Chapter 37: I’m so in love that I’m going on a date while my teammates are having a meeting!

After the call ended, Xia Momu and Lin Qingya wasted no time, chanting the incantation to transform; magical girls Wei Re and Bai Xue emerged once more.

Guided by Ling Lan’s pinpointed location, their forms dissolved into twin streaks of light, streaking swiftly toward Jinmao Commercial Building in the city center.

The spot was cleverly concealed: an abandoned storage room within the tower.

Pushing open the dust-caked iron door, they took in the scene at a glance.

The room was cramped, dimly lit, the air thick with stale mustiness.

Ling Lan (Su Xingcui) and Xin Lü (Yang Yuxin) sat on a pair of battered wooden chairs, looking faintly drained.

Across from them perched a poised golden magical girl.

She boasted radiant golden tresses, clad in a sleekly designed golden combat suit; even lounging casually, she radiated an aura of formidable power.

“You’re here.”

Xin Lü spotted them and rose promptly, gesturing to the blonde. “This is Jin Ling, the magical girl guarding Gan City.”

She turned to Jin Ling. “These are our other two teammates: Wei Re and Bai Xue.”

Jin Ling stood, offering a crisp nod. “Hi, I’m Jin Ling.”

“Hi hi! Wei Re here!” Wei Re waved with bubbly zeal.

“Hello, I’m Bai Xue.” Lin Qingya greeted softly.

“Now that we’re all assembled, let’s cut to the chase.” Jin Ling scanned the group, diving straight in.

“Mm, first off—how many transformer missions has everyone run?”

The question caught them off guard.

Wei Re blinked, tilting her head. “Lemme think… eight, I guess.”

Ling Lan replied gravely. “Five.”

“Same for me—five.” Xin Lü echoed.

At last, all eyes landed on Lin Qingya.

She ducked her head sheepishly, mumbling. “I… only two…”

Jin Ling’s brow arched slightly at the number, but no disdain crossed her face.

“Don’t sweat it—fewer missions aren’t a bad thing.”

Her words surprised them all.

“Quite the opposite: the ones we’ve done? They’re riddled with weirdness.”

With that, Jin Ling recapped her clash with Ling Lan and Xin Lü in quick strokes.

Divergent directives, hostile probing, culminating in a needless misunderstanding—it all rang false.

Lin Qingya and Xia Momu swapped grim looks as Jin Ling wrapped up.

Xia Momu promptly outlined their suburban greenhouse fiasco in full: the cops’ sudden swarm, the trap to pin them as murder suspects in a classic “catch in the jar.”

As intel swapped hands, the storage room’s air grew heavier.

“I figured at first, with magical girls operating independently per city—and transformers isolated—that explained any mission delays or info gaps.”

Ling Lan added solemnly post-recap. “But now? It’s clearly more tangled.”

“Exactly.” Jin Ling nodded agreement. “I’ve clocked seven missions, and the deeper in, the fishier it gets.”

“I keep sensing these shiny ‘hero’ tasks are papering over… something terrifying underneath.”

Jin Ling’s take synced eerily with Lin Qingya’s prior suspicions.

It deepened her doubts about the “magical girl” mantle.

From the wetland park body dump to this greenhouse frame-up—justice? Nowhere in sight.

“Guarding love and justice” rang hollow, outright mocking now.

She could barely trust any transformer directive anymore.

In that light, getting no missions… maybe a blessing in disguise.

Right then—a quirky chime shattered the hush.

“Auntie washes the railway~!”

Lin Qingya jolted.

Her custom alert—for the world’s one and only.

Under four pairs of stares, she fumbled for her pocketed phone in a fluster.

The screen glowed: message from “My Beloved Master,” naturally.

She tapped it open; a photo commandeered the display, pinning her gaze.

Bai Wanting in an elegant, sultry black lace slip dress, soft lighting tracing her flawless shoulder and neckline—that already stunning face, rendered utterly captivating in the shot.

She tilted her head slightly, offering the lens a tender half-smile, beauty quaking Lin Qingya to her core.

Caption below:

[My Beloved Master: Does little Ya think sister’s outfit looks nice?]

Lin Qingya’s heart stuttered to a near-halt.

She blanked on her whereabouts, on the teammates eyeing her.

Her world shrank to that photo’s soul-snaring figure.

Ah… head full… of sweetly smiling little Bai-jie…

Fingers quivering, she hammered out a reply.

[Little Yi Ate What Today: Gorgeous! So gorgeous!!! Little Bai-jie’s the prettiest in the world! ⁄(⁄⁄⁄ω⁄⁄⁄)⁄]

Sent, she saved the pic to her album, starred it for keeps.

