Chiyun would turn thirty in just one month. N
ot only was she about to completely leave the realm of girlhood, but she might also be leaving the realm of “Magical Girl.”
She had originally made an appointment with an artist to draw a birthday illustration for her, and a lot of activities had been prepared for the party.
But now, it seemed she could just send a message to the artist telling her not to rush the work—after all, it wouldn’t be needed anyway.
Still, it was fine.
Really, it was fine.
She pulled her feet up onto the chair, wrapped her arms around her knees, and pressed her forehead against them.
She felt it was time for her to rest.
Ever since she entered the live streaming business a few years ago, her income had skyrocketed.
The money she had saved up wasn’t just enough to spend recklessly—she could even buy a standalone luxury villa in the most expensive area of Haicheng and lie around all day.
Besides, streaming was both demanding and exhausting.
Being a Magical Girl meant working year-round with no breaks.
Even if she wasn’t leaving in a glorious way, it would still be nice to take a break.
It was still afternoon, but Chiyun felt wave after wave of fatigue.
She lay down on the bed and closed her eyes.
She slept dreamlessly.
When she woke up, the window was already dark.
Suddenly feeling hungry, she didn’t bother changing her shoes and just walked out the door in her slippers.
The sound-activated light in the hallway slowly flickered on.
The evening breeze poured in through the window at the end of the corridor, carrying a hint of summer warmth—quite pleasant, actually.
When she was a Magical Girl, she rarely went out at this hour.
If she had to recall a memory of strolling out in a tank top and slippers like this, she’d have to go back to her university days.
A long row of shops lined the street below, and the most bustling one was the barbecue stall.
The smell of charcoal mingled with the aroma of cumin, carried by the evening breeze to Chiyun’s nose, drawing her toward it involuntarily.
She slowly walked into the shop and stood in front of the price list.
She mentally decided what she wanted to eat, then turned to look at the owner.
The owner was busy, sweating profusely, holding a handful of skewers in each hand and flipping them over the charcoal fire—clearly very focused on the grilling.
“Um… excuse me.”
The owner brushed oil onto the skewers in his hand, the oil sizzling on the charcoal, completely drowning out her voice.
“Excuse me,” Chiyun raised her voice a little.
The owner was sprinkling cumin, the granules crackling as they hit the charcoal, again drowning out her voice.
Chiyun’s mouth opened a few times.
She thought about raising her voice even more, but she looked at the customers sitting around in groups, chatting and laughing.
Then she looked at herself standing there alone, completely out of place in the lively night market.
Somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to raise her voice again.
Her hunger was sated by this awkward embarrassment.
For a moment, she wasn’t that hungry anymore…
Forget it.
She didn’t really want to eat anyway.
She’d just go home.
She turned around gloomily, ready to leave.
“Chiyun, what are you doing here?”
She was startled and instinctively looked down at herself.
She hadn’t transformed at all, so how was she recognized?
Turning her head, she saw the person who had called her sitting at a folding table outside the barbecue stall.
The person was propping her chin on one hand, grinning and waving at Chiyun.
She had short pink hair, and a oversized jacket covered the nurse’s uniform underneath.
Several plates of neatly arranged grilled items were already set on the small table, along with a few cans of beer that had already been drunk.
“Zhi Jin, how come you’re here too?”
Chiyun asked in surprise.
She never expected to run into her at the barbecue stall downstairs from her apartment.
“I’m here to eat skewers, of course. This barbecue place is really good.”
As Zhi Jin spoke, she picked up a skewer of pork belly and waved it at Chiyun, as if using food to lure a poor stray cat.
“So why did you come here all gloomily and then leave just as gloomily?”
“I… I’m on a diet. I was hesitating whether to eat or not.”
Chiyun certainly wasn’t going to admit that she had a social anxiety episode and was slinking away.
“Then go on a diet tomorrow. Eat barbecue with me today.”
Zhi Jin reached out and grabbed Chiyun’s wrist, pulling her over and pushing her into the chair across the table.
Chiyun hesitated for a moment, but didn’t resist much.
“Chiyun, long time no see. You’re a big star now. I never thought I’d run into you in a place like this…”
As Zhi Jin spoke, she picked up a new skewer from the plate, her fingers resting on the edge of the plate.
From an angle Chiyun didn’t notice, a red stream of magic silently seeped in.
Chiyun sighed.
“Don’t call me that name. I’ve already untransformed… And I’m not a big star anymore.”
“Oh? What happened?”
“Zhi Jin, I messed everything up. I’m no longer worthy of being a Magical Girl.”
Chiyun rested both hands on her knees, head bowed, staring at the ground.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Here, have some barbecue to cheer up.”
Zhi Jin handed her the skewer.
Chiyun took the skewer Zhi Jin offered.
She had no appetite but still took a bite.
Eating when hungry was indeed healing.
Even though her heart felt empty, filling her mouth made her feel fuller inside, and she didn’t feel so down anymore.
Seeing Chiyun eat the skewer she had given her, Zhi Jin smiled at her.
That magic was transmitting thoughts about Chiyun’s jealousy, and it also allowed Zhi Jin to see her thoughts.
“My life is a mess too. Lian Ge shut down my factory, and now I have nowhere to go.”
Chiyun looked up, stunned for a moment, still clutching the bamboo skewer in her hand.
“How could you also…?”
“It’s okay, sis. It’s not your fault, and it’s not my fault.”
“All of this is because of that Lian Ge, right? If it weren’t for her, how would we have ended up in this position?”
Zhi Jin coaxed step by step.
“I know. She’s a junior, but her reputation far surpasses yours. As a Magical Girl, she targets you, another Magical Girl, at every turn.”
“She’s so popular, surrounded by so many people. And yet she has to come and steal the few friends you have. Look, even a little girl like Feng Ling is on her side now.”
“You’re very jealous of her, aren’t you?”
Zhi Jin’s next words were spoken at a volume so low that no one could hear them except herself.
“Just like I’m very jealous of you.”
Chiyun, of course, couldn’t hear that part.
She was dizzy and dazed.
In a place she herself didn’t notice, her crimson Star Crystal was gradually being enveloped by a layer of black.
She kept nodding.
As the darkness slowly engulfed the Star Crystal, the confusion in her eyes gradually dissipated, as if she had made up her mind.
“My dear sister, what should I do?”
“Of course, just join me.”
Zhi Jin extended her hand.