After shedding his Monster form, Lu Liang quietly went to lie down and rest for a while in an abandoned, unfinished building where no one passed by.
When he woke up, he brushed the dust off his clothes and returned to Commercial Street.
Seeing Commercial Street sealed off, with special agents dispatched by the Magical Girl Association and local Police Officers maintaining order on the streets, the scene was tense.
The local news and entertainment reporters swarmed the area like piranhas sensing blood, crowding the walkways, their microphones and cameras thrust like gun barrels into the faces of the involved Magical Girls.
Those inexperienced Apprentice Magical Girls had never seen such a scene before and stood frozen in fear. It was the Association’s cadre who stood in front of the reporters, wiping sweat from his cheek and gasping as he said:
“Citizens, please rest assured. We will catch that damned Monster as soon as possible and return a safe and secure living environment to all of you…”
A very typical official statement.
After watching for a while and confirming his identity had not been exposed, Lu Liang finally felt at ease and left.
He had truly had the worst luck today—not only were the dozens of Monster Insects he caught in the sewer handed over as tribute to Lin Deqing, but he also lost nearly ten thousand yuan in the fight against the Magical Girls.
He even caught the attention of the Magical Girl Association.
It was foreseeable that from now on, Lu Liang’s Monster transformations would encounter more dangers.
The only good news was that his identity as a Monster had not been exposed, so it wouldn’t affect his sister’s life.
Glancing at his bank card balance and staring at the long row of disappearing numbers, Lu Liang’s mood sank. After some thought, he transferred every last penny from his account to his sister Lu Xiaoling.
His reasoning was simple: since losing money during Monsterization was irreversible, why not transfer all his assets to Lu Xiaoling?
After all, Miracle Power would only deduct money from Lu Liang’s own funds.
As long as there was no money left in Lu Liang’s bank card, Miracle Power couldn’t deduct anything!
Lu Liang suddenly felt like a genius.
Without hesitation, he transferred the remaining twenty thousand yuan or so to Lu Xiaoling’s account.
To avoid causing her any unnecessary worry, Lu Liang sent a message to Lu Xiaoling’s QQ:
“Brother worked very hard today. The boss is very pleased and gave Brother a bonus.”
He never told her that he had quit his original job.
Lu Xiaoling still thought he was working in the Editor Department.
Otherwise, knowing that Lu Liang was working as a Cleaner, Lu Xiaoling’s temper would probably have made her refuse to attend Magical Girl High School just to prevent him from risking himself for money.
If it was presented as a bonus, the little girl might accept it, right?
Lu Liang thought it over and added one more sentence just to be safe:
“Xiaoling, don’t overthink it and don’t feel too much pressure. It’s really just a bonus.”
Perfect!
Lu Xiaoling always listened to him, and with that, she definitely wouldn’t ask too many questions.
Lu Liang put away his phone, and his previously heavy mood lightened a little.
Dusk was approaching as Lu Liang was about to head home when suddenly a certain figure flashed through his mind, causing him to freeze on the spot.
Hiss, how could he have forgotten her?
Lu Liang took a sharp breath.
Bai Wanqing. He had asked her to wait for him earlier. Could she still be waiting there?
It had been seven or eight hours since Lu Liang transformed into a Monster and escaped the scene. Normally, no one would wait that long for someone, but when he thought of Bai Wanqing’s naïve and silly expression, his heart became restless.
It wasn’t impossible!
Thinking this, Lu Liang sprinted toward a certain direction, gasping for breath, only stopping when he finally reached his destination.
Leaning against the wall, catching his breath, Lu Liang’s face darkened like storm clouds.
Before him, there was no one.
Bai Wanqing’s figure had vanished, along with the bag of Monster Insects she had been carrying.
Countless thoughts swirled through Lu Liang’s mind.
He had thought Bai Wanqing’s personality might make her foolishly wait for him.
But now, seeing her gone, that goodwill turned into boundless regret and despair.
Lu Liang’s emotions were complicated.
Had she simply gone home? Or had she gone to expose his Monster identity?
The battle with the Magical Girl today guaranteed a hefty bounty on his head from the Magical Girl Association. Would Bai Wanqing be tempted by the reward?
Suspicions arose one after another, making Lu Liang feel like he was walking on thin ice.
He clutched his chest, suddenly feeling tightness and discomfort, as if a small fireball was burning inside him, while his mind felt frozen in ice.
He was drenched in cold sweat.
