Good morning, Tongzhou City.

Have you ever seen Tongzhou at nine in the morning?

Well, unless you’re a college student, getting up at this hour hardly counts as rising early or working hard to get rich.

After all, nothing beats the comfort of sleeping in until you naturally wake up.

After a somewhat restless dream, Lu Xin woke up on his custom-made bed.

He rubbed his sleepy eyes and scratched his head.

First, he went to the bathroom to relieve himself.

While washing his hands, he tidied up his bearded face.

As for why he didn’t shave? Naturally, it was to maintain his masculine charm.

After freshening up, he leisurely made his way to the dining table.

There, he enjoyed a breakfast lovingly prepared by his little darling—a pancake stuffed with shredded potatoes and a slightly overcooked fried egg.

Though it was a bit underdone, it was absolutely delicious.

That’s what Lu Xin thought as he savored it.

For a kid just starting middle school, being able to cook was truly commendable.

He quickly finished breakfast and then unhurriedly headed to the sink to wash the dishes.

With the small pile of dishes cleaned, he returned to his still-warm “dog nest.”

He fished out his uncharged phone from under the pillow and began his day of indulgence.

“Why are there so many notifications today?” Lu Xin muttered, puzzled.

He usually didn’t bother with those random media accounts.

Going through each notification one by one? Impossible.

No normal person would waste time scrolling through the garbage churned out by marketing accounts.

With a single tap, he cleared all notifications.

Looking at his phone’s now-pristine notification bar, Lu Xin let out a satisfied hum, as if he’d just tasted something exquisite.

Ding. A news alert popped up on his phone. Today’s headlines:

1. Magical Girl “Corona” holds a fan meet-and-greet in the capital.
2. Vice Chairman of the Magical Committee will inspect the Tongzhou City Bureau of Magical Affairs this afternoon.
3. Magical beasts escape from the nature reserve…

…

He almost forgot—today was no day to laze around.

Trouble was brewing.

Lu Xin felt a headache coming on.

He had received notice from higher-ups long ago, but now he had to resign himself to preparing for the Bureau’s reception of the leadership.

Not to mention the dinner to entertain the big boss tonight.

He opened his contacts, hoping this call wouldn’t interrupt his daughter’s shopping trip with friends.

He tapped the top contact: “AAA Beloved Daughter” and dialed from SIM 1.

The phone rang a few times before it connected.

“Hello? Xiaoyue,” Lu Xin said cautiously.

“What’s up, Dad?” Xiaoyue’s voice sounded puzzled on the other end.

“Is your allowance enough? If you want to buy clothes, I can transfer you some more money.”

“And if you get tired, take a cab. Don’t talk to strangers…” Lu Xin rambled, a bit incoherent.

“Dad, get to the point,” Xiaoyue said, sounding a bit embarrassed.

Giggles from other girls could be heard in the background.

“I’m not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself,” Xiaoyue added, her tone firming up slightly.

As always, his little darling had a gentle temperament.

“Alright, then. Are you having dinner with your classmates tonight?”

“No, didn’t I tell you yesterday? I’m going to let you try my new cooking tonight.”

“Sounds good. Come home early this afternoon. Your grandpa’s coming over, and we’re eating out.”

“What about Mom? Is she back from her business trip today?”

“Your mom… she’s still out of town. She’ll be back tomorrow,” Lu Xin said, his tone slowing.

“Alright, I’ll be back by five,” Xiaoyue replied, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

“OK, bye.”

“Bye, Dad.”

The call ended, and the living room fell silent.

Lu Xin stared at the disconnected phone, lost in thought.

His daughter’s concern for her mom during the call brought a warm smile to his face.

He stood up and picked up the family photo from the TV cabinet, studying it closely.

In the photo, a silver-haired, blue-eyed girl in a white floral dress sat on a small sofa, her legs neatly together.

She held a silver-haired, purple-eyed toddler who had just started kindergarten.

Behind them, a dark-haired, handsome young man rested his hands on the back of the sofa, gazing at the camera with determination.

