“Magic Girls really are like something out of a dream. Not only powerful and beautiful, but also heroes who protect humanity. It’s amazing.”
When the video ended, Xu Wenxing handed the phone back to Lu Ren, speaking with a hint of sentiment.
Lu Ren, standing beside him, felt his mood lift upon hearing Xu Wenxing’s words.
It felt great that his heroic actions were recognized by others; becoming a Magic Girl was definitely the right choice.
“Ugh, you nerd, that’s disgusting. I’m going to expose your words and actions online so everyone can harshly criticize you.”
Though happy, Lu Ren still teased his roommate with a smile, mocking his naive thoughts.
“Brother Ren, don’t make fun of me. Nowadays, most people really see Magic Girls that way.” Xu Wenxing suddenly seemed to recall something unpleasant, his expression turning gloomy. “This era is really divided.”
“What’s wrong? Why suddenly sighing like that? Entering sage mode?” Lu Ren raised an eyebrow.
“This afternoon, while you were napping, remember I took a call?” Xu Wenxing explained. “It was my mother. She was urging me to find a girlfriend again.”
“…Huh?”
Lu Ren was momentarily stunned.
They had only just started their freshman year, so how was this guy already being pressured to find a girlfriend?
Was this even normal?
“Brother Ren, don’t you think this is ridiculous? Back in my senior year of high school, every Sunday when I went home for break, my mother would remind me not to date early, to focus on studying first, get into a good university, then think about relationships and work.”
“I knew she was afraid early romance would affect my grades and that she had my best interests at heart, so I didn’t argue and seriously studied hard, which is how I got here.”
Xu Wenxing sighed helplessly and complained to Lu Ren about his predicament.
“But no sooner had I started university than my mother began urging me to find a girlfriend. She said university was long, I was still young and relaxed, so now was the best time to find one, or it would be harder after entering society.”
“I told her we’d only just started school and I didn’t even know the names of the girls in my class, so there was no way I could find a girlfriend so fast.”
“She told me to be bolder, to ask for girls’ WeChat and contact info, and not to limit myself to girls in my class—finding girls from other departments was okay too.”
“I really… I just can’t.”
“Don’t want to say more. Seriously, Brother Ren, do you understand how I feel?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Wenxing looked at Lu Ren standing beside him, his eyes full of longing for understanding.
Unfortunately, Lu Ren hesitated for a few seconds, then mercilessly shook his head, shattering his hopes.
“No, I don’t get it. I’ve never been pressured by my parents. They just want me to enjoy university life, study well, and get a good job to support myself.” Lu Ren replied plainly.
“That’s so lucky. I envy your parents. When I said I wanted to focus on studying, they told me to find a girlfriend first, and to get my Driving License. Sigh…”
“The Driving License is definitely something you need to get, useful in the future.” Lu Ren nodded.
“I know. It’s not that I don’t want to get it. I’ll definitely sign up for driving school in sophomore year. But the girlfriend thing…”
Xu Wenxing looked up at the sky, continuing the earlier topic as if venting his frustration.
“What’s wrong with finding a girlfriend?” Lu Ren asked.
“With how things are now, I don’t dare to. Jobs are hard to come by. After I graduate, I don’t even know if I can support myself, let alone have a girlfriend. If she wants gifts, I can’t afford them. Am I supposed to take out a loan?”
“…Man, can we not talk about such adult topics? It’s too heavy. I’m having trouble breathing.”
Hearing Xu Wenxing’s words, a picture immediately formed in Lu Ren’s mind of a loving couple cramped into a tiny rental, struggling day by day.
He felt like his breathing got heavier, as if something was pressing down on his neck.
“Just talking casually, it’s not that serious. Brother Ren, listen to me finish, I promise I won’t talk about this kind of stuff again.” Xu Wenxing’s voice carried a hint of pleading.
“Alright, alright, go ahead. I have no objections anyway.” Lu Ren agreed.
“You’re such a good person, Brother Ren. Then I’ll continue.”
After receiving Lu Ren’s response, Xu Wenxing lowered his head, silent for a few seconds, as if debating whether to share the doubts inside his heart.
He looked at Lu Ren, then at the clear blue sky, hesitating before finally biting his lip and speaking.
“Brother Ren, you know, I read the news and browse forums every day, but I really don’t dare to casually find a girlfriend. I’m scared.”
“Huh?” Lu Ren felt confused, unable to grasp Xu Wenxing’s reasoning.
“Brother Ren, listen, when I first started school I asked a question about girlfriends on the forum, and got blasted for days. Even now I still get tons of hateful private messages.” Xu Wenxing glanced around, lowering his voice cautiously.
“What exactly did you ask? You’re not pretending to be clueless for bait, are you?” Lu Ren smirked.
“No way. I’m not that kind of person.” Xu Wenxing hurried to explain. “The question I posted was, ‘I’m still a Cooking Man, so I want to find a Cooking Girl. Is this normal?’”
“…Wait, don’t say any more. I already know what the comments and messages said. Shut up, got it?”
Upon hearing such a typical question, Lu Ren immediately knew what kind of replies Xu Wenxing had received.
He tried to stop Xu Wenxing from speaking further, hoping he wouldn’t say those disgusting lines.
But unfortunately, it was too late.
“The comments said I had a Cooking Girl complex, that I was old-fashioned and not open-minded enough, and that I was doomed never to find a girlfriend…”
“I told you to shut up. Are you deaf? Please, don’t say more.”
“Ah… okay, I won’t, Brother Ren.”
Xu Wenxing paused, then nodded, wisely not continuing on that topic.
Lu Ren quickly looked around and, seeing no one was paying attention to them, breathed a sigh of relief.
“Ahem, anyway, I think this era is pretty ridiculous, Brother Ren.” Xu Wenxing cleared his throat. “There are Magic Girls, yet the reality is so strange. The contrast is just too big.”
“You like contrasts, don’t you? I see your computer desktop is full of typical contrast characters.” Lu Ren joked, feeling relaxed.
“Reality is definitely different. Sigh, if I really can’t find a girlfriend someday, I guess I’ll have no choice but to date a Magic Girl. What do you think? Should I choose Meteor, who has the better figure, or Miss Sapphire, who’s more famous?”
Xu Wenxing imagined a beautiful future that was totally impossible and asked Lu Ren a completely unrealistic either-or question.
“Daydreaming again. Dreaming about graduating with excellent grades, dreaming about working in the monster response department, dreaming about reciprocated feelings with a Magic Girl.” Lu Ren mercilessly mocked.
“Brother Ren, you’re wrong. I’ve played through thirty-six different bishoujo romance games. Capturing a Magic Girl is as easy as breathing!” Xu Wenxing pushed up his nonexistent glasses and spoke seriously.
“Heh.”
Faced with Xu Wenxing’s wild fantasies, Lu Ren gave the simplest, most direct sarcasm.
Lu Ren mocking but Blazing Flame is going to get mercilessly captured lol