Chapter Fifty-Five: You’re So Soft
Luo Tianyou tried to be reasonable.
“Miss Evelynn, look, we haven’t established that kind of emotional foundation yet. If we suddenly kiss…”
“Then can’t we just start building it now? I can eat with you every day, go shopping with you, and train with you. We can kiss once we have that foundation!”
“That’s not the point…”
Evelynn suddenly said excitedly, “Or, I can kiss you! You don’t have to do anything, I’ll handle it. It won’t hurt.”
“Wait, wait, wait!”
Seeing Evelynn actually leaning in, Luo Tianyou hurriedly backed away, only to trip over the edge of the sofa and fall backward.
Evelynn grabbed her, but both of them ended up tumbling onto the sofa together.
Luo Tianyou was pinned beneath Evelynn, the woman’s fiery body heat feeling as if it were wrapping around her.
“Wife…”
Evelynn’s face suddenly turned red.
“You’re so soft…”
Luo Tianyou didn’t know what to say.
‘Should I say thank you?’
The office door was pushed open.
Moonlight Ruri stood at the door, staring expressionlessly at the two people layered on top of each other on the sofa.
She held a glass of water in her hand, and a thin layer of ice had already formed on its surface.
“Excuse me. Do you need me to help you cool down?”
Evelynn immediately sprang off Luo Tianyou, and Luo Tianyou hurriedly sat up as well, smoothing out her messy clothes and hair.
“Little Ruri, why did you come in?”
Xiaoyuan poked her head out from behind Moonlight Ruri, her expression subtle.
“To deliver water.”
Moonlight Ruri placed the frozen glass on the table.
“I was afraid certain people were getting lightheaded from the heat. It seems this bird isn’t just hot-headed; her behavior is quite heated too.”
Evelynn immediately bounced up from the sofa.
“It’s called being passionate! Do you understand that, you cold-blooded stray dog?”
“Passionate enough to pin someone to a sofa? That’s already grounds for calling the police.”
“That’s my wife! We’re just nurturing our feelings!”
“Forced nurturing. I suggest you go nurture them in a prison cell.”
“Alright, alright.”
Xiaoyuan waved her hand and sat down behind the desk.
“Let’s talk business. Evelynn, do you have any other tasks for this visit to City C besides finding Little Tianyou?”
“Not really. I came specifically for my wife. Oh, right—I’m also supposed to pass on a message from the Magical Girl Headquarters. They hope the City C Administration will strengthen the follow-up investigation into the Kyriel incident. Headquarters suspects there might still be residual Kyriel energy.”
Moonlight Ruri frowned slightly upon hearing this. “Headquarters already knows?”
“Obviously. An S-rank Beast descending is a massive event. Did you think you could keep it a secret?”
Evelynn rolled her eyes.
“However, they don’t plan to send anyone to intervene for now. They said that since you and Senior Xiaoyuan are here, you should be able to handle it.”
Xiaoyuan nodded.
“Well then, Miss Evelynn, what are your plans next?”
Evelynn raised her hand high.
“I want to live with my wife!”
“No,” Moonlight Ruri refused instantly.
“I wasn’t asking you! Wife, I can just sleep on the sofa, really!”
Luo Tianyou shook her head.
“I’m currently living in an apartment arranged by the Administration. Huayu has one room and I have the other. There’s no space.”
Evelynn thought for a moment.
“I can sleep on the floor!”
“The floor is very hard.”
“I’m not afraid of hardship or exhaustion!”
Xiaoyuan spoke up at the right time.
“The Administration has a dedicated Guesthouse. Evelynn can stay there for the time being. It’s very close to Little Tianyou’s apartment—only a five-minute walk. Plus, the Guesthouse has a hot spring bath. You should like that.”
“A hot spring!”
Evelynn immediately got excited.
“Wife, let’s go soak in the hot spring together! I can scrub your back!”
Luo Tianyou replied, “…No, that won’t be necessary.”
“Why? It’s perfectly normal for girls to bathe together!”
Evelynn asked, puzzled.
She suddenly leaned in and lowered her voice.
“Wife, are you shy? It’s fine. I have a great figure; I won’t make you feel inferior.”
‘It’s not a matter of feeling inferior!’
‘It’s a matter of the fact that we absolutely cannot bathe together!’
Moonlight Ruri sneered from the side.
“She’s not shy. She’s just afraid you’ll boil the spring water, you stupid roast chicken.”
“You!”
Xiaoyuan smoothed things over again.
“We’ll talk about the hot spring later. Evelynn, go to the Guesthouse and check in first. Lin Weiwei will take you there.”
She pressed the intercom on her desk.
Lin Weiwei pushed the door open and entered.
Seeing the subtle atmosphere in the office, she wisely chose not to ask questions.
She simply gave Evelynn a polite smile.
“Lady Seraph, please follow me.”
Evelynn stood up reluctantly.
“Wife, I’ll come find you for dinner later. I know a dessert chain that’s super delicious.”
After saying that, she finally followed Lin Weiwei out.
Luo Tianyou let out a long sigh of relief and sat back on the sofa.
She felt exhausted.
Moonlight Ruri sat down beside her, her tone unreadable.
“Do you like that type?”
“Which type?”
Luo Tianyou asked blankly.
“The passionate, blunt type who calls you ‘wife’ at every turn.”
