Chapter 18: Work Finalized

“No wonder the kid I hired said you paid with a bank card, no scan. Haven’t seen that in ages,” Wen Yaquan said, calmer now.

“Stop, stop!” Jiang Lingwei threw up a mock French salute, surrendering. “I feel like an ancient time traveler. Everything’s magical and confusing.”

“By the way, did you sense Yunxia’s magic costume to find this place?”

“Not that mystical. Magic sensing isn’t perfect. I came to find a job.”

Jiang Lingwei peeled the note off her face, waving it. “No more chess. I’ll practice later.”

“I thought this shop might be hiring. Then I saw the Yaoguang Coffee sign and forgot my plan.”

“Heh, you didn’t notice,” Wen Yaquan said. “I put Yaoguang Coffee signs all over this street, just in case you guys returned.”

Her hand darted for Jiang Lingwei’s head again. “Why bother with a job? Didn’t that guy leave you money? Spend it guilt-free, then hunt him down.”

“No way.”

Untransformed, Jiang Lingwei dodged like a Wing Chun master. “I’m not my daughter. I don’t use his money. No reason to.”

“You bore his kid!” Wen Yaquan’s expression turned odd. “What if you two were in love? You just lost your memory, not your brain. Who knows what happened?”

“He put you in a sanatorium, left you cash. Maybe he’s your sweetheart?”

“Never!” Jiang Lingwei slammed the table. “Sister Quan, you don’t get it. That’d never happen to me!”

“Fine.” Wen Yaquan shook her head. “Use the money—it’s yours. Why make life hard? Still so naive.”

“No! Never!”

“Then pay for the coffee.”

“Cough, cough…” Jiang Lingwei choked, recalling she’d used her mystery husband’s card.

She mumbled, “I mean, if I can avoid it—Hey!”

“Hahaha, gotcha!” Wen Yaquan pinned her head, ruffling it hard. “A twenty-something’s head feels different.”

“Ugh!” Jiang Lingwei shook free, smoothing her hair. “I’ll find a job, just watch.”

“Uh-huh!” Wen Yaquan waved a recruitment poster. “Work part-time here.”

“I’m confident I can earn money here. Worst case, I’ll move bricks at a construction site.”

“Hey!” Wen Yaquan dangled the poster. “Brick-moving’s so unladylike.”

“You’re the last to call anyone ladylike,” Jiang Lingwei deadpanned.

“Don’t say that~”

Wen Yaquan slapped the poster on her face.

Unable to ignore it, Jiang Lingwei peeled it off. “When’d you post this?”

“Recently. I need poster girls.”

Knowing her personality, Wen Yaquan added, “I didn’t pull it out just for you. I’ve been hiring, but no one’s right.”

“I’m the least right.” Jiang Lingwei glanced at her chest. “Poster girls should be cute, no?”

“Transform and change your hair color with magic. I’ll handle health certificates and stuff.”

Wen Yaquan held up two fingers. “Double salary. Good enough?”

“It’s not about money…” Jiang Lingwei touched her necklace.

She’d told Wen Yaquan her magic core was damaged.

Unlike full magical girls with endless magic cycles, her power drained even without using her spirit outfit or magic costume.

Untransforming mid-shift, revealing herself as a magical girl, wasn’t something loud humming could cover.

“I’ve got a way,” Wen Yaquan said, thumping her chest like a bandit. “Can you do the job?”

Jiang Lingwei hesitated. “Half-days okay?”

“You’re in?”

“I was ready, but your scheming makes me doubt.”

Time had aged Wen Yaquan from an immature girl to a still-beautiful woman, but her essence—squinting eyes, sly grin, fox-tail vibe—remained.

“Wuwuwu…” Wen Yaquan fake-cried, covering her eyes. “Little Aurora, you’ve changed. It’s been days for you, but you’ve got a kid and don’t trust Sister Quan. When have I ever hurt you?”

“Never…” Jiang Lingwei sighed, unmoved.

Wen Yaquan’s marriage was as wild as imagining her brother becoming a mother.

But she was right—she’d never betrayed her.

“Fine… thanks,” Jiang Lingwei said reluctantly.

“That’s the spirit. I need a trustworthy poster girl. Market analysis shows customers love this.”

Wen Yaquan chuckled. “No hair change needed—pink’s perfect. I’ll make 2D posters, hold street exhibitions, target otaku. They’re loaded and spend big on 2D stuff. Not like before—anime fans dominate comic cons now.”

She counted on her fingers. “A few online stores, and even hardcore otaku won’t escape.”

“That’s low!” Jiang Lingwei grimaced. “Leave us 2D folks alone! You suggested magical girl comics for cash before, and now this? Robbing the 2D world forever?”

“Works, doesn’t it? I’ll give you a commission. No cap.”

“Boss, when do I start?”

“Don’t rush~”

Wen Yaquan brought out the stew, grabbed cold dishes from the fridge, and set the table deftly, eyes soft.

She turned on the TV. “Enjoy your future life here with me.”

“Enjoy what? I don’t get anything,” Jiang Lingwei muttered, eyeing the crisp TV screen.

“Lots of anime updated. Katekyo Hitman Reborn! has a second season.”

“Really? What about Hyouka?”

“Second season too.”

“Wow! Highschool of the Dead?”

“Uh… no. Author’s dead.”

“Eh…”

“What’s Mom doing now?” Jiang Yao mused, bored in class.

Slumped on her desk, she ignored her blank notebook.

The lesson was easy—dull.

Even the teacher ignored her, making it worse.

Glancing right, she whispered, “Lin Yu, class is almost over. Cafeteria plans? Rotating hot pot?”

“…”

Across the aisle, Lin Yu, scribbling notes, gritted her teeth and glared.

Her eyes screamed: I’m trying to focus! Stop talking! ٩(๑`ȏ´๑)۶

Fine, I’ll eat something else, Jiang Yao signaled back.

…I didn’t say no hot pot, Lin Yu’s eyes replied.