Chapter 50: Corona Wants to Confront
Corona’s lips twitched, but with others in the room, she swallowed the questions she wanted to ask, as if gulping down a spiked iron ball—heavy, cold, and painful.
Elizabeth, seeing Corona’s hesitant and regretful expression, assumed her sister had recognized Lu Xing as Lu Xin and wanted to reconnect with an old friend gone for over twenty years.
She grabbed Corona’s hand and sent a telepathic message:
Sister, don’t forget you’re still in disguise. Approaching him now would blow your cover.
I know, I know… I just got a bit impulsive. Sorry, Elizabeth, Corona replied.
I get it—you see an old friend and want to catch up. But the kids are here. Just arrange to meet him later, Elizabeth suggested.
Alright, Corona agreed.
Lu Xin seemed to notice Corona’s uneasy expression and asked, puzzled, “Liu Lian, are you feeling unwell?”
Elizabeth glanced at Corona, who clearly hadn’t recovered from the shock of seeing an old friend.
Before Elizabeth could speak, Corona tugged her hand, then addressed Lu Xin:
“Director, I’m just curious—why do you rarely show yourself at the Magic Affairs Bureau?”
Corona’s question stemmed from Lu Xin’s persistent efforts to conceal her identity and whereabouts, even from Lu Yue.
She couldn’t fathom Lu Xin’s motives.
Perhaps it’s tied to that night he took my first time?
She’d heard from Yuehua that Lu Xin was a writer, and given Yuehua’s closeness to her, Corona trusted she wouldn’t lie.
The issue must lie with Lu Xin.
Did he deceive or manipulate Yuehua somehow? Is the concealment on him something he stole from her?
Lu Xin looked at Liu Lian’s inquisitive face, her mind racing.
She had indeed made a habit of hiding her traces and identity, but what was her original reason?
Maybe it was guilt, like a thief.
She had taken something from Corona without reason, lacking even the courage to own up to it, only fleeing, terrified she’d come demanding justice.
But why had she chosen to run back then?
Lu Xin didn’t know and didn’t want to recall the details of that day, yet the scene surfaced unbidden.
Corona, my sun.
My… light of hope.
Back then, she saw Corona as her goal, striving to reach her level through hard work, to confess openly and prove she was worthy of giving Corona happiness.
But fate had other plans.
That day, seeing Corona collapse alone, Lu Xin—always viewing her as her sun—lost herself.
Normally in control, she was overtaken by an inexplicable, overwhelming force, losing consciousness without warning.
When she came to, the grave mistake had been made.
Lowering Corona’s white-stockinged legs, extricating herself from the mess, Lu Xin couldn’t process it.
What have I done?!
Staring at her “handiwork,” she was frozen.
Fearing her shameful act, she hurriedly cleaned the scene, dressing Corona neatly, then burned the evidence—mistakes and mattress alike.
In the days that followed, Corona seemed unaware anything was amiss, greeting Lu Xin warmly as always.
But guilt nearly crushed her.
Corona’s unchanged, warm attitude was the final straw.
No accusations, no blame.
Unable to bear it, Lu Xin fled, losing the courage to face Corona as herself.
For years, she hid her tracks and identity, until it became second nature.
Adjusting her emotions, Lu Xin said kindly to Liu Lian, “Habit, I guess. I’ve never been fond of public appearances. I just focus on doing my job.”
Is that all? Corona thought, addressing Lu Xin silently.
“I understand, Director. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit the injured magical girls,” she said aloud.
“It’s my duty,” Lu Xin nodded.
“But I’m here for another reason too,” she said, turning to the rookie magical girls.
“Since Abyss has awakened as a magical girl, she can still guide new magical girls.
However, as a ‘newbie’ herself, her advanced training will be handled by another magical girl.”
“Who’s the senior, Director?” Polaris asked curiously, still holding the bowl of chicken soup, with Jin Yan’s lips lingering on its rim, sipping.
Seeing her daughter ask, Lu Xin gave a genuine smile before continuing, “A magical girl whose codename you’ve all heard of.”
“I’ll keep you in suspense—she’ll meet you soon.”
“I have more work to attend to, so I won’t stay long.”
“Goodbye, everyone.”
With that, Lu Xin glanced at Elizabeth, who was staring at her, holding Liu Lian’s hand, and quickened her pace toward the door.
Elizabeth, snapping out of her conversation with Corona, hurriedly asked, “Didn’t you want to catch up with your old friend? Should I arrange a meeting for you?”
“No… I don’t want to disturb him,” Corona said hesitantly.
Seeing Corona’s indecision, Elizabeth said no more and sent a telepathic message to Lu Xin at the door:
Can you wait for me a moment? I have something to discuss.
Lu Xin stepped out, closed the door, leaned against the wall, and replied, I’ll wait at the end of the hallway.
She walked off.
After messaging Lu Xin, Elizabeth sent to Corona, I just arranged to talk with Lu Xin. I’ll tell him you want to meet.
Corona, looking puzzled, asked, “I didn’t get a chance to ask—how did you know he’s Lu Xin?”
Elizabeth froze, then fumbled, “I ran into Yuehua during their honeymoon in Linhai City, so I recognized Lu Xin, her husband, and memorized some of his traits.”
Enough talk—I’ll bring you good news.
Elizabeth stood, winked at Corona, and followed Lu Xin out.