“One thousand per look, so 100 times is 100,000… Hm… Let’s start with 100 times~”
When Lin Xiaojue ran out of the bathroom as if she were fleeing, this message appeared on her phone.
Immediately after, a notification for a payment arrived.
100,000 yuan had been deposited; it felt like she had sold herself because of a single sentence.
“Xiaojue, don’t forget the 100 times. You said it yourself: ‘You don’t lie.'”
Another message from Su Yaqing appeared in the chat, followed by a mischievous Magical Girl Qingtian emoji.
Lin Xiaojue wanted to refund the 100,000.
But this was 100,000 yuan.
A full 100,000, and she had indeed said she wouldn’t lie.
“I—I definitely won’t lie. Just you wait.”
‘Hmph, it’s not like looking at me will make a piece of my flesh fall off. If she wants to look, let her. She can look for as long as she wants; the money is already in my hands anyway.’
‘Besides, we’re teammates. It’s no big deal.’
“Fine, I’ll wait and see. I’m going to take a very good look when the time comes.”
Su Yaqing followed up with an “anticipation” emoji, and Lin Xiaojue shut off her screen in a huff.
‘Why does it feel like I’m being taken advantage of by some pervert?’
“Senior…”
A hand rested on her shoulder. Lin Xiaojue turned her head to look.
“Oh, are you here for a bath too, Xia Yao?”
“Y-Yes.”
Xia Yao pursed her lips, her doe-like eyes downcast and avoiding eye contact.
‘How strange. Is Xia Yao shy?’
“We’re all girls, it’s just a bath together. Don’t worry, if Yaqing tries anything, just tell me.”
After saying this, Lin Xiaojue startled even herself.
She didn’t know when it had happened, but she had gradually come to accept her identity as a girl.
“Yes, thank you, Senior. You’re always so considerate of others.”
The gloom that had just risen in her heart dissipated, and Lin Xiaojue’s mood instantly brightened.
“It’s you, Xia Yao. You’re the one who’s always caring about everyone. If you hadn’t shared how the others were feeling with me, everyone in the team might have kept everything bottled up for life.”
“S-Senior is the one… You’re always helping everyone resolve their problems, and you’re always the first to step forward when we face difficulties.”
*Buzz—buzz—*
Just then, a sound came from the phone in the laundry basket. It belonged to Xia Yao.
She scrambled over to it, checked it for a second, then immediately put it down as if something urgent had happened.
“S-Sorry, Senior, I have to go first!”
Pulling open the bathroom door, she tossed her clothes inside and stepped in.
*Bang!*
The bathroom door slammed shut, leaving Lin Xiaojue standing there, unable to regain her senses for a long time.
‘So big… No, wait, what am I thinking?’
‘But Xia Yao’s figure is really great—a golden ratio.’
In comparison, her own disadvantageous height and overly prominent chest seemed strange.
A busty loli.
‘Actually, maybe it’s not that strange. Plenty of people like my type.’
‘No, what on earth are you thinking? Get it together, Lin Xiaojue!’
Slapping her cheeks, she bucked up and walked away.
***
Inside the bathroom.
“Ya… Yaqing.”
“Come here.”
Su Yaqing reached out to Xia Yao. Their hands met, and they both sat in the bath.
Xia Yao nodded with a soft “Mm” and sat not far from Su Yaqing.
“Xia Yao, you seemed a bit off just now. Is something on your mind?”
Su Yaqing had keenly caught onto Xia Yao’s abnormality. Even when measuring Xiaojue’s figure, she had seemed unable to focus.
“I… It’s nothing. I’ve just been a bit tired lately. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“Then make sure to get more rest. Even though the company is close to your home, commuting back and forth is still a hassle. Stay home for the next few days; you can just bring the clothes over once they’re finished.”
‘But I want to see Senior Xiaojue more…’
The bitter words remained unsaid. Xia Yao was still someone who struggled to say no.
“Ah… Okay. I’ll do as you say.”
“Let’s leave it at that, then. It’s getting late, so get some rest. I’ll head out first.”
Su Yaqing checked her phone and stood up, water splashing off her body.
“Alright. Goodnight, Senior.”
