Chapter 16 : With That Little Fabric, Who Wouldn’t Be Flustered?

Girls’ Changing Room—

“La la la la~ Time to change~!”

Luo Zining grabbed the collar of Luo You’s shirt and threw her out the door.

“Why do you keep strutting in here like you belong?!”

“Well, you’ve got a point.”

Luo You bounced twice on the floor like a basketball before muttering, annoyed, “Then where am I supposed to change? Over there?”

She pointed toward the men’s changing room across the hall.

“Tch.”

Luo Zining clicked her tongue.

If her adorable yet borderline indecent dad went in there, who knows what kind of forbidden chaos might unfold?

Zhou Xi glanced around, looking left, then right.

In the end, unable to make sense of it all, she finally asked, “If she’s not changing here, then where is she changing?”

Damn it! I totally forgot Senior Zhou Xi was still here!

Cold sweat broke out on Luo Zining’s forehead.

How the hell was she supposed to explain this?

“Uh, this, um…”

“What?”

Zhou Xi narrowed her eyes, gaze drifting toward Luo You with growing suspicion.

She was starting to question whether something fishy was going on with her.

Cross-dressing?

A trap?

“A-actually, she’s… she’s this!”

Luo Zining pulled Zhou Xi closer, raised her right index finger straight up—then slowly bent it into a curling “6”.

Ohhhh~

Zhou Xi instantly got the hint.

“But isn’t she your dad’s girlfriend?”

“Uh! S-she has ulterior motives! She’s only with my dad to get close to—”

“Hey!”

Just as her daughter was about to completely destroy her reputation in two sentences, Luo You smacked her firmly on the butt.

“Wah!”

Luo Zining leapt straight into Zhou Xi’s arms, then glared viciously back at her.

“What are you staring at?!”

Luo You glared right back.

Then she turned to Zhou Xi and said, “It’s probably because I like teasing her while she showers. Now she’s always on guard.”

“Is that true?”

“…Yeah.” Luo Zining nodded stiffly.

A shaky excuse, but still better than the one she’d tried to come up with herself.

“That’s not something you should joke about,” Zhou Xi frowned, gently scolding her junior.

“Especially not with your guardian.”

“Mm… I’m sorry…”

Just like that, the issue seemed to pass. Or—no! That’s not how this should be!

Luo Zining suddenly shot a sharp glare at Luo You.

You little minx!

You’re obviously a woman, aren’t you?

At least right now!

Unless you’re about to tell me you like men!

But with Zhou Xi still present, she bit back the retort and leaned in to whisper sharply into Luo You’s ear, “Once you’re inside, keep your eyes to yourself.”

“Fine, fine. I won’t look, okay?”

Luo You gave an exaggerated sigh, then flashed a devastatingly flirtatious smile.

“Besides, do you really think anyone in there could possibly be prettier than me?”

Ugh—!

C-cute…

Seeing Luo Zining rendered completely speechless made Luo You’s mood soar.

Her looks were clearly so overwhelming that even her sharp-tongued daughter couldn’t form a comeback!

Worst-case scenario, even without Zining’s warning, she had no interest in other women anyway.

Like she always said—after tasting every delicacy the world had to offer, mundane dishes held no appeal.

Normal girls?

Not even worth a glance.

Luo You’s gaze flicked subtly toward Zhou Xi, who was walking ahead.

Yes… That’s right.

From beginning to end, there was only one target on her radar…

Sure, the old days of grabbing a magical girl and just going full-force had their thrill, but now she was a little tired of that formula.

Being able to watch and ogle magical girls openly under the guise of being a “normal person”?

Now that was a fresh experience she hadn’t tried before.

What’s that?

 Zhou Xi isn’t the only magical girl here?

Who cares about the other one?

Can you eat her?

If you can’t eat her, then she’s worthless!

Luo You suddenly remembered that traumatic blind box incident, where her daughter had startled her so badly.

Her expression turned morose.

That moment had left a shadow over her life she might never be able to shake…

“My locker’s in Section C. You two go ahead and change first.”

Zhou Xi walked off with her things, leaving Luo Zining and Luo You together in Section B.

“Zining.”

“What now?”

“Look~” Luo You began hopping back and forth in front of the changing room entrance.

“Hehe~ I’m in, I’m out~ I’m in again~ What do you think? Annoying, right?”

“Want me to just expose your real identity?”

“……”

Luo You fell silent.

She picked up her clothes and moved to the locker, starting to change.

Does she really have no shame at all?

Luo Zining wondered.

The contrast between her now-silly, doting dad and the terrifying figure he used to be was staggering.

But maybe this kind of life wasn’t so bad after all.

She stole a glance—

Pretending to casually turn her head, she saw Luo You’s shirt tossed carelessly over the bench, one of her thigh-high white socks crumpled into a heap, the other hanging off the edge.

Even without the person in sight, the scattered clothes already set a suggestive mood.

Then, as her gaze drifted upward…

Luo You’s smooth, snow-pale skin gleamed under the light, so flawless it looked like a single touch would leave it dripping with dew.

Gulp.

Luo Zining swallowed hard—not from nervousness, but pure shock.

Her skin was too flawless.

Was this what they meant by skin like polished jade, smoother than silk?

She glanced down at her own arms—soft, fair, almost like tofu.

By any standard, it was the kind of flawless skin people dreamed of having.

And yet, no matter how unwilling she was to admit it, her complexion simply couldn’t compare to Luo You’s.

