Monday morning, 6:50 a.m.

The sky was already bright.

A cool, damp breeze drifted in from the window, a remnant of last night’s rain.

This was rare, refreshing air for June.

After a restful night’s sleep, Alicefiel scooped a fried egg from the pan and placed it into a blue-and-white porcelain bowl seasoned with spices.

There were four such bowls.

Click.

The kitchen door opened.

Lu An stepped in, walking to Alicefiel’s side.

He leaned down, inhaling the savory aroma of the fried egg.

“Smells amazing. Looks appetizing too,” Lu An praised Alicefiel’s cooking.

“Even if I no longer need food to sustain myself, the desire to eat is one of humanity’s most primal urges.”

“So what?” Alicefiel replied, not looking up.

“I’m hungry,” Lu An said bluntly.

“Quick, grab the hand-rolled noodles from the fridge.”

The pot of water nearby was nearly boiling.

Lu An didn’t move, his eyes flickering with confusion.

“Who are you asking?”

“Dad, please grab the noodles.”

“Call me Daddy.”

“Daddy,” Alicefiel said, expressionless.

Lu An telekinetically fetched the noodles from the fridge and dropped them into the boiling water.

In no time, the noodles were cooked.

“I’ll go wake Xiao Yue,” Lu An said, leaving the kitchen.

Alicefiel’s thoughts stirred, and “Lu Xin” emerged from a room, yawning as he shuffled to the dining table.

At the same time, a sleepy-eyed Lu Yue came out of her room and sat down.

“Today’s breakfast is egg noodles, Xiao Yue,” Alicefiel said, handing a bowl to Lu An and another to Lu Yue.

“Oh, Mom! How’d you get back so early?” Lu Yue’s eyes lit up with excitement.

Alicefiel returned to the kitchen, brought out two more bowls of noodles, and placed one in front of “Lu Xin” and one for herself.

She untied her silver hair, letting it cascade down her back.

“Of course, I missed my little treasure. So I took a flight back before dawn,” Alicefiel said, gazing tenderly at Lu Yue.

“Mm, Mom’s noodles are so good—they taste just like Dad’s,” Lu Yue said, slurping a big mouthful.

“Eat slowly, no rush,” Alicefiel advised.

Soon, Lu Yue finished breakfast, changed, and headed off to school.

Now, only Alicefiel, “Lu Xin,” and Lu An remained in the house.

Alicefiel carried her empty bowl to where “Lu Xin” sat motionless on a chair and crouched beside him.

Clearing her throat, she issued a command to “Lu Xin.”

“User: useradmin.”

“Magic signature code: 123.”

“Open chest and abdominal protection.”

“Lu Xin” stripped off his upper clothing.

With a hiss, his chest and abdomen split open like a door, revealing the interior.

Alicefiel reached into “Lu Xin’s” abdomen and pulled out a transparent bag resembling a large stomach, filled with murky food residue.

Lu An raised an eyebrow.

“Is it broken?”

“The food recycling module’s busted,” Alicefiel said, emptying the bag’s contents into a bowl.

“I’ll fix it myself sometime. I know a bit about how these things work.”

“Or maybe I’ll have my student fix it one day,” Alicefiel added.

“Not bad, having a student. I should get going too,” Lu An said, glancing at the wall clock.

“Not staying a few more days?”

“Nah, I’ve got a meeting in the capital later.”

“See you, then?”

“Yeah… see you,” Lu An said with a nod, giving Alicefiel a deep look as she cleaned up.

Then, with a spatial leap, he vanished.

After tidying everything, Alicefiel shook the water off her hands.

Time to check on my student’s defense. And find a “teacher” for Xiao Yue, she thought.

In the capital, at the Central Republic Magic University, in a meeting room on the first floor of the Magical Mechanics Lab Building, a gray-haired girl was preparing her defense presentation.

Her calm demeanor suggested she was destined for a resounding success.

When she looked up and saw a silver-haired girl in a summer dress seated in the back, her green pupils contracted slightly.

