Chapter 38: Teammate to the Rescue, Meow?

An Awkward Freeze

The sudden silence hung heavy, like a deathly stillness between them. Xiao Xi froze in place, unsure whether to sit or stand.

As Xiao Keke’s eyes widened, Xiao Xi mentally kicked herself.

Am I an idiot? Why did I reflexively stand to greet a customer?

No, no, stay calm. It’s just a small slip—there’s still room to fix this…

Ye Xinglan, who had just entered, shot a wary glance at the unfamiliar girl. Her instincts screamed magical girl—she’d seen too many transformed ones to mistake it.

“Oh, Xinglan!” Xiao Keke shifted her gaze from Xiao Xi. “You’re here too? Where’s my sister?”

“Xiao Xi hasn’t arrived yet? She left half an hour ago. Don’t tell me she’s late again.”

Half an hour ago… Xiao Keke stole a glance at Sirius. By Xinglan’s timing, her sister should’ve reached the café right around when Sirius met her.

“I’ll sit over there,” Ye Xinglan said, giving a quick nod before picking a seat far from them. She didn’t know if this magical girl was Xiao Keke’s friend, but she wanted no part of her.

Xiao Xi quietly sat back down, eyes glued to the menu, avoiding Xiao Keke’s gaze.

Heh, can I pretend nothing happened?

Of course not. Xiao Keke’s voice carried a sharp certainty.

“A-Lang, what was that about?”

“Occupational hazard, haha…” Xiao Xi wiped her sweat. “I actually do part-time server work too. Saw someone come in and just stood up on reflex.”

It was a lame excuse, but it was all she could muster. Xiao Keke didn’t call her out directly, just crossed her arms and listened.

Keep acting. I’m watching.

“I’ve been a server for years,” Xiao Xi continued. “Been working lately, so it’s muscle memory.”

“Years? Didn’t Miss L say you just transferred from Beihua City?”

“Well… I picked up a new gig here. Back in Beihua, I worked as a server for years.”

Sighing, Xiao Xi scrambled for a cover. “No choice. My family’s never had money. I take whatever jobs I can to help out. The magical girl association’s pay isn’t exactly enough.”

She pulled up her WeChat balance to show Xiao Keke. No need to fake this—she was genuinely broke.

Though the excuse made sense, Xiao Keke just smiled, staring at her. That smile sent chills down Xiao Xi’s spine.

Help! Where’s my teammate? We’re in a teamfight here!

The Slime’s Grand Entrance

Just then, a cute figure in a maid outfit emerged from behind the counter, flashing a sweet but slightly stiff smile at them.

“Dear guests, what would you like to order?”

Sis?!

Xiao Keke gaped at the “Xiao Xi” standing by their table, momentarily speechless.

She glanced between Xiao Xi and Sirius. Both were undeniably here together, meaning Sirius’s story checked out?

Sure, her sister’s tone was a bit formal, not as casual as usual, but Xiao Keke figured it was because she was working. She couldn’t exactly chat freely on the job.

Across from her, the real Xiao Xi let out a long breath.

Thank goodness, her teammate kept up and joined the fight, or she’d have been done for.

Xiao Xi’s plan was flawless. Since chatting with Xiao Keke as Sirius was unpredictable, she had to play Sirius herself.

But the “Xiao Xi” server role? Perfect for the slime monster. Simple tasks like taking orders and serving drinks were well within its capabilities for a short time.

“Uh… Sis, we’ll look a bit more. We’ll call you.”

Xiao Keke stammered, raising the menu dejectedly. Good thing she hadn’t pushed Sirius harder earlier—mistaking them would’ve been mortifying!

Watching the slime walk away, Xiao Xi smirked. Her training had paid off. No issues here.

A Test of Hospitality

Xiao Keke took a deep breath. She’d invited Sirius for afternoon tea to thank her, so if her sister and Sirius weren’t the same person, she should at least treat her properly.

Like her sister, Xiao Keke hated owing favors.

“Hey, A-Lang, I recommend this. It comes with an interactive performance.”

She pointed to the Heart-Pounding ♡ Love-Love ♡ Katsu Omelette Rice (with Delicious Spell). Xiao Xi’s face fell.

No way. Slimes could only mimic basic actions. She’d spent ages training it to handle simple serving tasks. A performance like that was way beyond its scope!

“Uh… I’m not big on katsu omelette rice.”

“Got it,” Xiao Keke said, flipping to another dessert with a Delicious Spell. “How about this?”

“Not really my thing either.”

“Then this…”

Xiao Keke suggested several desserts, all rejected by Xiao Xi. Seeing Xiao Keke’s disappointment, Xiao Xi wanted to bonk her on the head.

You’re that eager to see your dear sister act cute in front of you? Can’t you pick something normal, you weird otaku?

“Alright…” Xiao Keke forced a smile. “Why don’t you pick what you like, A-Lang? My treat.”

Who knew Sirius was such a picky eater?

Xiao Xi relaxed, choosing a few items without extra interactions and waving the slime server over.

This should be fine, she thought. Once afternoon tea was over, she’d swap back with the slime, and done.

A Dangerous Oversight

But then, Ye Xinglan, seated a bit away, waved the slime over.

“Xiao Xi, late again today? Penalty—you’re giving me a leg massage! Let’s see… I’ll buy half an hour of your maid service!”

Oh no! Xiao Xi froze. How could she forget Ye Xinglan, the ultimate troublemaker, was here?

Maid service was way too unpredictable. There was no way the slime could handle that!