Her skin looked like it had a permanent beauty filter applied in real life.

“…Dad, something’s definitely wrong with you.”

“Only just now realizing that?”

Luo You replied flatly, without the slightest inflection.

“Hmph!”

Luo Zining turned her head away, frustrated, thinking to herself:

If I fuse with divine particles later… will my skin become like that too?

Meanwhile—

Luo You slipped into an extremely revealing bikini with ease, tossed on a towel, and said, “I’m done changing.”

“Huh? Wait a sec!”

Luo Zining rushed to get dressed and followed closely behind.

Her swimsuit was a standard one-piece—not especially eye-catching.

But thanks to Luo Zining’s naturally excellent figure, even this modest swimsuit seemed elevated to something extraordinary.

Luo You, on the other hand, was a completely different story.

The moment she removed her towel, a flash of golden light practically exploded into view.

Reflexively, Luo Zining lunged forward and yanked the towel back over her.

“What are you doing?”

Luo You asked, turning back in irritation.

Luo Zining was breathing heavily, her heart pounding as she stammered, “T-This really isn’t appropriate!”

“You’re scared people will look at me?”

“No—duh! Do you even know what you’re wearing?!”

“You picked it for me.”

“How was I supposed to know you’d choose that instead of a school swimsuit?! If I’d known you were this unrestrained, I would’ve picked a microkini instead!”

“Hey, did you just call me unrestrained?”

Luo You puffed out her cheeks in protest, as if to say “If it fits, it sits,” then reached for the towel again—

“Nope!”

Luo Zining jumped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around her.

“I get it, okay? You’re a narcissist with an exhibitionist streak. But if you must take it off, wait until you’re actually in the water. Keep the towel on the rest of the time!”

“Right now, you’re giving off vibes that are even more indecent than just being naked! If I let you walk around like this, it’ll turn into some R-rated plot where three or five big guys corner my petite dad in a hot spring and do unspeakable things!”

The moment Luo Zining’s scent and warmth hit her senses, Luo You’s mouth fell open in surprise.

The hand tugging at the towel fell limply to her side.

She never imagined that her daughter—who usually flinched at the idea of even touching her—would suddenly hug her like this.

Even someone with a heart as hard as stone would waver at a moment like this.

“Tell me… ever since I turned into a woman, haven’t you been treating me a little too nicely?”

“……”

“Why aren’t you answering?”

“Ah—Eh? Oh, oh!”

It was like Luo Zining had snapped out of some blissful trance, quickly replying, “Well, you do look a lot easier on the eyes now compared to before.”

“Thought so.”

Luo You rolled her eyes.

Beauty really was everything.

But from another angle, wasn’t this shallow, looks-obsessed world just the worst?

“Fine, fine. I’ll keep the towel on when I’m not in the pool, okay? Besides, this cold wind’s brutal. When I come out of the water, I’ll definitely need the towel. Now let go of me.”

Side note: the Nine Abyss Sea averages below 0°C year-round.

“Oh, okay.”

Luo Zining’s cheeks flushed red as she reluctantly let go.

She clearly wasn’t all there—like a piece of her soul had been left behind ten seconds ago.

“You two got ready pretty quick.”

Zhou Xi arrived, fashionably late.

Her swimsuit was even more conservative—a semi one-piece with very little skin exposed.

Luo You’s excitement deflated on the spot.

What the hell?

She moaned like crazy in bed, but now she dresses like a nun?

“Miss Youyou, you…”

“Just call me Little You.”

“Pfft!”

Someone nearby couldn’t hold back their laughter, but Luo You pretended not to hear it.

The name was just a bit too chummy, so Zhou Xi went back to the one she was used to.

“Youyou… you really wore that swimsuit?”

Luo You shrugged.

“Yep. Too bad Zining won’t let me show it off. Can you believe I raised such a repressed little remnant of the feudal era?”

“Mm, well, I think she might have a point. After all… it does depend on who’s wearing it. On you, it’s way too lethal.”

Zhou Xi didn’t sugarcoat her words, but they landed right in Luo You’s sweet spot.

Mmm~~ just as I thought. It really does depend on the person.

I’m so gorgeous, and yet they can only look and not touch—isn’t that just too cruel for the poor little virgins around here?

Still—

Despite being secretly smug, Luo You kept her outward expression modest, offering an innocent little smile.

“Even if you compliment me, all you get is a smile~”

Damn it!

Luo Zining instinctively glanced toward the nearby shrubbery.

If someone were planning a crime, that’d definitely be the ideal place to take their victim.

Zhou Xi looked completely dazed.

She’s an angel!

And I thought she was threatening me before?

I was so wrong! I’ll reflect on my sins!

“Ahem… I’m heading into the water.”

Zhou Xi made her way toward the large pool ahead.

As she stepped in, she subtly tugged at the hem of her swimsuit skirt.

The small movement didn’t escape Luo You’s keen eyes.

Just like someone trying to hide… a mark too shameful to be seen.

***

Huahai City

Zhao Xin had just wrapped up a meeting and slumped over her desk in exhaustion.

“Ugh, I sent Zhou Xi to the Nine Abyss Sea to get away from it all, and she’s still going to be questioned.”

The appearance of Herrera had thrown the entire Magic Union into high alert.

They would be investigating the recent incident, and of course, the victim would be the first person they sought out.

And the one sent to question her?

One of the top ten candidates for the Magic Union’s elite.

“Sorry, Zhou Xi… your little hot spring vacation is about to get very, very complicated…”