“A magical girl,” Lu Xin murmured.

He gently traced the girl’s face in the photo and let out a long sigh, a mix of nostalgia and contentment.

“Forever young, forever strong… forever beautiful.”

It’s just a pity I’m getting old.

He placed the photo back in its spot.

Popping a lollipop into his mouth, he stepped onto the balcony, gazing at the bustling traffic between the buildings.

“Is this the peaceful life I deserve?” he asked himself.

Memories of his daughter’s growth flashed through his mind.

“I don’t owe anyone anything anymore.”

“Life’s pretty good now.”

That was his answer to himself.

At 3:00 p.m., in the lobby of the Bureau of Magical Affairs.

“Everyone, get your spirits up! The chief will be here in an hour!” a robust voice echoed through the hall.

Lu Xin, dressed in an administrative jacket, stood with one hand behind his back.

The other hand gestured as he directed the staff’s preparations.

“Hey, Xiao Li, drag those section chiefs out of the bathroom and make them clean it properly.”

“Xiao Wang, where’s Xiao Wang? What’s wrong with you, still glued to your phone and grinning? Is there a pretty girl in there? Get over here and help out.”

“In short: no trash in the bins, no water in the bathrooms, and no one lingering in the seats. Got it?” Lu Xin’s voice boomed.

“Understood!” ×N, the staff replied in unison.

With the cleaning sorted, it should be about ready.

Now, just deal with the press interviews and snap a few photos.

“What a hassle,” Lu Xin muttered under his breath.

Trouble always arrives first.

“Brother Lu, we’ve got trouble.”

Before he saw her, he heard her voice.

A purple-haired girl, looking travel-worn, strode in from the entrance.

It was Yan Huimeng, a retired magical girl and the deputy director of the Bureau.

“What trouble could be worse than a leadership inspection? Let’s hear it,” Lu Xin replied casually.

He opened his thermos and took a sip of tea.

“The retired magical girls we contacted a few days ago probably can’t make it today,” Yan Huimeng said.

She paused before continuing.

“Not sure if it’s a coincidence, but they all said their hair dye’s acting up.”

“Isn’t that a good thing? A second growth spurt in strength after retiring, even if their appearance starts resembling their transformed state more,” Lu Xin responded.

“Maybe they’re worried about exposing their civilian identities to the media and disrupting their daily lives,” the deputy director added.

“Understandable, but that’s not a strong enough excuse. Dyed hair? The streets are full of colorful heads these days,” Lu Xin said, glancing at her purple hair.

“It’s because Magical Girl ‘Corona’ is holding a fan meet-and-greet in the capital, isn’t it?”

Lu Xin hit the nail on the head.

The deputy director’s face flushed with embarrassment, her head dipping slightly as she nodded.

“They went to see Corona, didn’t they?”

His tone was certain.

“And you just came back from a trip to the capital, rushing to make it here on time, right?”

Lu Xin pinched his brow, exasperated.

Magical Girl Corona… better not show up again.

Yan Huimeng’s head dipped even lower.

What a bunch of clowns in this office. The young ones are unreliable, and the old ones are no better. Worrying about these trivial things? Lu Xin grumbled inwardly, though outwardly he remained composed.

Those young staff members, plus his deputy—ugh, all youngsters.

“You’re not young anymore, yet you’re still acting like a giddy girl, giving me headaches,” Lu Xin said, exasperated.

“Alright, go help out and check if there’s anything that needs touching up.”

Relieved, Yan Huimeng scurried off, disappearing from his sight.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, Lu Xin grabbed his secretary, Xiao Wang, who was sneaking toward the bathroom.

“I’ve got something to do. I’ll be on the rooftop making a call. If anything comes up, find Deputy Yan,” Lu Xin instructed.

He adjusted his jacket and climbed to the rooftop at a leisurely pace.

Opening the iron door, he saw a young figure turn to greet him.

“Old man,” Lu Xin said to the man, who looked younger than him.