Chapter 16: Accident

Three in the afternoon, inside the Student Hall.

The hall was packed, every seat taken. Amidst the bustling crowd, students held up their phones and support signs, with noisy chatter rising and falling.

“I heard today’s Magical Girl is Miss Lu Yuan!”

“I want her autograph!”

“I just saw her get out of the car. She’s so cute, even prettier than in the videos!”

Lu Yuan stood backstage, nervously tugging at the hem of her skirt. Maybe it was just her imagination, but she felt like the skirt of this battle outfit was getting shorter each time. Hopefully, she wouldn’t have any wardrobe malfunctions later.

Summoning her courage, she stepped onto the stage.

Today’s event was just a formality: a simple introduction to the duties of a Magical Girl, followed by a test of the Transformation Crystals for interested students, then collect the overtime pay and leave beautifully!

Lu Yuan convinced herself of this, trying to calm her nerves.

But the moment she stepped on stage, everything changed.

“Ahhhh! It’s Lu Yuan!!”

“Big sis, look at me!!”

“Lu Yuan! Lu Yuan! Lu Yuan!”

The entire hall erupted, the fans’ adoration washing over her like a wave.

Startled, Lu Yuan stepped back half a step—being a homebody, she’d never seen such a scene before.

Was this a recruitment event? Or an idol fan meeting?

“Uh… hello, everyone?” she tentatively waved.

The screams from below only grew louder.

“She’s alive! The living Little Black Cat!”

Su Li stood to the side, hand on her forehead. She whispered to the school official next to her, “…Are you sure this is a recruitment event?”

The official laughed awkwardly. “Haha, it’s because Miss Lu Yuan is so popular. This kind of positive energy is good for the event, isn’t it?”

Su Li didn’t answer. She quietly watched the “heartthrob” Lu Yuan on stage, feeling a little uneasy.

For some reason, she didn’t want so many people to like her—like a kid who doesn’t want to share their toy.

She wanted everyone to know she had such a cute Magical Girl subordinate, but she didn’t want others to like her this much.

“Officer Chen Xin, any contact yet?” Su Li asked.

“No…” The official scratched his head. “We’ve called many times, but no answer.”

No contact…?

Since the latter part of the recruitment event involved testing, without reaching Officer Chen Xin, they couldn’t get the Transformation Crystal for the test. That would make continuing the event difficult.

But with the current situation, she couldn’t leave.

“Tian Aixing, are you there?” Su Li pulled out her phone.

“I’m here.” Tian Aixing’s reply was brief.

“Help me locate Officer Chen. It’s urgent.”

“Fifteen minutes.”

“But we need the Transformation Crystal in ten minutes.”

“No choice. Tongmen City is big. It takes time. Fifteen minutes is the fastest I can do.”

“Alright… thank you.”

Su Li ended the call.

They would have to postpone the test section a bit.

She looked toward Lu Yuan, who was now surrounded by a crowd of students.

Looks like there was no need to arrange other delays… Lu Yuan alone could infinitely extend the Magical Girl introduction segment.

***

On a deserted alley, a police car lay overturned in a roadside canal, with a person leaning against the wreckage.

Chen Xin’s fingers clutched tightly at the metal clasp of her briefcase as she slumped against the car, powerless.

Blood trickled from her temple, soaking into her uniform collar. Her right leg was barely responsive, a bullet hole in her thigh.

Though Chen Xin gripped the briefcase’s handle with all her might, the surface was badly damaged. The Transformation Crystal inside was missing, and the velvet that once protected it was torn and scattered on the ground.

The canal water was still, but on such a hot day, the air was suffocating.

Her vision flickered between blurry and clear.

Her police badge was still pinned to her chest, but her uniform was soaked in sweat and blood, sticking uncomfortably to her back.

She tossed aside her empty handgun, trembling as she pulled out her phone and dialed Magical Girl Headquarters.

“This is Officer Chen Xin of the Police Department of Tongmen City, badge number 024121… There’s an emergency…”

“The Transformation Crystal has been stolen.”

***

The crowd at the venue had almost completely dispersed.

After the event, Lu Yuan collapsed into a backstage chair, hair disheveled, her dress wrinkled, clutching a handful of love letters and small gifts from students.

