Chapter 2: Did you live together so Quickly ?

Returning Home in Defeat

“Blind date’s done. She wasn’t into me, so let’s not bother with this again, okay?”

“My living expenses are fine. If I need money, I’ll let you know. Stop worrying.”

Xiaoxi weighed the discounted groceries she’d just bought, sent her last message, and ignored her mom’s reply.

Instead, she opened her WeChat balance.

Seeing the pitiful three-digit number starting with a 1, she let out a heavy sigh.

If she didn’t find a job by next week, she might actually starve.

As she trudged home, the dazzling image of Mu Xingge flashed in her mind, making Xiaoxi sigh again.

Her former teammate was thriving.

If people knew the “strongest” magical girl, Eternal Star, had fallen to this pathetic state after retiring, they’d probably laugh their heads off.

A Past Left Behind

Xiaoxi had chosen to retire and abandon her magical girl identity three years ago.

Before that, like a character from an anime or game, she’d hidden her true identity while fighting monsters and freaks as Eternal Star.

Back then, the Magical Girl Association wasn’t fully established, so her work was purely a labor of love, unpaid.

By the time the Association was officially formed three years ago, Xiaoxi had already retired for personal reasons.

Her title as the “strongest magical girl” wasn’t just talk.

During the chaotic years when villainous organizations wreaked havoc, she and her teammates had taken down many evil forces and slain countless monsters.

Three years ago, Xiaoxi had single-handedly destroyed the most powerful villain group, the Divine Summoning Society.

She’d defeated their humanoid weapon, the Blood Moon Witch, known as the Scarlet Calamity, cementing her reputation as the strongest.

However, only Xiaoxi knew how terrifying the Blood Moon Witch was.

They’d clashed multiple times, and Xiaoxi rarely came out on top.

Given their encounters, calling the Blood Moon Witch her “archenemy” was no exaggeration.

That final battle was especially perilous.

Several times, Xiaoxi felt death brush past her.

In the end, she won, but the Blood Moon Witch was likely still locked up in the Association’s prison.

An Unexpected Intruder

Reaching her familiar apartment building, Xiaoxi snapped out of her thoughts and unlocked her door.

But then she frowned.

A pair of black high heels sat neatly by the shoe rack.

Someone was in her home?

Moreover, those heels looked oddly familiar.

Could it be an old enemy tracking her down?

The thought, though unlikely, flashed through her mind, putting her on guard.

Ready to transform if needed, Xiaoxi crept silently into the living room.

But upon seeing the intruder, she froze.

“How is it you?”

Their eyes met, and both spoke in unison.

A Flashback to the Intruder’s Plan

Earlier, in the apartment’s living room…

Ye Xinglan sat on the sofa, legs crossed, her manicured fingers tapping rapidly on her phone.

“A-Lan, still no leads on Eternal Star?”

“Come on, Miss, Eternal Star vanished over three years ago. It’s not like I can just dig her up!”

“Also, the Magical Girl Association’s been secretly investigating you. I think they’re getting close to me. They’re bound to suspect me about the Blood Moon Witch’s disappearance.”

“Miss, please lay low for a while. Stop obsessing over revenge against Eternal Star, okay?”

The reply came instantly, and Ye Xinglan pouted, typing “Fine.”

“How’d your work go today, Miss? If you’re not having fun, I can find you something else.”

“It’s fine. The tenant hasn’t shown up yet. I’m waiting for her.”

Just then, the sound of a key turning in the lock echoed.

Ye Xinglan paused, adding another message.

“Sounds like she’s back. I’ll check it out.”

The next moment, seeing Xiaoxi cautiously peeking in, Ye Xinglan blinked in surprise.

“How is it you?”

A Surprising Reunion

“Are you okay? The café we were at got attacked by a monster. Are you hurt?” Xiaoxi’s first instinct, despite her shock, was concern for Ye Xinglan.

“I’m fine,” Ye Xinglan replied casually.

“After you left, I got out right away. Why would I stick around after the date ended?”

Xiaoxi nodded, realizing Ye Xinglan must’ve left before the monster attack, which explained why she hadn’t seen her in the fleeing crowd.

“But… why are you in my apartment?”

“I should be asking you that. You’re the tenant here, right?” Ye Xinglan jingled a large set of keys.

“I’m here to collect rent. You’ve been behind for two months, haven’t you?”

Of course, a rich girl!

Xiaoxi swore the keys were practically sparkling, stinging her eyes.

So this was Ye Xinglan’s “work”? Collecting rent every day?

Xiaoxi hadn’t realized this apartment belonged to Ye Xinglan.

She’d rented it through an agency, always communicating with the landlord via WeChat.

Had Ye Xinglan shown up in person because of the overdue rent?

“Sorry, I really can’t pay right now. If you want to evict me today, that’s fine. The deposit I paid can cover one month, and I’ll make up the rest as soon as I can…”

Xiaoxi’s voice trailed off, her head lowering.

She was too embarrassed to ask for more time when Ye Xinglan had come in person.

An Urgent Call

Before Ye Xinglan could respond, her phone rang—a number she didn’t recognize.

“Hold on, I need to take this.”

She stepped onto the balcony, closing the door before answering.

A-Lan’s urgent voice came through.

“Miss, I’ll make this quick! The Association’s raiding my place. They’re turning everything upside down! Don’t come back for at least a month!”

“You don’t need to leave Xiahai City. Your identity will hold up under scrutiny. Just find a place to lay low and don’t contact me!”

Before Ye Xinglan could reply, the call ended.

Frowning, she unlocked her phone, only to find A-Lan had deleted her as a contact.

The suddenness of it all left Ye Xinglan uneasy.

Though A-Lan said her identity was secure, staying in a hotel for a month seemed risky.

If the Association caught her, how would she explain suddenly living in a hotel instead of going home?

She needed a more reasonable, believable place to stay.

As her eyes landed on Xiaoxi in the living room, an idea sparked.

A Shocking Proposal

Meanwhile, Xiaoxi stood in the living room, her face clouded with worry.

She was already bracing herself to move out today.

The thought of not even having a place to sleep tonight made her future seem bleak.

No, she couldn’t give up.

Xiaoxi tried to rally herself.

Plenty of people had it worse than her.

This was just a small setback.

Suddenly, the image of the Blood Moon Witch flashed in her mind.

At least she was still free, right?

The Blood Moon Witch was probably rotting in a cell.

The sound of slippers snapped Xiaoxi back to reality.

Seeing Ye Xinglan striding toward her, she steeled herself to bring up moving out.

“Miss Ye Xinglan, I can move out today—”

“You don’t have to move out. The two months’ rent doesn’t matter.”

Ye Xinglan’s cool voice cut her off.

She beckoned Xiaoxi closer, offering a tempting deal.

“On one condition—from today, you’ll live here with me. How about it?”