan is correct,” she conceded. “Issues within the squad should naturally be resolved internally.”

However, her tone shifted abruptly, imbued with a newfound sense of entitlement.

“But I am now also a member of the Starfall Squad, am I not?”

With that single statement, Xia Xingyan was utterly silenced.

Her lips pressed into a thin, taut line, and she offered no further words; yet, the palpable chill emanating from her presence caused the temperature in the entire meeting room to plummet.

“Alright, alright,” Gu Qianqian interjected quickly, attempting to smooth things over. “Xia Xingyan, you too. Deputy Commander Shen means well. From now on, we’ll all be comrades in the same squad, so there’s no need to be so formal.”

Lin Xiaolu, standing nearby, nodded vigorously in agreement.

“Deputy Commander Shen clearly seems formidable; with her here, the Captain is sure to recover swiftly.”

Hua Mu’ai, her nerves frayed by the incessant chatter, felt her irritation mount.

‘How utterly annoying!’

“Everyone, shut up!”

She roared, her patience finally snapping.

“Since when did my affairs become yours to dictate?”

Shoving Xia Xingyan aside, who had been obstructing her path, she stomped furiously towards the exit.

“I’m going to play games! And don’t any of you dare bother me!”

However, a hand gently clasped her wrist.

Hua Mu’ai turned, finding Shen Tinglan had approached silently, her arrival unnoticed until now.

“Don’t be so quick to leave, Captain.”

Her voice was as soft and coaxing as if she were pacifying a disobedient child.

“Regarding how to help you stabilize your powers, I have an excellent proposal.”

“To observe your condition around the clock and provide optimal assistance,” Shen Tinglan tilted her head, “I’ve already submitted an application to Commander Qin.”

“Starting today, I’ll be moving into your apartment and living with you.”

‘What on earth?’

‘With me, there are already four people in that apartment; now they want to add another?’

Hua Mu’ai instinctively tried to pull her hand back, only to discover a startling strength in Shen Tinglan’s grip; those seemingly slender fingers rendered her utterly immobile.

Just then, a frigid voice pierced the silence.

“Absolutely not. There are no spare rooms left in the apartment.”

Xia Xingyan spoke.

She gazed at Shen Tinglan, and for the first time, a fissure appeared on her usually impassive face.

Xia Xingyan’s terse refusal froze the atmosphere in the conference room. Shen Tinglan’s smile remained unchanged, yet it now held an inscrutable depth.

“Xia Xingyan, I understand your concern,” Shen Tinglan’s voice was gentle. “However, my proposal has been approved by GSA Headquarters. This arrangement is for the Captain’s physical well-being and for the overall benefit of the Starfall Squad.”

She turned, facing Qin Lan as if seeking her endorsement. Qin Lan offered no words, merely a slight nod, signifying her silent approval.

A wave of vexation washed over Hua Mu’ai. Shen Tinglan’s presence invariably evoked a persistent sense of unease within her—a subtle feeling, both familiar and alien, like a thorn lodged deep in her heart, making her profoundly uncomfortable.

Xia Xingyan refused to yield, her gaze fixed intently on Shen Tinglan. Her face remained devoid of any superfluous expression, yet the frigid aura she exuded caused both Gu Qianqian and Lin Xiaolu to shiver involuntarily.

“The Captain’s recovery has no bearing on where you reside, does it? Wouldn’t a private suite be more spacious and comfortable for you alone?” Xia Xingyan stated icily.

Shen Tinglan let out a soft chuckle.

“Xia Xingyan,” Shen Tinglan began, “you may not yet fully grasp this, but the Captain’s powers are highly unstable. This isn’t merely a simple case of Void Erosion; it involves deeper mechanisms of energy balance and form shifting. My research, serendipitously, is directly relevant to this.”

She paused, then directed her gaze towards Hua Mu’ai, her expression earnest.

“Only through close, prolonged observation can I precisely monitor the Captain’s energy fluctuations. I need to establish a comprehensive data model to devise the most effective recovery plan.”

A flicker of emotion stirred within Hua Mu’ai.

She yearned desperately to recover her powers and completely shed her current loli appearance. The humiliation of being publicly called a “grade-schooler” by Zhang Li at the internet cafe yesterday had only solidified her resolve. Once she regained her original body, she would be able to freely switch to her male form and once again wield formidable combat power.

Yet, the peculiar sense of familiarity emanating from Shen Tinglan made her instinctively recoil.

Noticing the impasse, Gu Qianqian quickly stepped forward to mediate.

“Xia Xingyan, Deputy Commander Shen does have a point. The Captain’s power recovery would be the best outcome for our squad.”

Lin Xiaolu quietly echoed, “That’s right, Deputy Commander Shen seems very professional, and she’s even a Haoxing-level magical girl. She’ll definitely be able to help the Captain.”

Xia Xingyan, ignoring both of them, kept her gaze firmly fixed on Shen Tinglan, her look a blend of scrutiny and warning.

Finally, Qin Lan broke her silence.

“Shen Tinglan’s appointment and duties are orders issued by Headquarters. All members of the Starfall Squad must obey them unconditionally.”

Qin Lan’s gaze swept over Xia Xingyan. “I understand your concern for the Captain, but these are regulations.”

Xia Xingyan’s lips remained tightly sealed, and the knuckles of her hands, resting on her knees, turned white from the force of her grip.

“Alright, alright!” Hua Mu’ai broke the stalemate. “So what if she moves in? It’s not a big deal.”

The moment these words left her lips, Xia Xingyan’s body stiffened, while Gu Qianqian and Lin Xiaolu visibly relaxed. Shen Tinglan’s smile, in that instant, seemed to deepen even further, becoming more profound.

‘Of course, Hua Mu’ai didn’t truly feel that way.’

‘She had no desire for Shen Tinglan to move in, nor did she wish for this enigmatic woman to be so close to her. However, Qin Lan’s stance and her own fervent longing to recover her powers compelled her to make this decision.’

‘After all, Yuena wasn’t necessarily reliable, and having multiple solutions to a problem was certainly preferable.’

“Since the Captain has agreed, then it is settled,” Qin Lan delivered her final verdict. “Shen Tinglan, I will have the Logistics Department arrange for your luggage transfer shortly. Should you have any special requests, you may address them directly to Logistics.”

“Thank you, Commander Qin.” Shen Tinglan nodded, then turned back to Hua Mu’ai, her smile gentle. “So, Captain, I look forward to working with you from now on?”

Hua Mu’ai merely hummed in acknowledgment before exiting the room.

****

After leaving the Aegis Tower, Hua Mu’ai’s mind was a tumultuous mess.

She found herself back at the internet cafe.

Inside the Flying Fish Internet Cafe, Hua Mu’ai’s fingers restlessly hammered at the keyboard, her entire being suffused with agitation.

Loss after loss after loss.

Throughout the entire afternoon, not only had she failed to climb to Gold rank, but she had plummeted from her Silver I promotion series all the way down to Silver II.

“A bunch of useless teammates!”

She muttered a curse under her breath, feeling an even greater constriction in her chest.

Ever since the woman named Shen Tinglan had appeared, Hua Mu’ai had felt profoundly uneasy.

The subtle, almost imperceptible aura emanating from Shen Tinglan evoked in Hua Mu’ai an inexplicable sense of longing.

Yet, her beloved had long since passed away; from where, then, did this unbidden emotional tremor arise?

It was precisely for this reason that Hua Mu’ai instinctively recoiled whenever Shen Tinglan drew near.

Such a feeling was far too absurd; she absolutely refused to allow herself to succumb to it.