Lu Liang couldn’t explain the feeling.
He had extended goodwill to Bai Wanqing out of her simple kindness.
But no matter how pure her previous behavior was, who could guarantee she wouldn’t expose him for her own benefit?
Maybe Lu Liang shouldn’t have risked the safety of his entire family by trusting Bai Wanqing.
They barely knew each other—how could he trust someone so easily?
Lu Liang couldn’t gamble. He simply couldn’t.
Maybe it wasn’t too late yet…
Black mist began to spread over Lu Liang’s body, slowly enveloping him. This was the prelude to his Monster transformation.
He had to find Bai Wanqing! Only then would he feel at ease!
Better late than never!
However, just as Lu Liang was about to transform again, a timid, frightened voice came from behind:
“You… you’re back.”
Hearing the familiar voice, Lu Liang’s transformation halted immediately, and the black mist dissipated with the wind.
Without expression, Lu Liang turned his head toward the corner.
There, Bai Wanqing stood trembling like a frightened fawn, her peach blossom eyes shimmering with tears, clearly scared.
“Where did you go just now?”
Lu Liang’s expression was complicated as he looked at Bai Wanqing.
She was holding two bags—one filled with Monster Insects, the other with fresh green vegetables and crops.
“I waited for you a long time. When you didn’t come and it started getting dark, I thought I’d go buy some vegetables first. I really didn’t know you’d come back now… I’m sorry, please don’t be mad, okay?”
Bai Wanqing spoke softly. Her current appearance truly resembled a soft, pitiful little rabbit.
“I’m not mad.”
That was a lie.
Lu Liang was actually very angry when Bai Wanqing wasn’t there, but seeing her like this, he simply couldn’t get angry.
Still, the anger lingered inside him, so he could only be angry at himself.
Sometimes, a person can’t even empathize with themselves for more than a second.
Lu Liang glanced at the vegetables in Bai Wanqing’s hands.
They were wilted and wrinkled, not looking very good. The only advantage was their cheapness.
“Are you going to cook this yourself?”
“Yes.”
Bai Wanqing’s small hand clenched the corner of the plastic bag tightly.
“Where are your parents?”
“They went to work and will come back very late. I’m sorry… can you only hit me and not my parents?”
Bai Wanqing’s grip tightened on the bag.
She could tell Lu Liang was in a bad mood.
“Hmph, do I look like a bad person to you?”
Lu Liang snorted coldly, the atmosphere awkward.
Suddenly, he understood why he couldn’t stay mad at Bai Wanqing.
In a way, Bai Wanqing and Lu Liang were the same kind of people.
Both poor. Both forced by life to do jobs not truly their own. Both deeply concerned for their families.
And those who care about their families would never let them fall into danger.
Exhaling softly, Lu Liang’s gaze toward Bai Wanqing was filled with guilt.
“Let’s go.”
He suddenly grabbed Bai Wanqing’s hand.
“No vegetables, no meat at all. I’ll take you to an all-you-can-eat hotpot.”
“No, no need…” Bai Wanqing jumped in fright, speaking timidly:
“I don’t have money.”
“I’ll pay.”
Lu Liang firmly hooked Bai Wanqing’s shoulder, pulling her close.
When his large hand held her slender shoulder, Bai Wanqing trembled once.
She seemed resigned but still tried to resist at the last moment:
“Then… I’ll pay for my own share.”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
Lu Liang gave her no chance to speak and roughly dragged her to a nearby hotpot restaurant.
Inside the hotpot restaurant.
Seeing the prices on the menu, Bai Wanqing was shocked.
The 50-yuan per person all-you-can-eat hotpot was nearly half her entire savings.
Several times she tried to stand and escape, but Lu Liang’s fierce glare stopped her every time.
Lu Liang looked at the bill and was also startled but thought this was the first time he’d invited a girl out, so he gritted his teeth and pretended to be a big spender:
“Do you want spicy?”
“Anything’s fine.”
Lu Liang ordered one mild broth and one spicy broth, then handed Bai Wanqing a plate to pick her food while he picked some supplements for himself.
The battle with the Magical Girls had drained much of Lu Liang’s energy, and he had been frightened again when he couldn’t see Bai Wanqing’s figure in the alley.
Now he still felt dizzy and chest tightness.
When Lu Liang returned with his chosen food, Bai Wanqing had also picked hers.
Looking at her plate, he saw instant noodles and some vegetables—cheap and not valuable.
