Chapter 33:

In a key high school half a city away, while Jiang Lingwei lay in the instrument cabin, someone was counting down to lunch.

“Gu…”

Jiang Yao rubbed her belly, slumped on her desk.

So hungry.

‘When’s class over?’

Defying her pretty-girl image, she squirmed, propping her head on one arm to sleep.

The peach blossom wine’s buzz lingered. Normally, she’d doze off fast in class, but not today.

She missed her pillow.

Yes, she brought a pillow to class—arms got numb otherwise.

Since her mom woke up, she’d stashed it away, acting more restrained in class.

Her mom never asked about grades, but if Jiang Yao went too far and the teacher called her parents…

Her mom’s impression of her would tank. Assassinating the teacher wasn’t an option.

So un-magical-girl-like!

“Yawn.”

Not sleepy, just trying to force sleepiness.

She had to wrap up the day fast—Xiaobai was waiting at the police station.

She’d promised Mingxin to pick him up yesterday, but rushing home to check on her mom, worrying, she forgot.

After? She stared at her mom’s beautiful sleeping face until dawn.

Her mom slept quietly on the sofa, a delicate beauty with subtle tension, likely from her past.

Sometimes, her mom’s brows furrowed, as if about to wake.

Jiang Yao, scared, grabbed a handkerchief, wiped her sweat, and watched closely, fearing a TV-drama-style nightmare—cold sweats, trembling, vomiting.

This lasted until midnight. Finally, her mom relaxed, head tilting, breathing steady.

Jiang Yao sighed in relief.

Besides her childhood with “grandma” downstairs, she’d lived alone, clueless about caregiving.

When her mom was comatose, her weak breathing made Jiang Yao feel like she was talking to a corpse, though she hated admitting it.

Her mom’s awakening was like a dead relative reborn.

She secretly thanked the demon’s death—[Aurora]’s light magic ashed it, a humane end.

‘Giving Mom nightmares? That’s a worse crime!’

Pop.

A paper ball landed on her desk, breaking her thoughts.

“?”

Jiang Yao grabbed a pen, unwrapping it with her left hand.

[What’s wrong with you?]

“???”

She glanced at the tiny words, then at Lin Yu, who was diligently taking notes, ignoring her.

As if annoyed by Jiang Yao’s stare, Lin Yu turned, frowned, shot a “answer quick” glare, then resumed good-student mode.

“Hm.”

No big deal. Lin Yu was often weird, livelier than Jiang Yao, a magical girl. She was used to it.

Bored, she wrote below the note: “Replying to Master Kuang, I’m fine, no issues.”

Pop.

She tossed it back.

Unlike Jiang Yao, who slacked thanks to her grades, Lin Yu balanced small antics with good-student vibes, respecting class discipline (thumbs up).

Sure enough, when the teacher turned to write, another paper ball arrived.

“This is math, last class before lunch. You usually sleep fast—why so slow today? Worried?”

Below: [Also! Don’t call me “Kuang Shao”! (Angry round face emoji)]

Jiang Yao scratched her head, paused, then wrote: “Do you care if I sleep in class?”

She tossed it back.

Lin Yu glared, fuming.

After a while, another ball: “I! Don’t! Care! Just asking, want coffee after school?”

“Hmm~ Hmm~”

Jiang Lingwei stretched, emerging from the cabin-like instrument, rubbing her eyes. “Repair effect’s decent, but not as good as recovery magic. Boss Beifeng? Sister Koizumi? Where’s Sister Koizumi?”

“Your Sister Koizumi’s here,” Wen Yaquan said, lounging in an ergonomic chair, legs in black stockings propped up. “Look at my hands. What year is it?”

“I’m awake, I’m awake.” Jiang Lingwei rubbed her face like a kitten, fully aware of 2032. She climbed out.

“Such a long dream… How long was I out?”

“Three hours—half for scanning, the rest you sleeping like a lazy cat. Up all night?”

“A bit.” Jiang Lingwei slipped on her shoes. “You know I sleep alone.”

“Not used to your daughter? Psychologically, your personality fits small spaces.”

In the past, Jiang Lingwei avoided cohabitation to dodge suspicion, citing “personal habits” unless necessary. She preferred sleeping alone—others nearby, especially staring, kept her awake.

She didn’t expect Yaoyao to be so… intense. (Half annoyed)

Looking at the full-body instrument, she said, “This looks like your old medical pod.”

“Modified from it,” Wen Yaquan said, handing over papers. “Your report.”

“Uh… I don’t get it, Doctor Wen. Just tell me the result. I can take it.”

Jiang Lingwei pushed the papers back, head aching.

“Well, patient Hakivi…” Wen Yaquan paused, solemn, making Jiang Lingwei hold her breath. “You’re basically human.”

“…”

“That’s it?” (Annoyed)

Ding-ling-ling~

Lin Yu entered Yaoguang Coffee, petting Hei Dou.

She trudged upstairs, expecting her mom’s anime binge.

At the third-floor door, key in hand, she froze.

Voices.

Her mom, excited: “Let’s see if you’re developing normally!”

“No way!”

“Be good! (Shock) Put this on!”

“No! Sister Quan, no spicy stuff! Sister Quan, don’t…”

Lin Yu: “????”

Her key hovered, hand frozen.