Traveling all the way from the city center back home — first taking the subway and then walking the rest of the way — Yang Mo’s recently recovered physical strength was once again depleted.
After opening the front door, she immediately collapsed onto the sofa.
“Finally, I can sit down…”
She let out a long sigh while staring at the ceiling.
It was unfortunate that both the time she and Lingling left and the time they returned coincided with the weekend subway rush hour. It was not until they were only three stations away from their destination that they finally managed to find seats.
Yang Xia, on the other hand, just stood at the entrance without even changing her shoes.
With one hand on her hip, she looked at Yang Mo, who was practically turning into a puddle of slime, and said, “I’m going to buy groceries now. You two stay and watch the house.”
After speaking, she shifted her gaze to Lingling.
“I still have some strength. Can’t I come along?”
“No, you should rest too.”
Yang Xia waved her hand at Lingling, decisively rejecting the proposal. Before Lingling could respond, she closed the door and left.
‘That could work,’ Lingling thought.
After all, she was not comfortable leaving Yang Mo in the house alone. Yang Mo was currently exhausted; if an enemy were to attack, all their previous efforts would be for naught.
So, she tossed the doll in her hand onto the table, sat down next to Yang Mo, and turned on the television.
Normally, Yang Mo would have been bossily pointing out which channel she wanted to watch, but now she said nothing and just stared quietly at the screen. It seemed her strength had truly not recovered yet.
Lingling flipped the channel to the movie station according to her own preference.
As she continuously pressed the forward button, a news program suddenly caught her attention.
On the screen, a polished female host was speaking to the camera. Behind her was a scene Lingling was very familiar with.
The plaza, the Clock Tower, and that foolish Wishing Fountain. The only difference from before was that everything had been completely restored by Repair Magic.
Lingling and the others had only just returned from there.
“This afternoon, a fierce battle broke out between Magical Girls and a Badma in the Commercial Street. It is said that a Magical Girl who has never appeared before showed up. Let us interview an eyewitness on the scene!”
Following the host’s introduction, the camera panned to a young man who had been waiting nearby. He wore round-rimmed glasses and looked quite scholarly.
The host first asked him about the battle. The man described how the fight began with great animation. When he mentioned the Magical Girls falling into a difficult situation, his expression darkened, as if he were personally feeling their pain. Finally, when he reached the part where they turned the tide and won, he not only regained his spirits but was so excited that he raised one fist to emphasize his explanation.
Lingling felt a sense of familiarity as she watched his series of shifting expressions.
‘That is exactly the reaction I used to have after watching anime…’
While she was immersed in her memories, the host’s next question pulled her back to reality.
“Do you still remember any of the characteristics of that mysterious Magical Girl?”
Hearing this question, Lingling stopped breathing for a moment and waited anxiously for the man’s answer. Because the commotion she and Number Two had caused was so large, she felt insecure about the effectiveness of her Stealth Magic.
In the end, the man’s answer was: “I only remember she was holding a pocket watch and attacked with a whip. Other than that…”
Hearing this, Lingling immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
The man scratched the back of his head and explained with some embarrassment, “It’s not that I wasn’t looking carefully. It was actually quite strange. No matter how I looked, I could only sense a silhouette there. I guess it was her magic?”
“What an incredible Magical Girl. However, just like the other Magical Girls, she saved many people from the Badma. Is there anything you would like to say to her?”
“Of course, I want to say thank you to—”
The man with glasses was just about to continue with a smile when Lingling switched the channel.
Yang Mo, who had been watching silently beside her, finally could not help but sit up and complain.
“Lingling… why did you change the channel at a time like that?”
“Because the part I cared about is over.”
“That person wanted to say thank you to you, didn’t he? Are you really not going to hear him out?”
“Knowing that was his intention is enough.”
After answering, Lingling continued to press the forward button on the remote control.
In reality, it was not that she did not care, but rather that she felt she had no right to hear it.
‘At that time, I never even thought about protecting others. And even for the person I did want to protect, I was simply acting on my own whims.’
