In the living room, two pairs of equally crimson eyes clashed fiercely in midair.
Mu Xi’s gaze was sharp as a blade, filled with scrutiny, disappointment, and a hint of lingering fear.
Mu Ming, on the other hand, looked like a small animal caught in a spotlight, her eyes darting away instinctively, trying to avoid that heavy stare.
“Don’t… don’t look at me like that…”
Mu Ming’s voice carried a coquettish grievance, her body shrinking back slightly, fingers nervously twisting the hem of her skirt.
“Do you even realize what you did?!”
Mu Xi’s voice was tightly controlled anger as she took a step forward.
“In the middle of the night… you went attacking a Magical Girl?! I thought you…”
She abruptly stopped herself, swallowing the rest of the sentence.
A chill crept up her spine.
When did I start letting my guard down around this witch?
She snuggles up beside me.
She feeds me ice cream?
She watches movies with me?
Or when she sleeps next to me?
Even… subconsciously thinking she wouldn’t really hurt anyone?
How ridiculous!
She snapped fully awake — this existence before her was a witch!
The embodiment of evil and filth! How could she ever behave properly?!
“What’s the matter…”
Mu Ming pouted, seeming to think Mu Xi was overreacting.
She turned her face away and twirled a strand of her jet-black hair casually, her tone indifferent.
“It’s just… playing around… Didn’t have enough fun yesterday yet…”
“Not enough fun?!”
Mu Xi’s voice suddenly rose, disbelief ringing through it.
“I spent the whole day playing with you yesterday! Still not enough?!”
“You went to sleep too early!”
Mu Ming immediately retorted, turning to face her.
Her ruby-red eyes really did look a bit wronged, her small mouth slightly puckered.
“You spent the whole day with me and got tired, so you went to bed early… I didn’t want to disturb your rest…”
Her voice dropped into a coaxing tone.
“So… I just went out by myself… to find a little fun…”
“You still can’t go hurting others!”
Mu Xi’s tone was decisive, leaving no room for argument.
“I didn’t hurt anyone!”
Mu Ming hurriedly defended herself, leaning forward as if afraid of being misunderstood.
“Really! I just… played a little game…”
She emphasized the words, her eyes filled with a pleading look, clearly caring about Mu Xi’s opinion of her.
“Sigh…”
Mu Xi looked at Mu Ming’s anxious yet innocent expression and felt a deep sense of helplessness wash over her.
All her anger turned into a weary sigh.
She rubbed her aching temples.
“What if… I get found out…” she muttered quietly, more like warning herself.
Then, she steeled her resolve, her gaze turning firm again.
“From now on… I really have to keep a close eye on you… You can’t run around anymore…”
“Got it~”
Mu Ming responded immediately, her face brightening as if the tension never existed, even flashing a sly, obedient smile that somehow felt mischievous.
Mu Xi no longer looked at her.
Burdened with worries, she stood up from the sofa and walked straight toward the entrance.
“Going out for lunch.”
She dropped the sentence casually, her tone calm again.
Creak—
The door opened and then softly closed.
Mu Xi’s figure disappeared beyond the threshold.
In the living room, only Mu Ming remained.
The obedient smile on her face quickly faded like a receding tide.
Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly, and the corner of her mouth curled into a meaningful, slightly wicked smirk.
“So…”
She stuck out her tender tongue and lightly licked her lips.
Her voice was like poison soaked in honey—sweet, cloying, with a snake-like cold slickness.
“… This way… I can get you to pay more attention to me~”
Before her words faded, her figure vanished like it had been erased by an eraser, instantly transforming into a thin wisp of black smoke that merged with the shadows at her feet, silently trailing after Mu Xi’s departing direction.
***
Red Sea City International Airport, beneath the massive glass dome, the crowd surged like a river.
A striking blonde girl—Olivia—pulled a simple suitcase and walked out of the arrival hall with calm and measured steps.
The afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass walls, bathing her smooth golden hair in a dazzling halo.
Outside the airport, a sleek, expensive black luxury sedan stood quietly beside the VIP entrance.
An elderly butler, impeccably dressed in a tailcoat with hair neatly combed, swiftly stepped out, respectfully opening the door for her.
“Miss Olivia,” the butler bowed slightly, his voice low and measured, “please get in. I will escort you to the Magic Association Headquarters in Red Sea City.”
Olivia’s icy blue eyes briefly scanned the car that symbolized her family’s wealth and status, but there was not a flicker of emotion.
“No need.”
Her voice was cold and pleasant but carried an unyielding distance.
She didn’t even stop walking, stepping past the waiting vehicle as if it were an unsightly decoration.
The butler seemed accustomed to the young lady’s ways; no surprise or displeasure appeared on his face. Instead, he bowed again with equal respect.
“As you wish, Miss.”
His tone remained steady and calm.
Born into a prestigious Western noble family, Olivia herself was a powerful Abyssal-Class Magical Girl known as Baihe Hua.
Her family had provided the Magic Association with enormous financial support.
However, Olivia personally did not appreciate this kind of “special treatment” that came with undertones of flattery.
She dragged her suitcase and briskly moved to the edge of the airport.
Soon, she found a quiet corner hidden behind a huge pillar, secluded from the noisy crowd and surveillance cameras.
After confirming that no one was around, Olivia stopped.
She released the suitcase handle and let it stand quietly by her feet.
Then, she reached into the inner pocket of her trench coat with her fair, slender hand and carefully pulled out an object—
A diamond-shaped white crystal about the size of her palm, translucent and shimmering with swirling nebulae inside.
The crystal emitted a soft, pure glow in her fingertips.
No grand declaration, no lengthy incantation.
She simply pressed the crystal gently against her chest and softly uttered two clear words:
“Transform.”
Hum—
In an instant!
A pure, dazzling yet non-glaring white light burst out centered on her!
The light flowed like liquid, swiftly enveloping her entire body!
Within the glow, her casual clothes dissolved and reformed like a phantom…
Her flowing golden hair floated as if stirred by a breeze…
The outline of Baihe Hua’s battle attire, exuding a sacred and majestic aura, quickly took shape within the radiance…
The light suddenly contracted!
In place of the girl stood the Magical Girl Baihe Hua, hovering half a foot above the ground, emanating profound magical energy, her battle suit as white as snow, her gaze as icy and resolute as blades!
She did not hesitate.
Her eyes locked onto the towering Magic Association Headquarters at the city center.
With a light tap of her toe into the void—
“Whoosh—”
She transformed into a flowing, radiant white streak, tearing through the air at incredible speed toward her destination!
Only the air around her swirled faintly in the empty space she left behind.