From then on, until they were back on the road to the seaside, Jiang Lingwei felt a bit downcast.
Part of it was because she hadn’t been able to keep her voice down, and ended up being stared at again. Luckily, Jiang Cheng shielded her, so no one’s gaze actually landed on her.
Another small part was that she’d wanted to see the animal show, but it got canceled because some protection organization sprang up, holding signs in protest.
That meant they missed out on a lot of the performances, so half the ticket money basically went to waste.
Besides, the various facilities and the big tanks at this aquarium were all very well-maintained; otherwise, they wouldn’t even be qualified to keep magical creatures—especially sensitive ones like the Shimmering Eel.
The animal performances were only at those two set times.
Before that, Jiang Lingwei had watched the seals and their trainers interact through the glass. The seals were glossy and plump, and even as an outsider, she could tell they were well cared for, not to mention their good relationship with the trainers.
There simply wasn’t any animal abuse here at all.
Already in a foul mood, this situation just made things worse for her.
But most of all, what really weighed on her was that she’d thought she could smoothly recover Tianpin’s magic equipment, only to find out, to her utter shock, that Abyssal Dragonspine’s final resting place was at the bottom of the sea.
That made things so much harder to find.
Even as a magical girl, able to ignore some terrible environments, if the Abyssal Dragonspine had sunk into some deep sea trench, it might take her decades or even centuries to find it—if she found it at all.
And the deep-sea pressure… could she handle it…
That sea magical girl had done so much for humanity, so Jiang Lingwei couldn’t say much about her decision; she could only mutter in her heart:
(Even if you’re retired, you didn’t have to toss it into the ocean…)
(It’d be fine even if you just shoved it in a busted box under the bed… Or worst case, used it to prop up a table leg.)
By afternoon, they finally arrived at the seaside (not the previous one). Feeling the sea breeze again, bathed in the warm afternoon sun, Jiang Lingwei’s mood improved a little.
She had been so hopeful before, but after such a blow, she wore a bitter expression for the rest of the trip.
As it happened, none of the family had eaten lunch, and their stomachs were starting to rumble.
“Sigh, it’s come to this. Let’s just eat first.”
“They’re selling grilled squid and stuff over there.”
Jiang Cheng said, “I’ll go buy some.”
“Chengzi, I want to—”
“It’s just buying a few things.”
Jiang Cheng said gently,
“You stay here, enjoy the breeze. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together later.”
“…Okay.”
As she watched the man stride quickly away, Jiang Lingwei suddenly had the urge to grab his arm and stand beside him, not saying anything—just quietly standing together.
But such a complicated thought could only stay in her mind. Even she wasn’t quite sure what she wanted.
Maybe she just suddenly wanted to spend some time with Jiang Cheng.
“Mama.”
After Jiang Cheng left to buy the squid, a while later, Jiang Yao, who’d just been collecting seashells on the beach, came calling for her.
“Eh? What is it!”
It took her half a second to compose herself before Jiang Lingwei turned around, putting on a livelier expression.
She definitely didn’t want her own bad mood to spoil Yao Yao’s fun.
With Little Bai unusually quiet on her shoulder, Jiang Yao walked over and said,
“Back at the aquarium… Mama, do you really like the sea magical girl?”
Jiang Lingwei guiltily put her arms behind her back and fidgeted with her fingers.
“Well… uh, I guess you could say so.”
She nodded. Then, without any preamble or roundabout talk, the girl suddenly blurted out a direct question:
“That gun—is it called Abyssal Dragonspine?”
Facing her daughter, Jiang Lingwei had no idea how to answer for a moment.
(That was careless…)
She’d always prided herself on her emotional control among magical girls, but at that moment she hadn’t managed to hold it in, and stood up to argue.
The direct result was, now she had to face her daughter’s questions.
“Yes.”
No matter what concerns she had, she didn’t hesitate in the final answer. Once she decided to tell the truth, Jiang Lingwei nodded and said,
“Its full name is [Abyssal Dragonspine: Tidal Piercer].”
Whether in front of strangers or her own daughter, she couldn’t bear to dodge or cover things up.
Even if it would bring more questions or trouble, she wasn’t going to hide her old friend’s glory. That was a merit unknown to most, but it truly existed, and could never be erased.
There was a pause, just a single second that seemed to stretch into eternity.
Jiang Lingwei even felt so nervous she couldn’t face her daughter, and looked away first.
What would Yao Yao say next? Ask how she knew? Ask if she was Aurora herself? And how would she answer that?
Jiang Yao took a deep breath, the corners of her mouth turning up as she smiled and said,
“I see.”
“Yao Yao, I—”
“I get it, Mama. I’ll go meet up with Dad.”
Looking at Jiang Cheng in the distance, carrying two bags of grilled squid and other ready-made seafood, Jiang Yao acted as if she hadn’t heard her mother’s words, just waved her hand, and ran over carrying Little Bai.
Leaving Jiang Lingwei standing alone, lost in the wind.
What exactly had her daughter figured out, and why didn’t she ask more?
“Whoosh…”
The waves climbed up the shore, then retreated again.
No matter how people changed, no matter what happened to magical girls, the sea would always be here, the tides rising and falling.