The blonde boss wrapped herself in a towel and walked to the door, but she remembered something just as she grasped the handle.
“By the way, Xia Yao, you’re almost 22, right? Have you never been in a relationship?”
“Ah, eh? Why are you suddenly bringing that up…?”
“Haha…” Su Yaqing’s smile was as beautiful as a flower, dazzling under the lights.
“I’m just saying, if you meet someone you like, you must confess loudly to them. Hiding your feelings leads nowhere. Love needs to be spoken aloud.”
“Regardless of their answer, at least your feelings will have received a response instead of sinking to the bottom of your heart as the years pass. It’s a way to give yourself closure.”
Su Yaqing’s voice lingered in her ears; even long after, Xia Yao remained immersed in her words.
‘If I meet someone I like, I should confess loudly to her…’
‘If it’s Senior Xiaojue… would she accept?’
“So, basically, I’m at Yaqing’s house right now. If you want to see me, Gu Xue, you’ll have to come to the company.”
On the other end of the line, the green-haired girl wearing a beret sighed.
“I’m telling you, Senior—can’t you tell us when you’re going somewhere else? Me, Murong, and Xiao An have been waiting here for 2 hours, but you never opened the door.”
‘Whoa, Gu Xue is so aggressive today. She’s not her usual cat-like gentle self; she’s genuinely angry.’
“I’m sorry! I’ll definitely make it up to you. Today was really my fault. Next time we meet, I’ll cook something special to compensate everyone.”
“Um… also, can you stop calling me ‘Senior’?”
“Jue, it’s more appropriate to call you Senior now.”
A cold voice came through. Lin Xiaojue knew it was Murong Qiuyu taking the phone.
“Murong, where’s Yu?”
“Sakuragawa had business today. She left the gift with us and headed out. She always seems busy anyway…”
“Oh, that’s true.”
Sakuragawa Yu was a Magical Girl who had joined the team in the last six months. She was always mysterious, but she got along well with everyone.
“By the way, Senior, have you heard? Lacrima Mundi is about to hold a concert at the Budokan! I just happened to snag six tickets!”
An Yuxi’s excited voice blared from the phone, causing Lin Xiaojue to instinctively pull the device away from her ear.
Lacrima Mundi, also known as Tears of the World, was a legendary metal band. In just half a year, they had broken through to the Budokan, and their popularity was second only to the Magical Girls.
She didn’t know much about music, and the group always performed in masks. There had even been fake rumors before claiming their keyboardist was a Magical Girl.
“Ah, sure. Let’s all go see it then. I’ll see if I can keep a low profile.”
“Don’t worry about that! With us around, we’ll find a way!”
Lin Xiaojue gave an “Mm,” exchanged a few more words, and then hung up.
It was nearing midnight—time for bed.
Lights off, into bed.
Carrying her exhaustion, Lin Xiaojue quietly drifted off to sleep.
Somewhere between dreaming and being awake, she felt something crawl onto the bed, then crawl down, then crawl back up again.
‘What on earth is this?!’
Instinctively opening her eyes, an angelically peaceful sleeping face came into view.
Slender eyelashes fluttered as emerald-green eyes opened.
“Mm… Good morning, darling?”
‘Why is Su Yaqing here?’
Lin Xiaojue rubbed her eyes and looked again.
A semi-transparent gauze nightgown outlined her hazy figure with more than enough allure; the languid lady of the house was lying right by her side.
Right now, it isn’t…
She checked her phone: 1:00 AM.
“What are you doing?! It’s only 1:00 AM! I’m trying to sleep!”
Lin Xiaojue growled in low dissatisfaction.
“But it’s already the next day. I want to spend twenty-four hours of ‘lover time’ with you. Is that not okay?”
“Even lovers don’t stick together for twenty-four hours straight!”
‘Also, why do you look so composed? And who said today was for being lovers?!’
“GET OUT! Today we’re friends! We can’t be lovers!”
Lin Xiaojue pushed against her back, trying to drive Su Yaqing out, but the latter just pursed her lips and smiled, her eyes brimming with teasing.
She waved her phone, and Lin Xiaojue instantly went silent.
“I’m just here… to take a look.”
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