Then a faint smile appeared on her cool face.

Alicefiel gave the girl an encouraging gesture, and the defense officially began.

Panel Member A: “How compatible is your alchemical machinery design for replacing human limbs, and which specific limb deficiencies can it address?”

Panel Member B: “How does your design handle ethical concerns in future applications?”

Panel Member C: “I have no questions.”

“Congratulations, Lu Ming. You’ve passed your defense,” the panel chair said after several tense rounds, standing to shake the girl’s hand.

“Congrats, congrats,” the others followed, shaking Lu Ming’s hand one by one.

After handshakes, photos, and small talk, Lu Ming left the meeting room, with Alicefiel following.

Outside, Alicefiel adjusted Lu Ming’s collar, brushing off nonexistent dust, and smiled.

“Congrats, Xiao Lu. You’re officially a doctor today.”

“All thanks to your teaching, Advisor,” Lu Ming said, touching her nose.

“Any plans after graduation?” Alicefiel asked, genuinely concerned about her star student’s future.

“Why don’t you tell me more, Advisor?” Lu Ming asked, curious about her mentor’s influence.

“There’s a new research institute under the Academy of Sciences that needs a leader.”

“You know, it’s a cushy gig,” Alicefiel said, playfully nudging Lu Ming’s chest.

“And then, Advisor?” Lu Ming asked, wincing slightly and rubbing her chest, knowing there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

“Help me out. Teach at a school for two years, and I’ll get you a position at the Bureau of Magical Affairs.”

“Of course, Advisor. And the details…?”

“Keep an eye on my kid,” Alicefiel said with a sigh.

Lu Ming’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“You already have a kid?” she asked, stunned, having never heard of her mentor having a spouse.

“She’s sixteen, in her first year of high school. Recently, she secretly awakened as a magical girl. Such a handful.”

“She’s already sixteen?” Lu Ming said, piecing together that her mentor must have been a magical girl once, explaining her youthful appearance.

But what was her codename back then?

“Come on, let’s celebrate with a big meal. My treat,” Alicefiel said.

“Then I’ll have to trouble you to splurge, Advisor,” Lu Ming replied.

Suddenly, Lu Ming’s phone vibrated a few times.

She glanced at the screen, looked around, and waved.

Alicefiel’s wandering gaze locked onto a slender figure in the distance.

One step, two steps closer, and she glimpsed the figure’s face under a woven hat.

White hair, golden eyes.

Her heart raced.

Alicefiel instantly recognized the figure—her old team captain, Magical Girl Corona.

Corona’s golden eyes burned, as if piercing through the “mystery” shrouding Alicefiel.

Instead of addressing Alicefiel, Corona turned to Lu Ming.

“Passed your defense?”

“Passed,” Lu Ming replied.

“Almost forgot to introduce myself,” Corona said, shifting her gaze to Alicefiel.

“I’m Lu Ming’s sister, Lu Lian. Thank you for guiding her all this time,” Corona said, bowing to Alicefiel.

“It’s what I should do,” Alicefiel replied, her eyes dodging.

She wanted to flee, sweat beading on her forehead.

Seventeen years of hiding, ruined in an instant.

“Hey, Professor Ludwig!” the panel chair called, stepping out of the building and spotting Alicefiel.

“We’re about to start another meeting. Don’t forget to come to the meeting room.”

“Got it,” Alicefiel said, as if granted amnesty.

She turned to Lu Ming.

“It’s almost lunchtime, so I’ll have to treat you in Tongzhou next time, Xiao Lu.”

Then she faced Corona.

“And Captain, see you next time.”

Without looking back, she fled—not toward the meeting room.

Watching Alicefiel’s retreating figure, Corona thought, Finally found you, Little Moon.

“Come on, let’s go have a big meal,” Lu Lian said, linking arms with Lu Ming.

Lu Ming quickly pulled her arm free, scoffing, “Stop acting young…”

“Sister.”