Chapter 44: Answer Honestly, Meow?

Su Ying’s Story Unfolds

Since Su Ying cooperated fully and showed no resistance, the Association’s team softened their approach. Still, they kept the handcuffs on her.

After a while, amid Su Ying’s halting sobs, the group pieced together her story.

Indeed, Su Ying was a monster—a natural-born one from the Divine Assembly’s breeding factory. A tragic fate.

Humans transformed into monsters by negative magic could sometimes revert. Natural-born monsters, however, never could shake their identity.

Yet, Su Ying was fortunate. When she first opened her eyes, the great chaos was nearing its end. The Divine Assembly crumbled under attacks from Eternal Star and other magical girls.

Su Ying never endured the Divine Assembly’s brainwashing. Eternal Star, like a meteor, obliterated her breeding factory, freeing her from a pawn’s fate.

The rest was straightforward. The newly formed Magical Girl Association took in monsters like her, assessed them, treated them, and helped them blend into society.

Su Ying was among the first released. She hadn’t even seen a battlefield, rescued fresh from birth with no threat to anyone.

With the Association’s stipend, Su Ying entered society like a pebble tossed into a raging river—utterly out of place.

Struggles of a Monster

Finding work proved tough for Su Ying. Her monstrous appearance scared off employers, and even when hired, she couldn’t last long.

So, she decided to open her own shop. By then, she’d lived independently, gained some experience, and discovered her passion. Using a monster-specific loan from the bank, she opened a café on South Street.

Su Ying thought running her own business would shield her from workplace rejection. But she was wrong. Few customers wanted to visit a café run by a monster.

Xiao Xi quietly handed Su Ying a tissue. Hearing this, her heart ached with mixed emotions.

She knew Su Ying was kind, driven, and passionate about her work. Yet, even someone like her couldn’t escape society’s harsh prejudice against monsters.

Xiao Xi could destroy the Divine Assembly’s factories and save monsters, but she couldn’t change people’s biases.

“I never meant to hurt anyone,” Su Ying said. “I just wanted to hide my monster traits so I could run my café in peace.”

“I tried so many ways, but nothing worked. Then someone approached me, saying they could get me something to fix it…”

“Miss Su Ying, let’s stop there,” Mu Xingge cut in sharply. “We’ll need to discuss the rest back at the Association.”

“Sorry, we acted rashly without understanding the situation.”

Mu Xingge grabbed the key and uncuffed Su Ying. The staff’s reaction had been excessive, but not entirely their fault.

They’d come to investigate the prior monster attack. Discovering the manager was a disguised monster sparked suspicion.

Su Ying, calming down, wiped her reddened eyes and agreed to cooperate.

An Unwelcome Summons

But as the group prepared to leave with Su Ying, Mu Xingge suddenly turned to Xiao Xi.

“You’re a café employee, right? Just to be safe, come with us for questioning.”

“Don’t worry, it’s just a statement. Super simple.”

Xiao Xi froze, catching Mu Xingge’s probing glance.

Was this about the investigation? No way—this was Mu Xingge digging into her! Damn you, Ye Xinglan! You’ve doomed me!

Though reluctant to get too close to Mu Xingge, Xiao Xi had no choice but to comply with the Association’s orders.

A Suspicious Signature

Half an hour later, in the Magical Girl Association, Xiao Xi signed a document under Mu Xingge and Little Red Riding Hood’s watchful eyes.

According to the staff, signing a confidentiality agreement and undergoing routine questioning would let her leave.

As Xiao Xi finished signing, Mu Xingge’s eerie voice came from behind.

“Your handwriting… it’s a lot like an old friend I haven’t seen in ages.”

“Haha… what a coincidence…”

Xiao Xi forced a laugh, quickly setting down the pen.

Back when she was Eternal Star, Xiao Xi had signed autographs at public events.

Mu Xingge used to tease her about her ugly handwriting, even dragging her to practice signatures privately. She’d called Xiao Xi’s writing childish, lacking flair.

Who’d have thought Mu Xingge would still remember her handwriting after all these years?

Mu Xingge’s suspicions grew. If this maid-dressed girl wrote that spicy fanfic, it raised a question: the novel clearly came from someone who knew her.

But Mu Xingge didn’t know Xiao Xi. How odd. She could count her old friends who she knew but hadn’t seen on one hand.

Still, Mu Xingge stayed quiet, arms crossed, watching as staff led Xiao Xi to the interrogation room.

A Tense Interrogation

Xiao Xi sat alone in the interrogation room for a few minutes, her nerves on edge—not from the questioning, but from figuring out how to avoid Mu Xingge.

After retiring, Xiao Xi had cut ties with old friends. If not for that brat Xiao Keke, she’d never have approached Miss L.

Then, the door opened, and Mu Xingge strolled in.

“Miss Xiao Xi… right? I’m handling your questioning. Just answer honestly. It’s simple.”

Mu Xingge flashed her signature sweet smile, but Xiao Xi grew even more uneasy.

She knew magical girls didn’t handle interrogations. Staff should’ve done this, but Mu Xingge was here… Clearly, she was mixing personal business with work!

“Let’s see… you work at Nightingale Café, right? Besides that, do you have any other jobs or income sources?”

Mu Xingge’s sharp gaze pinned Xiao Xi. “Answer honestly, Miss Xiao Xi.”