Beside her, Yang Mo muttered in a low voice, “But I also…”
Yang Mo’s gaze lowered, and she ultimately did not speak the rest of the words. Lingling did not press her further, and she refocused her attention on the television.
After a while, Yang Xia returned carrying a large bag of groceries.
“We’re having fish today,” she announced casually as she walked over to Lingling and Yang Mo.
Seeing Yang Mo about to get up to help prep the ingredients, she added, “You two keep waiting. I’ll do it myself.”
“Then I’ll gladly accept your hospitality.”
Just as Yang Mo was about to sit back down with a beaming smile, Lingling suddenly interjected, “Wait, let me help you today.”
“No need.”
“Let me show you a few tricks.”
Seeing Lingling’s confident expression, Yang Xia had no choice but to say, “Fine, fine… let’s see what kind of tricks you have.”
“Let me see too!”
Hearing their conversation, Yang Mo also curiously leaned over. After the potatoes were peeled, Lingling’s performance officially began.
‘Watch closely. I am going to slice them now.’
“What’s so great about that…?”
Yang Xia looked suspicious. She noticed that although Lingling said she was going to slice the potatoes, she made no move toward the kitchen knife.
Instead, a Silver Pocket Watch appeared in her hand at some point.
“Potatoes, do not move.”
“Kitchen knife, slice by yourselves.”
Lingling issued the order while pointing toward the potatoes. In the next second, the kitchen knife actually began to move on its own through the air.
*Chop chop chop.*
Not only that, the movements were fast and precise. The potatoes were quickly sliced into translucent, thin pieces.
Both Yang Mo and Yang Xia were stunned, their mouths hanging open in surprise.
“Is this your magic?” Yang Xia asked in an incredulous tone, pointing at the sliced potatoes on the cutting board.
Lingling did not speak; she simply crossed her arms and nodded.
Then, Yang Xia gave the same evaluation of Lingling’s magic that Yang Mo once had.
“Your magic is basically at the level of a cheat code…”
“I agree…” Yang Mo chimed in.
In this way, with the assistance of Absolute Command, the meal was completed more easily than ever before. The main dish was Sour Cabbage Fish, which included the potato slices they had just cut as well as glass noodles. The other two dishes were sautéed rape tips and Cold Houttuynia Cordata.
Yang Xia’s cooking was as good as ever. The broth of the Sour Cabbage Fish was spicy and fresh, and the fish slices were tender and flavorful. However, that dish of Cold Houttuynia Cordata made Lingling suffer a bit.
“What is this flavor… Is it bitter, or…?”
She stopped her chopsticks, desperately searching her mind for an adjective to describe it.
Yang Mo and Yang Xia looked at her and shared a smile.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Lingling have an issue with food.”
“Yeah, but the difficulty level of this one is indeed too high.”
Fortunately, the other dishes were enough for Lingling, and she eventually enjoyed a pleasant meal.
When it was time to sleep, Yang Xia intended to sleep on the sofa, but Yang Mo grabbed her arm to stop her.
“My bed is big enough for three people if we squeeze together.”
“But…”
Yang Xia cast a pleading look toward Lingling, as if to say: ‘You probably wouldn’t like this either, right?’
But Lingling felt as if this scene had happened to her before, so she chose to stand by and watch. Ultimately, Yang Xia was taken to Yang Mo’s room.
The three of them were arranged on the bed from left to right: Lingling, Yang Xia, and Yang Mo.
Yang Xia stared at the ceiling and let out a sigh. “It really feels like I’ve gained another younger sister…”
Yang Mo giggled silently beside her, while Lingling was already too tired to bother correcting that statement.
Although sharing a bed with other girls was still something Lingling could not fully adapt to, she grew sleepy before long.
Tomorrow is still the weekend. What should we do? Should I take Yang Mo out to play? Or should I find a way to help Yang Xia with her homework?
Thinking about these questions, she slowly closed her eyes.
Whether it was tomorrow or the day after, the daily life of the Puppet Girl would continue.