“Shui Hua.”
Liu Jin’s voice sounded beside Shui Hua.
“Liu Jin-senpai, what’s up?”
Shui Hua packed up her things and was just about to leave work when she realized Liu Jin had somehow appeared at her side.
“Shall we go back to school together?”
“No, I still have other things to do…”
The moment the words left her mouth, Shui Hua realized something was wrong.
It was Lin Ling’s identity that was known as a university student, while Liu Jin was unaware of this.
The proper response should have been, “Eh, senpai, you go to the same school as me?”
She watched Liu Jin’s reaction nervously, but fortunately, he only nodded lightly.
“Alright, then.”
Liu Jin didn’t seem interested in probing further and turned to leave the office.
Shui Hua let out a sigh of relief, grateful she had dodged a bullet.
Carefully avoiding any route Liu Jin might take, Shui Hua leaped into the sky, flying towards the Hospital.
Today was Anpelin’s discharge day; she still needed to help her with the paperwork and all, so it was another busy day ahead.
Shui Hua made her way to Anpelin’s hospital room with practiced ease, only to be surprised to find the place crowded with Reporters.
Cameras of all shapes and sizes were trained on the bed, and a male Reporter wearing glasses was holding a microphone out to Anpelin.
“‘Red Moon’, could you tell us more about how you defeated the Disseminator at that time?”
Anpelin haughtily lifted her chin, her silver-white hair spreading across the bed.
“Naturally, I used my invincible Sulfur Flame. She tried to approach using Time Stop, so I set my Sulfur Flame ablaze all around me. Then I used Sulfur Fire Missile to cut off her movement, and finally, I finished her off easily with Whispering Vortex.”
“But what we saw was the Disseminator with her hands bound by strange Bone Shackles, unable to move. Are you omitting some details?”
“Are Humanity nowadays all so ignorant?”
Anpelin snorted coldly.
“Anyone touched by my Sulfur Flame will be afflicted with the Enfeebling Witch Curse. Her appearance, naturally, is the result of my Curse.”
“I see!”
The Reporter exclaimed in sudden understanding.
“I didn’t expect you, as a Hero Trainee, to possess such powerful abilities. Do you have any tips for getting stronger you could share?”
“I am the noble Blood Clan Sixth Princess—why would I need to deliberately become stronger?”
“Then, is there anything you’d like to say to our viewers?”
“Humanity, submit to me. Every morning, you must serve me hot, steaming buns just like that so-called boyfriend.”
“Our ‘Red Moon’ truly has… quite the personality…”
The Reporter wiped his sweat and awkwardly ended the interview.
***
After all the Reporters had left, Shui Hua quietly slipped into the hospital room.
She sat down on the chair beside the bed and gently held Anpelin’s hand.
“Do you still remember me like this?”
Anpelin’s haughty gaze instantly softened.
She squeezed Shui Hua’s hand, her fingertips gently caressing the back of her hand.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you like this.”
“Peilin, are you clear-headed now?”
“Mm.”
“I’ve always… wanted to apologize to you.”
Shui Hua lowered her head, her voice a little heavy.
“It’s because I realized things too late that I couldn’t stop you from being transformed like this.”
“It’s fine, at least I still remember you.”
Anpelin gave her familiar gentle smile.
“Have you eaten dinner?”
“Not yet.”
Anpelin shook her head.
“Then let me feed you.”
Shui Hua pointed to a box of wontons on her lap.
“I can eat on my own, you know. I’m not helpless.”
Anpelin puffed up her cheeks.
“But didn’t you seem to enjoy being pampered just now?”
Shui Hua grinned, opening the wonton box she brought.
“Come on, let me feed you.”
She carefully scooped up a wonton, blew on it to cool it, tested the temperature with her lips, and finally brought it to Anpelin’s mouth:
“Come on, ah…”
“Ah-um.”
Anpelin obediently ate it.
The box of wontons was soon empty.
Shui Hua thoughtfully wiped her mouth clean, then couldn’t help but ruffle her girlfriend’s soft silver hair.
Recently, she had always missed Anpelin’s lucid moments; it was rare to have such a warm moment together.
Looking at the adorable Anpelin, Shui Hua couldn’t resist wanting to flirt a little, asking expectantly,
“Peilin, can you call me that name? You know… that one.”
“Do I really have to say it here… It’s a little embarrassing…”
Anpelin lowered her head, blushing.
Shui Hua looked around, making sure they were alone in the room, and encouraged, “There’s no one else, go on, call me.”
“Mm…”
Anpelin took a deep breath, raised her flushed cheeks, and summoned her courage to say,
“Mother~”
Shui Hua’s expectant smile froze instantly.
She looked at Anpelin’s shy expression and realized her eyes had, at some point, changed from affectionate tenderness to a clear yet silly innocence.
“No, when did you switch back?”
All the atmosphere she’d carefully built up was shattered in an instant.
Shui Hua held Anpelin’s face with both hands, half-laughing, half-crying, “Come on, when did you change back?”
“Mother, what are you talking about? I’ve always been your good daughter.”
Anpelin tilted her head, all innocence.
Shui Hua was left helpless: Anpelin’s chuunibyou state, at least in front of Yu Hua, she still remembered he was her boyfriend; but in front of Shui Hua, she directly took her for her mother.
It left Shui Hua both exasperated and at her wit’s end.
“When it hits eight o’clock, you come with me. I have to show you who your mother really is!”
Shui Hua said, half-annoyed, half-amused.
After finishing the discharge procedures, Shui Hua took Anpelin for a stroll in the Hospital Garden, waiting until eight o’clock in the evening.
At last, she could undo her transformation and, dragging Anpelin to a deserted corner, she said,
“Watch carefully, I’m changing back.”
“Mm-hmm!”
Anpelin nodded excitedly.
A gentle blue glow flashed, and Shui Hua’s figure gradually transformed into Yu Hua.
With hands on hips, he said, “See clearly now? I’m your boyfriend, Yu Hua.”
Anpelin was momentarily stunned, then her cheeks flushed red and she shyly twisted her fingers.
“Mother even turned into a boy just to play at mother-daughter love with me… You really know how to play, Mother.”
“No, no, look more closely? Really look at me? Just a few days ago you still remembered what I looked like!”
Yu Hua cupped Anpelin’s face again, making her look straight at him.
Anpelin blinked her big eyes, scanning Yu Hua up and down.
As if something clicked, she turned away bashfully.
“This is what the human boyfriend looks like. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen him today at all. Mother turned into him… that’s just too sneaky!”
“Can’t I be your boyfriend? Can’t you see souls?”
Yu Hua shook Anpelin, trying to get her to see more clearly.
“But your soul hasn’t changed either; you’re still my mother.”
“Forget it, forget it, as long as you’re happy.”
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