Luo You had reserved a third room at the hot spring hotel in advance, tossing Xue inside with a stern order not to leave before taking the elevator back to her original room.
“Zining, open the door! I forgot my keycard.”
Luo You heard footsteps from behind the door, but they didn’t match Zining’s usual stride.
A sinking feeling gripped her, and when the door swung open, her worst fear materialized.
Standing there was the last person she wanted to see.
The Sorceress of Grudges!
Caught off guard, a spectral claw of resentment shot out, seizing Luo You’s wrist.
The world spun in a dizzying whirl—
Thud!
Her back slammed against the wall, a hand pressed against the surface beside her right ear.
The mature woman’s imposing presence loomed mere inches from her face, their positions unmistakable—
A classic wall-slam!
“…Ouch! What are you doing?!”
Luo You, dazed for half a second, exaggeratedly curled into herself, her voice dripping with playful indignation.
The instigator, Ji Yue, remained stone-faced, unmoved.
But Luo You’s theatrics weren’t for her benefit—
“Auntie! What’s going on?!”
Zining, barefoot and flushed, hurried over and yanked Ji Yue away.
“It’s fine, Zining, I was just startled. Don’t blame her!”
“Huh?”
“Ji Yue didn’t do anything wrong. I must’ve upset her somehow without realizing, and that’s why she acted this way…”
Ji Yue nearly choked on her breath.
Though Zining was technically on Luo You’s side, she couldn’t help but mutter to herself, What a green tea act!
A light kick to her heel came from Zining, accompanied by a low growl in her ear.
“Watch yourself! That’s my aunt you’re messing with! Who do you think you’re performing for?!”
“Just a joke, geez, to lighten the mood.”
Luo You spread her hands helplessly, turning to Ji Yue.
“But seriously, did I do something to upset you?”
This gave Ji Yue an out while clarifying the issue.
Adjusting her expression, Ji Yue replied smoothly, “No, this is our first meeting. Zining just talks about you a lot.”
“What’d she say?”
“She said you’re always out all night, a reckless—”
“Aaaaah, Auntie! Don’t you have business with Senior Zhou Xi?! Go talk to her about that thing already!”
“Zining? Wait, hold on! Don’t push—”
Like she was shoving her aunt into a coffin, Zining unleashed an unprecedented burst of strength, nearly sending Ji Yue stumbling out the door.
In a panic, Ji Yue called back, “Luo You, I’ll come find you tonight. Save some time for me!”
Boom!
The door slammed shut, sealed tight.
Zining let out a relieved sigh.
Luo You sidled up behind her, pressing a finger into Zining’s side, making her stiffen.
“…So, you told your aunt I’m some kind of loose woman, huh?”
“Uh, uh… isn’t that the truth? You’re gonna interrogate me now?”
Zining’s bravado didn’t quite match her shaky logic.
“Just tell me what you were doing those two days!”
“Adult stuff. Don’t ask.”
“See! I knew you were hiding something! Fine, let’s drop it. Nobody brings it up again, deal?”
Zining’s swift, decisive style shone through—no need to throw money around to silence someone when a single sentence sufficed.
“…”
Luo You could guess the situation.
She hadn’t been home for two days straight, and while Zining waited, she likely vented to Ji Yue, spilling her frustrations.
In her current role as “Luo You’s girlfriend and Zining’s guardian,” it was no wonder Ji Yue had a poor impression of her, given her apparent disregard for her “partner.”
“Make sure you clear up the misunderstanding with your aunt.”
“It’s not a misunderstanding…”
Zining muttered stubbornly, though Luo You knew her well enough to bet she’d probably follow through later.
“Dad, where’ve you been?”
“Hm, I was gonna check out the Canglan Ruins, but a blizzard hit, so I spent the afternoon at an arcade.”
“Good thing you didn’t go. Look it up online.”
No need to search—Luo You already knew.
She went through the motions of checking her phone, tossing out a few perfunctory replies, then spent a pointless stretch of time rolling around on the bed.
When dinnertime rolled around, Zining glanced her way.
“Dad, who’re you texting? You’ve been at it all afternoon.”
“Gym colleagues.”
“Oh, really? Let me see.”
Zining approached, but Luo You, sprawled on the bed, blocked her with a raised foot.
“Back off. What are you, some possessive yandere?”
Luo You tucked her phone away, the screen showing her chat with Xue.
She’d bought Xue a phone when she brought her back, teaching her the basics for easy contact in case something came up.
The way she hurriedly hid her phone dimmed the spark in Zining’s eyes. In a low voice, she asked, “Dad, are you keeping up some shady, scandalous relationship with someone sketchy?”
“What’s in that 17-year-old head of yours?”
Luo You kicked a bit harder this time, though the force betrayed her own unease.
A scandalous relationship… maybe not exactly?
She’d only been entrusted with a dimensional beast by a magical girl she’d once slept with… though, yeah, that did sound pretty scandalous.
Lost in her tangled thoughts, Luo You didn’t notice Zining’s gaze deepening into an abyss-like intensity.
“Alright, go get dinner. I’m starving! There’s a barbecue place downstairs that looks good. Grab me some, you know what I like.”
“…”
Half-forced out the door, Zining leaned against it, motionless for a long while.
Judging by her dad’s reaction, Zining was certain she’d hit the mark.
Those two nights, the old man definitely got physical with someone—and was still keeping it up.
Maybe that someone was even here, in this very hotel.
“Zining, what’s wrong? Your eyes are terrifying.”
Ji Yue, emerging from Zhou Xi’s room, jumped at the sight of her.
Was this the gaze of a magical girl?!
“Huh? Auntie, you’re done talking?”
“We’re heading to the Magic Alliance headquarters via teleportation tomorrow morning, but I need to go to the Canglan Ruins now. Enjoy your time here.”
Something was happening at the Nine Nether Sea—a mysterious creature had broken through, too formidable to ignore.
As a frontline magical girl stationed there, Ji Yue had to set an example.
But since she’d be back tonight after taking Zhou Xi to the headquarters, she could have a little… chat with that reckless woman.
“Take care, Auntie.”
“You too. Don’t forget what I said—support roles may seem minor, but they’re vital. Your teammates’ lives depend on you.”
After Ji Yue left, Zining drifted to a spot out of the cameras’ view.
Transformation—
Little Red Riding Hood made her dazzling debut.
Magical girls were beacons of justice, their actions ever noble, their hearts pure and radiant.
How could she stand by when a naive girl might be preyed upon by unsavory types?
Clad in her magical attire, Zining marched to the hotel front desk, flashing her magical girl ID.
“I need to see your security footage.”