5:30 a.m., Su Li’s alarm rang on time.
She reached out and turned off the ringing, her silver-white long hair spread messily across the pillow. Outside, the sky was just beginning to brighten, with only a faint morning light filtering through the curtains.
Although Su Li usually woke early, she never got up this early. The reason she was up at dawn today was because she had to pick up Lu Yuan.
Rubbing her eyes, she threw off the covers and got up.
Her body ached slightly. Su Li stretched lazily, moving her joints a few times.
After showering, changing clothes, and eating, she would be ready to leave.
Hot water sprayed from the showerhead, quickly filling the bathroom with steam. Su Li stood under the water, eyes closed, letting the hot water wash over her body.
Her skin was as fair as snow, but on her back were several faint scars—marks left from battles with the Calamity.
That Lu Yuan… probably still wasn’t used to waking up early.
Thinking of Lu Yuan’s sleepy, reluctant face being dragged out of bed, a slight smile curved Su Li’s lips.
She imagined it would be adorable.
After drying off, Su Li stood before her wardrobe, fingers gliding over a neat row of clothes.
Although she had appeared in her Transformation Form during recruitment, and that form came with a Combat Suit, in case something went wrong and the transformation was canceled, she needed to wear Regular Clothes just in case. So she couldn’t just go out in Transformation Form directly—she had to put on some clothes first.
She picked out a pure white fitted jacket, paired with a pair of jeans, giving her a somewhat androgynous, cool look.
Looking at herself in the mirror, the first thing Su Li imagined was how Lu Yuan would evaluate her.
Would she think she looked good? Probably… didn’t she say she liked me?
Su Li’s cheeks flushed faintly. Half amused, half exasperated, she put a hand to her forehead and shook her head.
Why did she always care so much about Lu Yuan?
Grabbing the car keys from the shoe cabinet, Su Li left her home.
The rookie’s first public event… hopefully, that girl wouldn’t mess it up.
***
The morning air was cool, and Su Li exhaled a puff of white mist as she walked toward a Maserati parked downstairs.
She opened the door and inserted the key. The low roar of the sports car’s engine was especially clear in the quiet street.
Not wanting to disturb the neighbors, Su Li gently pressed the accelerator.
She put on her Communicator and dialed Lu Yuan’s number.
“Lu Yuan, I’ll be downstairs at your place in 10 minutes.”
A muffled mumble came from the other side, as if someone was struggling to wake from under the covers.
“Five more minutes…”
“Nope, get up now.”
Before Lu Yuan could reply, Su Li decisively hung up. Though she seemed stern, a faint smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
***
“Su Li… I’m so sleepy…”
Lu Yuan curled up in the back seat, the black formal dress skirt spread out around her. She had already transformed at home in advance.
Su Li’s fingers lightly adjusted the rearview mirror, which perfectly captured Lu Yuan’s sleepy little face and the accidental glimpse of her panties.
“That girl…” Su Li muttered quietly.
Long lashes covered her eyes, and at this moment, Lu Yuan looked utterly endearing.
“Don’t drool on my seat,” Su Li said.
“Ah… you’re so heartless, Su Li,” Lu Yuan smacked her lips, as if about to fall asleep again in the next second. “Like a capitalist… capitalists aren’t as cold and ruthless as you.”
Lu Yuan’s nose twitched twice. A faint scent lingered in the car—it was hard to tell if it was perfume or Su Li’s natural scent.
Her consciousness drifted away slowly, like a deflating balloon.
“Screeech—”
A sudden sharp brake.
Lu Yuan rolled forward from her seat, her head violently hitting the front seat.
That woke her up immediately.
“Ow ow ow!” Lu Yuan stood up, tears streaming as she held her head. “My head’s not a bowling ball, Su Li! Why do you always bully me?”
Su Li had one hand on the steering wheel, the other casually pointing out the window.
“We’re here, Tongmen Middle School.”
Rubbing her reddening forehead, Lu Yuan looked in the direction Su Li was pointing. A bright banner had been hung across the school gates:
【Warmly Welcome Magical Girls to Guide Our School】
The school entrance was packed with eager students, many holding up support signs.
