Su Li gently pushed open the hospital doors, the sharp scent of disinfectant immediately hitting her nose. She instinctively frowned and slightly shielded her perception system.
“Da da da.”
Clicking heels echoed as Su Li walked toward the reception desk.
At the corner, an intern nurse who had been dozing off was abruptly awakened by the footsteps. When she looked up, Su Li was already standing before her.
“Excuse me, where is Officer Chen Xin’s ward?” Su Li asked.
“Chen Xin… You’re Magical Girl Su Li?!” The nurse stood up with surprise and accidentally knocked over a nearby mug with her finger.
“Ah!”
Seeing the coffee about to spill onto the registration book on the desk, the nurse couldn’t help but exclaim.
Su Li quickly reached out and caught the mug before the coffee could soak the registration book.
“Thank you… Officer Chen Xin is in room 707,” the nurse said, looking at Su Li handing the mug back, somewhat eagerly asking, “Miss Su Li, I’m your fan. Could you… sign an autograph for me later?”
“Sure.” Su Li smiled and turned to enter the elevator.
The elevator’s ascent felt unusually slow. Through the reflection on the metal door, she caught sight of the faint blue-black circles under her eyes.
So much had happened these past few days; Su Li hadn’t had a moment’s rest in a long time.
***
Room 707’s door was ajar. Su Li paused for three seconds before gently pushing it open.
Chen Xin was gazing out the window. Hearing the noise, she turned her head. The bandage wrapped around her head still showed traces of blood, and her right leg was in a cast.
“Captain Su Li?” Chen Xin looked surprised. “Why are you here?”
Su Li’s eyes scanned the monitoring device by the bedside; all the indicators were relatively stable. She exhaled slowly and pulled out a chair to sit down.
“You’re still awake?” Su Li asked gently. “How’s your recovery?”
“Not bad…” Chen Xin clenched the bedsheet tightly. “There was only one attacker… they knew the transportation route and the handover time, and they acted decisively.”
She propped her uninjured hand against her head, clearly frustrated. “Sorry, Captain Su Li.”
“It’s okay.” Su Li shook her head. “The important thing is that you’re okay.”
“Thank you.” Chen Xin paused before replying.
“Leave the rest to me,” Su Li said. “Something like hijacking a Transformation Crystal has never happened before. Not assigning a Magical Girl to protect you was my oversight. I’m sorry you got hurt.”
“Protect… me?” Chen Xin murmured, looking down.
Su Li noticed some vegetables on the bedside table — green beans and lettuce.
“What’s this…?” Su Li asked.
“Oh, that.” Chen Xin scratched her head and smiled. “It’s from a vegetable seller granny. I helped her catch a thief last time, and she insists I’m her daughter…”
“She has a bit of dementia. Her daughter went to work in a big city long ago, and no matter how much I try to explain, she won’t believe I’m not her daughter. I couldn’t argue with her, so I just accepted it. Haha.”
Su Li fell silent for a moment, looking at this simple and honest policewoman, unsure what to say.
Since the Magical Girls appeared, ordinary police officers have gradually been replaced. For major incidents, Magical Girls take charge; for minor cases, they’re unnecessary. Many ambitious police officers, after joining the force, find the petty matters unbearable and resign.
In a sense, Magical Girls are slowly taking over police duties.
“Cough cough cough.” Suddenly, Chen Xin started coughing violently.
Su Li was momentarily at a loss and quickly pressed the call bell to summon a nurse.
The nurse rushed into the ward and began injecting something into Chen Xin.
“Sorry, Captain Su Li,” the nurse said to her. “Officer Chen Xin needs to rest now.”
“Oh… okay.” Su Li stepped back a few paces. “Then I’ll take my leave.”
Just as Su Li was about to leave, she was called back.
“Captain Su Li!” The nurse called out.
Su Li turned with a puzzled look as a notebook and pen were handed to her.
“Your autograph… you forgot.”
Su Li was momentarily stunned but then relaxed with a smile.
“Sorry, I’ll sign it now.”
She took the notebook and signed her name.
