Ye Xinglan slowly collapsed to the ground. The hand she had just raised also fell, clutching Xiaoxi’s sleeve like a drowning person grabbing a lifeline.
“Why… Xiaoxi, why… do you like me?”
“I never got to ask… Idiot, I warned you before, but you still can’t remember…”
Ye Xinglan’s tone carried a hint of resentment. Xiaoxi was startled, then remembered that back then, the Six Seats had asked both her and Xinglan why they liked each other.
She really had never told Xinglan her answer then. Earlier on the subway, when Xinglan brought up the question, it had been interrupted by the sudden appearance of Silver Bell.
So that was what Xinglan meant before going to the Fan Club when she said, “You have things you’re hiding too,” and “If you can’t remember, I won’t tell you”?
That question from the Six Seats was already months ago. Honestly, Xiaoxi had almost forgotten about it.
She didn’t expect Ye Xinglan to still be holding onto it.
Ye Xinglan hung her head, her long hair covering her expression.
Xiaoxi, who had been about to help her up, instead crouched down and gently pulled her into an embrace.
Feeling the slightly uneasy heartbeat of the person in her arms, Xiaoxi felt a twinge of guilt.
“Sorry, Xinglan. I didn’t notice how you felt. It’s because…”
“No, forget it. Let’s talk about it when we get back. We have more pressing matters now, don’t we?”
Ye Xinglan suddenly interrupted Xiaoxi’s answer. She really had been concerned about this question.
After all, Xiaoxi had never shown any sign of minding that she was the Blood Moon Witch.
But the more Xiaoxi acted that way, the more Ye Xinglan worried that Xiaoxi was just hiding some words.
Just like before, when Xiaoxi was afraid of the Blood Moon Witch. Now that she knew Xiaoxi was [Eternal Star], it was even more…
Would Eternal Star hate her? Ye Xinglan had never really thought about this question before.
But even without thinking, she could guess, right?
Just like she hated Eternal Star, that person would definitely hate her too.
After all, she had never held back against Eternal Star.
Not that Ye Xinglan really cared whether Eternal Star hated her or not.
But now… Xiaoxi had known she was the Blood Moon Witch for a long time. So why did she like her? Did she really… like her?
Setting aside all the messy emotions that came from knowing Xiaoxi was Eternal Star, deep in her heart, Ye Xinglan also felt a flicker of fear.
Though the thought passed quickly, she was still afraid to hear the answer from Xiaoxi’s mouth.
Xiaoxi didn’t say anything more. She smoothed Ye Xinglan’s hair, kissed her girlfriend on the forehead, and helped her up.
Seeing that the couple had finally finished arguing, the three bystanders approached.
But Xiaoxi suddenly drew her sword and blocked it between Wange Yue and Ye Xinglan.
“Sorry, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but I think you need to explain what’s going on here first, Miss Wange Yue.”
“A, A Xing, don’t be like that…”
Silver Bell hurriedly ran over, flustered. Xiaoxi thought she was going to defend Wange Yue, but instead she lowered her head apologetically.
“It’s not Wange’s fault. Let me explain… After all, I was the one who suggested the Fake Death Escape for Wange.”
Fake death? Xiaoxi looked at Wange Yue’s apologetic eyes and waited quietly for Silver Bell to continue.
Although Xiaoxi and Ye Xinglan had already investigated a lot privately and learned from the Astrologer, Silver Bell still briefly recounted the situation.
Going back a few months, at that time due to the Church’s intense schedule and the Tower of Commandments, Wange Yue’s health was indeed getting worse day by day.
But only her friends Silver Bell and Qiuli knew how serious her condition was.
Silver Bell rarely took the initiative to step forward, but on this matter she actively accompanied Wange Yue to negotiate with the Church several times.
After all, an S-Class Magical Girl still had some say, especially a famous one like Silver Bell.
But this time, the Tianqi Church was unexpectedly stubborn. Not even Silver Bell, but even the Association and the Astrologer were turned away by the Archbishop.
The Church seemed to insist that the problem of the [Judgment Scales] was their internal affair, and they used the excuse of “causing adverse effects” to forbid the matter from being spread.
Silver Bell had questioned the Church many times. That was the first time Wange Yue saw Silver Bell almost lose her temper.
The Church’s answers were indeed perfunctory—they only said they would arrange a checkup for Wange Yue and try to lighten her burden.
But Silver Bell could see Wange Yue’s deteriorating health.
So after another fruitless negotiation, upon returning to the Association, the two borrowed an empty conference room to discuss the matter.
As soon as the door closed, a loud bang came from inside.
“Those bastards in the Church don’t care about you at all! What do they mean, ‘the consequences of closing the Tower of Commandments are severe’?”
With a bang, Silver Bell’s fist slammed heavily onto the table, cracking it.
“Your condition is already this serious! They just use a bit of Healing Magic to put on a show! What good does that do!”
Wange Yue stepped forward and patted Silver Bell on the shoulder. “Don’t be angry, Ling’er. You don’t have to fall out with the Church for my sake.”
“No! Your condition must be related to the Tower of Commandments!” Silver Bell turned around sharply.
“We should just blow this up and expose it! This is how the Church secretly exploits its Magical Girls!”
Wange Yue just slowly shook her head. Even though she said nothing, Silver Bell instantly understood her meaning.
Although Wange also didn’t like the management of the Tianqi Church, she had understood since the day her Nainai died what the Tianqi Church meant to its believers.
She didn’t want to destroy the pillar of faith in people’s hearts. But…
“So are you willing to be exploited by the Church like this?”
An inexplicable anger surged in Silver Bell’s heart. She abruptly shook off Wange Yue’s hand and shouted, startling even herself.
“Don’t be like this, Ling’er. Shouldering this responsibility is our duty as Magical Girls, isn’t it?”
“You’re always like this… Always caring about others. But who cares about you? You care so much about others, who cares about your feelings?”
Maybe Silver Bell never expected that one day she would quarrel with Wange Yue.
Soon she realized that this anger shouldn’t be directed at Wange Yue, and she let out a long breath.
“Sorry, Wange. I’m not mad at you.”
In response, Wange Yue frowned. She coughed weakly a couple of times, and traces of blood appeared between her fingers.
“Wange!”
Silver Bell helped Wange Yue sit down beside her. The two of them didn’t speak.
Silver Bell just stared intently at Wange Yue’s weak back.
After a long while, her eyes gradually became determined.
“Wange, I have an idea… Do you want to hear it?”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.