“Recently our company has been running a promotion and gave out lots of rose perfume, so miss, you see, many people are using it,” the clerk said with a smile still on her face. “No point letting it go to waste.”
As she spoke, she took out a cup of hot black tea from below.
“Miss, it just happens to be a New Year promotion. Buy popcorn and you get cola and black tea free. Go ahead and drink it, do not worry.”
Lin Xiaojue stayed silent for a while. Only after seeing that the people around her were also holding black tea and popcorn did she accept it.
‘Can I really drink this safely? There is not some strange computer component inside, right?’
But after repeatedly confirming nothing strange was happening to the people nearby, Lin Xiaojue finally set aside her suspicion.
The waiting time for ticket inspection passed quickly, and soon the two entered the cinema.
Inside the wide, quiet theater, Xia Yao half closed her eyes, her head swaying as she leaned against Lin Xiaojue without any guard.
She knew Xia Yao had stayed by her side almost every step these past few days to take care of her, so she supported her and let her rest on her shoulder. In trendy terms, this was called a shoulder pillow.
She reached out and stroked the girl s hair. A gentle floral fragrance lingered at her nose, seeping into her heart along with that softness.
Her delicate nose twitched slightly as she breathed steadily, like a sleeping baby, gentle, soft, defenseless, completely unalert to everything around her.
Lin Xiaojue shifted slightly, shielding Xia Yao from the glaring light.
Soon the lights went out, the screen lit up, and the pre movie advertisements began playing. Flashing trailers illuminated the rows of seats with hazy light.
When the previews ended, Xia Yao slowly woke.
“Mmm… predecessor?”
“Awake?”
The black haired, black eyed girl in front of her smiled. Suddenly her relaxed brows tightened slightly, then gradually smoothed again.
“Predecessor, are you feeling unwell?”
“No.”
Lin Xiaojue restrained her expression, her gaze dark as she swept her surroundings.
“I want to go to the restroom. I will step out for a moment.”
“Huh? But the movie just started…”
“It is fine. I will ask Xiao Xia about it when I come back.”
Lin Xiaojue affectionately patted Xia Yao s hair, then gently withdrew her hand.
She stood and walked into the corridor outside the cinema. The hallway was empty and silent, completely different from the lively theater. Here it was cold and lonely, making it easy to calm down and think.
After circling around several theaters, she still could not shake that gaze. Lin Xiaojue frowned, looking annoyed.
Following the signs, she went into the women s restroom, gently closed the door, did not lock it, and instead transformed right there.
She wanted to see who this person really was.
After three days of full rest, Godspeed Strike had finished cooling down. Even if it was only two seconds, she would drag this person out.
‘Following me for so long…’
Just thinking about the discomfort of being watched everywhere these past days made goosebumps rise on her skin.
Soon footsteps sounded outside. Someone entered the restroom and began checking each stall.
One by one the stall doors opened. Just as it reached hers, the moment the person pulled the door, she activated Godspeed Strike.
Everything around instantly froze. Within the frozen time, only she could move.
The next instant, Lin Xiaojue flipped through the air, landed behind the person, and struck the back of the neck with a chop.
Godspeed Strike ended. The person collapsed limply to the floor.
‘So weak. And you dared spy on me?’
Lin Xiaojue looked around, confirmed no one was there, canceled her transformation, then used Mask to restore her previous appearance and dragged the person into the restroom.
After seeing the person clearly, she was shocked.
“This… how…”
It was just the cleaning lady responsible for the restroom, not a stalker at all.
Realizing she had hurt an ordinary person, Lin Xiaojue clasped her hands together, picked up the mop tools the woman brought, and mopped the restroom once.
It was not perfectly clean, but at least she finished the task for her.
After cleaning, Lin Xiaojue looked at the unconscious woman lying on the floor, helplessly lifted her onto the toilet seat.
That should be about enough.
But failing to catch the person watching her left Lin Xiaojue confused. The gaze had clearly been fixed on her all along, unless at that moment they realized she noticed…
‘Not good!’
Alarm bells rang in her mind.
Maybe the target was not her.
Maybe it was Xia Yao.
She quickly tidied the scene and was about to rush out when suddenly a slender yet strong hand covered her mouth from behind.
“Mmmph…”
Lin Xiaojue instinctively transformed, but even in the flower marriage form, magical girl Tianyu had no ability to resist at all before this person.
That level of strength could only be—
The person roughly turned Lin Xiaojue s head to face her terrified eyes.
“Heh… long time no see, Xiao Jue, my dear lover.”
Light shimmered and the figure changed instantly.
A tall mature woman with a high golden ponytail and emerald eyes grinned viciously at her. She licked her red lips, her green eyes narrowing like a large predator about to taste prey.
“Su Yaqing!”
“Oh? Xiao Jue still remembers my name. I did not expect that. I thought you had long forgotten me and thrown me into the sea.”
Su Yaqing s grip tightened.
Each time Lin Xiaojue spoke, warm breath brushed against her palm, making it itch. She even wished she could press Lin Xiaojue against the door and vent all the emptiness she had felt these days.
Pain shot through Su Yaqing s hand. Lin Xiaojue s lips were pressed tightly against it. If she moved it now, clear teeth marks would definitely be visible.
“Xiao Jue, do you really not want to see me that much?”
Su Yaqing could not understand why Lin Xiaojue rejected her.
“Let go!”
Lin Xiaojue s stubborn voice came out. Su Yaqing did not intend to release her.
A few moments passed.
“Xiao Jue, I cannot let go.”
“Let go!”
“I cannot!”
She almost shouted the words, her voice breaking. A mist of tears instantly clouded her green eyes. Pressing her lips together, she leaned closer.
“Xiao Jue, do you know how worried I was? You left without telling me a word. I searched like crazy these days and could not find you anywhere. I finally found you…”
“You said you would be my younger sister. Why did you leave without a word? Where did you go…”
As she spoke, Su Yaqing gradually lowered her head. Lin Xiaojue also fell silent.
“I do not want to lose you. You are all I have…”
Lin Xiaojue loosened her bite. Noticing Su Yaqing s grip had softened a lot, she removed her hand.
Honestly. It was covered in her saliva.
Chaotic, restless emotions churned in her chest. Lin Xiaojue could not help clicking her tongue softly.
She recalled what happened back then, frowned, and questioned, “Then tell me, why did you not answer your phone at that time?”
“I was getting you an ID card…”
Lin Xiaojue s eyes widened slightly. She knew that had been a willful request, yet Su Yaqing had treated it as something important.
“I… really did not consider your situation. Sorry. I pushed you too much.”
“Then Xiao Jue… why did you not call me?”
There was questioning in Su Yaqing s eyes, worry in her tone.
“Why…”
Lin Xiaojue tried to find a lame excuse. She turned her head, not knowing what to say.
“Xiao Jue…”
“Hm?”
The next second, her chin was lifted. In her eyes remained only Su Yaqing s gentle, watery gaze.
Soft lips sealed her hesitant mouth. A sweet citrus fragrance spread inside.
‘So Su Yaqing changed perfume.’
“It is wonderful to see you again.”