“I don’t. She’s too intense. I can’t handle it.”
The corners of Moonlight Ruri’s mouth curled up slightly, but she quickly suppressed the smile.
“Still, she doesn’t seem like a bad person. She’s just a bit overly enthusiastic.”
“Hmph. It’s an act. No S-rank Magical Girl is simple. She definitely has an ulterior motive.”
“What motive? What is there to gain from me?”
Moonlight Ruri’s expression became serious.
“Your power, your identity, or… you personally. I’m serious. You are Flora’s child, and there won’t be a shortage of people coveting you. Even though Evelynn is a birdbrain, she couldn’t have become an S-rank if she were a fool.”
Luo Tianyou hesitated for a few seconds.
“Then what about you?”
“…I’m different. My promise was to be your dog. She wants you as a person; she wants to trick your body.”
Moonlight Ruri’s cheeks turned slightly red, which was a rare sight.
“Why do I feel like you’ve changed?” Luo Tianyou asked curiously.
“…It must be an illusion.”
Moonlight Ruri turned her head away slightly.
“Little Ruri, I have some things to ask you. Little Tianyou, you and Little Huayu can go take care of your own business first. If anything comes up, I’ll have Weiwei find you,” Xiaoyuan said.
“Okay.”
Luo Tianyou pulled Li Huayu away to leave.
She still had to take Huayu to turn herself in.
Only Moonlight Ruri and Xiaoyuan remained in the room.
Once Luo Tianyou left, Moonlight Ruri leaned back against the sofa, her expression becoming much more casual.
“Senior Xiaoyuan, what did you want to say?”
“Little Ruri, the reason I kept you here alone was to remind you not to be too impulsive toward Evelynn.”
“Impulsive? That stupid roast chicken starts calling her ‘wife’ the moment she arrives. How can I not be on guard?”
“But she is an S-rank Magical Girl after all, and one of Flora’s former promises. Tianyou also needs to expand her social circle.”
Moonlight Ruri sneered.
“Social circle? She has hidden intentions! Which S-rank Magical Girl is simple? She just wants to trick Luo Tianyou’s body!”
Xiaoyuan shook her head.
“Don’t always think so poorly of people’s hearts. I’ll say it again: you aren’t as strong as Evelynn. Don’t get into a conflict with her.”
“What did you say? I’m not as strong as her?”
Moonlight Ruri stood up immediately, looking at Xiaoyuan in disbelief.
“I’m not even afraid of you, so why would I be weaker than her? I respect you only because I consider you a senior and I accept your authority! I’m telling you, I’m not afraid!”
“Little Ruri…”
“I’m telling you, Senior Xiaoyuan, I’m definitely going to fight that bird for her! Luo Tianyou is mine!!”
Moonlight Ruri stormed out in a huff.
After a long moment, Xiaoyuan burst out laughing and elegantly poured herself a cup of tea.
“Oh dear, some people are so easy to rile up. And here I thought I’d have to use a few more lines to trick her.”
“A girl as good as Little Tianyou definitely needs to be fought over.”
***
Inside the Detection Building.
The young female doctor stood beside the middle-aged female doctor from earlier, staring at the detailed data on the computer screen with a deep frown.
On the screen, Luo Tianyou’s scan data was magnified.
Within those chaotic numerical curves, a certain pattern could be faintly discerned.
It wasn’t simple developmental delay.
It was a certain higher level of magic power forcibly maintaining a delicate balance.
The middle-aged doctor picked up the phone and dialed an internal number.
A name tag hanging on her chest read “Li Youhong.”
“Hello, Archives Department? This is Doctor Li from the Detection Center. I want to access a historical file… from about thirty years ago, regarding the detailed physical examination records of the Starlight Magical Girl.”
“What? Insufficient clearance?”
Li Youhong froze for a moment, then lowered her voice.
“Then apply for special access clearance using my researcher ID… Still insufficient?? It requires the collective decision of at least five S-rank Magical Girls to even qualify for the application?? You must be joking!”
Hanging up the phone, Li Youhong frowned and looked back at the screen.
Those chaotic data points seemed to be whispering a secret that had been hidden for a very long time.
The young doctor by her side had already expected this.
“Teacher, it’s not that simple. It’s better to give up. She was brought here by at least two S-ranks, Xiaoyuan and Yuehua. Besides, the Starlight Magical Girl is an extremely taboo existence. Most of the data has been deleted. Nothing involving that subject is ever simple.”
“Li Wenya, we are researchers. we must maintain an inquiring mind at all times. Don’t you find this situation suspicious?”
“Teacher, you are already an S-rank researcher, yet even you can’t access the old archives. Even if you’re suspicious, what can you do?”
“…In half a month, I will be serving as a tester for the Magical Girl selection. I’ll try to collect some samples then.”
“Teacher…”
“Alright, don’t ask any more questions. Just cooperate with me when the time comes.”
Li Youhong waved her hand, dismissing the young doctor named Li Wenya, while she continued to stare at Luo Tianyou’s test data.
Li Wenya sighed.
She knew her master would do this.
She shook her head and left the room.
The longer Li Youhong looked, the more she was rendered speechless by shock.
‘Is this magic data truly something a human can possess?’
‘The concentration of magic… is even more terrifying than those monsters…’