The next morning, inside Lu Yuan’s room.
Lu Yuan curled up under the covers, only a pair of eyes visible.
I really miss 0721.
I really do.
She scanned her room with those eyes, trying to find the cameras that Su Li and Lin Wan must have hidden.
But there was no sign of any.
Well, of course—Su Li is a professional Magical Girl, there’s no way Lu Yuan could detect her cameras with just her naked eyes.
But why couldn’t she find the ones from Lin Wan, the rookie Magical Girl?
She twisted and turned in bed.
The quilt wrapped tightly around her like a caterpillar.
Even though she had just done 0721 the day before yesterday, Lu Yuan didn’t understand why her desires returned so quickly.
Could it be because she had become a girl? Girls don’t have refractory periods, do they…
Ugh, forget it, just bear with it.
Lu Yuan frowned and buried herself deeper into the blanket.
As long as she could fall asleep, she wouldn’t have to worry about 0721 anymore…
***
“Ring ring ring…”
The piercing phone ringtone jerked Lu Yuan out of her sleep. Groggy, she reached out to grab her phone, but ended up tumbling off the bed with a thud.
“Ow, ow, ow…” She rubbed her bumped head, squinting at the screen.
Su Li?
Calling so early?
Her first thought was that Su Li must have found out about her wanting to 0721, but then she thought, it was just in her head—how could Su Li possibly know?
Is this what they call the aftereffects of being spied on?
Flustered, she hurriedly answered, “Hello? Su Li?”
“Awake?” Su Li’s voice was gentle, but there was a loud background noise, like a sports car engine roaring.
“Uh… yeah, awake!” Lu Yuan forced herself to perk up, ruffling her messy hair. “What’s up?”
“I tracked an abnormal source of magical energy, currently pursuing it, can’t leave,” Su Li said briefly. The sounds of horns and brakes occasionally came through the call. “It seems to be Rose.”
“Rose?!” The moment Lu Yuan heard that name, she was wide awake. “I’m coming to help you right now.”
She jumped out of bed, grabbed a skirt and slipped it on with one hand.
“Don’t come,” Su Li said.
“Huh?”
“If you get caught again, it’ll only create more work for me,” Su Li explained. “Officer Chen Xin is being discharged today. Go pick her up and help her with the follow-up work at the police station.”
“Huh? Me?” Lu Yuan was caught off guard. “She’s recovering so fast? But I don’t know Officer Chen, and the police station…”
“I arranged for some healer-type Magical Girls to treat her, that’s why she can leave so quickly. It’s a debt we owe her,” Su Li cut her off. “I’ve already sent her info to your phone. Chen Xin knows you’ll come, so don’t keep her waiting.”
“Wait, Su Li—” Lu Yuan wanted to say more.
“Beep—”
The call ended.
Lu Yuan sat dazed, staring at the dark screen. After a moment, she sighed, “Su Li’s really as decisive as ever. When will she let me finish speaking…”
She grabbed a jacket and threw it on haphazardly. Her hair was still messy; she just tied it up in a rough ponytail. Walking toward the door, she glanced down at the info Su Li had sent about Officer Chen Xin.
She had taught herself how to tie a ponytail from online tutorials, so it looked a bit messy, but Lu Yuan didn’t really care.
“Thirty years old, has handled Magical Girl-related cases for five years, hardworking and diligent, colleagues say she’s a very honest person…”
Officer Chen Xin seemed like a pretty decent person.
***
As Lu Yuan was muttering this to herself, she suddenly bumped into something soft and fell backwards onto the floor.
“Ah!” A familiar voice rang from above.
Lu Yuan looked up sharply. Lin Wan was standing in her doorway, clutching her chest with a blush, holding an exquisite bento box.
“L-Lin Wan?!” Lu Yuan stammered as she scooted backward. “What are you doing here?”
Seeing Lin Wan’s flushed cheeks, Lu Yuan realized what she had just bumped into.
“S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to,” Lu Yuan raised both hands apologetically.
