Chapter 18: Ayao, I’m back

The summer sun blazed relentlessly, heedless of people’s comfort.

It poured out its fervor unchecked.

On the path paved with green stone bricks, passersby held parasols.

Yet they couldn’t fully shield themselves from the summer heat.

Nearby, a Japanese-style flower shop housed two girls talking to a floating white ferret.

Of course, ordinary people couldn’t see the ferret.

This flower shop was the official headquarters of the magical girls, known as Flora.

A place for nurturing “flowers”—magical girls code-named after various blooms.

Huang Ran, with large round glasses and a serious face, code-named Jasmine.

Long Shu, with fiery red hair and a brash, tomboyish demeanor, code-named Rose.

And Bai Yao, now retired for reasons, code-named Iris.

The three were this city’s magical girls, tasked with handling pollution entity incidents.

Once a tight-knit trio, now only two remained.

“I wonder if Yao Yao’s okay. Should we check on her?” Huang Ran picked up a rose, sniffing it.

“Of course we should! We saw her yesterday when we left. She can’t transform anymore—if she got hurt, it’d be bad.”

Long Shu’s loud voice made Huang Ran step away from her.

“Reporting on the ‘Pride’ Witch will take time. Let’s visit Bai Yao after we’re done.”

The white ferret circled them, eager to see Bai Yao.

It missed her after days apart!

Forcing Bai Yao’s retirement wasn’t its choice, but pressure from above demanded it.

In a nation prioritizing its people, Bai Yao became the scapegoat.

But it wasn’t all bad—being a magical girl was dangerous.

No one knew if today or tomorrow they’d face an unbeatable threat and perish.

Bai Yao’s early retirement came with triple compensation.

Thirty million! A sum most couldn’t earn in a lifetime.

“Then let’s bring some irises. Yao Yao loves them!” Long Shu grabbed a handful to make a bouquet, but Huang Ran snatched them away.

“Don’t ruin my flowers. Go play, I’ll do it.”

“Hmph, who’re you looking down on, Huang Ran!” Long Shu clenched her fists, snatching the flowers back. “I’m doing it!”

“Forgot the last bouquet you made? Who stuffs ten different flowers, ten of each, into one? It wouldn’t even fit! Think my shop’s a wholesaler?”

“It was just ten types,” Long Shu mumbled, a bit guilty.

Huang Ran’s patience snapped, landing a hand chop on Long Shu’s not-so-bright head.

“Ow!”

Long Shu clutched her head, tears streaming, pouting hard.

“Hmph, no wonder my grades suck—it’s all your fault.”

Muttering, she shuffled away from Huang Ran.

She couldn’t win, but she could hide!

“Welcome to Flora Flower Shop!”

The electronic chime at the door rang as a tall woman, nearly 1.8 meters, walked in.

She wore a crop top, denim shorts, her long white legs striking.

Sunglasses perched on her nose, a designer bag hung on her right arm.

Her walk carried a faint perfume scent.

“Hello, what flowers would you like?”

With a customer entering, Huang Ran pulled Long Shu behind her, lest she upset the guest.

“Hm… a bouquet of pink roses, the biggest one.”

The woman hesitated briefly, then chose the pink roses on display.

“Alright, please wait. I’ll prepare it now.”

Huang Ran deftly assembled a large bouquet of pink roses, adding decorations and a delicate card with romantic phrases girls love.

“Sister, it’s ready.”

“Thank you.”

The woman paid, hugged the bouquet, and left.

It was time for Huang Ran and Long Shu to close shop and visit Bai Yao.

…

Evening fell.

Bai Yao was busy in the kitchen. Bai Feifei had recovered from the amusement park trauma, sprawled on the sofa, glued to her phone, battling in the game.

Occasionally, she let out roars that left Bai Yao helpless.

“Han Xin, level two with blue and red buffs, double kill’s a cinch—why’d you die!”

“You idiot, don’t jungle if you can’t!”

“Feifei, after this match, call Xiao Xiao for dinner.”

“Screw you!”

“…”

Bai Yao stood at the kitchen door, spatula in hand, giving Bai Feifei a “kindly” stare.

Feeling her sister’s loving gaze, Bai Feifei sat up straight.

“Ahem, I’ll go after this match, hehe.”

She soon lost in a fit of rage, then slipped on her slippers to knock on the neighbor’s door.

Ye Xiao Xiao, her good neighbor and best friend, usually went to school together.

But since Bai Yao had secured a “study reduction package” from Teacher Zhang, Bai Feifei, who should’ve been in tutoring, was gaming at home while poor Ye Xiao Xiao dozed in class.

“Xiao Xiao, come for dinner!”

“Coming, let me drop my bag!” Ye Xiao Xiao’s voice came seconds later.

Bai Feifei waited briefly, and they sat in the living room, eyeing the kitchen eagerly.

Soon, Bai Yao emerged with a fragrant plate of braised fish.

“Braised fish is ready~”

“Wow!”

Bai Feifei and Ye Xiao Xiao exaggerated their excitement.

Drawn by the aroma, Bai Feifei reached for the chopsticks.

Smack!

She hit the table’s edge, her hand instantly red.

Grimacing, she clutched her hand, bending over, face against the table.

“Still acting up? Got what you deserved?”

Bai Yao ignored her, returning to the kitchen for the rest of the dishes.

Bai Feifei could bear her own consequences.

“Feifei, you okay?”

Ye Xiao Xiao looked at Bai Feifei’s pained face, her own hand trembling as if sharing the pain.

“Xiao Xiao, it hit my hand, but it hurts my heart!”

“I’ll blow on it.” Ye Xiao Xiao gently took Bai Feifei’s hand, blowing softly. “Phew~ Phew~”

As the girls interacted, a knock came at the door.

Bang bang!

“Yao, I’m back!”