Chapter 31

"That's none of your business, is it?"

Lin Xiaolu turned her face away, seeming to resist Lin Yun's inquiry; after a moment, she shifted her gaze back toward him: "Besides, if we're talking about being late, aren't you late too?"

"This time was just an accident," Lin Yun said, fastening his tie and picking up the briefcase beside him. "I came home past midnight because of work. I'm never like this at other times."

"Then my being late was an accident too."

Lin Xiaolu mumbled: "I got home late already, then had to practice… do homework, so I just slept too late."

Lin Yun stared at Lin Xiaolu; Lin Xiaolu glared back at him. The father and daughter locked eyes in an awkward silence for a long while—until the father finally gave in.

"Go back and comb your hair first."

Lin Yun sighed helplessly, grabbing his briefcase and turning toward the kitchen: "What do you want for breakfast? Instant noodles or bread? Or should I boil two eggs?"

"Huh? Breakfast?"

Lin Xiaolu raised an eyebrow, first startled, then puzzled: "Is it already this late?"

"I'll drive you later," Lin Yun said, taking off his suit jacket and draping it over the chair beside the table.

"I don't want you to. Just go yourself."

"What if you're late?"

"... So what if I am?" Lin Xiaolu sounded guilty but remained stubborn.

Does this kid actually plan to fly to school? Does she even realize how loud her magic feels when she flies—like fireworks going off?

Setting everything down on the chair, Lin Yun stared at his daughter for a moment, then shrugged expressionlessly:

"Fine. But first, go comb your hair. I'll boil two eggs."

"I already said no—"

Lin Xiaolu was about to refuse again, but suddenly realized something—her eyes widened, her grip on the doorframe tightened, and her voice softened: "Oh… I get it. I'll go do it, okay?"

Then she trudged reluctantly toward the bathroom.

From Lin Yun's perspective, Mo Ke suddenly flew out of the door and landed beside her ear, whispering softly twice. Lin Xiaolu's attitude instantly softened.

It seems Mo Ke knows better than she does, he thought.

His guess was correct—the truth was exactly that.

After stepping into the bathroom, Lin Xiaolu lowered her voice and glared at Mo Ke, who hovered nearby: "What did you just say? What do you mean, any frivolous girl can fly to school but I can't?"

After finishing her magical girl training last night, Lin Xiaolu's duties weren't over—she still had homework to finish.

Usually, this was something she handled alone. But since meeting Ye Yixia, a lazy figure had appeared beside her during homework time, often urging her to stop studying and go play games instead.

Ever since that day she claimed to run away from home and ended up spending the night at Lin Xiaolu's, Ye Yixia had been showing up regularly to mooch dinner. In her own words, it was because Aunt Liu, the hourly maid, cooked better food than her own family.

Judging by her attitude, if she weren't worried about giving Lin Xiaolu's parents a bad impression, she'd probably keep sleeping over too.

Although Lin Xiaolu disliked studying, she hated even more the idea of associating with what she considered a "frivolous girl." So the more Ye Yixia bothered her, the more determined she became to finish her homework. After finishing it, she even sulkily pulled out her untouched review problems to prepare for the upcoming final exams.

Leaving aside the outcome, she studied until past midnight—admirable dedication.

The result? Lin Xiaolu overslept this morning, coincidentally ran into Lin Yun, and now stood yawning in the bathroom, combing her hair.

"Why haven't you learned magic reception yet?"

Hearing Lin Xiaolu's slightly resentful question, Mo Ke's cat face twisted into a teasing grin: "Little Liang learned it in two days—some people still can't after two weeks!"

"Little Liang…"

Lin Xiaolu's fingers tightened unconsciously on the comb as she gave Mo Ke a peculiar look: "You two seem awfully close lately."

"Meow-ha-ha! Little Liang is gentle, adorable, and brilliant—we met too late!"

Mo Ke clutched its chest dramatically: "She even said I'm smart and reliable!"

"I feel like you've been completely swept away by her sweet talk," Lin Xiaolu said, half-lidded.

It was no wonder she thought that—Ye Yixia clearly adored Mo Ke's cute appearance, often hugging it like a pet and showering it with compliments to make it happy.

Although Lin Xiaolu had lived with Mo Ke longer, ever since that night when Mo Ke confessed under Senior Cuique's questioning that it had lied to her, it had received nothing but cold shoulders from Lin Xiaolu.

That missing affection was fully satisfied—and even exceeded—in Ye Yixia's company, so it was no surprise Mo Ke now spoke of nothing but "Little Liang."

"That's jealousy and prejudice! As a Sower, building a good relationship with your own Magical Girl is mandatory!"

Mo Ke shook its head to correct Lin Xiaolu, then boasted proudly: "Are you jealous, Little Lu? Do you feel threatened because Little Liang is so outstanding? Do you want me to come back to you?"

"Jealous of whom? Jealous of a clueless idiot spirit?"

Lin Xiaolu sneered, turning her gaze back to the mirror, watching the unruly strands of hair sticking up, her combing motion never stopping: "You talk about mandatory lessons for Sowers, but you never taught me basic Magical Girl knowledge—I had to rely on Senior Cuique in the end."

"I-I-diot spirit?"

Mo Ke shuddered, flew behind Lin Xiaolu, and swatted her hard with its paw: "I can't let you say something so cruel without reacting! I've told you plenty of things already—just not how Magical Girls train or fight!"

"Don't most Sowers know that?" Lin Xiaolu asked, glancing at it casually.

"Of course they do… uh, well, I do know… but my situation is special…" Mo Ke dodged the question.

"Because you're a fraud forced into the role?"

"Can't you just stop using such cruel words?"

"Then you're an illegal immigrant from the Magic Realm."

"That's even worse now!"

"You told me I was a genius when you made me a Magical Girl, and now you mock me every day for being stupid."

"Umm…"

Overwhelmed by Lin Xiaolu's heavy resentment, Mo Ke's tone softened. It admitted reluctantly: "Fine, fine, it's my fault. I shouldn't have said that. Don't be mad, okay?"

"A perverted spirit who rubs its face against girls' chests when they hug you."

"You're still saying that?!"

"A suspected embezzler on the run."

"That's pure slander! Little Lu is a math-failing, science-idiot!"

"What— a fairy trickster lying to little girls!"

"A stunted dwarf!"

Not far away, in the dining area, Lin Yun scooped boiled eggs out of the pot, used a slotted spoon to transfer them into cold water, shook his hand, then took out a glass and retrieved a carton of milk from the refrigerator. Carrying the prepared breakfast to the table, he couldn't help but turn his head toward the bathroom.

Hearing the muffled arguing coming from within, he raised his eyebrows in confusion:

"... What's going on?"