Chapter 20: Lin Yu Can’t Leave

‘Is Mom… making a phone call?’

Lin Yu stepped back, glancing up at the “Do Not Disturb During Work” sign hanging above the door. An unfamiliar girl’s voice inside grew louder:

“No! I absolutely won’t wear this!” “What? You were fine with the cat girl outfit just now.” “But this is too much! It’s outrageous! I’m furious! Hmph! Old Wu, Old Wu, Old Wu, Old Wu—” “Hehehe, I’m your boss now, and I’m having my fun. Who’s going to stop me?”

Lin Yu, frozen at the door, heard the voices escalate. She pressed her hands to her mouth, letting out a shocked: “Huh?!”

‘These words… does this mean Mom is taking advantage of her own employees?!’

Lin Yu’s heart wanted to reject the thought, having always seen her parents share a warm, loving bond. Their long marriage wasn’t without minor friction, but their quarrels could be counted on one hand. Yet, this situation sparked wild imaginings in her mind.

Despite her cold, aloof demeanor, Lin Yu was an ordinary high school girl, well-versed in the internet. Lacking friends, she could be said to have a slight internet addiction. ‘I never thought it was odd for a normal girl with no real friends to connect on forums daily under the nickname [ProudWorld•EvilDragonKuangShao].’

‘By the time I realized I’d been deceived, I’d already graduated from junior high.’ ‘Now, I’m no good at making friends… how sad.’

Through the internet, she had glimpsed the astonishing diversity of humanity. Good or bad, Lin Yu had cultivated tolerance and discernment. Some people defied ordinary understanding or chased novelty for profit—people called “abstract.” The internet teemed with abstract tales, planting the thought, ‘This kind of person might be right beside me.’

• Abstract: A slang term in Chinese internet culture for eccentric or unconventional behavior, often for attention or gain.

Thus, Lin Yu began to question her own family. ‘Is my home like one of those abstract dramas?’

A couple that never quarrels might share a deep bond and aligned interests, leaving no room for conflict. But there could be another truth!

In Lin Yu’s mind, a melodramatic plot took shape: her mother was secretly a lesbian, unable to marry a woman due to societal pressures, so she chose her father as a cover, and Lin Yu’s birth was an accident. Wait—if Mom likes girls, could Dad be unaware? Has he tolerated it all these years? Is that normal? Could it be… Dad is the same way?

Lin Yu’s ponytail trembled as she gasped: “Are there any experts? Σ(゜ロ゜;)”

Rustling sounds drifted from inside, while Lin Yu stood outside, caught in a dilemma. What her mother was doing was wrong, no matter how she looked at it. Morally, she should barge in to save the girl facing potential harm.

Unlike her mother, who switched channels at the sight of magical girls and ignored their short videos, as if she despised them, Lin Yu adored magical girls. She had dreamed countless times of becoming a radiant dragon and magical girl. She never wanted to act immorally.

But selfishly, rushing in now would shatter the fragile harmony her parents had built. Could she return to the warm family atmosphere of the past? Lin Yu couldn’t imagine the fallout from such a drastic change. Perhaps the best choice was to feign ignorance and return later.

Yet her conscience wouldn’t let her ignore someone’s suffering—not even if her mother was the culprit. ‘Why… why am I faced with this dilemma?’

In that moment, she was the only one who could save the innocent girl inside. Her inner balance wavered.

Lin Yu, who struggled with interpersonal emotions and was drained just from apologizing to Jiang Yao, couldn’t decide alone. Nervously, she pulled out her phone and found Jiang Yao’s chat among her few contacts.

[Xiaoyao.] [It’s an emergency.]

– Time to seek outside help.

Jiang Yao replied instantly: – You reaching out first? That’s rare, huh?

[Let’s not talk about that now.]

Ever since Jiang Yao discovered Lin Yu’s unedited dark history through the forum’s “find friends” function, she’d changed Lin Yu’s contact name to “Kuang Shao.” Lin Yu had pestered her to change it, but Jiang Yao stood firm. Thankfully, with her mother’s strict oversight, Lin Yu had let go of her past and given up on erasing her dark history.