“Ah… thank you!” The nurse was excited but, since they were in the inpatient department, did her best to keep her voice low.
On the hospital bed, Chen Xin, now wearing an oxygen mask, glanced at Su Li signing autographs for a fan. Then, she closed her eyes wearily.
Magical Girls… truly powerful and wonderful beings.
Thinking this, she smiled softly and fell into a deep sleep.
Su Li stood before the elevator.
When the elevator doors opened, a masked janitor was inside. Su Li stepped in and pressed the button for the basement level where her car was parked.
The parking lot was deserted. Her footsteps echoed in the concrete structure. Only after confirming she wasn’t being followed did she call Tian Aixing.
“I’ve sent the stuff over to you. Check it out.”
On the other end, Tian Aixing’s keyboard tapping sounded. “Captain, you’re suspicious of her? That’s unlikely.”
“You check first.” Su Li opened the car door and sat in the driver’s seat. The Maserati beeped. “I hope I’m just being paranoid.”
“Alright.”
The sports car slowly drove out of the garage. Outside, the rain continued, streaking down the window in watery trails. Su Li gazed absentmindedly at Tongmen City’s night sky, where no stars could be seen.
It was 12:21 a.m. She needed to go home and sleep; an early start awaited her the next day.
***
Yes, it was indeed 12:21 a.m.
At this moment, Lu Yuan was sitting cross-legged in front of the coffee table. On the table lay a boxed meal.
Half an hour ago, Su Li had just dropped her off at home. Shortly after Lu Yuan arrived, someone knocked on the door. A boxed meal was left outside — but the person delivering it was nowhere to be seen.
A note was stuck on the meal’s exterior.
【I’m Lin Wan! Since you won’t let me cook at your place, I made this boxed meal for you! Remember to open it and eat it before it gets cold — it won’t taste good otherwise!】
Lu Yuan stared at the pink bento box, the corner of her mouth twitching involuntarily. On the lid, a crooked smiley face was drawn in ballpoint pen, next to the words: “Eat it all, okay~”.
“This girl, delivering food in the middle of the night?” she muttered, lifting the lid. Warm steam carrying a delicious aroma rose.
The rice was shaped like a little cat drizzled with curry sauce. Neatly arranged around it were fried chicken pieces and blanched broccoli. Two ribs were tucked into a corner.
Her phone vibrated suddenly. A message from Lin Wan appeared:
【Did you eat it yet? (^▽^)】
Lu Yuan bit the tip of her chopsticks and typed slowly: 【Already finished.】
【You’re lying, you just opened the box!】
【Can you see me?】
【A little Magical Girl trick~】 followed by a tongue-out emoji.
Lu Yuan was so annoyed she nearly snapped her chopsticks. She looked around but found nothing.
Seriously, after Su Li, now Lin Wan too? Am I born to be a little cat constantly spied on?!
“That woman…” Lu Yuan gritted her teeth and poked the cat-shaped rice ball in the lunchbox but still obediently picked up a piece of fried chicken and ate it. The salty aroma melted on her tongue, and she couldn’t help squinting.
Her phone vibrated again: 【Is it good? I specially added some DokiDoki Magic!】
Lu Yuan stared at the message for three seconds before flipping her phone face down on the table.
Is this the kind of joke friends make? This is more like lovers!
Lu Yuan was indignant. She thought she had to bring this up with Lin Wan.
But… is it normal for girls to joke like this?
Ah, whatever. Eating is the priority.
She hungrily took a couple more bites when she suddenly heard a faint noise from the balcony.
Is someone hiding out there?!
“Lin Wan?!” Lu Yuan dashed to the window but only saw the shadows of swaying trees in the night. On the windowsill sat an orange-shaped night light.
Her phone vibrated:
【If you’re afraid of the dark, sleep with this on~ See you tomorrow! (｡･ω･｡)】
【Who’s afraid of the dark? I’m not a child!】 Lu Yuan typed back.
In her room, Lin Wan was curled up in bed, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter at Lu Yuan’s reply. Her phone screen showed the living room’s surveillance footage — Lu Yuan blushing as she finished the boxed meal completely.
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