Chapter 39: Slime Exposed, Meow?
A Plan Falling Apart
Watching Ye Xinglan call the slime monster over, Xiao Xi’s heart raced. She should’ve warned Ye Xinglan not to come to the café today. Of all times, she had to order maid service while the slime was impersonating her!
Anxiety gripped Xiao Xi, but she was helpless. “Sirius” didn’t know Ye Xinglan. It wasn’t her place to interfere with a customer’s order.
But after living with Ye Xinglan for nearly a month, Xiao Xi knew she’d spot the difference. The slime could only mimic simple actions—it’d get caught for sure!
“What’s wrong, A-Lang? Something over there?” Xiao Keke noticed Xiao Xi’s unease and followed her gaze, then smirked.
“Ignore those two. Just a couple being all lovey-dovey in public.”
Xiao Xi stayed silent, praying Ye Xinglan wouldn’t make some bizarre request that’d blow the slime’s cover.
What she didn’t notice was the slime’s eyes lighting up at Ye Xinglan’s call, like a cat spotting catnip, instantly drawn to her.
“What’re you standing there for? Come massage my legs… Whoa, why’re you moving so fast?”
The slime didn’t speak. It scurried to Ye Xinglan’s side, suddenly lively, eyeing her up and down.
Sniff, sniff…
Like a puppy, the slime sniffed at Ye Xinglan, leaving her utterly confused.
“What… sit down already. Is there something nice-smelling on me?”
“You, smell nice.”
The slime’s reply made Ye Xinglan’s face flush. She often teased Xiao Xi during maid service, but this was the first time “Xiao Xi” was so forward.
Sure, they played the couple act in public, but this boldness? Ye Xinglan felt her composure slipping.
An Unexpected Performance
Seeing the slime cozy up to Ye Xinglan so obediently, Xiao Xi blinked in confusion. This slime… was actually pretty good at improvising?
She’d expected it to react stiffly and get exposed quickly, but it was playing the part well.
Too well, in fact. The slime started rubbing its head against Ye Xinglan’s arm, purring like a cat kneading a blanket. But the sound wasn’t quite human.
Did Ye Xinglan have something that attracted the slime?
Xiao Xi’s brow furrowed. Slimes were docile monsters, but this one was acting overly energetic. Something was off.
“X-Xiao Xi, what’re you doing? Is this revenge for me bossing you around?”
“…Like you~”
The sticky-sweet reply fried Ye Xinglan’s brain. Her eyes spun as she whispered, “Sure, we’re pretending to be a couple in public, but you don’t have to go this far! Anyone can tell we’re together now…”
But “Xiao Xi” ignored her, clinging closer. Ye Xinglan froze, then sensed something—a faint trace of magical energy leaking out. This wasn’t Xiao Xi. It was a monster!
Oddly, realizing it wasn’t the real Xiao Xi clinging to her sparked a twinge of disappointment in Ye Xinglan.
The Slime’s True Form
Xiao Xi and Xiao Keke both shot to their feet. Seeing the slime, still in Xiao Xi’s form, cozying up to Ye Xinglan, Xiao Xi couldn’t sit still.
Xiao Keke sensed trouble too. After Ye Xinglan pushed it away, the slime started losing its “Xiao Xi” shape, warping back into its true form—a gray, shapeless blob with a faint core inside.
A monster!
The realization hit Xiao Keke like a thunderbolt. She exchanged a glance with Xiao Xi, and both made the same move—pretending to be scared and bolting outside.
Though the café was empty except for them and Ye Xinglan, and slimes couldn’t physically harm humans, a monster incident demanded action. They reacted instantly.
Soon, magical girls [Little Red Riding Hood] and [Sirius] rushed back in to subdue the monster. Ye Xinglan, now behind the counter with Su Ying, feigned a frightened expression, though she was unfazed inside.
The slime had fully reverted to its gray, gelatinous form, unlike the slimes in most stories. Real slimes, made of negative magical energy, took on dark hues like gray or black due to their emotional essence.
Xiao Xi’s teeth gritted, barely resisting the urge to punch the slime into oblivion. She played along with Little Red Riding Hood to restrain it.
As a D-grade magical girl, she could subdue a slime but not obliterate it without raising suspicion. She wasn’t risking more slip-ups.
“Little Red Riding Hood, check if any customers are hurt.”
But Little Red Riding Hood didn’t move. She just stared at the slime pinned to the floor.
A Dawning Realization
A thought struck Xiao Keke. If the “Xiao Xi” in the café was a monster, then she hadn’t actually seen her sister and Sirius together today.
And why would a slime, out of nowhere, disguise itself as her sister at her workplace—on the exact day she brought Sirius here? Thinking back to Sirius instinctively greeting customers…
She knew slimes could stun humans and mimic them, but she wasn’t worried about her sister’s safety or whereabouts. A new possibility hit her—she’d been set up by her sister!
“What’s wrong, Little Red Riding Hood? Why aren’t you moving?”
Xiao Xi pressed, hoping to buy time during the monster cleanup to think up a new excuse.
But Little Red Riding Hood didn’t budge. Instead, she narrowed her eyes at Xiao Xi.