[There are more important things!] [Right now, I heard a girl who seems to be… harassed by my mom!]

After sending these messages, the “Input” button vanished. After a few seconds of silence, two messages appeared: – ??? – Wait, wait, wait, what are you talking about? I don’t get it.

‘I don’t know either!’

[(Crying emoji)] [(Another crying emoji)] [Tell me, should I stop my mom now?]

– Calm down, calm down. – Did you hear it wrong?

[Impossible, I definitely heard it right!]

– No, think again. Is Auntie that kind of person? This sounds way too wild. Listen again. What if it’s a misunderstanding?

[!]

Jiang Yao’s steady advice in this critical moment gave Lin Yu a spark of hope. ‘Yes, if it’s just a misunderstanding, there’s no problem, right?’

She pressed her head against the door again, the sounds now faint and fragmented. Her mother’s voice came through: “Hehehe, let me touch your big magic wand~”

“Don’t touch that! I’m not a complete… woman yet… who knows if I’ll be able to…” “No way… let me touch it so I can judge now…”

Hearing this exchange, the thread of reason in Lin Yu’s mind snapped. She didn’t need to think hard to guess what “big magic wand” implied.

• Big magic wand: A playful term in Chinese web novels, often a suggestive metaphor, here likely referring to a costume prop but misinterpreted by Lin Yu.

Lin Yu didn’t even reply to Jiang Yao’s “How are you now?” and fell silent. She slipped into a trance, a voice echoing in her mind: ‘Oh my… it’s still Nanliang…’ ‘Oh my… it’s still Nanliang…’ ‘Oh my… it’s still Nanliang…’ *

• Nanliang: Likely a fictional or cultural reference, possibly tied to dramatic narratives, left untranslated for authenticity.

Snapping back, she was already shouting, “Mom, please let her go!” and shoving the door open. Rushing in, Lin Yu saw clothes strewn across the floor. Maid costumes, cat girl outfits, and Lolita skirts littered the room.

In the living room’s center stood her mother, Wen Yaquan, holding a half-dressed black-haired girl, smiling as she said: “You’re back early today.”

The girl, hiding something stick-like behind her back, wore the [Dark Flame Dragon • Magical Girl • Modified] costume Wen Yaquan had designed. A dress embroidered with a black fire dragon, which, her mother claimed, embodied the dark, corrupted side of the Dragon of Light.

“Anyway… magical girls never—! I was just trying it on!” The black-haired girl shouted, grabbing her clothes and bolting toward the door in the dress. As she passed, she glanced at Lin Yu.

Her cheeks, slightly flushed from the playful antics, and her shy eyes left a deep impression on Lin Yu. More strikingly, Lin Yu sensed something odd about the girl. It was as if… an “airflow” enveloped her body.

Watching the girl’s retreating figure, Lin Yu scanned her but couldn’t spot where the stick-like object might be hidden. ‘Was what I saw an illusion?’

“Remember to come to work tomorrow~” Wen Yaquan waved and called after the girl as she fled.

“…Mother.” Lin Yu asked softly: “Who is she?”

“She’s Mom’s best friend. Phew… with her, I revert to my old silly self and play too wildly.”

“Playing?”

“Yes, it’s been a while,” Wen Yaquan said with a touch of sadness. “My dearest, beloved daughter is in high school and won’t be my clothes hanger anymore, so I call my friends over.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

Lin Yu exhaled deeply. Seeing Wen Yaquan tidying the mess, she hurried to help.

“Hmm~ Did you think I was bullying my friend just now? My Xiaoyu is so kind~ Let me tell you, she probably enjoys it too, just resists the magical girl theme a bit.” Wen Yaquan didn’t look back, bending down to keep cleaning.

Seeing her mother unbothered, Lin Yu waved her hands quickly. “No, no.”

Guiltily, she shifted the topic: “Huh? Oh, by the way, since she’s Mom’s friend… how old is she?”

“Shh… I can’t say that.” Wen Yaquan blinked, glancing at her lively daughter, and pressed a finger to her lips. “That’s a secret between girls.”

“Huh? But Mom, can you even be considered a girl?”

“…”

“It hurts! It hurts! My fault! You pinched my face—”