Chapter 9: Exposed by Groceries?

A Birthday Surprise

Half an hour later, Xiaoke appeared at Xiaoxi’s doorstep.

Their last visit ended awkwardly after Xiaoke found Xiaoxi’s secret fanfic.

But today, Xiaoke resolved to be nice no matter what.

After all, it was her sister’s birthday~

With a creak of the door, Xiaoke threw her arms around Xiaoxi.

“Happy birthday, Sis!”

“…Huh?”

Xiaoxi’s blank look made Xiaoke realize something.

She elbowed her sister, annoyed.

“No way, you forgot your own birthday?”

“I ordered you a cake. It’ll be here soon,” Xiaoke pouted.

“You don’t even know how much trouble I went through to get it.”

Xiaoxi belatedly remembered it was her birthday.

For an unemployed adult shut-in, birthdays weren’t a big deal anymore.

Xiaoke bounced into the apartment behind Xiaoxi, clearly eager to share something.

“Sis, guess what? Eternal Star showed up at a monster attack today! Think she’s making a comeback?”

Xiaoxi, sorting groceries from the supermarket, paused at Xiaoke’s words.

A Spark of Suspicion

Xiaoke’s comment didn’t faze Xiaoxi much.

But Ye Xinglan’s eyes lit up, and she darted over.

“You serious? Eternal Star showed up?”

Xiaoxi couldn’t understand it.

Ye Xinglan usually carried herself like a refined rich girl.

Why did she turn into a different person at the mention of magical girls?

Prompted by Xiaoke, Ye Xinglan quickly found news about the attack.

Xiaoxi, pretending to be uninterested, leaned in to look.

The article was fresh, with low views, but it detailed the time, place, and events clearly.

It even included a blurry surveillance photo.

Through the pixelated image, Eternal Star could be seen blasting the monster’s head, holding two big grocery bags.

Ye Xinglan let out a “Woo-hoo!” and switched to WeChat to message A-Lan about tracking Eternal Star.

After A-Lan’s warning, she’d given up on finding Eternal Star.

But now, just days later, she’d appeared in Xiahai City!

This time, she’d find her and get revenge…

Ye Xinglan gritted her teeth.

But after scrolling through her contacts, she remembered A-Lan had deleted her.

She couldn’t reach her for at least a month.

Deflated, Ye Xinglan slumped back.

Even if she went to the scene now, Eternal Star would be long gone.

Where would she even look?

Meanwhile, Xiaoxi frowned at the news, posted just three minutes ago.

“Ke, this just came out when you got here. How’d you know so fast?”

Xiaoke clamped her mouth shut.

She’d been so excited about seeing Eternal Star, she nearly slipped up!

“…I didn’t see the news. I was on Nanda Street during the attack. I saw Eternal Star with my own eyes.”

“You wouldn’t pass Nanda Street from your school to here,” Xiaoxi said sternly, sounding like a parent catching a kid sneaking out.

“I… was shopping there, okay? You’re so nosy, Sis!”

Xiaoxi didn’t press further.

She quietly sighed in relief.

Xiaoke had been there.

Good thing she’d stepped in.

A Dangerous Connection

Wait—Nanda Street…

Ye Xinglan caught the keyword and grabbed Xiaoxi’s arm.

“Hold on, Xiaoxi. Your supermarket’s on Nanda Street, right? You didn’t see Eternal Star?”

She’d gone grocery shopping with Xiaoxi a few days ago, just for a walk, so she knew her usual spot.

Xiaoxi’s hand shook, dodging Ye Xinglan’s sparkling gaze.

“I… didn’t see her. I didn’t even know about the attack. Must’ve just missed it.”

She threw out a quick excuse and went back to unpacking groceries.

Ye Xinglan, getting no useful info, pouted and walked off.

Xiaoke, the true Eternal Star fan, kept humming happily, replaying the event.

She couldn’t believe she’d seen Eternal Star after three years—and even spoke to her!

The only downside was getting distracted by her ruined cake.

She hadn’t gotten an autograph before Eternal Star slipped away.

Hmph, this was her sister’s fault, wasn’t it?

But blaming Xiaoxi wouldn’t get her that autograph.

As Xiaoke’s gaze fell on Xiaoxi unpacking ingredients, she let out an “Ah!”

“Sis, I remember Eternal Star bought this brand of curry too!”

“Huh… normal. You said she had lots of groceries. Maybe she’s making curry chicken tonight.”

“Oh, and that thing—Eternal Star bought it too!”

Xiaoxi nearly dropped the can in her hand.

She couldn’t fathom it.

How did Xiaoke remember exactly what Eternal Star bought?

She hadn’t been close enough to see her bags clearly!

Truth be told, Xiaoxi hadn’t noticed Xiaoke nearby when she took down the monster.

Where had that girl been watching from to see her groceries so clearly?

Something felt off…

She had to do something, or her cover might blow!

With a quick thought, Xiaoxi muttered, “I’m starting dinner,” and grabbed her bags, dashing into the kitchen.

A Familiar Sight

Watching her sister’s back as she carried the bags, Xiaoke felt a strange familiarity.

A wild idea sprouted in her mind.

She followed Xiaoxi into the kitchen.

On impulse, she opened the fridge and let out a small gasp.

“Isn’t this my favorite juice brand? You got this for me, Sis?”

“Yeah, I just put it in. It’s not super cold yet, but you can drink it,” Xiaoxi said casually.

Pop. Xiaoke opened the juice can.

Holding the orange juice, she blinked.

“Wait… I think Eternal Star bought this brand too…”

Xiaoxi: “…”

Stop it!

Can you quit remembering stuff?

Where was this memory when you were studying, little sis?

Xiaoxi regretted it now.

She’d transformed with her bags to protect them from the monster’s potential AOE smash.

Look at that D-rank girl’s cake—ruined!

If she’d known it’d come to this, she’d never have done it!

“No, wait, Sis…”

Xiaoke finally sensed something was off.

Her gaze turned suspicious as she looked at Xiaoxi.