Pre-bed tonight: she’d pore over it, counting every strand on little Bai-jie’s head if she could.

“Um… Bai Xue…”

Xia Momu tugged her sleeve, coughing lightly to reel her soul back.

Lin Qingya snapped to, mortified at her lapse.

Face scorching, she hurried to pocket the phone.

But then—the chime pinged again.

[My Beloved Master: Wow, little Ya likes it?]

Lin Qingya flinched, yanking it to silent in guilty haste, thumbs blurring.

[Little Yi Ate What Today: Love it! Love it most! Little Bai-jie looks stunning today! Actually, I love whatever little Bai-jie wears!]

Her cheeks bloomed alluring pink; her pulse betrayed her with wild thuds.

Little Bai-jie… can she hear the confession in my words?

Reply zipped back swift.

[My Beloved Master: Then… could my little Ya swing by the city gate under Nevernight City’s scenic spot? Sister’s got a little surprise for you~]

[My Beloved Master: If little Ya’s tied up, no biggie—just means sister might feel a tad down…]

Down.

That word? An unbreakable edict, crumbling Lin Qingya’s every defense.

Schemes? Perils? Trivial now.

No way she’d let little Bai-jie feel down!

No thought given, she fired back.

[Little Yi Ate What Today: Don’t be down, sister! Coming right now! Soon as I arrive, selfie for you!]

Sent, she couldn’t sit still.

“Sorry, everyone!”

She shot up from the chair, bowing deep to the stunned trio.

“Family emergency—gotta head back ASAP! So sorry!”

Ling Lan’s brow creased; Jin Ling’s gaze sharpened.

“Hold up.”

Jin Ling halted her, tapping her golden earring, staring Lin Qingya down long.

Xia Momu sensed the scan, jumping in to defuse. “Ah! Family first! Go, Bai Xue! We’ll sync updates if we crack anything!”

Seconds ticked; Jin Ling’s face twisted oddly, her look at Lin Qingya a mix of exasperation and awkwardness.

“It’s not… whatever.”

“You can go.”

Ling Lan gaped. “Jin Ling?!”

“Her head’s already checked out—staying’d be useless.” Jin Ling sighed, pointedly. “Wei Re teamed with her; grill her for deets.”

“Thanks!”

Jin Ling relented; Lin Qingya shot Xia Momu a grateful glance, then bolted—door yanked open, vanishing in a dash.

Little Bai-jie always came first.

Owner’s command was absolute; she’d never defy it in this life.

Plus… a little surprise!!

Watching her soul-snatched sprint, Xia Momu shook her head in fond defeat.

Knew it: that “little Bai-jie” had slipped her another love potion.

Love brain’s no illness, but damn when it flares.

She waved it off, meeting Ling Lan and Jin Ling’s probes with a dry chuckle.

“All good, all good—let’s keep rolling…”

…

Lin Qingya blazed back to the hotel, first move: drop the transform, storm the bathroom.

She freshened up thoroughly, dabbing on delicate makeup at the mirror.

Then, into her fave white sundress—twirls before the full-length till she deemed herself adorbs, then out the door, satisfied.

Cab straight to Nevernight City scenic spot.

En route, her mind swirled with little Bai-jie thoughts.

How’s little Bai-jie’s mood holding?

Work wear her down, sour her sparkle?

And that little surprise she prepped!

What could it be?

A gift, long-planned?

Wah… or maybe little Bai-jie likes her back, seizing the chance to confess?

Or… something deeper, just-theirs “reward”?

Ugh, no clue!

Musing morphed to steamy daydreams; pink bubbles fizzed from her.

Little Bai-jie as owner, commanding daily this-and-thats, bonding ever tighter…

Aaaah! Stop!

Lin Qingya flushed, shaking hard to evict the naughty notions.

Hotel to Nevernight: a hop; the cab braked soon at the site.

Fare paid, she bolted for the grand, antique gate.

Under its shadow, phone out—she posed cute for a “here!” selfie to little Bai-jie.

Then—a tender embrace scooped her from behind, gentle.

That familiar, addiction-fueling scent enveloped her, binding her senses tight.

Lin Qingya went rigid.

Her screen caught it clear: that face she’d pined for, right beside hers.

All Nevernight hushed; even her heartbeat ground to a halt.

“L-little… Bai-jie…”

She murmured on reflex, voice quivering, eyes saucered, rooted.

Bai Wanting rested her chin soft on Lin Qingya’s shoulder, breath warm at her ear, gaze brimming with affection—voice a drowning velvet.

“Happy May Day, my little Ya…”