Lin Wan shook her head while looking at the apologizing Lu Yuan.
“It’s okay. If it’s you, it’s fine,” she said.
Then, as if collecting herself, Lin Wan spoke again.
“Good morning, Lu Yuan.” Tilting her head, she handed over a packed sandwich. “I just happened to pass by and thought you might not have had breakfast, so I brought you something to eat.”
Breakfast…?
Lu Yuan didn’t remember the last time she had eaten breakfast. Staring at the sandwich that looked absolutely delicious, she was a little dazed.
Wow, another delicious thing. Am I being treated like a little pet now?
She reflexively reached out to take the sandwich but stopped her hand mid-air.
Wait… Lu Yuan glanced suspiciously at her watch. It was only 6:30 a.m. “Just happened to pass by” my house at this time?
“Uh, thanks, but I have a mission now…” Lu Yuan tried to walk past Lin Wan, but Lin Wan suddenly stepped closer, deliberately blocking her way.
“I know~” Lin Wan poked Lu Yuan’s cheek with her fingertip. “Captain Su Li asked me to come with you.”
“Huh?” Lu Yuan’s eyes widened. “When did she say that…”
“Just sent the message~” Lin Wan waved her phone, which indeed showed Su Li’s chat screen. “We’re teammates, Lu Yuan. You can’t ditch me and go alone. What if things go wrong?”
“I won’t mess up…” Lu Yuan whispered a protest.
“Skipping breakfast is messing up your own body!” Lin Wan shoved the sandwich into Lu Yuan’s hand without giving her a choice. “Eat it while it’s warm!”
Lu Yuan reluctantly opened the transparent box containing the sandwich. The aroma immediately filled the air.
She took a bite, her eyes automatically squinting.
Damn, this is so good. I’m really going to end up as Lin Wan’s little pet…
Damn it! I’m not going to become Lin Wan’s little pet just because of some food!
As she thought this, Lu Yuan finally noticed Lin Wan looked especially pretty today. Her hair was carefully styled, making her look even cuter than usual.
“You…” Lu Yuan suddenly had a bad feeling. “You didn’t get up early just to prepare this, did you?”
Lin Wan smiled without answering and took Lu Yuan’s hand. “Let’s go. If we don’t hurry, Officer Chen will get impatient.”
Sunlight streamed through the corridor window, shining on their intertwined hands. Lu Yuan looked at Lin Wan’s profile and suddenly realized she had been thoroughly arranged once again.
***
Half an hour later.
Lu Yuan stood at Room 707’s door, still holding the unfinished sandwich in her mouth and a cup of convenience store coffee in her hand.
Lin Wan stood beside her, wearing a knowing, almost auntie-like smile.
Lu Yuan lowered her eyes to the photo on her phone again to make sure she wasn’t mistaken.
[Chen Xin, Special Agent of Tongmen Police Station, 35 years old, responsible for Magical Girl-related cases.]
The woman in the photo wore a serious expression, a small tear mole at the corner of her eye.
She must be the officer Lu Yuan had seen yesterday at Tongmen Middle School…
Lu Yuan took a deep breath, steadied herself, and pushed open the hospital room door.
Chen Xin had already changed into her police uniform, organizing some files. She still had a bandage on her temple and her right leg was wrapped in gauze, but her eyes were sharp.
“You’re… Lu Yuan?” Chen Xin looked her over.
“Yes! Su Li told me to pick you up!” Lu Yuan stood straight like a student called on by a teacher.
Chen Xin chuckled lightly, closing the folder. “No need to be so nervous. I’m not going to eat you. Let’s go, I’ll explain everything on the way.”
“Oh, okay.”
Lu Yuan hurried forward to help carry her bag, but as she bent down, Chen Xin suddenly reached out and gently pinched her cheek.
“You’re definitely cuter in person than on TV,” she laughed softly.
Lu Yuan’s mind went blank.
Did Chen Xin just touch my face?
Definitely!
No, why do all the girls around me want to eat me?!
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