Su Li approached, amused and slightly exasperated. “…Do you know we’re here to recruit?”

“I know…” Lu Yuan lifted her head weakly, “but I didn’t expect it to turn out like this!”

Her eyes were full of grievance, like a Little Black Cat who had gotten into trouble.

Su Li was silent for two seconds, then suddenly reached out and pulled a sticker from Lu Yuan’s hair.

It must have been slapped on by some overenthusiastic fan in the chaos.

The sticker showed a chibi version of Lu Yuan, with the words “Wife” written beside it.

“…”

“…”

Lu Yuan covered her face. “Guh… just kill me now.”

Su Li sighed and stuffed the sticker into her pocket.

“By the way, wasn’t there supposed to be a test for qualified candidates? Why is it over now?”

“We can’t reach Officer Chen.” Su Li answered.

“Can’t reach…?”

Lu Yuan doubted her ears. A police officer was unreachable? That was serious, wasn’t it?

“Yes, nothing like this has ever happened before…”

Before Su Li finished, her phone suddenly rang.

Seeing Tian Aixing’s name on the screen, Su Li frowned slightly and tapped to answer.

“This is Su Li.”

Tian Aixing’s voice came through, calm but tense: “Captain Su Li, there’s been an incident.”

“An incident?”

“The Transformation Crystal sent to the police station for registration was stolen. Officer Chen Xin has been hospitalized.”

Su Li’s expression instantly stiffened.

Sensing the change in atmosphere, Lu Yuan sat up straight. “What happened?”

Su Li waved her off and continued questioning Tian Aixing: “How is Officer Chen’s condition?”

“Severe blood loss, but stable for now.” Tian Aixing’s voice was calm, yet Su Li caught a hint of anger. “The briefcase was destroyed, the Crystal lost. The perpetrators were professional, leaving almost no traces.”

“Could it be Rose?” Su Li frowned, considering the worst-case scenario.

“Unlikely… My Ming Snake didn’t detect any magic related to Rose. She’s probably not in Tongmen City. Unless Rose can block my Ming Snake’s sensing, this was likely another faction’s doing.”

“Another faction?”

Su Li rubbed her temples. The Rose situation hadn’t even been settled, and now another force popped up?

“I understand. I’ll visit Officer Chen soon.”

***

Su Li hung up, her face heavy with worry.

“What happened?” Lu Yuan asked cautiously, setting aside the gifts.

“The Transformation Crystal was stolen. The escorting officer was seriously injured.” Su Li took a deep breath, locking eyes with Lu Yuan with unprecedented seriousness. “From now on, you’re on 24-hour standby at home.”

Lu Yuan opened her mouth to protest but was cut off by Su Li raising her hand.

“This is an order. Stay put and don’t get involved.”

“For safety, I’ll take you home now.”

“…Okay.” Lu Yuan relented.

They hurriedly left the school hall.

Outside, it had started to rain—unnoticed until now—and the downpour was growing heavier.

Su Li opened a black umbrella and motioned for Lu Yuan to come closer.

The umbrella was small, forcing Lu Yuan to press against Su Li’s shoulder.

She almost curled into Su Li’s embrace, close enough to smell the faint scent from Su Li’s body.

“So… was it Rose?” Lu Yuan curled up in Su Li’s arms, whispering.

“Very unlikely.” Su Li’s voice mixed with the sound of rain, a bit muffled. “It’s good that it’s not Rose, but the bigger problem is, we have no idea who this new opponent is.”

Raindrops gathered into small puddles on the ground, reflecting their hurried silhouettes.

Passing a convenience store, Su Li suddenly stopped.

“Wait here for a moment.”

She handed the umbrella handle to Lu Yuan.

A few minutes later, Su Li returned with two cans of hot coffee, handing one to Lu Yuan. “Drink up. Things might get busy from here on.”

Lu Yuan took the coffee; the warmth seeped through her palms.

She looked at Su Li’s rain-dampened hair and suddenly asked, “I thought you didn’t like coffee?”

Su Li paused while opening the can. “You like it, don’t you?”

She took a sip; the bitterness made her frown.

Lu Yuan stared thoughtfully at the coffee in her hands.

“Let’s go.” Su Li took back the umbrella. “It’s getting late; it won’t be safe.”