Just like a girl’s heart.
It sounded as if the ocean had given its answer.
Since Jiang Yao didn’t press further, Jiang Lingwei realized she didn’t need to dwell on it either.
Once she thought it through, she also headed over toward Jiang Cheng.
(Really… one after another, they’re both always looking out for me…)
The heart of Magical Girl Aurora, all at once, brightened again.
(With you all here, this future…)
(It’s not bad at all.)
They spent the whole afternoon at the seaside, and Jiang Lingwei finally fulfilled her old dreams of the ocean.
It was a pity they didn’t go tide-pooling or catch little creatures—maybe tomorrow.
That evening, the family enjoyed a seafood feast at a big outdoor stall, sweeping away the day’s gloom. Jiang Lingwei even copied Tianpin’s style and drank two bottles of beer in fits and starts, and not even Jiang Cheng managed to stop her.
Jiang Lingwei knew her own limits: after one bottle, she was pretty much done.
As she drank the first, she thought,
(Doesn’t feel quite right… no big deal, I’ll just use magic to clear out the alcohol later, flush away the bad effects.)
By the second, her thoughts had become:
(Forget the worries! If you’re out to have fun, just enjoy it! Lalalala~)
With two bottles of beer in her, Jiang Lingwei tottered around like a child, causing no trouble but clutching Little Bai and yelling things like,
“Old man, I’m coming to see you!”
“Old man! Are you happy? Everyone’s about to retire!”
“Bet you never thought I’d end up with a husband and a child! Shocked, aren’t you!”
And so on, all in a jumble.
All the while, Little Bai flailed and shrieked, “Who are you calling old man! I’m not old!” as it was mercilessly squished.
At that moment, the only ones who could save it were Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yao.
Too bad, both father and daughter were firmly on Jiang Lingwei’s side.
Little Bai? (No sympathy.)
Getting out of the cab, Jiang Lingwei bounced and skipped ahead, returning to the hotel.
When it came time to split up with Jiang Yao, she randomly did a perfect penalty kick, sending Little Bai, dizzy and with swirly eyes, flying right into Jiang Yao’s arms. The girl’s eyes lit up, silently vowing to remember this masterful leg technique.
“Yao Yao, I’ll get your mother some hot water… Eh? Xiao Wei?”
Jiang Cheng hadn’t even finished his sentence when Jiang Lingwei, who’d entered the room first, grabbed him and pulled him inside.
As soon as they were inside, Jiang Lingwei kicked the door shut, then stretched out her arms, hooking them around Jiang Cheng’s neck—a move that startled him.
“X-Xiao Wei, what’s gotten into you?”
“Hmph, nothing~”
Jiang Lingwei grinned foolishly. “I’m just happy.”
Clinging to Jiang Cheng like a koala, she wobbled and tumbled onto the bed.
But Jiang Cheng was sturdy and didn’t get dragged down. Worried she’d hurt herself, he bent down to gently settle her onto the bed.
—He had to admit, for just a moment, Jiang Cheng did wonder if it’d be better to just let himself fall onto the bed with her.
Looking at Jiang Lingwei giggling on the bed, Jiang Cheng felt helpless.
He’d never dealt with a situation like this before.
“Hehe… guhuhuhu.”
“Xiao Wei, can you get up and change your clothes first…?”
“Aaah, feels great~ ah~”
Before he could finish, she was already spreading her arms on the bed, doing an eagle pose.
“All right then.”
Jiang Cheng gave up. “Just wait here, I’ll go buy some hangover medicine…”
“Don’t go!”
Jiang Lingwei suddenly yelled.
She shot up from the bed and grabbed Jiang Cheng’s arm.
“Come, lie down.”
She patted the bed beside her, still grinning.
“Uh, Xiao Wei…”
Jiang Cheng started sweating. “You’re drunk, don’t…”
“Lie down~ Chengzi~”
“No, don’t squeeze!”
Having never heard Jiang Lingwei act cute with a nasal voice, Jiang Cheng—a tough, straight-laced man—couldn’t take this kind of attack. He turned to jelly and could only do as she asked, lying side by side, looking up at the ceiling.
“I’m drunk!”
Jiang Lingwei announced loudly.
“Yes, you are.”
Jiang Cheng soothed her, “You really are drunk, so you need some hot water to sober up a bit…”
“No!”
Jiang Lingwei exhaled boozy breath, cheeks rosy, lips slightly parted, eyes full of allure:
“So! So everything I say is drunken nonsense! You know what drunken nonsense means, right? It’s that stuff, the stuff you blurt out when you drink too much~ ehehe, you can’t take it seriously~ not owning up to it~ anyway, whatever, in short~ it’s just drunken nonsense! Gagaga, evil drunken nonsense~ ohohoho~ righteous drunken nonsense!”
“Okay, okay, Xiao Wei, then we…”
“So—Chengzi, I’m gonna say it~ listen up~ I’m going to say something to you~”
Lifting her arm, Jiang Lingwei covered her eyes, leaving only her mouth, which smiled as she spoke:
“You rascal~ can you do magic too—”
“Now it feels like, I might like you as well.”
“!”