Chapter 34: Manager’s Help, Meow?
Covering the Tracks
“The scratch on my arm? Got it while squeezing onto the subway. Didn’t think much of it—probably got caught on someone’s bag zipper or something in the crowd.”
Xiao Xi waved her hand, feigning exhaustion. “You know how packed the subway is at that hour.”
“That’s it?” Xiao Keke’s eyes narrowed, unconvinced. “Then why’d you lie earlier, Sis?”
“Well… I was worried you’d get mad, Keke.”
A sheepish smile crossed Xiao Xi’s face. “Last time you saw what I wrote, you blew up at me. I thought if I told you I went to sign a novel contract, you’d get upset again. So, I told a little white lie. Sorry.”
Inwardly, Xiao Xi marveled at her own genius. She figured if she were a playboy, she could come up with a thousand excuses to keep all her admirers happy.
“I know you don’t like what I write, Keke, but I need to make money somehow. Your sister’s got no fancy degree, and jobs aren’t exactly lining up for me. Writing spicy stories is just how it goes.”
Xiao Keke’s mind flashed to the conversation between Sirius and Senior Mu Xingge after their last mission.
She wanted to scold Xiao Xi, but seeing her sister juggle writing novels and working as a server, she held her tongue.
Still… ugh!
Xiao Keke’s expression twisted. She wanted to warn her sister that the person her stories were about had seen them, but how could she bring it up?
Saying anything might reveal she’d been secretly working as a magical girl and knew Senior Mu Xingge. Xiao Keke prided herself on keeping that under wraps—her sister surely had no clue.
A Quick Escape
“Oh, looks like the manager needs me. I’ll be right back.”
Xiao Xi glanced toward the counter and jogged off. Xiao Keke watched her sister’s retreating figure, a lingering doubt in her mind.
Her sister’s explanations made sense, sure, but the wound and the timing lined up too perfectly with Sirius. Could the world really be that coincidental?
I’ll probe a bit more when she’s back, Xiao Keke decided, brainstorming questions to get the answers she wanted.
Unexpected Praise and Reader Drama
Not long after Xiao Xi returned, Xiao Keke barely opened her mouth before Ye Xinglan eagerly cut in.
“I think your writing’s great, Xiao Xi!” Ye Xinglan said encouragingly from the side. “The part where the magical girl gets defeated is a bit dull, but the stuff before that is solid.”
“Thanks, but please stop throwing so much money at my stories, Xinglan…”
Xiao Xi’s voice sounded drained. Ever since Ye Xinglan started reading her novels, she’d been showering them with lavish gifts.
While Xiao Xi appreciated the support—and it boosted her stories’ popularity—it gave her the odd feeling of being “kept” by Ye Xinglan. She could hardly handle it.
“But there’s this one person in your reader group who’s kinda annoying,” Ye Xinglan added. “I feel like she doesn’t even like your work. Why join the group then?”
“You’ve got a reader group, Sis?”
Xiao Keke’s curiosity piqued. She leaned over to peek at Ye Xinglan’s phone. She’d only heard from Sirius about the novel itself, not about any reader group.
“Here, this one—” Ye Xinglan opened the chat history for the “V-Me-50-Crazy-Thursday-Insights-Group” and pointed at someone’s avatar.
Xiao Keke froze. That Hatsune Miku avatar and the username “Hoping for Less Work” were all too familiar—she’d added that person as a friend just days ago. Wasn’t that Senior Mu Xingge’s account?
Didn’t Mu Xingge act all calm and say she didn’t care about this stuff? Why’d she secretly join the reader group?
Glancing at the slightly heated chat history between Ye Xinglan and Mu Xingge, Xiao Keke broke into a cold sweat.
For some reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling that both her sister and Xinglan had giant “DANGER” signs hovering over their heads.
Maybe I should butter up Senior Mu Xingge more, Xiao Keke thought nervously. If things go south, I might be able to plead for Sis and Xinglan in front of her.
A Timely Message
“Sis, about that contract—” Xiao Keke finally seized a chance to speak, but a ding from her phone cut her off.
Seeing the sender, she froze, her words catching in her throat.
“Sorry, rushed out at noon and forgot to turn off the gas stove. Thanks for handling the rest with Senior.”
A message from Sirius?
Xiao Keke looked up, staring at her sister. Xiao Xi was busy feeding cake to Ye Xinglan, both hands on the table—no way she could’ve sent that message.
“What’s up, Keke? Why’re you staring?” Xiao Xi asked, blinking in confusion.
“…Nothing. Just not thrilled about eating your dog food.”
Xiao Keke shook her head, suppressing her doubts. Maybe it was just a coincidence.
Wrapping Up and Gratitude
Time flew by. After chatting with Ye Xinglan for over an hour, Xiao Keke prepared to leave. Xiao Xi, still working, couldn’t sit and chat forever. Even if Su Ying didn’t mind, Xiao Xi’s conscience wouldn’t let her slack off.
Xiao Keke’s excuse was needing to return to school for homework, but Xiao Xi guessed she was probably off to write today’s mission report.
As for herself? She didn’t need to bother with reports. No way Miss L would drag her into association work and make her do tedious paperwork.
Ye Xinglan, as usual, stayed with Xiao Xi until closing time before they left together. Before heading out, Xiao Xi quietly slipped behind the counter to thank Su Ying.
“Thanks, Manager, for helping with such a weird favor out of nowhere.”
“No trouble at all,” Su Ying said with a warm smile, waving it off. Xiao Xi had only asked her to send a pre-written message at a specific time—hardly a hassle.
“Aren’t you… curious why I asked for that, Manager?”
Xiao Xi had braced for Su Ying’s questions. Lying was a slippery slope—one fib to cover for Xiao Keke meant weaving another to keep up the act.
“Not curious at all. Everyone’s got their little secrets,” Su Ying replied, wiping a glass without looking up. “Now, get going. Don’t keep your girlfriend waiting.”
Her words warmed Xiao Xi’s heart. Su Ying was just too kind—gentle and understanding.
Thanks to Su Ying’s help, Xiao Keke shouldn’t suspect her identity anymore, right?