Chapter 52: Clenched Fists and the Spring of Workhorses

Alice Phil left, cloaked in her Concealment authority, masking her presence as she strode confidently out the hospital’s main entrance toward the Magic Affairs Bureau.

Elizabeth leaned on the bedrail, watching the empty street below under the blazing sun.
With her mental senses, she tracked Alice Phil’s path as she left the hospital, her expression calm, as if pondering something.

As a long-time comrade and sister whose bond with Alice Phil was stronger than steel, Elizabeth knew her well.
Alice Phil could be a bit lecherous but held herself to high moral standards.

She was occasionally careless but generally excelled in her work.
In battle, she was brutally effective against ferocious beasts.
Though aloof in external dealings, she was surprisingly soft and adorable with teammates.

A little teasing left Alice Phil blushing furiously.
Elizabeth recalled her flustered expression during their earlier embrace, a honey-sweet smile curling her lips.

Such a pity I didn’t snap a photo.

But what was with Alice Phil’s relieved look when she heard Corona wanted to meet her other identity, Lu Xin?

Lu Xin had left the team to hide his ability to transform into a magical girl, and Corona hadn’t shown anything unusual in the days before his disappearance.

So what was the reason?

Elizabeth sensed there might be some hidden truth, but it wasn’t her place to meddle in Corona and Lu Xin’s personal affairs.

As if sensing something, Elizabeth glanced back at the ward door.
Corona, disguised as Liu Lian, poked her head out, her red eyes locking onto Elizabeth at the windowsill.

Elizabeth gestured for her to come over, covering her mouth.
Corona nodded, said something to the rookie magical girls inside, and jogged to Elizabeth’s side.

“How’d it go?”

“What did Lu Xin say?” Corona asked eagerly.

“He said he’ll meet you next Saturday at 8 p.m. on the Magic Affairs Bureau rooftop,” Elizabeth replied.

“Did he say anything else?” Corona pressed, a bit anxious.

“No, but…” Elizabeth noticed Corona’s urgency and, with a playful idea, shifted gears.

“Yuehua came to pick him up just now.”

“You know Lu Xin doesn’t like showing his face, so he was holding Yuehua’s waist the whole way. They seemed pretty close.”

Hearing that Lu Xin was holding Yuehua’s waist, Corona’s urgency vanished.
Her face turned eerily calm, her fists clenching involuntarily.

“Hey, sister, you okay?” Elizabeth asked, feigning confusion.

“You said Little Moon was here?” Corona asked, loosening her fists.

“Yeah, their marriage is rock-solid. Lu Xin just made a call, and Yuehua showed up instantly.”

“What’s with that look, sister?” Elizabeth said, still pretending to be puzzled.

“Yuehua has a family now. You’re not still hung up on your ‘treasure,’ unable to let her go, are you?”

“No, I do love Little Moon, but… I have no intention of disrupting her life,” Corona said, her face tinged with awkwardness and a hint of bitterness.

Good, no intentions then, sister, Elizabeth thought, smiling inwardly.
You’ve got no chance with Little Moon now.

Yuehua, Alice Phil, Lu Xin—they’re mine, Elizabeth declared victoriously in her mind.

“Well then, I’ve passed on your message to Lu Xin, and I’ve visited the injured rookie magical girls. My work here’s done.”

“I’m heading out. No need to see me off, sister,” Elizabeth said to Corona.

“I… understand,” Corona nodded.

“Let’s go say goodbye to the rookie magical girls,” Elizabeth said, taking Corona’s hand and returning to the ward.

…………

Inside the Tongzhou City Magic Affairs Bureau, Alice Phil, still under Concealment, sat in the director’s office chair, leaning back and planning what to do when meeting Corona as Lu Xin.

Should she kneel and beg for forgiveness?

Or offer her neck for judgment?

Or perhaps end it all upon meeting?

Alice Phil didn’t want to overthink it.
She’d take it one step at a time.
Her sins were hers to atone for.

It was only a matter of time.

With some time left, she decided to handle pre-promotion tasks.

Sitting up straight, hands on the desk, she suddenly didn’t want to revert to Lu Xin’s form.

This form felt relaxing, free.

Since leaving the hospital, Alice Phil had maintained Concealment, reveling in the freedom of being unnoticed amidst the bustling crowds.

But what was the essence of freedom?

Was it the ease of shedding a disguise to reveal one’s true self?

If so, what was her true self?

Was Alice Phil what lay beneath Lu Xin’s facade?

She shook her head, dismissing the thoughts.
Some freedoms could wait until she finished urgent tasks and returned home.

Golden patterns spread across her neck, and the person in the director’s chair transformed into the bearded, middle-aged Lu Xin.

Having worked at the bureau for years, she knew some talents were too exceptional to be buried in a provincial office like Tongzhou’s.

Lu Xin pulled out her phone and messaged Yan Huimeng to come to the director’s office.

Soon, Yan Huimeng entered, dressed in a professional suit, black stockings, and high heels, her steps crisp but her face weary.

“Brother Lu, what’s up?” she asked, exhausted.

Seeing Yan Huimeng’s fatigue, Lu Xin felt a pang of guilt.
For years, she’d delegated most of her director duties to Yan Huimeng, who also handled internal affairs and assisted other departments.

Though the work was tedious, Yan Huimeng never complained—a rare, invaluable workhorse.

Clearing her throat, Lu Xin said, “In a little over a week, I’ll be promoted.”

Yan Huimeng’s eyes lit up.
Was the opportunity she’d been waiting for finally here?

She’d toiled as a workhorse, building rapport and presence with Lu Xin, all for this moment.

Once Lu Xin moved on, she could claim the director’s seat and rise further.

The position was within her grasp.

“Brother Lu… what do you think about the director’s seat?” Yan Huimeng asked cautiously, brimming with hope.

“I’m being promoted to… Minister of the Magic Affairs Department,” Lu Xin said.

“Congrats on the huge promotion, Brother Lu!”

Yan Huimeng’s eyes sparkled, hands poised to clap.
This wasn’t just a promotion—it was a leap to the top.

“But…”

Lu Xin paused, steeling herself for the sake of her future freedom to slack off.

“I see great potential in you, so I want to take you with me as my secretary to handle administrative tasks.”

“You’ve done so well here at Tongzhou’s bureau, so I’m giving you a chance to rise with me.”

Yan Huimeng’s legs buckled, and she collapsed to the floor, hearing Lu Xin’s devilish words.

“Brother Lu… can I not go?” she asked, eyes lifeless.

“No,” Lu Xin shook her head.

As if premeditated, she conjured a rolled-up appointment letter tied with a red ribbon.

“I’ve already printed your appointment letter,” Lu Xin said, chuckling as she handed it to Yan Huimeng.

Swallowing her bitterness, Yan Huimeng accepted it.

From now on, vacations would be a distant dream.