Chapter 37: Image Issues
“Welcome back next time~ I’ll be here tomorrow!”
After hours of forcing a business smile, Jiang Lingwei waved off the last customers, eyes darting for an escape route.
‘I’m dying, dying, dying.’
“Aurora! That’s you! Wait!”
A voice called from behind.
Knowing it was Jiang Yao, Jiang Lingwei didn’t turn. She planted her right foot, leaned forward, hiked her maid skirt, and bolted.
No way she’d face her daughter now.
Back in the day, she was the “little prince of cooking and running.” If she wanted to escape, no one could stop her!
‘Hah, silly girl, you’re too green compared to your parents! Shouting my name from afar? Rookie move. Just walk up!’
‘Study hard, Magical Girl Classroom, Lesson One!’
The real reason for fleeing? This situation was wrong.
She’d planned to mentor Jiang Yao as [Aurora]—combat skills, enemy weaknesses, as a “reliable senior.” But today? A catgirl maid? If she weren’t duty-bound, she’d have bailed from shame the moment Jiang Yao spotted her.
Her professional pride kept her glued to Yaoguang Coffee, a place tied to their memories. She couldn’t let her mess-up hurt Wen Yaquan’s shop.
So, she endured Jiang Yao’s and Lin Yu’s vague stares, powering through with pure work ethic.
Mid-shift, Jiang Yao texted she’d be home late, spiking Jiang Lingwei’s nerves. She snuck to the bathroom to reply, only to return for group photos with customers picked by Liu Xiaoqing.
Worse, her ecstatic act hit a Chocolate and Vanilla nerve, hyping the crowd further.
Watching staff hand out badges and cards—“millet”?—Jiang Lingwei echoed “Rowe’s good rice” and “let’s make rice,” clueless about the slang.
It was like stumbling into a foreign village, half-grasping local customs in a language she barely knew.
Exhausted physically and mentally, acting catgirl in front of Wen Yaquan was bad enough. In front of her daughter? Death.
As [Aurora] or “Mom,” being caught like this was game over (sad).
‘I built a reliable senior image, only to meet as a catgirl… Too much!’
‘Sorry, kid. If I don’t admit it, that wasn’t me. I’ll reintroduce myself tomorrow.’
‘Perfect! Turn the corner, fly off when no one’s looking!’
Gleeful at her escape, Jiang Lingwei sprinted—
Thud.
—into Wen Yaquan’s arms, who popped out from behind a wall.
“Ow.” Wen Yaquan rubbed her chest dramatically. “Why run? Good thing you’re short now, or I’d be flattened.”
“Sorry, Sister Quan, let me—” Jiang Lingwei tried to break free, speaking fast, but froze.
Wen Yaquan’s stance—one leg forward, braced for impact—was too perfect.
‘Something’s off.’
A non-combatant like Wen Yaquan reacting so fast, catching her mid-sprint? Suspicious.
Her appearance was too convenient.
Jiang Lingwei’s eyes widened, staring at Wen Yaquan in disbelief.
‘You planned this?!’
“Hey.” Wen Yaquan lowered her head, smirking wickedly.
Their eyes locked, reconnecting after years.
Wen Yaquan’s voice echoed in her mind: ‘Ahaha~ Caught me. I did it on purpose ￣︶￣∗￣︶￣*).’
‘Haki Springs! You set me up! ヽ(≧□≦)ノ’
‘Hey~’
As the mental chat ended, Wen Yaquan, leveraging her taller frame, hugged Jiang Lingwei tightly, exclaiming, “Oh, Xiaoguang! Why’d you run? I haven’t paid you!”
“That’s not the point!” Jiang Lingwei glanced at Jiang Yao rushing closer, clawing at Wen Yaquan’s arm to break free. Her body lifted.
“Huh? Huh!”
Wen Yaquan hoisted her up, princess-style.
Powerless, Jiang Lingwei kicked Wen Yaquan’s knees in protest, hearing her daughter’s footsteps. Drooping her arms, she cursed her short stature.
Ten minutes later, in a private café room, Jiang Lingwei sipped black tea, coughed lightly, and faced Jiang Yao. “It’s just a part-time job… I don’t usually do this.”
‘There’s still a chance!’
The invincible [Aurora] cheered herself on: ‘I can salvage my image! Show her a reliable, serious senior magical girl!’
“I understand,” Jiang Yao nodded eagerly.
She was shocked. Past encounters with [Aurora] were epic—sharp, powerful, wiping out enemies that overwhelmed her.
The first time was fine, but the second? Without [Aurora], Jiang Yao might’ve died, and her mom—an ordinary woman, maybe slightly changed by her father but still kind—could’ve been hurt.
The thought terrified her.
She was grateful to [Aurora], whose warmth drew her close, yet a distance remained.
Now, this [Aurora]… calm but blushing, betrayed her nerves.
“Oh, I forgot!” [Aurora] yanked off her cat ears, setting them on the table with feigned coolness, then shoved them underneath, flustered.
How to describe it…
‘Kinda cute.’