Lin Yun never imagined that his wedding anniversary—a day he had planned to spend alone, steeped in nostalgia and sorrow—would transform into a lively family outing, complete with two children bickering along the way.
What was meant to be a solitary moment at the counter, listening to a clerk’s endless explanations, turned into a cheerful exchange among three people and the clerk. Though Lin Yun wasn’t skilled at small talk, he could articulate his needs clearly. Lin Xiaolu disliked chatting with strangers, but her cute appearance and fiery, easily provoked nature made people want to tease her. Xia Liang, meanwhile, was the most talkative, effortlessly charming the clerk and breaking the ice with ease.
Shopping became a relaxed and pleasant experience.
At one point, someone misunderstood their group, assuming they were a family, and complimented Lin Yun: “Your two daughters are adorable.” Lin Yun had to correct the misconception with a brief explanation. Xia Liang seemed delighted by the remark, while Lin Xiaolu pursed her lips—not quite angry, but her mood was hard to decipher.
They visited numerous stores and eventually found the perfect gift at a jewelry shop named “Shi Kui Qi.” It was a crystal necklace with a silver chain and a pendant crafted from rose quartz, carved into a shape resembling a cherry blossom and framed by a delicate gold border. The design was fresh and beautiful.
Lin Xiaolu liked the necklace but couldn’t explain why. Xia Liang found the style slightly outdated but held her tongue, sensing the mood. Ultimately, Lin Yun decided to purchase it.
There was no grand reason—just the cherry blossom on the pendant. The moment he saw that crystal cherry blossom, a voice in his heart seemed to whisper, This is the one.
With the gift chosen, the trio wandered to other floors. Lin Yun suggested buying clothes for Lin Xiaolu, but she declined. Instead, they followed Xia Liang’s suggestion and went to the cinema together.
After enjoying a lighthearted popcorn movie, they left the theater around one in the afternoon and settled on a trendy tea restaurant for lunch.
Lin Yun played the part of an ordinary parent, while Xia Liang acted as Lin Xiaolu’s studious classmate. Both knew the other was concealing something, yet they upheld their respective facades, exchanging half-truths in a conversation that lulled Lin Xiaolu into drowsiness.
Halfway through lunch, around two o’clock, as the three relaxed completely, a distant boom reverberated through the mall.
Boom!
It was as if a building had collapsed, the sound overpowering the mall’s usual bustle.
The noise silenced the crowd momentarily, then gave way to confusion, followed by panic. In the restaurant, customers stirred—some pulled out their phones to contact the outside world, while others rushed out to investigate the source.
Amid the chaos, only the table with the man and two girls remained oddly calm.
“Xiaolu, Xiaoliang, we need to move fast!” Moko, invisible to ordinary people, shouted with urgency. “I can sense it—a remnant beast is nearby!”
Its attempt at subtlety was futile; all three at the table heard it clearly.
In truth, even without Moko’s warning, they all suspected the same thing: the boom was likely caused by a remnant beast. But at this critical moment, none of them could voice their thoughts.
Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang still saw Lin Yun as an ordinary person—or at least someone without magic. At most, they guessed he might know about the magical world and that his daughter was a magical girl. Yet the unspoken barrier between them remained intact, making it awkward to broach magical matters now.
Lin Yun’s silence stemmed from a simpler reason: he was debating how much “Lin Yun” should know about magical girls.
Time was running out. Though the timing felt suspicious, a remnant beast had emerged. With Fangting City’s only three magical girls gathered at this table, staying put wasn’t an option.
Next, not only did the two younger girls need to act, but Lin Yun also had to find an excuse to slip away, transform into Cui Que, and assist them discreetly, ensuring the attacking beast wasn’t too strong.
Should he be the one to bring it up?
Glancing at the two girls, who also hesitated to speak, he knew he had to decide. Since discovering that morning that Lin Xiaolu had been tailing him, he’d realized some truths could no longer be hidden. They already knew he was connected to Hong Si Yu, making it hard to feign ignorance about magical girls.
But should he admit now that he knew his daughter and her friend were magical girls?
After some thought, he settled on a better approach. First, he needed a plausible reason to explain how he knew it was a remnant beast attack.
Quietly, he pulled his phone from his pocket, pretended to fiddle with it, and opened the message interface. Sure enough, moments later, an evacuation notice from the Bureau of Anomalous Strategies popped up.
Given the attack’s location in a bustling shopping center with many witnesses, the bureau acted swiftly. Within seconds of the boom, notifications were sent to all citizens, urging them to avoid the area or evacuate if nearby.
Other customers in the restaurant soon realized what was happening, and many stood in a panic, rushing toward the exit.
“A remnant beast? That’s dangerous!” Lin Yun frowned, showing the notification to the girls with feigned nervousness. “We can’t stay here. Let’s go now!”
To seem genuinely rattled, he didn’t wait for their reply. He grabbed his coat from the chair, stood up, and waved them along. “Ask the staff if there’s another exit. The main door’s blocked!”
His performance was a tad exaggerated, and in a calmer setting, it might have been obvious. His plan was straightforward: lead the girls into the crowd, pretend to get separated, giving them room to act while he found a spot to transform. He’d call Lin Xiaolu’s phone a few times to show concern and avoid suspicion. After the beast was dealt with, he’d contact them, claiming they’d been separated, and arrange a meeting point.
This way, neither side had to reveal their identities, leaving space for later explanations.
But the girls didn’t know his plan. Though their thoughts varied slightly, they shared a common resolve: as magical girls, they couldn’t flee when a remnant beast threatened innocent people.
So, despite his urging, they stayed seated, their expressions torn.
(End of Chapter)
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– Cui Que (翠雀): Lin Yun’s magical girl alias (“Emerald Sparrow”), hinted at subtly.
– Shi Kui Qi (世魁奇): Transliterated as “World Champion Wonder”.
