“What?!”
Lin Wan’s thunderous voice nearly pierced through the phone’s earpiece, causing Lu Yuan to instinctively pull the phone away.
“Lin Wan… calm down.”
While stuffing clothes into her suitcase, Lu Yuan sighed helplessly. She could easily imagine the blue-haired girl on the other end hopping up and down in frustration. Luckily, Lin Wan was working overtime at Headquarters right now, or else she’d probably be clinging onto Lu Yuan’s hand, refusing to let go.
This business trip might take her away from Tongmen City for quite some time… Lu Yuan casually grabbed a few pieces of underwear—some sporty daily wear, and a daring lace set that had been a gift from a salesperson when she bought a skirt during a shopping trip—now teasingly draped over the edge of the suitcase.
“Uh…”
A faint blush warmed Lu Yuan’s face as she cursed herself for not tossing those things out earlier. She hurried to shove the eye-catching lingerie to the very bottom, making sure no one would see it.
In fact, she was currently wearing similar types of underwear. If it weren’t for her embarrassment and lack of experience buying lingerie—she had only worn what the stores gifted—she wouldn’t have brought these along on the trip at all. Lu Yuan resolved to overcome her shame and buy more normal underwear next time.
Just as she reached out to hide those pieces, Lin Wan spoke again.
***
“How am I supposed to calm down? How can you just leave like that? Are you being tricked by some wild woman outside?!” Lin Wan’s voice cracked with tears, filled with disbelief and the pain of feeling abandoned.
She had already drafted a battle plan titled “Taking down Lu Yuan while Captain Su Li’s away,” stored a full phone of ideal date spots, all ready to implement over the weekend—only to find the main star was running off?!
“What do you mean by ‘wild woman’… such harsh words.”
Lu Yuan sighed, pressing the folded skirt down to the bottom of her suitcase, momentarily forgetting the lace lingerie still hanging over the edge. “It’s work. There’s a special situation—I need to go to Yun Jing on a business trip.”
“I don’t believe it! You’re not hanging out with that Qing girl, are you? I’m going to check your room!”
Suddenly, Lin Wan’s call dropped, but almost immediately, a video call request popped up.
Lu Yuan sighed and accepted the video.
“What kind of job requires you to personally protect a model you just met?!” Lin Wan, having apparently heard some rumors from other channels, sounded sour enough to pickle cucumbers. “Isn’t there any other Magical Girl in Tongmen City? Why does it have to be you? I think she’s doing this on purpose! That Qing girl is definitely trouble!”
“This is Headquarters’ arrangement, and the situation is quite special…” Lu Yuan tried to explain.
In truth, she had reported this herself. Ever since Captain Su Li left, they hadn’t been able to find any information on that mimic-type Disaster. There was no clue about how to locate that particular Disaster. If Lu Yuan wanted to get to the bottom of it herself, Qing was the only lead she had.
But she couldn’t just tell Lin Wan she was the one going; otherwise, Lin Wan’s jealousy might just rival the vinegar production in Shanxi.
“I don’t care! I’m coming too!” Lin Wan stubbornly declared. “Lian Xue and I will go with you! More people means more protection!”
“No.” Lu Yuan’s reply was firm. “We can’t leave Tongmen City unmanned. The ‘bottles’ Rose left behind haven’t been cleared yet. New Disasters could appear at any time. Without Captain Su Li, you and Lian Xue have to stay and handle patrol and security. This is serious business, not something to be whimsical about.”
Silence fell on the other end before Lin Wan sniffled softly. She clearly knew Lu Yuan was right but emotionally couldn’t accept it.
“…But you’re going so far away, and you have to stay with that strange woman… I’m worried…”
Her voice lowered, heavy with concern and loss.
“Hey, don’t act like I can’t take care of myself.”
Lu Yuan tried to lighten the mood. “I’m the Team Captain, after all. Dealing with a C-level Disaster Attractor and an unreliable Agent? Piece of cake.”
“You all staying in Tongmen City should be more careful. Those bottles are really strange. If you encounter anything you can’t handle, contact Headquarters immediately. Don’t try to be a hero.”
“…Got it.” Lin Wan replied gloomily, then suddenly changed her tone, “You have to call me three times a day! Morning, noon, and night! And answer my messages right away! Or else I’ll… I’ll…”
She didn’t seem to have anything to actually threaten Lu Yuan with—she couldn’t very well threaten to release that video from the door of Lu Yuan’s house from 07:21, could she? That would be too embarrassing.
