Chapter 25: Getting Grilled, Meow?
Overstepping Boundaries
Ye Xinglan smugly nuzzled her head against Xiao Xi’s lap, reveling in the thought of Eternal Star serving her as a maid. It felt as refreshing as wearing new underwear on New Year’s Day!
“Hey, tone it down a bit. We’re in public, and there are people around.”
The overly intimate contact was drawing eyes. It was obvious to anyone that their relationship was special, and Xiao Xi blushed, feeling shy.
Ye Xinglan reluctantly sat up. Seeing the other customers, she suddenly thought of something. “So, if someone else paid for your maid service, you’d do this for them too?”
“What are you thinking?” Xiao Xi gave her a light chop on the head. “If it wasn’t you, anyone making such outrageous requests would’ve been kicked out already.”
Ye Xinglan let out an “Oh,” but the strange, lingering unease didn’t fade.
If someone else bought Xiao Xi’s maid service, she’d sit with them and eat like this too, right?
It clicked—Ye Xinglan realized why she’d felt reluctant during the photo session. She didn’t want Xiao Xi doing these things with others.
Not that she was possessive or anything… It was definitely because Xiao Xi was Eternal Star!
Only she had the right to put Eternal Star under her heel and humiliate her. If just anyone could boss Xiao Xi around, where would that leave her as Eternal Star’s archenemy?
Yeah, that’s it. If Xiao Xi wasn’t Eternal Star, she wouldn’t feel this way!
A Busy Shift
The afternoon flew by. Su Ying’s reminder snapped Xiao Xi out of her work trance—it was time to clock out.
“Great job today, Xiao Xi! How was your first day?”
Xiao Xi reflected. Most of her awkward moments were tied to Ye Xinglan. If she had to pick one thing she didn’t do well…
She recalled a girl who came to buy merch for a magical girl Xiao Xi didn’t recognize, leaving the customer a bit unhappy.
“That’s not your fault,” Su Ying said, waving it off. “She’s a fan of a magical girl who’s just starting to gain traction. It’s normal you’re not familiar with her yet.”
“She bought a ton of the same merch. Was she planning to give them away?”
Xiao Xi remembered—the girl had bought over a dozen identical items.
“Maybe she’s just showing off her fandom by collecting multiples. That’s pretty common.”
“Really? She must really love that magical girl.”
“Not necessarily,” Su Ying said, waving again. “Some people stan lesser-known magical girls because they have fewer fans, so it’s easier to interact with them or get noticed.”
“And if that magical girl gets big later, they can claim to be an OG fan with clout.”
Xiao Xi frowned, feeling uneasy. “That sounds more like… an investment.”
This was part of why she disliked the current Magical Girl Association. To her, magical girls should be heroes protecting people, not entertainment objects.
“Well, that’s just how it is. Anyway, get going—you’re off. Your girlfriend’s been waiting over there forever,” Su Ying said, pointing to the corner.
Ye Xinglan was at their old blind-date spot, playing on her phone, clearly not leaving without Xiao Xi.
A warmth spread in Xiao Xi’s chest. “Let’s go, Xinglan. Thanks for bringing my clothes.”
Ye Xinglan said nothing, grabbing Xiao Xi’s hand and heading out.
She hadn’t waited just to keep Xiao Xi company—she didn’t want her cooked duck to fly away. Now that she knew Xiao Xi’s true identity, she had to keep a close eye on her.
“Xinglan, what do you want for dinner?”
Ye Xinglan didn’t answer, only giving a slight smile.
Xiao Xi could eat whatever, but Ye Xinglan had already decided who she’d “devour” tonight.
Caught Off Guard
Back home, Xiao Xi rushed to her room to change. After making dinner, she still had to write. She wished the day had 48 hours.
Her head finally poked out of a casual T-shirt when she jumped—Ye Xinglan was standing in her room, unnoticed.
Did Ye Xinglan walk without making a sound? Back in the café’s break room too—why did she always catch her changing?
Before Xiao Xi could speak, Ye Xinglan pounced, pinning her to the bed.
“Hey, hey, what’s this?!”
Xiao Xi’s eyes spun as Ye Xinglan not only pinned her down but locked her wrists, holding both hands. The helpless position sparked a flicker of unease.
What was this? Had Ye Xinglan gotten ideas after the maid café, ambushing her while she was changing?
“Xiao Xi, I have a question,” Ye Xinglan said, pulling out a hidden photo album and speaking slowly. “You’re [Eternal Star], aren’t you?”
A faint red glint flashed in Ye Xinglan’s eyes.
Xiao Xi’s heart skipped a beat. Glancing at the closet, she saw the lock on the third drawer was gone!
Oh no, how did Ye Xinglan find that stuff?!
Xiao Xi wasn’t sentimental, but she also didn’t want to dwell on old memories, so she’d locked away everything related to her old teammates in that drawer.
Those items were from her active days as Eternal Star. If Ye Xinglan had found them…
Before, Xiao Xi hid her Eternal Star identity for personal reasons. But after learning she owed Ye Xinglan an emotional debt, she’d rather die than let her know!
Recalling Ye Xinglan’s gritted-teeth hatred when mentioning Eternal Star, Xiao Xi was sure she’d be toast!
Explaining that her “scumbag” actions were due to a second personality would just sound like a lame excuse!
Swallowing hard, Xiao Xi decided to gamble that Ye Xinglan, in her rush to deliver the clothes, hadn’t thoroughly checked the drawer’s contents.
Facing Ye Xinglan’s close stare, she forced herself to stay calm.
“Haha… What’s the big deal, Xinglan? It’s just some [Eternal Star] merch and personal stuff in the closet.”
“You know I’m an [Eternal Star] fan. Of course I’d keep that stuff locked up.”
Xiao Xi quickly recalled—the drawer held gifts from teammates and things like the photo album, collective memories. If she insisted they were just merch, it might hold up… right?