Chapter 8: You don’t understand healthy living and fast food

“By the way, Yaoyao.”

Jiang Lingwei, now accustomed to her daughter’s nickname, held the jewelry box.

“I found this in my room. Did you put it there?”

“Let me see…”

Jiang Yao took the box, inspected it, and shook her head.

“I don’t remember. When we moved here from my hometown, I hired a moving company and a designer to decorate. Maybe they placed it.”

Curious, she asked:

“What’s inside?”

“A necklace. It feels… familiar.”

“Really?”

Jiang Yao’s eyes sparkled.

“Did you remember something, Mom?”

“Sorry… not much. That’s why I asked if you’d seen it.”

Jiang Lingwei pulled the necklace from her clothes.

Her queenly figure caused the magic core to slip into her chest, making it uncomfortable.

She adjusted the chain, tightening it.

‘Shouldn’t have made it a necklace.’

“I haven’t seen it, but it’s cracked? Such a pity… it must’ve been beautiful.”

Even after staring at another magical girl’s transformation device, Jiang Yao seemed clueless, her tone regretful.

Jiang Lingwei glanced at Xiaobai, curled up, playing dog.

No reaction.

‘Really?’

This puzzled her.

She’d planned to reveal the magic core herself, but Jiang Yao and Xiaobai treated it like an ordinary gem.

Back then, magical girls sensed each other’s magic.

No magical object escaped their notice.

Why didn’t it work now?

‘Is it the cracks?’

“Alright.”

Tucking the device back into her clothes, Jiang Lingwei shifted to practical matters.

“You hungry? What’s there to eat at home?”

“Um, a bit. Wait, Mom, I’ll make something.”

“Hey!”

Jiang Lingwei grabbed her arm.

“I’m awake now. Do I need you to cook? Let… me handle it.”

She nearly said “Mom” but caught herself.

‘Ugh, still not used to it.’

“No, Mom, you just woke from a coma. Let’s eat out.”

Jiang Yao smiled awkwardly, blocking her from the fridge.

‘Something’s up.’

Jiang Lingwei noticed her expression.

She leaned down, meeting Jiang Yao’s eyes.

“Is there something in the fridge I can’t see? Like horror props?”

She recalled Senior Fu Lan, codenamed [Floating Mist], bringing monster limbs to their base for study.

Opening the fridge once, she’d jumped at a clawed, eyed paw.

Her team used weather codenames, like her own [Aurora].

Why a liberal arts student like Fu Lan was obsessed with biology, she’d never know.

If Jiang Yao shared that hobby, Jiang Lingwei would respect it—and steer clear.

Magical girls’ personalities were unchangeable.

She wasn’t overflowing with maternal instincts.

Her mindset was still seventeen!

She barely knew if her own hobbies were “right.”

A magical girl’s life was tough—best not to pressure Jiang Yao.

“N-No… nothing good in there.”

Jiang Yao fidgeted guiltily.

“Hehe, don’t worry. I’m the Little Prince of Cooking… er, well, you get it. I can make eggs into flowers!”

Jiang Lingwei crossed her arms, recalling her glory days.

She’d handled the team’s meals.

Her auxiliary magic and talents made her less swayed by magic, keeping her socially “healthy.”

External tasks, like supply runs, fell to her or [North Wind], their captain and the first contracted by her and the old fairy.

She was the team’s logistician.

In two years, she’d mastered cooking.

“Kitchen’s on the first floor, right? I’ll check for ingredients.”

Jiang Lingwei winked confidently.

“Leave it to me.”

“Um… there’s really not much food… Wait, Mom!”

Seeing her head downstairs, Jiang Yao stomped and followed.

Xiaobai, left alone, pulled a potato chip bag from a hidden space.

Tearing it open, he muttered:

“I told you, my name’s Tanggula Aifeiyal Sneed, Dragon Ridge Mountain, Kukue, Jianghu Double Blade Master, Bai the Second—not Xiaobai!”

Crunch, crunch…

Downstairs, Jiang Lingwei turned a corner, opened a glass door, and entered a well-equipped kitchen.

Whether due to wealth or 2032’s norms, it had a stove, induction cooker, dish cabinets, and utensils.

Seasonings were neatly organized.

It was almost too perfect—nine out of ten.

But it looked barely used.

A double-door fridge, taller than her, had compartments and an LCD panel showing temperature and functions.

High-tech.

“Good thing the stove’s logic and ignition knob haven’t changed, or I’d be stuck.”

Jiang Lingwei sighed.

The modern kitchen dwarfed her old gas stove and faulty range hood, but it felt alien.

“Mom!”

As she approached the fridge for vegetables, Jiang Yao rushed over, blocking it.

“Don’t open it yet.”

“?”

Jiang Lingwei gave a questioning look.

“Something I can’t see?”

“Y-Yes, no…”

“Then I’ll open it, okay?”

Jiang Yao hesitated, then, with a resigned look, stepped aside.

“Go ahead, Mom, but be careful.”

“Pfft, what’s with that face?”

Jiang Lingwei laughed.

“Don’t worry, even if it’s food you love, I get it. I won’t judge—holy crap!”

Opening the fridge, white light spilled out.

Her jaw dropped.

A cascade of square boxes crashed over her.

Crash—

Seconds later, buried in instant pizzas, burgers, leftover trash, and spilled drinks, Jiang Lingwei stared at Jiang Yao silently.

“Uh… buying these is just easier than cooking.”

Jiang Yao stammered, hesitating.

“I, I…”

“It’s all… in there…”

“From long-term fasting.”