Not that Lu Yuan knew she’d secretly recorded that video from the start, hehe.
***
“Okay, okay, Miss Lin Wan.” Lu Yuan laughed helplessly. “I’ll report my whereabouts at all times.”
“Also! Stay away from that Qing girl! Keep your distance! At least one meter… no, three meters!” Lin Wan anxiously added.
“Alright, alright, three meters.” Lu Yuan humored her, though she knew full well she couldn’t keep three meters away while protecting someone up close.
“Lu Yuan! Are you just brushing me off? You have to swear to me! Swear you’ll keep three meters away from that Qing girl… huh?”
Lin Wan’s complaint suddenly stopped as she froze. “Wait! What’s that behind you?! That black thing! When did you buy that?! You’re seriously bringing that kind of stuff on a business trip?!”
Lu Yuan was startled and quickly turned around, only to realize the extremely scant black lace bustier was just hanging right within the camera’s view, dangling on the edge of her suitcase.
“Wah! Don’t look!”
Panicked, Lu Yuan tried to grab something to block the camera, but in her flustered state, she only managed to fumble the phone, which slipped and fell onto the bed with a soft thud, the lens now pointing straight at the ceiling.
Bending down quickly to retrieve the phone, Lu Yuan, dressed only in a loose home camisole, caused the neckline to slip down in a wide arc. While the phone’s rear camera faced the ceiling, the front camera perfectly captured a generous view of her fair skin and subtle curves revealed by her bent-over posture.
Lin Wan on the other end was treated to a full view of Lu Yuan’s delicate skin beneath the black lace lingerie.
“!!!!”
Unaware of the camera angle, Lu Yuan focused solely on picking up the phone.
Suddenly, the call went silent, followed by the sound of frantic scrambling and something falling over.
“Lin Wan? Are you okay?” Lu Yuan finally steadied the phone and looked at the screen in confusion.
Lin Wan’s entire face was flushed bright red, like a ripe tomato, with suspicious redness just below her nose.
“N-n-nothing! I… I suddenly remembered Lian Xue needed me! A-anyway, remember what I said! Keep your distance! Stay safe! Report when you arrive! Bye!”
Before Lu Yuan could respond, the video call was abruptly cut off.
***
Lu Yuan: “???”
She stared at the darkened screen, completely baffled by what Lin Wan was up to now.
“Strange, strange…” she muttered, finally managing to shove the suggestive lingerie to the bottom of the suitcase and zipped it closed.
Ding dong—her phone buzzed with a message.
It was from Lin Wan: 【Come back early…】
Though just words, Lu Yuan could sense a faint trace of grievance, an inexplicable pang of guilt rising inside her.
Why did this feel like a long-married couple’s bickering? That Lin Wan…
***
Just as she set the phone down, a soft knock sounded at the door.
“Senpai?” Chen Lianxue’s gentle voice drifted from outside.
Lu Yuan opened the door and saw the pink-haired girl clutching her rabbit plush, looking up with worried eyes.
“Senpai, are you going to Yun Jing?”
“Yeah, it’s a sudden assignment.” Lu Yuan ruffled her hair. “I’m leaving Tongmen City in your hands. Make sure to keep an eye on Lin Wan and don’t let her get too wild.”
Chen Lianxue nodded vigorously, showing she understood.
“I’ll do my best! You be careful too, Senpai.” She hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a small handmade amulet from behind the rabbit plush and slipped it into Lu Yuan’s hand. “This… is for you, Sister Lu Yuan. Yun Jing is far away. Please stay safe.”
The amulet was finely stitched and faintly scented. Lu Yuan was pleasantly surprised by Lian Xue’s craftsmanship.
Her heart warmed. “Thank you, Lian Xue. I’ll take good care of it.”
***
After seeing Lian Xue off, Lu Yuan gazed at her packed suitcase and sighed softly.
This trip to Yun Jing wouldn’t be as simple as she’d said. That Qing girl, and the strange pull she felt from her—it all felt inexplicably odd.
But duty called, and she had to go.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Qing sat quietly by the window, watching Liu Zhe busily arranging vehicles below.
She had said before she would personally create chances to be with Lu Yuan.
Now… everything was steadily moving in the direction she had planned.