Chapter 31: Arrive at Gan City and start the copy!

The high-speed train glided smoothly along the tracks, the scenery outside the window receding in a blur.

Inside the carriage, Xia Momu clung affectionately to Lin Qingya’s arm, brimming with enthusiasm and boundless energy.

“Qingya, Qingya, listen to this!” Xia Momu’s big, sparkling eyes shone with anticipation.

“Next time you transform, you gotta let me pet your cat ears! Hehe… they look so fluffy, must feel amazing to rub!”

With that, she burst into a silly grin, her infatuated expression leaving Lin Qingya in no doubt about her utter adoration for felines.

Seeing Xia Momu’s look—like she’d pin her down and nuzzle her senseless right then—Lin Qingya could only laugh helplessly and concede. “O-okay… sure, Momu-jie.”

She got it now: Xia Momu really, really loved cats.

Well, cat girls counted as cats too.

Across from them, Yang Yuxin quietly rested her head on Su Xingcui’s shoulder, eyes closed in repose.

Her small hand naturally intertwined with Su Xingcui’s, fingers laced together in a picture of cozy harmony.

Su Xingcui, meanwhile, scrolled intently through an e-book on her phone; noticing Yang Yuxin’s head slipping, she considerately shifted her posture to make it comfier.

Mm… so this side’s got the cat-loving peppy girl and the reluctant cat girl on display.

The other side: the gentle, reliable big sis and the clingy, spoiled sweet little sis.

Lin Qingya sighed inwardly: this little team’s vibe was so heartwarmingly cozy.

Even though she’d only joined recently, it already filled her with a sense of belonging.

The hours-long journey flew by amid the girls’ laughter and chatter.

At last, the train announcement chimed: arriving in Gan City.

The four dragged their suitcases, flowing out with the crowd onto the platform.

Gan City’s air carried a subtle dampness unlike Tengchun’s, the street-side buildings exuding a more lived-in charm.

Guided by phone maps, they soon reached their pre-booked hotel.

Prime spot—right by the liveliest night market, just a few minutes’ walk.

They’d snagged two double rooms; Xia Momu, without debate, yanked Lin Qingya into one, while Su Xingcui and Yang Yuxin naturally claimed the other.

“Wow! This room’s view is killer!”

Xia Momu dove straight to the massive floor-to-ceiling window upon entering, buzzing with excitement at the bustling street below.

Lin Qingya set down her bag and joined her.

From here, the night market entrance was in plain sight, signs for endless snacks dazzling the eye—enough to make one’s mouth water just looking.

Before long, Su Xingcui and Yang Yuxin popped into their room.

“Let’s rest up a bit, then hash out our plans for the next few days.” Su Xingcui suggested.

“Yay yay! I’ve got the itinerary locked! First stop: night market!” Xia Momu shot her hand up, beaming.

“Mm mm, I wanna chow down too!” Yang Yuxin chimed in.

“Tell you what, I did my homework before coming! That roasted pig trotter joint, and the crawfish burger—they’re legendary!”

Xia Momu waved her phone animatedly, screen aglow with her saved foodie vids.

Lin Qingya and Yang Yuxin, appetites whetted by the pics, huddled close, chattering away.

Su Xingcui watched the group’s hype, her own heart swelling with anticipation.

But this breezy bliss didn’t linger.

“Bzzz—”

Their transformers vibrated almost in sync, a faint hum.

Xia Momu’s grin froze; she pouted in gripe. “What the heck? We just settled in, and bam—new mission?”

Lin Qingya’s heart sank a touch; she glanced instinctively at Su Xingcui and Yang Yuxin.

Sure enough, they frowned too, faces etched with surprise—they’d gotten it as well.

Su Xingcui murmured the details softly: “…Head to Jinmao Commercial Building in the east district, exchange and learn with the local magical girls…”

She muttered on, then to herself: “Why hit us right when we’re unpacked…”

“Same mission for me.” Yang Yuxin scratched her head, puzzled but theorizing. “Maybe they’ve been waiting for us? Like, forever?”

It sounded plausible enough.

“But that can’t be right!” Xia Momu blinked, utterly baffled. “So why’s my mission reinforcing soil in some abandoned veggie greenhouse on the city outskirts?”

“Eh?”

“Hah?”

“Nya?”

The other three gawked, stunned.

Xia Momu huffed, cheeks puffed in outrage. “What kinda nonsense task is this? Turning magical girls into farmhands? How’s that got squat to do with ‘exchanging and learning’!”

Her gripe was spot-on—the mission was absurd on absurd’s doorstep, absurd straight home.

Lin Qingya was totally lost now.

How come Xia Momu’s task differed from Su Xingcui’s?

Though, absurdity-wise… it fit the magical girl missions’ usual weird-ass mold.

She checked her own transformer on reflex.

Same as before: dead quiet, no new alerts.

Once again, only her without a ping.

But this time, the disappointment ebbed quick, overtaken by worry for her teammates.

Seeing Xia Momu on the verge of fur-flying frenzy, Lin Qingya’s heart softened inexplicably.

Even sidelined again, she stepped up, patting Xia Momu’s shoulder gently. “It’s fine, Momu-jie. I’m with you—we’ll go together.”

Part of it: she couldn’t bear sending Xia Momu solo on something this fishy; backup was always better.

The other: what the hell was “reinforcing greenhouse soil” even mean?

What link did it have to this “exchange and learning” with locals?

Something about it felt off—way off.

At the news of company, Xia Momu’s scowl flipped to sunshine; she whipped around, hugging Lin Qingya tight.

“Really, Qingya?! Awesome!”

Arm looped through Lin Qingya’s, she lit up like a bulb. “Oh! I get it! Missions are pairing us up!”

Su Xingcui mulled it over, then nodded. “Makes sense for now. Split up—gets things done faster.”

She eyed Lin Qingya and Xia Momu, cautioning: “You two, stay sharp. That abandoned greenhouse sounds remote—call if anything pops.”

“No sweat, Xingcui!” Xia Momu thumped her chest. “With me guarding Qingya, we’re golden!”

“Mm mm, you too—be safe.” Lin Qingya nodded sweetly.

After a quick huddle, the four wasted no time, springing into motion.

Su Xingcui and Yang Yuxin swapped to easy-move casuals and headed out first.

Lin Qingya and Xia Momu tidied up, prepping for the trek to that sketchy-sounding abandoned veggie greenhouse.

They stepped into the hall, thumbing the elevator down button.

“Ding—”

The doors slid open slow; the pair stepped in.

Just as they entered and the doors sealed shut, the adjacent elevator chimed “ding” too, parting to reveal…

Bai Wanting and Ms. Song, chatting amiably as they emerged.

“Whoa, Little Bai, this hotel’s a gem! Great setup, and so close to the night market!”

Ms. Song wheeled her suitcase, eyeing the hall’s decor with curiosity.

“Right? Song-jie’s got the eye!” Bai Wanting smiled back.

“Quick—drop the bags in our rooms, then night market feast tonight!”

“You got it, Song-jie leads.”

The two figures receded, vanishing down the corridor’s end.

In the elevator, Lin Qingya shivered out of nowhere, hand drifting to her lips on instinct.

“What’s up, Qingya? AC too chilly?” Xia Momu asked at once, all concern.

Lin Qingya shook her head, adrift. “Dunno… just feels like… something’s about to happen…”