Lu Yuan squinted and suddenly spotted several signs with her name boldly written on them.
“Wait… are those my fans?” She abruptly turned to Su Li, completely awake now.
Su Li unbuckled her seatbelt with one hand and replied, “Of course. You’re a big star, Miss Lu Yuan.”
She glanced at Lu Yuan’s messy skirt and crooked headpiece. “Aren’t you going to fix your appearance? Our Little Black Cat, Miss Lu Yuan?”
Lu Yuan frantically fiddled with the rearview mirror, only to find her twin tails had turned into a tangled mess. “Oh no, this is a disaster… my image is ruined…”
Su Li sighed and pulled a small comb from the storage compartment behind the handbrake, tossing it to her.
Lu Yuan grabbed the comb like a treasure. She glanced at it and saw an exquisite “Su” engraved on the handle—a clearly personal item.
“What’s this?”
“I use it,” Su Li answered. “If you don’t mind, you can use my comb. You probably don’t have one yet.”
Lu Yuan hurriedly began tidying her hair. As the comb’s teeth ran through her strands, a faint scent of cedar filled the air, exactly like Su Li’s.
Suddenly, she felt a strange sensation, as if Su Li were gently combing her hair herself.
“Ready? Come out then.” Su Li opened the car door and looked back at Lu Yuan.
As the door swung open, the crowd of students at the school gates erupted into cheers. Lu Yuan looked up to see the Principal and several teachers approaching the sports car.
“Remember,” Su Li said softly, “you’re representing the Magical Girls now. Mind your words and actions.”
Su Li stepped out of the car. Lu Yuan took a deep breath and followed.
“Wow!! It’s Lu Yuan!!”
“Even cuter than in the videos!”
“Little Black Cat sister, look this way!”
The waves of screams engulfed them instantly. Lu Yuan instinctively stepped back behind Su Li but was pulled to her side by a firm grip on her wrist.
You represent the Magical Girls…
Lu Yuan repeated the words in her mind, stiffly raising her hand, which triggered an even louder cheer.
“You must be Miss Lu Yuan…” the Principal warmly greeted and shook her hand.
“Ah, yes, that’s me,” Lu Yuan replied.
The stern Principal was unusually respectful toward her now—a surprising contrast.
“Don’t be nervous.” Su Li lowered her voice and said kindly to Lu Yuan, “I’m here with you.”
***
Just then, a female police officer dressed in a crisp uniform navigated through the crowd with practiced ease. Her shoulder-length black hair was lifted slightly by the breeze, and the baton at her waist swung gently with each step.
“Captain Su,” the officer saluted. Lu Yuan noticed a small tear mole at the corner of her eye. “Do you have the item with you?”
Su Li nodded and retrieved a silver briefcase from the Maserati’s trunk. Lu Yuan noticed the Magical Girl Headquarters emblem—a single star—embossed on the case.
“This is Chen Xin, a special commissioner from Tongmen Police Station,” Su Li briefly introduced her to Lu Yuan, handing the briefcase to Chen Xin. “An unclaimed Transformation Crystal for recruitment. There is only one. Please register it properly.”
Officer Chen Xin skillfully entered a password, and the case snapped open.
Inside, nestled in velvet lining, was a clear Crystal. Chen Xin held it up carefully, examining it before putting it back.
“No problem. I’ll register the Crystal’s serial number first. When the event starts at 3 p.m., I’ll hand it over to you,” Chen Xin said.
“Got it,” Su Li nodded.
“So, this must be the new Magical Girl, Miss Lu Yuan?” Chen Xin closed the briefcase and smiled warmly at Lu Yuan. “My daughter is your fan—her room’s covered in your posters.”
“Eh? Am I really that famous?” Lu Yuan scratched her head shyly.
“Of course,” Chen Xin smiled and nodded. But when she said the next sentence, her expression visibly dimmed.
“After all… you’re the real heroes protecting the city.”
No one noticed the sadness in her voice.
“See you at the venue at 3 p.m.”
Chen Xin saluted briskly and carried the briefcase toward a police car.
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