Chapter 14: Spring

Ding-ling~

The door’s wind chimes tinkled softly as Jiang Lingwei entered.

The rich aroma of coffee beans filled the air.

A young clerk tended to machines behind the counter.

Few customers were present—some chatted in small groups, others worked on laptops.

In a corner, a worn piano stood, its stool’s leather peeling.

Jiang Lingwei approached, touching the piano gently.

A black kitten leapt from under the lid.

“…”

“…Meow?”

They locked eyes for seconds.

Jiang Lingwei opened her arms; the kitten jumped in.

Finding her chest cozy, it nuzzled, then nestled into her arm.

“Well, alright.”

No putting it down now.

Cradling the kitten, she approached the counter. “I’ll have an oatmeal latte.”

“Okay,” the clerk nodded, smiling. “Looks like Hei Dou likes you.”

“This is Hei Dou?”

Jiang Lingwei scratched its chin, making it purr and close its eyes.

The clerk tapped a small machine.

“Uh…”

Jiang Lingwei froze.

She’d used Jiang Yao’s recharge card for the taxi—simple enough.

But this?

She’d forgotten she came to find a job, not sip coffee.

The familiar shop name had lured her into ordering.

How to pay now?

The clerk, unaware of this elegant woman’s confusion, gently prompted, “Shall I scan you?”

‘Scan?’

A new term.

Jiang Lingwei pictured someone brushing her face with a tiny broom, then serving coffee.

‘No, that’s absurd.’

She’d assured Jiang Yao she’d manage, yet couldn’t buy a coffee.

Embarrassment stung.

The clerk waited, her puzzled look growing.

Blushing, Jiang Lingwei pulled out her bank card. “Can I pay with this?”

“Y-Yes…” The clerk fumbled under the counter, unearthing an old card reader.

Not her fault—no one swiped cards for coffee.

Scanning payment codes was standard; cash was rare, let alone cards.

This young woman’s old-school payment puzzled her.

“There we go.”

As the clerk turned, Jiang Lingwei stopped her. “Is the owner here?”

“Ah,” the clerk said, grabbing coffee beans. “She’s out but should be back soon.”

“Today?”

Her heart raced, audible to her.

“Yes,” the clerk replied.

“I’ll wait.”

Holding Hei Dou, Jiang Lingwei sat in the corner.

“Meow.”

Hei Dou hopped to a sunny windowsill, curled into a ball, and slept.

“Hmm…”

Watching, Jiang Lingwei slumped onto the table.

Her ample chest posed a problem.

As a girl, she was used to her old body, not this adult form.

Lying forward hurt; leaning back against the table’s edge hurt too.

When the clerk brought her latte, she sat up, ending her struggle.

Sipping, she gazed at the bustling street, soothed by the café’s music.

Sleep deprivation from last night crept in.

Even coffee couldn’t fend off her drowsiness.

As waiting dragged on, sleepiness overwhelmed her.

Unable to resist, Jiang Lingwei slumped onto the table and dozed off.

She dreamt vividly, in first-person.

She was rubbing her belly.

A voice asked, “What’ll you name the baby?”

Her own voice answered, “If it’s a boy, you name him. If it’s a girl, I want… Yao.”

“Like the coffee shop we always visit.”

Her vision blurred—tears.

A hand wiped them away.

“It’ll be okay. I promise.”

“Mhm.”

She turned.

Behind her, a headless black shadow.

“Huh!”

Jiang Lingwei jolted awake, sitting up.

The dream faded, hazy.

A nightmare, but details slipped away.

“Are you okay, dear guest? Nightmare?”

A refined, almost noble middle-aged woman looked at her, concerned.

Time had marked her face, yet her youthful beauty lingered.

“I’m the owner of Yaoguang Coffee,” she said gently. “Xiao Wang said you wanted to speak with me?”

Jiang Lingwei, silent, grabbed the woman’s sleeve.

“Huh? What’re you doing?”

Ignoring her, Jiang Lingwei lifted the sleeve of her expensive coat.

“This guest,” the woman said, frowning but not pulling away. “We can talk, but please let go.”

Her sharp gaze met Jiang Lingwei’s passionate eyes.

Rustle!

Jiang Lingwei yanked the sleeve up, revealing a black dragon tattoo on the woman’s forearm.

“Yo.”

Relief washed over her.

She smiled. “Long time no see, Sister Quan. Is the Dark Flame Dragon still sealed in your right hand?”

“Wha…”

The woman froze, stunned, then yanked her arm back.

“How do you know that? Who are you?”

Jiang Lingwei suppressed her joy, sighing. “Sister Quan, do I really look that different now?”

“You…”

The woman squinted, then gasped. “You’re… Little Aurora! Oh my God!”

“Yes, it’s me, I—”

“Little Aurora!!!”

Thud.

Before she could finish, the woman hugged her tightly, nearly suffocating her.

“Where’ve you been?” she sobbed, tears soaking Jiang Lingwei’s neck. “Where’s everyone? I waited at the base during your final battle. Two weeks! You never came back!”

“Where did you all go…”

Ignoring the staring customers, the middle-aged woman clung to the young woman, crying.

Jiang Lingwei patted her back, comforting her.

The feeling brought back the past.

Sister Quan hadn’t changed a bit.

Wen Yaquan, an ordinary person who joined their magical girl team by chance.

Her name and bold behavior never matched.