Lu Liang laughed wryly:
“I said it’s on me. You don’t have to save money for me, and this is a buffet—you pay the same no matter how much you take.”
“Oh.” Realizing her true thoughts had been seen through, Bai Wanqing blushed deeply, lowered her head, and softly said:
“Then I’ll get some more.”
“Go ahead.”
After finishing the hotpot, Lu Liang went to pay the bill while Bai Wanqing took the opportunity to count the money in her pockets.
Five yuan, ten yuan, twenty yuan, a few fifty-cent coins, one-yuan coins—all neatly arranged by size.
She then picked out some nicer-looking bills and coins totaling fifty yuan, clasped them in her palm, and looked at Lu Liang expectantly.
When Lu Liang returned, Bai Wanqing carefully touched his hand, opened her palm, and placed the money in front of him.
Lu Liang glanced at the money and shook his head.
Seeing Lu Liang refuse, Bai Wanqing thought for a moment and gave him the bag of Monster Insects.
“This is for you.”
“These are what you caught yourself. I can’t accept this.”
Bai Wanqing stared blankly at Lu Liang, tears welling up, her chest heaving. Finally, she sadly pleaded:
“Then, can… can I think it over?”
“Think over what?”
Lu Liang panicked slightly. He didn’t know why Bai Wanqing suddenly wanted to cry when he hadn’t been hard on her at all.
Luckily, there weren’t many people in the hotpot restaurant, but even so, Bai Wanqing’s delicate and pretty face, combined with the tearful glimmer in her peach blossom eyes, immediately drew sympathetic gazes.
“Scumbag.”
Somewhere in the void, he seemed to hear a faint curse.
Feeling the eyes of everyone on him, Lu Liang gritted his teeth, grabbed Bai Wanqing’s hand, and led her outside. Only then did he ask:
“Think over what?”
“To… to be your girlfriend.”
Bai Wanqing’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.
Lu Liang was dumbfounded for a moment and then speechless.
This girl was a bit much—how did it suddenly come to talking about being his girlfriend?
“Why did you think I wanted you to be my girlfriend?”
“Because…” Bai Wanqing looked at Lu Liang weakly:
“You helped me today, took me out to eat, didn’t accept my money… and you didn’t want that (Monster material) either…”
Her voice grew quieter, but Lu Liang understood her meaning:
“So you just assumed I wanted you to be my girlfriend?”
Bai Wanqing lowered her head and nodded shyly.
After all, Lu Liang had been inexplicably good to her.
Bai Wanqing couldn’t figure out any other reason for his kindness.
Besides her body, she had nothing else worth anyone’s notice.
“I see.” Lu Liang raised his eyebrows and scrutinized Bai Wanqing again.
From her appearance, Bai Wanqing was indeed pretty, carrying the aura of a classical beauty at her age.
She said she was still in school—high school, the most passionate time of youth.
No doubt she had many admirers at school.
It was no surprise she had such thoughts.
Lu Liang shook his head and said:
“What silly kid thoughts. I invited you to eat only to thank you for not exposing me, not because of anything else. After this meal, we go our separate ways. Got it?”
“Oh.”
Bai Wanqing replied blankly.
“Let’s go.”
Lu Liang forced himself to regain strength and headed home.
He felt increasingly dizzy.
Days of intense exertion and lack of sleep had left his consciousness scattered.
All he wanted now was to go home and crash on his bed.
Watching Lu Liang walk away, Bai Wanqing stood there blankly, wondering why he called her a silly kid when they didn’t seem that far apart in age.
Remembering how much Lu Liang had helped her today, she picked up the bag full of Monster Insects and hurried after him.
Just as Lu Liang was thankful to Bai Wanqing, Bai Wanqing was equally grateful that he saved her life and helped her avoid the Magical Girls’ capture.
Determined, Bai Wanqing carried the heavy bag of Monster Insects and, no matter how fierce Lu Liang was, was set on making him accept it.
That way, she could at least repay a little of his kindness.
What she didn’t notice was that Lu Liang’s steps faltered as he walked away.
“Wait, please accept this…”
Bai Wanqing called out to Lu Liang, who stopped and turned his head.
He glanced gently at Bai Wanqing, then suddenly his body stiffened.
Before she could react, he collapsed uncontrollably into her arms.
A powerful wave of sleepiness crashed over Lu Liang’s fading consciousness, drowning it like a flood, and he quickly slipped into a deep sleep…
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