After persuading Lin Ling to confess, Yuhua had temporarily resolved a major worry in his heart.
Tuesday was still his day off as a Magical Girl.
Without Transforming into Shui Hua, all those bothersome issues vanished.
A full day of rest had put him in a good mood, making Wednesday’s work feel lighter too.
Shui Hua efficiently handled the afternoon Patrol Report and a few citizen inquiries, then even found time to finish this week’s Report ahead of schedule, quickly settling into a state of idleness.
At precisely six in the evening, the Department Office door was pushed open right on time.
Xing Li and Fei Xing walked in, one after the other, backpacks slung over their shoulders.
“We’re here~”
Xing Li hadn’t even fully stepped through the door before her drawn-out voice floated in first.
She immediately spotted Shui Hua working at the computer, darted to her desk, leaned her elbows on the partition, and wore a “something big is coming” expression on her face.
“Shui Hua, oh Shui Hua, you really are a femme fatale. Guess which important personage graced us with their presence while you were away yesterday?”
“How am I a femme fatale…”
Even as Shui Hua grumbled, from that description, she already had a pretty good idea who it was.
“Aiya aiya, Liu Jin-senpai actually came by again yesterday, just for you… Thanks to you, I got to bask in some of your glow and meet the legendary Magical Girl senpai.”
Xing Li’s usually lazy eyes shone with rare excitement today.
“She said that last time, just saying thanks didn’t feel like enough and wanted to express her gratitude more sincerely. And also…”
She deliberately stretched out her words, selling suspense.
“And also what?”
Shui Hua played along, already guessing most of the story.
“She wanted to get your Contact Information, to make it easier to communicate in the future.”
Xing Li finally revealed, her tone teasing, eyes brimming with envy for Shui Hua.
“See? I told you saving an S-Class Hero would definitely lead to follow-up! You better take advantage and develop things while you can.”
So it was about Contact Information after all…
Shui Hua thought to herself, this one really gets things done, already asking for Contact Information—looks like something will happen soon…
Thinking that, she kept her face calm and just nodded, “Oh, is that so. Well, I gave it, that’s all.”
Her overly composed response caught Xing Li, who was ready for some drama, completely off guard.
She leaned in so close her face was nearly touching Shui Hua’s, golden eyes full of disbelief.
“You’re way too calm! It’s Liu Jin, you know, an S-Class Hero, asking for your Contact Information, and you’re not excited? Not looking forward to it?”
Shui Hua helplessly pushed her face away a bit, her tone as calm as ever, “What’s there to get excited about, Head, you’re overthinking this. You’re not actually expecting me and her to develop some relationship beyond revolutionary camaraderie, are you?”
Xing Li suddenly took a step back, pointed at her, and made a face like she’d uncovered some shocking secret.
“Comrade Shui Hua, I have serious reason to suspect your orientation—could it be… that you’re actually into men? To stay completely unmoved when a beautiful and outstanding girl like Liu Jin-senpai takes the initiative?”
If I actually planned to develop anything with her, then I really would be into men…
Shui Hua thought in her heart.
She pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed, clarifying again, “I already said, it’s just a normal thank-you. Head, your imagination really doesn’t need to run so wild.”
“Sigh, you should at least have a bit of fantasy… Must be from being a Magical Girl too long.”
Xing Li pouted, clearly a little disappointed that Shui Hua didn’t get all flustered as she’d expected.
But soon, she perked up again, since there was something more important at hand.
“Never mind, forget that. Business time—the five hundred thousand Bonus landed in the account this morning. So, when are you going to make good on your promise?”
“Uh… this weekend?”
Shui Hua ventured.
“Your weekend is for going on dates with your Liu Jin-senpai!”
Xing Li waved her little hand, flatly rejecting the suggestion.
“Let’s do it today—no time like the present.”
“I thought you both would have already eaten before coming over…”
Fei Xing raised her hand honestly and said, “Head specifically told me at noon not to eat tonight.”
“So you pretended to ask me when you’d already planned it all out. Alright, what do you want to eat?”
“Barbecue.”
Xing Li and Fei Xing answered in unison, clearly having conspired beforehand.
“That’s all? With your salaries, isn’t that more than enough?”
“No no no, it’s all about the atmosphere… If you really think it’s not enough, you can treat us to afternoon tea and little cakes, take us to the Arcade and Board Game Hall on the weekend, and maybe organize a Hot Spring Trip during the holidays… That’s what the life of a Magical Girl should be like!”
“You really are an old foodie.”
Today’s dinner, at Head Xing Li’s decree, was officially a department team-building event, so they brazenly skipped out during working hours.
And sure enough, Xing Li had planned everything in advance—she didn’t even give them a chance to pick a restaurant, but led them straight to a newly opened barbecue place.
“Three orders each of beef and lamb, three portions of chicken wings, sausages, and shrimp as well, and one each of fried fish and crispy pork from the cooked food menu.”
Xing Li held the menu and ordered with zero hesitation, her aura nothing like that of a high schooler.
“Head… can we even finish all this?”
Fei Xing looked at the crowded list and asked in a small voice.
“Don’t worry.”
Xing Li patted her chest with assurance, but then immediately shifted responsibility onto Shui Hua, “If we can’t finish, Shui Hua can just Transform somewhere nearby—he’s a guy, big appetite, he’ll definitely finish it off.”
Shui Hua pressed a hand to her forehead, “You really do think of everything.”
The meat came quickly.
Xing Li couldn’t wait and spread several slices of beef brisket over the sizzling grill, the fat immediately giving off a mouthwatering sizzle.
“Hurry, hurry, hurry, I can’t flip this—it’s going to burn!”
Xing Li fumbled with the tongs in a panic.
Shui Hua couldn’t stand it anymore and took the tongs, skillfully flipping the meat.
“Head, with hands-on skills like yours, no wonder you always just want to lie down during field work.”
“Those who are able do more!”
Xing Li replied with complete justification, then shamelessly transferred half the grilled meat Shui Hua cooked into her own bowl.
Without caring about the heat, she blew on it twice and shoved it in her mouth, huffing from the burn but refusing to spit it out, mumbling, “Mmm… so good.”
Fei Xing carefully picked up a small piece, dipped it in sauce, and ate it in little bites, her eyes squinting with happiness, “Delicious.”
“You should invite Liu Jin-senpai for barbecue too—with these skills, you’ll conquer her stomach in no time.”
Shui Hua almost choked on her drink.
“How did it end up here again?”
“I’m passing on life experience.”
Xing Li said solemnly, then pulled Fei Xing in to egg her on, “You know, being able to cook is a big bonus in a girl’s eyes. Even I can’t help liking you more now, right, Fei Xing?”
Fei Xing nodded in agreement, “Mm, mm, my favorability toward Shui Hua-jiejie just shot up. Liu Jin-senpai’s will definitely go up too.”
“Just eat already,” Shui Hua said with a helpless smile, picking up her chopsticks.
“Not even meat can keep your mouths shut.”